Arizona republican., 1921-05-25
By Frederic J. Haskin

NEW YORK CITY May 23 = Rreathes there man with soul so dead who never to himself hath said. Own Your Own Home,"? If so, let him attend the Own Your Own Home exposition when it ap- pears in his town and forthwith be converted.
 This exposition has already been held in Chicago and New York. where it turned thousands of settled cliff dwellers into determined home own CTS. and is now on it's way to various other cities.
 It consists of a whole miniature suburb, reproduced in elaborate de- tail, including many different types of attractive homes. set off by tiny gardens and dignified by that boon of the landscape gardener-the tall and stately cedar Nothing is lack ing in the way of homely realism. from the latest thing in laundry tubs to the best type of rambler rose for the front veranda. All that goes into the making of the modern American home-as well as much that doesn't --is there before the dazzled gaze of the homeseeker, to say nothing of the homes themselves. There are severe, little, stucco houses: quaint, little frame dwellings large and pre- tentious brick houes-a wide selec- ton to choose from.
 All are reproductions of prize-win- ming designs from a recent national small-house contest, which was held under the auspices of the American Institute of Architects, and in which thousand architects took part. A nationally known architectural jury selected 29 designs in three classes Gumber. brick. and stucco and back plastered metal lath) for prizes to- taling s15,000. The awards were governed principally by the economy of space shown in the floor plans and preference was given to designs that would be reasonable in upkeep and reduce general operating eX penses to minimum.
 For the exposition is designed to reach the great mass of small home builders. It strives to show the man with only a small amount of capital how he can build a comfortable, thoroughly up-todate house at a surprisingly low cost, and thus escape exorbitant rent.
 Home building is not only desirable now. il is a necessity, the organizers of the exposition point out. Accord ing to Robert H. Sexton. it's managing director the national dwelling short age at the close of last year was placed at the appalling figure of l. 250,000 Tn normal times" he says,
 w 350000 and 100000 family dwellings each year. In 1919 only S5,000 such dwellings were erected, and in 1920 but 5000 were reported. One fourth of the population is either living in rented quarters or is improperly housed. The country is 1,000,0 ,000 homes short
 Effects of Housing Shortage
 This situation the home- building O is r1a fn 10 nation from two important aspects. First. 1t has a deleterious effect upon the public health. In New York a re- cent housing survey brought to light many instances where families of 12 and 15 members were living crowded together in one and two rooms. The public health departments of other cities report a similar state of affairs. Nor is overcrowding confined to so- l called slum districts; it is also found | to prevail among the middle classes | The scarcity of homes likewise 1 breeds discontent. it is pointed out | and keeps a large part of the popula- uon restless and rowing whereas for l the good of the nation it should be quietly housed. The homeless citi- zen. who drifts from one community | to another is seen to be possible source of social and political disorder | The government is beginning to | feallZe that homeless citizens and families, rich and poor. are not usual | ly the best American citizens says Alr Sexton. Tt is beginning to realize that every additional home owner 1 makes an additional credit possibility to the nations wealth and an addi tional urge for all other forms ot | permanent construction In other | words, MT. Sexton believes the gov ernmen is coming around to the Chestertonian belief that under tht system of private property, every cit | izen should be a private propert,
 owner.
 Justs what the government intend
 to do about it. however, still remain
 d mystery. It is known to have ac
 quired vast reams of information
 upon the subject; to have been dee
 in. the consideration of public healt
 reports on housing conditions an
 financial reports concerning mort
 gages and loans, as well as report on rent increases in various cities