The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-23
SITUATION rLsEwHE1R V.

Three committees in New York are
formulating a joint program for the
campaign against rent profiteers whose
alleged gouging tactics are said to
have added almost insupportahle bur-
dens to the cost OF living They are
the mayors committee on profiteering.
the welfare committee of the board of
aldermen and the housing committee
| of the state reconstruction commits
! sicn, Operations OF the prohteers. 1t
| is said have been most glaring in Har-
lem and the Bronx. In these two sec
| tons rent increases since January !, in
many cases. have ranged from $40 to
| SIS month for ordinary apartments
| In many cases. increases of from rs
to $50 per cent have been reported
| Hundreds OF dispossess notices have
| been served on tenants unwilling or
| unable to meet these increases and
many have already been elected under
| the terms of the law which requires
| only five days notice on the part of
| the landlord.
| with moving day less than two
| weeks away. thousands of Pittsburgers.
unable to find a single house awaiting
4 an occupant. have visions of campaign
ing on the curbstone. 1t is estimated
that between nifty and seventy-fve
thousand persons in Allegheny county
, will vacate their present homes May
II. Many of them are forced out be-
| cause the houses sney now occupy nave
been sold Others are moving as a re-
} suit of the big boost an rents In
creases range as high as 40 and 80
) per cent.
FRICTION IN PHILLY.
Suspension OF building operation.
during the war has caused a shortage
! OF 10000 dwelling houses in Philadel.
! phia, which. combined with the UMPIRE.
cedented demand for houses and apart.
suited In increased rent rates anc
, open friction between landlords and
I tenants.
0 Never in the history OF Kansas City
1 has there been such demand for liy'
ing quarters. Last fall rents of apart
e ments were raised and on April
q there was an advance OF per cent OF
4 detached houses. 80
4 For the frst time in its history 10
a Angeles Is short on housing accommo
a | dations. The shortage situation apple
tn all the suburbs of the city and land
lords have taken advantage Of tn
shortage TO raise the rents The pres
emit shortage bears mos. heavc,ly o.
homes for families whose means limi
their ability to pay rent up to $40 pc
month or less.
al Hundreds Of families In Fort Wort
are using tents and portage cottage
n for homes as the result OF the buildin
shortage. In the past year rents hav
doubled Apartments that a year az
rented for $50 and $75 a month no'
} bringing $3.50 to $3.50 month -Four
q room cottages in the poorer sections {
IS the city rent for $35 to $50 mont
o All Texas is confronted with a famin
y Of housing accommo dations.
~ The shortage Of housing in Detro
10 is reflected in the rental situation. 7
sr exceptional cases, the advance repre-
10 sents an increase of rs to 100 per Ger
- over the rental five years ago, thong
m an increase OF 40 to SO per cent
l. moro usual.
10 The housing situation in Denver ha
y become well nigh desperate. The lac
is- Of sufficient housing accommodate
has sent rents rocketing. During III
N past year rents have increased from
y, to so per cent with prospects Of fur
j. ther advances.