New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-15
LIFTING HARLEM
OWNERS BURDENS
Progress Made in Work to
Find Proper Homes
for Negroes.
BROKERS PLEDGE
THEIR SUPPORT
Situation Will Be Satisfactory,
with Colored People in
Suitable Flats.

A meeting Of prominent real estate
brokers was recently held at the rooms
of the New York Title Insurance Com
pany, 1876 Broadway, for the purpose
OF considering the plan Of the Harlem
Owners nd Improvement Corporation
for conserving property values in Har-
lem. AT the conclusion Of the discus
sion on the subject the brokers and
others present, who are interested IN
the welfare of Harlem, unanimously
sdopted a resolution TO the effect that
the CORPORATION was organized on prop
er lines, that its plan is compre-
hensible one and can succeed, ana
pledged their support TO the movement
Ransom L. Wilcox. president OF the
Harlem Owners and Improvement Cor
poration, presided. He told the brokers
that the object of calling them together
was 10 lay the whole situation before
them and also for the purpose OF
soliciting their support James j. VIII
son. manager of the corporation, was
called upon 20 explain the purpose o.
the corporation and the work that is
being done. A map, 24x64 inches, was
spread upon the wall so that those
nresent could see at q glance the par
ticular territory covered by the opera
OA
showed how the negro population IN
Harlem was distributed.
Mr. Wilson said careful survey OF
the entire territory which had been
made revealed an encouraging state OF
facts. He pointed out that the cor
poration had succeeded in creating a
favorable atmosphere and would un-
doubtedlv have succeeded in more
substantial manner had the owners and
mor+gagees given financial support. lie
said the corporation was organized LOT
500. 600. divided into 2O,OOO shares'
with a par value of 50 each; that the
brokers should advise their cllents 20
subscribe on the basis OF one-hslf OF !
per cent of the assessed values OF iSI4
on all their holdings in Harlem wnlch
is the amount provided for IN the pan
He said further that there are between
"a 600 and $4,000 negroes in Harlem
and that owing to their number many
white tenants had moved 10 other sec
lions of the city; that the negroes are
not now properly housed and that there
;s a demand for three, four ana nVe
rooro APARTMENTS for their occupancy.
Tho corporation's plan of operation
will he 70 arrange with property own
ers in certain blocks TO rent tnelI
nronerties 10 white tenants only; thaI
!b;s cannot be done. however, until /
nrovision has been made for housing /
The negroes who evacuate properly IN
the white territory. therefore, II -
evident" he added, that unless houei
houses are erected in q proper sec1I1n /
Il would be impossible TO succeed. me
failure of the plan wouid resui. LII /
,ocroes further invading the territory I
~ eI9Otb - and streets further south /
r,pcb 10 the detriment OF values on
etTeets now totally white and the en-
tire section"
,.,.;ro out the corporation plan he had
promoted an organization known as VIC
kfro.American Homes Building Asso-
c;a+;oD which is to be incorporated:
l. viii undertake the construction OF
,,odern houses in the northern section
&c Harlem for the exclusive occupancy /
Of colored tenants. Its object VIII DC |
N improve the social and ecohoinlc
conditions of the colored people III
fact, leading colored people OF tne see
ton are enthusiastic IN thelF suPPoi'
of the new corporation.
Tbe nIsn Of corporation has been IN
dorsed by and is receiving the support
~ Tnanv~of the large financial lnstltu-
lions The Real Estate Board OF New
W. the Harlem Board OF commerce
End the Harlem Property Owners AS
sociation have passed resolutions OF
Endorsement. ,u. 49, .,,,-
cess of the plan will re-establsh con-
fdence is Harlem real estate, cure the
,oortgage situation. enhance values and
better conditions generally. lie LAID
e,rest emphasis on the fact that the
9isn could not succeed unless 1t had the
moral and financial support OF the
owners and mortgages.
In addition 20 improving real estate
conditions of Harlem the change VIII
work also for the social, moral and
economic betterment of the colored
race. This Mr. Wilson considered the
most important feature of the plan
because, not only does 1t AFFECT the
colored people Of Harlem, but has a
direct bearing on the colored race IN
the entire city, state and nation,
A printed prospectus was distributed
at the meeting which outlined the plan
of the corporation in detail.
Among the individuals and com
NAMES represented at the meeting were
Ashforth G. Co., NJ. and C. Jacoby, Frank
A. Shaw. Henry D. Cochrane, Arthur d.
Crane. Frank G.. Banister, Samuel b.
Downes. Leonard Morgan, Maltus j.
Newman. DR.. Robert Bruce Clark, DR..
u ]. Mcmillan, Goodale, Perry
Dwight, Cruikshank & Co., Douglas
Robinson, Charles S. Brown co. and