1920-05-32-page07

THE CONCRETE AGE

DALTON and Atlanta GEORGIA

VOL. XXXII. May, 1920. No. 2

PUBLISHED MONTHLY

Devoted to Modern Permanent Construction.

CONCRETE AGE PUBLISHING CO.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

In the United States and Possessions (Hawaii, Phillippine
Islands and Canal Zone), Mexico and Cuba, $l.OO per year.
Canada, $1.50. All other foreign countries, $2.00 per year.

Advertising rates given upon application.
Entered as second-class matter October 18, 1905, at the Post-office
at Atlanta, Ga., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.

The Editor solicits correspondence from readers on matters per-
taining to the concrete industry. Descriptions of concrete work
done anywhere that is of general interest accompanied by clear,
sharp photographs and going into details as to methods employed
will be published and paid for if found acceptable.

TO OUR ADVERTISERS.

Our advertisers are requested to have copy and
cuts for changes for advertisements in this office not
later than the 10th preceding the month for publi-
cation.

We cannot be responsible for changes not made,
when copy and cuts are received later, or submit
proof.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Editorial 7-8

Street and Road Construction 10

Hoover Heads Engineers 12

Line Tunnel With Concrete 13

South Carolina Highway Commission 14

Concrete Roads Are Popular 15

How Concrete Ships Have Worked 18

Need for National Highways 19

Concrete and Cement Plants 22

Personal Mention 23

Nation’s Greatest Concrete Elevator . 24

Housing: A Community Investment.

It is idle to expect a solution of any local housing
problem until that community makes up its mind that
it is willing to incur a risk in order to secure benefits.
When the citizens come to see that it is to their ad-
vantage, in a broad way, to encourage people to live
in that town, even if eventually the housing enter-
prise involves a direct loss on actual investment, then
the answer to the puzzle is found. In spite of the
failure of housing corporations to meet any situation,
there is reason for encouragement in the determina-
tion to see matters through.

In these times of pending crises, any housing pro-
ject can hardly be made to look like a business prop-
osition on its own merits. “Philanthropy plus 5 per
cent’’ hardly expresses it. “Philanthropy minus 5
per cent —or more” is rather like it, at least the
element of risk to some one, either the builder or the
buyer, is so great as to make the enterprise a gamble.
No one can say how long the unprecedented costs and
prices of today are to continue or how far they will
dip when they start down. The situation in all sec-
tions is certainly not inviting to the individual of
small means or to capital seeking investment merely.
Houses will be built and sold of course, on the crest
of the wave and one or more profits may be made
before values recede toward normal, but the present
unnatural condition cannot always exist. The risk
lies ahead somewhere.

But that risk is uncertain; it may not after all be
so serious as it sometimes looks. Another risk how-
ever—that which the community faces indoing noth-
ing about the house shortage—is certain to result in
loss. There is no doubt about the fact, or that it is
serious. The lack of adequate living facilities works
to the disadvantage of everybody, but the rent profit-
eers. The healthy expansion of industry is checked
by the difficulty workmen encounter in finding homes
in every city; these workmen are obliged to pay high
rents on account of the demand, which, as a matter of
course, adds to the cost of living; and the business
men feel the pinch both because the growth of the
city is checked and because earnings are absorbed in
rents, reducing purchasing power. Something will
have to be done and that soon.