The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03
IN BROOKLYN ON $4,000 A YEAR
THERE 1T rs POSSIBLE TO SAVE
As WELL AS TO ENTERTAIN.

Rents In tho Two Boroughs the Great
Point of Dinerence-Other Household
Expenses About the sane-The Brook.
Ign Man Better Lodged. Though
Tho Average Expenses Estimated.
There are 50 many families living, and
living well, on incomes Of g 500 a year and
less in Brooklyn that over in that borough
they do not regard it as problem at ell
The average income ia good many hundred
dollars less than 81, ECO year amorg work.
ing men of intelligence and some social
position. and whether many find 1t hard
to keep their expenses inside Of $500
year or not, there are enough people
doing it without depriving themselves
and their families Of the luxuries to demon
srate that it can be done and that some
money can be saved at the same time.
In the many letters that have come to
The Sun on this subject, the complaint
seems to be, not that So 500 is not enough
to maintain family for year, but that q
man with that income cannot entertain
his friends as he would like to, and what lie
far more important, cannot lay any money
aside for the protection Of his family in
the event of death or disability coming
to him.
Undoubtedly the difficulties Of . man
who makes any pretensions to eocial life
outside Of his own home circle on an income
ofN,5oo year are far greater in Manhattan
than they are in Brooklyn. Not that food
stufs or clothing cost more in Manhattan
than they do in Brooklyn, but principally
because Of the tremendous difference In
rent
fat or small house that costs 40
or SIS a month In Brooklyn cannot be had
In Manhattan for less than two or three
times as much. There are fats and un-
doubtedly some small houses In Manhattan
that rent at this figure, but tho flats are
hopelessly small for men with families and
the horses are in utterly impossible
neishborhoods.
thousands and thousands Of men who
1--WE in Brooklyn live there because they get
room and agreeable environments for the
sans price that they would have to pay
ior string Of connecting closets In Harlem.
ihey have to put up with lot OF things
mat they do not like. but between standing
,hese and living In small dark fats In Man
natsan they elect to do the former.
Beyond any doubt this matter OF rent In
the mea, Of the problem OF living on small
income, 1t is the first thing that tho wage
Garner has 10 consider when he takes unto
,,mself family. and whether he lives In
Manhattan or lives in Brooklyn It Is just as
Tara proposition.
Bridges, improved elevated and surface
railroads and contemplated tunnels and
o.her improvements have made the cost
o. hvng higher in Brooklyn than 1t was three
y'an ago and have done It simply by putting
zoe house owner or the fiat owner In po-
.Ron to ask more rent for his property.
'Gan he could at one time hope to get.
APARTMENTS in Brooklyn run a. high -
goo month, but the average price for nice
ra's' with all modern improvements. which
mean open plumbing, gas ranges. hot
.a'er supply. hall service &c. Is about
''' month You can get seven very good
rooms In some Of the best neishborhoods
" Brooklyn for that sum, and right there
me brooklyn man gets q lead on the $500
yHar Manhattan man which the latter
cannot Overcome by any kind Of economy. :,
The Brooklyn man who takes . en,Au
house gets an even bigger start on the Man
ha't Tan man with q house, for there are
hundreds Of hopseS Ia Brooklyn suitable for
tmall families that n Mt - low ~ 20 and 80
< month. Houaes hke theee Up Manhattan.
nsqually God nsaGkhosAoodS, would nsvsF