The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-21
PROTEST AGAINST
 REAL ESTATE RISE Tenants in Atlanta Are Kick
 ing on the Rents NO LIMIT IS IN SIGHT When One Piece of Property Goes UP, All Neighboring Owners Hnise Their Rents Until Prices Are
 Almost Prohibitiye
NO LIMIT IS IN SIGHT

Atlanta. April 2o.-(Special.) 1.-The ex- traordinary, If not abnormal, increase Ill real estate values in Atlanta, is bringing forth protest from the tenant classes, es- | pecially those who are compelled to rent high-priced property for business pui- poses. The same objection does not ap- ply to residential property, because there is plenty of that of all grades, and one can make his own selection
 But in business it is impossible to do this. There are certain classes or pusi- ness which must get on certain streets In tho heart ot ;he city if they expect to succeed. and to get there they must pay the price. And they can never make contract. whether 1t be for one, three or five years lease, without the practical cer- tainty of an advance in rent as soon as the lease expnes.
 The situation is one of which the real estate spectators have been enabled to take advantage. It is frequently the case nowadays that centrally located business property takes on an added price-whether it is value or not--of $1o,oO0 to $Oo,OOO In the course of year or two
 The man who pays the advanced price
 
 naturally feels that he must get more rent In order to give him a satisfactory return on his investment, so up goes the rent as soon as the lease expires. It is the same way with the owner who continues to hold onto his property. When the store next to him takes on an addi- tional s1000o of value, he likewise puts in on his property and increases the rent accordingly.
 The result is in some sections of Att lanta tenants are now compelled to pay almost New York prices for the use or property The thing has been going on now for some years. and there is no ap- parent end to it. the limit does not yet seem in sight.
 Just as people begin talking about Att lanta real estate values being unduly in- fated, Asa Candler or somebody else will sell piece of property for 5000 or $4O,OO0 more than he paid for it year before, and everything in the neighborhood Of that particular piece will enhance accord ingly.
 There are several men in Atlanta who have made close on to. s1,o0O,0O0 through
  Much of it is done on a marginal basis, and small margins at that. Frequently small fortunes have been picked up solely upon the purchase of options But to get back. It is the retail deal- ers especially, who are kicking. II doesn't make so much difference where wholesale house is located But the retailer has to be right on tn midway" of trade or it will pass him by. Conse- quentIy, from the standpoint of rent. he is getting it ip the neck.''
 He complains that not only are rents advancing as is here pointed out, but that he is looked to more and more to contribute to public and charitable en- terprises, while the owner of the property sits securely in an out-of-the-way of- flee. draws the rent and gives up-noth- ing.
 A man owns a Whitehall street store, say, worth five years ago s50,oOO Today if he merely intimated that he would take s1O0 600 for it prospective purchasers would swarm after him. He has not only made s5O,ooO by sitting still, but has likewise doubled the rent and left the matter of charitable and public donations and sub- scriptions wholly to his tenant.
 The situation has reached the point where some of the more heavily burdened tenants are talking of agitating the 'un- earned increasement' proposition, with view at least to securing a rental basis upon which they can depend, instead of having it jump up on them every year or two.
 The higher rentals are also adding to the increased cost of living in the city, for while competition may hold down the margin of profits to certain extent, rent must be paid and 1t must be paid by the consumer. It may be, therefore, that the consumer will feel a sympathetic in- terest in whatever action the tenant may take looking to the amelioration of his condition.
 State Political Talk
 The state political situation continues to be case of talk. But there is at least one more possibility to talk about.
 Judge R. B. Russell of the state court