Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-22
NOW MY IDEA IS THIS!
Daily Talks With Thinking Pladelphians Subjects They
KnOtU Best

readily arrange for orders at carload prices
and distribute the materials as the needs for
them arise.
There is also the mistaken idea that the
small wage earning group. which furnishes
the backbone of the market for the smaller
houses, can only be induced to purchase
houses which have hardwood floors. tiled
bathrooms closets with glass doors and other
similar fittings. The contractors who build
the smaller houses must get away from this
idea and build their houses with nll the
modern conveniences, but without the lux
urlousness and the additional expense which
these things make necessary. They will sell
just as readily.
The Market Large
There is market today in Philadelphia
for every house which can be built to sell
at from $4,000 to $500. If good buildings
could be constructed to sell for less it would
agai n bring the investment owner into the
market. But houses will never be built to
sell for sums like these until standard
ization Of building methods and material is
brought about.
III there was a real building boom in
Philadelphia today. the labor supply, cspc-
cially in the skilled trades, would be so
short that the men who have the ability TO
do this work well would BE- able to comma nd
exorbitant wages. This Is largely for the
reason that the apprentice system has fallen
Oft. and there is not sufficient supply of
skilled workers coming from the trades in
which they are working. The construction
interests must face this situation, which is
serious one.
There is only one way in which it can
be done and that is by the adoption of a
program providing for the training Of ap-
prcnticcs. The former apprentices have
either gone into other work. enticcd by the
high rewards given to partly skilled labor
during the war years and the period immc-
dately following. or they have become full
fledged workmen. But in any event. there
has been 10 serious effort made by any one
to recruit workers for the building trades.
The tity's Annual Needs
'The estimate which has been made Of
GO00 new houses each year to take care of
the normal increase In the population. both
by births and the house demand created by
marriages. is in my mind too low
should say that 1900 new houses year come
closer to it. There are between 1000 and
II 900 marriages in the city every year and
the normal increase In population is about
30, 900. At present we are short about 20,
900 houses to take care of the population
"Thc time for construction is ripe now
There is lessening of the buyers strike. ;
Commercial builders should be encouraged to
get their plans ready and take advantage
Of the present market for materials and
labor.
"A comprehensive program for reducing
building costs mig hit be stimulated by en-
couraging labor unions to increase the num-
ber Of apprentices; by encouraging the city
to foster trade schools and direct pupils to
such study by group buying of materials
to get the benefit Of reduced prices for large
orders, and by the Standardization of ma .
tcrials. plans and parts to secure lower
costs through all the year round manufac-
ture Of windows. door frames, doors and
similar units of construction.
"This is the quickest and most effective
way to obtain relief at once from the house
disadvantage Of Philadelphia"