The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-04-22
LUMBER IS CHEAP

1eTS convinced the e1SnCy-ilVS p0TSOuS
present that the notwithstanding
policy SO many of us have been fol
lowing, expecting building materials
to come down, is merely a case of
fooling ourselves. Whereas a few
months ago the lumbermen discour-
aged any building that was not abso-
lutely necessary, thinking prices must
go down, they have been forced to the
conclusion that there is to be nc re-
duction, at least for a number of
years. AS a matter of fact, statistics
show that lumber is the cheapest art
Gle on the market today in comparison
with other commodities. Farm pro-
ducts since 1907 have increased
1860, clothing 215% &c, all other COM
modities except building materials
1879, while building materials have
increased since 1907 only 1850,
making the lowest commodity on the
market today. In the years follow
ing the Civil War prices on building
material reached the high figure and
it took 13 years for them to settle
back to normal. R. A. Long of
Kansas Cityt, says: eff you think
more of your money than you do of
your family, don't build. However,
if you think more of your family than
you do of your money, build and build
on today's prices"
"Do you know" said Mr.. Fellers,
chat over a hundred Kansas towns
and nearly that many in Nebraska
with population of less than a thou
sand are paving, putting in up-to-date
sewer systems? Do you know that
a small town in eastern Colorado,
less than 1000 people, is building to-
day a 100000 hotel and last year
they erected over SO new residences
and this year they expect to more
than double that. 1t is out in a
prairie country with no future and
nothing of the kind that we have to
draw from either"
Fred Schwa1Ier said, ''The housing
situation is very serious and the
prices many people are paying for
some of these old ones they could
really build new ones and have them
much more convenient and comfort
able than they have now. I have al
ways been against building here but I
can't see anything in the future
where it going to be any better. ]
think now that it is the time to build
Mr.. Rea said, 81 think that this
housing proposition is one that we all
want to take seriously and right now.
AS has been said, the conditions that
exist in Hays, exist in every commun-
ity in Kansas, in fact all over the
United States. We are losing a golden
opportunity here by not being able to
supply people with houses who would
come to Hays on account of the edu-
cational advantages. Then too, if
people can't get houses in other towns
and can in Hays, it stands to reason
that they will come to Hays to live.
again, the Own your own home
slogan is one of the answers and an
effective answer to the Bolshevism
and unrest that exists in the United
States of America. The man who
owns his own home isn't going to go
out and boost for socialism or COM
monism or any other 'ism.' Now some
six months ago there was organized
here Building and Loan Association.
AS a result, two new homes are going
up now and it has $1,000 worth of first
class loans. That institution, if it
had the money, could put out
$4,000 inside of the next two weeks
on building home propositions in the
City Of Hays. The only reason we
don't do it is because we haven't the
money. If the business men of HAYS
would buy deposit stock in that insti-
tuition, with the understanding that it
was not to be withdrawn for eighteen
months or SO, we could start a chain
OF new homes in Hays. You would be
adding to your own assets and helping
~ N0A0 AP yOuI IOWHs ne QeDOS1l
stock pays SO interest and it is back.
ed by q set of business men, the in
vestments are all looked after by able
business men in this town and we fee
that your money put into this propo-
sition is safe and is for the benefit OF
the community not only as a home
building proposition but when you
come to consider the advantage that /.
to be gained by intoxicating thrift anc
economy in people who can only put
away small amounts at intervals.
Il was reading the other day thai
3 dollar now is worth only Sd cents
If you get 81 cents now and put them
in the Building. and Loan Stock, wher
times regain their normal condition
you will find that your Sd cent dol
lars will eventually be worth 100
cents on the dollar which will be an
item OF interest to consider as vel
as the go interest which you get OF
your Building and Loan"
Booster trips composed of four cars