The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-06-24

he destroyed the source OF supply THAI
must first be reconstructed" before
private operation can expect to func-
ton normally.
Many Of the shippers from different
parts Of the country who have been
appearing before the Interstate Com
merce Commission are urging an in
crease OF passenger rates, as well as
freight rates, to meet the railroad sit
uation. There has been no one, in the
hearings to question the necessity for
increased railroad rates, but the man
ner of making the increases has been
discussed in all its phases. The rail
road companies have asked that the
increased rates be applied to freight
alone, but some of the commissioners
are inclined TO distribute the burden
among passengers who travel and the
shippers
body will be satisfied with increased
rates before the situation is solved,
since the railroad workers are push
ing their claims for increased wages
at the hearings in Chicago. If the in
creased freight rates that are asked
for are granted by the commission the
amount Will be only sufficient to take
care of the present railroad financing
so that increased passenger rates will
likely be necessary to provide for ex-
pected wage increases.
According to Stone and Webster
there were 23,292,SS7 families in exis-
tence in the United States in 1916, and
the number of dwellings in the country
numbered 20,263,051 In 1920 there
were 25.319.443 families and 2O,90O,0O0
dwellings. While families have been
increasing in a healthy manner, show
ing an increase of 2,026,556 in the per-
iod covered, the number of dwellings
has increased but 636,949. Dwellings,
we assume, mean places of all kinds
where families live-with or without
the conveniences called modern"
From these figures 1t seems plain that
that if the country was caught up on
its housing facilities in 1916, that it is |
now short million and a half of hous-
es. Pittsburg is reported 10000 houses |
short, and Detroit Is two or three |
times as bad Off.
THE great activity in building oper- |
ations which was expected on the re- |
turn of peace has not materialized,
says the Stone and Webster Journal.
and then there follows this com
ment: why should It? The wages
which the building trades are receiv-
ing are almost prohibitive and they
are demanding still more, so that no
contractor will take a lump sum con-
tract. Building materials have ad-
the twenty-five per cent
intimated in the case of the landlord |
rs being profiteerngly high-but 100
per cent or more, and no one will say
that the end is yet in sight"
The wide contrasts between the
number of families and the supply Of |
fresides is surely lamentable, but
NhNi ~ 10 AANtit W ludl lhcIS IL
any probability of relief in sight. The
aw of supply and demand has evi-
1ently been upset by price-fixing,
and too much regulating
)y the government. and perhaps after
awhile new roots will be created for
homeless heads.
Besides the election of president |
md a vice-president there are other
Incidental matters that the electors of
he country will be called on to settle
Four hundred and thirty-five represen-
atives in congress are to be selected.
At present the majority in the lower
branch of congress is republican, but
most Of the time during recent years
t has been democratic. It will be
light in every congressional district to
urn the balance. Thirty-three sena.
.ors are to be chosen. At the present
lime the party strength stands 40 re-
46 democrats and one We.
fancy. Based upon the complexion Of
,arty control in the thirty-two states