New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-03-31

in value; if he becomes bankrupt; if
he takes dodgers without authorization;
or if without authorization he allows
part of his house to be used for in
dustrial or commercial purposes.
Experience has shown the necessity
of all these provisions to prevent over
crowding and speculation, which by
raising the rent of the dwellings would
defeat the object that the city had in
view; also in general to prevent one
persons gaining an advantage at the
expense of his neighbors, as by using
his house, intended only for home, as
a corner grocery.
The ownership of land by the munich
patty has also made it possible to main
tain and improve the appearance of the
city. A report dated April, 1911, states
that the city itself had then built IT'S
houses with POI dwellings, and that it
proposed to build that year 81 houses
containing 70 dwellings; altogether 232
houses with $40 dwellings. Apparently
it has not been practicable to adhere in
every case to the ideal of one family,
one house. Two thousand and seventy
inhabitants are provided for directly by
the city.
The purchaser pays 10 per cent cash,
but ii he is a worthy man earning good
wages, he can get help even with this
II
on unpaid balances and generally 2 IL
per cent toward the payment of the
principal, so that in about twenty-five
wears or even in a somewhat shorter
period he becomes the owner OF the
house in fee simple-with the restric-
lions, to be sure, which prevent MS ex-
plotting others. The total payments for
interest and on capital account on the
smaller houses intended for one family
are about twenty-four cents day, say
$72 year. In many cases slower rate
of principal payment is allowed and it
takes correspondingly longer time to
clear off the debt The largest number
of purchasers consists of day-laborers-
The number OF applicants far exceeds
the supply, and preference is given to
worthy men of small means, especially
if they are blessed with large families.
Building companies have also particl-
pated in the improvement of dwellings
in Ulm, private initiative having been
stimulated, but we cannot now enter
into their activity. We may say, how
ever, that since 1891 the city and other
organizations have put up AS buildings,
comprising, 1,OS5 dwellings or flats, and
that $500 inhabitants have been pro-
vided for. About IA per cent OF the
population, or from so to 60 per cent OF
the 10000 increase in population during
the period, live in buildings which have
been put up in the last fourteen years
by the city or other organizations follow
ing approved policies.
Economical Building.
No financial loss to the city has &C
crued, and the mayor claims that the
city can build more cheaply than private
individuals. It seems to the American
almost incredible to see an attractive
brick house story and half high,
beautifully situated on high ground and
learn that the city is able to construct
and sell it for $1,000. I know OF no
success in this direction equal to that
attained by the present municipal govern
ment under Mayor Won Wagner and
City Architect Holch.
Selling is preferred to leasing 1t
makes the mortgage question easier, and
ownership promotes happiness and good
citizenship. The number having a real
estate interest in the community con-
stantly increases in Ulm. We have
heard of the magic of property which
turns sand into gold, and passing from
house to house, we could see how private
property promoted thrift and careful
management in addition to stimulating
a saving of earnings. And there is
also a Joy of property, and as think
upon the proper pride and selfrespect
OF smiling mothers and happy children
living in their own homes, gladly show
ing them to us, eagerly inviting us to
come in, and returning in simple and
unaffected manner the hearty Gruessgott
OF City Architect Holch, I feel that
to remove private property would be
be most disastrous to human happiness.
Social Reform and Socialism.
1t is grand thing that an ever in
creasing proportion OF inhabitants should
have real estate stake in the city; but,
notice, the city has new kind of stake
IN its poorer people who buy and pay
for these homes. Their health and
strength must be safeguarded to enable