Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-11-16
THE RENT QUESTION AGAIN.

Correspondence of The Chronicle.
MEssas EDrToas.--As asserted in pre-
vious communication upon this subject, that
laboring men could not afford to pay the
exhorbitsnt rates Of rent asked for next year,
propose now to produce the facts and fig
ures 10 support of that assertion. p
Good and industrious mechanics make
about three dollars per day and they must
be frst-class workmen, and very steady, to
average that much the year round. Ad-
hitting this, we find that there are just three
hundred and thirteen working days in a
year, for which, at an average of three dol
lars per day, the mechanic receives nine
hundred and thirty-nine dollars. This is
allowing nothing for lost time. Now, l have
a very small family, and claim to live as
economically as any one can to live decent
ly, and if ] pay two hundred and fifty dol
lars for house next year, my necessary ex-
penses will be eight hundred and eighty
five dollars leaving ms the pitiful sum of
ifty-four dollars and with this amount
must pay doctors bills, make good lost time,
and meet the various minor expenses Incl
dent to man of family. Will any of our
landlords be willing to take proportionate
margin, and risk coming out clear of debt at
the end of the year? hardly think so.
But they tell us that taxes are burdensome
and property increasing in value. Is it, in
deed , Then why don't you pay high for
real estate when it is forced upon the mar
ket? If any of your readers will attend
the Sheriff's sales which are coming off al
most every day in the city and vicinity, and
make note of the bidding, think they
will be far from believing that real estate is
approaching in value SO rapidly as to justify
an addition of ten per cent. on rents over
last year. Why, sirs, it is with extreme
difficulty that sufficient amount of ready
money can be realized at these sales to pay
costs. But once let the property get into
the hands of these cent. per cent. cormorants,
and it suddenly doubles in value Christian
spirit indeed-well calculated to build up a
city-some,ohere else! Yes, sirs, that will be
the result of this suicidal policy, just so sure
as the system of oppression is continued.
might write ad iafnit,m upon this sub
ject, but have faint hopes of accomplishing
any good. 1t will require practical DEM
onstration of the evil which will inevitably
result from the course at present pursued by
landlords, to convince them that their souls
are standing sentinel over their Golfers, and
that their hearts are in their pockets. They
reck not of the consequences and care little
for the future of the city. The system OF
extortiOn may work well to them for a
while-the money. sharks may thrive and
iatten upon the hard earned substance of the
laboring man, but the day will surely come
when they will repent in sackcloth and
ashes as it were, that their greed for gain
got the better of their judgment, and that
their property is rendered valueless because
they have driven away the population upon
which they were dependent for real wealth
and true commercial greatness.
In my next should you be so kind as to
bear with me in the PRONUNCIATION Of my lily
expressed but honestly conceived opin ions
| shall touch upon new point in connection
with this matter-oue of vital Importance
both to the landlord and RENTER