Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-01-12


Rents !-Eents !-Rents!
OF all the crying evils, with which the citizens of
New York have been cursed, the extortionate pnce
demanded by the landlords for the rent of their ene
menis has been, and is, the greatest.
The system of raising the annual rent of house,
has been carried on for some time. There Sas, how
ever, for considerable PERIOD show Of decency OBJ
served in the modus operandi In the prosperity of
the times, and the increasing value of property, the
landlords had plea for their demands while they
were characterized by moderation.
When the great fire occurred, which threw so large
aporton of cur smiling city into ruins-it was thought
that the milk of human kindness would flow more
freely through the streams i should always course
and that man would feel for his fellow man in dis
iress and affection, and compassionate if he could
net relieve him. 1t could be credited that base
and mercenary feelings should seek sggrandizement
from such a source of misery. But it was. The
merchant found, in his distress his rate of usury"
was bitterly increased, and the tenant was taught
that this great evil had added TO the value of he pro-
perry of his landlord, and that he was rubbing his
hands and chucling over The lucky calamity, and
determined TO avail himself of it, The crowded state
OF this city made buildings eagerly sought for, and
rents were raised from twenty fifty per cent upon
l
the time, but they were unavailing The extortion-
ate spirit of the landlords grew by what II fed
upon" The corporation of this city assisted them,
and heightened the evil under plea of improving and
widening the s,reets-a vast number of houses were
pulled down. This was at a time that the CITY was
crowded, and emigrants were pouring in upon US
The artizans, architects, and laborers were at this
period engaged in that great work. the rebuilding of
rhn afrh, IL. 49,
space, assumed its present beautiful appearance
New private buildings were, al the ime not contem-
plated. Thss the Improvements in widening the
streets and pulling down much needed houses threw
another great advantage in the way of the landlords
and they avalcd themselves of it with Their accus,om
ed cupldty Rents again advanced. The complaints
were never greater than AT the commencement of the
last year. Boarding keepers who had for years
eontrved 10 get scant pittance by their exertons-
and those chiefly ladies who had been reduced in cir
cumstances, and took this laudable method of main.
tanning an Independent livelihood, now found them
selves unable TO do the exerbitant rents together
with the high prices of provisions, precuded most of
them from making any profit at all upon their labors
and involved many in serious embarrassmens. We
took up the cause of the oppressed we exposed the
injustice, the shame, the nfamy Of this gripping ava
rice bat we talked TO men who possessed no hearts
and whose sosls were shut up in their purses, and
deaf 10 any argument that did not come in the shape
of the idol they worshipped-lher darling gold
Shortly after this period, after the landlords had
consummated their May day sports, less honorable
than that of the sweeps in England who dance
round Jack in the green and present their ladc TO
those whom they meet TO levy contributions. The
gathering OF the dark clouds upon our commercial
horizon presaged the terrible tempest which has
swept over US and destroyed in It's fury many of our
most valued citizens.
In the ruin that ensued in the ever memorable
1887, New York became half deserted-whole fami-
lies emgrated 10 the west from the scene Of their
losses and we find, that while at this time last year
houses were scarcely TO be found untenanteo-now
empty buildings stare US in the face continually The
natural inference is that rents will be reduced that
landlords, who, like eeches, have sucked 10 the last
we were gong to say, 10 repletion BIZ, there is no
such word in a landlords vocabuary-he is as hun
CRY as the sea- and could devour m1eh-thai those
men would be compelled to lower their prices. We
hear however that thiss not the case-that by some
combination or uekery in the face of existing events
they will still hold on to their beloved practice.
We trust that we have been mlsinformed on this
subject-The landlords have earthly plea for keep
ny up their former monstrous charges-Houses are
not,scarce-they plentful-the town is not full
II is half desered-nor IS il at all likely to be filled
during the ensuing year-there plenty of accommo-
daton for all who may come. Wherefore then sheuld
the rents be kept upl We tell the landlords if they
have s,eeled their souls upon this occasion-f they
are determined TO pursue their old course-f uncom-
passonaung the distress of the times deaf TO remon-
STRANGE, and reckless of consequence they dare to
wiring from the hands of the poor and the widowed
their little ptance, which taken will impoverish
them, then may they in the language of Shaks-
pesre,
:" Abssdon all remorse, heap crime on crime
For nothing can they TO dsmnation add
Greater 4 an his