Help for the Homeless

Hundreds of millions of the world's people are ill housed, live in rude shacks, under palm fronds, in caves or hovels. Last week the Rockefeller brothers' Ibec Housing Corp. announced that it will undertake worldwide production and marketing of a simple machine that promises much for the homeless millions. Called the Cinva-Ram Block Press, it makes sturdy brick from a down-to-earth mixture of 90-95% dirt and 5-10% cement or other binding admixtures, such as lime or animal dung.

Resembling an old-fashioned hand printing press, the machine can be operated by two men, one of whom pours in the soil-cement mixture while the other pumps the long handle to press the brick into shape at a pressure of about 10,000 lbs. per sq. in. In two days it can turn out enough brick to build a hut-sized house, is light enough (140 lbs.) to be packed by mule to backwoods villages, inexpensive enough to serve even the most. depressed areas. The machine costs about $50 to produce, makes rock-hard bricks for less than a penny apiece.

Ibec Housing signed a contract with the intergovernmental Pan American Union, which developed the press at the Inter-American Housing Center in Bogota, will pay royalties to the P.A.U. The company expects to sell the Cinva-Ram Block Press at a profit and should find a big market. Close to 2,000 inquiries already have poured in to the P.A.U. and Ibec Housing.

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