Evening star., 1937-11-29
. OLLOW1NG is the text of Presi-
- dent Roosevelt's message to
Congress today on housing:
To the Congress- Of the

Congress today on housing:
4 To the Congress Of thu
United States:
In my message to the Congress
upon the convening Of the extraordi-
nary session on November IS. said
that I would address you further in
regard to proposals to encourage the
private construction and financing OF
housing on large scale. The pro-
posals which am presenting for
your consideration now are an i'm
portant part of the program for in
creasing general business activity and
employment during the coming year
From the point Of view Of wide
spread and sustained economic re-
covery, housing constitutes the largest
and most promising single field for
private enterprise
Housing construction has not kept
pace with either the needs or growth
of our population. From 1880 to
1887, inclusive, the average annual
number Of new dwelling units con-
structed in the United States was
10000, as contrasted with an an
nual average Of 100000 in the seven
years prior to 1890. In addition
much of our existing housing has
seriously deteriorated, or has been
demolished.
1t is estimated that an average OF
100000 to 100000 dwelling units
ought to be built annually over the
next five years to overcome the
accumulated shortage and to meet
the normal growth in number OF
families. In other words. We could
build over the next fve years 5000, ,0oC
or 100000 housing units, which al
a moderate estimate Of $4,000 pei
unit would mean spending from
$4,000. 100000 to SIS 900, ,o00,9 900, with.
out creating surplus Of housing
accommodations, and consequently
without impairing the value Of exist
ing housing that is At for decent
human occupancy.
The long continued lag in building
Is a drag on all industry and trade
This presents an urgent problem
which is the common concern Of in
dustry, labor and government. All
business needs the infusion Of orders
and the diffusion of purchasing power
that come when building is thriving
Great numbers OF people look di-
rectly or indirectly to the construc-
ton industry for employment Thi,
industry. to a greater extent thar
any other, can put idle funds tc
work and thus speed up the cir.
culation Of the Nations money sup
ply. This, in turn, would increase
national income. reduce unemploy-
ment and as result contribute
toward a balancing Of the budget.
Cost Must Be Cut
To Help Housing.
Since 1888 We have had great
recovery movement in which tous-
ing construction has played only q
minor part. That it should play a
major part has been clearly recog-
nized by this administration from
the outset. But, though much has
been done to encourage construction
activity, the results have not yet been
satisfactory. Instead Of a seasonal
rise in housing construction through,
the past spring and summer, there
was an early downturn. This waa
one OF the principal reasons why gen.
eral business failed to forge ahead
during the latter part of the year.
We must recognize clearly that
housing will not be built if costs are
too high in relation to the consumers
income. The fact that housing COST
rose sharply-far too sharply-be-
tween September Of 1886 and March
OF 1887 was primarily responsible for
the downturn in housing and thus ir
recovery generally this year.
Revival of housing construction
must be based on reduction of thu
costs of building and the payment TO,
buildings rather than on q resump.
ton OF the rising costs that stopped
progress in this essential field last