The Washington times., 1922-05-26
Washington Leads In
Building Activities
BY BILL PRICE.

extended, and yet building in the National Capital
is going at rate more rapid than in any other
city the size of Washington in the United States.
Official figures substantiate this Only eight cities
In the entire country took out many building per-
mits in April as did Washington, and the valuation
OF the local permits so per cent greater than
for the same month year ago.
Building permits are being taken out at an aston
ishing rate right now, and any Washingtonian who
wants to become filled with cheer should get in an
automobile and take a look at the new buildings
going up, particularly in northwestern suburban
tions.
The simple truth is that the Ball law is not going
to check the forward movement of the District one
whit Intelligent builders understand the situation
too well to be frightened from plans for the future
They do not contemplate that the Commission
will adopt policies that will hamper the future
growth of Washington. In appointing the members
Of the Commission President HARDING will be
properly advised, and he WILL we are sure, select
members who are broad -gauged and far-seeing
The new Commission will have golden oppor-
tunites to devote time to policies that will encourage
building in the District particularly the erection of
five and six-room cottages and houses that will he
inviting to young people, investment properties
or to rent
Conditions in Washington are swiftly becoming
normal The Ball act the outcome of unprece-
dented congestion, due to the Thousands of
people brought here by the Government for
activities. The demand for houses, apartments,
rooms, far exceeded the supply Rent hogs and
profteers-both landlords and acknowledgement
right and left. The law emergency. The
departure from Washington of thousands of these
war workers is bringing legitimate supply and de-
mand into the foreground
Wide-awake, enterprising builders and real estate
operators who never lose confidence in Washingtons
splendid future have at least two elements, doubt
less many more, that will insure that their buildings
will he prOmptly sold or nrofitahly occuned bv
rental. There are those Washingtonians who have
submitted to gopging rental prices until the time
should for them to buy homes. That time is
here and thousands today wisely looking around
to make investments. Erection of small houses
ought to prove profitable, in view of the demand
for these. 1t is going to be good many months
before there will be enough overbuding to- cause
houses to be thrown the market for rental at
reasonably low prices.
The other element that will absorb new homes
quite rapidly is the long waiting list of newcomers
may expect with returning normalcy in housing.
Washington's growth of population will be mainly
due to American citizens living elsewhere who re-
gard this city the ideal of the nation in which
to own homes and rear families Many of them
wealthy, others well-to-do. Housing conditions
here have not heretofore been inviting to them The
very wealthy could buy and did buy homes here at
whatever prices asked, but thousands of pros
pectve residents of the National Capital domi-
ciled elsewhere, refrained from purchasing homes
here while speculative prices prevailed. This is the
moment for them to turn their heads this way They
buy at prices that have the '"water'' re-
moved. There will never be better time than the
present.
The exercise of common sense and judgment by the
Rent Commission will be of inestimable value in
adjusting matters for return to supply and demand.
The law regarded by fair real estate dealers
removing of the injustices which tenants were
enabled to perpetrate honest landlords under the
old law, but at the time preserving and pro-
tectng the rights of square tenants who did not de-
sire to take strange-hold on their landlords.
We will all be glad to the warfare between ten
ants and landlords ended. 1t has been bitter ruin
struggle that did the great city of Washington
much harm. 1t developed the meanest traits in
humanity. The money pirate, with other thought
than that of profteering to the utmost on the ne
cesses of his fellow men, had his day, and he left