The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-09
C. of~C. Takes Up Big Housing
Problem in Topeka.
FavOrs Formation Trust Com.
pany for Building.
MATERIAL WILL STAY HIGH
No Hope for Reduction in Cost
of Construction.
improvement Corporation May
Result From Meet.

Discussion of the housing problem
in Topeka was thrown open today
noon at the Chamber of Commerce by
William Horey, chairman of the out
look committee, in order to get the
opinion of Topeka citizens as to the
best way to take some actual program
that would result in betterment of
conditions in the city,
The outlook committee of the
Chamber of Commerce is to formulate
and present plans as soon as possible
for the organization of an improve
ment corporation. \
That interest in the solution of. the
difficulty ran high among Topeka
business men was apparent by the
large number of men that stayed I'M
til long after the noon hour to listen
and to take part in the discussion.
Judging from the trend of the talks
it seems advisable that some sort of a
trust, improvement company, or Or
ganization of some sort be formed.
stock sold, the project placed under
the direction of prominent, capable
men and an era of building under
taken thru the building company
Many schemes We're presented, ali
of them based primarily on a trust
company of some character. Differ
ences were chiefly in manner of or
ganization.
Plan in Other Cities,
Horey prefaced his remarks by call
ing attention to the fact that about
fifty large cities in the country had
\ already formed local organizations and
X had undertaken the work of relief in
h their district.
i Building and loan organizations
H Will go to the limit in backing i'm
Iprovement- projects" said c. S. Ell
lhave made Topeka the easiest city in
the United States for a man without
Rll the capital to buy a home. We
EPack our belief with our money
III arrangements should be made"
said w. A. Neiswanger, by which
months. They could practically be
sold at once" Neiswanger pointed out
that excessive costs of material-and
labor were delaying building. He de-
clared himself in favor of organizing
an improvement company.
There is apparently no reason to
believe the next few years will see a
drop either in cost of labor or in cost
of building material" said j. H. Lee.
"Citizens should invest in homes now,
as it does not seem that a >drop in
prices causing a financial loss may be
expected soon.''
Inflated Currency Here.
By way of explaining why the dollar
had SO little buying power, ]. r. Bur-
row stated: There is now two and
one-half times as much currency in
the United States as there was before
| the war. High prices will be in eff
feet as long as the present inflated
value of currency remains the same.
Rates of interest have been raised
with a view to lowering the initiation,
| So far without effect"
MANY persons desiring to build
said c. J. Peterson, ARE without suf-
| ficient capital to make the initial pay
ment now required by building and
loan organizations. A trust company
to assist them in buying would be
beneficial"
Peterson predicted no drop in cost
| Of labor or material. He stated that
under present costs, the expense of
| building a house might be estimated
| in round numbers at $1,000 per room.
No Drop in Prices.
From the standpoint of a lumber
dealer. W. I. Miller declared, mo drop
| in prices may be expected for at least
| two years, possibly longer. Heavy
ers prevent the creation of a. surplus.
No drop lin prices may be expected
until a surplus is achieved" Miller
stated that : few years ago houses
could be purchased in Topeka at fifty
cents on the dollar. Under an educa-
ton Of thai kind, he declared. citizens
found the tremendous increase in cost
appalling.
C. L. Mitchell briefly sketched the
needs Of the city. mentioning hotels,
office buildings and houses He de-
| clared all these features should be
considered in an improvement project.
He is strongly in favor of the organi-
cation of a local improvement COM
DaQY.