Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-09
Ehrntttg Ulrats

Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce
which spent to-day in Philadelphia
and Camden, under the leadership Of
Chairman j. Horace Mcfarland
going over the housing Development
in those cities. is very much in earn
est. Mr.. Mcfarland, who has been
engaged in similar work for the
United States Government, With>
headquarters at Washington, says
that the shortage of homes is not
merely local. 1t exists in almost an
large centers of population. Mr.
Mcfarland believes it is essential
to the immediate return to normal
conditions that building and con-
| struction work be stimulated. Som&
authorities estimate the house shorts
age in the country as a whole at q
million. Five hundred thousand ID
thought to be a conservative esti-
mate. Federal supervision and di-
rection, necessary during the wan
must give way to local and private
initiative. Twenty cities are already
getting under way drives for build
ing and homecoming.
| The United States Government has
worked out a plan which could be
changed, it is believed, to meet local
conditions. The entire campaign
Mr.. Mcfarland says, 'is pitched on
a civic betterment plane rather than
| on a purely ommercial basis and
the appeal is more on the line OF
what each business group can put
in rather than what it can get out
of the movement. 1t is 100 per cent
greater city movement, having in
mind only the incalculable perma-
nent benefits to the community and
the immediate helpfulness to the
nation during the transition from
war mobilization to peace produc-
ton.
1t will provide better living condi-
tions, increase efficiency, encourage
thrift, give greater comfort and hap
piness and create individual reserves
for misfortune and old age. Every
house owner with his family, wheth-
er rich, poor, or WELT do, becomes
thereby a better citizen, with in
creased self-respect, independence
and responsibility to the city and
Nation and are more vitality inter-
ested in the welfare and prosperity
of both.
During the readjustment period
such a movement hastens the return
of normal conditions; results in such
industrial purposes; provides work
for returning soldiers and sailors and
for labor changing from war to peace
industries; stimulates all lines OF
business in each community, creates
general prosperity.
The fact that all these are patri-
otic in purpose does not eliminate
the certainty of their being mate
rally to the local communities and,
in the long run, the community
cheapest to build, will reap the
greatest material benefits, those
back of the movement believe.
The "Own Your own Home"
movement was one of the PROPOSE
tions submitted to the recent con-
ference of Governors and Mayors in
Washington where it met with en-
thusiastic encouragement and sup
port of Mayor Keister, of Harris
burg, and other Mayors, many OF
them expressing the determination
to return to their districts and in
terest themselves in getting such
campaigns under way.
Among the national organizations
which have pledged support and CO.
operation for the "Own Your Own
Home" work are the General Fed
Grafton of Womens Clubs, through
it's president, Mrs. Josiah Evans
Cowles of Los Angeles, California
the National Association of Real
Estate Boards and the National Fed
Grafton fo Construction Industries
I
Members of the Legislature are
taking a keen interest in the plan
of Col. Edward Martin TO make Har-
risburg the model in regard to sani-
tation and health and some of those
from nearby towns will attend the
meeting Monday to discuss the pro-
ject.
The manager of theater in an
interior Pennsylvania town, which
for obvious reasons must remain un-
named, tells this story of the con-
struction of a mezzinine floor in his
playhouse. He was naturally proud
of his improvement, the first of its
kind in the place. Politely approach
ing two women who had purchased
tickets for the evening performance
, and were just about to leave the
lobby, he bowed and said: Ladies,
won't you allow me the pleasure OF
showing you our new mezzinine
floor
The pair looked startled for a
moment and then the elder, portly
dame of apparent prosperity but
evidently of small education, said:
Don't get fresh, young man, you
are addressing two perfect ladies.
If you 1lave anything of that kind
to show us, send us a female at
tendant. But not with you, sir, not
with you"