PROCUREMENT: Defense Housing

A U. S. problem during World War I was housing for workers in defense industries. Near the war's end the emergency U. S. Housing Corp. calculated a shortage of adequate shelter for 292.000 workers. Aircraft, steel, other companies reported that they could have increased efficiency, upped production 20% or more, simply by enough decent houses to keep workers from wandering elsewhere.

Last week the U. S. boomed toward defense production at wartime levels. But the U. S. already had signs of another housing shortage. Worst shortages were at and near shipyards (Bremerton. Wash.;...