New-York tribune., 1875-01-26
A POOR MANS PARADISE.
CHEAP HOMES IN PHILADELPHIA.

DECENTRA1lLED CITY.
1rRoM THE REGULAR coRREsroNDENroF THE TRIBUNE. J
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 20.-In former letter |
described the remarkable facilities afforded for the ae-
ouiremeut Of homes this city by the building assooa-
ons and the prevalent system OF groundrents Almost
eau advantages offered TO those who do not desire
20 attempt the purchase OF houses In no large city IN
this country and in no city, great or small IN Euopo
can there be found such number and variety OF sepS
rate dwellings for rent of prices within the reach OF meo
of sma incomes The building of such dwellings always
keeps pace with the demand runs little In advance
OF it, 80 that competition among landlords TO secure
tenants keeps rents down to the lowest figures
which give fair interest on the capital invested
IL ia no exaggeratiOn 10 say that every mechanic
and laboring man. II he is in receipt OF the
smallest days wages paid for labor, can rent an
entire house for his family Tenementh0uses are rarely
found and the people who live in them do so from
choice and not from necessity The essence OF the En-
cish and American idea of home consists in the uudi
yided possession by each family OF the space nciosed
by tho four walls and roof of the building 1t nhaos
In most Of large cities this conception has come TO
be regarded a pleasant memory OF the past which
cannot be realized in those days of high rents Pha-
dephias position continues TO be exceptional in this re-
spect Here every mans house DO it's occupant rich or
poor may st be his castle. A great deal has been
written 1 general on this subject In the LEGAL
newspapers which exhibit cOmmendable pride in ap-
plying TO Philadelphia the appellat0n OF the city or
homes" but II will perhaps interesting to people in
other cities who have heard OF the envable reputation
which, this place has won as paradise OF poor
men, 10 told somewhat more definitely the facts upon
which its fame rests. and to learn what kind OF dwell
ings be bad for the surprisingly low rents Of
which they have read.
Let US begin with the cheapest class OF dwellings.
From Sc to so month is the rent OF complete house
containing everything essential to the comfort and fhe
cleanliness Of small family. Such houses built in
long rows and usually upon narrow streets running be-
the main thoroughfares Each has two rooms on
the ground floor and small kitchen In a back exten-
sion. Sometimes the street door opens Immediately
into the front room; often there is hall. Up
stairs are two bedrooms and there is bathroom
the kitchen supplied with hot water from the kitchen
range. There is cellar for fuel and provisions and
small back yard Tie houses of this class do not vary
materially In size interior accommodations and the
difference in price between the extreme figures Of Sc and
s2 depends upon the situation whether central or sub
urban. and whether upon regular street alley
For $40 may be rented house Of this KIND In respect
able neghborhood, not more than twenty minutes by
street car from the State House point corresponding
as business center TO the City Hall in NewYOrk.
These little dwellings are sometimes called miniature
houses" They Of course, very small and the upper
rooms under their thin sheetiron roofs uncOmfort
ably hot in Summer; but the aid which they give TO
III, poor to lead heahfu vrtuous lives will be appre
ci ted if the condition Of family occupying of
tn is cOntrased with that Of family paying much
10 two three the third fourth floor of
tenement house in New-York. One has home. humble
though it may be, and surround itself with the
sweet and wholesome hOme-inhuences important
great cities safeguards against the temptations TO
vice. and essential everywhere TO the proper develop
ment OF character The other has shelter from the
weather and place in which to and sleep, and that
s all.
Coming up grade two from the cheapest class of
dwellings, we find thousands OF houses built upon
tha MIA bufr he Of
these Ia from SIS to S25 month. They usually foot
two wider, the have ngher ceilings, and the
tack yards larger, often afordng space for few
ciotheslines An excellent range hot aud cold water
in all rooms plenty OF closets, aud large, dry Gel
Lar are the almost nvariabe characteristics or such
houses The bath room often takes only portion of
the space over the Kitchen the remainder making
small bedroom This gives five sleepng.rooms, besides
the parOr dining-rOOm, and kitchen. 1t should be re-
marked that houses OF this class are cheapy built the
walls being thin and the hOors aud doors OF INFERIOR
material They are however, pleasant aud comfortable
homes for mechanics, clerks and others OF sma! n-
Sometimes they nave features OF INQUEST eie-
gance such white marble mantel IN the parlor or
of red brick front and white board shut
ters often gives place to bay windows ana ManSaru
Houses with no but more substantially built
ard more handsomely finished inside and out command
from cas- to $40 Usually however, rental OF over $50
secures what may be called q modern Philadelphia
house, the distinguishing feature OF wmch Is tainY
ON the ground floor are pHrOr, hail. diningroOm.
and Kitchen both the latter being in the back extension
The second floor contains q large front DedroOm' a
smaller bedroom communicating with H. Dath,fooin
back hall. into which lead the back STAIRS from the
windows and large hay window looking into tue yard
In this latter apartment centers the IRE OF tne nouse
hold II affords ready access 10 the domestic regions
below and TO the bedrooms OF the family on the same
floor and the floor above Ihese c3rSspona IN Iuofr %
heated By furnace la the cellar, ana Letrooe stove
or fireplace hep tSs honses are situated In the
extreme northern or southern portions OF t1e Guy
proper the rent frequently as low as 80 ana I'D ess
distant localities IL ranges from $40 TO $50 IL Will be
sAen that house or this KIND affords all the space anu
conyenences that required by the family OF pro
fess,ona or business man OF moderate income higher
class OF houses, differing from tle ABOVE cheiH ih
larger rooms and handsOmer interior nish fetch froi1
$50 10 s75 a month For SO can be secured house
ies. i%tbe situation in New-York When come to
grade Of dwellings styled trstelass we nnd the same
or even greater reaIave cbeapuess For from SOO 10
ta 90 year Of ~ rooms can be had In the best
neighbOrhOods spacious ana elegant enough @ 10 meet @
requirements OF men OF large weath anu MN sScia %
standng. Similar houses equally well sltuateu IN No"
York cannot be obtained for less thau s4OV ana some
times as much as 5000 or 5000 is asked. 49,,
IL must admitted that there is an0ther sue 10 tus
posss which occupy most Of the covered by Phla
,delpha give the city the uhatlractVe al
hood OF RitteDhouse and Logau-s1uares, ana IN the
delightful suburbs OF West Pladel pMa ana Uerinah,
mOnOtonOus little 0welng hanklng tue narrow streets
and stretching away III seemingly endless success On
che system OF house for every family could not ue-
yeOp handsome ely unless an unusually large pro
portion Of the inhabitants were wealthy Anolher us
dvanfage is the large occupied by the GUY IA
common phrase, the population Is spread out tbin.
The length paving of streets aud sidewalks ana oi
beverage gas. aDd waterpipes TO every lOCO IpHa3l
tants Is probably nearly twice as great as IA
IL follows that large amount OF cheap ana poor VII
a. done in the way OF public improvements because Tue
property is not valuable 10 be assessed VIII tne
cost OF hrstrate wOrG There are not dozen M well
streets in the whole city, and only IN the cenra
wards are the lighting and drainage passaDy good II
we're great conlneIcla elty ke New ioA d W.
an active business heart TO and from whlch poured
daily vast currents OF humanity, the dscOm Orts
and expense of IocomOOn arising from Its large geo
graphical extent wOuld be a serious matter, Phi%-