The Washington times., 1921-04-10
TENANTS DEMAND
ELECTRIC AIDS NOW
installation of ''Power" Conven-
fences Is Real Economy for !.
Property Owners.

The nation is short 1900. 900 homes.
according to a statement made by
Daniel Crawford. jr., president of the
Philadelphia Operative Builders As
sociation, at a recent convention of
National Federation of Construction
Industries. in Chicago.
"In addition to 100000 homes"
said Crawford, "thc United States
needs 100000 factories, 5000 schools
and public institutions, 10000 apart
nent buildings, 10000 theaters and
churches. $50 freight terminals and
$4,000 railroad stations, tool houses
and the like"
This is a big building job. and the
problem of properly equipping such
buildings tp meet the growing de-
hands of the public looms large in
the immediate future. For people are
demanding that the rule of efficiency
in equipment extend to the home as
well as. the office and factory. This
is essentially true Of those who live
in buildings constructed on the multi
rie home basis. When an owner Of
fers one of the multiple home build
ings to the public today, he must be
able to show complete equipment
OF electrical conveniences.
This is real economy in the end,
because such a building commands
better income, appeals to high-class
tenants and provides for all possible
needs SO there is little occasion for
complaint about inadequate facilities.
In a broad way, the electrical in
stallation in such a building may be
divided into two parts-that part
common to, or serving all parts of
the building, such as elevators, feed
rnain tch I'd nd he 4
intended for the individual apart
ments. Within these individual
apartments the equipment should be
complete.
The lighting should, OF course, re-
ceive first attention. There should be
fiexibility as TO the switching ar
rangements. and fixtures of the fu-
ture are going to be more flexible.
They have always been fastened per-
manently to walls and ceiling, but
the fexibility of fixtures has now
been made possible by the invention
of a new method of connecting wires
and fixtures, so that they can be
connected or disconnected very easily.
Living rooms must receive their in
dividual treatment and plenty of out
lets must be provided. Dining rooms
offer many opportunities for install
lation of electrical conveniences, and
there Is no other place where they
are more appreciated. especially when
the one maid may be a minus guam
tity. TIL eprovision of power outlets
for the heating appliances for the
dining table and for side tables is a
problem deserving careful attention.
All the power receptacles should be
designed to take the same plug, and
these should be made to At only the
power outlets. so as to prevent their
connection to lighting circuits which
are not designed to carry relatively
heavy currents required by the heat
ing appliances.
Like all good servants. electricity
can turn it's hand to anything-in the
kitchen with the cooking. in the pan
try with the dishwashing. In the
dining room it will help with the
morning meal by heating the perco-
lator, toaster or grill: in the bath
room it will warm water for the
morning shave; in fact. IT fills the
every-hour need of the modern home.