Evening star., 1933-02-20

| Continued From First Page.)
committee on reconditioning, remodel
| ing and undermining, has made a sys-
| tematic study of hundreds of plans in
! augurated by communities for this pur-
pose. Under the direction of Frederick
M. Feiker, chairman of the committee
| and director of the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce, and through
the Division of Building and Housing of
the Bureau of Standards, to which this
| committee is attached, we have found
| that those campaigns which have con-
centrated on home repair, remodeling
! and moderniZation have met with
marked success when measured in terms
of the increased employment and vol
ume of business.
1T has further been definitely shown
| that the success of the community
modernizing campaign is in direct ratio
10 the cooperative attitude of the
group organizing them. Experience has
shown that wherever the civic. edu-
cational and commercial groups unite to
better the condition in the CITY, they
accomplish their purpose Each group
| has its special function in the activi-
ties, Chambers of commerce veterans
organizations, churches, schools, clubs.
trade organizations, publicity agents,
| construction interests and contractors
organizations. architectural and engi-
| neering representatives may form
an important part in carrying through
an effective community improvement
program.
Practical Results Obtained.
City after city has reported practi-
cal results obtained in conducting we'll
| organized civic campaign aimed to edu-
cate property owners to the value of
making needed repairs and improve
ments. During 1882 reports received in
the Department of Commerce show
that over S70,000,000 were spent for
labor and materials, chiefly On small
house repairs and improvements, In 81
cities over the country.
Reports from dozen typical cities.
with an aggregate population of 1,200,-
600. show that over $4,000 skilled and
unskllled building tradesmen were en-
ployed as result of these special group
activities. Statements from certain
cities indicate that during the period of
their campaigns APPLICATIONS for public
relief fell of as much as so per cent.
Remodellng and moderniZing have been
Iouno possible In residences, stores, ga
RACES, apartment houses and hotels.
tories and industrial plants
1t is estimated that at least so per
cent OF the amount spent for repairs
ana modernizfng goes to the employ
ment of labor. Taking into account
the prevailing surplus of desirable
skilled mechanics and laborers in the
building field, and the fact that the cost
OF materials involved In reconditioning
property Is probably the lowest in Is
years, the present time is obviously
propititous to the property owners able
to do SO to go ahead with needed reno
vations and repairs"
The Commissioners issued a public
statement placing their stamp of ap-
proval on the principle of the plan. in
dorsing its objectives and principles
and foreseeing the possibility of great
possible benefits reaching to all ranks
Of Washington's population from opera
ton of the program.
Permanent Good Forecast.
The statement, issued by DR.. Luther
Fl. Reichelderter, president of the Board
of Commissioners, and having the ap-
proval also of Gen. Herbert B. Crosby,
Police Commissioner, and Maj. John
o. Gotwals, Engineer Commissioner,
said:
THE Renovize Washington Cam
paign should be a program which will
work to the very great permanent good
of the District of Columbia and its
citizens. Creation of the pool of half
million dollars to be extended in small
loans to property owners who find re-
pair and remodeling work an economical
project will serve to stimulate such
work
1T can be taken as a matter of sound
economy that the expenditure of reason
able sums of money on proper MAIN
tenance OF real property Is essential to
maintenance of property values. To
permit dwellings and business struc-
, lures to deteriorate, become unsightly
and out of repair undoubtedly hastens
the progress of obsolescense and permits
its value to slump.
! Work which now can be performed
to maintain properties in efficient and
/ slghtly appearance should serve as
great aid in maintenance of the values
and useful life of the buildings.
Would Employ Hundreds.
! 1T appears clear also that another
important element in the program is
/ that additional hundreds of men will
be given employment, and this alone
| will serve to reduce the problems of
the needy femilies of Washington.
| From the point CT view Of the prop
erty owner, it appears the present time
is most advantageous for proceeding
with needed repairs and remodeling
work, due to the present low cost OF
materials and the availability of work.
men Of all classes.
THE projected renovation and re-
building Of an old building into a
modern new structure, on the down
town demonstration site, should serve
as vivid Illustration of how such work
can be done.
I'VE extend our best wishes to the
various civic interests which hsve or
ganized this program and hope that
cut of the campaign will come needed
improvement Of Washington, benefits
to the home owners and wholesale as