New-York tribune., 1909-06-20
BIG REALTY PROBLEM
DIFFICULT TO SOLTE.
italian Colonies IN Westchests.
Should Be ImproUed.

One OF the most perpexing realty Jroblerns ~,
experts in land operations should be called u,o-
solve and without moments delay, is tha - :"
Iation of some plan to bring about the transfo-
ton of the districts in westchester County, 1h,
or partly occupied by Italian labOrers and 80
families so that those places. ff they ca1,o+
made helpful factors in relation to values win -
seriously affect the realty worth and zroutb -
adjoining vacant tracts Many dealers in w..
chester County property know that the Iack !,
interest they have often shown in aiding rno-
ments to preserve unsullfed the natural rsaI,
charms Of the country IN the best manner for e.
enhancement Of the value of all kinds OF props-t
is largely if not entirely, responsible for the a.
plorable home conditions Of most of thess Ital,s,
colony districts. They should be thoroughly avail.
to this fact. and also to the damage they han.
done through sheer neglect to the realty fame q,
many sections of the county. and should be nas.
to find If possible. the solution OF the problem
DAMAGE MAY BE IRREPARABLE
In certain realty circles it is thought that -.
damage already done may be irreparaoIe unless
berculean realty irruption results In razinS and
then rebuilding along modern lines suburban ooto
nies for Italian laborers and their families adot,-
ing tracts which. If remote from the colony dis.
tricts would be most suitable for high class ds-
velopment Most Italian Iabore-s are forced to uv.
amid and surrounded by filthy conditions. bscauss
they are not financially strong enough to have deal
colonies and big realty interests have had no tina
apparently until recently to help them to lv.
where the social atmosphere Is such 70 tend Ia
build up character instead OF lowering it. the ur.
mate result Of this neglect being. in many Instances
utter wantonness contempt for all laws sitts-
social feuds. drunken orgies. and. worst OF all.
murder.
One Of the largest italian colonies "a In tbs south
westerly end OF the city OF New Rochelle. Il al
foins Pelhanlwood- Some OF its residents have xfvsa
the police Of New Rochelle more trouble than has
been experienced by other police officials n ms.
serving peace in the italian settlements Of this
kind within their Jurisdiction More than ten mur.
ders committed IN a hendish manner. havs 90.
CURED in recent years In that Italian eoouE
One victim OF foul play was mutlated after death
and parts of his body were found in places Wildly
apart. Counterfeiters, who flooded Westchsstsr
County with spurious nickeIs. were recently caps-
rIred in a raushackle house the colony. Thar.
are hundreds Of law abiding residents Of tbs settle
menf and all Of them. it is thought, would lezEs
the place Immediately II they could Lease dzts o.
houses located In heaIthful living conditions Bus
where are such abodes for them? They have not
as yet been provided by the big realty intsrssa
FACTORS WHICH OFFSET VALUES
OF course. land adjoining such an Italian ssttI.-
ment can be artistically laid out by any one WIN
the necessary money, and, moreover, such person
can also build on the beautiful grounds IorS rows
Of detached model suburban homes at great cast
and market them prohtably and quickly 70 hor,.-
seekers whose realty experience usually begins win
the signing OF contract 70 buy one OF the houses
Had they looked beyond the beautiful grounds and
turned their gaze away from the finely built houses
thev might not have bought 50 quickly, for 10
matter how high class the development surrounding
conditions are factors affecting the permanency OF
It's realty attractiveneSs. Anything that tends 70
conserve that attractivensss Is beneficial; anything
that lessons 1t is UnwholesOme
After nigh class residential section has been
built adjoining the New Rochelle Italian settle
u1ent can It be maintained by a hundred
individual owners as an ideal home site for any
great length OF time? VIII its realty worth be