New Orleans Republican., 1871-09-13

Perhaps there is no city in the Union where
greater inducements are offered for the or
ganization Of building associations than in
ours. We have vast bodies of unoccupied
| lands lying contiguous to the very heart OF
| the city, which can be bought on reasOua-
ble terms. while building materials can be
had of the very best kind as cheap as in
any large city in the country and still rents
are high and landlords as exacting as else
where. Our street railroad system is SO ex-
tensive, and the cost OF travelling upon their
cars so insignificant, that it appears ex-
ceedingly strange to us that there should
not be more interest exhibited by men of
small meahs in the matter of getting
dwellings Of their own, out from the very
heart of the city.
In all the large business centres of the
North and West about quarter Of the
working classes live outside of the city
limits, and travel miles each day in going
to and from their labor, while the balance
crowd the street cars and omnibu ses to
the extreme limits of the corporations.
With us that very class appear to prefer to
live in the immediate neighborhood of their
workshops, and, although the climate is op-
posed to densely packed streets, they set
this, as well as comfort, at defiance, and
pay exhorbitant rents for mean, dirty and
coinfortless dwellings,.
One great cause Of all this is thriftless-
ness. Few people in this section have ever
directed their attention to osmall-picayune-
economy. lAud, after all. this is the only
kind Of economy which pays in the end).
Many would be saving enough of hun
dred dollars, and would be sure to invest it
sensibly; but to lay up, day by day, a five
cent piece, dime, or even dollar, appears
to them a matter 50 small, and the result of
years trouble so insignificant. that they
scout at the idea. Could they, however, be
taught to know the real value of such hab-
its, and be made to feel that the result was
not so insignificant as they supposed, they
would reform; for we have great confidence
in the intelligence of our working classes
In being thriftless they but followed the
general custom in the country, and were
low that instead. by preference.
1t was consequently with great pleasure
THAT we read in the French side of the Bee
= yesterday morning, that an association was
about being formed by several of the lead
ting commission merchants and business
men, the object of which shall be the estab-
lishment in this city of building associa-
ton upon the plan of the celebra ted French
credit foncier. The stock Of the associa-
lion is to be fixed at 5000 divided into
ten thousand shares of $50 each, payable by
nstal!meEts Of ten per cent monthly until
paid up. As soon as a sufficient number of
subscribers shall have entered into the assO-
;iation, it will purchase lands and
,uild dwelling houses upon them. These
will be sold to subscribers on cred |
t monthly payments, amounting to
. moderate rent, and when the purchaser |
hail have thus paid the debt due the COM
'any, the. property will be unincumbered,
nd his own. As it is, a tenant pays for the
louse he lives in every ten years, and still |
no richer. BY being member of this
ompany he can acquire property by sim
ly paying this rent, with the addition of a
ew nickcls and dimes, which he can easily
ave from his weeks expenses. Every dol
sr he puts upon the house will not be lost,
nd the quicker he pays up his debt, the
Doner can he call the foot of ground his
wn.
Properly managed, such al institution
1ould prove blessing to the working
asses of our fellow-citizens, and judging
ON the statement Of the Bee that Messrs.
. D. Miller, of j. w. Burbridge & Co.;
h.. F. Generes, G. Hopkins, A. D. Voisin, Of
oisin & Livaudais; F. B. Flietas, j. P.
iddiere, of Clapp, Brothers & Co.; NJ. c.
andall, of Randall & Co.; ]. A. Fernan-
ez, and other such gentlemen, are the lead
70 spirits of the movement, it must prove
success. Persons who wish to subscribe
IN, We learn, do 80 at the office Of Messrs.
oisin & Livaudais, next door to the corner
: Union and Carondelet streets.