Evening star., 1937-10-02
VISION IN HOUSING
PLAN WINS PLAQUE.
National Lumber Manufac-
turers' Association Drew
Attention to Ownership.

Highest honor of 1887 among trade
associations of the country-a bronze
plaque awarded annually by the Amer
ican Trade Association Executives
was presented yesterday to the Ma
tional Lumber Manufacturers Associa-
ton in recognition of the character
and Importance of it, low cost, small
home building program, developed dur
ing the year under the direction Of
Association Manager Wilson
Compton.
DR.. Compton received the trophy late
yesterday at the evening session Of
the A. T. A. E. convention at French
Lick, Ind, from the hand of Secre-
tary of Commerce Daniel c. Roper,
representing business and industrial
leaders of the some $50 trade associa-
tions representing two thirds of Amer
lean industry.
The small home building program
which comes to public attention par
ticularly at this time by this formal
recognition of its worth, is considered
best among industry promotion pro-
grams of the year, from the point of
view of commercial vision, and also
as having wide national significance
in the housing field. In 1897 lum-
ber's home-building program included
three major steps.
Test Homes Built.
First, three demonstration small
homes were built in suburban Wash
ington, making possible the establish
ment of actual rock bottom building
costs, necessary in the construction of
up-to-date modern small houses, at
$4,000 and under
Second, the findings from this ex-
pertinent were made public to $4,000
lumber dealers in the United States,
who we're brought gradually to accept
the new-found facts, that low-cost
homes are possible and profitable to
build.
Thirdly, thousands of dealers
throughout the country built demon
stration low-cost homes in their COM
munities.
AS result men and women
throughout the country have been en-
abled to see with their own eyes what
is possible in the small home build
ing in the lower cost bracket.
Within Reach of Salaried Men.
Costs in many sections were proven
even less than those of the original
three demonstration homes, refuting
thoroughly the idea that home own
ership is rich mans privilege, and
establishing in the public mind a real
ization that under the Federal Hous-
ing Administration new insured mort
gage plan complete small homes cost
ing $4,000 and under are possible for
the Salaried man or woman earning
$1,000 to s2,500 a year. This home
demonstration program is regarded
by industrial leaders generally as a
thoroughly American solution of the
housing problems of hundreds of cities
where self-respecting citizens working
on small salaries are now able to at
tain privacy, proper sanitary condi-
tlons and modern conveniences in
complete small homes of their own.
Every home built by the lumber
demonstration included living room,
dining quarters, kitchen. basement
and heating plant, one, two or three
bed rooms, bath and electricity. More
than $500 of these houses were built
during the year 500 more are under
construction.
The average costs of these demon
strators built in Bethesda in 1886 we're
s3.765.24, s3,7S0.61 and s4,12O,45.
Outside of Washington 1887 aver
age costs for these houses ran from
$3,165 to S3,858.