The evening world., 1920-08-07
MASSES IN FLATS
NOT RESCUEDB
BUILDERS GAINS
Suburban Projects Increase,
But City Rent Payers
Need Quick State Aid.


j, Home builders are beginning 20
make Substantial gains throughout
che metropolitan district.
New projects reported by architects
and Schtractors during the last two
weelss show more than half residen-
tiai In comparison with barely 20 per
cent. during the first half Of the year
and normal OF 50 per cent. Such
operations arc increasing in volume
after the turn OF the year. when the
ruah of Building plans usually begins
to fan or. This is taken to indicate
that homo building will continue an
IN expanding feature through fall
and winter in defiance of the custom
airy subsistence OF such work In those
seasons.
OF $50 contracts awarded during
the last two weelus, calling for total
outiays OF t15,SSO.OOO, there were 225
residential at SS.575.0 900. But new
plans under way illustrated the re-
vivai better because they show how
homo ventures are running toward
Immediately enlarging volume--e3b
proieota. calling for over tS5, O00. 5000,
embrace S30 housing operations TO
involve s2i.0o0.O0o.
These housing projects cover all
types. although dwellings for one TO
three families In the suburban sections
are IN vast majority. Fiat builders IN
Manhattan stin lag on account OF the
lmpoasiblhty as yet Of getting loans.
bnt mats Of smaller typo arc planned
n steadily increasing volume through
Brooklyn. Long Island City. Jersey
CITY. Mount Vernon, YOnkers, Hobo
kun and Newark. Reports 20 +. w.
Dodge Company for one week reveal
contracts awarded for 40 residential
projects 10 cost el.776.2OO In total Of
$40 operations calling for $685., 5000.
and plans started for 15s residential
oDerationa involving tii,ss3.2oo in a
total for an classes OF SIT projects and
t1s,sS2,7OO.
BUILDERS sss END o. $40
HOUSING SQUEEZE.
Such reports convince real estate OPP
orators that the metropolitan district
b AZ Tho beginning OF che end Of rs
acute houAng troubles But builders
must have time 70 finish their houses,
and ahe mass Of operations 10 b
started during me last half Of the year
Win not be available TO relieve co fal
rent pquee1e Therefore, tia civic or
ganlzations looking after the Interests
Of teaants In crowded nat-house dis
tricts are pressing the politicians with
renewed energy TO haston Temporary
protection for the masses over the
coming year. II IL too late now FOR
builders 20 relieve the crush by pro-
homes before fall and the nat dwellous'
advocates argue that this makes the
demand more imperative for protect
ing them through the crisis by imme-
date legislation. The idea is 70 pre-
vent further rent increases and "a
stop all unnecessary shifting OF
homes especially the for chg OF fam
lies into districts or houses OF q
cheaper type than those in which they
have made their homes.
Landlords, too, have organised pow
erfuliy for the legislative fight. TheiI
interests are watched by scores OF
shrewdest lawyers, brokers and ac-
CELEBRATING organizations. They are
irving 10 make common cause In pub.
lie with civic associations ana tenant
bodies, and they ara plotting to SCI
on the inside Of political deliberations
In all parties. On the face of II, they
are strong and loud-spoken for cor
receive housing legislation. especially
- H.
gouging laws passed by the last Leg
fslaturo. Their lawyers say they wan
II q make the laws better. In the meaI
time, they want also to get every pos
slf5le subsidy and tax exemption Il
favor OF realty owners and mortgage
holders. Their activity seems to SHOW
between the lines that they woult
work strenuously with rent-payers
civic and political bodies 70 seour,
mfch legislation and then would b.
perfeotly satisfied when THE final girls
of the bills came out OF the leglsla
tive hopper n these measures ap
peared In the most favorable form
while the dozen anti-gouging law
were amended and garbled and dis
nlDled until they would be next to nul
and void. As part OF the campaign
the Real Estate Board issues the fol
lowing to-day;
SEEK TAX EXEMPTION FROM
ALL PARTIES.
"If political platforms may be take
seriously, there seems TO be some hop
that IN one important particular tn
next LEGISLATURE Wdil enact leg. Hia
ton 20 relieve housing conditions
Both the Republican and Democrat
platforms contain a plank whic
makes II fair 20 assume that the in
terest on mortgage loans on re-
estate will be exempted from provl