The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-04-15
Relief for the Tenant.

moving DAY is only Two weeks OH.
Within seeing distance of May 1 thou
sands OF Westinghouse will change
their homes The number is rela-
lively smaller than it was five years
ago, because in the District of Column
bia the number of citizens who own
their own homes increases every
year. But, with all this, the number
is still large and the demand for
houses is greater than the supply.
Washington has suffered from this
lack of houses for more than ten
years. The supply has never been
TOO large, but until the panic of 1899
1t was never SO much too small as to
entail positive hardship.
That year building operations in
the District of Columbia were prac-
ticaliy suspended The Capitals
growth-about a thousand household
ers every twelve lmonths-continued
just the same. So, in 1894, the city
had lost ground by about a thousand
houses. This disadvantage could only
be offset by an especially busy year
among the builders.
But no busy year followed. Instead of
that, three or four years were required
for the return of the builders to the
l,oo0-house mark, and the need for
houses was being still further increas-
ed by two extraordinary causes: an
unusually rapid growth in popula-
ton, and the destruction of about
5000 houses to make way for the
Library of Congress, the new Union
Station terminals, and the new Office
buildings for the Eouse and Senate.
The one relief came through the
doubtful advantage of apartment
houses, which made their appearance
In Washington when building opera
lions were at their lowest ebb and
the need for quarters at it's greatest
height
In the natural operation of supply
and demand, these past ten years
have been hard on the man who rents
his house. He has not been able to
choose between houses. He has had
to take what he could get. And he
has had to pay high for what he
took. The result is a widespread
local dissatisfaction The household
er's allowance for rent has been more
than he would have made elsewhere,
and his choice among dwellings suited
TO his needs has been less than it
would have been elsewhere. Agents
may, and probably will, deny this.
But it is the costly experience of
thousands
1t is especially pleasant to note,
therefore, that this spring bids fair
to adjust the supply of houses in the
District TO the reasonable demand.
Reports from real estate agents, build
ers, contractors, labor unions. and
Government Offices all indicate a sea-
son OF unprecedented building. In
the judgment Of cautious business
men who note every aspect of the
District real estate market, this one
year will increase the number of
dwellings to the limit of generous
accommodations. Hereafter, they saw.
the agent will no longer dispose of
the applicant with You can take the
house or leave it." it will be for the
tenant to say, You must put this
house in good condition or | will go
somewhere else
The outlook opened by this promise
is inviting. 1t suggests better build
ing, more comfort, brighter homes
lower rents. and reasonable repairs
other than those needed to keep the
walls from falling apart But just
now 1t is enough to think that ou1
citizens need not gobble up the first
house offered at the price they are
able to pay, for fear of being shut out
OF home.