New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-06
ANY MAN CAN OWN A HOME.
NEW SCHEME TO SOLVE THE TENEMENT
HOUSE PROBLEM.


coup.xv tn RE FORMED TO BUILD TOWN
FOR woRKINGMEN AND INSURE THEIR
LIVES FOR THE AMOUNT UNPAID
ON THEIR HOUSES
The Improved Housing Council Of which Hicnaru
Watson Glider Is chairman. has taken up line Oh
work which may prove to be Of more general inter-
,st even than the erection OF modei 'ehene"
houses Professor T.. r. L. Gould, whose s'"u' y,
the conditions OF the working classes IN europe anu
this country has made him an authority upon '"e
subject has been engaged as consulting expert ana
will spend month in this city. examining sites su
peryjs!ng plans and making recommendations ior
the use of the council Professor Gould has
scheme for the building of separate houses IN the
suburbs 1t is entirely new in TINS country anu
there nothing like IL in the world except III Der
GUM. 1t involves the organization OF company
by men whose names are a guarantee OF business
integrity, and who will be able to negotiate loans
NJ almost any amount This company will In effect
establish a suburban town, and provide money Tor
men of modest incomes to build homes of their own
and pay for them in monthly instruments 30 i"i
the scheme is not especially novel, although town
building as business is usually carried on by real
estate agents and boomers" and the lending OF
money to home builders Is largely the province OF
building and loan associations. Professor Gould
proposes to do both of these things. and at the same
time insure the life Of the who Is building the
house.
Tho beauty Of this llfeinsurance plan is that the
holder Of the policy does not have to die to get the
benefit Of II. and he does not receive his endowment
In money. He Is insured In fact. for the cost OF his
house. II he dies before he has finished payment
for the house his family receives deed OF the prop
erty free of all ncumbrance.
IN OPERATION THIS SUMNER.
The Improved Housing Council has made no an
nouncement OF its plans Tor establishing this model
town In the suburbs. for the reason that Its at
tent.on In the last few days has been largely ABB
sorbed by the work OF the Committee on Model
Apartment houses In advertising for competitive
designs and forming company to begin building
them. The suburban dwelling house scheme. now
ever It is expected, will be put in operation fully
as soon as the other The Council. largely aided
by the secretary DR.. william II. Tolman. Is dong
things a large scale nowadays. and the SUB
urban Home Company Will probably be organized
and ready to do business by the middle OF May
This work Is under the direction OF the Com
mit,ee on Separate Dwellings. OF which Professor
Felix Adler Is chairman. The other members are
Or. Albert Shaw. Henry Lewis Morris, =: F: Nc
Sweeny. Francis V. Greene. william ID. H. Wash
especially enthusiastic the subject and believes
tina, the ideal solution OF the tenement house prob,
homes in the suburbs.
The demand for the new movement Is set forth
houses in the city FOR men Who because Of the
pay must live near their places OF employment
There are. however. many people who would 1--we
in the suburbs II they could afford H. They realize
the greater opportunities for family l!fe. and the
advantages OF pure air and better morals that are
more likely to be found IN the country This class
OK people Is large and IL constantly increasing
They are clerks. stenographcrs. small tradesmen
and han o. hsneT o 6 Many rent Dt them
homes. and the idea Of ever beng able 10 own
them is hardly entertained 1t is all they can do
much less 10 buy n mouse
Here. the new company proposes 10 offer lis ger
vices by bringing the woud,be home.owner and
latter hrs,-cass securtty-a mortgage for 10 per
h.ve q per cen, To- ger started bu, at the terms
which the company Will offer in cheap lots. build
so dlf,cult for pruden, man to acquire The In
crease in he value Of IN" land uIon wnch real,
estate Spectators and town builders depend largely
for their profits. will go entirely TO the owners
OF the homes The company expects to MAKE MAKE no
profit higher than reasonable amount OF interest
LOOKING FOR a SITE
The site OF this p. opposed colony has not yet been
determined upon IN It had been" said Professor
Gould Yesterday 81 would be abe 10 tell you
now / am afraid land vaura would rise too rap
Idly"
Several tracts OF land. II ia understood. are being
examined. and negotiations FOR Their purchase are
pendlng A site Of this kind il difficult to select
for the reasons tina, It must be near New-iork
CIV IN A healthful location. and 80 situated mat
low carfares from the most congested part OF town
car be ofYere..
The insurance scheme which Professor Gould VIII
r.conmc nd FOR adoption by the committee IN con-
nection with the building Is modelled upon tne
belgian law OF 1859 but is modified TO SUIT AMER
can conditions. The Belgian scheme - ihtenrsl
SOLELY for the benefit OF the laborirg classes me
cost OF the house is limited to 500 which IN th hs
country would be about Si.co The company 10 be
formed in this city VIII be prepared 10 build houses
that Will cost as high 900 each EXCLUSIVE OF
the lots and many who are earning salaries
that in Europe would be insufficient are expected
10 take advantage Of the opportunity
l. PAYMENTS will be IN monthly instruments on the
/ endowment plan. the policy or contract to mature
nj the end OF ten fifteen twenty or twenty nve
wears as the 1ayor may elect At the end OF that
dime the occupant Will own his house IN Zee sim
pic Interest at 8 or per cent on deferred pay
nments will be charged The payments. IL esti-
mated will but little. II any. greater than the
rent that would otherwise have TO be paid. ana the
purchaser will. the meanwhile. have his He In
sured for q house. to speak. so that II ne does
ro, live TO pay Tor his family will own the house
in Zee simple after his death. $50
The company will retain enough or the land sofa
IN control the character OF the town to certain
extent and will sell It's lots only TO people OF mod
crate means who intend to build houses and live in
them Al the same time the company viii be pre-
nared 10 advance money. and Insure mans life
Tor his house II he desires TO live In the city or