The workingman's advocate., 1865-03-25
HOUSE RENTS.

HOUSE RENTS.
We believe it is the intention Of most, if
not all the landlords in this city, to advance
their rents on the 1st of May next-some to
a scandalous extent Chicago undoubtedly
possesses more unprincipled sharpers in the
shape Of property holders, than any other
city in the union, and the contemplated
swindle, is only one of a hundred similar
cases which could be cited, to prove our as
sertion. No Uatid reason can be assigned
why rents should be raised at the present
time. Gold keeps tumbling; the demand for
houses is not near so great as it was year
ago, and labor or building material costs no
more now than it did in the spring of 1864
Yet in spite of these facts, villainous CON-
bination exists-which the people seem pow
erless to.destroy-to raise the price of tene-
ment dwellings to an exorbitant degree.
Well, we suppose these vultuTes have the
legal, if not the moral right, to do with their
own as they please, but we would remind
them ii is a long lane that has no turns and
by-and-by, to use a homely expression, the
end Of the tether will be reached. There is
limit to human forbearance, and when
. certain point is passed, the results
must recoil on those by whom they are
produced. Unless appearances are decep-
tive, grand financial crash will shortly be
a., - IL -
the rents demanded, and in this case, as in
all others Of similar nature, the burden
will eventually fall heaviest on those least
able to bear it--THE LABoRTNG CLASS, those
dependent on their own exertions fo- a live
lihood. The results can easily be fcreseen.
Leases confer certain privileges, but we ques-
ton if there is landlord in this city who
would have the temerity to avail himself Of
them. If there is, he can work out the
programme to its inevitable conclusion.
The truth is, the buildings erected in this
city are mere shells, the only object kept in
view IN their construction, being the largest
return from the smallest outlay-the comfort
or convenience Of the tenant being a second
airy consideration In Great Britain twenty
one years, and in the Eastern States ten years
rental, is considered a fair purchasing valua-
ton, and landlords are satisfied with such
return but in Chicago third Of that time
is considered a liberal allowance We know
case in point the building cost little
over $4,000. and the agent, 'or land-shark,"
now asks the modest sum of $4,000, as an
annual rental Such conduct is sheer, down
right robbery, lacking even the romance Of
the highwayman, who pursues his nefarious
business at the risk of his neck To be sure
everybody CART be Petroleum nabobs, and if
they don't strike oil in Pennsylvania, they
may do the next best thing-stay at home
and bleed their luckless tenants. The evil
is, men want to get rich too fast they must
be on the canter all the time, and this desire
is unfortunately increasing every year. F1I
But apart from these considerations, the
men who adopt such course are the worst
enemies Of the material prosperity Of our
city. Emigrants, upon ascertaining the true
state Of affairs, will seek some other point
for investment, and the result will be, as it
was some years ago, this forced fictitious
valuation will exclude thousands who came
west with the intention Of settling in our
midst
The question then naturally arises, can
nothing be done to prevent these periodical
swindles from being carried into execution
We believe there can, if workingmen viii
adopt the proper course. In this connec-
ton, the advantages Of cooperation are too
self-evident to require more than passing
notice they must commend themselves to
the consideration Of every thinking man. A
short time since, an association was formed
in this city, on the cooperative principle,
which guarantee homestead to every one
who paid stipulated amount, for given
time, and on the balance a credit Of seven
years allowed, but which through the spa-
thy CT neglect Of its members, was never
successfully carried out A similar enter
prise was inaugarated at Bridgeport, Conn.,,
by p. T. Barnum, Esq, Of museum noto-
riety, and has been found to work admirably.
Our advice to workingmen is:-make it
the aim Of your life to got house Of Jour