Evening star., 1946-12-09
Materials Seen
For 100000
Homes in 1947
Coal Strikes Domoge|
To Housing Negligible
Institute Reports

The Building Products Institute
today viewed as negligible the dam
age dealt to housing construction
by the coal strike and predicted
enough materials would be available
next year for 100000 new homes.
Representing upward Of 300 man
ufacturers Of building materials, tho
institute agrees with the recent
American Legion contention that
no successor should be appointed to
the now vacant post Of housing ex-
pediter.
This viewpoint was disputed yes
terday by Lee F. Johnson, executive
vice president of the National Pub
lie Housing Conference, who de.
nounced the Legion stand In talk
over WINK.
Deplores Wyatt Resignation.
Mr.. johnson called the Legion
request Juvenile, naive and thor.
oughly stupid" and said it was
based on a between trains" ihspec-
ton tour on which seven World War
II veterans covered the Nation In 10
days. !.
Mr.. johnson said the resignation
last Thursday Of Housing Expediter
Wilson Wyatt represented "a victory
for the ruthless, rich and completely
selfish real estate and home building
lobbies."
Urging adoption Of the Wagner
Elender-Taft housing bill, Mr..
johnson said the housing program
would 60 on because the American
people insist that it go on"
Douglas Whitlock, chairman Of
Building Products Institute, said
that barring further disruptiye
strikes, there will be enough mate.
rials next year to permit the building
of 1,2000, 900 new homes and enough
additional materials for all other
construction that may get under
way"
Cold VIII Slow Construction.
The institute forecast Is 900, 900
under the construction goal set by
Mr.. Wyatt. But Mr.. Whitlock said
realization Of the prospectus de-
pended on whether the building
trades could keep pace with the
production Of materials.
Materials production viii con.
tinue unabated during the next
few months when on-site construc-
tion will be slowed down by cold
weather" Mr.. Whitlock said. "As
q result the materials pipelines will
fill up rapidly and the shortage of
building products should be no
problem by early spring, If not be-
fore"
He said veterans and industry
groups in Cooperation with local
officials could keep the housing pro-
gram moving, and there was no ex-
cuse for continuation of ALLEGATIONS,
set-asides and sweeping national
limitations on non-housing con-
struction.
Cement Still Short.
The Commerce Departments con-
struction division reported today
that production of brick, structural
tile and asphalt roofing had become
virtually adequate to fulfill de-
mand."
Production of all construction ma
terials has increased markedly this
year, the division added, but severe
shortages still exist in some mate
rials.
Notable ar 1ng the latter group
are cement with stocks likely to be
dangerously low" In early 1947;
clay sewer pipe and gypsum board.
the division said.
Lumber production was reported
likely to exceed the goals set earlier
this year, but shortages In certain
grades remain acute and there is
little likelihood that supply will
equal total demands for another
year" the division said.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, r., ma
tional housing chairman for the
American Veterans Committee, an
nounced> plans for a four-day ave
campaign for housing legislation
and rent controls.
Mr.. Roosevelt said delegates from
each of the $50 ave chapters would
visit Congressman and political lead
ers this week to enlist support for
the Wagner Ellender-Taft bill and
seek municipal, State and national