7.
PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN. LAWRENCE. KANSAS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 23, 1948
The (Poor) Bird Fancier
By Daniel Bishop, St. Louis Star-Times
Daily Hansan
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn. Na-
Assn., and the Associated Collegiate
Press. Represented by the National Ad-
vocacy Council 420 Madison Ave.
New York City.
Editor-in-Chief ... James L. Robinson
Managing Editor ... Wallace W. Abbey
Asst. Man. Editor ... John Stauffer
Asst. Man. Editor .. Harold W. Nelson
City Editor ... William D. Wilkins
Asst. City Editor ... Leonard Snyder
Asst. City Editor ... Robert Newman
Telegraph Editor ... Bill Mayer
Post-News Editor .. Patricia Toller
Asst. Tel. Editor .. Richard Barton
Sports Editor .. Anne Murphy
Society Editor .. Mary Lou Foley
Business Mgr. Paul Warner
Advertising Mgr. Bill Nelligan
Circulation Mgr. Bill Binter
Asst. Circ. Mgr. Ruth Clayton
Classified Mgr. Elizabeth Berry
Classified Mgr. Eric Coyle
Natl. Adv. Mgr. Don Waldron
Promotion Mgr. Don Tennant
Asst. Promotion Mgr. Charles O'Connor
--distinguished with hand-needled edges
WE FIT GLASSES
AND DUPPLICATE
BROKEN LENSES
Want To Buy A House?
Large Selection of Distinctive Frames
Lawrence Optical Co.
Lawrence Optical
--distinguished with hand-needled edges
Uncle Sam knew what you were dreaming about during those war years so he set up a system called the G.I. Bill of Rights. Under this program he was going to help you buy that house. It sounded good, but take a look around and see what has happened.
Perhaps you are one of those ex-G.L.'s who used to spend cold winter nights standing guard at some crossroads in Europe dreaming about the day when the war would be over and you would be back in the states in your own cozy little home. If you are, forget it. Your chance of owning a cozy little shack is getting slimmer every day.
If you are looking for a nice, comfortable apartment or house where the rent is in your price range, you can forget about that too. You might as well stop wearing out shoes and save your money to pay rent for the firetrap where you are now living.
The Veterans' administration reports about 23,000 home loans approved in July. This is 17 per cent fewer than in June and only half the number approved in July 1947. Reports are that G.I. loans are declining to the vanishing point in some areas.
While G.I. loans are declining, the housing boom is breaking all records for volume of new houses built and sold. About 560,000 units were started in the first seven months of 1948. That exceeds the previous high year of 1925. But veterans are not getting these houses.
Most of the houses being built this year will cost $10,000 or more. In many areas, the majority of new homes are costing from $12,000 to $17,000. Only about 13 per cent are rental units and these are of the high rent type. The large figures on the price tags have pushed new houses out of the range of the average veteran.
Perhaps the worst part of this housing situation is that houses are getting more expensive. Building costs are about double 1939 costs and still rising. Cost of materials are 13 per cent above a year ago and wages rates are up 10 per cent in the past 12 months.
In the past few weeks, builders have reported a narrowing market for their greatly overpriced offerings. On the other hand, the few homes built that are to sell for less than $10,000 are quickly sold when decently constructed. Within a few months, builders are expecting to slow down construction because of a lack of a market. The market is there—for low cost housing—but builders can not fill this demand.
So you can just keep on dreaming if it will make you any happier. Or, you might check the Army Surplus store for a pup tent.
J. L.R.
CHASE WASHDAY BLUES
Take advantage of our modern facilities
Maytag Machines Reasonable Rates
Week days 9-6 Line Space Saturdays 9-3
RISK'S HELP-YOURSELF LAUNDRY 1900 III. Phone 623
ATTENTION Amateur Photographers
A Demonstration on Lighting and Flash Photography By
Also Local Camera Clubs Being Organized Everyone Interested in Photography Invited
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
COMMUNITY BLDG.
7:30 p.m. - Thursday, Sept. 23
Hixon's
"Everything Photographic for the Amateur"
721 Mass. St.
Phone 41
Lawrence, Kan.
Rabbi To Lecture Chaplains
At Winter General Hospital
Rabbi Samuel S. Mayerberg, professor in the University School of Religion, will give a series of lectures at Winter General hospital in Topela in connection with a chapelains' training program. The chapelains are receiving further training for service in mental hospitals.
A date for the lectures has not been set.
Read the Want Ads daily.
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