New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-22
HOMES FOR TIE WoRKIyG CLASSES.

1t appears from q recent report Of the Depart
ment of Taxes and Assessments that the number
OF persons who own real estate In the CITY Is
decreasing In 1875. after part OF West
chester had been added to New York. the num-
Der of pieces or plots of real estate upon the
assessment rolls was 1885. There was
steady increase until 1850. when the number
was 1852, 400. Since that time there has been
slight decrease each year, the number now
being 152, 1872.
The average Of ownership is about two and
one-half pieces TO a single proprietor; hence
there are about 81 .052 persons who own real
estate in the city. out of population OF about
l 100000. That is not a gratifying exhibit.
Evidently we are.getting further away from
the solution of the problem how to furnish
homes in the metropolis TO the working classes
This il the more apparent from the fact that
while the number of owners is growing less the
land is rapidly approaching in value. IL three
wears the assessed value alone has increased
$76,55S,979.
Another interesting fact in regard to this
subject comes from the Fire Department. A
recent census of the buildings in the city shows
that there are 1865 which are in whole or
part used for dwelling purposes. But there
are only 4o, 565 buildings used exclusively for
habtations. There are over sixteen persons to
every building in the city in any way used as n
dwelling place, and for every house used
wholly for such purpose there are twenty
seven inhabitants. Comparisons show that
notwithstanding the annexation of part OF
Westchester County, the opening OF rapid tran
sit roads. and the large increase in building, we
are not escaping from the evils OF overcrowd-
ing. There are more blocks IN the city now
with an average of $50 inhabitants 10 the acre
than there were ten years ago. While many
persons have moved out of tenement houses,
their places have been taken by as many more
who have come principally from abroad. No
doubt there has teen some Improvement In the
tenement districts from better sanitary control,
hut not because of any decrease in the evils Of
overcrowding.
WI ere shall the working man go for home
II is useless to look for n solution of the prob
lem by the erection Of small houses in the pres
ent limits of the city, such rs can be found in
Philadelphia. The areaof that city is two-thirds
greater than that of New-York, which in part
accounts for the fact that the buildings are only
half as numerous here, though the population
is 80 much greater. Land in the present limits
of the metropolis will undoubtedly continue to
appreciate in value, and it is already beyond the
reach Of persons with small incomes.
II will not be many years before the Harlem
River will be made navigable for large ships,
and that, with the completion of the improve
ments at He'll Gate, will greatly enhance the
value of property in the upper part OF the city.
1t is highly improbable that any large number
of small houses, such as a comparatively poor
man could buy for home, will ever be erected
in the present city limits. The land will be too
valuable and the taxes too high. solution of
the problem NAV yet be found in the annsxa-
ton of part OF Long Island with rapid transit
across the East River.