Evening star., 1933-06-24
RENOV|z|NG DRIVES
BRING HUGE GAINS
Improvement in Employment
and Business Cited by
PhiIadeIphian.

Employment of thousands of building
tradesmen and development of new
business amounting to many millions of
dollars would result from Nation wide
"renovizng" activity, according to a
statement by DR.. Frank Parker. pro-
fessor of finance of the University of
Pennsylvania and president of the Phil
adelphia Federation of the Construc-
ton Industry This statement was con-
tanned in a summary of the renovize
Committee on Home ModerniZing of the
committee on home moderniZ1ng OF the
fareau of Standards.
TIE fact was emphasized that ex-
penditures by property owners on minor
sspa!rs and improvements. stimulated
through we'll organized local property
Improvement campaigns. conducted on
national scale in cities and towns
throughout the country would aggre-
gate an astonishing total
a.rsults Are Cited
rs definite proof of the beneficial
effect of an organized community i'm
provement campaign in relieving unem-
yioyment and stimulating business, DR..
Parker cites the following results
dCIllSFeQ tllc IeCSLI 1SllOElAc
delphia campaign
over a period of month, S21 .500,-
600 of pledges by residence and bust
ness property owners were gathered. OF
this total figure 24.70O pledges aggre-
eating S8,018,000 came from home own
ers. Although Philadelphia property
owners have until August l, 1888, to
fulfill their pledges, comprehensive
check-up shows that approximately so
per cent of the campaign pledges have
already been fulfilled"
In urging business and civic leaders
to earnestly consider the beneficial re-
suits which may be secured from local
property repair and modernization cam
paigns, Dr. Parker concluoeS that the
noteworthy change in the attitude of
business toward the future, since the
Inauguration Of a positive and con-
structive program of economic relief at
Washington, indicates without doubt
that the Nations business mind Is re-
ceptive to practical ideas which will
increase the tempo of business.
1t is reasonable to assume that or
ganized property improvement cam
paigns conducted simultaneously in
hundreds of cities, under national lead
erShip, could materially increase en-
ployment and business and redistribute
millions of dollars in wages and trade,
he says.
so Cities Conduct Drives.
Although co-ordinated national
campaign on property renovation is yet
to be developed current reports sub
mitted to the Bureau of Standards
Mo6ernizing Committee show that about
so cities, throughout the country, are
now conducting organizing modernizing
activities. Recent contracts report
that the highly successful results Sc
cured in campaigns conducted in one
particular city furnish impetus to sur
rounding cities and towns to develop
similar activities, and are tending to
extend the work over a large area.
Sc; e4al districts are actively devel-
oping Statewide organizations COM
posed of business and civic leaders with
the aim of urging property owners
throughout the State to make needed
repairs and improvements. In order to
assist local organization committees in
developing property modernizing and
repair campaigns, the Bureau of Stand
ards Modernizing Committee, attached
to the division of building and hous-
ing. has available. on request. bulletins
containing summarized details of sue
cessful home improvement campaigns,
an operating manual on conducting a
local undermining campaign. suggested
promotion material, and information
of special interest to individual home
owners.