The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-08-24
BIZ JOHN J. MURPHY.

New York's housing problem grows
more complex every month and every
year with the steady growth OF business
and population.
Both theoretically and practically I
am In favor OF the separate home as
a unit. The more It can be built into
independence, the better and stronger
II L. The community built upon sue
cessful homes Is bound to be admirable
and lasting. The Independent home Is
recognized generally as the bulwark of
our institutions.
But our immense metropolitan popu-
lation precludes the idea Of separate
houses for each family. We never can
come to such an ideal condition. In
fact. as the city grows. by far the
greatest masses must live in tenements
and by tenements mean all struc-
lures In which three or more families
cook. live and carry on separate house
keeping. The huge new apartment
houses in which rents run into tho
thousands a year are all tenemont to
our department.
Tenement building in Manhattan now
10 confined to the largest and most cost
ly structures. The big volume of houses
for wage-earnors OF moderate means Is
being planned in the suburban sections.
There Is no doubt that population Will
increase fast enough to keep all OF the
Manhattan houses we'll filled. and to
provide tenants also for whatever su-
| burban tenements may be built.
This means more and more congestion
in the older centres. In a comparatively
| few years. nearly all Of Manhattan
Island will be needed for business pur-
poses. In the meantime there is sure
to be an increasing how OF homo seek
ers to the outside sections.
Immediately surrounding our old city
districts are miles upon miles of build
ing sites and fine fertile land. 1t Is
becoming more accessible every year.
In comparison with city land values, II
Is low-pr!ced. but It must necessarily
soar In value as the city grows and
the people spread over It. There will
have 10 be an exodus 20 the outside
| home cites some day. II Is evident tina,
those who are able 10 obtain rites ant
homes there now Will take advantage
Of what must be worth more in afteI
years.
Every movement Of home seekers Il
the suburbs relieves congestion In thu
old centres and thus Is OF benefit to th'
city as a whole. II the masses onl,
knew how much more they could ge
out OF life. how much more they coult
get for every dollar spent. how mus
more individuality they could inject int
their homes by moving into the suburol
where they would have room 20 live II
a more natural manner. the outgoinl
transit lines would not have carr
enough to carry them
| New York has handsome Residential
grounds all around II. but the popuia
ton cannot be picked up and trans
ported to new home centres in a shor
period. As transit opens avenues O
least resistance. the people will spreat
into one outlying section and then int
another, thus relieving the pressure
upon old districts. And as they moy'
outward they find housing conditions
more commodious. For instance. tn
Long Island tenement Is much unlik'
the structure OF Manhattan and eve,
OF the Bronx. The average number o
families To "A house In the Long lslan'
boroughs Is five, while the average Il
light. air and sanitation for suburban
tenements.
one main cause OF congestion in Man
haitian tenements Is the foreign immi
grafton. The immigrant districts prom
ise to stay In an Overlooking state unit!
they shall have been wiped out entirel!
by the spread OF business. | do no
think there will be any stampede OF thu
foreign newcomers to suburban hom
sections-at least, not so far as one cal
foresce at present.
The Immigrant masses. most Of then
peasants In their native lands, com
here to make their fortunes. The
cannot speak our language. They ar
not familiar with our customs. The!
flock together naturally. seeking com
panonship with others who have COM