The herald., 1895-07-18
real ESTATE AND BUILDING
A Busy Week in the Superin-
tendent's Office
ALL THE RECORDS BROKEN
Exactly Eleven Houses a Day for the
Past Week
Reports Of Sales Of Building Lots and Of
improvements Contemplated The
"Overbuilding'' Bugaboo

Some weeks since, when an eNamina-
tion of the records showed that Los An
geles citizens had taken out building
permits at the rate of ten for each work
ing day in the week, the fact was looked
upon as phenomenal it was admitted
that the week was an unusual one, and
while little pardonable boasting was IN
duged in, it was hardly expected that
the rate of building would be sustained.
1t is but little more than year since
the rate of five and half houses per day
vas regarded as very satisfactory show
ing, and when that number was raised to
seven per day, as it was during the three
months ending in June last the building
activity was considered sufficiently re-
markable to cause comment all over the
country, as indicating state OF prosper
ity in and around Los Angeles not
equaled anywhere else in the Union.
But building operations in Los Angeles
have not been marked by fits and starts;
the year-old rate of five buildings per
day has been steadily relegated to the
backgro and. and during the last twelve
months there has been slightly vary
ing but always advancing mum ber OF
buildings constructed or started during
each succeeding week. the number never
falling back to i've or six, and during the
past two months never falling below
seven: until those familiar with building
matters hal come roughly to estimate
the daily number OF new houses TO be
between seven and nine.
The week ended yesterday, however,
set a new high water mark. and 1T seems
almost preposterous to look Tor Its IN
crease in the immediate future. During
the six business days of the past week
t,,e NJ
the erection of new buildings, being
almost thirteen houses per day FOR the
six working days, and exactly eleven
houses day for every day in the week;
it is also exactly twice the rate chron-
icled a year ago. and one of which we
were then as community inclined to
boast as showing uneXampled prosperity
and an unheard of ratio of growth.
1t is true now as then that the new
buildings represent the usual proportion
of increase of population. Comparatively
few of the structures are intended Tor
business purposes. and there is even less
than .he usual number of boarding
houses, flats and tenements. So far as
the details can be gathered, very small
proportion of the new structures are in-
tended for rent.
In this connection it is interesting and
not little amusing to note a dreadful!
fear on the part OF few people, and uf
a smaller number of newspapers, that
Los Angeles will be "overbuilt." This
tear is about as easily explicable as the
ferTor of 200-pound woman when
brought face to face with three-quarter-
ounce mouse; perhaps it is as real fear,
and therefore as difficult to allay. But it
certainly is not q we'll grounded fear.
Los Angeles merchants today pay heav-
ier rental, IN proportion TO the value and
cost OF the premises occupied, than al
most any city in the world of similar
size. and the few stores that remain va
cant usually are so because their owners
see a profit IN keeping their buildings
vacaut for time rather than accept a
rental which would elsewhere be deemed
ample to compensate the investor of
like amount OF capital. In the case of
dwelling houses the fear CT over building
has, if possible. even less basis The
houses now going up are being erected.
for the most part, by the men who intend
to live in them; are being paid for with
money recently brought from other
states, and every one of them OF moder-
atelv good class can be sold at profit or
rented at a paying figure if the owner
concludes that his business will admit
of his building a handsomer house for
himself And if he desires either to live
he certainly should not be denied that
priv ilege for fear some other landlord
might no longer be able to obtain Is per
cent on his investment in dwelling
houses.
Don't scream at the building mouse,
dear ladies; it won't bite.