Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-03-26
CHAMBER GETS
PLAN TOSOLVE
HOUSING NEEDS
Two Men Offer To Sub
scribe $4,000 Each
To Project

movement for the immediate
erection of apartment houses for
rental purposes as solution of the
housing problem in Americus was put
definitely under way today when the
Chamber of Commerce special COM
mittee on Apartment Houses and
Rental Property at its initial meet
ing, took action recommending to the
board of directors the formation at
once of a syndicate, with at least
100000 capital, for the building of
this type of residence. 1t was believ-
ed that three or four buildings, each
accommodating several families,
could be erected for that amount of
money, as beginning, all of which
would command sufficient rental to
make the investment paying one.
At the committee meeting were
two men who volunteered the state
ment that they would put $4,000 each
into such a syndicate, and the opin-
ion was expressed by them and others
that plenty of other men would be
easily found who would do likewise.
The committees action was report
ed this afternoon in the following
resolution, filed with the chamber
board, by R. E. Allison, chairman of
the special committee:
The Resolution.
Resolved, that we, the Apartment
House and Rental Property Commit
tee of the Chamber of Commerce,
have considered the needs for rental
property for caring for the people de-
string to reside in Americus, recon-
mend to the directors of the Cham
ber of Commerce the immediate or
ganization of syndicate of 100000
capital, or greater, for the building
of apartment houses and other
dwellings in Americas"
The entire committee was present,
composed of r. E. Allison, chairman;
w. E. Mitchell, George D. Wheatley,
/ p. B. Williford and w. s. Kirkpat-
rick. In addition President Carr
Glover and Secretary Perkins, of the
chamber, were present, Mr.. Glover
having been asked to attend to ex-
plain to the committee what was ex-
pected of it, and j. E. Hightower and
I Walter Rylander were chance visitors
at the meeting. All of these men
/ were invited to. participate in the
roundtable discussion and all assist
ed in the development of the conclu-
sions reached.
On Patriotic Basis.
We've got to get away from the
per cent idea in this town and put
this problem on a patriotic invest
ment basis, was the sentiment voiced
by the men present. But it was also
unanimously agreed that apartment
houses could be made to pay well as
| investments, as the need for them is
so acute that rentals may be based
upon investment.
| There are a million dollars worth
of Liberty bonds, drawing 3 1-2 per
cent, lying idle in this locality" said
President Glover "I've got some of
them; have friends who have them,
and great many people have them.
! We bought them in time of govern
ment need. That need is now past,
and we should put this money, or
some of it, to work for the good of
the community, for we are confront
ed with a situation that demands pa
triotic consideration, Just as our gov
ernment demanded it. We must con-
vert some of these bonds into apart
ment houses-places where people
who cannot own their homes, but
want to reside here, may live. | am
ready to put $4,000 into a 100000
syndicate to build apartment houses
here, and | am certain that there are
a number of other men here who vii
do the same thing"
''rll put $4,000 into such syndl-
- H. d., ~
Demand Insistent
Mr.. Wheatley cited Ddmerous in
stances of insistent demands for
property to rent by people desiring
to come to Americas to reside, many
of them instances IN which price was
of little object He assured that
apartments economically constructed
could be rented at whatever price
was necessary to net fair return
on the money invested. He declared
the need vital to the future of the
city.
Mr.. Williford, also real estate
man, confirmed Mr.. Wheatley's
statements concerning demand. 9th
ers stated that while the greatest de-
mand was for moderate priced
homes, here was an immediate de-
mand here for first class apartments
which would rent for from $50 to SIS
per month.
A field for development, aside
from the construction of new apart
ments, as suggested by committee
members, is the acquiring of several
large old residences, now available,
all we'll built, which might easily be
comparatively cheapy be converted
into apartment houses, thereby in
creasing the housing facilities of the
community. A number of such places
were mentioned as being on the mar
ket at moderate prices, presenting op-
portunities in this line for attractive
(Copfirued IN naoa HveN