Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-05-16

Why the New York Houses OF the Astors
Are Never Vacant.


Are Never Vacant.
( There is an outcry in Fifth avenue against
the Astors, because they are turning the
houses opposite their own residences into
stores; but, writes correspondent to the
Indianapolis Journal, IL the Astors decide
that they can stand it to look from their
parlor windows right across the street into
tradesmen's shops, suppose their fashion
able neighbors can not prevent it. Any
how, the Astors are not only the biggest
but about tho best, landlords in town
Their estate includes vast number of once
fashionable houses which have been con-
verted into boarding establishments. and
are slowly being altered into stores. These
stand out prominently and catch the eve
or the stranger at once. The iron fence
In front OF them always looks newly painted,
the gate swings easily, the brick or brown
stone wall seems to have been erected only
yesterday, and the doors are massive and
highly polished. Often the neighboring
houses are shabby-genteel and wear an air
OF apology. The same contrast that exists
between them and the Astor houses
on the exterior is to be found on
the inside. Many careless tenants
have played havoc with the once beau
tlful interiors of many Of these houses, and
the owners have been less willing to make
cupied them. The Astors, however, have
steadily refused to rent to tenants who
could not bring the best references, and
they have kept their houses in the best pos
sible condition. A lady who occupies one
said TO me: . The Astors are the model land
lords of the city, and have that reputation
among all classes of tenants. They are
never harsh in regard to payments of the
rent, but, on the contrary, are always ready
to make things easy for tenant who proves
unfortunate The only thing they insist
upon is that the tenant shall be cleanly and
prompt in reporting any injury to the
house. Instead of delaying In making re-
pairs, they are only too anxious to be in
formed of the necessity for them. No i'm
provements desired by tenant are too
costly for them, and they seem to take great
pride In making their houses as COM
Portable as can be. When I first
moved into this house / noticed some
things that 1 thought / would like to
have changed. ! hcsitated about asking.
though, because they had Just had the
house overhauled from top to bottom. I
wasn't given the chance The first time
their agent came around to collect the
rent he wanted to know whether any thing
was desired, and the very next day the
workmen were here. The second year of
my stay / wanted some alterations made
to suit my dodgers, and had not the slight
est difficulty in obtaining them, although
they cost more than a whole years rent of
the house. That was the more strange, too,
because they did not add to the value of the
house at all. The same spirit shown by
the Astors in regard to these houses is true
OF all their property. 1 have been told by
their agents that their property never lies
IDLE, because OF the great demand for
houses owned by them. The agents like it,
too, because they have no difficulty with
tenants who are so well treated. A house
belonging to the Astors Will find a tenant
when adjoining houses are advertised at a
much lower rent. / know that would
not give up this house for any one on. the
block for half the rent 1 am now paying.
II were to move out to-day, there would
be half dozen applicants for the house
tomorrow. So, you see, it pays land
lord to be liberal"