The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-08-17

II & one OF the few cities which
has devised and successfully put
into operation practical scheme
for relieving the housing shortage.
It IL building houses-just as fast
a. 1t can get the materials with
which to build them. Nearly .
hundred brand new homes have al
ready sprung up where . few
months ago there were only vacant
lots, and it is expected that . hun
dred more will be ready for occu-
pancy by the end Of this year.
st. Louis is q great home city
and its citizens are extremely
proud Of this fact. st. Louis may
not be beautiful and 1t may not be
interesting, they are fond OF tell
ing you. but as home city 1t Is a
shining example. Thus, you can
see how the scarcity Of houses,
which has been deplored but 9TH
erwise ignored by other commune
ties, would stir St. Louis more
than any other calamity.
The st. Louis Home and Hous-
ing association was the result Of
this agitation. This Is a $4,000, 900
corporation, supported by the
Chamber Of Commerce and the City
Commercial club, for the purpose
OF building cheap and comfortable
homes in various sections Of the
City and country, wherever the
heed appears greatest 1t was
originally intended that the houses
would be for the benefit Of indus
trial workers, the manufacturers
subscribing to the fund deciding
that it would be more practical to
club together and build in one
group instead of building in sep
arate groups for their different
plants.
Workers Do Not Buy.
AS it turned out, however, the
wage-earners Of St. Louis have
not made the slightest attempt to
take advantage Of the houses so
far provided. In spite of the fact
that they are undoubtedly bargains,
at the present cost OF building ma
terials, and in spite of the fact that
the working man is supposed to be
rolling in wealth these days, there
has been a surprising lack Of re-
Spouse from the working classes
It seems incredible. but the only
way TO explain it is that the work.
ing classes cannot afford to buy
the homes.
"Wage-earners have only a small
amount Of capital and small wages
to invest in real estate" explained
Nelson Cunlif, the st. Louisan
who has been placed in charge Of
the home and housing association
"They used to buy $4,000 houses
paying $500 cash and the balance
over a long period Of years. Now
with the cost Of building material:
240 Fer cent higher than it was be-
fore the war, a house which would
have cost $4,000 in 1914 costs toda,
approximately $1,000 or $4,000
This is beyond the means of the
average working man.
But the houses are in great de-
mand among the salaried people
the so-called middle class OF st
Louis-who are anxious to vacatt
fats that have undergone a 800 pei
cent increase In rent. For then
these houses are very good prop
osition."
He drew some photographs from
the drawer of his desk. They show
ed the various types Of houses un
der construction. most of then
. comfortable, solid looking bricl
domiciles, with attractive facade
and neat back yards extending t,
an alley. We have seen many NOR
attractive looking houses for eigh
and nine thousand dollars, but tina
was in the east, before the war.
II ST. Louis Likes Brick.
st. Louis not only loves homes
but 1t loves brick homes, and.
= has some rigid building restric