South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-11-05
FRANCE PLANS BIG
HOUSING DRIVE
Launch Gigantic Scheme to
Build 10000 Homes
in Republic.
BY NEWTON c. PARKE
International News Service STAFF

International News Service Stah
PARIS. Nov. 4.-Under the direc-
tion Of the minister Of liberated re-
sions, a gigantic scheme for the
housing Of hundreds of thousands
OF workmen whose homes were de
Stroyed during the war, has just
been launched.
The plan provides for the organi-
ZatiOn of home construction organ
cations" in every district of the de
vastated zone, modelled 10 some eX-
tent on the building and savings
societies in the United States. These
organizations VIII be financed by
private capital and will have a free
hand in the work Of rebuilding, but
the government will maintain close
supervision 10 avoid the danger Of
speculation. To facilitate their op-
GRAFTON and cheaper the cost OF con-
Struction the government will waive
numerous kinds OF taxes which
would otherwise make the cost of
building tremendous In this man
ner il il hoped TO build thousands
of homes at Approximately the same
cost that prevailed in 1914, despite
sharp increases in the cost Of ma
terial and labor since the war.
i ne DlODAtIl u IOuClAE NOA \ men
| in the devastated area is one of the
most serious confronting France in
her effort TO get quickly back on
her feet. Though more than 20 per
cent Of the factories in the war zone
have resumed operations, they are
now employing less than 10 per cent
Of their personnel before the war.
To some extent this is due to a sub
normal demand for manufactured
products. but largely it devolpS from
/ the fact that there are no buildings
I in which 10 house the workmen and
/ their families.
At first this difficulty was not
foreseen. French manufacturers.
eager to get back 70 the business
as usual basis, devoted all their eff
forts 10 rebuilding their damaged
/ plants and restoring wrecked ma
/ chinery. The employees We're left 10
7 look out for themselves when IL
/ came 10 a matter OF finding shelter.
/ The restoration Of factories went
/ forward so rapidly that in the sum-
mer OF 1920 the lodging situation
/ reached an acute crisis Unless i'm
mediate steps are taken TO provide
I shelter for the laborers French in
/ dustry il bound 20 suffer in 1921.
Houses Needed.
An investigation Dy the bureau OF
! industrial reconstruction OF the min
istry disclosed the fact that at a
very minimum $4,000 houses. shell
I tering 200. 900 workers and their
! families. must be erected before the
! end Of 1921. The estimate does not
Z take into account the condition in
I the mining centers where thousands
/ Of men already have resumed work
For this work Of reconstruction
/ alone il is estimated that at least
S150.O0O.000 will be required. Fur
| thermore the needs Of 500. 600 mer
I who already have resumed work IN
der unsatisfactory housing condi
tions in many cases, are not conSid-
cred.
The first organization 20 take ovel
the work Of rebuilding workmen'
homes has been formed in the lii,
! district Manufacturers themselvel
/ subscribed a large part OF the funds
but part OF the money was Furnished
by the state. To remove the society
from any suspicion. the minister OF
liberated regions and the minister
OF hygiene have approved the by
laws OF the new organization
Each society will De limited in 10
/ operations TO "a certain district -
aside for IL But one or more ma,
unite I'm buying or building opera
/ lions for the purpose OF oh amin,
lower prices.