Evening star., 1942-05-08

The acute shortage of copper wire
and of substitutes for 1t is the cause
of the latest housing headache. De-
scribing the situation as very. very
critical" War Production Board
official said there is practically no
copper wiring obtainable anywhere.
The most serious shortage is in
heavier wire used for electric lines
and connections with houses. There
is some supply of the lighter grade
for home wiring.
The w. P. B. spokesman placed
most of the blame for the shortage
on boarding. He said dealers and
many utility companies hold huge
stocks of copper wire which the
board probably will be forced to
seize Millions of feet of wire, he
declared, were bought a year ago
by dealers who are holding the
stock for higher prices. Many cleo
trio companies, he added, will not
release copper, fearing that replace
ments cannot be obtained.
A national builders representa-
tive estimated that 10000 badly
needed homes are affected by the
copper shortage. The homes include
those built by the Government as
we'll as private contractors. He said
nearly 1000 of the houses are 10
Gated in the Capital area. Private
builders are particularly hard hit.
since final payments of construction
loans cannot be obtained until the
housing is ready for occupancy.
The builders representative said
he understood the tieup is caused
by lack Of coordination in priority
ratings. Builders are able to get
materials with their ratings and
erect houses, but the ratings OF
utility companies are too low to
release materials for hookups.
There are 5000 unused homes in
the vital Pittsburgh area, he said,
and nearly 800 in Baltimore, which
were built by the Government.
Some Pittsburgh houses are occu-
pied by workers, who use oil lamps
and candles for illumination.
substitutes SuSSCStcO.
Galvanized steel and silver can be
used as substitutes for copper in
wiring, the w. P. B. official said.
The supply of galvanized steel, how
ever, is nearly as short as copper.
With respect to silver, the Govern
ment, he said, has earmarked some
for production of fuses, but has
made no ALLEGATIONS of the metal for
wiring.
Some basis for allocating copper
probably will be worked out by the
W.. p, B. to solve the housing prob
lem, the official said. He suggested
a basis whereby the Army, Navy
and others more directly engaged
in the war effort would get 80 per
cent of copper produced, with the
remaining 10 per cent earmarked
for housing.
In the event Of stock seizures.
electric companies will be allowed
to retain enough for repairs and
emergency use. A considerable part
OF the stocks will be ordered to i'm
mediate housing use.
Discussing the Washington stu
alton, James H. Ferry, general man.
ager OF Potomac Electric Power Co.,
said there are a number of new
houses without current for lack of
copper and approximately TOO cases
where occupancy is delayed be-
cause OF a shortage OF galvanized
steel. He said the firm has no
stocks OF heavy copper and has on
order two carloads of steel wire.
The situation here should be cleared
up shortly, Mr.. Ferry said, adding
that most of the trouble is in
suburban sections.
Code Change Needed.
Washington may expect, he said,
that most new installations of cleo
trio conduit and house connections
Will be OF the galvanized material.
Before that can be done in the
District, the building code, which
now prohibits use of galvanized.
must be changed.
Mr.. Ferry said steel is not nearly
as satisfactory as copper for wir-
ing. He described it as like a clock
spring" to handle There are likely
to be serious accidents in installing
the wire, he added Steel has a
voltage drop nine times that of COP
per, and persons near the ends of
lines are apt to get a very low volt
age. This, he said, might cause
appliances to burn out.
The electric company, Mr.. Ferry
said, has cut tremendously into its
emergency stock OF copper to meet
new building needs. Dwindling sup
plies have forced the company to
halt that practice The War Pro-
duction Board now specifies the gal
vanized steel for wiring, he added.
Mr.. Ferry told of number OF
hardships imposed by the wire Short
age on residents of the area. A new
home owner in nearby MARYLAND
has been trying for a month to get
service. Another man spent $500
on chicken hatchery and has been
unable to get current to hatch the
eggs