Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-14
DANIEL CRAWFORD, JR.
On the Building Situation In PhIladeIphI

On the Building Situation In Philadelphia
THAT the building situation IN Philadel-
l. phia has not met the demands Of the
growth Of the city since the beginning of the
war is Il matter OF common knowledge, but
that the public Is not fully informed as to
the reasons for this, Is the opinion of Daniel
Crawford, Jr., president of the Philadelphia
Operative Builders Association.
"Our association" said Mr.. Crawford,
'is distinctive from the contractor builders
in that we build homes principally, and
therefore arc interested in the furtherance
Of the utilities Of Philadelphia, which the
contractor builder seldom is, because he
usually builds in a developed section. We
often build in those sections which In this
sense have not yet been fully developed.
Zone of the greatest difficulties in the de-
veIopment of Philadelphia for twenty five
years has been the lack Of extension Of the
utilities, which has operated to retard the
most rapid building of homes. We have
never had conditions where the builder was
free 10 select his location for development
because he has been confined TO locations
where it was possible to get such utilities
as drainage. gas. electric and transit, but OF
these drainage or sewerage is the most i'm
portnnt.
An Important Factor
tho importance Of the extension Of the sew
eragc system, which is the one factor which
determines the possibility Of devel lopmCnt.
Probably this js largely because It is buried
and therefore cannot be seen, whereas the
other utilities, such as transit and the others.
are In constant sight and therefore in mind.
But proper drainage Is the first consideration
for the health of a nelghborhood az we'll
the most important from the standpoint of
! the builder.
~, Ia ri
| housing conditions In this city is rather
| unique, owing largely to the fact that the
| public has been mised into the thought--or
| rather hOpe-that 1t will be able TO obtain
| housing accommodations at pre- war prices.
| This is not possible under the changed eco
| nomic conditions of the city and the country.
"If it be admitted that labor must be paid
| an increase Of so per cent over the pre-war
| prices In order to meet living expenses, then
| 1t follows as matter OF course that the
cost Of building construction must be rela-
| lively higher.
"As a matter Of fact. the housing cost IN
| Philadelphia, previous to the war, was alb.
| normally low. This condition was brought
about by the fact that the city had Il class
| of workmen engaged in the construction Of
| small houses who worked at a very low rate, ,
and in addition worked unusually long hours.
| In many cases this work was taken on the
| 'picccwurk basis, and the men often worked
| from daylight to dark in order to finish that
| particular JOD ana TAKE HhOtUer one IN order
| that they might make more money. The net
| result of this system was that we were able
| TO build small houses In this city fully -
| per cent below the cost Of the same house in
| any other large city In the United States.
War Changed Conditions
"The war completely changed these labor
| conditions and the men were no longer will o.
ing to work under them.
- Taking into account the increases in tho
| wages paid, as we'll as the shorter working
day the increase in the cost Of production
| Of houses In Philadelphia has been greater
than in any other large city.
Before the war we could produce houso
in Philadelphia for $4,000 which would cost
$4,000 in New York, this difference being due
to the unusual labor conditions here. TODAY
that same house would cost $4,000 to buiId
in New York and also $40, 900 here. so that
| while the increase in New York has been
$4,000, the increase here has been $4,000
| '',Fhis Is borne out by actual estimates
which many Of the builders have rommiieJ
within the last three months. They f6und
that n house which formerly cost $4,000 tn
build now costs $500, and houses which
then cost $1,000 now cost $4,000. while thc
cost Of n former $4,000 house is now S0O00
| This does not take into account the cost NJ
| the land, the overhead or the financial itens
| it merely covers the actual cost Of construc :
ton. While these other items have nor II. .
creased 30 largely as the construction costs
still they, too, have gone I'D appreciablv
Added together, the sum total of t6e cost ~
! '''' VI