Evening star., 1934-11-24
WINTER BUILDING
FOUND FAVORABLE
Labor Federation Official
Points to Conditions in
Many States.

PreSent-day construction HletIlouS
and modern building materials make
possible the modernization and repair
of existing homes and the construc-
ton of new ones as feasible In Win
ter months as during any other part
of the year in most States, according
to Michael j. McDonough, president
of the Building Trades Department OF
the American Federation of Labor.
Issuing a call to the 100000 build
ing tradesmen of the country, Mr..
McDonough referred directly to the
property rehabilitation program of the
Federal Housing Administration,
which got under way last August with
a Nationwide campaign, and the
home mortgage insurance plan,
bearing on new construction, which
is just becoming effective.
Loans for repair and recondition-
ing of homes and business properties
may be made by private lending
agencies, under supervision of the
Federal Housing Administration until
the end of 1885, under terms Of the
national housing act.
Local Cooperation Need.
1--WE can best help ourselves" Mr..
McDonough told the building trades
men, "by working in our respective
communities with local bodies set up
for the purpose of reviving construc-
ton, Just as we are working with like
bodies in promoting the repair and
modernization program of the admin
istration, now In full swing.
Specifically, we can help by doing
it now, and breaking down the ar
chaic belief that construction is not
feasible or practical in the Winter
months. There is no real reason why
in some areas of the United States
needed construction be delayed until
Spring. 1t can be done now. it will
be done now, if our people will join
with other groups in teaching the
buying public that it can be done now
I'm those sections where building
Is difficult or expensive in Winter We
can help ourselves aid every one else
by urging that plans for Spring con-
struction be made and contracts let
now so that with the passing of
Winter work may proceed full speed
ahead"
Hellef TO Unemployed.
The repair and modernization pro-
gram set up for the first title of the
national housing act has contributed
material relief to unemployment, said
Mr.. McDonough, in a statement ac-
companying his call.
THE building trades people are
everywhere cooperating in making
the early part of the program the
success it is. Now, without in any
way abating our interest or our efforts
to push repair and modernization
work. we are getting behind the new
work program. The two go hand in
hand
"One of the first things we want
and We hope to do, is TO help break
down the ancient prejudice against
building in cold weather. In the days
of our grandfathtrS, with slow drying
mortar, TO mention but one material
there was reason for this. In most
parts of the United States there is
now no reason for the practice of
abandoning construction in the cold
months. New materials, new methods
make building as easy, safe and cheap
in Winter as in Summer.
There is not, and there never was
any reason why the drop in new
construction in the cooler months
should be as nearly as great in Ala
bama as in Maine, but the curve the
country over is nearly constant.
Hope to Speed Plans.
Further, where there is real
reason for not building in Winter
or an unseasoned prejudice, we hope
to speed the making of plans and
the letting of contracts on work in
the Spring. AS matter of cold fact
there is a real advantage in building
now, for the costs are lower now than
they are likely to be when building
gets into its full swing in the Spring
The new construction program
should help the repair program, fol
housing not up TO date will suftel
from the competition of new houses
To a considerable degree property
owners recognize this, and are acting
accordingly. The two phases OF tht
act fit in together"