Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-17

600. The plan was submitted to
the president of the General Motors
Corporation, w. C. Durant, who
agreed to subscribe for 100000
worth of the stock. GAINESVILLE i'm
mediately bestirred itself to raise
the balance. Through a committee
of the Chamber, a quiet campaign
was put on to secure the funds.
This was followed by an intensive
drive conducted for three days by
a committee of forty-six men, who
secured subscriptions for the neces-
sary amount. Forthwith came a
check from Mr.. Durant for 500, 600.
The stock of the corporation was
taken by S46 of Janesvilles citizens.
so that the enterprise is a purely
local one.
The educational part of the cam
organized bodies of the city, such
as the civic, fraternal and church
organizations. The reaction from
these was very noticeable when the
intensive campaign was put on. The
facts in the case were frankly stated,
and an understanding was had with
the owners of the real estate that
they would sell their holdings at fair
and equitable prices. The folly of
profiteering was emphasized. An
appraisement or booster committee
was formed. with the city assessor
as one of the members whose object
was to inspire in the real estate
owners n sense of civic duty which
would lead them to dispose of their
property at reasonable prices. The
leaders of the movement did not
wish TO be obliged to go out of the
city for land because it might be
cheaper. but preferred to build
within the city.
The corporation will build houses
only for sale, to be purchased on
monthly payments based on one per
cent. of the cost of the property. For
instance. a house and lot costing
$4,000 may be acquired by paying
SEQ a month until the property is
paid for. A portion of each pay
ment will be used to defray the
cost of carrying the property, and
the balance will apply on the second
mortgage, which will be held by the
corporation. This plan is equiva-
lent to paying rent, but enables the
occupant eventually to become the
owner of the property, and will re-
suit in Janesville's becoming largely
city of home owners. The idea
has been generally approved because
of the greatly increased rentals of
the few dwellings that are now
available there for renting purposes.
The corporation expects to be able
to pay at least six per cent. divi-
dends. The company is not organ
lied on a limited dividend basis.
A further development of the
housing movement was the decision
plan. This was considered absolute
ly necessary if the building opera
tions and other city development
work contemplated were to be car
ried out along constructive lines,
looking far into the future. The
Chamber of Commerce appointed a
committee toainvestigate the matter,
later approved its report, and short
ly thereafter engaged the services
of DR.. John Nolen to prepare a
comprehensive city plan and zoning
law. The Chamber bore the ex-
pense5eof this work.
Here we have an outline of what
a city can do when its people are
really determined to meet a great
need. Harrisburg may not have
such an urgent demand for houses
as GAINESVILLE, but certainly the need
is apparent and it can be met if
only we go about the thing in earn
est. What other cities can do.
Harrisburg can do.