Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1908-08-20
Freeholders
in France.

Consul-General Robert p. Skinner
OF Marseilles. France. has made al
interesting report on the subject o.
ireeholders and real estate transac
ions In that country, in which HI
says that there are 100000 free
holders in France. and outlines a sys
tenn whereby French workingmer
own their little country homes. Mr.
Skinner says In part:
There are upward Of 100000
separate freeholds In France, as csm.
pared with about 100000 In Great
Britain, fact which In itself speaks
volumes. A Frenchman will part
with anything rather than land.
Wnen the United States Immigration
commission visited a certain spot
near Marseilles recently 1t was found
impossible to ascertain the average
price OF land In that locality, because
no transactions ever took place, other
tnan by inheritance. In cities Il IN
oimcult for persons Of modest means
nke workingmen. to own real estate.
ior obvious reasons. Nevertheless.
ana especially in Marseilles, where
tnere Is an excellent two-cent fare
street car service. outlying property
Is being taken up by families in
moderate circumstances.
mere Is also a local custom
among poor men who feel that they
must reside In the city of buying an
outlying patch OF ground and erect.
ing thereon a 'cabanon' Of two or
more rooms. where they spend Sun.
days and holidays. There are settle.
ments where hundreds Of these toy
houses are to be found, each with a
DIT OF a garden. deserted throughout
the week and scenes Of great anima-
ton on Sunday, the most intense
rivalry existing to have the best gar.
den or the most attractive 'cabanon.'
the day terminating in a reunion.
where poetical improvisations are
listened to. songs sung and speeches
made.
The Government itself, which fos-
tiers thrift by every means, encourages
working people to abandon the
wretched. crowded habitations of the
cities and to become householders, by
ioaning out the money of the savings
banks cciasses d'epargneD not to the
individual. but to societies patronized
by the State. These societies effect
the transactions with the individual.
Thus, the Societe des Habitations
Salubres, 32 Rue Paradis, Marseilles.
advances money for the construction
OF cottages at the rate of four and
one-half per cent. AS savings banks
pay depositors two and three-fourth
per cent, the margin is close.
These dealings are regulated by
the law Of April IL, 1906. Loans
are limited to $500 francs (s1s33.5oI
In the city and to 1000 francs ($1351)
In the environs. At present seventy
hve cottages have been constructed in
MarsAilles under this law, the occu-
pants becoming owners, with a clear
title, at the end of twenty wears
Building plans have to be submitted
to the architects OF the society. and
must conform to certain standard re-
quirements as to light, ventilation and
sanitary arrangements.
There are also at work on some-
what parallelel lines several French
building and loan associations. which
oiner from American associations I'm
tnat they usually operate over more
or less the whole Of France, as do the
great French banks. The attempt is
made by the moving spirits in these
associations to expand their utility
beyond mere public service as money.
lending agencies.
While depositors in these building
associations are permitted to build
according to their own. plans, they
are decidedly encouraged to adopt
standard designs, of which there ara
many suited to all purses. It is really
surprising to discover what comforta.
PIE little houses car be erected I'm
this country for a very small amount
sometimes 5000 and $500. All houses
are built of practically imper;shabIe
ana hreproof materials, cheap frame
constructions nevar hain, x.~.-,,