New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-23
living in this city must inevitably bring in its train


of two things: Families must change their style Of
living and think oftener of text, What shall we
Eat or exhaust principal as well as interest, and in
case Of the death Of the head of the family become
reduced as Thousands already have been, to state of
dependence, or absolute want and suffering.
Within six or eight years, notwithstanding the i'm
mense increase Of dwening-houses the rents have ad-
vanced from 80 to 100 per cent; and yet houseowners
say that compared with the interest upon the cost ana
taxes then and now they do not pay as well at the a1
vanced AZ at the low rates 1t is next to mpossioie
for small family to find house, however small or
nconv enient, at rent below siOo year; ana
whole house in respectable street at less than $500,
!. only 70 be found at rare intervals There are but
few families so fortunate a. to be able to live in
whole house for less than 800 to 81 900 year for
rent beside the use of Croton water gas, and ordinary
repairs.
Families whose income is not over 81 900 year,
cannot live in this city in comfortable houses, except
in company with other families and all the lsboriDg
class are compelled by necessity to 60 into one OF
those great caravansaries called "tenant- houses"
which usually contain from eight TO twenty families,
and often many more. The apartments" of family
usually cOnsis Of room l2 or IS feet square with
windows, and one or two small bedrooms in the center
Of the house without windows. If it is I'D double
house, there four families floor, each paying
s. to 81 month. If it is single house. there are
two families on Aoor and beside the dark bedroom,
there is a small one with window over the hall. All
the inmates Of tenant house must enter at one door,
and use one common stairway from cellar to roof OF
course the house is not always neat nor entirely quiet
To live in such a house, and pay such prices as we
have indicated for to live, among the prob
abilities yes certanties, that will attend upon every
labOring mans family who may be tempted to leave
pleasant country home for one in the city.
For another class of persons who longing after
city liie-such all too in the country;
who imagine that education las fitted them for some
thing better than agricultural abOrsuch think that
they could live easier and more geneel IN the city,
upon the salary of dry goods retailer, bookkeeper,
or os professional man." or perhaps enjoy the
"easy life " Of city editor, or penny-a-iner, or
perchance author; any of the other Thousand
and empOyments that produce salary of $500 to
$1,000 year-for all of these we have word Of adj
vice.
We advise them TO carefully examine the following
expense account of unusually economical, pru-
dent family of three persOns-a father and two plain
dressing daughters-with an addition of son about
four months and u boarder fourteen weeks. These
with a very small number Of visitors, and one SER
want, constitute the family Nearly all the clothing OF
father and daughters being made in the house, there
are no miner or dressmakers bills. And here is the
Family expense account from May l, Sc, TO May ST.
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