Evening star., 1934-06-30
BILLIONS SOUGHT.
FOR UNDERMINING
AND NEW BUILDING
100000 Unemployed Will
Be Chief BenefiCiaries
Under Huge Program.
STIMULUS TO LOCAL
INDUSTRY IS SEEN
Survey Estimates $4,000, 900
Structures in United States in
Need of Lesser Repairs.
BY VINCENT TUTCHING.

BY VINCENT TUTCHING.
The administration today is pre-
pairing to give tremendous tug at
the purse-strings of private capital
in the hope of making billions of
dollars available for modernization
and repair of existing homes and the
construction of new ones.
Armed with a new law in the
national housing act. signed Thurs
day by President Roosevelt. the
new deal is turning upon America S
ailing building industry-most I'M
portant of all industries-with a
tonic it hopes will revive it from
the coma in which it has lain these
past four years.
Chief beneficiaries of the program
of course, will be the 5000, 900 un-
employed in the building and allied
trades. But the good of the Govern
ments activity will be passed along
as we'll to the country's home own
ers and potential home owners.
Many Houses Need Repairs.
Looking over the national picture
with an appraising eye. the Federal
Government points to the fact there
are 100000 buildings in the United
States in need of lesser repairs, and
at least 10000 that require major
operations to make them habitd BILE
and safe.
A staggering figure is that pro-
duced in recent Government surveys,
revealing 100000 homes without
baths, spread all over the United
States, and number vastly greater
that lack electrical equipment, even
of the simplest kind
In the District of Columbia, build
ing experts admit the need for wide
spread home modernization and re-
pair. The Washington chapter of
the American Institute of Architects
has devoted much study to the prob
lem, and has issued warning of the
constantly increasing 'blightcd'
areas that are cropping up because
of failure TO fight off obsolescence
and deterioration.
Unparalleled Conditions.
The increasing neglect of this
type of work in recent years. both
here and throughout the country.
condition in the building trades that
normally benefit from it.
1t was with a view to giving
help to the laboring classes, that
are directly and indirectly affected
by these activities in the Washington
metropolitan area. that The Star
launched the Better Homes Contest
here, with 1000 in capital prizes as
additional incentive to home owners
to modernize.
Now, with the housing law an
accomplished fact. the local build
ing industry looks for a decided
squirt in home improvement activity
With the Government guaranteeing
20 per cent of their advances, lend
ing institutions are expected to
be more lenient with funds. The
blanket reduction of 10 per cent in
building materials announced by the
National Retail Lumber Dealers
Association as its contribution to-
ward recovery also is expected to
prove an additional incentive.
Many Entry Forms Distributed.
Already, more than 5000 contest
entry forms and descriptive pam
phlets have been distributed in the
metropolitan area by The Star IN con-
nection with its competition. Inter-
est has been keen in the prize awards.
which are divided in two classes, for
homes valued at $4,000 and more
and homes valued at less than $l2.-
600. In each class, the prizes are:
First prize, $3.50; second prize, $lOO;
third prize $50, and four honorable
mention prizes of S25 each. In ad-
dition, the Washington Board OF
Trade has donated a 500 award for
the best landscaping project.
In connection with the housing
act. the United states Information
Service prepared today, at the re-
quest of the National Emergency
Council, an outline of the purposes
and objectives of the act.
Under the terms of the act" 1t
states, lending institutions, includ-
ing banks of every type, may have
loans to any reputable property owner
for the purpose of repairing. remod-
cling or renovating his property, in
sured Borrowers who may benent
include the farmer, as well as the
urban dweller, provision being MADE
for the farmer to make his payments
at those periods of the year when his
crops are sold. while the city dweller
will pay his installments monthly.
Applicants for loans who qualify
will make out notes. as in the past.
and, as in the past, obtain their
money through their local banks.
building and loan associations and
other lending institutions.
Because of the necessity of per-
fecting the organization to admins
ter the act, it probably will be sew
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