The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-07

more than what they pay In congested
sections.
j. G. schmidlapp. a retired distilier
and banker OF Cincinnati. has been so
Impressed by this unfortunate condi-
ton that he has done what he could
to remedy il. He has spent large
amounts of money in the building or
two groups of houses in Norwood anu
in Oakley. just outside of Cincinnati,
both with the idea that they should be
rented TO workingmen at much less
than the. prevailing rate. and still pay
net profit OF per cent on the in
vestment. The experiment so far has
been successful.
Tho houses are built of brick. They
are in solid rows. and are not archi-
tecturally beautiful The first group
lis made up of nine houses each of
which has two apartments. which con-
tain four rooms and Il bath with out
side porch. Except in the end houses,
where light and air are had from three
sides. the rentals are S325 per week
per apartment. Fifty cents a week
extra Is charged for the end houses.
The second group of buildings contains
fourteen houses. also divided into three
and four room apartments There is
cellar under the whole group and
mat makes 1T necessary to charge s3.75
for the inside four room and bath
apartments in this block. while three
room fiat can be had at So75 the week
Each apartment is fitted with gas
heater by the landlord, but the tenant
pays his own gas bills, There are
forty-six flats in all.
The restrictions imposed by Mr..
schmidlapp are: no three-room fiat is
rented to II family whose total income
is less than 50 or more than SIS per
week. The limits on the four-room
flats are S12 and $50 the week. No
tenant can keep boarders. Tenants
must pay their REM a the Office of the
company so that the expense of col
lection may be obviated. Two weeks
notice of intention to vacate must be
given. Gasolene stoves are forbidden
Refuse must not be thrown out of the
doors or windows The tenants on
the first floor must keep the yards and
sidewalks clean; the Railways are in
charge of the people who live upstairs
Encouraged by the results of his ex-
pertinent. Mr.. Schmdlapp has built an
other row of detached houses each con-
taining four flats. of three rooms and
bath They are rented at an average
of 80 cents per room per week The
rentals are fixed in all cases. and the
whole scheme is directed, with the
idea of returning 3 per cent net in
come, and at the same time allowing
per cent annually for depreciation.
The most interesting Schmidlapp
plan is TO sell well-built and sanitary
two family houses on terms not much,
If any, greater than the usual rentals,
the payments extending over n period
of ten years. In Such cases the pur-
chaser may become landlord himself
after the first deposit is paid
So far, three classes of houses have
been built and sold. The terms are an
follows: house with two three-room
apartments and baths, s1OO cash pay
ment and $3.50 week; house with
two four-room apartments, 5000 cash
and 50 weekly; house with two fve-
room apartments. $500 cash and $3.50
weekly. In case of death or disability
not caused By the fault Of the pur-
chaser the original cash payment is
returned. At the end of about ten
years deed to the property is given
the purchaser.
The trouble with such philanthropic
enterprises is that they take care of
only a small fraction of the nennIo ,,Le,
need low rentals. Another drawback
is that amy plan OF supplying decent
living accommodations at small
rental may encourage factory owners
to continue paying small wages \