New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-07
$4,6OO,OOO FOR
BRONX BUILDINGS
Cost for New Structures
Planned in the Last
Two Months.
WILL HOUSE MORE
THAN 5000 PERSONS
Movement Recently Begun in the
Borough for More Public
Schools.

That the recent labor troubles which
threaten 10 delay the construction OF
the rapid transit lines in the Borough
of The Bronx and thereby delay the
great inflow Of population which is ex-
pected to follow upon their completion
have had no adverse effect on the build
ing operations in the borough is shown
in the records OF the Borough Bureau
Of Buildings for the first two months
Of the year.
The total cost Of plans filed in this
period is over $4,6OO,0OO, an increase Of
over s2,O0OOOO for the corresponding
period of 1914.
II is interesting to note that OF this
amount S3.6O3 900 will be expended in
the erection Of fat and apartment
houses, leaving a balance of over ST.
100000 which will be spent mainly in
the construction Of business and indus
trial plants.
"The building records for the months
Of January and February have shown
conclusively that the building opera
tors in the borough are alive to real
iZation that The Bronx is on the eve
of a great increase OF population,
said an official yesterday of the realty
bureau of The Bronx Board of Trade,
by reason of the fact that over three
quarters Of the total amount is 20 be
expended on apartment houses.
"AccordinC TO the plans lie con
tinued, this means that over 5000
people can be accommodated IN these
new buildings, or, estimating on an
average of four and Oue-half per
sons to z family, the apartments Will
house approximately 1900 families,
more people than are now living IN
many a thriving community throughout
the country. If this average keeps up,
which | have no reason TO doubt, The
Bronx will have by January l, 1916, ad-
ditional housing accommodations 1or
$4,000 individuals. This bureau pc
lieves, furthermore. that not only Will
I that average be maintained during the
wear, but we have every reason TO eH-
pect that this average VIII be douoleo
In tho remaining months of 1915, and
that by the new year apartment oulld-
ines that will accommodate over lOO,-
600 persons will be ready for occu-
pancy.
"In this connection il is interesting
to note that a movement has recently
been begun in the borough for the cree
ton OF additional schools, so as 20 take
care Of that phase of the situation
which will arise on the completion Of
the rapid transit system. One Of the
prime movers In this campaign said
site should be acquired Immediately.
Now is the time to buy school sites,
while they are cheap. Everybody
knows that the population VIII now
into William sbridge and Wakefield as
soon as the White Plains Avenue CT
tension is completed. Aside from the
absolute necessity for prompt action
the purchase Of such sites VIII DO an
excellent investment for the City OF
New York, because the property IN the
upper section Of the borough VIII IN
crease 100 per cent when the ne" SUD
way routes are opened 80.
In speaking Of the realty posslDll-
ties of the borough. Robert f. Simon
president Of the Henry Morgenthau
company said: "A population OF sS,9Oe
in 1850 has increased 20 over IOOOoO,
making The Bronx one of the largest
communities in the land Its real
estate. land and buildings are assessed
al over S640. 000, 600. In one year over
$40 600 600 has been spent on construc.
lion. The manufacturers census OF
1909 gives the value Of ITS manufact-
ured PRODUCTS as $24,640,275; at present
il is much greater.
"In 1883. when the Brooklyn Bridge
was opened 10 the public, the general
opinion was that the northwsrd growth
would be interfercd with that Harlem
ami The Bronx would suffer As each
successive bridge or subway to Long
Island was put in operation this argu..
ment was renewed. yet the growth OF
The Bronx has not suffered in the least.
In 1880 it had a population OF over
80 600, and. according to the census OF
1910. 43O.980 an increase OF 3e4.b per
cent-400 per cent greater than that
of Brooklyn and $50 per cent greater
than that OF Manhattan. And to-day,
as we are nearing the completion OF the
new rapid transit lines, the end OF TINS
marvellous growth is not as yet IN
sight feel confident that The Bronx
will be made ono Of the greatest Dor
oughs in every respect.
"The records of the wonderful sctlv-
ity in building operations, as shown IN
the plans filed iu the Building Bureau,
only 90 to confirm this opinion