The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-10
INC0NsIDERATE LANDLORDS.
viii They Drive Business Men From
Rock Island?
The Charges for Rent Entirely Too
High.

1t is quite evident to- men who have
done business in Rock Island for years,
that they are )aboring under one great
disadvantage, and that is high rent Go
where you will, and in the cities the size
of Rock Island rents will be found lower.
This is particularly true of business
locations. There are many business men
in Rock Island who know that they are
paying 80 per cent. too much rent They
have demonstrated with the landlords, but
all to no purpose, the rent remains high
The landlords plea is that he can't afford
it; that his taxes are too high, and that
the building is worth it. But there is
one thing that landlords may as well
understand first as last tenants will not
pay the rents they are asking much
longer Men will close out their bust
ness, throw up their leases, and 60 else
where And who can blame them, when
they can go to other cities, secure
cheaper rent and as good trade. There
is no Use being harsh with landlords
about this matter There is no use
quarrelling with them. There is
only one thing to be done, to
tell them: You must Ioaosr y0ar
rent If you don't, we shall move from
your building, or go elsewhere. Land
lords say that rents are not higher in this
city than in other cities In this they are
mistaken. Buildings that rent for four
or five hundred dollars in this city can be
rented thirty per cent cheaper in cities
double and triple the size of Rock
Island. This accounts for empty store
rooms in Rock Island; it accounts for men
removing to other cities. and if the high
rents continue much longer, our best
business men will be driven away from
the city. and the buildings left tenantless
The landlord who comes tripping into the
store room at the end of the month,
leisuEely signs a receipt, clutches it in one
hand till he has the money in the other
little dreams what toll, care, worry and
vexation his tenant has undergone to
raise the money for him. If he ventures
to say. Mr. Landlord, can't you reduce
the renty" the man of buildings will reply
that ''he will see, and he evidently don't
''see, as he never says anything about it,
and it goes on, until the tenant becomes
tired of the extertion, quits business, with
his own free will or that of the sheriff's,
the building is left vacant, and the land
lord pays the taxes and receives no rent.
He then gives the screws turn on other
tenants, raises their rent, and drives them
out There are empty store rooms in
Rock. Island made empty in the above
manner This is question for our Bust,
ness Mems association to take hold of.
They have a meeting tonight, and if a
vote were taken, it would be carried
unanimously that they were paying too
much rent Then why do they do it?
The remedy is in their own hands. United
action is all that is needed; and matters
will come to point before long when
united action will be necessary.
A few days ago business man of this
city went to a landlord to rent building.
Forty dollars per month is my price, .
said the owner Il used to get $50"
Which accounts for it being empty,
said the gentleman.
The building was not worth over $25 or
$50 per month, and the gentleman knew
it, and wouldn't pay any n.ore. But, no,
it must be $40, or nothing, and nothing
it was. The building has been empty for
year, because the landlord wouldn't take
$40, and now it remains empty because
he wants $40. This should be a lesson
to other landlords. Buildings that now
rent for $50 or $75 are liable to go beg
cling for half that amount, once empty,
and that they will be empty, there's not
much doubt if rents are not reduced.