The news in this publi
cation is released for the
press on receipt.
the university of north CAROLINA
NEWS LETTER
Published Weekly by the
University of North Caro
lina for its Bureau of Ex
tension.
JUNE 8, 1921
CHAPEL HHX, N. C.
VOL. Vn, NO. 29
Editorial Board * E. 0. Bran.9on, L. R. Wilson, E. W. Knight, D. D. Carroll, J. B. Bullitt.
Entered as second-class matter November 14,1914, at the Postoffi.ce at Chapel Hill, N. C., under the act of August 24,1912.
NATION-WIDE HOUSING PROBLEM
THE editor:s vacation
The editor-in-charge of the Universi
ty News Letter is taking his first vaca
tion in seven years. During his absence
in California and the Rockies the next
four months, the paper will be in the
hands of the editorial board, and di
rectly in charge of Prof. S. H. Hobbs,
Jr., assistant professor of rural social
science.
It is possible that various issues of
the News Letter during the summer
may carry brief accounts of small-town
development and beautification in the
Pacific Coast states, and of cooperative
farm enterprise, county govermnent
reforms, the segregation of state taxes,
and state-aided farm colonies in Cali
fornia. As a matter of fact, Mr. Bran
son accepted the invitation extended
by the summer school authorities of the
University of California in order to
study these particular developments of
democracy in the Far West. He takes
charge of the News Letter once more
with the first number of Volume VIII
next November.
DEMAND FOR DWELLINGS
The housing problem is acute in every
growing city of Christendom. The low
est estimate of the dwellingsjthat must
be built in the United States within the
next five years is one million; other es
timates run the total to one and a half
million. Between five and seven and a
half billion dollars must be spent in
solving the housing problem of the na
tion.
Where are these billions to come
from?
In North Carolina the need 'for new
dwellings is right around seven thous
and a year. Here, as everywhere else,
the normal rate of home building has
been slackened by high construction
costs during the last five years and the
impossibility of figuring dividends on
investments. A close survey shows
that at present we stand in need of
twenty-five thousand new dwellings in
North Carolina. The situation calls for
an expenditure of a hundred million dol
lars.
Where are these millions to come
from?
The people who want to build do not
find it easy to borrow money from the
banks. The demands upon the building
and loan associations have swamped
these organizations. And what is true
in North Carolina is true in every other
state of the Union and in every land
under the sun.
The situation is so desperate in Eng
land that the Home Office is seriously
proposing to build a half million dwell
ings as a Government enterprise, to
rent them at normal figures, and to
cover the loss of a hundred million dol
lars a year by increased rates upon the
taxpayers of England. There was a
bill before our own Congress during the
last session providing a federal loan
fund for the building of rural homes.
State-Aid Loan Funds
California for several years has been
lending money to approved farmers,
with which to buy and equip small
farms on the colony plan. Texas, at
the last session of the legislature, ap
proved a state loan fund for the same
purpose. Oklahoma and North Dakota
both have state funds to lend for the
promotion of farm and home owner
ship. For many years nearly a dozen
states have been lending their school
endowment funds to home builders.
A state loan fund to encourage farm
and home ownership has hardly yet been
considered in North Carolina. But the
situation is critical in this as in other
states. Ten years ago eleven hundred
eighty thousand of our people, black
and white, town and country, were
landless and homeless. That is to say,
they are farmers who till somebody
else’s 1 and, or town dwellers who live
in somebody else’s house; they are
tenants and renters, flitting from pillar
to post under the pressure of necessity
or the lure of opportunity. They dwell
nowhere long enough to become identi
fied with any community, locality, or
town, to have a proprietary interest in
community enterprises, or to develop a
sense of robust responsibility as stable
citizens. And the multitude of home
less people in North Carolina increases
from decade to decade. We have ten
thousand more tenant farmers in North
Carolina in 1920 than in 1910. The fig
ures for the homeless people in our
cities in 1920 have not yet come to hand,
but ten years ago the tenants and
renters ranged from two-thirds
to three-fourths of all the people in our
cities of ten thousand inhabitants or
more.
We need more dwellings, and the
need is not less urgent in North Caro
lina than everywhere else; but above
all things they need to be dwellings oc
cupied by owners rather than renters..
Our civilization needs to be rooted in
home and farm ownership. It can not
be safely rooted otherwise in democratic
areas.
Clyde Kelly’s Proposal
Congressman Kelly, of Pennsylvania,
offers a way out of the difficulty. He
says: Raise the total of our postal bank
savings from one hundred sixty-seven
million dollars to five billions or more,
(1) by increasing the interest paid de
positors from two percent to four per
cent, (2) by making the interest periods
quarterly instead of annual, and (3) by
using the grand total of postal savings
as a federal loan fund for home build
ers, upon the building and loan plan.
At present the postal savings of the
United States are less than two hun
dred million dollars, after ten years of
operation. They are small, says he,
because the interest paid is so small as
to attract only aliens as depositors. In
fact, our postal savings banks are little
more than foreign immigrant banks;
three-fifths of the depositors are for
eign born, and they own three-fourths
of all the deposits at present. These I
banks have done almost nothing outside
the great industrial centers of the
North and West.
What is happening at present, says
Congressman Kelly, is this: the Govern
ment pays the postal savings depositors
two percent; the postal banks lend these
deposits to 6,211 commercial banks at
two and a half percent; then the Gov
ernment borrows these funds from the
commercial banks on Treasury certifi
cates, and pays around six percent there
for. In other words, the Government
presents 5,211 banks with $4,724,000 a
year as a gracious gift.
It appears to Congressman Kelly that
the postal savings banks exist for the
commercial banks. He proposes to run
the deposits of these postal savings
banks into billions and to lend these
billions to the home builders of the
United States.
Billions for Homes
If the rate were increased to four
percent for deposits, and the interest
periods were quarterly instead of an
nual, the United States would stand a
fair chance to have as many depositors
as France or Italy, which would give
us about two billion dollars of postal
savings deposits. The postal savings
of the United Kingdom are right around
five billion dollars. If our ratio of
thrifty people were equal to that of
New Zealand, we would have around
ten billion dollars in our postal savings
banks.
Congressman Kelly points out a way
to assemble the capital needed as -a na
tional loan fund for home builders; The
business details of administering such a
fund ought not to be more difficult in
the United States than in England or
in Denmark. Any Dane who can find
one-tenth of the purchase price can bor
row the rest either from a state bank
or a cooperative credit union, and have
from ten to sixty years in which to pay
back the loan on an amortization plan.
The monthly payment under Congress
man Kelly’s plan would be less than
the monthly rent at present rates.
Our Farm Loan Bank is now. lending
farmers millions on the amortization
plan. The postal savings of the coun
try could be managed as a loan sum for
home builders in exactly the same way
and with the same safety.
We are passing on Congressman Kel
ly’s ideas to the public in North Caro
lina. Thoughtful people who are inter-
THE PLAIN TRUTH
Every agency which promotes co
operation between farmer and bank
er should be speeded on its way;
every agency which poisons the re
lationship of banker and farmer
should be throttled. One trouble
with many farmer movements in re
cent years is that they were not or
ganized or managed by farmers, but
by self-seekers calling themselves
friends of the farmers. And these
leaders have sought and found their
following by creating between the
farmer and his banker not a feeling
of mutual trust and understanding,
but rather a feeling of suspicion,
misunderstanding and ill will. Such
leaders are not friends of the farm
er, whatever they may call them
selves. And in the end their work
is destructive, not constructive.—
Prof. James E. Boyle, Cornell Uni
versity.
ested in the matter will find his argu
ments in full in his new book. The Com
munity Capitol, published by The May
flower Press, Pittsburg.
BENT DOUBLE BY WAR
Actual expenditures by the Govern
ment of the United States during the
fiscal year 1919-20, not including loans
to European governments—nearly six
billion dollars all told;
Interest, pensions, and other
expenses arising from
past wars $2,893,000,000
Army and Navy, prepara
tion for future wars... 1,348,000,000
Primary Government func
tions, salaries and cur
rent expenses in legis
lative, executive and
judicial departments.. 224,000,000
Public works—public build
ings, etc 85,000,000
Education, research, public
health, conservation and
development of natural
resources mainly agri
culture 57,000,000
Interest on public debt, loan
and trust funds 1,079,000,000
The nations of the world must agree
to disarm and the United States must
lead the way, or irretrievable bankrupt
cy is in sight for America and Europe
alike. It is stupid not to realize it and
suicidal to delay action.
The Churches, Appeal
An appeal for the United States to
take the initiative in calling a confer
ence of the nations to consider a con-
terted plan for disarmament has been
made by the Federal Council of the
Churches of Christ in America and Sun
day, June 6, proposed as a special day
on which ministers throughout the
country should give special ^considera
tion to the subject.
Not only the Protestant churches but
also the Administrative Committee of
the National Catholic Welfare Council,
the Central Conference of American
Rabbis and the United Synagogue of
America are cooperating, under the
auspices of The Church Peace Union,
in furthering the same end. Seldom,
if ever, have all the religious forces of
the country been so united upon any
moral appeal to the nation.
The Church Peace Union
Wide-spread interest in the attitude
of the churches has been created by the
vigorous appeal made by General Tas
ker H. Bliss to the churches to accept
their inescapable moral responsibility
in creating the public opinion that will
bring disarmament about. In a recent
letter to The Church Peace Union, he
wrote:
If the clergymen of the United States
want to secure a limitation of arma
ments, they can do it now without fur
ther waste of time. If, on an agreed
upon date, they simultaneously preach
one sermon on this subject, in every
church of every creed throughout the
United States, and conclude their ser
vices by having their congregation a-
COUNTRY HOME CONVENIENCES
LETTER SERIES No. 56
WATER SYSTEMS—I
TYPES OF PUMPS
Last week the sources of a home
water supply were discussed. Having
picked out a well, stream or spring it is
but a step further to provide a means
of making water available at the place
where it is to be used.
One of the first mechanical devices
put into use for lifting water from wells
was the sweep. It was an improvement
over the bucket and rope but it is now
only occasionally found. The windlass
represents the next step in water lift
ing devices and is still frequently used.
Either the windlass or sweep means
much labor done by hand in lifting and
carrying Water. This fact has brought
about the modern developments which
may be classified under three general
heads as shallow well pumping systems,
deep well pumping systems, and the hy
draulic ram. Only the first two will be
considered here, the hydraulic ram be
ing taken up in an article to follow.
Shallow Well Pumps
Shallow well pumps are suitable for
lifting water from any source where
the lift does not exceed 22 ft. and can
pump water to elevations of several
hundred feet. The pipe from water to
pump may be as long as four or five
hundred feet though it is desirable to
have the pump located as near as pos
sible to the source of water supply.
These pumps act solely on the suction
principle. The water lifted to the pump
by suction is forced by the same pump
to a storage tank either of the elevated
or pressure type, where it is kept for
use when needed.
Deep Well Pumps
Deep well pumps are designed for
use where water must be lifted more
than 22 feet before reaching the pump
and are used principally in connection
with wells from thirty to over a thous
and feet deep. Tfiis type of pump dif
fers in some mechanical details from
the shallow well pump, the principal
difference being in the cylinder which
must be lowered in the well. This cyl
inder incases a plunger connected to
the pump mechanism above by a wood
or metal rod which fixes the location of
the pump to a point directly above the
source of water supply. Deep well
pumps may be used in connection with
any type of storage tanks.
Method of Drive
Both the shallow and the deep well
pumps may be and occasionally are oper
ated by hand, yet it is common practice
to employ a windmill, gasoline engine,
or electric motor to do the job mecbani-
cally. From one-sixth to one-half horse
power is required to operate the aver
age home water supply system. The
electric motor is probably the most sat
isfactory method of drive.—W. C. W.
dopt a resolution addressed to their
particular Congressman urging upon
him the necessity of having a business
conference of five nations upon this
subject, the thing will be done. If the
churches cannot agree upon that it will
not be done until the good God puts in
to them the proper spirit of their relig
ion.
Peace Sunday June 5
The statement issued by the Admin
istrative Committee of the Federal
Council of the Churches of Christ is as
follows:
The Federal Council of the Churches
of Christ in America, after patient and
prayerful consideration on the part of
its Administrative Committee, of all
the national and world interests in
volved, and upon consultation with rep
resentative men and women in the
churches and in positions of responsi
bility in our national life, urges that the
pastors at this important moment, when
our whole Christian civilization is at
stake, present earnestly to their peo
ple the following considerations;
1. That our own Government should
take the initiative in inviting an inter
national conference to confer upon the
question of armaments, to which there
is abundant reason to believe a response
would result.
2. That the constituent bodies of the
Federal Council and all Christian com
munions, at their assemblies, confer
ences and meetings of Executive Boards,
should take action urging our Govern
ment to undertake this high mission.
Sunday, June 5, 1921, has been sug
gested as a date.when so far as may be
possible there be simultaneous presen
tations in our churches throughout the
nation of this momentous question,
which is so vital to the advance of the
Christian Gospel throughout the world.
TODAY IN CAROLINA
I arise in the morning and put on un
derclothes made in Winston-Salem, socks
made in Burlington, shoes made in
Lynchburg, overalls made in Greens
boro out of denims spun out of North
Carolina cotton, and dry my face in a
towel made at Kannapolis.
Going to breakfast, I sit down to a
table made in High Point, covered with
a damask made in South Carolina, and
a silence cloth made in Greensboro.
I have for bredkfast grapefruit grown
in Florida, sweetened with sugar made
in Louisiana, hot biscuits, breakfast
bacon or fried ham, or fried spring
chicken, scrambled eggs, griddle cakes
with honey or syrup, Jersey milk and
butter, all produced in Guilford.. My
apple vinegar, potatoes, ■ canned peas
and fruits, jellies and jams, are all
made and canned in Guilford county.
My Tennessee horse is fed on Guilford
corn, oats and hay, is harnessed by a
North Carolina negro with a Knoxville
harness and hitched to a plow made in
Chattanooga and later to a wagon made
in Winston-Salem.
After the day’s work is over I retire
to a High Point bed, on a mattress
made in Mebane, and I sleep between
sheets made in South Carolina, .under a
blanket made in Elkin, a spread made
at Fieldale, Va., and guarded by a
North Carolina dog.—Dr. J. T. J. Bat
tle, Greensboro News.
A COMMUNITY BUILDER
Forty miles west from Haberman’s
country, a North Carolina school teach
er said. Let us Sing. They sang from
the-old square notes, antiquated seven
ty years ago. This is the hilly country.
Spurs of the Great Smoky Moun
tains divide cove from cove, settlement
from settlement, family from family. I
must be brief—They sing all over these
counties. They sing from funeral to
funeral, from wedding to wedding.
They sing at invalids’ beds. They sing
at singing conventions which last for
days; camp meetings they are, but the
purpose is community singing by com
peting groups. Neither church nor
state has promoted this movement. It
has no literature, no officers, no budget,
no building. But in tbe three years past
the singing impulse—organized sing
ing—has penetrated all the valleys of
this lonely and somber mountain land.
It makes me think—this music move
ment which hasn’t even a name—of
the roseate or golden mists that one
sees at dawn there, linking cove with
cove and intimating a glory yet to be.
—John Collier, in Hanifan’s Community
Center.
GETTING SCARED
The National Association of the Mov
ing-Picture Industry, whose members
control about 90 percent of the motion-
picture production of the United States,
has promised to eliminate photoplays
which—
Emphasize vice or the sex appeal or
illicit love; exhibit nudity, excessive
demonstrations of passion and vulgar
postures; unduly concern themselves
with the underworld and prime, blood
shed and. violence, drunkenness, gam
bling, and unnatural practices; empha
size the methods used in committing
crime; bring into ridicule the law, the
authorities, and religious beliefs and
leaders; contain salacious titles or are
advertised salaciously. — Literary Di
gest.
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