New-York tribune., 1921-04-24
Thousands ofPeople
Have Learned Way
Out of Jungle of
City Flats From
the Housing and
Financial Experts
at Armory Show


"It's true" groaned Mr. Knicker-
booker at the breakfast table as he
directed his attention to small slip
of paper, "once again, in spite of the
Legislature, our rent is to be raised on
May l."
1--WE cannot pay it! We won't pay
it and continue to be dominated by
these rent hogs! Let's 60 to this Own
Your Home Exposition uptown and
learn how to be our own landlords!"
This is bit of conversation that has
taken place at innumerable breakfast
tables in greater New York and Brook
lyn if the attendance at the Gown Your
Home" Exposition, Broadway and 16Sth
Street, may be taken as an indication
So irate Mr.. K and troubled Mrs. K
arrived that evening at the rustic en-
trance leading to the ramp that has
been built across the street to accom-
modate the crowds gathering at the
armory to seek rent relief.
The first glimpse inside the door sort
of takes their breath away, so. COM
pletely has the drill floor been trans
formed. Instead of the huge expanse
of drill floor and bare walls the visi-
tors look along the avenues and boule-
wards of miniature suburb, surround
ed by tiny gardens and bordered by
sentinel cedars. Severe little stucco
houses, gay little frame dwellings,,
more pretentious brick homes, as indi-
vidual as any home seeker would have
them, the glow of lights through the
drawn shades inviting harassed rent
payers to come in and stay
Source of Wonder
where did they get those houses? ?'
exclaimed Mrs. X.
"They are reproductions of the
prize-winning designs from recent
national small house competition" she
part ir the contest which was held in
connection with the exposition and
with the approval of the American In
stitute of Architects and nationally
known architectural jury of awards Sc
lected twenty-nine designs in thre.
!. classes Qumber, brick, stucco and bacl
! plastered metal lath) for the prize
amounting to $4,000. The award
u were governed principally by tn
economy of space shown in the foo
plans, and preference was given to de
signs that would be reasonable in up
keep and reduce general operating ex
penses to q minimum"
"To think that we have been livin
in an apartment house all these years,
unused Mr., X. as he stopped before
bungalow around which the architec
had developed the landscaping am
garden in an unusually attractive man
ner. "What a place to dig and plan
and raise our own" his thoughts raj
on as he looked around for his wife
who was enthralled before two-story
home provided with sun parlor.
Every cliff dweller has vague ides
of lovely little home, swept by cool
ing breezes in the summer, and all GOV
cred with rambler roses. But wher
it comes down to the final selection
shall it be frame, or brick, or stucco-
a bungalow, two or three story, a SUI
parlor here or sleeping porch VI
there-a family has much to do il
boiling down the desires of all to
mere plan and blue print. So Mr.. ant
Mrs. K wandered from one little house
to another, talking bay windows ane
cellar stairs and figuring little or
possible prices. They found that each
home had been carefully estimated or
construction cost in and about New
York and based on the latest figures OF
building materials and labor, and tha
the most expensive ones totaled $40,
900, and many were as low as $5,400.
Models of Many Houses
The prize winning homes are not tn,
only types Of small economical homes
that are exhibited on the exposition
floor. Many New York, Long Island
Brooklyn and Westchester real estate
concerns have models Of small homes
they are developing in an effort to in
duce the public to build now and escape
further rent taxation,
"There are your rambler roses,
said Mr.. K, stopping before cosy
looking frame house. But Mrs. K. wa:
buzzing around another wonderful
but quite too large for her needs.
Every building material that enters
into the construction of dwelling il
shown at the Exposition together witt
cross sections of walls and partial con
structions in lumber, brick and stucco
Most interesting is the erection of the
full size stucco house which was known
as the House Electric in Chicago anc
was torn down after the Exposition
there the early part of this month and
brought on to New York. 1t had been
planned to have this 5-room house
completed on the opening day of the
Exposition, furnished and equipped
and, at first it was a source of disap-
pointment to the management when
carpenters, and workingmen, going at
nlgn speed, announced they could not
finish in time. However, this process
of construction proved to be feature
of the Exposition, the workingmen con-
tinuing before the crowds of onlookers
who were sure to return to see the
finished, product.
So while Mr.. K. was having different
woods explained to him and was view
ing cross sections Of brick walls his
spouse became an interested visitor 4
the many seperate booths established by
home furnishers and decorators.
AT the very entrance door is cross
section of house showing especially
how attic space can be converted, the
exhibit using it for a charming nur-
sery. Most likely there were women
who, seeing this lovely white play
room, the walls Of which are covered
with figures from "Mother Goose" con
jured-up 2 picture Of their own attic,
dusty and dirty. piled with dixcarded