The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-31
MEN BRlIN-RACKED
AB0UI RESIDENCES
Continued from First Pageo

of this description. But vacant houses
are not to be found in Richmond. A real
estate agent said yesterday that such
thing as a habitable house remaining
without a tenant ten days was something
unknown. The situation seems to be one
such as was never before seen here The
city has now just about as many people
as there are residences here to house
them ALL certainly not any less, and the
fact is that they are doubling up, to a
small extent at least.
Not a great many tenement residences
are under course of construction. The
demand is being met most gradually. One
would think that an epidemic of build
ing would have seized the city in view
of the demand for houses. and the fact
that rents have advanced from fifteen
to twenty per cent. But the high price
of abor and building material has check
mated any building fever that might
have been spread. That is not all that
has caused the would-be landlord to hes
itate. Naturally enough the landlords
have not forgotten the conditions that
prevailed in 1892 and SO when they al
most begged people to stay in the houses
simply to protect the property from the
lead pipe fiend and thief, and from other
depredations. He was willing and glad
to spend all his rent in repairs. and the
will of the tenant was law. But, SAID
real estate man yesterday. the sltua1ion
has been changed, and the snoe is OH .ne
other foot The tenant may now move
If his house does not suit MIN ana ne can
find any place to move into, and MS iur-
niture is hardly out of the house oelole
his successor 10 waiting to come IN.
,r,,e landlord Is unable to explain sat
;eeactorily why this great and unprece-
dented demand for houses. This was
stoted nv a real estate man yesterday.
IIo said he could not explain II anu as
+ra reason is not known. no one knows
when the bottom is going to drop OUT ana
the landlord find himself on the losing
side.
is taken by others. me ostilal" ~
houses is brought about by the large num-
lar of neople attracted here by the inn
,,,.nse amount of work being done In all
ita i,ip nlants. The city is growing mp
idIv as an industrial center and this work
&c not To grow less. but more, and other
neon]e Will be attrac acted here. The log
ic,l conclusion Of such reasoning IS tne
necessity for more residences mat VIII
be in reach of the class of skilled men
who are able to pay $50 to SIS a moneh lor
their homes.
Flats are in great demand-more SO than
ever before Richmond has not always
heen CITY which encouraged flats The
neorle here have preferred their Individual
homes, with the yards for their children
to play in but young couples at mousse
keeping are continually asking the agents
for flats The demand Is becoming more
insistent all the time and the hfst man
who erects good fat here IN centra'
location which will have family suits rent
To,
to make money.
PIECEMEAL MOVING.
Tons Of bric-a-brac will be moved to-
day in Richmond. Heavier furniture would
he moved also IL teamsters could be Sc
cured for that purpose. But 1t IS Labor
Day and therefore every one viii take
holiday. And so the members OF the
families are going to transfer all the light
stuff from the former home to the new
one if the new one has been secured. and
the heavier stuff will go Tuesday and
Wednesday. One could not go out on
the streets Yesterday without seeing va
CONS drawn up at various doors and FUR
niturc of every description going in or
out
Here are representative expressions upon
the situation from some of the leading
real estate men OF the city:
John T. G oddin & Company-Twn classes
'
to $50. There are absolutely none Of
either class to be had in the city. Rents
are not SO much advanced as that they
are getting back to where they were be-
fore the hardtin1es which began In 50
Cur hooks will show this s.
Pollard 8 Baeby-No houses for rent al
aIl.-just stores No vacant houses in the
city Small houses needed most OF a II.
It REQUIRES exorbitant rent now to keep
a house vacant more than few days
Only gradual efforts being made to sup
ply the dema nd. Flats are more IN de-
INA nd than ever in our experience.
4 Edward S. Rose-s'H ouses renting from
81 10 $50 mostly needed. Landlords are
I.nt putting their money. in real estate SO
,,,uch as in bonds and stocks Small
Eonses nav much the best dividends. If
the larger and more valuable properties
pa. 6 per cent they are considered doing
we'll.
r. Thompson Browns Company p-
plications for fats more numerous than
,ever before. Small and % mid price