Evening star., 1932-05-22
Better Housing Aids in
Restoring Prosperity
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

The response of American industry
and local welfare effort to calls for i'm
proving property as means Of helping
labor and business in these times is
shown in surveys Of property improve
ment" campaigns now being made by a
committee of the Department of Com
merce. 1t is predicted that such cam
paignS already under way and reported
up to this week will by the middle Of
Summer involve the expenditure for
labor and materials of more than
$35. .000, 900.
The duty of industry, in its own in
terest, TO take part in these movements
and TO work for a gradual decentral-
lZatlon OF population, so that better
housing may mean better business, is
emphasized in reports just issued by
the Presidents Conference on Home
Building and Hcme Ownership. There
are evidences that business leaders are
awakening to a realization of this duty
and opportunity.
Reports from 200 cities to the De-
partment of Commerce indicate that the
results already are being reflected in a
greatly reduced number of applications
for relief to local welfare organizations.
Portland. Greg, reported an amount
pledged for property improvements ex-
ceeding sl0,500, 900, Including both labor
and material. The campaign to secure
this business cost the city more than
$4,000. Once started, moreover, Port
lands people are said to be spending
substantially more than the sum they
originally pledged.
Other cities reporting in this survey
include Omaha, with pledges of Sc, ,OOO.-
O00; Cincinnati, $4,50000O; Spokane,
Wash, over $4,000,0 600; Duluth, Mimi.
$3.50 900. and number of other cities
IN New England, the South and the Far
West between 100000 and s5OO,OOO
each. Quite lot of others reported
pledges ranging from $4,000 to Sl0O, 600
Cleveland has what its citizens call a
"renovizing laboratory" where practical
ideas along this line are worked out
and made available to the public with
out charge.
Besides the local business associations
the home Improvement campaign man
ayers In these cities inform the depart
ment committee that they have had the
assistance of various local organizations
such as American Legion posts, civic
bureaus and other groups of public
spirited citizens. The cities reportinp
are unit in emphasizing the value
these campaigns have proved to their
local business situation.
The Conference on Home Building
and Home Owenrship of the Presidents
nome building organization has lust
Droug hit out its third volume of Anal
reports. 1t deals with slums and the
decentralization of housing. DR.. John
M. Cries, who was executive secretary
OF the conference and who edits the
volume, believes that better housing
conditions are absolutely necessary in
the United States, called for not only
Dy human welfare but by the needs Of
business itself. He says, Unless bust
ness men and business groups accept the
challenge, housing by public AUTHORITY
Is inevitable"
Ihe seasoned conclusion" of the
eommlttee Is that industry must look
INTO the future and assume its proper
responsibilities, not only for the com
mon good but for its own security and
common growth" The decentralization
OF population Is urged and it is sug-
gested That railroad rates might profit
ably be changed as a major step.
The committee believes that If the
technique and energy which have pro-
duced skyscrapers and factories In
modern America were applied to reduce
the cost CT dwellings at least another 10
per cent OF our population could be
housed properly.
(Copyright, Is32)