Evening star., 1934-11-03
HELP FOR PRIVATE
BUILDING FAVORED
Head of Producers Council
Opposes Wider Public
Works Program.

In appropriating funds to promote
recovery by reviving building, Con-
gress should aid private construction
rather than expand the program of
public works, j. c. Bebb of New York,
president of the Producers Council,
affiliated with the American Institute
Of Architects. declared in an address
at the eleventh Semi-annual meeting
Of the council in New York recently.
Mr.. Bebb foresaw an upturn in
apartment house construction follow
ing housing shortage, which, he said,
was near. Many authorities feel. ac-
cording to Mr.. Bebb, that in 1887 the
country will be in the midst of real
building boom. Removal of uncer-
tainty, he asserted. is essential to the
acceleration of building activity.
The next Congress will undoubt-
edly have a lot to say about further
large amounts for public works." said
Mr. Bebb, whose theme, the keynote
of the meeting, was Revival of Build
ing and Use of Quality Products
Further Requests Seen.
''There is a feeling that the Public
Works Administration will ask for
further large amounts for public
works. However in view of what has
happened in that field. the construc-
tion industry is apparently very def
initely of the opinion that any such
appropriation by Congress should be
devoted to encouraging private con-
struction rather than for additional
public works.
The recent convention Of the
American Bankers Association in
Washington may have very benefi-
cial effect on the situation. We hope
the industry will be helped consid-
erably by the release of funds lying
idle in the banks.
The latest figures show a real
housing shortage as being very immi-
nent, thus providing an incentive for
apartment house construction. 1t
may be some time yet before there will
be any appreciable construction of
Office buildings. hotels or department
stores, but it is all bound to come.
Many authorities feel that by 1887 we
will be in the midst of a real building
boom. Let us hope this will come to
pass. but. at the same time, let us sin
cerely trust that If it does we will
have learned our lesson and we will
not let this boom run away with us as
the last one did
Every one, from the President
down. is now apparently ready to ad-
nit that recovery cannot be said to
be under way until private building
construction is revived in a large
way. The only way to revive it is to
remove the present state of uncer-
tainty as to the future and provide
means for financing projects that are
ready to go forward as soon as such
funds are available.
"Realiza ton of this condition re-
suited in the passage of the Federal
housing act. which made it possible
to obtain funds for the construction
of new houses up to $4,000 and to
get funds for modernization of houses
up to $4,000. A number of our men,
bers report splendid results from their
campaign to induce home owners to
take advantage of these opportunities.
AT first these Government activ-
tiles were confined to housing only.
but a way seems to have been found
to extend the field, so that business
buildings can take advantage OF the
modernization loans Undoubtedly,
the next Congress will still further
expand the act so that larger build
ings can benefit"
Better Materials Favored.
A DELAYED recovery accepting the
need for quality materials is to be
preferred to quicker recovery in
volving the use of inferior products,
Mr. Bebb declared, warning that the
present scarcity of money and the
desire for quick results will lead to a
tendency to use inferior materials, in
turn causing large repair bills and an
accumulated obsolescence.
Conditions in the building industry
are improving, H. H. Sherman of
New York said in his report as execu-
tive secretary of the council. The
coming year. Mr.. Sherman added,
'offers opportunities which the build
ing industry has not experienced In
several years. Every branch of the
industry is preparing for renewed
building activity and no stone should
be left unturned to expedite 1t"
The councils membership. accord
ing to Mr.. Sherman. now comprises
Al manufacturers and associations OF
manufacturers of building materials
and appliances. representing the
cream of the producing industry"
Clubs organized by the council in
many parts OF the country are CO.
operating with the Federal housing
administration, he reported.
Member organizations Of the coun-
ell, it was announced, now include
the following:
Aluminium Co. Of America. the
American Brass Co, American Radi-
ator Co., Armstrong Cork Co.. the
Barber Asphalt Co, Benjamin Elec-
trio Manufacturing Co., Bradley Lum-
ber Co. of Arkansas, Carrier Engi-
neering Corp. the Easement Hard
ware Co, Chamberlin Metal Weather
Strip Co., Chase Brass IL Copper Co.,
Copper d Brass Research Association,
Edison Electric Institute. General
Electric Co.. Hoffman Speciality Co.,
Inc: Indiana Limestone Corp, Johns
Manville Corp, Kawneer Co, Kohler
Co, Libbey- -Owens-Ford Glass Co.,
MdSoIllIc NOlp., Ille MdSteT bullQeTS
Co, National Building Granite Quar-
ries Association, National Lead Co.,
National Tube Co., Otis Elevator Co.,
the Peelle Co., Portland Cement Asso-
citation, H. H. Robertson Co., Rol-
screen Co. Spencer Turbine Co, the
Stanley Works, Stedman Rubber
Flooring Co., Structural Gypsum
Corp, the Trumbull Electric Manu-
featuring Co. the w. s. Tyler Co..
Universal Atlas Cement Co, West
inghouSe Electric & Manufacturing
Co.. the Yale d Towne Manufac-
turing Co.. w. p. Fuller IL Co. and
the parafine Cos Inc