New-York tribune., 1915-02-14
BROOKLYN AS AN
INDUSTRIAL PLACE
MANY Sections Suitable
for Great Factory
Expansion.

A place where there is a small sup
plv of labor is not likely TO prove
suitable one in which TO get large
manufacturing concerns to establish
new plans. This fact has been recent
" emphasized by the Brooklyn League
in discussing the advantages Of the
manufacturing sites Of Brooklyn. ET-
traordinary inducements are being Of
fered by many small cities and towns
TO manufacturers in the way Of free
rent and exemption from taxes.
"The small towns and cities cannot
solve the labor question simply because
they cannot control the supply adds
the Brooklyn League. New York City
is undoubtedly the best labor market
in the country" Continuing, the
league says on this subject, in part, ss
follows:
"Here are gathered the greatest num-
Der of skilled mechanics, and this num-
ber is constantly augmented by immi-
grafton. But the question is not mere
| ly one Of quantity and quality, but also
one of living conditions for the man
employed.
"In demonstrating the advantages Of
| Brooklyn for manufacturing II, there
! fore, becomes important 10 snow what
! are offered in the borough for the
/ proper housing of the mechanic. In
| other words, we must show how the
| skilled laborer employed IN manu-
/ factory located in any OF the indus
| trial districts can live and maintain his
| family in comfort and be within con
venient reach of his place of work. j.
may be fairly assumed that an adult
mechanic of average skill earning, say,
! So a day, must find place TO MAINTAIN
I his family at an expenditure for rent
ranging from S12 to 500 month.
"The concrete problem, therefore, will
be this: What sort Of a dwelling place
can such workingman expect 10 hnd
within this range of rentals?
"This subject may be conveniently
! divided into three parts: % The down
town fiat or apartment which Will be
within walking distance OF the place OF
work; (2) The uptown Nat or apart
ment which will be accessible on one
carfare and within twenty 10 thirty
minutes time; go The suburban dwell
ing which will be accessible on one
carfare and within thirty-iiNe to forty
! FIVE minutes time.
"a conveniently located downtown
dwelling section within walking dis
tance OF working places Is the las,
River district from Atlantic av south
to 65th st, running nearly north and
south. 1t has numerous fiat buildings
situated on the Streets running from
and paralleling the river front for
about six city blocks 10 the east.
Between Third and Fifth avs. from
Atlantic av. south there are many smal
brick and frame houses originally built
for one family now rented Tor two or
more families, one TO moor. Inc
same conditions exist in the Ere BASIN
district. In this region are also many
Iarge fats Offering apartments of four
or five rooms at low rentals. me
cbonic employed in a factory located
Long the proposed marginal railway
Iii he within walking distance OF
tbese streets. The same applies to the
Factories which exist and will be built
- tho Gowanus Canal. In the lower
dou.r,ovn district and near the East
p;,.or are the fine model flats con-
a,rncted bv the company in which our
highly esteemed citizen, Alfred Alfred T.
VIA Is the chief factor, known as
the Riverside, the Tower and the Home
aTbc features which still distinguish
the Riverside and other outside star
case buildings from the "%{o'',S a. ,;s,,oi ~
nen teneffr fnr the same class of people are;
piSTS iaFirenroof staircases sunk into the
f,opt or rear OF the buildings, open "a
ibe iF@"s air r. and extending in a semi,eireu-
iae Iar tower to-, from the cellar. TO the rooi
i'' aEDtirc absence Of any interior a ',Sn, com,
munication from floor to floor cor, either liner
hv stairways or shafts, so that t9ere mere
is no channel TO convey noises; oaoI.
or disease, or 10 serve n ~ 80
for aames and smoke m case OF hfe
! ~ '..n:iI;.og only two rooms deep, so