New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-21

HEW.YoRK And BROOKLYN RENTS

People who gave up housekeeping in June to
escape the claims of the landlord while enjoy
! ing summer in the country, and who are now
returning to reestablish their households in
4 New York, complain of the scarcity and dear
ness of houses and desirable flats house in
a good neighborhood is now out of the question,
save for families blessed with handsome in
come or clearinghouse keepers with a we'll
paying class Of customers and flats, which are
uncomfortable and unhomelilIe makeshifts at
3 best, have risen in price SO that six OF seven
room dwelling which is not mere subdivided
box OF little compartments brings from $50 a
month all the way up to 300. AT the same
time complete and comfortable houses in
Brooklyn with three stories and basement,
situated in wide, Clean high and shaded streets
within thirty minutes ride of Fulton Ferry are
plentiful at yearly rentals ranging from $500
to 800. For $50 a month in New York-as
much rent as most men in moderate circum-
stances can afford to pay-the best dwelling to
be had is fiat up two OF three I'll ghts of stairs
consisting of small parlor in front, a cramped
dning-room and kitchen in the rear and two
Tor three contracted bedrooms between with
windows looking on a ventilating shaft, or no
windows at all. For the same money, the
| Brooklyn tenant gets a substantial house
eighteen or twenty feet wide, with cellar, base
ment, thee stories, plenty of closets, a back
yard big enough for a few vines and flowers
besides the weekly wash, and perhaps a bit of
green sward in front under his parlor windows
The house will have a spacious, dry cellar,
Kitchen, dlnlng-rOom, parlOr, sitting room, five
or six bedrooms, stOIeToom and bathroom and
they Will ali be rooms in the proper sense of the
word and not mere hooks and crannies. If the
occupant has his place of business in New
York below Canal-st., as do a large proportion
OF middle-class Brooklyn residents, he viii
spend no more time in daily travel than does
the average New Yorker who lives above
Forty -secOnd-st.
The difference in the rent rates of dwellings
in the two cities is unreasonable, and is not ex-
planned by their relative advantages and dis
advantages. 1t is largely due to the fact that
the average New-Yorker deSpises Brooklyn as
the Ultima Thule of urban civilization. He is
wrong; but the idea is mgrained in him, and he
is not disposed to try the experiment of getting
rid OF II 10y an actual test of The merits of the
city across the East River unless an untoward
change in his fortunes forces him to economic.
Even then he is more likely to 90 from house
to flat in New York, OF from a fat to tcne-
ment, than TO fly to Long Island. The BROOKLYN
abode which he hears in New York He insists
that he lives in one of the handsomest cities in
the world, and he is right so far as the best
residence neighborhoods of Brooklyn are con-
|cened. 1t would be difficult to find anywhere
else rs many clean, well-built, nicely shaded
homelike streets as can be found on the
" Heights" or the :" Hill" He argues that he
can get the advantages of the metropolis in the
way OF amusements by taking n little time and
trouble, which Is true, but practically he doesn't
have them, because the time and trouble are too
much to take after getting home from business
to late dinner. With churches he is well sun
pied, however, aud he has two toerable
theatres an opera house where there are occa-
slonal performances, a fine spacious park, a.
good library and various other institutions
which large cities develop. The streets are
cleaner than in New York, there is no lack of
well-stocked shops, and one can hardly walk
two blocks without finding a horse-car line
leading to n ferry.
The difference between the two places does
not lie wholly in the greater number of places
OF evening entertainment which New York pos
Sesses or the greater variety of its street life,
or its hotels and brilliant shops The social
tone OF Brooklyn is much more quiet, undemon-
strative and home-centred. To a New-Yorller
It may seem rather subdued and dali. while q
Broollynite believes the social life of New
York fevcrish, restless and eager for the excite
mcnt OF events ard spectacles. We NAV leave
all such matters of criticism to the friendly
disputes of the people of the two cities. with
the remark that they are practically one as &
centre of business and population, as much rs
the districts of London separated bv the
Thames and those of Paris divided by the
Seine and that it is especially fortunate for the
growth and moral health of the entire metropo-
lis that in one portion of it, whether that nor
tion be called suburb or the third city of the
Union, it is still possible for a man of moderate
income to control four walls and a roof for the
needs and comforts of his own family.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
We may have now fresh outbreak
OF foolish threats against Guiteau The
theory prevailed previous to Sergeant Ma
sons attempted assassination, that the
real danger to Guiteau would come, not from the
loud takers who were vowing all over the country
that they would have his blood, but from some
quiet. determined man with wild notions of Justice
who, without ever having proclaimed his
purpose, would choose the occasion of Guitean,s
being taken to court, or even of his apnoar
ance In court, to shoot MIN. Sergeant Mason how
ever had talked so much about Guiteau that os II
now appears some persons believed his mind Ia
nave become unhinged upon the subject before be k
made his attempt to kill his prisoner The loud
talking persons may, therefore. be dangerous and
we may see now extra precautions taken
10 protect Guiteau. 1t would he wise
10 do so, though there may be scarcely
possibility of IN attack, either within or without
ne iortresske Jail in which he is confined If the