Evening star., 1933-06-29
HOUSING PROJECTS
STILL CARRIED ON
Several Answers to Question
Why Huge Enterprises
Are Attempted Now.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, June 29-Why are
huge housing projects being proposed
when great numbers of vacant houses
and apartments dot nearly every large
city in the Nation?
There are several answers to this
question, says John H. Millar. who Is
directing plans for the National Con-
ference on Slum Elimination here, July
and Z.
In the first place, he asserts, the con-
struction industry has been directing
its efforts toward supplying the needs
of approximately one-third the popula-
tion-the upper third.
There has been little effort to supply
the lower two-thirds with suitable
housing at rents they can afford to
pay. Consequently, they live In used"
houses, millions of them in "bhghted"
and slum areas.
Since private enterprise has not en-
tered this field, Millar looks upon slum
elimination as no invasion OF private
business.
Live in Used" Houses.
Even If the rosiest plans Of the most
enthusiastic housing leaders were car
ried out, however, a large section OF
in used" houses, just as many can
afford only used" automobiles, he says.
"Slum elimination aims to do for
housing what the low-priced automo-
bile did for the automotive industry"
Millar asserts.
In the second place, students Of the
problem do not agree with the popular
belief that there already is home sur
plus.
A survey in Cleveland disclosed 9
per cent vacancy and 4 per cent
doubling up of families into living
quarters as q result of the depression.
In other words, there was found vir-
tual shortage that may be expected to
reveal itself as soon as good times re-
turn
The depression also has had an effect
upon marriages, similar to the World
War, Millar points out. During the
war building stopped and marriages de-
cllned because young men were over
seas. With the end Of the conflict
ing.
Statisticians at st. Louis discovered
there have been 10000 fewer marriages
there during the depression than In a
same length period In normal times
With the return of jobs it Is believed
another housing shortage will be ge-
vealed.
People Clearing Slums.
I'm considering slum clearance" Mil
lar says. 'it must be remembered that
the people themselves have been doing
a certain amount Of it. In some parts
OF the lower East Side in New York
City the population has increased by
half in the last 20 years, caused by peo-
pie moving to better sections. The
people have left. but the buildings are
still there. We have not learned to
scrap obsolete housing, as we have
scrapped old automobiles"
Millar does not subscribe to the no.
tlon that slum elimination means erec-
tion OF modernistic buildings, with all
sorts Of trick" ideas incorporated.
Successful low-cost housing. he be-
lieves, calls for a minimum Of "frills,"
and architects plans that can be ad-
justed easily to different projects more
or less as one set of blue prints serves
the automobile manufacturer for more
than one automobile.
Individuality, he says. can be ex-
pressed by shrubbery end the shape Of
the grounds, as well as In the architec-
ture.
While sponsors Of new ideas in ma
ter1als and designs have been receiving
the most attention, Millar believes that
the strides made in the last three years
OF idleness in the old standard ma
ter1als Is not generally recognized
Conventional builders have been orig
mating few new ideas of their own,
too. he says.