The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-08
The Population OF New York.

The Times, having found that dwellings
capable OF accommodating about fifty thou
sand people. or ten thousand families, are now
in process OF construction in New York,
thinks that the rapidty with which such
new buildings are going up should dissipate
the fcarsOf those who have predicted the day
when tho city would be wholly given over
to the population of tenement houses" Tho
sort OF dwellings now going up, 1t says, will be
multiplied 80 that there will be no reason why
Manhattan Island should not reach popula-
ton OF five millions without overcrowding.
But these new structures, which admit Of
the housing OF great numbers Of families In
a small space, are really tenement houses,
though because they arc moro or less su-
porior to the old and ordinary class Of tene-
ments in the elegance OF their appointments
they are called French flats, or apartment
houses. II they continue to be built during
tho next quarter OF century as rapidly as
they have been going up for ten years past,
undoubtedly accommodations for vastly
Increased population will be here, and Now
York will be the second capital in size In tho
world at the beginning OF the next century,
and soon put even London in the shade.
Even II the tendency to apartment build
ing received a check, there is unoccupicd
land enough within the corporate limits of
New York. which extend far up the North
River to tho borders OF Yonkers. to house
five millions Of people In the old way; that
Is. In tenement houses and in dwellings for
single families. But lot tho apartment
houses, capable OF accommodating q great
number of people to the square acre. con-
tinuc to be built at tho present rate, and
New York will have space enough to house
q far larger population than five millions,
when 1t comes.
In tho first place, as the Times shows, be-
low Forty-sccond street, In the crowded part
OF the city, old dwellings, accommodating
single families arc giving place to great
apartment houses, in which many families
may live In comfort, elevators making even
the tOpmost stories OF eight and ten story
houses not less desirable than those nearer
the ground oven II thoy are not more desir-
able. In that way tho space In tho lower
part OF tho city, calling what Is below Cen
trail Park lower, will gradually be so utilized
as to provide accommodations for popula-
ton several times greater than that now
housed within that district. 1t looks as IL
eventually be covered with business build
ings and tenement houses, including French
flats under that name. Nor is tho tendency
to build apartment houses less striking in
tho upper part Of the city, which Is now
region distinguished by numerous great
structures OF that sort, whose commanding
height makes them almost as observable at
a distance as watch towers.
According to the Times recapitulation, tho
new dwellings In process Of construction will
accommodate 10,174 families. or 5O,s7O peo-
pie, and OF these the tenement houses,
strictly so called, will provide for 3.674 fam
lilies, tho fiat houses for $500 families, and
the private dwellings for only 800 families
1t will DO seen, therefore, that New York Is
very steadily becoming, like Paris, city Of
apartment houses; and that single houses
are destined to be occupied only by the rich,
unless on tho outskirts, Is very manifest.
Tho rapldity with which these apartment
houses are now going up is creating sup
ply which already begins to have decided
effect upon the price OF flats. The cxtrava-
giant rents paid for such quarters during late
years cannot long DO obtained. Even now
they arc coming down, and landlords are
seeking for good tenants and inviting them
In with reduced rcnts-landlords who not
long ago found their apartments In 80 great
demand that they could charge what they
liked, for they had long lists OF ap-
plicants awaiting chance to get In.
Such property was some OF the best
paying in this city. but the enormously In
creased supply Is warning Its owners that
they must soon be satisfied with moderate
interest on their Investment. Whom that
day comes, and 1t Is fast approaching. the
rent OF apartments will be low enough to DO
within tho means Of people OF small incomes,
and New York will be likely to attract more
population than ever.
When tho owners Of apartment houses are
compelled to take on their Investment Ave