davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
OWn-OWn-HOme
Campaign Becomes
Nation Wide
Government Urging ALI to
Build as Solution for High
Rentals; 10000 Real
Estate Men Take Up Cause

In the nationwide building cam
palgn now being carried on by the
United States Department of Labor.
the Own Your Own Home branch of
the work, under Paul C. Murphy, has
enlisted wide cooperation. Ten thou
sand members of the National Asso-
citation of Real Estate Boards have
pledged themselves to work with the
department in its effort to stimulate
interest in the construction of dwell
ings, and many cities have enlisted in
the build now" movement.
According to estimates, the United
States is now something like half a
million houses short of the number
actually needed. Rents have risen to
a point that encourages investigation
into the cost of building, and a survey
of present conditions has given as
surance that after the war costs are
not prohibitory. Real estate values
have not advanced in proportion to
other values and there is much to as
sure prospective builders, according
to statistics gathered by the public
works and construction division of the
departments Information and Educa-
West is Active
Mr. Murphy, before taking hold of
the Own Your Own-Home work, had
started in Portland, Ore, where he is
president of the local realty board,
plans for the building of fifty houses,
and there are evidences of confidence
IN revival of construction work in
many parts of the state. A special
campaign in Oregon will give local aid
TO the governments efforts to hasten
the spring activity in all lines of con-
struction work. The fact that the de-
mobilization of the army has released
many men expert in the building
trades furnishes unusual opportunities
to employ labor and to furnish solu-
ton OF the most pressing problems of
industrial REIMBURSEMENT.
In connection with the Own-Your-
Own-Home movement there is reported
a decided tendency to apply artistic
ideas and to adhere to the most modern
plans, so that better and more beauti
ful cities may develop as result of
after the war enterprise in building.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Queens Borough
To Be Boosted as
Great Home Centre
All Interests Unite 10 Secure
for the Fast Growing Sec
ton Larger Population
With All Its Benefits

Steps we're taken last week by the
Queens Chamber of Commerce which
are expected to have results in the
direction Of attracting attention to
Queens and the wonderful field that is
there for home builders.
A real estate bureau is to be estab-
lished in connection with the chamber,
whose duties will be to work for the
general interests of Queens. Its first
task will be to induce builders to start
building houses there along the new
transit lines. This is to be done by
showing why they should build III
Queens and then getting them the
money to support their operations.
The business men of Queens feel
that it will not be difficult to convince
the builders as to the desirability of
their section. but they expect trouble
in getting lending institutions TO sup
port home building campaign.
The bureau will devote all its time
to the residential development Of
Queens. The organization of the bureau
has been placed in the hands of a spe-
cial committee: Edward A. MacDougall
chairman; Charles G. Meyer, Stuard
Hirschman, Ray Palmer and Edward
Roche.
The work of the bureau after its
organization will be to interest loanine
and banking institutions; real estate
brokers throughout New York City and
elsewhere; reputable builders; inves-
tors in the real estate market, and
homeSeekcrs
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

cession in rentals need be given. High
rentals are tempting, but sober thought
has brought many to think construc-
ton at presentday prices unsafe be-
cause OF a possible drop in material
prices in the next few years which
would destroy their investments.
Thu. material markets they think
will have to meet the demand. The
plant must be operated. The war over.
they have been returned to their
peace time state, arc they must be
kept in operation. Ii this cannot be
done at present-day prices lower prices
will be quoted until the big market
is found
These are the views of many build
ers and they seem logical looking at
them in this light. Others 90 not see
things the same as builders because
labor prices have been pegged. The
government has coddled the laboring
man and the coddling, must continue.
This is sufficient in itself to hold
prices up. 1t will have material
effect on the situation because labor
is the great item Of cost in manufact
uring after all.
views of the real estate man, which,
of course. is not displeasing to the
Spectator. The builder wants to be
sure of his investment before he
launches new construction. Apartment
builders in the better sections plan to
make sure of this by demanding ten
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Big Movement to Relieve
the Housing Situation
One Firm 10 Build 2,4OO
Homes in Baltimore, to Cost
S9.OOO.OOO

Steps were taken in Baltimore last
week to relieve the housing situation.
According to statistics of Baltimore
civic organizations, there is a shortage
there of between 5000 and 5000 homes
Announcement was made by Frank
Novak, of the Frank Novak Realty
Company, that his company plans to
erect 2,400 brick dwellings, on 1870 acres
of land in northeast Baltimore.
The tract on which the houses will be
erected is part of the old Garrett es-
tate, known as Montcbello. 1t will rep
resent an investment of $4,000 900 when
completed, it is said. Work on the pro
posed improvement is expected to be
started in the near future.
It is planned to cut the property up
into forty full sized city blocks The
tract is located between Twenty ninth
and Thirtyffth Streets, with Hillen
Road on the east and Venable Park
on the west. The price of the houses
will be in the neighborhood of $4,000
each. Speaking of the project in a re-
cent issue of The Daily Bulletin" is
sued by THE Manufacturers Record"
Baltimore, Mr.. Novak says:
Building materials are high, of
course, and in some instances much
higher than they ought to be- How
ever, man is foolish to delay con-
struction work in anticipation of minor
fluctuations which will cause only i'm
material reductions at best. SO far as
the cost of labor is concerned, do not
want to see any decline, nor do I eX-
pect it. Five thousand new homes are
needed in Baltimore right now. In
normal times 1000 new homes are built
here annually. During the last four
years only 1000 houses have been
built"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Fear of Lower Costs Keeps Down
Construction, Though High
Rents Offer Big Inducement

hi the old days, say four years ago
at about the time that the great world
war was getting we'll under way, a
dollar had power in the markets which
many think has gone forever. One
hundred cents then would buy nearly
twice as much food and wearing APP
parel and other things as 200 cents
will to-day There has been general
push up of prices in everything. You
are paying more rent to-day than ever
before for the reason that there is d
limited amount of construction, due
to the high cost of building. Next to
food, the building situation is the
most serious. People cannot continue
to meet the increases in rentals and
still be able to buy sufficient food
and clothing for health and self re-
spect. Speculations in rentals will con-
tinue until building is resumed, and
just now builders are marking time
waiting patiently for a shift in ma
tcral prices that will guarantee con-
structon that can be rented at prices
WHlCn lHCy cONSlUcr Ialr.
There are builders who hold that
rentals are too high and see reaction
in real estate unless break comes
to permit them to resume building
Construction costs, conservatively
speaking, are 40 per cent above the
figures for 1915. In some classes of
construction the increase over 1855
prices is as much as 100 per cent. The
increase is less in the class of resi-
Dental property most needed at this
time, but even at that the price is
moro than a builder cares TO operate
under, feeling that, perhaps, costs will
come down at any time.
He is led to this belief by reductions
which have been made in certain kinds
of equipment for buildings. Steam
heating appliances, for instance, are
only a few dollars above the pre-war
price A certain large plumbing house
has reduced the cost of its manufac-
tured goods to level which is slightly
over 1888 figures. Steel has come
down and cement cascd off little
during the week. These declines en-
courage the builder to wait Tor pos
siblc concessions in the price demands
for brick, gravel and lumber and the
other material which enters largely
into the construction OF buildings,
especially those of residential char
actcr. Just at this moment the builder
who undertakes construction must be
prepared 10 pay prices about 80 per
cent above what he paid in 1915. in
other words his building, whether it
be six-story walk-up or a ten-story
elevator structure, will cost about one
half as much more than it would have
cost before the war.
Assuming that high class apart
mcnt structure or fine hotel was to
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

! the institution were dcspairing of
finding additional Offices when they
heard that Mr.. Sherry had said that
he would leave his building for price
Price was nothing to the trust com
pany IN such predicamcnt, space was
the factor and it entered into negota-
tons with Mr.. Sherry for his well
known hostclry. The deal was closed
last week. Mr.. Sherry will move to the
premises which the trust company oc-
cupies in the Postal Life Building. He
will fit up the lower part of the build
ing as restaurant, which will be diff
fercnt from any so far introduced 20
New York.
1t is said that Mr.. Sherry will con-
fine his efforts in the future to the
operation of a restaurant. This means
that he is through with the operation
of a hotel. There have been rumors
that he planned to develop a certain
we'll known Fifth Avenue corner in that
vicinity but Mr.. Sherry has told a num-
Der of real estate men that he has no
such intentions.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Uncertainty, Not High Prices, Holds Building in Che

sl4 a thousand the cost per brick in
December was Id cents Apply this
to the facade of the building and the
result would be that the amount Of
money was paid for the facade of the
original structure would carry the wall
in the proposed structure not more
than half way. The price comparisons
were made on structure fourteen
stories high, so feet wide and 100 feet
deep. 1t was estimated that the build
ing contained 100000 cubic feet. The
comparison showed the average cost
of each floor in the structure to be
SCOTIA.
The architect showed that it would
cost 900 floor to produce the
building to-day. The number of bar
rels of cement and lime and the tons of
steel and the feet of plumbing and
yards of gravel and sand used II the
structure were obtained by the arehi-
tects, with the prices, and alongside of
these were placed the prices of Deem
Der las. The difference in the cost
was easily seen. and it is likely that
the structure will be erected now that
the owner has hccn convinced just
how little dollar sill buy in the con-
struction field.
The statement was made yesterday
by an architect, who has specialized in
country house dcs igning and who holds
a place high in his profession, that
suburban dwelling costs were much
higher than urban costs. He estimated
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Buyers to Change Flats
Into Small Suites
Frederick Brown Purchases y
Story Apartment in East
.58th Street

Frederick Brown has bought from
DR.. b. Farquhar Curtis the Fullerton
at 116 East Fifty-eighth Street. neal
Park Avenue, nine story apartment
house, on plot 57x100. The building
was erected by J. L. r. Carpenter and
S. Fullerton Weaver.
Changes Planned for Houses Bought
Louis Schlechter bought from the
Ormond Realty Company the six story
elevator apartment, on d plot 602xso'
At 52S Riverside Drive.
The Pierce Contracting CompaF!
(Louis Werner. PRESIDENT has pus.
chased the five story apartment house
at 200 West ->inety-ninth Street. on B
plot 25Xl0o. When present lease eS,,
pircs house VIII be altered into small
suites
L. & A. Pincus have purchased fror
the LeXingpark Realty Corporation tne
two iive~story apartment houses at Sos
and 336 West fifty-sixth Street, on 4
plot 50xl00. The buyers viii conyer
the apartments into three and foui
room suites. 1t was a cash tran sactiea
arranged by Goodale, Perry & Dwiga'
and Charles Meyers.
Old Ninety-hrst Street Holding SOLD
The O'Shea estate has sold the hse
story apartment house at 81 Mess
Ninety-lirst Street This is the mrs.
sale of this property in more ths'
twenty years.
Invest in 126th Street Property
Charles Zimmerman sold to the OAK
dale Realty Company, through u. ha'.
ris, the six story apartment house, or
plot 50Xl00, al l15 East izo'n
Street
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Dwelling Buyers Help
To Relieve Housing
Purchaser of East 34th Sire It
Premises to Alter Them
Into Apartments

Douglas l.. Gilman & Co., as brokers,
report that contracts have just been
executed in the sale for Frederick J.
Sterncr of the four-story dwelling at
107 East Thirty fourth Street, on a lot
206x100, adjoining the Robert Bacon
residence at the northeast corner Of
Park Avenue. The purchasers are L.
G. A. Pincus. who will probably alter
the house into stores and studio apart
ments
James Kyle & Sons have sold for
Albert Hartog, jr.. the two story dwell
ing at 429 East Fifty-seventh Street.
The Rutland & Whiting Benjamin
Corporation have resold the three story
and basement dwelling at 232 East
Sixty-hrst Street. The house is to
be altered into an American basement
dwelling.
West Side Dwellings, Sold
Peasc & Gilman have resold for NJ.
$. Ortiz to a physician the four-story
and basement dwelling on lot 20x
100 at "a West Seventy-first Street.
The seller bought the property about
month ago.
George Raymond has sold to former
State Tax Commissioner Joseph s.
Schwab, representing the Schwab
Realty Company, the four-story dwell
ing, 19xl00.6, at 116 West Eighty
seventh Street.
Benjamin Levy has sold 100 East
l0lst Street. threes story house. on
a lot 15.6x75.
Ennis e. Sinnott have bought from
Sarah II. Johnson the three story
dwelling at 1870 West Eighty-eighth
Street, on lot l76xl008. NJ. NJ Hay
ward g. Go. we're the brokers.
Owen Walsh has sold the two-story
dwelling on a lot 25x100 at 2413 Loril-
lard Place through Angelo l.. Fru-
ment6.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
State Government
Costs 1913 Per Gent
More Than in 1909
500, 900, 900 Required Next
Year; $50, 900, 600 Total
Ten Years Agos Debt Ser.
vice Alone $I3, 10000

Government comes high in this state.
Announcement was made last week tina.
S90.0Oo,0OO is needed to run New
York next year This is SS.O0O,OOO
more than it cost last year and 1913 per
cent higher than ten years ago, when
the cost of the New York State govern
ment was $50, 100000. More than
third Of this figure is required this
year for debt service alone, more
than half for proposed constructed
work and about a fourth for building
and maintenance of highways.
Here are some of the items that tnsl
taxpayers of New York City and New
York State must meet next year: $lS,-
100000 for debt service: highway re-
pairs, $5,500,000, and state aid to town
highways, 100000; highway con
struction, $2,500.O00; purchase Of tw'
toll bridges at Albany. 81 5oO.0 600; Nes
Jersey vehicular tunnel. Sl,000.oOO
canal terminals. 100000. The toa
amount for new construction is Sla
U0O. coo
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

cost was hctvoa,, e5o ono -,
T. anu 100000.
wv years ia'ef lhcre was compets
cessation OF construction.
Wages and building material H..
value and with them went rem,
v,l,os D,vo1l;o .l "' estate
''"' cost $4,000
merely to put up IN 1873. sold for sss.
600 in 1876. and houses Which
Ss5 ooo conld NOT bo a;.ao.', 'Vss
Y,VVe ~ ooo ~ - poseu OF for
more imam sooioVV'
In 1872 the following prices nv.
vailed in the construction cal,
No,,, yo.l.. 'ct
n-.',
Brick --...-.......- ST. to SIS .hous..,
cement ..-.-....-..-.. s. 10 $50 a hs~ssil
Lime. ..............Si .,Q TO >l.75 a hs-.ss
Timber. ..........-...S2 So To S3n a thonsans
Georgia pine ....... 500 20 $50 thoussn.SS
Mechanics wages for day of eight
hours ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. S. N e
Laborers' wages for day Of eight
hours Observation-Disclosures. S2.7, TO "a *
Two wears later tboeo WON .bo
o,,o4oa e.. -..', Prices
puo'ou ioi ou'iuiis "'"'eflal'
6rick ...-'-.. .-.....- ......S6 thousand
ir,'a ''.''.'''''Si- 10 80, barre
Lumber 10 - barre
Georgia pine .............. S1e e''s ~ sss
Gechanics' WAGES ....................'.' <
Laoorers' wages ..-..........|. .... i5c. 10 |;
Mechanics and laborcrg worked 70,
hours for those waros instead sc 80,
hours. as fhev did TWO ,na,.e ,, ~, v'sal
At that time bnildinr 'lobo,. ,ras WV ~.
highly organized, so that one v,on Ts MOI nc.
be likely today to end inch 'S NV aS'
fuctuation in the labor market "'us
vailed during 1879 and 1874 ~; n re
, building field and those wbirb Ma .l 'ne
/ last weeks market is intorest,nn 1e'l n
weeks prices are: '"s' Last
Bricl rar ooo s.
Cement' '' per barrel '''''''''.'''''' Sis@
Rcck. per yard 81 So
Gravel, per yard ................,. 9S
line me per , barre .,;:.-..-..-.-.... sal
Eine'.;', or, per Saioh- -----..-. lA
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Major Burgoyne Hamilton
Resumes Former Line of Work

Douglas l.. Gilman G. Co. announce
that Burgoyne Hamilton, specialist
IN country property, has Joined their
organization as manager of the coun-
try department.
For the last two years Mr.. Hamilton
has been in the army, and from July
to January last served in France as
commanding officer OF Headquarters
Company, 10th Artillery. c. A. G. On
his return 20 this country he received
his commission Of major. The country
department Of Douglas L. Gilman e.
Co has recently been greatly en-
larged for the handling of estates in
Westchcstcr, Connecticut and the
north shore of Long Island.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Tall Loft Improvement
Reported for 9Th Avenue

A deal is under way. according to
reports, for the sale OF POS to OF West
lhlrty-siXth Street and 400 Seventh
avenue to printing concern, which
ians to erect seventeen story COM
mercial loft.
The property, which is owned by
the Whitnoyl Corporation, Whitney
lyon president, has a frontage Of 1877
ieet on Ihirty-siXth Street, adjoining,
IN me Hotel York, and depth Of 124 feet.
The Seventh Avenue parcel which
forms an a." has frontage Of PAS
1eet and depth of about $50 feet.
mere are several old buildings on the
plot and a garage. The property has
been held at S4O0 600
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Prices Advanced 40 Per Cent n
the City and Is Per Cent in the
Country in Four Years

year leases Of tenants who rent in
houses which they are preparing to
erect.
Builders wariness OF the situation
may be attributed to the bitter les
son which they learned after the Civil
War. Material prices scared high
and it might interest folks to know
that they reached levels above those
prevailing to-day. Brick was selling
the period of wild speculation in real
estate and house building from 1868
to 1872 brick sold for SIS thousand.
Under such prices the Fashionable
residential section of the town, which
was from Fortysecond to Fifty-ninth
Street and from Sixth to Madison
Avenue, was developed In 1872
there were 200 houses under construc-
ton in this section at one time. Their
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
$500, 900 Hotel Planned
For Newark Site

A new hotel, to be called the "Mili-
tary Plaza" and to cost 100000, is
projected for Newark. 1t will contain
200 rooms and the same number of
baths, and will be erected at 1926 East
Park Street. The building will be
ready for occupancy by October.
The building will be seven stories
high. 6S feet wide and 100 feet deep.
Edward Y. Warren is the architect.
It will be built for Harry and Joseph
hruvant, who will lease it to an oper-
ating company.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Investors Again Interested
I'm Broadway Lofts
ArOnsOn Resells Tall Structure
Near Broome Street to Buyer
for Investment

Harry Aronson has sold to an in
weston 491493 Broadway with a. to
Broome Street, twelve story loft
building in the cotton converting dis
trict. Walter H. Warren, of Warren &
Skillion, was the broker. Mr.. Aronson
took in part payment 552-55S West
l49th Street. four private dwellings
on plot 66.Sx100. Mr.. Aronson pur-
chased the Broadway property from the
Adams Express Company recently. He
sold at an advance.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

lease seems to indicate that the les
secs believed that it is there the ia
nous pirate had "his money hid" for
1t calls for rental Just double that
of the present value of the property
The property has been taken over by
the Cable Cafe and Restaurant Com
pany for a term Of twcnty-one years
at an aggregate rental of $500 900, in
Guiding taxes.
The building, which is four stories
on plot 40x65, is to be extensively
altered for office and restaurant use
by the leasing company, consisting of
Charles Riemenschnsider and Richard
Schur. Schur was formerly steward Of
the Lakewood Club.
While many statements have been
made regarding the residence of Can
tain Kidd, it is generally believed that
this location just leased by the restau-
rant company is the original
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Many Plots Purchased
In Long Island CITY

Increasing activity in Long Island
City was evidenced by a number of
lot sales made by the Cross e. Brown
Company yesterday.
They have sold to S. Jacobs ten lots
extending from Sixth to Seventh ave
nue., north of Pierce Avenue, for Abra
ham Altman; to the same buyer. two
lots Immediately adjoining for Rudolph
bruer; to Harry Harris a plot at the
southwest corner of Graham and Sew
enth avenues FOR Annie Black. and To
r. Fingeroth plot of eight lots on
the east side of Sixth Avenue, forty
feet south of Graham Avenue through
to Seventh Avenue. for ]. J. Buckle
and Edward Cominsky.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
VIII Tell of Development
OF Grand Central Zone

The New York Building managers
Association will hold its monthly din
ner meeting at the Republican Club. at
81 West Fortieth Street, on Thursday
at $50 p. m.
William Marshall Ellis. of Chicago,
president Of the National Association
of Building Owners and Managers, will
speak on the convention to be held
in Philadelphia, June 10 TO ~. Leonard
Schultze, OF Warren e. Wetmore, ar
chitects. will speak on THE Develop
zmcnt of the Grand Central Zone"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

Builders are now engaged in max
ing an exhaustive study of construc-
ton prices. They are endeavorng TO
ascertain exactly what is the increase
in the cost of building this type and
that type. They are trying to learn
what are the factors in the lift in
prices; what are the factors that make
it possible to build less in one section
than in another. The information will
be applied in an effort to stabilize
prices, to eradicate sectional factors
which make for unequal levels and to
restore confidence in the ranks of the
builders, who just now arc very much
undecided as to the course they should
pursue.
The needs of the city are great
Builders appreciate the fact that their
houses would be filled and that no con-