Show Two Million Houses Wanted Back Dack in 1916 the supply of at houses Just about kept up with the demand Population was increasing at nt the usual usual us us- ual rate of ot 13 per cent a year During 1917 18 everybody was busy winning the war and construction construction construction con con- of at houses fell off to about third one the usual figure January Januar 1919 found us with these four million men coming back into civil life the accumulated demand of two or three years camo came all at once Three years' years supply of or houses were needed a at once Instead of having hayIng haying hay hay- ing them we are short homes homos that would normally have havo been built during 1917 Here we have an unusually large demand and less houses than the ordinary supply The law of supply and demand the demand the law that fixes prices prices has has raised rents The Tho only thing that can bring rents down Is this same basic law If It the balance Is ia to swing the other way way way- I must build to lower rates rates we we We are all here And weve we've got to live somewhere so there isn't much chance of cutting down the demand |