Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-30

something for the improvements they have
made, would be willing to go along with
mypeople and start new homes. The ten
ants have every Just claim in equity for
compensation for improvements in the way
of buildings. We do not want to stand in
the way of her putting up buildings to
beautify the city, IL she treats us fairly. I
do not want to criticise Mrs. Schenley, but
think her tenants should get some of her
generosity"
Mrs. Carr, one of the most respected ten
ants, lives at No. % Third street. She has
been living at the Point for nearly 40 years,
ana for The past six years at her present
place Of residence. She was lett widow
many years ago, and by her savings from
the washboard, managed to accumulate
about $1,000, with which she purchased her
present residence. She bought the lease to
the ground when il had butssx months to
run and then renewed it. When q repre-
sentative of THE DISPATCH called on her
yesterday. Mrs. Carr said:
81 have been here for nearly six years,
now, and my lease expires next April.
Surely. Mrs. Schenley would make some
provision to compensate me for the expense
I underwent in improving the property.
After buying the house it cost me $3.50 to re-
pair it, and since then 1 have made improve
ments from time to time. had to paw for
the lease before 1 came into the house. and
at the expiration of SIX months had to re-
new it. The money to buy the house 1
drew out of the Dollar Savings Bank,
having saved up about s., 900 hard-earned
money.
WOULD BE A HARDSHIP.
81 have tried to make my home as COM
Portable as 1 can, having large family,
and it would go very hard on me to be put
out without being paid for the improve
ments. Every three months 1 have had to
pay S23 ground rent. This is S92 a year,
and in addition to this L have mad to pay
$40 year taxes and IS so
water rent, beside other expenses.
You see pay good price, but do not care
about moving out into the suburbs. 1 do
not think Mrs. Schenley will compel us to
get out without paying for our trouble in
improving the property. Many poor people
cannot afford to move, and it will fall hesv-
ily upon them. Everyone owns his or her
little house, and l do not think Mrs. Scheu-
lev will take the homes away from her ten
ants. do not think she is that kind of
lady. There is no doubt at all but there
are a great many old rookeries here that are
not worth living in, and they should be
torn down. As the people owning them
own dwellings, they should be paid Tor the
buildings"
Thomas Donaboe, of Fort street, said:
''If Mrs Schenley wants to evict us do not
see what we can do. About tour years ago
we raised kick, and wrote to Mrs. Schen-
lev, who was then In Paris, but she paid no
attention to the letter. She never answered
the communication, and the result was FIVE
year leases, with an advance of 20 per cent
in the ground rent. On Fort stree. the ten
ants pay $40 year for lots 16 feet front by
42]k feet deep. In addition to this we have
the taxes, water rent, grading and paving of
the streets to pay for. All Of the rent goes
to Mrs. Schenley, with the exception of the
agents commission. She pays no taxes,
but the tenants paw everything, and then
run the risk of losing our little homes. 1
will think it a shame if we are not paid for
our buildings"
TENANT FOR THIRTY YEARS.
John King, of No. q Penn avenue, has |
been a tenant of Mrs. Schenlev for the past |
80 years. He said: ''The lots on the lower |
side OF Penn avenue are only 81 feet deep, |
and taxes and everything run up to about |
S74 year. We pay about $40 front foot |
for theIprivilegeiof livinglon the ground"
About the Oldest tenant is Mrs. Camp |
bell. mother of Mrs. Maggie McCutcheon, |
OF No. ~ Fort street. Ihe old lady is 20 |
years of age, and was born in the ward on
Schenley ground. She well remembers Mrs. |
Schenley's husband and says she is sure his |
widow will not let the poor people of the |
Point suffer. She lives in a neat two-story |
brick house, which she has owned for about % |
years, and tears gathered in the old lady's |
eyes at the prospect of leaving. She said: |
81 haven't many years yet to live, and |
would like to pass nv last days at the Point. |
was born on old Pitt street, ana do not |
care about living in the suburbs or anywhere
else. If we have TO go 1 suppose nothing
can be done, though 1 will not believe it"
Thomas Madden owns the old Fort Du-
quesne block house. He purchased it about
six years ago, and when he signed the lease
he asked for $500 for the house, in case the
estate wanted 1t. The agent refused to give
him credit for the old relic.
Neal Saytons lives on Penn avenue, and
has been tenant for 35 years. He was
among those who tried to have the hot
tempered tenants cool down and take seri-
Gus view of the situation.
As the reporter was passing through the
alley, looking for the ramparts of the old
fort, someone sang out, "We're all Henry
Georges down here, young fellow, in the
present respect"