The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-17
RENTS NOT TO BE HAD.
DEMAND FOB HOUSES GREATER
THAN TIE SUPPLY.

Renting Agents Unable to Find Homes
for Those who Want Them - 4
Scarcity OF Stores as Well IS Of
Residences Evidences Of the City's
Rapidly Increasing Population.
Savannahis growth for the last twelve
months is phenomenal, and it is attracting
widespread attention. People who have
lived here the greater part Of their lives,
and who have watched the city's develop
ment, look with anazement at what is now
taking placs. The ring Of the hammer is
heard In almost every street, and new and
pretty houses are going up il what were
considered obscure spots. More building is
in progress than ever before, and larger
number OF new buildings going up, both
IN the residence and business parts Of the
city. Yet, Notwithstanding this, there is a
scarcity of houses for rent, and has been for
several months.
A MORNING NEWS reporter saw ha'f a
dozen or more real estate and HOUSEKEEPING
agents yesterday. They were asked if it Is
true that people are unable to get hoUsss.
The answer from every one was: "If had
double the number OF houses which have,
] could rent them in less than twenty-four
hours" This, in spite Of the fact that new
houses are gong up rapidly all over the
city, and that within the last twelve
months more new houses have been built
than ever before in single year in the
city's history Almost every new house
that is built 70 be rented Is engaged before
il is finished, and it is occupied as soon as
the carpenters are out Of it.
'What class Of houses is the most sought
efterp was asked.
''The best houses to be secured. Those
located in the best portion Of the city; houses
that rent for from $50 TO $40 and W to $50
month. OF course the smaller houses rent
just as well, but it is the large houses that
are most wanted. The class of people that
occupy these houses are the people that
build up the city"
How many renting houses Of that class
ase there In Savannah
"a very large proportion"
"Has the demand for them ever exceeded
the supply before nowp
Newer. Not a real estate agent in Savan-a
nah can recall the time but he could furnish
a house. Even when the building was not
one-third rs active as ID now is we ALWAYS
had houses vacant The demand for tue
houses did not consume anywhere near all
the to rents'n
How do you account for the rush? To
what Ia the demand for houses due?n
at Is clearly an increase of population. 1t Is
anatural result Of the active influx Of people
into the city. The recent industries estab-
lished here, such as the brewery, fertilizer
manufactures, the operation Of additional
congresses, all give employment TO a very
large number OF people. OF course the
larger number OF the employees are
common laborers who occupy small houses
But in each one Of the industries a certain
number OF skilled workmen are required
whose salaries are equal to those Of the most
competent bookkeepers. They are men who
live well and demand Accommodations
as good as are 70 be had. In addition to
these employees, clerks and skilled mechanics
are employed at the Ocean Steamship
wharves and the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway wharves in consequence
OF the enormous increase in traffic. The
force Of clerks at the Central Railroad
wharves Is largely increased, and as the
duties of such employees are important and
arduous, their ability must be above that
of the ordinary employees, and naturally
their salaries are much larger They are.
as a rule, men who live well and have what
they want"
A sure and correct way of ascertainin1
whether the city's population is increasing
as rapidly as is claimed, is to looked into
the amount Of business transacted at the
postoff1ce. The net receipts RENTED to
Washington from the Savannah postoffice
during the year 1888 was s45, 949 40, while
up TO the first of this month the remittances
this year are S57, 377 70, not including two
of the heaviest months business of the year,
November and December. For the month
OF October Savannah RENTED 1873 II.
while for January only s6,7Sl IS was re,
mitted.
There Is 10 doubt that these figures are
significant" said Postmaster Lamar. "The
business Of the Office" he said, "has grown
fabulously during even the last year, and
the force of clerks and Office attaches is
inadequate to properly facilitate the bust
ness In addition to this, the railroad
facilities. which have heretofore been
amply sufficient to take away the mails. are
not such as viii remove the mail matter
before every box and table is laden
with it.n
There Is the same scarcity Of desirable
stores that there is Of desirable houses Ap-
plications are being received every week by
renting agents for well located stores, but
they are not to be had.