The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-24
The Rent Question.

tated the tenants ON Market Square, and its
environments, until the committee appointed
by the Tenants meeting made their report. We
thought, from the first, that little or no good
could be accomplished hy the mode Of action
of that meeting We knew and always have
known that the law of supply and demand
must govern this case, as it does all of SINH
lar kind. We do not mean to say that the
tenants meeting will prove entirely devoid of
good results; we say, however, that it will
prove barren of beneficial results in the way
IN which they seek to attain them. 1t has
called attention to the existence of several
facts which have not been looked into hereto
fore; and the most important one of these is,
the fact that the business stands are entirely
too few for the wants of the community,
which is very agreeable piece of intelligence
to every well wisher of our city The bust
ness Of the place is too large for its accommo-
dation. Another important fact that this
agitation has developed is, that there is not a
single store i'll the agitated locality vacant,
while tbore are some fifteen or twenty persons
waiting an opportunity to get locations to go
into business, who would open between this
and the first of September, if they could be
accommodated This or something near it,
being the fact, we ask the gentlemen who
have moved in this matter, how is it possible
they can expect decrease of rent for their
stores, even for next Year, Landlords are like
other men, and have the frailty of getting
the most for their commodities just as strong
ly developed as store keepers
1t is within our memory when all the dry
goods stores of this city were located on the
west side of Market Square. AT that time
there were but few, if any, stores on Church
street. none on Bank street. and not great
many of any kind on Main street, above john
sons Hall We say these things are within
our memory, and we are by no means the
oldest inhabtant" lii process of timo the
landlords increased their rents on the dry
goods men to such an extent as to drive them
elsewhere, and that trade went principally Oh
Main street, where it was accommodated at
cheaper rent, for short time, while other
branches of business took their vacated stand,
and are now paying higher rents than the
former occupants paid. SO, look at this sub
jet that is called the '.greed of the landlords"
we may, we see the good results to the
prosperity and improvement of the city. 1t
forces the tenant, in many instances, to great
or efforts in bis business, and when the rent
becomes entirely too oppressive to him, it
forces him to seek new trade quarters, which
he can generally find much cheaper, and by a
iudicous course of "pushing" his business by
means of ample advertising, circulating cards,
circulars and handbills. the saving which he
makes between the former high rent and his
new stand at low rent eventually enables him
to become the owner Of his own stand. In
fact, he is indebted for his prosperity to this
very principle of "suppy and demand, forcing
him to do something, and not wait for 'some
thing to turn up" in the way of what is
equivalent to a miracle--that is, a landlord
reducing his rent while there is an ample sup
ply of tenants waiting to get his premises at
his own figures. .e,
We know Of gentlemen doing business On
Main street aud Market Square, who have
paid their landlords rent enough to have built
the finest marble front stores anywhere to be
found, and who are but little better off now
than when they first commenced business.
Now, suppose they had taken stores away
from the high-rent district, at cheap rents,
aud used the means at their command of SELL
ms cheap, and literally advertising the fact
TO the people, how different would be their
circumstances at this day.
There really seems that spirit of infatua-
tlon has possessed the minds of store keepers
IN certain localities, at times, in all cities: an
natuatioD too. which, if not implanted by
The landlords, is, at least, very profitable to
them, and which it is their interest to keep
alive The tenant seems to think if hsdoes
not locate right at certain shop in the city
he can do no business, and, in order to get
There, he is willing, or whether willing or no,
nc has to give his landlord the larger portion
Oh his profits to let him remain. This course
usually continues until the patient becomes
exhausted, OF arouses from his stupor and
SeeIEs a location where lower rents obtain.
We feel specially interested in this subject
OF high store rents 1t is our business to ad-
yertise the goods and wares of our store
Seepers, and we find bell f prevailing
among many of them, that advertising is no
nSe 10 them, if they are located in certain
positions. 1t may be that there is some reason
In this; but it is not in the sense they regard
1t. Our view of the matter il, that if they
Imagine there is no use in their advertising, it
Is because they are ia such bad hands
We have no war to make against tenants
al landlords These latter have right toget
what they can for their stores; and II appll-
eants can be supplied better elsewhere, they
%lll be surely. In our remarks on this sub
Ject IN previous issue of the DAY Book, we
suggested the best remedy for the tenants,
anu II there is any earnestness III this move
hient they will heed our advice in the matter
ny acting speedily, before renting time comes
upon them We, however, assure them again,
mat the stores they may vacate will be taken
up readily by others. This we are satisfied
VI; out we do not look upon it as matter at
"'l likely to result to their injury, if they will
"'ail themselves properly of the many ad-
ts;"n'ages their moving into new trade sec
"'n at cheap rent. will give them,