The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-19

which now demand the coo] ing out that without buildi defense" the most widely re clareS that the industry'S nu naval construction, followed by in- dustrial expansion and defense housing.
 "Once again, as in World War 1, the cry for speed commands all of buildings resources" the Architec- tural Forum explains in making available in it's November issue comprehensive report on all the tac- tors which will govern the success or failure of the industry's part Ill the peresnt defense preparations. "Hovering spectrelike in the back ground is the experience of 19l7-l8 when buildings resources were strained to the breaking point.
 Clearly, if building is to be ready to meet any defense demands at any time or any place, it should be known exactly what resources - pro- fessional skills, labor materials - are available not only in each local ity but also over the entire country. Shortages in any branch of materials or labor will affect directly the de- sign and construction of all types of buildings.
 2 Billion Year Needed
 "DefenSe construction must pro- ceed at the pace of roughly $200O.- 100000 a year if the governments plans for national preparedness are to be realized Materials and skilled labor are needed immediately. So too are the talents and knowledge of the industry's chief operating fac tors - architects, engineers, con- tractors, builders, dealers, realtors, lending institutions.
 Each has part to play, for Buildings new assignment signifies more than a flood of orders for structures to be erected within a specified time. The problem is how to do the best possible job: not only must work proceed quickly, but quail ity must be held high and costs kept down. To do this, building must call on it's most progressive men.
 "The defense building job includes every conceivable building type, small and large, temporary and perma- nent, simple and complex. The Army and Navy have contracted for more building construction per month than the total for any previous peacetime year.
 "Even without additional Federal appropriations for defense, U. s. in- dustry and industrial construction will hum for many months. AS far as actual expenditures are concerned, construction will probably peak ill September. 1941, the total program in the spring of 1922.
 Plants which have long been idle with depression and which lend themselves readily to. modern straight-line production systems (multi-story factories usually do not qualify) are gradually going back to work. Moreover, the U. s. is lit terally beating it's plowshares into swords by converting non-eSsentlal industrial production to more im- mediate needs.
 Housing Needs Enormous
 "To assure adequate and prompt defense. new housing facilities are required the country over - 5000 dwelling units for Ranger Aircraft Engine employees in Farmingdale, N. Y, 200 for Army civilian employees in Savanna, H., 1900 for Navy enlisted men in Long Beach, Cal" 5000 here and 50 there - growing grand total now officially and con servatively estimated at 100000.
 That is lot of housing" the Architectural Forum declares. "It comes close to one-half the 475,0O0 total produced last year when the building industry, sparked by the biggest peacetime housing demand in history, set ten-year production record
 While government hourses are getting squared around to the gigan- tic organizational job before them, building may study the many facets of the defense housing demand, re- view the legislation which will event. ually drop S250000,000 in it's corpor- ate purse, preview the defense hous- ing machinery. and consider the de- sign and construction of two dozen housing projects which either have been developed specifically for na- tional defense purposes or arc of such a nature that they can cast helpful light on the picture.
 Largely voluntary and, as yet, sadly undeveloped, local defense housing organization is essential to accomplishment of the program the Architectural Forum points out. without it, only governmental nanced houses would be built with the result that Federal appropria- tions would have to be more than doubled to reach the estimated goal Of 100000 dwelling units.
 "In a system of individual enter prise such as ours, government can set national objectives and appro- priate needed funds, but cannot blue print in detail what each person should do. Buildings job has been outlined. It now remains for f who make up the industry to t