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/ol. CI
REAL ESTATE
HB@®El®
AND
B UI LDERS
NEW YORK, MAY 25, 1918
No. 21
Vew Yorker Who Handles Federal Housing
Otto M. Eidlitz and What Led to His Appointment as Director
of the Government's Immense Task
rHE enormous extent of
the Federal building op-
rations in the Metropolitan
istrict, reaching into hun-
reds of millions of dollars,
nd exceeding in number and
alue anything in the previous
listory of the country, natur-
lly directs public attention to
he manager of these huge
uilding projects. Confidence
f builders and others inter-
sted in these large contracts
as been inspired by the selec-
ion by the Government o f
)tto M. Eidlitz as director of
lousing and Transportation
f the Department of Labor.
irough which channel the na-
ional housing program is
perated.
It will be generally con-
eded that the firm of wliich
^r. Eidlitz is the head, is one
)f the leading concerns, if not
he foremost, in the building
ine in this city, as is proved
)y the importance of the
itructures erected under its
nanagement during the last
'ew years.
Although the appointment of Mr. Eidlitz was made
;ome time ago, the results of his labors at Washington
ire only now becoming apparent in the constantly in-
breasing numljer of large government projects that are
)eing announced daily. His activity at the National Cap-
tal preceded his appointment to his present position.
! In October, 1917, Mr. Eidlitz was called to Washington
by Daniel Willard, Chairman of the Advisory Council of
National Defense and headed a committee of five appointed
by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker to investigate the
restriction of output of war materials, due to the lack of
housing for industrial workers. After the report was
handed in, on November 12, 1917, the Secretary of War
asked him to take up the question with the various depart¬
ments of the Government and to see whether the lack of
housing could be remedied through existing laws or
through existing contracts. On February 12, the matter
having been referred to the Secretary of Labor, Mr.
Eidhtz was appointed Director of Housing and Trans¬
portation of the Department of Labor to investigate and
provide the necessary housing for industrial workers pro¬
ducing materials and supplies for the army and navy.
This appointment made him at once the most prominent
man in the building frater¬
nity in the United States.
Mr. Eidlitz attained the en¬
viable position he now occu¬
pies by the studious appli¬
cation of his talents for
organization and his sus¬
tained efforts to improve the
welfare of the building in¬
terests, which he has served
faithfully for many years.
In these efforts he has been
assisted by his knoweldeg
of human nature.
The son of Marc and
Mathilde (Sohr) Eidlitz, Mr.
Otto Marc Eidlitz was born
in New York City, Septem¬
ber 18, 1860. He received his
early education in the public
schools of this city and in
the College of the City of
New York. Later he entered
Cornell University, from
which he was graduated in
1881 with the degree of
B.C.E. His degree of CE.
was awarded in 1890. He
married Miss Anna May
Thomas, of Youngstown,
Ohio.
Mr. Eidlitz became associated with his father in the
building business in 1881 and was included in a partner¬
ship in 1884, under the firm name of Marc Eidlitz & Son.
In 1888, upon the withdrawal of his father from active
participation in the affairs of the business, Mr. Eidlitz
became the head of the organization which has con¬
sistently developed and expanded in scope and influence.
For many years the career of Mr. Eidlitz has been
marked by the recognition of his diligent and faithful
service to the industry of which he is a part. His wide
experience and capability and his reputation for fair-
minded justice has brought him into unusual promi¬
nence upon numerous occasions when expert opinion
and matured advice were required to settle some ques¬
tion of importance to the building industry.
Mr. Eidlitz is one of the important factors in many
of the controversies that are constantly arising between
the employers and workers in the building trades, and
frequently has been called upon to settle debated points
that have stood in the way of an agreement being
reached. His advice and counsel have been taken with¬
out question by either side.
(Continued on page 673.)
OTTO MARC EIDLITZ. C. E.