The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-02

TtpoIlS VI Tue MeAlCaH ocean Mall OOmpduy
in this city, now printed and in circulation, and
whose route our correspondent says is through
the centre Of this country, give US clear
insight into the actual condition Of that portion
Of Mexico.
The Causes OF High Rents and their RENEE
/ dies.
The present high rents and the great increase
in nearly all the necessaries of life are to New
Workers. perhaps the most engrossing subjects
Of the day. Never before in the history of our
city-not even during the year preceding the
great financial revulsion Of l837-did the owners
of house property realize such an enormous per
centage on that property as they do at pre-
sent Within the limits of the city the lowest
amount is about ten per cent, and it varies from
that up as high as fifteen and in some cases
| twenty. We are aware that this is attributed
by many, and, perhaps by the majority Of ten
ants, to the remarkable increase in the popula-
ton and the consequent demand for houses; but
after all this is only one of the numerous reasons
| which might be assigned for it. There is class
| Of men, occupying position between the land
| lord and tenant, called house agents, who de-
| rive their main support from the hiring and let
ting Of houses, and who may Justly be regarded
as among the principal causes. Several months
before the day of general moving these men
advertise for whole blocks Of houses, and having
secured them at what would doubtless he con-
sidered by tenants a reasonable rate, they relet
them at an advance of twenty and sometimes
thirty per cent. In this way they make a hand
some living, and not unfrequently realize for
tunes. The tenants have not only no redress
against this system Of extortion, but they
are often compelled to submit to any rules
which their landlords impose upon them. 1t is
but a poor consolation to them to be told that
they need not live in such houses, and that they
can remove out of the city, where rents are not
so exorbitant. Their business is Of such nature
that they cannot live in the suburbs without in
curing even greater expense, and SO they are
compelled, no matter how unwillingly, to sub
init to the imposition.
The effects Of this system are felt more by
the poor working classes than by the rich, for
it is q fact that the former pay more rent in
proportion to their means than the latter. As
many as twenty families are sometimes crowded
into one of these tenement houses which if pro-
perly constructed, would not afford accommoda-
ton for more than five-health, convenience
and other important considerations being sacri-
feed to economy Of space. 1t is not, however.
with the peculiar manner in which these dwell
ings are built that we have to deal at present,
but the extortions, exactions and tyranny,
Of house agents. 1t is common practice with
some Of these men not to let a house or part Of
house for more than month, so that they
can at the. expiration Of that time EJECT their
tenants if they should not comply with all the
rules. We know Of one case in which the
agent turned sick woman out Of her apart
ments on some trifling or pretended violation
of the regulations of the house, the secret rea-
son, however, being that he was offered more
for them. The owner of the house hearing
of the outrage, determined that he would let
his own houses in future and by doing so he
found that he could, even after reduction of
the ten per cent which he had before paid his
agent, realize a handsome interest on his pro-
which is correct copy Of the conditions under
which person paying seventeen dollars
month, in advance, rented part Of house, how
strict the rules and regulations of some of
theee agents are =
This receipt for months rent is for the second
foor except the hall bedroom of house in street TO
be used a dwelling for IS family only. No dirt,
ashes garbage to be thrown in the sink cellar yard
prvy DOORS stairs walls not to be cut marked
fuel not to be cut or broken in the rooms DIR nk
allowed boarders kept rooms to be kept
peted street door to be kept shut to keep the hall
the floor OF said apartment and first fight of stairs down
clean take regular turns weekly with the families
cupyng the house in cleaning the yard privy &c. and
used for storing tubs or other articles Any violation Of
the foregoing 10 forfeit this agreement and the apart
ments to be vacated on the demand OF the landlord.
| Here we have established in our midst a
petty tyranny of the most CALLING description,
! which prescribes laws for the regulation of
our household concerns, and even. descends
to such minute particulars as the carpeting OF
| our rooms. Once a month, and sometimes
twice, this domestic tyrant visits his subjects,
and, if they have complied with all his laws,
| suffers them to remain; but if he has been
offered more rent or thinks he can get it, the
slightest violation of one Of them is made
pretext for instant ejectmcnt. Indeed, to such
an extent is this imposition carried, that it
is beginning to be regarded favor to tenant
| even to let him house, and his character is
subjected to the most searching inquiry before
| he is permitted to enter it. We trust, however
that this year will see the last of this system,
and that the owners of houses will hereafter let
them. or if they do entrust their business to the
hands of house agents, that they will not per-
NIT them to impose upon their tenants.
| But, as we have said, there are other causes
| for the present high rate OF rents which must
| be taken into consideration; and, strange as il
may appear, one of these will be removed by
the passage of the Maine Liquor law. There
are according to the recent reports Of the cap
tains of police to the chief, about seven thou
sand drinking sbops and saloons, licensed and
i - ~ 10 noAt,ptfy ~