The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-14
TO BUILD MODEL TENEMENTS.
HENRY PHIPPS VIII DEVOTE
$1,000 900 TO THE SCHEME.
Set Income VIII He tScd 10 Build More
Houses-NOrk To lie Carried On tnder
tie Supervision az an Organization
Fairgrounds for the children.


Henry Phpps. the steel man, formerly
Of Pittsburg. has planned to give 81 GOO. 600
for the erection of improved tenements in
this city. Although details regarding the
buildings have not been settled, the
general scheme which Sir. Phipps expects
10 carry out was announced yesterday by
Robert W De Forest, Tenement House
Commissioner under Mayor Low.
When Mr. Phipps decided to make the
gift he thought IL best &c form an organiza-
ton to carry ont the work No actual
organization has yet taken place, but it is
understood that Mr. Phipps will be presi-
dent. Isidor Straus vice president and MIR,
De Forest chairman OF the executive com
mittee At Mr. Phipp-'s request a number
OF gentlemen Interested in philanthropic
work more particularly in tenement house
reform. will act as trustees. Besides Mayor
Mcclellan, who will be an ex ofiicio mem
Der. the trustees will be Messrs. De Forest
and Straus John W Arbuckc Alfred I,
White. Myles Tierney, Charles s. Brown.
Dr. l.. X. L. Gould. W. $ Hawk, Charles A.
Moore George r. Gordon John s. phipps
and Charles Stewart Smith.
Four of the trustees. Messrs. De Forest,
White, Tierney and Brown. were members
of the New York State Tenement House
Commission Of 1900 which framed the pres
ent law Dr. T. X. l.. Gould is president
OF the City aud Suburban Homes Company
which builds model tenements. The trus-
tees held meeting on Thursday and de-
cidcd to begin work at once.
Mr. Phipps says in his letter that he will
deposit in trust company or with com
mittee Of the trustees sufficient cash from
time to time to insure the performance
OF the work 1t Is his desire that the tene-
ments be built in this borough If II can be
done advantageousy. but if land Is found
too high, or If building conditions are such
az TO threaten undue cost OF construction
or unreasonable delay, then In the other
boroughs or lsewhere.
Mr. Phipps hopes to have the buildings
earn per cent. on the 81 900, 900, after al
lowing for maintenance and repairs. The
accumulated earnings are to be used to
construct more tenements. II il the wish
of the donor that rooms should not be rented
below the market rate.
Il do not wish he says, to discourage
individual investors from building tene-
rnents on a purely business basis To do
rents and In the end prove injurious 10 tho
working people whom | wish 10 aid. and
who must rely in so large measure On
building for purely business reasons 70
provide them with homes.
If there ia period of high cO-' aud great
imitation, then the work should go worry
slowly or be stopped On the other hand,
if there is period OF great depression
and lack Of employment, it may be well
70 90 fast and perhaps have more than
one building under way at the same time.
1T would certainly be an advantage
TO hnve one building finished and rented,
and see how It rents and suits tenants,
before starting to erect a second. My
object is 10 make this money do IA much
good as possible.
Mr. Phipps wants the tenements "a far
as possible to have space around them IN
which children can play, and this may pre-
vent their erection IN the more congested
parts Of the city the trustees think. The
buildings will be fireproof and thoroughly
sanitary. All possible efforts will be made
TO have the uilings light and well venti-
nted
-Itmav DO well. says Mr. Phipps. TO erect
buildings for perhaps two or three classes
Of wage earners, or it may possibly be better
10 confne ourselves TO one class, hoping
thus TO relieve the market and incidentally
benefit another class
Il shall look with great interest TO the
progress of the work, and perhaps may
see much of it finished while am here to
enjoy it
How many buildings will be put up with
Mr.. Phipp-'s gift the trustees can't tell as
vet. Mr. De Forest also declined 70 say
whether any further gifts, either from Mr..
Phipps or others. are expected.
No name has been selected for the new
society yet. but it may no called the Phipps
Houses Mr. phpps has been connected
with many phllanthropc enterprises IN
PENNSYLVANIA. among them children's
playground in Allegheny and the Henry
phippa Institute for tho Study. Treatment
and Prevention OF tuberculosis in Phila-
delphia.
tTInA pr INV