Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-11

among other things, that during the past
year the company has erected sixteen
houses on land purchased on Bates street
These houses were completed about No
yember /, and were at once rented to q
desirable class of tenants. At the present
time the property of the company consists
OF forty-eght houses, each containing two
fats or a total of lightweight apartments,
all occupied and yielding monthly reve-
nue. of 81 500. In accordance with the policy
of the company one months rent in each
year Is allowed for interior repairs, and
any balance not required for this purpose
is returned to the tenant. This gives the
tenant a personal interest In keeping his
apartment in perfect repair and prevents
any deterioration of the property, as the
companys agent sees that all necessary re-
pairs are made out of the twelfth month s
rent before turning over the balance to
the tenant
and of the fact that the apartments are in
such demand that there Is at all times a
waiting list of applicants who desire to Sc
cure them. the executive committee has Sc
cured additional building lots and proposes
to proceed at once with the erection Of
thirty-two houses of the same type as
those heretofore bufit. The amount re-
quired to pay for these houses and the
land upon which they are built will be
about $4,000.
Already the plans of the company have
been copied to considerable extent, it
was stated, and there Is q marked ten
dency on the part of landlords to build O
better class of houses for wage-earners
and to be satisfied with a more reason
able rate Of interest upon their invest
ments. Moreover, the District Commits
sioEers have taken commendable action in
the interest of the public health and now
require that every apartment offered for
rent shall be provided with bath room.
The regeneration of the "slums' in the
alleys of the city of Washington will be
a matter requiring much time and the
expenditure of large sums of money. and
1t is evident that no material progress can
be made unless sanitary homes at mod
crate rentals are available for those who
now live In the tnsanitary alley houses,
which have SO long been q reproach upon
the fair name of this beautiful city. As
existing laws very properly prohibit the
further building Of houses of any kind
In the alleys of the city, the only remedy
for existing conditions is that heretofore
referred to as follows: Until the principal
Inhabited alleys In this city shall have been
converted into minor streets, a measure
which the company advocates In the in
terest of public health and morals, the
dwellings erected by the company will be
located upon established streets and ave-
nues."
The conversion of alleys into minor
streets could be accomplished, under exist
ing laws. by property owners. President
Sternberg said, but there are many diff
culties to be encountered and the regen-
Grafton OF the alleys by this method must
necessarily be a tedious and uncertain
pToCeSS II Is, tHeTeiOTes very QeSlrdDlS
that the conversion should be done, under
proper authority of law, by the District
government When this is accomplished
| the company, according to its president
| will be prepared to do its part by building
upon these mirss2- streets sanitary homes
which can be rented to Industrious wage
| earners at rates not materially above those
/ which are now being paid for the insani-
| tary dwellings located in many of the al
| leys of the city.
Has O Surplus.
| The company has paid dividend at the
| rate Of s per cent per annum on all stock
! issued. and yet has a surplus fund of a.
| 672..6 1t was pointed out that the chiei
merits Of the company include the follow.
| ing:
| 1t has established high standard OF sani.
| tary homes for wage-earners At reasonable