were to work as teams, and that their clients were the workers for whom the buildings were to be built.
Closely allied with the work of design was the Operating Division, which would have charge of the properties when created. As managers of these sometimes large communities, their function would be fully as important as that of their creators; hence their oversight was necessary at every stage of the development of each project. Housing is not merely the building of houses; it is the sudden creation of new communities, perhaps villages, perhaps fair-sized towns. Their conduct; the physical up-keep of the dwellings; the maintenance of sanitary conditions; the abatement of nuisances; the adjustment of disputes which unadjusted lead to the police court; the general welfare supervision of the populace; the fixing of rentals and priority of occupancy; the maintenance and establishment of desirable social and recreational activities—these are management. The purpose of the Housing Corporation was far from the irresponsible, getrich-quick, unload-it-on-’em-anyhow-and-get-outwith-the-profit method of the more disastrous forms of speculation in real estate and human needs.
To the work of the Construction Division only passing references may be made; upon this large and most competent organization devolved the making of contracts and the handling of the work to be done by the contractors in the field. To describe its extensive function and machinery would require an entire article.
What then is the lesson?
To the casual observer the general proposition that houses were to be built for workmen would seem a simple one. But actually it is a large, complex, human and economic problem, with so many sides to it that for its solution there needs be invoked the joint endeavor of those in numerous and greatly varied walks of life, ordinarily thought of as unrelated.
The union of all these forces does not, m ordinary circumstances, occur. It is possible only where the magnitude of operations upon a wholesale scale permits the absorption of the overhead expense it entails. The United States Housing Corporation has worked upon such a scale and has therefore been able to assemble into one closely woven organization these many agencies. Here have been owner, manager, real-estate expert, designers in all branches, constructor, experts in the technicalities of building, of transportation, of schools, hospitals, living conditions, and the law. The special knowledge of all these has been available for exercise at the moment when needed and continu
ously throughout. The advantage is easily demonstrable; to have, for instance, the advice and cooperation of the builder who will construct, and the manager who will conduct the property, from the very inception of the planning and through all its stages to completion in all its various parts, is obviously beneficial; the same is true of the larger group. It is also a fact that these experts should all be the best in their respective lines. The Corporation, because of the importance of its work and through the patriotic appeal inherent in its objects, has been able to command such talent. The organization has functioned as what may fairly and appropriately be called a Team. In so doing there has been afforded illuminating evidence of the essential inter-dependence of its factors and of the value of so uniting them when the problem of industrial housing, whether for war workers, or those of peace, is to be adequately solved in its many economic and social aspects.
Even so slender an outline as this of the Corporation s activities should not fail to include some word concerning their spirit and quality. The employed designers have shown an enthusiasm and devotion, a glad acceptance of severest toil with only war-time remuneration; have manifested a degree of technical skill and ingenuity, that reflect high credit upon the professions concerned, their mqstery of their arts and their characters as loyal citizens. The same thing might truthfully be said about the great team which has served the Government, but perhaps that should not come from one whose privilege it was to be a member. He can, however, say that its leader, Otto M. Eidlitz, has come out of his conduct of an almost inconceivably difficult and trying task, with not merely their respect but their warmest personal affection.
For private enterprises, and in the common run of things, no such uniting of the forces may be anticipated. And yet the problem of industrial housing, still in its infancy, is one that this country has got to solve in its human as well as its financial bearings; in its effect upon a better citizenship; upon the Americanization of both our foreign-born and native populace; upon the rational treatment of labor unrest. Surely we should not sink back into our laissez-faire treatment of this, among the other lessons that the war has been supposed to teach us— surely the fruits of the great governmental experiments should be cultivated and ripened.
The country is undoubtedly not ready to accept housing as a Federal enterprise. But it would seem as though a Federal Bureau could exercise a useful function in gathering together, analyzing, digesting, extending, the great mass of relevant facts and experience growing out of the work so
Closely allied with the work of design was the Operating Division, which would have charge of the properties when created. As managers of these sometimes large communities, their function would be fully as important as that of their creators; hence their oversight was necessary at every stage of the development of each project. Housing is not merely the building of houses; it is the sudden creation of new communities, perhaps villages, perhaps fair-sized towns. Their conduct; the physical up-keep of the dwellings; the maintenance of sanitary conditions; the abatement of nuisances; the adjustment of disputes which unadjusted lead to the police court; the general welfare supervision of the populace; the fixing of rentals and priority of occupancy; the maintenance and establishment of desirable social and recreational activities—these are management. The purpose of the Housing Corporation was far from the irresponsible, getrich-quick, unload-it-on-’em-anyhow-and-get-outwith-the-profit method of the more disastrous forms of speculation in real estate and human needs.
To the work of the Construction Division only passing references may be made; upon this large and most competent organization devolved the making of contracts and the handling of the work to be done by the contractors in the field. To describe its extensive function and machinery would require an entire article.
What then is the lesson?
To the casual observer the general proposition that houses were to be built for workmen would seem a simple one. But actually it is a large, complex, human and economic problem, with so many sides to it that for its solution there needs be invoked the joint endeavor of those in numerous and greatly varied walks of life, ordinarily thought of as unrelated.
The union of all these forces does not, m ordinary circumstances, occur. It is possible only where the magnitude of operations upon a wholesale scale permits the absorption of the overhead expense it entails. The United States Housing Corporation has worked upon such a scale and has therefore been able to assemble into one closely woven organization these many agencies. Here have been owner, manager, real-estate expert, designers in all branches, constructor, experts in the technicalities of building, of transportation, of schools, hospitals, living conditions, and the law. The special knowledge of all these has been available for exercise at the moment when needed and continu
ously throughout. The advantage is easily demonstrable; to have, for instance, the advice and cooperation of the builder who will construct, and the manager who will conduct the property, from the very inception of the planning and through all its stages to completion in all its various parts, is obviously beneficial; the same is true of the larger group. It is also a fact that these experts should all be the best in their respective lines. The Corporation, because of the importance of its work and through the patriotic appeal inherent in its objects, has been able to command such talent. The organization has functioned as what may fairly and appropriately be called a Team. In so doing there has been afforded illuminating evidence of the essential inter-dependence of its factors and of the value of so uniting them when the problem of industrial housing, whether for war workers, or those of peace, is to be adequately solved in its many economic and social aspects.
Even so slender an outline as this of the Corporation s activities should not fail to include some word concerning their spirit and quality. The employed designers have shown an enthusiasm and devotion, a glad acceptance of severest toil with only war-time remuneration; have manifested a degree of technical skill and ingenuity, that reflect high credit upon the professions concerned, their mqstery of their arts and their characters as loyal citizens. The same thing might truthfully be said about the great team which has served the Government, but perhaps that should not come from one whose privilege it was to be a member. He can, however, say that its leader, Otto M. Eidlitz, has come out of his conduct of an almost inconceivably difficult and trying task, with not merely their respect but their warmest personal affection.
For private enterprises, and in the common run of things, no such uniting of the forces may be anticipated. And yet the problem of industrial housing, still in its infancy, is one that this country has got to solve in its human as well as its financial bearings; in its effect upon a better citizenship; upon the Americanization of both our foreign-born and native populace; upon the rational treatment of labor unrest. Surely we should not sink back into our laissez-faire treatment of this, among the other lessons that the war has been supposed to teach us— surely the fruits of the great governmental experiments should be cultivated and ripened.
The country is undoubtedly not ready to accept housing as a Federal enterprise. But it would seem as though a Federal Bureau could exercise a useful function in gathering together, analyzing, digesting, extending, the great mass of relevant facts and experience growing out of the work so