The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-18
MECHANICS WANT HOMES.
A Scheme Suggested by Which
to Secure Them.
Homes for the Mechanics Would Mako
Them Better Citizens and Add to the
City'S Growth--If They Had Homes
They Would Immediately Bring to the
City 5000 Women and Children.

THE TIMES has frequently pointed out
the great need Of more residences, as
well as of all kinds of houses. Scarcely
is there house of any kind constructed
in Roanoke but that it is rented even
before the foundation is complete.
1t is hardly an evaporation to say that
the population of the city would immc-
diatcly increase 5000 if there wero
enough houses hero to accommodate
those who arc waiting to come.
All tho hotels and boarding houses
are constantly packed, and there are
hundreds of men here who are anxious
to bring their families to live with them
The trouble in securing residences
stands greatly in the way of the moro
rapid growth of Roanoke. and the way
to remove this bar to progress should be
more thoroughly discussed.
The TIMES prints suggestion this
morning and will follow up this matter
''THE TIMES is progressive paper"
said thoughtful mechanic to a reporter
yesterday, land If it agitates the sub
ject of providing homes for those OF us
who have families, it will result in
benefit to paper, people and city"
''What do you mean by providing
homes" DO you mean that you should
he given sites on which to build?" asked
THE TIMES man.
''Nota bit of it," was the hasty reply.
'Thc siturtion is just this: These
large industries, which are the life of
the city. have induced men to come
here to obtain employment. They are
largely men OF families, and the hard
times which tho county is just leaving
behind it has left workingmcn. to a
large extent, without Il dollar laid by
Now when such men reach Roanoke
they set about looking for house for
the families they have left behind them.
They are confronted by Il condion in the
real estate market which prccludcs them
from renting houses, except on Il month
~ contract. as all buildings arc now
erected to sell, except in rare instances,
and then rents arc high.
go to buy one of those houses which
arc for sale, and you will find that a
large first payment is required, and the
balance in monthly instruments. If
you are able To make the first payment
on house costing $500 land there are
few 10 be had for lcss). you must pay
the remainder i'll monthly notes of
$3.50. In addition to this, there must
twice each year he met the interest on
the notes, averaging for tho first two
years Sl20 per year. Add to this taxes
and insurance, say $40, and YOU have
the yearly sum Of $3.50 to pay out.
''This is beyond the means of the me-
chanic, and grouped about the mechanic
are such number of dependent indus
tries TINT they form the base of every
community
''llare you remedy to offcr?" uues-
toned the reporter.
well. | have theories one OF which
will advance. OEer TO all who will
build house costing not less than
Sl,20o lots without any first payment.
and take 6 per cent. second mortgage
for the cost of the lot.
I'll might be we'll to say this shall be
done in this way: Announce that whom
ever of Il group OF say ten men desire to
go together in any locality, they will be
provided with lots of about 30 feet front
by 100 feet deep. DO not go OF into the
country to get these lots. but have them
near the schools end churches
The fact that ten men woul6 90 over
to a certain locality on the north side
of the town to build houses aud reside
In them would Increase the waluc of
other property there, and SO the real
estate holder would derive benefit by
reason of the houses going up
Another thing. by having these
houses go up in groups of five or ten.
men could choose their own neirhbors.
tho houses could be built for less
money, and the present unfortunate
scattering of the city could in Il meas
ure be checked
IF something like this could he done.
next spring would witness the advent
of 1000 or more women and children.
who would be fed and clothed with
mo@ey spent in town which now goes
out OF 1t to the great advantage of the
outside world and mone to the local
merchants.
another point which needs to be
borne in mind is the fact that a com
munlty of house owners is IA conserva-
tive one. Added to the restraints of
home is the feeling which all men
possess when they become owners of
real estate-that they are fixture in
the place, and have no desire to roam
Ihey are more careful in their habits,
Tor they have something at stake
STRIKES are deprecated, and labor
troubles settled by resort to arbitra-
ton where men own homes. They deal
on cash basis at the stores and in tho
markets. They cultivate the habit of
having hank deposit They ornament
the houses and grounds, thereby adding
to the beauty of the city and tbov ar,
careful Of n giasniic matters, to the great
benefit of the city's health.
LET the thoughtful men of this city
take this matter under consideration. |
l. my plan is not the proper one, let
them propose one. But let this matter
be attended to at once for the coming
winter must bring forth policy which |
will determine whether this is to be a |
city Of tencments or city of houses
owned by their occupants"