The Air Force is similarly handicapped in building up its Alaskan defenses. Air Force Secretary Symington, in his section of the report, describes the Air Force housing problem as "desperate." Last fall the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after a personal inspection of conditions in Alaska, told Defense Secretary Johnson that the situation was "critical." General Bradley pointed out that our military strength there is controlled not by military considerations but by availability of housing. The Military Establishment urged Congress last year to appropriate a minimum of $137,000,000 for housing and other public works in the Territory, but despite the adjectives used by military authorities to focus attention on the problem, the appropriation was cut to $96,000,000. Some headway has been made with this fund, but a vast amount of construction remains to be done and it is estimated that at least $40,000,000 additional will be required to meet minimum housing needs. Responsibility for the sad state of our defenses in Alaska can be traced largely to inadequate housing appropriations. Congress should keep this fact in mind in weighing the urgency of additional appropriations for housing troops of the Alaskan command. Senator FULBRIGHT. Before we adjourn the telegrams mentioned will be inserted in the record at this point. (The telegrams referred to follow :) Lustron Dealer Association, Washington, D. C.: Have erected three houses. Another sold and ready for delivery now. Believe can sell four to six in next 4 months, if production not interrupted. Am reasonably certain of selling 15 next 12 months. Estimate maximum sales in next 12 months 18 to 20. We have just got lined out with FHA and GI loan, and people now see what we have and that they are getting a much better house for the price. ABERCROMBIES. SIDNEY, NEBR., March 1, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealer Association, Senate Banking and Currency Committee Room, Washington, D. C.: Have sold and erected four houses to date. Can sell at least four in the next 4 months. At least six in the next 12 months. Estimate for the next 12 months is 12. Great interest shown here in Lustron homes. Practical construction for this territory. THE AMERICAN SECURITIES CORP. CRETE, NEBR., March 1, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealer Association, Senate Banking and Currency Committee Room, Washington, D. C.: Have sold one home since beginning fall of 1949. Are certain to sell six more this spring if confidence in Lustron can be stabilized. Urge only long-range plan as a temporary arrangement will not be sufficient to allow necessary buyer confidence. ANDERSON-RAWLINGS Co. W. W. LOBDELL, RUGBY, N. DAK., March 1, 1950. Care Lustron Dealers Association, Washington, D. C.: Four houses erected, estimated four in next 4 months. Estimate 10 next 12 months. Just started last August; now set up with tools, equipment, crew, and experience. Publicity developed here. Now they are weathering our severe winter. W. B. ANDERSON. BRIGHTON, MASS., March 1, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, BEACON CONSTRUCTION, Lustron Dealer, Washington, D. C.: After a very slow start late in 1949 I have sold and erected 10 Lustron houses plus 1 in course of construction. A conservative estimate is 10 to 15 more in next 4 months and 40 to 50 in next 12 months providing there is no interruption in production and providing our potential prospective buyers who now have the jitters over adverse propaganda as to Lustron continuing can be given assurance of delivery. Without exception my owners are so enthusiastic about their Lustron home that they are my best salesmen. The reason my next 12 months' sales will so far exceed sales to date is that I now have three trained crews of union men and each new house sells more of them. It mushrooms. L. R. BOLICK. W. W. LOBDELL, OIL CITY, PA., March 1, 1950. Lustron Dealer Association, Washington, D. C.: Number houses sold, 2; estimated sales next months, 2; estimated sales 12 months, 6; estimated maximum sales 12 months, 10. L. O. BOUQUIN CO. W. W. LOBDELL, Washington, D. C.: GREAT BEND, KANS., February 28, 1950. (1) Number of houses we have sold and erected to date, 37; (2) number of sales we are reasonably certain of if production of houses is not discontinued, 40; (3) how many are we reasonably certain of in next 12 months? 120; (4) estimate potential maximum sales in next 12 months, 200; (5) if next 12 months' sales exceed sales to date state in detail why we believe we can do better in 1950: "We have spent the past year promoting the Lustron home and our many satisfied owners are selling homes for us every day." W. W. LOBDELL, DAN E. BRACK, MOORHEAD, MINN., March 1, 1950. Lustron Dealers Committee, Washington, D. C.: (1) Sales to date, 12 houses; (2) number sales next four months, six; (3) number sales next 12 months, 20; (4) maximum sales, 30; (5) we did not get started until 15th of September in 1949. BULAND CONSTRUCTION CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN., March 1, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealer Association, Washington, D. C.: Present RFC publicity detrimental to housing and development construction due to start this month as well as detrimental individual sales. Also adjustment of FHA Engineering Bulletin in line with fire insurance and VA acceptance would increase sales. STANLEY CRUTE, President and Treasurer, C. B. Homes, Inc. NEW HAVEN, CONN., March 1, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, Regarding telegram received from W. A. Matheson of, Lustron Corp. today, (1) 46, (2) 100. If successful on rental part of State housing program this can be as high as 300. (3) 200; (4) 350; (5–Ã) public acceptance has been obtained through houses already constructed; (B) special Connecticut housing program provides low interest rates for certain group of people, thereby enlarging market; (C) new models cover larger group of customers. STANLEY CRUTE, President and Treasurer, C. B. Homes, Inc. LAKE CHARLES, LA., March 1, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealer Association, Washington, D. C.: Answers in order: (1) 7; (2) 3; (3) 15; (4) 15; (5) houses have been accepted knowledge of construction. New models to draw from, FHA acceptance, less criticism. H. W. CASTLE. STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, March 1, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealers Association, Washington, D. C.: Houses sold to date, 5; sales certain in next 4 months, 5 to 6; next 12 months, 15. We believe 1950 sales will exceed sales in the past because each day more and more people are wanting Lustron homes in spite of all its bad publicity. It's getting financing is our problem, but I am sure if production of the Lustron home is not interrupted there will be no stopping us in 1950. Good luck. W. W. LOBDELL, CARLO CIANCETTA & SONS. PINEHURST, N. C., March 1, 1950. Lustron Dealer Association, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D. C.: Three sold and erected, four sale loans being processed. Should sell six more in 1950, potential sales, ten. Sales increase due to public acceptance and public showings. W. W. LOBDELL, M. A. LYONS, Carolina Engineering Service. TOLEDO, OHIO, March 1, 1950. Care of Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D. C.: Have erected and sold 40 houses in Toledo. Can sell 40 in next 4 months and 100 in next 12 month. Majority of these would be lower-price model and is conditioned on the company solving its financial problems and avoiding daily newspaper publicity. W. W. LOBDELL, JOHN S. COBLE. FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA., March 1, 1950. Lustron Dealer Association, Washington, D. C.: Retel Matheson, have erected three houses, sold two. Several possible sales awaiting decision on continued factory operation. Cannot accurately forecast future sales. Our principal handicap has been FHA delay and low commitment of $7,500. We believe that with proper commitment of $9,000 or more, house will sell readily. CRAFTSMAN HOME CORP. We are in accord with you in the survivorship of the Lustron home. Our prospects of future Lustron owners are increasing even with the adverse publicity we have received. To date we' have completed 16 homes This should have been trebled. Our first five houses FHA gave us an average of $8,400; has now dropped to flat $7,500 on any location regardless of price of lot. We have in process at present time enough prospects if commitments are in line with conventional housing to close 25 deals. Our ratio of sales to people really interested has been 25 in the making at all times since last April when we completed showing our demonstration house, but our low commitment has prohibited sales. Our files now have over 200 prospects of future buyers. We as builder dealers say that the Lustron home is structurally sound and our owners are completely satisfied and are our best salesmen. W. W. LOBDELL, E. D. CROSS & SONS. NEW HARTFORD, N. Y., March 1, 1950. Lustron Dealers Association, Washington, D. C.: Enthusiastic acceptance by two present owners. Hope for four in 4 months, eight in 12 months. Crews trained and waiting. D'AGOSTINO BROS. WEBSTER, S. DAK., March 1, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealers Association, Washington, D. C.: (1) None; (2) 8; (3) 55; (4) 90; (5) yes. Lustron in our territory is just getting started. People are just learning to know the great advantage. DAKOTA BUILDERS. MACON, GA., February 28, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealer Association, Washington, D. C. : (1) Erected two, sold three, subject VA appraisal. (2) Should sell 16 houses next 4 months. We have With the (3) Fifty houses should be sold next 12 months. (4) Fifty houses maximum under present FHA and VA appraisal. (5) Macon is a conservative town of approximately 100,00 people. shown our first Lustron to over 40,000 and the acceptance is amazing. proper appraisals as to material value of the Lustron home, I as one of the smaller dealers will unconditionally guarantee sales of 100 houses. The three houses were Newports sold to GI's at $7,000, subject to VA appraisal, which was $6,250. I as a taxpayer and not a dealer wish to go on record as stating the foreclosure of Lustron would be the biggest rape on the American taxpayer in the history of our Nation. The Lustron home is quality, with features offered in no other medium-income home. It has not only acceptance but appeal, and with the proper financing through FHA and VA the dealers can put the Lustron Corp. in the black. DIXIE METAL BUILDING & SUPPLY Co., J. M. MCFERRIN, Jr., President. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealers Association, HAYS, KANS., March 1, 1950. Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D. C.: To date erected and sold eight houses. We are reasonably certain of selling 10 more in next 4 months and 25 following 12 months. Demand. Acceptance and our ability to build have passed pioneering and schooling stages. We are much enthused over future for Lustron homes. DREILING IMPLEMENT Co. W. W. LOBDELL, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D. C.: VENANGO, NEBR., March 1, 1950. Have erected three houses last 3 months. Six sold for next 4 months' erection. Expect to sell and erect 18 to 24 next 12 months. Received Lustron franchise December 1, and our potential sales are unlimited. We have built seven Lustron homes. Expect to build five more within the next 4 months and 16 homes for the coming 12-month period. Our first estimate is based on the inquiries of recent weeks and the settlement of the coal strikę. DURABLE CONSTRUCTION Co. ALLENTOWN, PA., March 1, 1950. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealer Association, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D. C.: Answers re Senate Banking Committee hearing. Sold 17 homes; erected 14. Number of sales in next 4 months, 16 estimated. Sales in next 12 months, 80 estimated. Potential in next 12 months, 100. Reasons homes proven to be good, demanded by public. Have trained and experienced erection crews and tradesmen investment in land for Lustron development. EASTERN BUILDERS, INC. W. W. LOBDELL, Lustron Dealer Association, DULUTH, MINN., March 1, 1950. Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D. C.: (1) We have erected and sold two Lustron houses. (2) We are certain of 12 sales in next 4 months. (3) Conservatively we will sell 50 Lustrons in next 12 months. (4) Conservative potential maximum sales 100. Because of our cold climate, people have been waiting to see how the Lustron house actually stands the winter, and since we have demonstrated the economical outstanding heating ability the majority of the public here are now sold on Lustron, and even with the obstructionist adverse publicity we are signing orders now for erection as soon as weather permits concrete work. Comparing the conventional house to Lustron we have demonstrated that Lustron is better and more economical in upkeep in addition to lower original cost for same floor area. ESTY HOUSING, INC., By S. J. BLACKMORE, President. W. W. LOBDELL, EVANSVILLE, IND., February 28, 1950. Lustron Dealer Association, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D. C.: Thirty-one houses sold and erected to date. Sales expected to average one per week for next 12 months. TOM CRANE, Evansville Lumber Co. |