The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-08
ObsoIescence and Progress

Many tests of progress are now offered force
full, If not wholly original one is suggested by Rich
ardson Wright in the current issue of House and
Garden" He says we can measure industrial and
social progress by the size of our junk heaps:
If America had contributed nothing else to the
progress of the world it well could rest on its repu-
taton for introducing into the scheme of economics
the factor of obsolescence We have made progress
by deliberately junking the old-fashioned and time
worn machinery of our civilization.
Each major Improvement in factory building.
in an office building, in piece of machinery in a
motor car tends automatically to put into the obsolete
class all buildings Offices machines and cars that lack
these improvements
And instead of leaving them about to clutter I'D
the progress of business and manufacturing and
transportation, we, cold-heartedy tear down these
obsolete factories and erect better ones, we wreck
old Office buildings and build the newest possible
kinds in their places we discard old-fashioned ma
chinery, junk old motors
This tearing down and building afresh is the
metabolsm of American civilization IT is the visible
counterpart of the misunderstanding constant discard
ing and refreshening-that keeps life in the human
body. Health in the body is evidenced by what it
throws off useless health in civilization by what
1t Junks The sign of progress is an increasing Junk
pile"
MIR. Wright is interested chiefly in applying this
conception OF obsolescence to American homes He
states that probably 100000 persons about half of
the people in the United States are living in obso-
ete homes. These extend from the city slums, once
the homes of the we-to-do to the shacks of pauper
farmers
When machine no longer is adequate we usually
scrap it, Not with out-of-date homes The more
fortunate leave such places but they soon are occu-
pied by the poor and thus create our great su areas
1t never occurs to us to destroy those homes
That is what America today is sadly lacking-a Junk
heap OF the homes that longer are worth living in
Mr.. Wright points out numerous advantages which
would arise from junking obsolete homes The build
ing industry would be stimulated. We would have
higher standards of comfort and health We would
gain much space in crowded centers of population,
giving ample room for the greatly needed parks and
recreation ceners The eye sores of modern cviliza
ton would be replaced by exhibits of beauty and
heathfulness
the doctrine of obsolescence as test of progress
possesses any validity it is certainly in the field of
home planning. The Socialist government of Vienna
recently has proved what actual marvels may be ac-
complished in the way of building model apartments
which may be occupied by the poor at low rentals.
Soviet Russia also has done wonders along this
line. In New York City the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers have led the way The fact that slums exist
in America is of the most striking proofs of how
the social phases of civilization lag behind the
mechanical. Surns challenge to our humanity
and our ingenuity.
Yet we need to be guard against accepting
hook line and sinker, this doctrine of obsoescence
as chief test of progress 1t linked closely not only
to mechanical progress, but also to one of the OUT
standing defects of our civilization; namely, con-
spicuouS waste and incomplete consumption.
1t is one thing to junk the obviously obsolete 1t
is another to cast aside still highly servceable goods
as a result of the tyranny of fashion and fad