Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1905-06-01

ments upon a pity business basis
We will ~ to demonstrate that sani
tary tenements Of the best class will
pay.
Our plan is to put up one build
ing as an experiment, and rec how IL
takes before starting a sscond; Blu,
we hope to make a permanent taine
OF it, and have organized company
which will have charge OF the bust
ness. All the earnings will be rein
vested in the same kind of buildings -
The plans Of the Phipps houses
limit them to six stories. or not more
| than one and onehalf times the width
of the street. Tney will be as nearly
fireproof as possible. brick and steel
| being the materials OF construction !;
they will be divided into apartments
of two, three and four rooms, and
! will be rented for $50. $3.50 and Is
per week. Thirty per cent Of the
area of the lot will be left free for
air and Fairgrounds. Every room
will be lighted by not less than one
window. which will be at least twenty.
five feet from wall: every room
will have at least seventy square feet
Of area; the halls will be three or
more feet wide; the stairs will have
a rise of eight inches Every apart
ment will be heated by steam. and
contain a bath tub with hot and cold
water. water closet, stationary
wa h Tub, a sink Of ample size. gas
fixt res, a gas range. closet or
dresser. and be supplied with hot and
cold water from a central boiler sys-
TEN, No living rooms will be rented
In the basement. wnich will be par
titioned on into storerooms.
The board Of directors has been or
ganized and is now negotiating for a
block on the East Side. upon which
The work OF building will be begun
before the end of the present sum-
mer.
These are not the first model tene-
ments which have been built In New
York, however. There are several
blocks Of them, erected by philan-
thropic people, but Mr.. Phipps is the
first man to found a self-perpetuating
society for that purpose. Model tene-
ments have also been erected In all
OF the great cities of Europe and in
India, and even In Manila. Although
little or nothing has ever been said
about them in the Official reports OF
the commission or In the newspapers.
the American government has built
several model tenement houses with
the latest conveniences and sanitary
improvements as object lessons tor
real estate owners in Manila. 1t has
invested little more than $4,000 in
twenty apartments of three and five
rooms each. In 1904 ten of them
rented for - and ten more for 81 per
month. making the gross revenues
81 800. The expense OF maintensace
was 320S.45. leaving sl.6s5.66 net
earnings, which La s,3 per cont. On the
investment. This, however. does not
include any allowance for taxes In
surance or repairs. Taese models
have attracted considerable attention
from people Interested in the subject.
and are already being inflated BY
private investors.
One of the most novel and success
full schemes of the kind has been con-
Quoted by THE Sanitary Housing
company of. Washington, Of which
former Surgeon General Sternberg
of the army is the moving spirit. In
terested with him are twenty or more
prominent citizens who have sub
scribed 100000 capital. which has
been invested in blocks Of houses In
the slums Of South Washington. The
scheme was started In 1897 with a.
fund Of $4,000. wnich Surgeon Gen
eral Sternberg secured from friends.
He kept on building as fast as he,
could raise the money, until now the
company has assets amounting to,
S427.9lO. represented by l26 two
story houses containing 252 apart
ments of three, four and Ave rooms
eacl. all of which are occupied BY the
most desirable class of tenants-tem-
perate and industrious mechanics and
other wage-earners of the better
class. The three-room fats rent for
81. so downstairs. and 81 upstairs
per month. the four-room fats from
$3.50 10 1850, the ayeroom fats
for sl6 and s2i per month. Each nat
has a bathroom and kitchen sink.
with not and cold water. water clos
ct, two or more closets, a kitchen
dresser, good range. An Independent
entrance, a separate yard and back
ar well as front door.
A novel feature, which. under
stand, has not been tried elsewhere.
but has proved very successful In
Washington, is 3 system Of rebates.
which was adopted at the outset OF
he enterprise. One months rent or
so much thereof as may be necessary
is expended in repairs and redecora
lion. in keeping the apartment in per.
feet order If no expenditure Is noe
rssary the entire sum is returned TO
the tenant, and he receives any bal
ance that is left after the necessary
repairs and renewals are paid for.
The tenant thus has special induce
l ment to keep things in order and to