New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-27
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cavated ana explored by some society of an
tquaries from tine planet Mars the diggers will
come peering into present bedrooms with
their lanterns and, they sniff the air. VIII say;
These must have been the cells in which they
chained their prisoners. odd, though. that there
should be no sign Of "A staple in the wall. PROB
ably they just weighted the prisoner down with
irons. All, how the poor wretches must have
shuddered as they were locked into these holes.
The apartment houses are even worse off than
the small Independent dwellings. In the latter.
it is true. there dungeons every floor; but
in the average apartment-house there are fewer
rooms In proportion that havt decent light and
air Why do the architects and builders go on
perpetuating this state of affairs? Hundreds OF
apartments are empty because of It, People are
driven from the city. They go to live in the
suburbs They fall i'll in the close. dark fiat.
Their children suffer The life gets unbearable
after while. Yot they keep building them.
the people who responsible for them, and
with delightful irony they ask rents so high that
the poor head of a family tears his hair. What
is he to do? 1t is bad enough to live in the
cramped and dingy quarters to which he is
driven. but it is to have to pay an ex
orbitant price for the privilege. This side of the
building question will have to be looked into by
the owners and builders before the region to
which we are referring is really settled and at
taches itself to fixed standards-the only safe
standards-of expenditure and income. Inves-
tors will have To learn that their property will
only depreciate in value if they keep on in their
present course Their safest course is to put up
healthy well-lighted and wel-madc buildings.
These they can sell at good prices. Their profits
may not he so large in specific instances. But in
the long run they will find that their houses are
increasing in worth Moreover. they will find
that people will stay in them. Few families
Joy moving Thousands would like to settle
down comfortably in house apartment
and stay there for years. But they get restless
now. They change constantly. Any change
seems as though it would be for the better. Thus
we get the signs to which allusion has been made
above the succession Of "To Let and For
Sale legends all through the upper section of
the city There is something almost pathetic in
the present wrong -head edness of many pro-
prietors. one would think they could see al
glance how sorey good houses and apartments
are needed. how hungry the public is for them
how willingly the people would pay for the best
But there Is soma mysterious obsession which
seems to prevent the proprietor from taking the
obviously profitable line. He goes on building
uncomfortable houses and Their he wonders why
his tenants or purchasers wan; to ger out so
soon He doesn't seem 10 realize that the first
showiness and novelty of the new building haV-
ing Off the occupants find out its faults
and flee them as fast as they can.
But enough faults have been found. one may
begin a survey of the buildings uptown
with a feeling Of evaporation at this defect or
that which comes to light But in the end the
observer is struck by several circumstances
which linger with him as immensely interesting.
and even turn out to be sources Of permanent
delight We have been dealing with the purely
unitarian side IF the question. The artistic side
is full of happy suggestion In the character or
its facades NeW-York has taken a great leap
ahead and in more ways than one. For "N-
ample it has taken a long time To escape
from the bondage of the "brownstOne 'front.'
Chicago despised Chicago has been great dis
lance in advance Of us in this respect But now
we are abreast of Chicago and perhaps little
ahead of her. since there has been more dis