Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-03-08

lowing statement OF the number Of permits
issued from their office during the past
e ight years;
1881. Numb,r...1,7ls, at a cost of sl36l7ooO
1882 .3,1l3 16 2s6, 100
1888. ...3,2M d. 1931l,55C
1884 .4l69 j. 2)eso,CO)
1885. 4,63s u. 1921 100
1886. ..4,C04 i, 21,32L4CO
1887. ..4,s33 .. 19,77s 100
The above represents first class buildings
and does not include the second class
STABLES. sheds, etc.. built during those
years nor the cost of the latter The num-
Der of first class buildings erected in 1883
was 1853, at a cost of so, 500 They
covered frontage of 2 miles and 259 feet.
There we're erected during the same period
of time 1913 second-class buildings, at a
cost of S19l 300. There were issued by the
department for the first six months of the
current year ending June 30, 1,073 permits
for first class and SOB permits for second
class buildings, or total of 2,77G, the esti-
mated cost of which we place at sl1,03o,O00.
Here we have an average OF over 400
new buildings, at an averare cost of over
$4,000, 600 per year, showing steady in
crease, in no sense a boom, and no Gcti-
tious values. The valuation Of taxable real
estate and personal property in Chicago,
which we are told is about one tenth OF the
actual value, has increased from Sl17 1888. :
726 in 1880 to SlGO, ,I4l, 719 in 1885, an in
crease Of S43, 3O7,997 within eight years, or
an average each year of S5,403, 400, repre-
sentng in actual value yearly increase OF
S54,03l990. Does this look as if Chicago
was working out its own destruction by the
increasing consumption OF beer?
But say our friends Of the temperance
persuasion, this money is not spent for
homes! The comp paratiyely small average
cost of the new buildings erected in the
years mentioned would alone suffice to
contradict their assertion. We have, how
ever, looked closer into this matter and
sought information from officers of build
ing and loan associations as well as from
the multitude OF real estate dealers who
carry property of the poorer and thrifty
class of citizens independent of tho asso-
Citations. Compared with Philadelphia, the
lending city in the number Of dwelling
houses and the pioneer Of building associ-
ations, Chicago shows a wonderful ad-
vancement. considering that hero the sys-
TEN has been established but fifteen years
ago, while Philadelphia has building ano
loan associations since l849. Chicago now
rivals Philadelphia in the number OF dwell
ings erected by tho aid of building anC
/ loan associations, though Philadelphia still
i leads as far as the value Of the houses i.
concerned. Cook County-which is prac
ticaly Chicago-has at present 25o building
and loan associations. and the average
money taken in rs investments and saving,
is SlOO.O)O a year byeach association. max
ing s250OO,0CO savings toward homes b,
the middle and poorer classes Of Chicago
inhabitants, the vast majority of whom ar,
consumers Of "forty-nino gallons OF beer
to each man, woman and child in Chicag,
in 1881"
Upon reliable Information received from
real-estate dealers who sell on lnstallment
to this class Of people. an carry the prop
orty themselves it may Doe stated with an
solute safety that from this source. at TN
lowest estimate, sl0.OO)00O moro can b.
added to the saving Of tho ware-earncr
Of Chicago. We have placed these saving
in the above enumeration Of fac.s at onI
s1m0,010from all sources. II such saw
Ings arc not conclusive evidence of m
temperate habits. irugalItv and thrift of
community. $50 would uko 10 know VIA
gIseI Aud % such savings can d. IA.
afde fyae.mmunltye consuming f5rty.uu
gallons d. heeru.r cumt every year. aa
w.ess 'ar "a moo. convincing proof of tf