New-York tribune., 1907-09-17
FRENCH FREEHOLDERS.
Eight Millions O1cn Their Homes IN
French Republic.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau.I

Washington. Sept 16.-Consul General Robert P.
Skinner. Of Marseilles. France has made an inter-
esting report the subject freehoders and real
estate transactions in that country in which he
and outlines a system whereby French vorkingnen
Own their little country homes. Mr. Skinner SAYS
in part:
There are upward Of soooon0 separate freeholds in
SrlIain: fact which in Itself speaks volumes A
land Wien the ented W sae5 nSinF 6 6an
MISSION visited a certain spot Marseilles
average price OF land in that locaGy because no
anee IN eee f. 'Go6 hlaGs, other than hy inheT
means. means. IKE workingmen to own real estate. for
Marseies. whore there is an excellent two-cent
!sTe streetcar service, outlying property is being
eli Ine IS slso local custom among poor men who
outlyinF patch Of gronnd and te erec cy 9 p6yg ] an
cahanon Of two or more rooms, where they spend
hundreds Of these toy houses are 10 be found each
VIII wne az pit OF garden deserted throughout the
ne I. ana scenes or great animation on Sunday.
me ,ost intense TiHairy existing 70 have tho best
minatins IN a reunion, where poetical impr0visa-
1ons are listened 10. songs sung and speeches
The government Itself. which fosters thrift by
don the wretched Crowded hsbIta3ions of the
Sities and TO become iouseholders, by loaning out
d'epargne not to the Individual but 10 societies
o ut he t fafe s9eeties % est tne
des Habitations Salubres. 30 Rue Paradfs. Mar
=
pay depoSitors 2s per cent the rargn 90 siosa inns
These dealings are regulated by the law OF April
T. 1876 Loans are limited To 800 francs (sS23 50l
virons Al present COTTAGES N have tee been en
constructed in Marseilles under this law the
pa5ils I becoming owners with clear title. at the
eng O twenty years Building plans have 10 be
submitted 10 the architects OF the society. and
must conform TO certain standard requirements d
10 1snt % Tentaton ; and sanitary arraneer1ents
lines several French building and loan associations
which differ from American associations in that
they usually operate over more less the whole
of France. as Go the great French banks. The at
tempt is made by the moving spirits in these
Citations 10 expand their utility beyond public
service money lending agencies. Thus, while
afording liberal terms 10 the man Of small means
desiring to home, they have a subsidiary
organization, the objects OF which appear in the
following programme:
Hygiene and salubrity-House drainage Inspec-
tion Of Workingmen's dwellings counsels to house
wives m cleanliness and hygiene whether occu-
pants Of modern houses or crowded city tenements;
eIconoisrn tuberculosis, rewards 10 families who
best observe the laws OF public cleanliness and
health.
Public Works-Exsmnation of buildings from
point OF view Of art and comfort forming the taste
beautif Creating wherePer possibie " WORKING T M
mems gardens and endeavorng 70 increase family
vegetables; designation Of and useful building
materials: cesspocls laundry work, study of do
Social Preservatlon-social needs of the working
classes, homestead laws. drninution Of crminality.
Thrift and Economy encouragement of saving.
study of all economic questions creation of funds
for carrying the work.
While depositors in these building associations
are permitted TO build according their own
plans. they are decidedly encouraged to adopt
standard designs, Of which there many suited
to all purses. II is really surprising to discover
what comfortable little houses be erected in
this country for a very small amount sometimes
500 and $500. All houses are built OF practically
ir1perishable and freproof materials. cheap frame
constructions never being employed.