Evening star., 1940-04-13
BY JOHN d. BIGGERS.


The long predicted Age of Glass
Is daily coming nearer reality be-
cause glass is the building material
which best serves mans progress
toward more natural" living. It
helps to satisfy the fundamental
urge Of man to "see out"
Certainly the extensive building
development which must come to
this country soon will be marked by
the widest areas and most varied
uses Of glass ever known.
During the last decade, the glass
industry has made this material
valuable and available in ways never
before thought possible. Glass now
IS used for cooking utensils that
resist great heat, for windows that
insulate against the suns rays, for
beautiful glass fabrics, for safety
glass in automobile windshields and
windows, and for glass furniture.
Its structural uses have multiplied
many fold
For example, glass in the form
Of a new product called "glastone"
now can be used as a load-bearing
structural unit for buildings of any
height. Skyscrapers with colorful,
cleaning walls of glass are now a
practical possibility for the i'm
mediate future.
Wide Range Of Colors.
This structural unit is made BY
facing lightweight concrete block
with colored structural glass. It
can be used as load-bearing part
of any wall the same as granite or
limestone and at the same time af-
ford the surface effect of glass in a
wide range of colors.
But much more important to
mans happiness even than the mere
ownership Of glass houses" is the
opportunity offered by glass to bring
natural light and outdoor beauty
into the living quarters of the home.
In response to the growing demand
for more and better natural light,
architects are designing homes with
greater wall areas of glass than ever
before - from the most modest
bungalows to the mansions of the
wealthy.
1t has been estimated by private
and Government authorities that
100000 or more new homes are
needed in the next five years If
American housing standards are to
be maintained on anything like an
adequate level. In 1885, a good
start was made toward catching up
with our deficiency in homes by the
erection of nearly 100000 dwelling
units.
If we are to fill this great hous-
ing need. however, we must gear
our building to the market, and
that. am convinced, Is much more
the $4,000 than the S., 900 to 10000
market for homes which the Ameri-
can building industry has aimed at
In the past.
Encouraging Factors.
The emphasis which the Federal
Housing Administration is putting
on this new 'low-cost" housing mar
ket and the constructive things in
financing and in building tech
niques which the F. H. A. is con-
tributing to its development, are
two of the most encouraging things
happening in the construction field
today.
The economic value of home con-
struction as stimulant to general
business recovery is apparent in the
fact that al cents of every building
dollar creates Jobs for workmen ION
the scene" and considerable por-
ton of the SO cents spent for ma
terials pays wages of other workers
In mills, quarries and factories.
If you contemplate building even
. modest home technical progress
has made available to you many
materials once considered luxuries.
The glass industry has contributed
to improving your opportunity to
enjoy life. You can now afford
broad picture windows" that bring
outdoor beauty into your living
room. You can insulate your win
dow areas against loss of heat in
winter and against penetration of
unwanted suns rays in summer by