The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-14
HOW To CONDUCT
HOME BUILDING PLANS
Committees Interested In Civic Better
nent Should Cooperate in n United
ENnnpf

Hleut SssCTIld cooperate In n L niteu
Effort
Since the armistice was signed the
nited States has been taking stock OF
conditions and the first fact recognized
Is that there is a serious shortage of
hoUses. caused by the cessation OF con
struction work during the Wal This
shortage is placed by conserva ton es-
Inmates a. 100000, and 1t is apparent
in the largest cltles and the smallest
villages. Soldiers are retur ming from
France at the rate of 500 900 a month.
80 operero~ding will be more and
more serious AS the season advances.
in view OF present needs and as a
means of furnishing employment TO
men discharged from the service, the
nited States Department OF La hor
has been conducting a building cam
paign rsnce the beginning OF the year
Building affects many trades and is
the industry most likely to provide
employment for all types OF men. since
ii stimulates local business while it as
sures wages for skilled and unskiiied
labor. \ return TO normal standards
{of construction means that whole com
munities will benefit and thai pros
peritv Will be assured.
{ AS part OF its general building cam
paigu. the United States Departm ent
of Labor has organized an own your
own home branch, and this part Of the
campaign work gives promise Of con
SANITY increasing success, Cities have
taken 1t up and with the coo operation
of civic organizations and individuals
extensive operations have been started.
During the war most communities
have been educated in ways or prose
cutting the so-ealled drive II ID
.4, ~.
experience gained in Liberty Bond,
Red Cross. and other campaigns and
ITO prosecute homecoming and home
building campaigns that appeal 10
purely local interests
The success of an own your own
home campaign depends on three
things. First the actual need 81
buildings in 4 given community; sec
ond the orea MIA ton through which
the campaign is carried on and, third
publicity,
II n community ia fortunate enough
to have adequate housing fac iltties for
it's population. manifestly an own your
own home campaign will not promise
success. but wherever there is a short
age the campaign should be under
taken from the point or view of civic
and social hetterment The directing
orga nization therefore should have .
personnel made up of men and wome r
who enjoy the confidence OF people o.
every sort. Since the prospective
home builders interest equals. il Il
does not surpass in Importance. th'
com bined interests Of other element:
in the campaign, they should have
representation on the general commit
tee aud or sum committees. Whereve'
llabor is organized the unions should
he literally represented
The directing machinery for al
own your own home campaign shoult
be general committee with the mayor
or some one who could represent hin
as chairman. II is often advisable Il
have the general committee composed
OF the chairmen of subc committees
Second in importance TO The genera
committee is the subcommittee or
finance which MAY be drawn from
Representatives of local banking in
situations and business concerns able
to promote the building industry.
The United States Department o.
Labor has prepared for distribution
on request manual containing de
tail instruction Tor conducting owr
your own home campaigns,