New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-31
MORE HONEST" GRAFT.
Big Houses Leased from City for
Small RenfS-ErpOsed by Metz.

Father Knickerhocker a landlord Is not a
success Perhaps Il is because he is such
plethoric old fellow financially that he does not
look too sharply AZ the acts CO his agents See
one Of the commissioners he says. possibly
when some one steps into his Office in the City
Hall TO inquire bout house for rent. rafting
his cane upon the floor in an irritafed sort OF
way. as if II was too snail matter for him to
ATTEND To- So of 70 the Park Commissioner or
some other official the visitor hu-ries. almost glad
70 be ont OF The presence Of the grUR old gentle
man Tie visitor finds that he get almost
anything 10 fl his purse and his taste from an
unsanitaEy tenement house al $500 a month 70 a
spacious mansion fronting the shores OF Long
Island Sound and surrounded by several acres
Of shaded ground for SO month. Father
Knscl,erbocSer's agents. even, viii build aodi-
tions 10 the better houses. costing several thou
sands Of dollars for the benefit Of the tenants
without increasing the rentals At least that Is
what recent Investigations indicate
In Pelham Bay Park are still standing num-
Der CT the large country houses which were once
the homes of these who owned the estates OF
which the park was made. recent report
made 10 Father Knickerbocker's financial man
arer. Controller Metz. by the latters bureau OF
Investigation tells Of some OF the conditions IN
the Bronx parks
ID. sTv,a stone De Ianoev house for instance. OPP
,osite the bridge leading 10 Hunter Island Is
rented for hotel purposes for $50 a month. Tne
sr,t,y added an extension in the rear containing
seven new rooms on the upper hoor ana
pantry, storeroom and barToom on the MAN
door without adding anything TO the rent oy
NAV Of compensation for the increased value OK
che nremises. The house has large GROUNDS
.bout Il and stands on the New Rochelle road.
fronting the waters OF Long Island Sound
n, she same road, between Barlow and Bay
chester Is the Pierre LOriliard house II STANDS
az the foot OF a tree bordered drive on the crest
"a a pentle slope running down 10 the edge OF
pelham Bay It is three story house with
trecian pillars and presents stately appear
anoe A feature OF the interior is the carved
s,lerlz zValnut staircase. This twenty room house
- leased BY the year at S25 month to the
u1rallapoosa Club. known as the club OF LOUIS
y Haren, the President Of the Borough OF Inc
Bronx. u is used road house.
Down in St AIary's Park at 149th street ana
=. AIMS avenue. is a seventeen room stone
souse II stands on an enlinence so far from
the street on the west side Of the park that the
noise comes up a restful murmur- Io"aFo
the east one can see the waters Of the western |
.nd Of Long Island Sound sparkling in the sun
light Five Of the rooms on the ground -lo'r
are used by the Park Department. For 30
month the family or a CITY SA4RaosN mas -
privilege Of occupying the remainder OF 'He
house and selling ice cream ana oandy.
9 tn in Poe Park. at Fordham, is fourteen
room rnansard roof house known as "the par
sonage." This house equipped with all improve
-nerts. nets the city $50 month. II is occupied
as q private residence.
In Van Cortlandt Park. near the railroad sta
ton end the foot OF the lake, stands an avc!i-
tectural uonBtrosity known as the Tremper
House The lessee uses It as hotel and has
the privilege OF furnishing supplies and creature
comforts TO skaters and golf players. The BULL
ang contains eighteen rooms Alterations and
improvements in 1904. including the addit:'.a Of
eight rooms cost the city about $4,000 Wien
the new lease was made in 1905 for five years
! no change was made in the rent Of $5a