Evening star., 1941-11-07
Use Of Resources Now
Idle Recommended
To Insure Building
Realtors Are Told R. F. G.,
Aid Could Open Mines
Not Producing
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON,
Star staff Correspondent.

DETROIT. Nov. Through Gov
ernment help, facilities now idle in
this country could be used to pro-
duce materials which the O. p. M
has labeled critical" by enabling
the civilian home building industry
to continue operation throughout
the emergency period, the conven-
ton of the National Association of
Real Estate Boards was told here
today. This would permit thousands
of small businesses to remain open
and prevent loss of employment by
hundreds of thousands of building
mechanics.
Hugh Potter, Houston builder and
former head of the national associa-
ton, told the convention of an idle
copper mine in California. which
With Government financial aid
could produce 5000 tons of copper
year, sufficient to build 10000
homes. This corporation is unable
to operate under the price ceiling
fixed by the Office of Price Admin
istration. But if the price were
raised cents a pound or with R
F.. c. backing could Immediately &c
into full production, Mr.. Potter said
The convention also was told of
potential copper producing centers
in northern Michigan, which would
be in operation with Government
help. A return of production to the
Michigan mines, it was said. not
only would afford the defense in
dustry and builders with large sup
plies of this critical metal, but would
take some $4,000 persons off w. P. A.
relief rolls.
To Seek Facts.
Other examples of how the pro-
duction of critical materials may be
increased were given. Copper was
cited particularly because the o. P.
M. ordered several weeks ago that
no more sheet or screen copper could
be used by industry not vital to
defense. The order was changed
this week and use of copper in civil
Ian work will be permitted until
January /.
Meanwhile. the Home Builders
Institute of America. affiliate of the
National Association. carried for
ward its plan for setting up in
Washington fact-finding agency
which will investigate the shortage
OF building materials the o. P M
alleges. This agency will represent
all builders, as we'll as make a survey
and take inventory of all materials
stored and being produced in the
country. AS one builder said, I'VE
don't want to use one ounce of criti-
cal defense materials. We Just want
to determine whether the supply of
materials is as short as the Govern
ment says it is
Fund Quickly Raised.
Funds for establishment of the
agency and its operation for six
months were raised in 9 few min
utes yesterday by the Home Builders
Institute. The National asSociati ton
contributed $4,000, and mortgage
loan interests gave a like amount.
The builders called for contributions
at their meeting and the remaining
5000 needed was oversubscribed
in 10 minutes. Washington builders
pledged $1,000 of the amount.
Charles c. Koones. president of the
Washington Real Estate Board,
donated Office space for the new
agency in the boards headquarters,
1417 K street NV.
Mr.. Koones was named to the
Executive Committee Of the national
association. David b Simpson of
Portland, Greg, was nominated to
the presidency of the association,
and, as this this tantamount to
election. will be named to succeed
Philip w. Kniskern of Philadelphia
as head of the realtors for the COM
Ing year. H. Clifford Bangs of Wash
ington was named to the Board of
Directors, and Paul o. Drury was
placed on the governing council of
the Institute of Real Estate Man.
agement, association affiliate.