Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-09-16

fect1ve, but II the writer does not
be withheld.)
FOR MORE HOUSING FACILITIES
Editor Askov American:
Minnesota, and the United States,
as a whole, is faced with an acute
housing shortage. The situation is
extremely serious and has been for
some time.
In 1884 release by the National
Housing Administration stated that
during 1882 and 1888 there weren't
enough single homes built to replace
those burned down in those two
years." Mr.. Ernst Kahn, former man.
ager of the municipal housing devel-
opment of Frankfort-am-Main, Ger
many, and one of the outstanding
authorities on housing, stated in an
article in the Survey Graphic for May,
1885: eff the present standard of
living in America is not to be dras-
tically lowered, million new dwell
ling units a year must be built in
the United States for the next ten
years"
The above quotations are from re-
liable authorities on housing condi-
tons and indicate truly alarming
situation and yet even more Strik-
ing is the following statement made
by M. j. BERN, vice president of the
American Radiator and Standard San
itary Corporation, in 1885: Thirteen
million, almost one-half of the homes
in this country are going to pieces
for want of repair or recOnditioning
in 1884 there were less than
IS, 900 homes built in the entire United
States and there were approximately
only $4,000 homes built in 1888. And
yet during the year 1884 Great Brit
ain with population of only 49,
100000 built over 100000 homes. The
United States has a population over
three times that of England and yet
we built only 1919 of the number of
homes they built"
This country of ours, this land of
opportunity, is well on the way to
become the poorest housed of any
western nation unless immediate and
drastic action is taken. For some
time such new business buildings and
residences as have been built have
been beyond the rent-paying re-
sources of our people. At the same
time we have seen an increasing and
pyramiding shortage of low rental
housing.
Private industry cannot remedy this
condition for the simple reason that
low cost and low rental housing does
not pay, under our present condi-
tons of speculative land prices, in
creasing taxes, and money difficult
to obtain. What then is the answer
to our housing problem? There is
and can be only one answer-gov-
eminent assistance of some kind. This
has been the answer in every other
western civilized nation and eXper-
fence has shown it to be the only
solution for the United States.
President Roosevelt has recognized
the necessity for action and the New
Deal has fostered a sound housing
program. Several New Deal agencies
have been charged with handling
various phases of the problem. Many
of our states have also taken appro-
pirate action by passing enabling leg
islation and creating housing author
tiles.
The President steered additional
housing legislation through a reluc-
tant Congress at the last session.
The bill as passed represents a COM
promise and is not what was desired
but it represents another step in the
direction of decent low cost housing
for the workers of these United States
Governor Benson is anxious that
Minnesota shall be in a position to
take advantage of the provisions of
the new federal act. In order that
this may be, special legislation is
such needed legislation will keep the
farmers of this state and the workers
in the lower income brackets from
reaping the benefits bestowed upon
them by the new federal act. The
people of Minnesota are in grave dam
ger of being denied these benefits
because of the stupid obstructionist
policy of a handful of reactionary
state senators.
Are we to sit idly by and allow
this group, these reactionaries who
would play politics with housing,
deny to us in Minnesota the bene-
fits provided for all Americans by
the last Congress? Only an outraged
and aroused militant public opinion
can prevent this calamity that