Evening star., 1946-12-19
Williams Bankruptcy
Asked; Contractor
Tells Of His Efforts
Continued From First Page.)

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because they've got $500 or 81 900 ir
this" he sighed, as he pushed. hi,
hands nervously through his hair
My books will show I've got $50, ,00(
Of my own money invested.
1--WE got two boys away at school
and | haven't paid their tuition yet
I'm riding around>in borrowed car
Why, I've only got $6 In my pocket
right now. ! bet a lot Of veterans
have more than that"
Mr.. williams, who once worked for
the Capital Transit Co. compiling
figures on the number Of people who
ride buses and streetcars, said he
went into the real estate business
In 1943.
Hired Veterans.
my organization was 95 per cent
GI," he reported. II gamhled on
them, gave them drawing accounts
of $50 a week and taught them the
real estate business. had 65 vet
eranss' I set up training program
for them"
1--WE were doing quite a volume of
business, but it got to the point
where we absolutely couldn't find
homes" Mr.. Williams continued. II
called all my employees together and
said, Here's what we're up against.
I can't offer houses at these high
prices without insulting the intelli-
gence of the veterans. I think we
should build Some Of the boys
made applications for the homes
themselves"
He Planned to build $4,000 frame
homes at Gwynn Park near Clinton,
Md.-homes twice as good" as those
on the market for $4,000 or more,
he said.
"Oil heat, refrigerators, stove, in
sulation, hardwood floors" Mr.. VIII
liams ratified of in his best salesman
manner.
Other Projects Planned.
He also planned to build $4,000
homes at Riggs Mill Manor-more
expensive because they were to be
partially brick And he collected de-
posits on a third project, to be
known as Oakton. On the latter two
projects, ground has not yet been
broken.
Mr.. williams said he started the
Gwynn Park development last May.
About six weeks later, he discovered
he was having trouble getting build
ing materials, so he went to the
Federal Housing Administration.
'They were very cooperative
gave us engineers, architects and
everybody-but they weren't in a
position to do us much good" Mr..
Williams reported.
Then, he said, he turned to re-
tired colonel in his employ who used
to soldier" with Maj. Gen. Harry
II. Vaughan, military aide to Presi-
dent Truman. Gen. Vaughan, he
said, arranged. an appointment for
him with Wilson Wyatt, then hous-
ing expediter.
But didn't see Mr.. Wyatt" Mr..
williams said. "He sent out one of
his assistants. I asked him to help
me expedite my building program.
I think he was willing to help, but
he didn't know where to start"
At that point, Mr.. Williams said,
he bought tracts Of timber and set
up his own sawmill to get lumber
for his proposed houses-"and that
took quite an investment"
Hauled In Nails.
IT drove as far as Trenton, N. j.,
to get a keg of nails and hauled
half a dozen kegs back myself. !
paid as much as SIS for kegs that
should sell for $8" *~'7-f
When it became apparent that he
couldn't finish the homes by De-
cember l, as he had promised, Mr..
Williams went on, he tried to get
in touch with some Of the veterans
and explain that building shortages
had held him up.
"It appeared on the surface that
they were willing to go on wait
ing" he said. "But then three OF
them came in to see me and said
they wanted their money. I told
them couldn't give it to them, that
I had it tied up in building materials
and labor. When half dozen OF
them came in, I went to see my law
yer"
Mr.. williams said he took the
veterans deposits last summer with
the understanding the money was
to be used to help build the homes.
Under MARYLAND law, real estate