Milford chronicle., 1930-05-30
PAINT UP
And BOOST UP
EMPLOYMENT
By Bertha Anne Houck

The present unemployment sltua-
ton in the United States can be re-
lieved only if every one, according
to his opportunities and resources,
nuts labor and money into lmmedl-
ate circulation. And since home
building and home upkeep combine
to make one of the greatest factors
in American economics, they are an
important means of alleviating un-
employment.
If the prospective home owner
who intends to put up house next
year will build now, he will be CIV
ing employment to men who need II
badly today but may not be so much
in need of it next year. Procrastlna-
ton is going to help neither the
home owner nor the labOrer.
But perhaps the nest egg which
the family has been saving for the
new house is not quite large enough
to supply all the expensive features
that are desirable for dream home.
In such a case, to build substantial
ly but simply during this period
when building means so much to the
economic welfare of the nation, and
add the more expensive details Ia
ter is a practical means OF helping
to save the situation.
This applied to renovation as well
as to building. If the roof needs
reshingling or the exterior paint
coat is scaling and cracking, do the
refinishing job now. Not only will
the home-owner who attends to the
needs of a house without delay be
relieving unemployment but he will
be protecting his house from the de-
teriOratiOn which neglect causes.
Since much of this deterioration
comes from weathering caused by
inadequate paint protection, it is
we'll for the hOme-Owner to see that
all the surfaces of his house, metal
as well as wood, are painted period
ically. ...
Whether or not you were directly
hit by the stock market collapse,
Mr.. Homeowner, it is economy to
have the back porch steps repainted.
If you do not have them attended to
this spring you are going to have to
pay for new ones. Steps should not
be neglected because the yare ex-
oeptionally susceptible to wear from
the daily tramp of delivery boy and
ice man and to weather fluctuations.
If you are remOdeling or building,
see that the painter takes care of
the underside of steps, for many
step has collapsed long before its
appointed time because of the undue
deterioration which the damp
ground causes on the unpainted un-
dersurface.
How about that attic that you
have been meaning to have finished
off for so long as a playroom for the
children? If you have it done now,
you will Be doing your bit toward
unemployment relief and at the
same time providing place for the
children to spend the rainy after
moons so tedious to childhood. A
few feet of wall board and some
brightly colored paint are all that
are necessary to transform the attic
into a pirate den, circus tent or an
Indian wigwam. The floors in the
children's playroom should be var
nished so that they may be easily
cleaned and little feet and hands
protected from splinters.
And speaking of floors, the finish
on those in the living room and din
ing room is sure to be worn after a
season of indoor living. Now is the
time to refnish them. And remem-
ber that it is very important to use
only a tough elastic floor varnish or
deck paint on floors so that they will
resist the wear and tear of heavy
shoes. A newly finished floor fire.
quently calls for the repainting of
walls and wood work if they are in
poor condition. Redecorating an en-
tire room in a new color scheme has
a psychological as we'll as an eco
nomic value for it makes the Occu-
pants self-respect seem "all dres-.
sed up" like woman with whole
new spring outfit.
If the old house, inside and out,
is frightened up and the new one
painted properly and aesthetically |
the home owner, present or prospec-
tive, will find that the satisfaction |
from a good paint job makes imme-
diate painting pleasure as well as
an economic contribution to the re-
lief of unemployment.