Evening star., 1922-08-19
NATION NEEDS FIVE YEARS
TO BUILD SUFFICIENT HOMES
Shortage of Dwellings Due to Rush Of
Rural Folk to Cities and Suspen-
sion of Construction.

At least five years of great build
ing activity will be required to en-
able the nation to catch up with the
demand for houses. according to a
statement issued by Henry l.. Brig
ham, chairman of the housing COM
mittee. National Association of Real
Estate Boards.
This length of time, is needed
solely to make up for the seven years
of inactivity> which preceded the
being taken of additional construc-
ton necessitated by the average
yearly loss by fires, obsolescence and
increases in population, Mr.. Brigham
points out
1T is therefore clearly impossible
TO get the ratio of supply to demand
back to the 1913 ratio for many years.
he asserts. 1T must also be re-
membered that if one builds in a
growing community values will in
crease because of such growth. These
Increases may be partially offset by
the increase in the purchasing power
of the dollar. resulting in the fall
In values in the terms of the dollar,
1t is, on the other hand, question
able how far the fall in building
Gosts tnls last year is due to the
inactivity in the industry and how
much any appreciable increase in
that activity will cause them 10
strengthen and rise again.
Homes Under Prixed.
The people of this country are in
a strong current, sweeping them into
already over-congested cities and into
ever-increasing large factories, with
the resulting loss of individuality and
independence. Disaster can only re-
suit II that current is allowed to con-
tlnue Indefinitely. There must be a re-
turn to the more healthy life in the
country and to the homes. The auto
moplle may eventually become a
pressing as an aid in this respect and
Is already SO aiding. but at present
there are still too many persons who
prefer owning automobiles to owning
their own homes.
The great need of today is to i'm
press upon people the value of a
nome. 1t is the lack of appreciation
OF Its value that is one of the large
sources of unrest in the country.
Employers and capitalists must real
lie that they must pay employees
enough wages to enable them to live
respectfully in good houses and, If
necessary. must furnish them with
such houses, just as soon as, or per-
haps before business conditions may
seem to warrant it. individuals must
realize that the security, safety and
welfare of this country rests upon
the stability of the home, and that the
only way to have more and better
houses is for all who can to build
their own homes. and to allow free
action of the law of supply and de-
mand SO a. to stimulate building by
landlords for those who cannot afford
to buy. Drive away fear and build
with confidence in the future.
Insures Stable Times.
IF all the workers of this country
were properly housed in homes of
their own, which they were able to
support there would not be the
slightest possibility of a social revo-
luton. The man who owns his own
home has real interest in the well
fare of his community, and where the
majority of citizens are home owners
good healthy government f1ourishes.
New York city. Cambridge and
Boston have. respectively. the smallest
percentages of home owners of any