The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-11
POOR HOUSING
BICFACT0R IN
LABOR PROBLEM

Keen interest is being manifested by
large employers of labor. as well as by
architests and builders. in Investigations
being conducted conditions under
which working men are living which
have already conclusively shown that IN
satisfactory housing is the big factor in
the present abnormal labor turnover. says
The American Architests weekly re-
vbiew. Municipalities nave also been
quick to realize that rapid migration from
plant to plant and from city to city rep
resents not merely serious economic
loss but an obstacle to good citizenship
and community welfare.
But 1t has been due to the enterprise
or many large corporations that action
is now being taken to remedy conditions,
for ii was leading business men who were
first to see that one of the greatest losses
sustained by them resulted from the shift
OF their labor force.
In showing that moving of men Is
source of great money loss. a survey has
been made in a southern city where one
particular block was selected as typical
Of the conditions under which workmen
were living This square was canvassed
or Monday and then recanyassed on Fiji
day of the same week. The first canvass
revealed a total iof one hundred men
roon,ing III the houses of the block. On
Friday of the same week 1t was found
that one hundred and fifteen men were
Sleeping in the same rooms, but that only
thirty of the original hundred were still
being accommodated in the block
InveN igation revealed that the ma
jority of the original number had left the
city. The men were working under good
factory conditions and excellent pay. The
conclusion showed that 1t was the poor
hnrt inc hat large
turnover. The results OF this survey
have been duplicated IN cities in many
other sections of the country. Some To-
calities quick to realize the seriousness
of the situation, have taken steps through
newly formed organizations, and are act |
ins to prevent further shifting of their |
labor forces. But there are many munic- |
qualities who have let their labor depart |
without stopping to ask the reason why |
seeking to prevent their leaving. More
attention should be paid toward provid- |
ing comfortable and sanitary homes for
the workingmen by cities throughout the
country. If this is not done there will
most surely be further exodus.
Sufficient homes for the population
around industrial plants is what is need
ed. From study of nearly nine hundred
replies to a QUESTIONABLE circulated by
a leading construction company, the gem
eral impression is gained that the causes
OF labor turnover today improper or
insufficient housing, inadequate trans
portal ton, general restlessness, and a lack
Of care in placing men In positions for
which they best fitted.
One port that Investigation OF
housing cort6 lions has bought out is
that the iSTe of house in which the
vorkirgpl2a Is generally lodged is not
suited to his needs and IS often beyond
his carr ire power to support Three and
foJr r6.o:u apartments and four and five
room Houses are types meeting with
siderable success. A certain mini
mum require ment must be met, which
should include a good-sized living room
FIR general use, sleeping rooms of sui
ficient size and number of meet health
demands, and adequate facilities of SAN
ration.
TIE majority of workingmen will nat
uraly go where they will be comfortably
Fuused. They may be lured temporarily
by attractive wages to ver-populated
cities. but they will not stay there Far
ticularly is this true If the workman has
family ties. Then the chances are that
even though he may not care where he
ives himself. effort will be brought to
lear from other sources and he viii move
until his family Is happy and contented
with their surroundings and they are In
a suitable environment. During the past
driven away from the larger cities, be-
cilities was first felt in centers where the
manufacturing of necessities flour
ished. They have been obliged to seek
employment in smaller communities
where the chances of being properly
housed were better.
With building at present only about so