Evening star. [volume], November 13, 1937, Page C-6, Image 26

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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ARCHITECTURE AID
FOR ALL IS URGED
“Bureaucratic Idea” Hit by
Institute, President Says
*
in Member Message.
Architecture has ceased to be an
Instrument of the rich, Charles D.
Maginnis of Boston, president of the
American Institute of Architects, de
clared in a message to the institute's
members, organized in 69 chapters
throughout the country. Mr. Maginnis
called upon architects to give pro
fessional direction to the national
housing movement, and to bring good
architecture to the less favored popu
lation groups.
The "bureaucratic idea,” he warned,
threatens to limit the usefulness of
the architectural profession in its
efforts to improve human habitation.
“A changing world is presenting
novel and critical problems which
demand the immediate study of the
architectural profession,” Mr. Maginnis
Mid. “In our modem society, archi
tecture has had only a limited bene
ficence. The statement is familiar
that only a tenth of our building is
architecturally literate, with the conse
quence that our typical community
may claim some proud oasis of beauty,
but is preponderantly ugly and in
coherent so as to invite question
Whether the measure of our culture
is the one condition or the other. That
the profession is, to this degree, in
effectual has always been deplored,
but it has been too easily accepted as
a condition beyond hope of intrinsic
remedy.
Promising Beginning Made.
“Must the architect be satisfied to
t>e considered an instrument of the
rich? We know that in the past, and
under political systems less admirable
than ours, architecture was not es
tranged from the humbler life of
aoclety. Obvious economic difficulties
have accounted in the past for the
detachment of the profession from
this neglected enterprise. But con
siderations of social justice are now
moving us to a more conscious feeling
for the less favored of society.
“Under the Initiative of government,
a promising beginning has been made
in a great program of small housing
tinder responsible architectural con
trol. Other agencies are co-operating
which are notably less sensitive to the
need of professional direction. It is
of vital importance to our profession,
and at the same time an obligation of
•nlicrhtenpH rvafHrvHcm tViof- nnr
tion to this great developing interest
be securely and permanently estab
lished. The Institute's Committee on
Housing will study the means by which
the profession, under the guidance of
the institute, may adjust itself effec
tively to service in this new and
extensive field.
“As we seek to extend the boundaries
of our profession in this direction,
however, we are warned of a con
flicting movement which threatens
eeriously to limit it. This is the
extension of the bureaucratic idea.
So far we have confronted this issue
only in our relation to the Federal
Government. We must now prepare
ourselves to meet the aggravating
problem in our very midst.
Legislative Aim Combatt-d.
“Legislation has been twice at
temped in New York State, and actu
ally accomplished in Connecticut,
which embodies the principle that
architecture can serve the public
Interest adequately through the in
corporation of architects and draughts
men in the general organization of
public works. The implications of
this menace are so unmistakable and
eo clearly to be combated only by
local action that a large responsibility
must be perceived to rest on all the
chapters of the institute.
“Nor is this situation to be effec
tively met by tempo ran- political
expedients. It is to be hoped that
the validity of our position can be
supported by realistic and convincing
testimony of our superior claim upon
the communtiy. The lines of such
opposition are so well indicated in the
admirable enterprise of the institute's
Committee on Public Works in relation
to Federal projects that all chapters
of the institute are urged to seek its
counsel and acquaint themselves with
the results of its study and experience.
“It would be highly agreeable to the
conservative spirit of the profession
If its social value needed no aid of
propaganda. But in these articulate
days so many interests of no less
conservative habit are clamoring for
the public consciousness that, if we
are even to hold our present place, we
have need to make the world more
aware of us.
More Vital Expression Urged,
“Taking it for granted that, in spite
of assault, architecture still retains
its ancient validities, we are occupied
only with the vital and realistic busi
ness of the place which it is to have
‘in the new order, an interest which
should engage the earnest thought
jof every architect of America.
"In the shifting conditions there is
visible the opportunity to enlist the
science of the architect to a new and
more vital social purpose. Architects
cannot hope that the significance of
this opportunity will be more directly
indicated to us by our American public,
profession will largely depend upon the
It must be clearly detected by our
selves, and the future position of our
intelligence and address with which
.we meet it.”
Funds for Property.
Funds to complete or enlarge resi
dential property as well as refinance
the existing mortgage may be secured
from lending institutions approved by
the Federal Housing Administration
sunder the Insured Mortgage System.
Both property and borrower have to
qualify under the Federal Housing Ad
ministration rules and regulations, and
the new loan cannot exceed 80 per
cent of the value of completed prop
erty.
Home in Woodside Park Purchased
Mr. and Mrs. Delmar S. Taylor recently acquired this home at 9219 Woodland road, Woodside
Park. Md from Norman L. Reid. The transaction was made through the office of Waple &
James Silver Spring office.___ _—star Staff Photo.
By LAWRENCE CROLINS.
IP YOU have an open fireplace in
your home you will agree that
there are few pleasures that can
compare with sitting in front of a
bright blaze on a crisp fall evening.
There is something very satisfying
about the warmth given off by that
most primitive of heating plants, and
life seems to take on a pleasantly
mellow glow.
Unfortunately, however, people have
been bothered ever since fireplaces
were first invented by the lack of
heat on one's back, even when facing
a prodigious mass of burning logs.
The heat, being radiant, travels in
straight lines, and only recently has
any one been able to figure out a
method of getting some of the valuable
warmth, which ordinarily would vanish
up the chimney, to the far reaches of
the room.
A complete steel fireplace is now
available which can be put in place
where your present fireplace now
stands and works so inefficiently. This
equipment, which will convert waste
heat into room comfort is made in
five sizes so that it can be built into
almost any chimney. It is so de
signed that it cannot fail to draw, and
if you have been putting up with a
chimney and fireplace which did little
else but drive large pulls out into
the room you will welcome this unique
arrangement.
In back of the space where the
fire is built is located an air passage
where air is brought in through grilles
on either side of the hearth. This air
is heated and passed on up over the
hot firebox and directed by a series
of fins to outlet grilles located at
the top of the mantel. Thus, when
you have a fine fire burning down
below giving off a large amount of
direct heat, you are also getting a
dividend in a supply of nicely warmed
air which will travel around the room
and keep the entire place warm.
If you want the last word in mod
ern fireplaces you can also have an
electric fan or blower installed in the
air passage which will pull cold air in
at the bottom and force it out of the
mantel grilles. This equipment isn't
really necessary, though, because the
natural draft which is created is suffi
cient to circulate the air about in a
very satisfactory manner.
yj^HEN you step into your bath in
the morning you are running
the risk of slipping and breaking your
neck, and also scalding yourself to a
bright red color. These twin dangers
would seem to make bathing hardly
worth while, but steps can now be
taken which will eliminate the pos
sibility of your being boiled alive, at
least.
Instead of having to cautiously ad
just the hot and cold water to a com
fortable temperature by twisting knobs
this way and that, always with the
chance of turning one or the other
just a little too far, you calmly climb
into the shower secure in the knowl
edge that Just the right adjustment
has been made for you automatically.
All you have to do is set the dial of
a water-mixing valve to hot, medium
or cold, and a thermostatic control in
the valve takes just the right quan
tity of each kind of water, mixes it
and sends it to you the way you
want it.
These valves are available for either
new or old shower bath installations,
and can be had in a concealed type for
built-in showers, or self-oontained in
design if you merely want to add it
to an attachment type of vertical
bath.
The peace of mind you wUl achieve,
together with the elimination of the
boiling hazard we mentioned, will
well compensate for the small outlay
required for its installation.
D. C. OFFICE SPACE
SHOWS HIGHEST RENTAL
Leads Nation in Low Percentage
of Vacancies, According to
Bankers’ Survey.
Washington has the highest per
centage of occupied office building
space of any city in the country, ac
cording to a report of the Real Estate
Securities Committee. Investment
Bankers’ Association of America. The
report stated that 98.93 per cent of
the office space in the Capital was oc
cupied at the time of the survey last
summer.
There has been a steady decrease in
office building vacancies, the report
said. These have declined from 27.5,
as reported by 1,900 buildings through
out the United States on January 1,
1934, to 19.06 as of this year.
Among the major cities showing a
higher occupancy average than the na
tional percentage were: Baltimore,
90.64 per cent; New York, 81.47 per
oent; Pittsburgh, 84.36 per cent; At
lanta, 82.79 per cent; Indianapolis.
86.03 per cent; Milwaukee, 87.21 per
cent; Denver, 87.85 per cent; Omaha,
91.09 per cent; Dallas, 84.30 per cdnt;
Houston, 89.66 per cent; San Fran
cisco, 88.98 per cent; Portland, Oreg„
84.53 per oent; Montreal, 84.83 per
cent; Toronto, 95.33 per cent, and Win
nipeg, 84.83 per cent. From these fig
ures it will be seen that many of
the cities are gradually approaching
a normal occupancy level.
Gay Sidewalk* in Color.
Sidewalks and pathways of the San
Francisco Golden Gate International
Exposition will be of asphalt mixed
with a color between maroon and
magenta. According to J. E. Stanton,
color expert for the exposition, this
will raise the emotional level of visi
tors, keep them gay and vivacious. It
will make men appear more romantic
and induce them to spend more freely.
r» ^
SALES OF LUMBER
FOR HOMES URGED
Department of Commerce Unit
Calls on Industry to Pro
mote Uses.
Calling on the lumber industry vig
orously to promote Increased consump
tion of its product, especially in small
house construction and heavy struc
tural uses, the Special Lumber Survey
Committee of the Department of Com
merce in its 26th quarterly report, re
leased today, pointed out that the ma
jor weakness in the lumber manufac
turing industry is the low point to
which unfilled orders have declined
and the continuing general decline in
new business. This recommendation
of the Survey Committee, which re
ports that residential building in Oc
tober this year declined 25 per cent
as compared with October, 1936, takes
on added significance when viewed in
the light of the President's recently
announced intention to block the pres
ent business recession through the
stimulation of construction of low-cost
dwelling units by private enterprise.
The committee reports lumber stocks
at the mills on October 1, 1937, of ap
proximately 8 4 billion feet, or 6 per
cent, greater than on January 1 this
year, and 5.4 per cent heavier than on
October 1, 1936. "Due consideration
should be given,” the committee em
phasizes, "to the combined effects of
large stocks, lower volume of unfilled
orders, lower expected demand during
the next quarter and the momentum
of current production schedules. Ef
fort to adjust current production more
closely to current demand should be
continued in both the lumber and ply
wood manufacturing industries.”
PLAN IS HELD BEST
SAVINGSAND LOAN
Home Loan Bank Counsel
Cites Facilities for In
stallment Buying.
American home ownership is now
obtained largely on the installment
basis, and savings and loan associa
tions offer the best installment buying
plans, Horace Russell, general counsel
of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board,
said today.
He urged thrift and home-financing
institutions to follow leading savings
and loan associations in promoting
sound construction and in making
long-term loans to bring monthly pay
ments within the budget of the average
American family. He said:
"In the field of home ownership it
seems to me we must recognize that
our people, whether we like it or not,
have come to live on an Installment
basis. We must recognize that what
they buy and pay for is being bought
and paid for on an installment basis.
Installments on Rent.
"We must confront the fact that if
home ownership is not provided on an
installment basis by savings and loan
associations, either somebody else will
provide home ownership on such a
basis or more and more of our people
will become renters, even if the Gov
ernment must go extensively into the
business of providing public housing
for rent.”
Mr. Russell asserted that to provide
the most acceptable means for home
purchase "associations must have
plans for the repayment of mortgage
loans within a family’s budget. Such
institutions must finance up to a
high percentage of the purchase price,
even if this requires the provision of
much larger reserves to absorb losses.
Of course, they must provide as cheap
financing as the cost of money will
permit, but this does not mean that
the cost of operation of the associa
tions must be cut to an uneconomic
or unsound basis.”
He referred to the program of the
Federal Home Loan Bank Board to
eliminate shoddy construction and
suggested a quick and extensive ac
ceptance throughout the country by
savings and loan associations of its
main points. ‘'The home owner must
be given full value for his money. It
is up to the association to see he gets
a soundly-built, well-located residence
that will not only be a permanent
place to live in, but a permanent in
vestment." Mr. Russell declared.
Simplification Urged.
He also recommended that thrift
and home-financing institutions sim
plify their lending and saving policies
and practices so that the public may
have a better understanding of how
they work.
“If savings and loan associations in
the United States will but develop a
simple process, we have before us the
greatest era for the development of
thrift and home ownership we have
yet experienced,” Mr. Russell predicted.
“As examples, we can point to the
modern plan of Federal savings and
--
HOUSE NEED SEEN
Front Royal Officials Say 100 to
200 Dwellings Are Needed.
Special Dlapatch to The Star.
FRONT ROYAL, Va., Nov. 13.—
Town officials and real estate men here
estimated today that there is immedi
ate need of from 100 to 200 new
houses, due to the growing population
by reason of the construction of the
large rayon yarn plant of the Ameri
can Viscose Corp. here.
Town Manager L. B. Dutrow and
Councilman H. H. Marlowe said that
the Immediate need is for houses that
will rent for $25 to $35 per month
with a smaller number of residences
of the better type renting for $50 per
month or more.
Strain Paint First.
To eliminate lumps and thoroughly
blend pigment with the oil, paint
should be carefully strained before it
is applied. This process makes the
coating spread more easily and uni
formly. Use a wire fly screen or a
double thickness of cheesecloth for
a strainer.
Tor sale I
IN GEORGETOWN
A eomfortoble old home in ex
clusive section with large
grounds located on a corner
200x125 with beautiful trees
ond magnificent outlook.
With the house remodeled along
Colonial or Georgian lines ond
some slight additional land
scaping to grounds, it would
make an unsurpassed residence
for persons of refinement ond
toste.
Impaction by Appointment.
TYLER & RUTHERFORD
INC.
1512 L St. N.W.
National 0475—0476
Or Tear Own Broker
PERFECTION
INSTALLED
BY
IRON FIREMEN
Phone for NA. 4147
Particulars '
JL
LIKE
LOT OF
SPACE?
A new designed home, to
tally different in planning.
Space being the dominant
foctor. Here is a real1, liv
able new home that is in
teresting and very rakish in
its lines. >
6538 Maple Ave.
its the
Forest Section
•/
Chevy Chase
While here, note the size of
the living room, dining room,
kitchen and the three bed
rooms and paneled library.
Better see this home, it is a
REAL BUY.
To insvect—Drive straieht out
Connecticut Avenue to Bradley
Lane (Chevy Chase Club), turn
LEFT two squares to Mavle
Avenue then RIGHT to homes.
l?HAWONa.[rl)CHg)
Wta. 5*0* Ns. *545
)
l NEAR NAVY YARD Z
Z $50 Cash I
Z $50 Monthly . f
I $6,750 j
: 2802 30th St. S.E. 1
♦ ♦
J (From top of Good Hope Hill go ♦
♦ south over Naylor Koad X
X to 30th St.) ♦
^ ♦
♦ Detached—six large rooms—lot X
X 50x165—Elec, kitchen. ♦
♦ Z
♦ OPEN SUNDAY Z
z . ♦
♦ Naf'l Mortg. & Inv. Corp. Z
♦ NA. 5833 1312 N. Y. Ave. i
NEW GLOVER PARK HOMES
ALSO |
2412 39tH PI. N.W. 4 Group of Sensational
One of Glover Park'* finest new High-Grade NEW HOMES I
to" tJCQU i reH* wn e rs h 1 p0Uwi t h P mod e ra t e Completion -
J5*“ Payment, balance actually less mm apa i
r,nt' This choice end brick S7s650
house is the only remaining unsold w *
Con ain7« r°U7??Ullt- 39th Place N.W.
« Contains 6 rooms. 2 baths. Brv- !
ant Winter air-conditioned heat Contains ft rooms, tiled bath with
(automatic), 2 open fireplaces, ideal shower, recreation room. elec, refrig
kitchen with Oxford cabinets, cream erator. table-top gas range, auto
enamel double-drain sink Westing- matle gas heat. Fully insulated,
house electric refrigerator. Built-in weather-stripped, etc.
Dueled recreation To Inspect:
w convince you. See our representative at our Jur
Can be setn any time. risked exhibit home at till S91h j
Place N.W., between Calvert St. and
Benton St. ,
For Sol* by Any Broker or
D. C. GREYER
O—n.r-Build.r 816 ln,«ttm.nt Sldg. NA. 1737
r- i *
Aii Ideal Home for a Business Man
1807 VARNUM ST. N.W.
This beautiful home, thoroughly reconditioned and in new-house
condition, has the environment and substantial appearance a busi
ness man demands. Just a short driving distance from downtown
and in an excellent neighborhood, it is an exceptional ^ I O OCA
value at....... *I3,7DU
EASY TERMS
Colonial brick, center hall, 8 rooms,
2 baths, side porch, rear dining_
porch, large sleeping porch, complete Jg
equipment. ■
Open Daily and Sunday ioiS ISH,.sr.a.w. met. m®et
to 9 f.M. " 11,1 1 ■
f — ■ " < . _, • • ■ * ■ - • • y
S « M
$8,500
1 of 3 ISeiv Homes
1005 Fenwick Lane
WOODSIDE, MD.
• 6 rooms
• Automatic heat
• Copper gutters ond downspouts
• Trees
OPEN SUNDAY
TO REACH: Out Georgia Ate. >2
block vast Silver Spring traffic light,
turn left on Fenwick Lane y% square.
Waple £r James, Inc.
S4;3 Georgia Ave SHepherd 5200
Silver Spring Office
Presenting a New Group of Homes
Other hornet in thit popular
group, priced up to $9,950
Furnished and Draped by
Hilda N. Miller
3907 W St. N.W.
(GLOVER PARK)
59,250
Six large rooms, 2 baths, den on
1st floor, modern kitchen, rec
reation room, gas heat, rock
wool insulation, built-in garage.
Drive out Wisconsin Are.
fo Calvert St., turn to
39th and south to IV St.
Built by W. C. Irvin A Son
Phillips & Ccinby, Inc.
Na. 4600 1012 15th St. N.W.
4 BEDROOMS—2 BATHS
Outstanding in Construction
'—Value and Quality
La Salle Park
1 t
1 Q1 y This all-brick, center-hall home has liv
u “ inf room with fully screened connecting
11 DC U11D CT porch; dining room, de luxe kitchen, bed
UrSnUn 9 1* room and lavatory on 1st floor; 3 bed
. . _ rooms and 2 baths upstairs; attic; recrea
nt.E. tion room with fireplace; garage; paved
alley. There is plenty of closet space.
. n •/ j The roof is of slate. The house is
Upett Daily ana also equipped with electric refrigeration.
tn Q P XI heated by gas, fully screened, insulated
ounaay to v r.ivi. with rock wool and placed on a well land
scaped lot.
-■ ■' TO BEACH
‘ZL'TzX SULLIVAN BROS.
turn right to 1520 K St. N.W.
t""W , I MEt. 4323
•* • ■ •. -TFy-jg .••V > • t- ._ -v ' !v. .. 7
■A
CORNER HOME BARGAIN IN BEAUTIFUL
SHEPHERD PARK
“ _ _____ _ _. *
77Z1 14th 5T. N.W.
PRICE ONLY Worth buying right on premises - Newly
djl J popered and .a fine condition. A hond
qp som» Coiomal bnck home on lovely lot
53V115, with detached garage. House is *
OPEN TODAY automatically heated, weather stripped and
3 TO * insuloted. Large living room with fire*
SUNDAY place, dining room, modern kitchen, break
10 TO 8 fast nook ond pantry. 3 large bedrooms
Drive nut IKth S', to Juniper end finished, livable 3rd flOCr. 2 large
parches and many other fire features. Near
house. school and stores. See it ot once.
BOSS & PHELPS
REALTORS
m»j!|»9jWsiaon|
- -- v%
6301 Oakridge Avenue /
In the Country Club District of Chevy Chase. Md. V
For architectural distinction, structural /
DCVNAT nc» AID excellence, environment and surroundings. \
KLiniULUj AIK- this home surpasses any in its price
class. One of the year’s outstanding /
CONDITIONING values. Three bedrooms, two baths, first- l *
tunuiuunimi floor and basement iav»tory. two fire- \
places, large kitchen, knotty oak paneled /
rectiy balanced home in every respect. \l
Flagstone porch and walk, copper water If
pipes, gutters and downspouts, slate roof* [f
rock wool insulation. V\
DIst. ((
3100 /I
I
—— ;
A Colonial Manor House
Designed in the traditional j •
stateliness of the 66Old South”
! r - " " . ■■ .
1116 Stratton Road
MONTGOMERY HILLS, MARYLAND
A LARGE home and grounds, well suited for extensive
entertaining. Centered on a brood greensward studded j
with spruce and evergreen and in seclusion with the gardens and !
stone paths from the wide veranda. The interior is in the spaciousness
and elegance of the early "Maryland Manor Homes"—a broad I
RECEPTION HALL with ceiling-high mirror reflecting the crystal
chandelier—the DINING ROOM in the colors of Raleigh Tavern at *
Williamsburg. A colorful CONSERVATORY is at the rear of the large
Living Room and a pine-paneled "MAN'S ROOM" with a LOG
BURNINIG FIREPLACE affords privacy on the first floor. The FIVE
MASTER CHAMBERS are done individually in the newer tones cf !
pinks, blues and yellows. -The large SUN DECK has access from two j
GUEST ROOMS. In the breakfast nook are early New England corner i
cupboards for gay pottery ond broad windows look out upon a garden !
of old-fashioned flowers. Servants' quarters are on the third floor. I
Drive out lath St., Alaska Are., straight ahead vast Grace Church at Woodside.
two blocks to Montgomery Hills, turn left, drive one Mock and follow signs.
Washington WEAVER
District I
Building BROS INC 9486
. REALTORS
• *