davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-06-08
MIDSUMMER WILL
SEE MUCH BUILDING
Long Period of Activity Should
Begin Then, Says S. w. Straus.

Indications are that by midsummer
we shall witness the actual beginning of
long and active period OF construction
work in all parts of the country" says
S. w. Straus OF s. W. Straus & Co.
mot only have building operations
greatly increased in the last thirty days,
but there has been noted pronounced
Increase among inquirers for capital to
be used in construction lines OF all
kinds and for industrial expansion.
These inquiries are OF such nature
and represent so many varied interests
as to indicate strong undertone OF
national optimism with regard to imme-
dlate business prospects and a rapid
approach toward general Sterilization.
Reports from the principal business
centres OF the country SHOW unat the re-
sumption OF building operations on an
extensive scale has begun and there is
reason to believe that the present month
may be the best June in the history of
the country in point or building con-
tracts let unless labor disturbances or
some other unfavorable circumstance
prevents
The improved conditions in the build
Ing industry are based quite largely on
the realization by all interests that con-
struction prices, instead OF recedins, will
go higher. 1t has become generally
recognized that labor costs IN this coun-
try are more likely to advance than To
be modified, and this, in the final
analysis. is the deciding factor for the
reason that about 40 per cent OF the cost
of building is for labor employed in
erection work, and 80 per cent is for
labor in the manufacture of materials
.Is.Wr.. Il
vanced 2Sa per cent. during the period
OF l914-1S, while the cost OF living went
up 65 per cent, and in New York it adj
vanced rs per cent, II may be assumed,
therefore, that construction costs will
go higher than present levels with the
added pressure OF ensuing abnormal de-
mands.
at must be remembered that the cost
OF commodities entering into building
construction arc low nj the present time
compared with the cost Of all other COM
mod!ties. and with general prices CON
tinuRlly working toward higher levels.
II is futile for any building interests to
expect more favorable terms at later
date.
while construction activities are now
gaining Roadway rapidly with every
indication OF reaching unprecedented
proportions as the summer adva noes,
there is no likelihood that anything APP
preaching normal housing conditions
will be attained. The situation has been
growing steadily worse for two years.
There Is a building deficit amounting TO
more than $1,000. 100000, which includes
a million homes. Neither me physical
equipment OF builders nor the supply OF
unskilled labor Is sufficient to make II
possible to reach condition of nor
mality before the expiration of num-
Der OF years. However. present actiV-
tiles will tend to stabilize general con-
ditions and prevent much suffering in
the large cities during the coming win
ter.
The sun., 1919-06-08

ton OF two plots on 17sth street be-
tween Broadway and Fort Washington
avenue, and tho westerly block front
on Fort Washington avenue, nth TO
17Sth street, were all located on Pine
hurst, Haven and Buena Vista avenues.
Riverside Terrace. l77th street, 17Sth
street. l7sth street. lS0th street and
1S1st street.
The holding was divided Into flfty-one
plots comprising 2iT lots. containing
55S,2e0 square feet OF land. The total
amount brought by the sale was ST.
65s,l00. an average selling price OF
s32.5l2 a plot. $7,641 lot and s297 a
square foot.
Now. ten years later, and with the
Heights practically fully improved up
to lSlst street. IL Will be very In
teresting to compare the results OF the
Bennett sale with those obtained by the
same auctioneer a decade ago at the
Buena Vista sale. This comparison will
be doubly interesting in view OF the ex-
pected building boom and the needs OF
the city and its hard pressed tenants.
The building campaign cannot be in
augurated in a better location than
The sun., 1919-06-08

The only Broadway block to be dis
posed of consists OF the twenty-six lots
comprising the square block bounded by
Broadway, Bennett avenue and 1S7th
street. This block has great potential
value because OF the practical certainty
that a new subway station will soon
be built with entrances at 1S6th and
1S7th streets, midway between the over
taxed 1S1st and 191st street stations.
This station would also be the ideal
one from which to extend a tunnel from
st. Nicholas avenue via 1S6th and 18th
streets to Fort Washington avenue and
Riverside Drive. Such a station would
do mora than any other improvement
to increase the assessed value OF the
lots west of Broadway.
The great majority OF the Bennett
estate lots lie east and west of Fort
Washington avenue along the ridge that
forms the highest point of land on Man
haitian Island. Some are below grade.
while two square blocks along Bennett
avenue have been used for tennis courts
and war gardens.
West of Fort Washington avenue Is
the sito OF old Fort Washington, the
The sun., 1919-06-08
FREER LENDING ISA
BUILDING STIMULUS
Renewed Cooperation on Part
of Institutions Is Help
to Construction.

Further evidence OF renewed cooper
alton between large mortgage interests
and builders, lack of which for some
time past has checked the progress of
construction on a large scale, a result
largely due TO efforts made by unscrupu-
lous spectators to place loans unwar-
ranted by appra isals, was feature OF
this weeks activity in building circles
says the A me1icdh A rchitect. Although
hotly assailed by this type of builder
who claims he will be driven out OF bus
mess If the plan to force amortization
continues, there Is sound reason why
lending institutions have hesitated in
furnishing construction funds on nrst
mortgages as freely as before the war.
The responsibility for an increased cost
OF lending capital can be directly traced
to this condition OF mistrust. The scar
city OF available funds held by the title
and life insurance companies and savings
banks after they absorbed a large part
OF al! Government issues has made for
an expected rate OF per cent. and with
1t comes n closer scrutiny o; all prof.
Gets on which money is advanced.
1T Is only short time ago that tia
speculative builder could get a bank to
accept tho appraisal of n broker whose
connections might not be OF the best,
only for the bank to find later that
an excessive amount had been loaned
on the project. Evidence OF this ia TO be
found in many cities whero lending
companies have had to take over title
70 considerable property that had been
| oVerappraised to such an extent that
the specuator was willing TO turn over
the property 10 tho company for the
face value OF the mortgage
Since TIC war this state OF affairs
has undergone n decided change for the
better. Additional safeguards have been
taken by the mortgage institutions 10
guard agains; the reprehersible methods
OF unpriucip!ed Spectators. Apprai-
sails have been put in the hands OF COM
petent men, the amortization clause
placed in contracts and other precau-
tons taken TO enable operators to judge
their equity with more certainty and 10
allow building to proceed on a more
normal basis.
THE effect of the feeling OF mistrust
on tho part of the banks in the larger
! cities was unfortunately reflected in tho
smaller municipalities with the conse-
quence that the we'll intentioned builder
or tho man who desires TO construct a
new home has had to bear the onus and
pay the increased rates on loans The
moral hazards In transactions Of this
nature Is as pronounced rs IN nre in
surance and becomes an important fac
tor in the placing Of a loan. 1t is not
Just that the small investor shall suffer
for the suspicions that are rightfuily
directed against certain classes of spec
ulative builders, who use questionable
methods 20 finance their projects and
shall have TO pay a premium that or
dinarily he would not nc asked TO give.
The banks and builders are now CO.
operating with the net result OF getting
CONSUMPTION started on 2 large scaie
The need Is for new houses and more
new houses and this feeling of osn-
Continued on Ft!!h Pd2s.
The sun., 1919-06-08

Bennett homestead and its barns, aplsa-
did lawns. hedges and gardens. The
views to be obtained from practically
all parts of the property over the Hud-
son River puts 1t almost in a class by
itself 1t seems almost pity that this
superb property must be sold at a time
when vacant lots are still suffering from
the effects of war time restrictions on
building and building materials.
once the impending building boom is
we'll under way every builder of note
in the city will want A Bennett estate
site. Buyers at the sale next Tuesday
will then be in a good position to pocket
n comfortable profit unless all Of the
buyers on that memorable day are build
ing loan operators and builders
In addition to this sale being an al
solute one. purchasers should feel secure
In the assurance that the executors or
the Bennett estate are Rodman Wanna
maker, the Guaranty Trust Company,
which succee ded the late A. d. Juilliard.
and Eugene Higgins. who stand for all
that is stable and constructive in the
business world.
The sun., 1919-06-08

| The Riverside Drive lots above referred
to form the first private holding north
Of Fort Washington Park, as legally
opened.
Another little patch OF park has been
legally opened on the east side OF River
side Drive. Just north of the northerly
line of Chlttenden avenue, a westerly
extension OF 1S6th street, running west
from Northern avenue, thence north
alongside the new park, parallel TO
Riverside Drive. Because OF their high
speculative value active bidding is ex-
pected, for the eighteen lots fronting on
the south side OF 1880 street. the east
side of P,nehurst avenue, both sides of
Fort Washington avenue and the west
side of Magaw place also for the eleven
watch charm" plots, known as lots asa
to 363. that control the westerly 'front.'
age on Pinehurst avenue for n distance
| OF about ESQ feet north OF 1891 street.
There Is also an attractive parcel OF
six short lots at the southeast corner Of
Bennett avenue and 1s4th street, on a
block where row of six story eleva-
tor apartment houses hare been most
successful.
The sun., 1919-06-08

Washington Heights. the further i'm
provement of which locality will give
relief to local and lower West Side
tenants and serve to protect the in
terests OF the great middle class"
those who pay rentals of from $500 to
$4,000. and who actually are the great
est sufferers from tho present high
rent
Each and every lot. many Of which
are considerably more than hundred
feet in depth. must be sold, and each
will be knocked down TO the highest
bidder regardless of the amount Of his
bid or the actual assessed or appraised
value OF the property concerned.
All the lots to be sold by the estate.
located between Riverside Drive and
the Hudson River and fronting on the n.
Y. C. r. r. right OF way. are to be dis
posed of as separate parcels, extending
through from the Drive to the N. Y. c.
q II. r. r. Company's right of way. The
average depth of these lots is about 200
feet. Other lots with double frontage
are the twelve parcels located just south
of 18TH street and extending through
from Pinehurst to Northern avenues
The sun., 1919-06-08
OLDLAW TENEMENT
AKNOTTY PROBLEM
Housing Experts Seek Eagerly
for Solution: May Urge
Demolition.

East Siders are moving out They are
leaving the "old law" tenAments, with
their dark, poorly ventilated and un-
sanitary rooms for the new law" apart
ments in The Bronx and other outlying
districts "Old law tenement dwellers
IN various sections of the city are obey
ing the same urge. They too are seek
ing 10 obtain better living conditions"
in up to date apartments. where light
and air and ordinary comforts Of home
life may be found. The result of this
migration has contributed greatly to the
demand for apartments and has brought
grief TO the owners OF ''old law" tene-
ments. who nave many vacancies on
their hands and are having great diff
Guilty in finding new tenants.
While the East Side landlord is fer
vently praying that those who have
abandoned the dismal, i'll smelling and
IN many instances uninhabitable tene-
ments may be obliged by force of cir
cumstances sooner or later to return.
others. who are making a study of the
housing question. are praying just as
hard the other way.
Can They he AIteredr
What is going to happen to the "old
law tenements? Can they be altered
or remodelled so that they can be made
TO conform TO the standards of the new
law" buildings and life will be worth
while in them? Would It not be wiser
10 recommend that they be torn down
and up to date structures be erected on
The cites of the old buildings? Wouldn't
such plan be profitable investment
TO the owners, and wouldn't It mean
much for the health and comfort of the
community? These are some of the
questions now being asked. and nobody
Nu 10. IT.
swers than the experts for the Govern
ors Reconstruction Commission, who are
endeavoring TO find a satisfactory solu-
tion Of troublesome angles of the hous-
inf question.
We are giving much attention in our
studies 10 the question OF the old law
tenements and what should be done with
them Clarence s. Stein. secretary to the
commission, said to a representative Of
THE Sun. "our recommendations on this
subject whatever they may be, will be
one OF the important features of our
report.
Our studies show that rooms are
dark in the old 'dumbbell' apartments.
These are the familiar dumbbell shaped
building with a closed court. or yard. be-
tween buildings. 1t Is curious that this
type OF structure. which was outlawed
about twenty years ago. was the result
OF a competition by a newspaper for q
better type Of building. The winning
prize was the dumbbell apartment.
Origin of the "New Law Type"
The so-called new law was designed
In get rid OF the 'dumbbell' apartment.
tho principal idea in the construction
o. which was to get as much building
an was possible on the ground. The mini
mum restriction OF the new law was
twelve foot court between buildings.
Between two-thirds and three-quar-
tiers OF the tenements In the city are
old law structures. There are about
5000 old law and $4,000 new law.
The sun., 1919-06-08

extravaganza OF cool green. Delicate
ptnks of dainty sweetpeas, sensuous reds
OF carnation and rose. solemn purple OF
rhododendron, and tho many colors Of
tho rainbow greet the eye.
Though enhancing the interior may
be. It is the exterior that makes the first
bid for attention, One would expect to
ind floral beauty in floral shop. but
one does not expect TO find It without.
in the busiest shopping street of the
busiest city of the busiest nation in the
world. The red tiled sloping roof is
visible from afar-if one walks on the
opposite side OF the avenue. But even
here the vermillion shade g relieved by
green. smilax. Ivy and laurel creepers
swaying downward from their boxes
perched upon the ridge. 4 row OF boxes
are placed upon tho coping several feet
lower where the roof tucks in to the
drain pipes giving another rank of
green In the succeeding files of creepers
as they reach toward the ground.
Like n BeetlinE Brow.
And low. like a beetling brow of
shaggy hair, runs the balcony at the
second floor. 1t Is built out from the
wall and the grilled. fiuted and hligread
iron is stained a dark green. throwing
into contrast the greens OF palms and
many other evergreens that nod in the
breeze. In the winter these tropical
greens were replaced by hardy north.
ern shrubs that stood rugged in the icy
blasts throughout many seasons. Ever
greens OF the same type were planted in
the Fifth avenue flower bed running the
length OF the buildings frontage on this
The sun., 1919-06-08

OF the day and when it is confidently
rrecicted on all sides that n great build
Ing boom Is shortly to begin. this sale
has attracted the attention OF thousands
of men and women who ordinarily take
bit little interest in realty matters
Whether these men and women wiz
translate their interest into action and
become purchasers at tine sale Is a qles-
ton which only tho sale itself will de-
eide.
. The last important sale Of Manhattan
real estate similar in character to the
Bennett property took place in 1909. At
that time many men who had been sue
cessful in other businesses and profess
sions forsook their usual vocations in
order TO become real estate operators
The sun., 1919-06-08

Experts are now wondering whether or
not history will repeat itself in this sale
Seldom have investors had such a
splendid opportunity TO compare the
value Of property in a given neighbor-
hood after ten years lapse of time as
the Bennett sale will present. The OPP
portunity to make this compar ison will
be given next Tuesday. June 10, at noon.
at IA Vesey street. when JoaAph p. Day
will offer for sale to the highest bidder
the 500 Bennett lots. which have been
owned by the Bennett family SINCE 1895.
The sale with which comparison may
be made Is that Of the property OF the
Fort Washington and Buena Vista syn
dicates. conducted by Mt. Day on April
20. 1909. These lots. with the excep-
The sun., 1919-06-08
Five Hundred Lots Which Have Been Owned by the
Bennett Family Since 1885 Will Be Sold
by Joseph P. Day to Highest Bidders

The chief topic of conversation wher.
tver real estate men have gathered dur
ing the last ten days has been the APP
preaching sale OF the George Gordon
Bennett property on Washington Heights.
Probably never in the history Of New
York city real estate has a sale OF this
character been SO extensively advertised
or 50 widely discussed. 1t has been OF
absorbing interest not only to real es-
tate men and builders, who would nat
urally take a keen interest In a sole of
such magnitude, but to the general pub
lie as well.
Coming at time when the housing
situation is the most important question
The sun., 1919-06-08
Passing Of the House of Flowers Will Soon
Deprive 9Th Ave. Of Picturesque Landmark
StructureHas Lent
a Dash of Color to
City S Most Fa-
n Cuj Thorough
fare

The passing OF the house OF Flowers
is another surrender OF the picturesque
to progress. This floral garden, for
years a bright spot in Fifth avenue, is
- be forced out by the trundling wave
OF progressive business which is raising
the dust of high rents in its wake as it
! continues its way up the thoroughfare.
The House OF Flowers was fast be-
coming a landmark in New York Here
ole ran suddenly out OF the marble
walled city with It's reek OF gasoline
and crank case oil into blossomlng
wonderland. 1t has been said that
every New Yorker has stopped at least
once In front OF the House of Flowers
and INDUCED his or her interest Mill
ions of tourists whose trip was not COM
plete without a stroll the length of the
shopping district OF Fifth avenue, have
stood before the windows OF Thorley's
and gaZed within, many going inside
10: ooutonniere or an old fashioned
ncsegay to wear and later'to be pressed
between the leaves OF the ponderous
family Bible or Webster's for remem-
brsnce for here Milady of the Southern
rose garden, whose pride was as great
IN her roses as It was In her ancestry,
found far more variety of roses and in
greater abundance than she had ever
been able to cultivate.
Known All Over the World.
Because OF its unique setting thu
House OF Flowers became known prac-
tically all over the world. Within a
short time the structure with its CAV
color scheme OF green, red and white
or some light color-toucheh here and
there with fiaring highlights OF blooming
flowers. will be torn down to accom-
modate the building OF a six story struo-
tu-e for the THIN Products, Inc, and
Louis Sherry. Inc. manufacturers OF
sweets
One coming nearly opposite the cor
ner upon which 1t stands sees a four
story house patterned somewhat after
the old English inn of Pig n Whistle"
star and Garter" days. The walls
above the street floor are stained an
ivory white. There are a number OF
windows, each with its box of flower
ing life. both on the avenue side and
Forty-sixth street too. Between the
windows are long horizontal boxes fixed
to the walls midway between the window
ledge and the top OF the opening.
The street floor Is almost entirely of
glass. kept so clean that one fancies that
II Is not there. II seems as II one has
suddenly collie to the entrance of a gar
den growing out OF the pavement which.
in reality, its serrled ranks OF bo@d>r
flowers are But back OF these In the
glass enclosed structure there Ia a back
ground OF greens in profusion. From
the tender greens OF early spring to the
sombre black green of the magnolia leaf,
the scale of shades Is run in their vary
ing and multiple degrees. Ferns are
everywhere waving their fronds in the
The sun., 1919-06-08
FLAT TO REPLACE LANDMARK.

Harry II. Weinberger has purchased
Gregory Hail at 23S Gregory avenue,
Passsic, y ", and announced his inten-
tion OF erecting on the site a four story
apartment house to cost SIS 900 to $780,
600. Gregory Hall has been a landmark
in the residential section for many years
The sun., 1919-06-08
Red Tiled Roof,
White Walls and
Green Window
Boxes Add to
Shops Beauty

old residents stGl remain In this neigh
borhood centertng at Forty second street
and the avenue. among them being Helen
Gould (Mrs. Finley J. Shepherd). FASH
ionable hotels clubs. fraternities and
churches also now have their buildings
on Quality Hill of which Clinton Scollard
sings:
Quality Hill! 10! It fourishes still.
blending OF breeding with pun and with
plume:
A strange sort of mixture of rick and
Some amble, some scramble (some sambie)
TO MI
The motley and medley OF Quality H,u.
And this motley and medley Of Quail
ity Hill' has depended largely upon the
House of Flowers for its floral decora.
tions for all occasions from funerals 10
weddings, II used to be that tea for
two was not complete unless the garden
had first been visited and a choice cor
sage bouquet procured.
Besides being the home OF the hornl
shop the house in itself is interesting.
II was first the homo OF the Harper
family for more than seventy years. and
then became the residence OF Perry
Belmont. The Harper family sold the
building with other property adjoining
it at l West Forty-sixth street 10 Elmer
present transaction. Just across the
street from the house occurred tho dis
astrous Windsor Hotel fire in which fifty
lives were lost. w. Il J. Sloane, rug
dealers. occupy tho old hotel site now.
Before the House OF Flowers was es-
tablished on the avenue Charles Thorley,
the owner and founder OF II. occupied
space In the old Lorraine Hotel, Fifth
avenue and Forty-fifth street. southeast
corner, but later moved UP a block to
embellish the Harper mansion with
hanging gardens and in other ways,
This was fifteen years ago. short time
for a building to become famous through
out the world. But Mr.. Thorley was not
unknown before.
Once mt Forty-nfth street.
Prior to coming to Fifth avenue and
Quality Hin he had maintained a shop
in Broadway near Twenty-nlnth street
His patrons were principally theatrical
people and their friends and admirers
The old fashioned srmful bouquets were
arranged here for the stars OF the stage
and the opera, to be handed over the
footltghts after the completion OF a par
ticularly splendid bit of acting or an aria.
This was before the day actresses and
opera singers ever thought OF purchasing
their own footlight flowers. and the gay
young bucks of the '70s, sos and '9cs
lavished flowers upon them on slight
provocation. swelling the days receipts
to 81 900 or more.
Mr., Thorleys business was founded
in 1874. There are shops IN Paris and
London. IN addition to the New York
House OF Flowers. which will be demol-
iShed next May. His speciality has been
roses,