The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-01-16
Delays inIHousing
Program reo+ens
Storm In Congress
Defense Progrofn Slowed. Is
Claim; SearcAf Ing Inquiry
Now Demanded

Washington, D. 6. (ILNs).-Lag-
ging defense housing seems certain
to provoke a storm in the new Con-
gress. Senators and Representatives
are aroused by well founded reports
that lack Of housing progress is
holding up the defense program.
Congressional leaders say there will
be no destructive or vituperative
moves, and that action will be kept in
constructive bounds. However, while
nothing is expected to happen to
hamper future Developments of the
program-and whils ss heads are like
ly to go under the ax-the boys on
Capitol Hill are going to ask plenty
of quiet but determined questions.
At the present time the defense
housing program seems to be slowing
down instead of showing greater
speed. Of the 1882 dwelling units
approved, 1905 are under contract
and in the same stages of construc-
ton. These are the projects under
the administration of the Federal
Works Agency. The Navy is working
on $4,000 additional units. This is
about the sum total of defense hous-
ing progress to date.
Meanwhile, from the earliest stages
of the program, the tentative national
need was set at 100000 units. A total
of $240,000,000 has been appropriated
for direct Federal subsidy of such
projects
Why, Congress to Ask
Congress will want to know why
this situation is in effect. An unex-
planned lapse is the long periods of
time between the announcement of
new projects approved by the Hous-
ing Co-ordinator. For example, the
last announcement of assignments
came on November rs. Since then
there has been little action.
Congress is expected to go deep
into the question Of whether existing
machinery is adequate to carry out
the defense housing program. The
Public Buildings Administration (act-
ing under FWA) is carrying the
brunt Of the work at present. All
projects approved to date are past the
site location and planning stage. This
means that until additional assign
ments are made, this part of the op-
Grating personnel are at stagnation
point until given further work.
Lots of Questions Coming
One expert described the present
set-up as an assembly line. Unless
initial parts (assignments) are kept
on hand in a steady flow, the as
sembly peters out at the point of
origin.
Whatever happens, Congress is 60
ing to ask a lot of questions and ac-
tion of some sort can be expected
within 80 days on this vital cog in
the defense program machinery.
The Navy's housing job is showing
the way is could be done. One of its
developments for greater speed and
efficiency is the use of prefabricated
steel houses, of which 1900 family
units are going up at Quantico and
Newport News for enlisted personnel.
Houses Built in Day
Four years Of experimentation by
Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co.
Of Birmingham, U. S. Steel Subsid-
iary, have developed a house which
ten men can put up in one eight-hour
day, except finishing and plumbing.
The houses rest on concrete founda-
tions; walls are asbestos shingles ap-
piled over insulated board sheathing.
Floors are asphalt tile. Six tons of
steel go into a two-family dwelling.