The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-25
Housing Problem

To the Editor of The Age Herald: Your report of the conference between the citizens of the Birmingham district
 and the Senate committee unwittingly.
 am sure, rather tended to interpret my
 testimony before that body as placing
 the responsibility for shortage in house
 building and constructive work chlefly
 and solely upon the high cost of labor.
 This interpretation of my testimony was
 incomplete. The scarcity, inefficiency
 and cost of labor in my judgment was
 only one phase of the many causes con-
 tributing to the obstruction of construc-
 tive work the building of houses and
 highways in our section or the country.
 The high cost of building material,
 freight rates, lack of ready money, dis
 crimination against transportation of
 building material, timidity of private and
 other builders. all have had their bear-
 ing upon this problem. I do not be-
 heve that the high cost of labor is tho sole cause of our construction difficult ties. I believe the inefficiency of labor has been a more potent cause than it's cost, though the cost of labor has af- fected the problem to a degree. All the factors of the added elements of cost that have swelled the total cost of build- ing will have to be reduced proportion ately and these prices will have to be stabilized and become steady to give con- fdence to the men and money who are t3 do this work. I do not believe it 's practicable or desirable that labor shall fall to the pre-war level of prices
 Labor is entitled to a fair return in view of, and in proportion to, all the elements that enter into the cost of a decent and comfortable living for labor. Labor, on the other hand, should aim to earn by good and efficient work and 1 by turning out valuable and marketable product the wages paid. Capital and l. 1. AL 4~.xt~. hnt h friendly, cooperative and appreciative of their mutual value to each other, if we are to have an early, effective and productive re-adjustment of our energies l for constructive and reconstructive work in all of our industrial fields, public and private. Fairness, co-operativeness, | frendliness, honesty and justice must characterize the attitude of these two vital forces of construction towards each other if we are to have any creative results in the field of production. It is high time for the productive forces of society to lay aside strife, war, waste and destruction. Let us dispel the dark ness of strife, prejudice. idleness. high way robbery and let us start an era of production worthy of the resources and opportunities of this great Birmingham | district Why should this district not set 1 the pace for the nation in the work oi industrial reconstruction and rehabita- ticn? All we need is the will and the l spirit to do it.
 | The following statistics taken from the records of our building department I showing the number of permits issued for the building of dwelling houses in
 Birmingham from October, 1913, to Oc- l tober, 1920. inclusive. will indicate the 1 influence of the various obstructive fac | tors upon the Encouragement of home building in our community. Home f1ild- t.<t< <.r<v1 tnr m a 1 and happiness of our citizenship.
 1913 permits for dwelling houses ... l,Ol' 1 1914 permits for dwelling houses 9si 1 1915 permits for dwelling houses 4z 1 1916 permits for dwelling houses .... f2 i 1917 permits for dwelling houses S2 l 1918 permits for dwelling houses -.... l6 1 1a1e permits for dwelling houses .. 29 | 1920 permits for dwelling houses 4o HENRY PAGE BgRRUSS. November 24 1920