Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-27

II has taken over run down shrm proper
ties like those of Wilmington, and has
made OF them decent homes, which return
fair net income to the owners.
WAGES AND HOUSING.
Concerning wages and housing the re-
port SAVE: The most recent comprehensive
wage statistics for Wilmington are those
collected during the winter of 1917 by MIR.
Nolcn. At that time, Of $500 workers Tor
whom wage figures were available, 81 per
cent were unskilled. Their average wage
was SIS per week, while the average Tor
skilled labor was S27. Since that time
there has been slight increase IN wage
rates, though it is stated by those best
qualified to know that the weekly earn.
ings, not necessarily wages, OF unskilied
labor at the present time are not above
SIS or $40.
II is a we'll established fact, borne out
bv recent cost of living studies OF the
Federal government, that the worker
cannot nav more than one weeks earnings
for one months rent. Where higher rent
payments prevail the wage earners
family must suffer Lodgers must be taken
into already crowded accommodations;
the standards of living in clothing and food
must be lowered; the women and children
must hs mt to work to increase the family
income. On the present wage basis, then,
q large part of the population OF WHINING
ton cannot afford a rent of more than Sis
month :,
Assuming rental of SIS per month
s2l6 per wear as-the average which the
wage Garner can pay, a builder IN return
for this rental could not afford 10 invest
more than 81 $50 for land and dwelling.
tIa farI with
and water connections would cost ap-
nroxinatelv $500, leaving but 81, $50 for
the house. As we have already seen, under
present building costs the cheapest decent
house that can now be erected must sell
for from x3, 900 to s., 500. 1t is thus I'M
possible to build new homes with rentals
within the reach of the average worker.
The homes that are to be built by the
housing corporation cannot sell with land
for less than 1900, nor rent Tor less
than s25 per month. These houses Will
thus meet the needs OF the skilled and
salaried workers who have steady income
of at least SIS a week, or 81, 500 year.
Those with a lower income will not be able
TO rent the new houses, hut Will ind 1t
possible to better conditions under which
thew live in the old houses as the congestion
is lessened by the new homes. Ii IS at tins
point, in ameliorating the conditions oi
the least skilled workers that the rental
section of the housing corporation viii
perform its chief services. Ii Is here, too,
that the strict enforcement OF the health
and sanitary laws of the city Will be re-
quired.
The bulletin SAYS the establishment of
million dollar housing corporation to
carry through large development prof.
ects and to build houses for Individual
home owners is the only method of secur-
ing inexpensive new houses at the present
time In Wilmington. This corporation
should establish rental section to apply
Octavia Hill principles to the management
of rental properties, especially In the
poorer residence sections. As further
means of cleaning up the slum areas, the
city authorities should be called upon TO
enforce the present health and sanitary
laws, and if these are inadequate, or ii
more inspectors are needed, the city
government should make the necessary
changes.
New laws are needed 10 make second
mortgages more attractive and more Sc
cure, and to provide for the guaranteeing
of land titles by the government along the
lines worked out In Massachusetts and
New York under the Torrens system.
These laws VIII make more money avail
able for home building and viii lessen the
costs and uncertainties of transactions In
land.
The community as whole must put
stop for the future to the hit or miss de-
velopment of the city. Plans must be
made for the growth of Wilmington,
plans that vii allow definite and logical
place for factories, for shops, for parks, for
schools, for public buildings, and above all,
for homes. The present slums aud the
present deteriorating residence streets are
in part the product of the planless develop
ment of the past For this reason, any
constructive housing program must de