The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1919-06-25
Housing in the
United States

mas housing problem. IL has, IN
deed, become plainly apparent that
the improvement and large increase OF
housing accommO dations should, from
this time on, be regarded as one OF
the foremost concerns of the period
of reconstruction and readjus tmen.
Incidentally, it will do no harm for
! Americans TO be mindful of the fact,
for it is a fact, that at the presen:
time this republic is behind some of
the other nations in graphing, in any
| systematic and comprehensive way,
with .he housing problem. Much has,
of course, been heard about the made
quacy of living quarters of all grades
in some of the conspicuous centers,
notably Washington and New York
while various other large cities, es-
pecially in the east, have for several
years been aware that in their midst
question of this kind was steadily
growing more pressing. The expecta-
ton seems to have been common that
the building situation would present
simpler aspec. after the close of the
war, but this expectation has not yet
been realized. Thus far, nobody seems
to have come forward with any propo-
sition that promises a solution of the
problem and there is daily increas-
ing evidence that the legislatures of
several of the states, including New
York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,,
and Louisiana, will be called upon to
devise and provide relief Signs of in
creasing interes. and promise of help
full activity are to be found in the dis
cussion of the subject and the appoint
ment of committees of inquiry by
city and town governments, as well as
by private organizations. At the pre-
sent stage people generally appear
to be puzzled over the conditions found
and by the outlook. But il is wholly
reasonable to believe that this state of
affairs may be accounted for by the
fact that things are different from
what they have been, and because peo-
pie, as rule, have only begun to give
attention to the question of ways and
means in the new circumstances. Pro-
badly the situation in New York is the
most striking since the experience in
Washington, which reached it's climax
during and largely because of, the
war. The New York position involv-
es, besides great insufficiency of habi-
tations, alleged profiteering on the
part of many owners of houses and
apartment buildings. Three different
officials agencies are dealing with New
York's problem, the Mayors commit
tee, the State Reconstruction Com
and joint legislative COM
mittee. A pleasant note is to be found
in the utterance of the chairman of the
Mayors committee, who says that the
of landlords are averse to
raising of rents, and that
it has been decided to create a sub
committee on mediation and concilia-
ton to make proper settlements,
wherever possible, between landlords
and tenants.
In other of the older cities of the
country, such as Philadelphia, New
Orleans, and Boston, municipal Off
Gals and organizations are emphasiz-
ng the imperative need of more effec-
i've attention than heretofore to san i
tary regulation of tenement proper
", in order that the most may be made !
Of existing accommodations The
Mayors committee ON housing in Bos- |
Jon recommends housing improve
nents in the old North End section of /
he city as already outlined by the i
,ity planning board, to be accomplish |
I'd within the present calendar year,
md proposes the establishment of d
fund, to be administered by !
/ housing council of five members, for
making loans to encourage the build
ng of multiple dwelling for low rem
al.
The main practical aspects of the !
situation, with regard to new construc-
ion, seem to be summed up in re-
;ent remark by the chairman of the |
lousing committee of the Merchants |
Association of New York, that the
actors which are delaying the build
ng of apartments and houses are high |
costs and difficulties of financing. It |
seems to be more and more the gener-
Il opinion, as this authority also says,
hat there is grave doubt as 20 any |
lowering of the price lev
i within the next few years. So the |
hings to be done seems, as usual, to |
,e the best that can be done in the cir
umstances. With practical business
non, legislators and economists, as
veil as humanitarian agencies at
york on the problem, something ade-
Luate to meet the more pressing needs
nay surely be expected. Without
oubt there are great number of in
ividuals over all parts of the country
Who were preparing to build houses
or their own use when such plans
we're everywhere suspended by the
var. Many of these persons, it is safe
0 assume are questioning the econo-
nc possibility of carrying out plans
ow or in the near future. If some
neans could be devised for helping in
ividual to finance the construction Of
UGH houses, the result would, in the
ggregate, largely improve the gen.
raj situation. Here may be an oppor-
unity for the legislators.-Ch Christian
cinnno Mnnihnr