The Washington times., 1921-02-12
Build Your Own- Home
Drive Urged to Bridge
Housing Crisis in u. S.


sake OF the patriotic effort to restore
housing to normal.
This great Home-Loan bond drive
naturally would start an Immense
boom In the construction OF small
suburban dwelIings-the very best de-
yelopment possible from the view
point Of better homes for city masses.
But II would not shut out puilders
Of big apartment structureS Inc
Home-Loan bond drive could be di-
rected also at those investors who
could see a patriotic duty In promot-
ing the building OF such city homes
and the subscriptions for such invest
ments could be apportioned TO the
concerns which have been making
speciality of such operations.
From conversations among inter-
est ed parties IL Is evident that the
newspapers, the privte lending con-
Germs. the loan associations. the State
Banking Department officers, the
builders, the material men, the lana
syndicates, the suburban promoting
companies and almost every one else
would Join enthusiastically TO heip
such a Home-Loa bond drive. Per
haps the labor unions might try TO
block real building by determina-
ton to exact the highest war union
wages. but survey seems TO snow
plenty of outside idle labor which
could be found to do the work.
With this means for ending the
housing crisis waiting In such simple
and ready form. the only question Is:
Do the people really want more
homes and will they make the small
exertion required to secure them!
SMALL HOME COMPETITION.
That the architectural profession
has enthusiastically entered into the
spirit of the small house competition
with $50 in prizes offered for the
best designed plans submitted by Feb
ruary in conjunction with the own
Your Home Expositions to be held In
New York, Chicago. Cleveland and
Pittsburgh, was announced yesterday
by Aymar Embury I'd, chairman OF the
New York Exposition ARCHITECTURAL
committee. More than 500 sets OF
plans are expected by the committee
from which the thirty-two prize-wln-
ming plans will be selected. The
American Institute OF Architects
which has approved the competition.
is aiding Henry X. Holsman. presi-
dent of it's Illinois chapter and the
competition architectural adviser, in
the selection of the jury of award.
This jury will consist of FIVE archi-
tects and three practical builders rep
resenting various sections or the
country Mr.. Embury will serve as
one of the jurors. representing New
York city. He said:
with a view to stimulating home
building and home ownership, Own
| Your Home EXpositions will be held
in various large centers to show the
people the value of good home and
how to obtain 1t. The American In
stitute of Architects, realizing the
! appalling housing shortage confront
I ing the nation, is cooperating with
| the expositions and the Small House
Competition as a great forward step
| in the solving of the small house
problem.
TO EXHIBIT PRIZE WINNERS.
These prize-winning plans will be
first exhibited in conjunction with
| the first annual Own Your Home Ex-
position in the Coliseum at Chicago,
March 20 to April ., according to
Robert II. Sexton, managing director.
The Philadelphia Real Estate Board
has asked that an exhibition of the
prize-winning designs be held there.
Similar requests have been received
! from Boston and New Haven. At the
Chicago exposition facsimile OF the
! first prize winning house will be con-
structed of lumber, and the front ele-
| walton of the first prize winning brick
| home is to be erected by exhibitors
who have already been allotted space
One of the largest department stores
in New York City will build a 1ac-
simile home in its establishment.