The sun., 1918-10-13
LARGE CONCERNS
LEAST DESIRABLE
May Be Forced to Build Own
Homes or Buy Structure to
Gain Admission.

Users of largo ONCE space are be-
ginning to realize that they are not con-
sidered desirable by the owners and
managers of office buildings. The time
Is coming when the objection 10 large
concerns will be 90 great that they
will be forced to buy buildings in order
to gain admission to them or else build
structures for their own use. Tho OBJ
lection IL not that the concern will not
pay Its rental promptly, but that large
space subdivided will bring more. and
that the maintenance and operation of
the building Is less costly and trouble
some. A working force OF 800 employed
by firm on the top floor
Of building II dismissed at
the same hour win cripple the ele-
vator service OF q building. except q
very large one, for ten or fifteen min
utes. In the meantime service cannot
be given to other tenants and complaints
follow. Such complaints have a bad
effect on the rental possibilities of the
structure, which of course is felt by the
owner. Largo clerical forces usually are
destructive and careless and the cost OF
maintenance on the floor where a large
concern 10 located is high compared to
other floors Of the building
Building management. which II now a
science. has figured out 1.-THE value of
every class OF tenantry and the conclu-
sion 10 that greatest financial return 10
secured from a building rented entirely
to small tenanta
An example 10 cited by the manager
Of one of the fine new buildings in
the 'Forty-second street section. The
Peoples Gas building IL one OF the
largest structures in Chicago and finest
office buildings In Chicago. There hap
pened to be a floor of $1,000 square feet
vacant in that building few years
ago and one Of the great packing con-
Germs wanted II. The head Of the
concern offered $4,000 year for the
space on a ten years lease.
Sorry" said the building manager,
but we can't let you have the floor.
1t Is our plan to subdivide the. space"
The packing man went over the head
OF the building manager and told the
owners Of the building that he had Of
fered 100000 for a ten years lease Of
space and II was refused. The building
manager told his employers that he was
right when he refused to lease the en-
tire space to one tenant and enumerated
reasons for his decision. The owners
told him that they thought he was
would not interfere.
The manager indicated his stand by
renting the space for $4,000 year.
His elevator service was not crippled
three times a day by the avalanche Of
packing company clerks and his marble
halls and. toilet rooms were not marred
oy careless and wilful clerks The pack
ing company secured space in another
building and the owner Of the structure
regrets that he let the concern in. His
rental Is regular. but the income from
the other parts Of the. building has
been reduced as a result of the poor
elevator service at the most important
hours Of the day. The building expert
who told Of the Chicago incident is
opposed to big concerns as tenants
There IL not large concern in tho
building which he manages and the re-
suit Is that II Is a greater financial
success than II every floor housed
concern employing large Office staff He
also Is able TO operate his building at
much lower cost than If II was the
headquarters Of leaders in various