Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-22
BERNARD J. NEWMAN
On the Housing Situation

TNlIE remedy for the housing situation
L which exists in Philadelphia is more
building and q Standardization Of building
materials and methods, according to Bernard
j. Newman managing director OF the Phil-
adelphia Housing Association.
''There still is a decided shortage Of
houses in Philndelphia.' said Mr.. Newman.
conditions here. To some extent. it is driv-
ing away the classes of skilled mechanics
which have done so much to make the city
what it is industrially. Many. have gone
or are going to other cities. with a gain to
those cities and loss to us.
But this is not the only disadvantageous
feature of the shortage Of houses. The
doubling-u of families In one house is per-
haps even worse, because it results in an
unavoidable lowering Of living ideals and
conditions.
Young couples who have married are
forced either to live with the parents of one
of them or to take three or four rooms in
building converted into apartments.
An Undesirable Condition
''By doing this they naturally take no
interest in their home or, what is equally
important in their ncighborhood. They are
driven to look for their pleasures outside
Of the home. This is not only an added
expense, but It also brings about unstable
conditions. Much Of the rcstessness Of the
present day results, I am certain. from so
many families and young couples having no
real sense Of placement in their homes.
Living in rooms. as so many have been
compelled to do. these persons are not in
tercstcd in their ncighborhood. as is the case
when they have a house. In the latter case
they have something which represents their
own property. no matter how little has been
paid on it or how small or unpretentious it
is. 1t is their own and they take pains to
see that the neighborhood is protected. AS
n rnSulf thny ara hettcr citizens th0n when
these conditions are lacking.
'These conditions automatically increase
rents to the prohibitive point, so far rs tho
citizen of average means Is concerned. II
the shortage of houses is so great that sew
cral families nrc trying to obtain one house,
the owner will naturally see to it that the
rent is raised TO II point which is highly
profitable to himself. Not only the rents.
but the sale prices go up also to the point
where the young couple feel that it is in
advisable from an economic point of view
to tic up so heavy an investment as is de-
manded in a house.
Scientific Adjustment Needed
"The building of large number Of small
houses. which were sold at n reasonable
price, has played considerable part in the
| development of Philadelphia as great
| American city. But we shall not get back
| to the conditions which made this possible
unless unless we go about 1t IS scientitcaly: !, hc
! building. and we should have each year n
| sufficient number of new houses to take care
| of the normal fuctuation IN population that
| comes as q part Of the working conditions
| in the various parts Of the city.
"What is needed above all is n standard
| izaton OF building materials. Here Is the
| greatest waste today in the construction of
| houses. For example. an architect will plan
| n house with windows and doors of different
sizes for the artistic effect which he gnins
\ thereby. But this means that each window
| and each door has to be made separately and
made during the busy season and not during
| the idle time
Adds Much to Cost
"This. of course. Is all right. If financial
| conditions warrant. but 1t adds greatly to
| the cost of the houses and this cost must be
paid BY the buyer, or by the tenant in case
Of rented houses. There should be n legal :
lied standard for all house building ina .
tcrials. Another point of expense lies in tho
| fact that the builders are frequently asked
| to build two story houses meant not to carry
| n two story weight, but to maintain three
| or four story weight and stress.
"The Builders Exchange OF Philadelphia
| can contribute much to the reduction of the
cost of building If It will function as a
| body eager to contribute something toward
| aleyiating the present situation. Many of
| the individual builders are obliged to buy
their materials in small lots and, therefore.
have to pay higher prices than II they bought
: in larger euaptitiss. Ths exchange might