New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-03
EIIR RENTS EOR HOMES.

New workers are prone 10 complain ~ high
rcn,s and unhcalthful conditions Of lfc. II the
English observer who writes 10 The London
Standard" is right In his Judgments they do
not complain half enough. II j. not exactly
pleasant 10 have ones faults plainly set form
by n foreign critic but nevertheless II may not
he unwholcsome. Thoughtful Americans have
long been al work in this city trying TO get
better and cheaper homes for the people FER
hans the comments Of stranger may serve 10
awaken Il larger interest In the cause u. n
he states. the slums of Ncw-York are worse
than those In London and the interest charges
OF the average mortgage exceeds the total year
earnings Of the average brcadwinncr then we
have a condition which seriously threatens the
welfare Of the city.
There are good reasons why the island OF
Manhattan cannot be place OF cheap homes.
The crowding Of large population into Il
limited area OF necessity makes land values
high The shape Of the island creates demand
for homes unnaturally near the business centre
and prevents large masses Of workingmen from
finding cottages within accessible distance "f
their shops Geography however. by no means
excuses such rents as persons In moderate CIR
cumstances have 10 pay In Newlork. Inc
wetodo family which lives In an apart
mcnt' and can never hope TO own house mas
its situation unpleasant enough; but what OF the
poorer people who rent small flats ana single
rooms in the tenement house districts! They
are the victims Of speculation and what Is
moral IL not legal usury. 1t Is stated that ~
per cent Oh the value Is a fair average Income
from tenement house property About two
thirds Of the owners hold the property on spccu-
lation. They are only the nominal owners, who
nav interest and taxes and In n little time even
the purchase price out Of their rents. They
are I'm MANY cases OF the same class as their
tenants. The foreign shopkceper Invests his
first savings In Il building on which he is able
to pay only enough to bind his contract Then
he sets to work and wrings the last cent from
his fellows. He has 10 reserve himself must
collect his rents vigorously to save money To
pay for the building, and consequently he Is the
hardest OF landlords According 10 the Church
Temperance Society the average rental paid In
the German quarters OF the city Is Sl3S ~ Il
month. I'm the Hebrew quarters 81 ~, and in the
Italian ST. 10 With these figures before him
1t is no wonder that the Englishman exclaims
ut IL TO be hoped that Chriscndom furnishes
mo parallel for such conditions Of life and for
"such extorion from the poor
| Here Is work for high-mindcd Americans
1t is not charity that Is wanted. Gifts Of homes
| to the poor or houses In which they live as Il
| matter Of favor will not serve the purpose. But
fair business dealing with them, the giving OF
an honest dollars worth of house for an honest
dollar viii do much to improve the moral con
dtion Of the city 1t will relieve the pressure
| OF circumstances on breadwnners. II viii
make home mean more 10 them. Finally
| the example of good landlordism cannot fall
| to have It's effects In clevating the general
| standard Of business dealings. The worst
| landlords. we are told nre the absentee Ameri
| cans who leave iron clad instructions with
agents and keep their houses for revenue only. "