Evening star., 1942-04-26
How Wagons Temporary War Housing Problem May Affect Your Home
By Pat Jones,

Efforts to act up derlountable family
units as Q solution TO the housing short
sgs nov threatening to cripple war ef-
forts has given rise In Washington TO a
fundamental problem that may be ma
tionsl In It's scope
II has grown on; Of project OF the
Federal Government To set UP on public
and private land $500 Of these public
buildings under q promise that they
will be taken down tinker-toy fashion
after the war and moved to other sites.
Affected residents are willing to sacri-
fee in the face Of a growing emergency.
but they are reluctant 10 give all-out
cooperation TO program that may re-
suit IN depreciation OF property and
possibly OF the social tone OF their COM
munities.
The people base their objection on
the idea of placing homes with a maxi
mum cost OF $4,000 in the midst Of
dwellings that average in value from
$4,000 to $4,000 They also frown on
occupation of the low cost houses by
an undesirable population. which would
lower the value Of surrounding property.
The Alley Dwelling Authority, agency
through which the. Federal Government
Is carrying on its housing program, has
been sympathetic. i has given aSSur-
ance that the houses will be neat in ap-
pearance and fitted TO their surround
ings, that their occupants will be aver
age Government workers and that the
dwellings will be removed after the
emergency.
John Ihlder. executive officer Of the
A. d. A. said the emergency housing
effort has been the greatest task his
agency ever has undertaken, but that 1t
has been made doubly difficult by the
opposition that has arisen on the part of
the public. He has battled it across his
desk and around the rostrum OF citi-
zens' association meetings. He believes
now that the crest has been reached and
that most Of the objections resulted
from a misunderstanding" of Uncle
Sans intentions.
Controversy Over Removal.
Principal controversy has hinged
around the plan to remove the houses
after the war. Citizens have asked for
something more than an oral promise
and have cited in their behalf the lack
adaisical manner in which the Federal
Government tore down its temporary
dormitories after the last war.
Due to lack of time, the Alley Dwell
Ing Authority has been unable so far to
state It's promise definitely in black and
white. But it is willing to give every
verbal assurance that residents will not
be harmed. by the program and that
in some instances they will be benefited.
'In every instance, whether the land
is leased or bought" said Mr.. Ihlder, "the
intent is to remove the demountables
within one year after the President has
declared the end of the war. In the
case of leased land. the intent is to re-
store it to its original purpose. In the
case Of bought land, the intent is to plan
the site so that it will harmonic with
adjacent developments and will be most
readily salable to private purchasers
when the demountables are removed"
Mr.. Ihlder will 60 still further.
$50 long as am executive director of
the Alley Dwelling Authority, houses
shall be removed" he declared
He said houses and lots would be sold
separately and that the sale of lots
would be conditional upon removal of
the houses.
Mr.. Ihlder was asked at a conference