The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-02


1t will therefore appear, from an inspection of
this table, that those houses which rented al
the lowest rate, and as such were occupied by
ordinary mechanics and laborers, who consti-
tute the bulk OF the population of great city,
exhibited an average Increase of rents of over
l30 per cent. in 1862. as compared with 1860;
while only In single case, viz, that of the
poorest tenement; which rented for So per
the increase less than 12O per cent. On the
other hand, the advance in more expensive
houses was still greater, averaging over 135 per
one nm s rom 70 a S3O 70 sso per
from $25 to $75. Taking the whole list, which
is said 10 represent fairly the rental value of the
houses OF the labcr'ng classes of your district,
the general advance in rents was over $50
(130'69) per cent in 1862 as compared with the
rents paid for the same teuements in 1860.
Another interesting fact developed in this
investigation is, that rents, in this district of
Philadelphia, have advanced in most undue
proportion to the advance IN the value of real
estate. Thus the Increase in the value OF the
twenty six houses enumerated was, in the ag-
gregate from SCI eco (gold) in 1860, to $l0O 900
currency in 1869 an advance in eight years
OF 65 per cent; while the rents of the same
property, as above shown, advanced during the
same period an average of l30 per cent. In
other words, the capitalist. owner of houses
receives from the laborng classes in the city of
Philadelphia, In the district represented by you
In Congress, return for his investment 100
per cent. greater than what was netted to him
on the same investment in 1860. 1t may be
that this excess in interest is balanced, to a
considerable extent, by increased taxes; but
that 1t is SO TO the full extent is not probable.
Now if the statements contained in this table
are true, and the name and business standing of
the gentlemen furnishing them are q sufficient
guarantee that they are, then it is certain that
in Your district at least, another of the neces-
saries OF liie--viZ.: habitatlons--cannot be Cb-
tanned by the laboring classes for SO small an
advance on the cost OF 1860 as fifty per cent;
and furthermore that, in this respect, the poor
OF your city have grown poorer. while the rich,
on given investment, have largely increased
their incomes.
The official report of the "Guardlans of the
Poorn in the city of Philadelphia seems to afford
another complete demonstration of your want
OF acquaintance With the topics on which you
have assumed to speak with authority. Thus,
for example, you will find, by referring TO their
report, submitted in 1863 page %, that the APP
parent increase in the price of the following
! supplies, viz.:-Beet, mutton, coffee, tea, rice,
! -four, brown and white sugar, molasses and dry
| goods, purchased for the poor in the year 1867,
over the price paid for similar supplies in 1860,
was ll3a per cent; or, making allowance for
the varying proportion Of articles consumed, 95
! per cent. 1t should also be borne in mind that
this percentage represents the increase IN what
may be presumed 10 be the cheapest and most
ordinary forms Of the above commodities, pur.
chased for the almshouseS at wholesale, and In
large quantities.
From large amount of additional evidence
bearing upon the questions under discussion,
and contributed mainly since the publication of
| your speech, the following examples NAV be
pres sented. The frst to which ask attention is
a table made by the architect of the United
States Treasury, showing the comparative
| prices paid for ordinary laborers and skilled
| workmen employed on the Treasury extern
siop," Washington, in 1861 and 1868, respec-
tively;-