Evening star., 1939-03-21
Homes for 10000
Families Provided
By U. 5. H. A.
Slum Clearance Coins
Outlined by Strous
In Radio Forum

Outlined by Strous
In Radio Forum
Nathan Straus, administrator of
the United States Housing Author
ity, discussed last night the progress
and future needs of the Nations
slum clearance program In the
National Radio Forum, arranged by
The Star and broadcast over d
Nationwide network of the National
Broadcasting Co. The text of his
address follows:
Slum clearance and public hous-
ing is today recognized form of
Government activity. During the IS
months since I was appointed ad-
ministrator of the United States
Housing Authority by President
Roosevelt, 1 have visited more than
half hundred cities in 20 States.
My most recent trip, from which
1 returned last week, took me to II
cities in seven States of the South
and Southwest. I visited Raleigh,
Charleston, Savannah, Augusta, At
anta and Columbus; Birmingham,
Phoenix City, Montgomery and Mo-
bile; New Orleans; Austin, San An
tonic and Corpus Christi; Jackson
vile, Miami and Pensacola. In
every one Of those cities I met with
local housing authorities and archi-
tects engaged on the housing pro-
gram. In many of the cities saw
men at work on the sites of the
housing projects. The hospitality
and courtesy extended to me as
administrator of the United States
Housing Authority in every city
visited merits my Warmest thanks.
Addresses Legislatures.
In three States, Alabama, Georgia
and Texas. was accorded the rare
privilege of addressing the State
Legislatures. A resolution, unani-
mously adopted by both Houses, ex-
tended an invitation to me to dis
cuss the U. S. H. A. program IN its
relation to the problems and condi-
tions of that State. I was intro
duced by the Governor or the
Lieutenant Governor. The oppor-
tunity thus to appear before the
legislators in their own State Capitol
was a privilege which I, as a former
New York State Senator, knew how
to prize
These occasions were for me men,
orable ones. Perhaps an even
greater thrill was the sight of the
first housing projects under actual
construction.
In Austin, Tex. and Jacksonville
Fla. the local housing authority
projects beng constructed under the
U. S. H. A program are actually
under roof and nearing completion
AS saw these substantial, neat and
durable buildings arising as homes
for families now living in the slums
l experienced the pleasure that l
suppose is felt by any man who sees
the first fruits of days and nights
of hard work by a group of people
under his leadership.
Inspect Military Posts.
At this point I want to interrupt
my speech to tell of something when
is not related to the housing pro-
gram. but was of the greatest in
terest to me and will, especially in
view of world conditions today, be
of interest to this radio audience
The hospitality extended to US
included In Columbus, Ga, and
Pensacola, Fla, an invitation from
the commanding officer of the local
military and naval post. At For.
Benning. Columbus, and at the
United States Naval Training Sta
ton at Pensacola we were given an
opportunity of inspecting the prem
ises and seeing something of the
training and education given the
young men. The impression con-
veyed in each case was one of tre-
mendous efficiency. The neatness
of the grounds, the precision of the
drill. the appearance and conduct
of the happy and healthy men whom
we saw were indeed heartening evi-
dence of the intelligent care given
by our military and naval estab-
lishments to the training of the
youth. I believe that any citizen
who is in the neighborhood of one
of these military or naval posts
should try to spend a few hours in
learning of the kind of training
given by Uncle Sam to recruits. II
is my feeling that this training fits
the men not only to be better
military or naval defenders of the
country but, indeed, to be better
citizens.
Impressed by Personnel.
In every city that I visited I was
tremendously impressed by the per-
sonnel of the local housing authori-
ties. 1t seemed to me that the finest
men and women in the community
had been drafted for this public
service. I would like to express my
sense Of Indebtedness and gratitude
to those men and women through
out the country who, as members of
the local housing authorities, are
carrying forward the public housing
program to success
On my trip heard the slum clear
ance program publicly and emphat-
ically praised by newspapers and
individuals of all shades of political
opinion. I discussed public housing
with Governors. Mayors, members Of
City Councils, merchants, mothers,
men on the street. In every city that
I visited the clearing of slums and
the rehousing of families of low
income in decent quarters are activ-
tiles accepted as proper Govern
ment responsibility.
What is true of those cities from
my personal knowledge is un-
doubtedly true Of every city in the
country now participating in the
slum clearance and rehousing pro-
gram.
155 Cities. Participating.
There are 155 of those cities today
in % States, the District of Co.
lumbia, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
1t is almost a year to the day since