Evening star., 1941-06-07
BY RUFUS S. LUSK.

A pressing problem confronting
builders today is whether they will
be able to obtain the necessary ma
terials to complete operations actu-
ally being built or planned. The
priorities division of the Office of
Production Management has already
begun to clamp down on certain
items which are needed for building.
The national emergency is begin
ming to hit the housing industry.
At the present time it is becoming
increasingly difficult to get, for ex-
ample, copper 1t is no longer pos
sible to get aluminium. There are
substitutes for the latter, but not
for copper wiring
The purpose of the prioritieS divi-
sion Is to see, as the word implies,
that first things come first The
defense program gets preference,
This does not mean that materials
can be obtained only by those who
are actually engaged in the manu-
facture of goods for the armed
forces. There are many other things
which the division holds are matters
of national defense. One is housing.
Habits Must Be ReadjuSted
Builders, as all businessmen. must
readjust their business habits in
many ways. They must, in planning
new operations. endeavor to deter
mine whether needed materials will
be available. There is no sure way
to find this out. The priorities diyi-
sion cannot tell definitely whether
there will be a shortage of any par
tlcular material at some future time.
There has been a great deal more
stress on housing for defense work
ers IN this emergency than during
the last war. 1t was not until 1918
that the Government recognized the
need OF additional accommodations
Tor defense workers Some houses
intended for them were not finished
until after the war In other in
stances the war was over before con-
tracts were let. In this emergency.
however, housing is rated as an i'm
portant part of the defense pro-
gram.
Builders here, in many instances,
should be able to make out a good
case that the houses and apart
ments which they are building are
q necessary part of that program.
IhlS may not apply to all houses
and to all apartments. 1t is more
apt 10 be an acceptable plea for the
securing of materials when the
housing units are in the lower rent
and sale brackets, or when it can
be pretty clearly shown that thev
Will be occupied by those who are
directly or indirectly engaged in ma
tlonal defense work.
Materials Under Control.
The following materials are under
industry-wid mandatory control.
aluminium, magnesium, nickel. nickel
steel, terro tungsten. copper, zinc,
machine tools. neoprene and cork,
1her use is under strict control of
the Government. Steel has also
oeen made the subject of special
control Just going into effect. More
than 250 other products are subject
to varying degrees of control.
Builders should give thought to
WV "'' Va Substitutes. FOR example
instead of galvanized iron stovepine
which is coated with zinc, it NAV be
necessary to use black iron. PIas-
tlcs may have wider use.
In the event builder finds diff
hculty in securing materials which
ne needs to complete an operation.
ne should go to the Priorities Di-
vision. Social Security Building.
and get form, on which he NAV
list the reasons why he believes he
should be allowed to obtain ma
terlals for his particular project. If
ne can make out a good case that
the housing he is erecting is needed
by those engaged in defense work,
ne may find that he will be given a
preference rating for the materials
he needs.
Builders will find Defense
weekly publication of the O. p M
winch gives a summary of i'm
portant defense actions, particularly
helpful The cost is Is cents a year
3 bscriptions may be placed
through the Government Printing
Office,