Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-27
WILMINGTON NEEDS
1900 DWELLINGS
FOR 1900 PERSONS
According to Report Of Commit
tee Which Has Been Studying
the Problem.
ST. 100000 HOUSING
COMPANY PROPOSED

| the accommodation OF 1900 persons
according 10 report which has Just beer
made public by DR. Joseph II. udeiir
director OF the Service Citizens OF Della
ware, nj the request of n JOINT committee
| which spent some time studying the houa-
ing situation here. This committee com
prised representatives oi the oentrh'
Labor Union and Service Citizens. In l's
efforts the committee obtained the assist
ancc of the Bureau Of Municipal Research
which went into the subject in detail.
american civilization will be blighted
unless the thoughtful people of each com
munity endcavor seriously to cure their
local ills and errors" DIR. Odell states, IN
his introduction to the report, which has
been printed in pamphlet form. I'll there
is a way out from the congestion and cor
ruption," he continues, Wilmington
ought TO find the way. The joint commit
tec believes that this report gives WI,
nington a fair chance to do ITS duty ana
become an ideal community.
The Central Labor Union was repre-
sented on the joint committee by George
Sauter, Fred w Stierle, John H. Hickey
and Robert w. Kramer, with James j.
Dale succeeding Mr.. Kent later, and the
Service Citizens by Charles G. kurtz,
X
|. Ford and Mrs. Preston Lea. The bull
letin contains a summary Of the report of
the Bureau of Municipal Research, pre-
pared in November of last year. much OF
the year being consumed toy 1t and the
JOINT committee in making the survey.
CAUSE AND EFFECT.
Causes of the shortage of houses
Is attributed, IN She report, TO lack OF con-
struction because of the war and expan-
sion OF industries In the same time. Sinoe
the spring of 1914 the population, the
report says, increased 10 per cent and
houses only III per cent.
Effects of house shortage-on thus
subject the report says: Ihts lack oi
homes is a vital prohlem. Ii has already
been felt in dangerous overcrowdlng, IN
excessively high death and infant NOR
tallty rates, in rent prohteering, IN de
creased industrial efficiency, In increased
labor turnover, and has actually resulted
in driving workers and business 10 other
cities where homes can be found. IL the
present hotsing shortage continues Tor
any considerable period Of time the effect
upon Wilmington viii be serious indeed
Wilmington cannot expect TO grow With
out first meeting its housing problem; 1t
cannot get new business, without an ade-
quate supply of efficient labor; 1t cannot
man the industries without housing the
man. Whole families cannot live IN one
room and rear strong. healthy children.
The wage Garner cannot pay hall his earn
ings for rent and still support hls family.
The foreigner cannot be Americanized
when forced 10 live In un-Amerlcan sur
roundings. The ultimate effect Of bad
housing reaches stall further. 1t results IN
In poverty, in crime.
Cost of bad hollsIng-There is nothing
more costly than bad housing, the report
says: The property owners pay for 1t IN
taxes and the poor rate; industry pays Tor
it In labor shortage and decreased ef-
ficiency; the merchant pays Tor II when
workers with wages 10 spend are driven TO
other cities TO live; the community pays
for il in epidemics and sickness, In moral
degeneration and crime. IN labor unrest
and dissatisfaction; the workers pay for it
by suffering; the growing children pay for
it In stunted growth, weakened physique
and bad hab S.
Private builders, the report says, are
afraid to go ahead. Building costs have
risen between 90 per cent and i05 per
cent since 1914; decrease In building
prices and therefore in rents is expected IN
The next few years, so that the promoter
hesitates to build at present prices for
'ear his buildings will have to compete for
tenants or purchasers with other homes of
equal quality but lower cost. For the
same reason, the building promoter has
ound it difficult to finance his operations;
he investors are holding back. Money |
or home building is hard TO find. Tax |
Exempt bonds and lucrative industrial |
tocks are draining the market. The situa- |
ion In Wilmington Is still further ag- |
,ravated by the State mortgage law. The |
uccessful financing OF large home build |
ng projects depends IN no small measure |
lpon the possibility OF marketing first and /
econd mortgages. Under the present /
tate law the holder OF the second mort |
age has almost no protection and no l
interest inducement, and as result second I
Mortgages cannot be marketed. The lack /
{ city zoning Is further deterrent to /
ome building. Except for the restriction
n public garages, each property owner
as an unlimited right to make any use of
is property regardless Of its influence
pom the homes of his neighbors No
esidence section is safe against the in
aston of shops and factories. The costs
ttendant upon real estate transactions
TT CoiA4I w 10 u
uilding projects.
HANDICAP TO BUILDING.
Under the present practice where land
bought, building constructed and a
lortgage placed, three separate and
istinet titles searches must be made and
aid for, and as there are no title guaran-
e companies In Delaware, these title
arches are of no binding validity. There
re those who believe that the tax rate is
eterrent to home building There are,
owever, many American cities with
gher rates and more adequate housing
1d still Others with lower rates and more
1tical housing shortages. A study of
her cities leads to the conclusion that the
x rate has little to do with housing short
,es But whatever the causes, one thing
clear: the housing shortage in Whining
N is not being met by private builders
Id private investors. The housing prob
IN must be attacked by the community.
SOLUTION SUGGESTED.
AS TO solution, the bulletin says The | I
lly solution of the problem is the organ
alton of housing corporation to build
,mes in Wilmington. This corporation {
ould be organized by the citizens of
Continued on page 2