The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28

/ room? Are high rentals the result of
the prodigal tendencies of New York
or are they based on tangible things
which mean something In the life of a
family"
Comparison of the first apartments
ana the last. or the apartment suites
of the better class OF generation ago
with those which are to be found in
the several Fifth avenue apartment
houses above Ffty-n!nth street or
the fine structures on Park ave-
nue., compels the answer that the
rental is j1stlfable because of the
general superiority OF the modern
building in the matter of construction.
location. arrangement. comfort produc-
ing devices and the hundred and one
Things, details to be sure, which all go
10 make the apartment the ideal home,
the home OF least physical effort All
in all the apartment of to-day combines
10 make living all that it is possible to
De. and folks who can afford the rentals
asked DO not hesitate paying. since the
return is peace of mind, limited servant
troubles and an economically operated
household. These things cannot be
measured In dollars and cents and the
price is not too much.
|. there is wide variation in the
architecture of the apartment of the
last decade and of the Navarro period.
The massive structure has given way
TO lighter constructed buildings with
less ornamentation on the facade APP
preciating the rentable value of cheerful
atmosphere which Is the result of plenty
OF light. air and windows, the builders
devised new type of apartment build
Ing in great contrast to the early TYNE
OF building.
Unless one has lived in an older style
house he cannot appreciate fully the
desire or the builder to drive gloom out
| OF the home. He avoids in building his
house, large frontal columns, which
| mean deep window recesses which are
an obstruction to the view from the
house, besides lessening the flood of nat
| uTal light. This is something which
cannot be overlooked in reckoning the
worth of an apartment house. Absolute
simplicity in the face Of the building
permits greater expenditure in the in
terror OF the structure. which is where
folks expect to get the greatest return
for the amount OF money they pay the
landlord.
II would be economically wrong to
build as in the past, since building ma
terial and labor have gone up consid-
erably, and land, suitable for apartment
construction. must be measured as it's
value places It among precious possess
sions.
When the spanish Flats" were built
| hricklayers were paid $3.50 a day, car
! penters $3.50 A day, stone masons $e rs
a day, plasterers 80. painters Sc so and
general laborers from sl75 to So Ma
terial was prcportionately as cheap. II
builders were to erect ornate buildings
such as In the old days they would have
to skimp on the interior workmanship
or else charge great deal higher rem
tails than they now obtain. But they
have substituted light construction for
the massive. and the renter gains by it
in the matter of light. air and pleas
ant rooms.
The cheer which the architect and
builder has spent much time in develop
ing in the building and which has a
rental value Is to be met in the public en-.
trance Of the building not SO much in
the decorative features as in the ser
vice. A man who can smile and smile
real cheerful smile is placed at the
door OF a building 10 welcome tenants
or the visitors. 1t is a psychological
fact that the man at the front door has