Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-11-23
THE RENT QUESTIONING. s.

MEssRs. EDIToRs.-DuriDg the war, II
mistake not, there were certain civil laws
enacted and military orders promulgated Ia
the South, which prohibited any one from
specializing upon the necessaries Of life and
it would, perhaps, be well for the greater
part of this community If such law were
still in existence here. A house to live in is
just as much necessity to man of family
as bread and meat. Houses are very scarce,
and landlords seeing this, have taken ad.
vantage Of the increased demand, and put
mp rents to a ruinous rate, thus placing
themselves in the same category with the
blood-suckers, who, soon after the COM
mencement Of hostilities, monopolized GER
tain departments of trade, and by depicting
the market, forced helpless people {, COM
ply with their exhorbitant demands for food
and clothing. This may seem harsh, but It
is none the less true. The principle in both
cases is exactly the same The price Is
asked, not because the article is worth II,
but because those who need it cannot do
without it. They are thus specializing upon,
and will eventually destroy, legitimate de-
mand, which, if promptly and properly sup
Piled, would build up the city and increase
its popIlation and wealth four fold within q
few years.
But the Strangest feature Of this matter is,
that while houses are scarce, there are hun
dreds of vacant lots within five minutes walk
of the public square. Upon these lots the
owners are paying taxes and receiving
nothing in return-instead of which, were
they properly improved, would net them
fifteen per cent. But the owners will not
improve them, neither will they sell to those
who are willing and anxious 10 do 90. And
why capitalists will permit their money to
lie idle in bank, or loan it out at much
less rate of interest than they would receive
from such investments, is a mystery to any
man who possesses single progressive idea.
There are houses in GAINESVILLE renting at
prices which in two years will pay the orig
inal cost Of building, and yet when you ap-
prOach old Fogy on the subject of erecting
houses for rent, he sinks his hands deep into
his breeches pockets, looks at you with an
air of suspicion, shakes his head obviously,
and says ait won't pay" 1t would pay
handsomely, besides emitting them to the
lasting gratitude Of those who are now so
severely oppressed by unfeeling landlords.
Houses can be built for seven hundred dollars
each that would rent readily for two hum
DIRE d dollars year, and it does seem to me
that such per cent ought to satisfy the
most inordnate appetite for gain.
Aside from the income from rents, unim-
proved property would be increased to dou-
bic its present value by building upon each
alternate lot. And where all the material
aud facilities for building are 80 abundant
there can be no excuse for the lack of
houses or the present extortionate rates Of
rent. There is one law of trade which il rs
as that of the Medes and Per.
sltuS, ulu tiiht 10 tuht Wucu supply u NOT
found at one point the demand is turned to
another; and just SO II will be, in few
years, in regard TO GAINESVILLE. The atten-
ton OF mechanics and business men has
been attracted to this place as a favora BILE
location for their various trades and profess |
sions, hut when they are greeted with ex-
tortionate demands for the first great dssider-
alum, a house to live in, and see that from
the unfavorable circumstances by which We
are surrounded, there is barely prospect
for eking out living, they will either re-
trace their steps or push farther on, hoping
to do better, confident that they cannot do
worse.
IL remains for the capitalists and land
owners OF GAINESVILLE to say what its future
shall be. II is in their power, by judicious
use OF their means aud generous expansion
Df their hearts to make il great city, or BY
heir present course OF inaction on the one
hand aud oppression on the other, to crush
I into nothingnsss. That they will not 10
he latter - tue hope vi RENTER. 4