The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-08-05

Never before in the history of the
country has there been such an acute
shortage of housing as exists at the
present time This is specially true of
that type of building suitable for the
tett IL class OF artisan who desires a
home costing not more than 5000.
During the war thousands Of families
were provided with new homes. es-
rpectaIIy in those sections where huge
government contracts had been award
ed. These buildings were in the main
of superior design and CONSTRUCTION
and embodied the latest convenleTces
and up-to-date improvements
When the armtStfce was signed a
new era started. Many OF the plants
were converted back again into lnuus-
tries which would help put the conn
try once again on a peace footing ana
make up for the shortage of many ne
cessities which were neglected While
this country wus in the midst of the
world conflict
most notable instance of this re-
conversion was the huge now plant OF
the Remington Arms Company, 10
Gated at Bridgeport, Conn. which was
leased hast March to the General Elec-
trio Company, through Joseph j. Day
The transaction involved approx
rnately 100000 and ranked among
over closed in the section between
New York City and Boston, for that
matter in the history of the United
States
When the Remington Arms Com
pany erected it's new plant, it provided
for more than 400 houses of various
types which were occupied by those
employed in it's plant These build
ings, however, were not included in
the real estate deal closed by Mr..
Day.
Now that the war is over, few people
remember or realize how gigantic an
operation it was. A few statistics
might serve to throw light on the sub
ject. The plant itself has a floor area
OF ]. SEE, e57 square feet, or more than
&c acres The space covered by the
structures totalled 100000 square feet,
or more than 20 acres At the apex OF
activity in this plant there were 3.aoc
builders at work and about 100 car
loads of materials were brought daily
to the job
It NAV be easier to visualize this
Gigantic operation when it is consid-
cred that in the huge Equitable bulld-
ing in New York City, the largest Of
flee structure in the world, there are
100000 square feet less space and the
wooyworth building occupies about 81
per cent. of the space.
Inc question - C1Lsli S-7aSo' "iio
will become of these large war time
plants and the multitude Of house:
which were erected 10 keep them II
operation? It's answer is not easy Il
find. OF course, the future of tn
Remington plant is assured. WheI
the General Electric Company OBJ
sained possession of the property, l
was naturally taken ont of the mar
ket But not so with the hundreds o
dwelling houses, w,,tcsl we're not in
Guided in the deal. These are still
owned by the Remington Arms Com
psrry, though rented, are simply a
irdeDend ent Inv est ma II Ss Jtsst HOY
long this company viii keep this prop
cray Is a matter of conjecture, an
cannot be answered at this time.
What holds good at Bridgeport /
true in lesser degree, in many othe
sections. The Bridgeport example
quoted, as being one of the most i'm
portant the country over and present
an interesting problem, the solution {
which will be watched by realtoI
throughout the country wherever wa
plants were erected In. speaking c
this phase ofSthe..real estate marke
Joseph p. Day said last week:
when the war started, fndustris
companies were cQnfronted with sey
erai serious problems which had to 4
solved and solved quickly. New plant