Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-01-25
NEW ERA IS SEEN
IN HOME BUILDING
Challenge for "Better
Homes at Lower Cost"
Is Accepted.

~Ae@ft~~s
the American Rolling Mill Co. and
chairman Of the committee on 60.
ordination with industry associated
with Purdues Housing Research Foun-
dation, presided recently at con-
ference In Lafayette. Ind, that may
mark an epochal step in the building
and construction field In the next
decade.
Cooperation Of representative indus
trialists from all parts Of the Nation
was clearly evident when they agreed
to accept . challenge to provide work
en- with better homes 1T lower cost"
Announces Observations.
Despite predictions that 1885 build
lng Will be up q much q so per cent
over last year. Frank Watson. head
OF the foundation. told manufacturers
these salient facts and observations:
There ere $4,000 900 homes in the
United States.
Total new housing In the last I'VE
years has been merely salt season.
Ing"
We are now building within an
income bracket Of only as per cent
Of the people.
In general, we have been selling
houses people can't afford.
Average life Of home under one
owner Is I'VE years.
So many accessories we deem ueces-
cary run the cost up.
Committeeman left the lengthy ses-
sion charged with the task OF int.
grating the various materials ana
products In the home, and making
. detailed study Of segregated costs
with thu object Of lessening or elm
mating entirely some Of the expenses
that are now considered liked"
The foundation director said ex-
pensive distribution is indicated be-
cause Of the wide price spread De-
tween manufacturer and purchaser.
Little Change In Methods.
Industrialists and architects were
agreed that the failure Of new build
Ing costs to decline in the last dec
ade can be attributed to the fact that
there has been no widespread progress
in the manner" Of erectin: . home.
In contrast to all other commodities.
It still Is erected piece by piece on the
site in the same laborious manner
that characterized building . CEN
fury ago.
It was agreed by the representatives
that much has been discussed In the
last decade, but only few branches
Of the industry have actually taken
the bit in their teeth. It was the con.
census that factory fabrication In the
use of many kinds Of materials may
be a major step in the right direction.
One nationally prominent architect
said: THE biggest opportunity We
have is to coordinate the various
groups of manufacturers which put
things into the home. We must cor
relate materials made by companies
not directly associated with this field,
but who are, nevertheless, part Of it.
II We do this, I believe We have the
solution to lower COSTS"
TEST" Homes Being Erected.
At the present time. i've test"
homes are being erected near Purdue
University at Lafayette, Ind. Cost
must not exceed $4,000. Each will
be Of Z di11e. ent building material and
each must be erected at profit to
the builder. Costs and profits will be
checked and rechecked by competent
engineers.
In his address. Chairman Chapple
said, in part: I'VE build our hope Of
service to humanity on the results Of
. study by this foundation. This Is
the first opportunity we have had to
measure our stride with competing
methods and materials, and the things
We learn both pro and con will be very
important in guiding our future efforts
and determination.
"As representatives Of the great
building material industries-brick,
stone. cement, wood, steel-each Of
u has place In the picture, but
that picture has not yet been prop
erly or scientifically developed.
"As I see our opportunity We have
as Lafayette a national proving
ground for our housing materials.
We are all fighting for the same
thing-a better way to build houses
more economically. This includes
every phase Of homemaking from
landscaping to interior decoration,
with all the gadgets thrown in"