Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30
CONTINUED From Third pAge,l

concerns supply construction materials
or household fixtures have been exc
perimenting with the instalrnent plan
methods. Dealers In lumber, for ifl-
stance, have made It possible for the
builder to spread his payments over a
period Of time, thus keeping his work.
ing capital unimpaired. Concerns dis
tributing heating apparatus and plumb
ing fixtures have had similar plans,
which have worked fairly satisfactorily,
but among very limited group of Gus
toners But apparently the general
public has had no knowledge Of this
new method, with the result that the
vast bulk OF home Improvement Is stin
on q cash basis
It ID not unreasonable TO hope that
we can accelerate the movement toward
n1oderniGation among the millions Of
Americans who are living In homes built
4 generation or more ago. II ordinary
rules of prudence are observed, the in
stallmeI1t system should be as successful
In this field as It has been in the dis
tribution of automobiles during the last
Is years, or more recently in the de-
velopnent Of the radio industry. It can
be done either through existing finance
corporations or through the creation of
a co-ordinating medium which would
prepare the necessary literature, the adj
vertisins copy and do the other things
necessary to let the general public know
that this service ID ready to function.
Topic for Presidents Committee.
The subject has received considerable
attention during the Winter from those
members Of the Presidents business
committees who were working not only
to prevent curtailment Of building
operations, but actually to encourage
new construction and thus Offset the
slumps in other lines of activity. In the
expert study of the construction prob
lem survey disclosed that there are
no fewer than 100000 dwellings in
the country which are 20 years old or
more. When we consider the tremen-
douS progress we have made in America
in the last two decades in the field
Of home comforts, 1t Is obvious that q
great many of these homes are in need
Of substantial nodernization.
We all have friends who live In old
houses. They boast Of the spaciousness
OF their rooms, point with pride to
lofty ceilings, remind Us that Ia the old
days foundations were more secure,
walls were thicker and q house was
built to last . century, not for . genera
vantAges, too. It's heating plant ID like
~ TO Be arltiouated.
There Is lot Of waste space which
must be heated In the dead Of Winter
but which serves no useful purpose
The plumbing fixtures may be far be-
hind the times. Some old houses are
lovely from the outside, but within they
depress u.s.
Rebuilding Processes Outlined.
The man who lives in an old house
has perhaps been intending for months
or years to make certain changes. If he
has an aptitude for design, he has prob
ably translated his desires 10 paper He
may have gone to the extent Of consult
ing q builder for a casual estimate OF
cost, but he has not acted because he
has assumed that cash In the bank was
prerequisite, ana the builder, who
may have needed the job very much
did not know how to advise him. II
this home owner must wait until the
little neStegg In the savings bank Is
years may pass before his family be-
gins to enjoy the comforts which even
now are within reach II he could but
be informed.
Il Il not only the old house which
may be lacking in the things which
make for happiness. There Is the mar
who built . home comparatively re-
Gently, but who now realizes that he
underestimate his requirements. Per
hAps he did not finish of his attic and
needs an extra room or two for grow
ing children or for the servant he
could not Affofd when he tackled the
house. He may have skimped on bath
rooms. He held on buying the glass
and screening for the side porch He
wishes now that he had gone In q little
more deeply on the original invest.
ment, which would have involved moth.
ing more than q comparatively small
addition TO the loan at the bank or al
his building and loan association.
Has Confidence In Bank.
II this man il financially minded, II
Is, of course, easy for him TO get the
money for his needs. II the improve
ments are going to ada to the value OF
the property, he knows that the bank
will not hesitate to readjust the mort
gage. II will simply mean increased
interest charges If it Il q long-term
mortgage or small increase in the
monthly payments If 1t Is building
and loan trust. In either way, he will
practically be paying for the improve
ments In installments. Our problem,
however, Is with the man who u not
financially minded to that extent or
who for the best Of personal reasons
does not wish to increase the mortgage
The person who buys an automobile
on notes for the first time usually mar
vels OF the simplicity Of the process.
He talks only to the distributing agent,
who prepares the papers, receives the
initial deposit and delivers the car. The
financing company does all the rest.
There Is no lost motion, because auto
mobile financing Ii today one of the
most ef1ciently developed cogs in our
business machine We should strive to
apply some Of that efficiency to the field
of home improvements, so the painter,
the builder and the eteamfltter can deal
with prospective clients as expeditiously
az the automobile agent now does.
Nationwide Campaign VisualiEed.
Can you not visualize the effects Of q
Nationwide campaign to make our
homes more comfortAble9 Think OF the
old neighborhoods which may be re-
created to new lifetimes of usefulness.
Think also Of the traditional work we
are going to create for thousands Of
men who have been feeling the pinch of
hard times this Winter and for whom
we must continue to feel concern until
business 10 back again in normal chan
rels.