The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-09-23
LAMBERrvILLE, Sept. 28, 1885


LAMBERTyILLE, Sept. 90, 1885.
MIR. EDIToR:-Please allow us to mako
an appeal to the property owners of our
city in behalf of their own interest and
the general welfare of all concerned.
We find in our city about one hundred
houses for rent and the larger portion of
them have been placarded for rent, off and
on, for years past. These properties cost
the owners cash value upon which they
are taxed, occupied or unocoupied, with
insurance and repairs to be keep up as
well. And when we take into account
our manufacturing interests that have
been growing less for years past, there
will be more property to rent and less oc-
cupants to rent it, unless something is
done to stir up business.
Long have these property owners wish
ed and waited for outside parties to bring
their capital here and employ our labor,
SO that all this idle real estate might be-
come source of moderate profit, at least,
but their wishes and waiting have been
in vain, and according to present indica-
tions must grow worse.
All this is not only detriment to those
who own tenantlcss houses, but all the
property in our city is deprecated on the
same account.
The census statistics of 1880 were be-
low our calculations, and that of 1885
still lower. Then all these years the tax
able inventory has proportionately fallen
off many thousand dollars and without
arrest will continue.
With all our facilities for manufacture
ing, which are second to none in the State,
thele is as yet, no prospect to reverse the
present lamentable state of affairs with
us, and now shall we continue to sit still
and see this retrogade movement go on,
or shall all who can, arise, and arrest this
wasting of hard earned property. that i,
now yearly depreciating
It's settled fact that more manufac
turing in our city would employ NOR,
men, and these men must have houses t
live in and consequently this would 81
these empty houses with good paying
tenants, while the merchants with mum
Der of others doing small slow business
would have real advance as well.
What kind of manufacturing would pay
the best, is a question to settle. But il
is suggestion to take up branch Of
manufacturing that has proved boom in
Trenton, of which we are almost suburb,
both for distance and easy access. Tren
ton in twenty years has increased hel
population about 10, 900 in the manufac.
ture of porcelain ware alone, and one good
pottery located in our city would give
employment to more men then to fill all
our idle houses.
A safe and possible way to bring this
about would be for those persons having
houses to rent, to take shares, with
monthly payments, into Pottery Asso
citation and the rents that would accrue
from houses now empty would soon pay
for the plant of one of the largest pot.
teries in the State. 1t would not at all
DE advisable for the Association to run
this pottery SO near Trenton, where there
are those skilled in the art, who il they
could get our kilns and building at rea.
sonable rent, would Iun them in Lambert.
vile in connection with theirs 10 Trenton
much cheaper than to enlarge their works
there, where rents and labor are both
higher. This pottery can be made safe
investment. AS the money is monthly
paid in, so invest it in buildings, kilns,
&C., and keep it clear of any incumbra nee
whatsoever.
Thirty thousand dollars would pay fol
the plant of large pottery, and the rent
of one hundred and five houses at an aver.
age of 80 per month, would more than fur.
nish that amount of capital in three years
and enough could be paid in to commence
work in six months, as one-t third of the
stock can be advanced by some one on
monthly payments.
This important enterprise of associatine
$3O,OO0 in capital during three years from
rents of houses now idle, should engage
the attention of every owner of such pro.
perty, and cause an early commencement
of forward movement, that would not only
make this idle property pay its way, but
advance all real estate 10 the city as we'll.
II there is one successful pottery in
Lambertville, then like Trenton, there
will soon be others. A general move OF
our people In this direction will give Lam
bertville population of over five thous-
and the next twelve months aud increase
the value of real estate in proportion.
MANY FAv oRABLE.