davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-06-01
HOUSES NEEDED. BUT
NO CRISIS IN ST. LOUIS
Surplus of Homes Before War
Has Been Wiped Out.


ST.. LOUIS, May S1.-Housins condi-
lions in St Louis, while strained. are
far from critical. In fact conditions at
present are regarded as most favorable
to the real estate and rental situation
from the property owners standpoint,
as this city has been unbalanced in the
comparative number of residences and
apartments for several years.
St Louisans familiar with the situat
ton say that within six months unless
building increases this city will be I'M
able to house large numbers OF persons
who will come with the completion OF
many big industrial plants. among which
are those OF the Pullman Company, the
General Motors Company and the United
Drug Company
Before the war, since 1904 st. Louis
had more than It's quota of vacancies.
but during the war these filled. particu-
larly apartment and fat buildings, while
the number OF vacant residences con-
tinued comparatively high. Since the
beginning of the war St. Louis has had
the apartment hotel craze and during
that period many buildings OF that type
were erected despite the high cost OF
material. Practically all Of these were
rented before they were completed.
Since hostilities ceased building has
begun on a surprising scale, but prac-
tically all of II Is confined to apartments
and apartment hotels renting for ex-
tremely high prices. This condition pre-
cipitated the improvement and leasing
at good rents Of old residences to per-
The sun., 1919-06-01
SHORTAGE SERIOUS
IN PHILADELPHIA
IS, 900 More Dwellinss
Needed in Quaker City.
Special DesDdtcA to THp SUI.

PHrLADELPHrA. May 31.-Philadelphia
Is still faced with a housing situation
the seriousness OF which cannot be
exaggerated. Instead of being known
throughout the country as the "city of
homes" 1t is in danger of becoming a city
OF homo hunters.
You canont rent dwelling house Of
moderate size ard price. Unless you
are, able to pay a relatively high rent
you Will md II almost Impossible to get
an apartment with fair surroundings and
reasonably modern Appointments. I'm
less you are willing to make an ofrer
considerably In excess of the assessed
valuation you cannot even buy a house
Of ordinary sixe.
II you are a renter you probably have
had your rent raised several times and
expect to be raised still higher--or
even worse, you have been requested,
IL not importuned. to buy the house
you live in. at price greatly above
It's original value. The reason for all
this 10 the Increased population and
decreased dwelling construction. The
war not only stopped the building Of
dwelling houses but increased by thou
sands the population Of the city. All
this virtually took place overnight.
There seems to be no solution at
present for the problem. Even the
United States Government, with all It's
facilities for doing big things. built only
5000 permanent dwellings last year to
take care OF the immense army OF
workmen that poured into this city.
The overflow naturally crowded the city
until 1t finds itself with shortage OF
$4,000 dwellings
1t Is estimated that Philadelphia can
not construct moro than 1000 dwellings
~ IL. -
issued for only 2,047. A normal year
means the addition Of at least 5000
dwellings. therefore everything points
to an even greater scarcity Of dwellings
the coming autumn
Az rental values have not increased
In proportion to the cost OF construc-
ton there Is nothing to invite the
operative builder to construct what Is
commonly known as Investment prop
erty." or small houses in large quantities
that have been generally sold TO inves-
tors. in large lots or in rows. at a
price TO permit the investor in this
sort of security to obtain fair return.
The sun., 1919-06-01

houses and bungalows. Everything
available Is taken. Home building, once
II really starts. will break records"
No agency In the city seemed COM
petent TO estimate the present housing
needs. Real estate board records showed
an approximate per cent. OF vacancy.
This estimate groups residence struc-
lures Of all kinds.
Modern small houses or bungalows
at S45 to SIS month are practically
upobtainable. Expensive eight, nine and
ten room apartments and cheap apart
ments In old neighborhoods, generally
with stove heat, are more readily OBJ
tainable. Large residences are In little
demand.
Beyond these obvious facts housing
conditions seem unreoorded- The city's
actual growth, the outward war move
ment Of labor to other markets and the
tide inward are not known.
Proof that real estate buying Is not
only active but record making IL found
In the report Of the Chicago Title and
Trust Company for April. Requests for
guaranty policies and abstracts showed
an increase Of 60 per cent. over April,
1918; ~ per cent over 1917 and II per
cent. over 1916, the previous record year.
The sun., 1919-06-01
DAY TO SEE MARKET DEALERS.
Com missioner Says City Loses $685.
900 on Washington Rents.

The Rev. DR.. Jonathan c. Day. Com
missioner OF Public Markets, Is going to
attend a meeting of the Washington
Market Merchants Association to-mor-
row afternoon at the invitation Of VIII
liam Minder, president of the associa-
ton. He will explain why the city must
increase rents for the market stands
beginning July 1.
Instead OF losing $4,000 q year, as
! supposed, on Washington Market" "
the Commissioner said last night, II
find the city Is running behind at the
rate of $4,000 on the market So you
see I didn't raise the rents enough.
am not going to change anything, but
/ am going to tell the dealers all about
It. When they see the data they will
understand that the city couldn't do
otherwise than increase its income from
the market. There 10 no argument for
any system of markets that is not at
least self-supportlng."
DR.. Day said the Wallabout Market
men have accepted the city's SO 1-3 per
cent. rent raise on their stands and ARE
happy and at work"
The sun., 1919-06-01
CRISIS IN ROCHESTER,S
BOOM is EXPECTED
Houses So Scarce Families Go
to Beach Cottages.
Special Despatch to TIE svx

ROCHESTER, May SIN common
with other cities Rochester is experience
I ing readjustment in housing condi-
lions that is painful, to say the least.
Rents are being raised, renters are be-
ing forced to buy in sheer self-protec-
ton, and tenants who find themselves
dispossessed by the sale of property to
home seekers are unable to find ade-
quate accommodations.
Just previous to the war good houses
could be rented In Rochester for $40
and up a month. and more pretentious
single family dwellings. with all i'm
provements, good sized yard and per-
haps a fruit tree or two. might have
been had for $25 and more a month.
At the present time families are pay
ing s25 to S35 n month for quarters
In two and three family houses, and
the rate for single family houses, with
yards and without, seems to have lodged
permanently above s35 a month.
One of the most striking symptoms
Of the present overcrowding In the leas-
ing or buying Of virtually all the cot
tage space and cottages by city resi-
dents, even as early as April. For thirty
or more miles along the beaches Of Lake
Ontario north and east and west Of the
city, and all around Irondequoit Bay.
cottages were occupied last month BY
city dwellers, despite the chill Of spring
and inadequate transportation facilities.
There was literally no other place for
the overflow of population to go.
Beginning with last month. coincident
with the settlement of various dis
putes In the building trades and be-
tween the unions and contractors, the
issuing of building permits increased
from few dozen to several hundred,
mostly for. dwellings. One builder esti-
mates that fully 500 dwellings will be
needed in the northwestern section of
the city near the plant OF the Eastman
Kodak Company. which is planning OK
tensive engagements neoessitating the
employment of several hundred more
skilled workers.
Also symptomatic OF developments
about to come is the statement by one
real estate agency which specializee in
bank loans on dwellings that moro than
half a million dollars Is expected to be
lent by that agency within short time
on single and double dwellings.
According to the opinion expressed by
conservative real estate men, Rochester
Is about to experience one Of the great
est building booms in its history. boom
in which both the city and its numer-
Gus suburbs will share.
The sun., 1919-06-01
be supplied are those bringing low rents

be supplied are those bringing low rents
In sections not especially desirable.
The war stopped building as effectu-
ally as IL house building had become a
lost art materials and workmen were
tied UP in the then more important work
Of producing war iupplles. Added to
this sudden elimination of the annual
erection OF between 1000 and 5000
homes for the last two years Is the
sudden influx of new population. This
has been caused by thousands OF persons
living in outlying sections who have been
driven into the city to evade the In
creased fares on the trolley lines: also
many families have come into the city
plants engaged in special war produc-
ton.
In normal times II Is estimated from
1000 to 5000 dwelling houses were
erected annually. but during the last
few years there has been little or no
building. In the meanwhile the city has
grown and the growth has more than
absorbed all the apartments. Conditions
here are deplorable In this respect.
There are practically no houses at all
for rental and persons who might other
wise sell their property do not dare do
SO as they do not know where they could
get another place in which to live them
selves.
Real estate men are very optimistic
at the outlook for q big building boom
here, but there 70 unanimity OF opinion
that a moro liberal attitude toward
those who want to borrow money with
which to build on the part of the banks
would materially help matters and start
the prospective boom in good earnest.
The sun., 1919-06-01
n small houses for people of modest in.

In small houses for people Of modest In
comes.
Desirable residence property was be-
ing held 80 generally for speculative pur-
poses q few years ago that the State
Legislatures assistance was enlisted and
two measures designed to spur improve
ment Of idle land were passed. Ono
eliminated the three way classification
of city land as city. rural and agricul-
tural land, each with lower tax rate,
and classified all land within the city on
one basis for taxation, at the higher or
city rate. which made II moro expensive
TO hold unimproved land.
The other measure was the graded
tax law, the so-called step toward APP
plying the Henry George single tax tho
ory," by which. progressively the tax
rate on improved property is reduced
until within a few years II will be 80
per cent OF the tax on unimproved
property.
These measures spurred building OPP
erations, which Just got well started
when the war stopped all building.
To-day with thousands of families
doubling up" others moved to the over
crowded suburbs. themselves similarly
AFFLICTED with a shortage of homes
boarding houses. rooming houses and
hotels crowded, no new building on a
large scale Is predicted. Contractors
and workmen in the building trades are
engaged in trying to adjust differences
to eliminate the wage question, which
will be done in all probability at a gen.
eral 10 per cent. increase in wages, to
be further charged on the cost Of new
buildings. With wages to be increased,
materials high and vacant property
soaring upward in price, there Is little
inducement to the investor to build and
little such building is In prospect.
The municipality appointed a housing
commission. which, as the city without
authority to embark on home building,
was enabled to do no more than reem-
phasize the fact that a critical shortage
of homes exists In Pittsburg.
The sun., 1919-06-01
DETROIT PLANS AID
FOR HOME BUILDERS
"a, 900 Families Nosu in Need
of Accommodations.
Special De.patcA TO THE Sur.

DETROIT, May 31.--Housing accommo-
dations for more than $4,000 families
are needed in Detroit, according to esti-
mates presented to the Detroit Real
Estate Board and the Detroit Board of
Commerce following investigations or
local conditions. Reports were obtained
from furniture storage houses, from the
railroads and various other sources,
while allowance was made for natural
growth of the city during the war Pc
riod. in which the construction OF homes
was suspended.
The railroad reports indicate approx
mately twenty-five families daily coming
into Detroit with the intention OF MAX
ing this city their home. 81,
Before the war home building opera
tons were carried on extensively, the
housing provided Just about keeping pace
with requirements of normal Increase in
population, though in the winter OF 1914
there seemed an excess of housing due
to a slackening OF Industrial activity in
preceding months thid had caused many
families to seek economy by doubling
up. or by returning to their former
homes in rural communities.
Enormous manufacturing activities of
the war period and the high wages paid
In practically all lines turned the move
ment Of families back to Detroit. They
are still coming. attracted by the clty's
prosperity and the bright outlook for
steady employment in motor and other
large Industries. A vacant house is
practically non-existent, while tents and
even empty box cars are reported sup
plying housing needs.
It Is not uncommon for inquiries from
half a dozen homo seekers to be attract
ed to a house where the possibility of a
vacation Is suggested by removal of
window curtains for spring cleaning.
To moving van men are offered large
bonuses TO report places from which
families are moving to others seeking
homes. More general offers OF similar
bonuses are frequently seen in advertise
ments
Naturally rents have advanced; not
The sun., 1919-06-01
Big CITIES AGITATED
BY HOUSING CRISIS


sion. In Cleveland banks are lending
only 40 per cent. and elsewhere as high
as so per cent
Isaac Elman, president of the Browns
vile Landlords Protective Association,
added to the anxiety of rent strikers
yesterday by announcing that group
OF highly respectable negroes Is In the
market to buy 100 apartment houses in
the Brownsville section of Brooklyn.
Mr., Elman added that a committee Of
Tour negroes called on him Friday night
and satisfied him they had sufficient
financial backing to carry out the pro-
rosed colonization scheme. They are
willing TO pay $4,000 more a house
than ordinarily is asked, he insisted
Some OF the leaders In the rent strike
expressed the opinion that Mr.. Elman's
announcement was put out to scare the
rent strikers into being good.
Dispatches from THE SUNS CORE
spondents follow:
The sun., 1919-06-01
Pope Endorses shrine Project.

Pope Benedict XIV, has addressed a
letter. said to be the FIRST message of the
sort written during his pontlhcate, to the
American hierarchy indorsing the prof.
ect for the erection of a national Catho-
lie shrine at the Catholic University,
Washington. He described 1t as a holy
purpose" and urged that full support be
given to the movement He called at
teItion TO a meeting of the entire Catho-
lie hierarchy in the United States which
Is to be held this fall and predicted that
the programmes for religious and public
work to be discussed would prove fruit
full The Pope gave his full approval to
extension Of church work through the
Knights Of COLUMBUS and similar organ
izGtions
The sun., 1919-06-01
PROVIDENCE HOUSE
SITUATION CRITICAL
Building Stagnant Two Years
and Demand GroUs.
Special DespatcA to THE sus.

PROVIDENCE, r. l., May 31.-The city
is facing the most serious period in It's
history as regards housing conditions.
with approximately 200 per cent more
calls for residences and apartments than
there were two years ago. real estate
agents and brokers are at their wits
end to supply the demand, which Is
daily becoming more insistent
Stagnation in building operations dur
ing the last two years higher prices OF
all kinds OF building materials and all
classes of labor: higher rates of taxa
ton. which recently jumped 80 cents
per 800, making the new rate SAILS
per 500, and increased suburban car
fares. have combined to cause a housing
problem in Providence and its metro
politan area that is critical in the ex-
treme. Within the last few months
rents for dwellings and offices, includ-
ing stores. have been raised from 10 to
40 per cent. and there Is no immediate
relief in sight.
For persons moving into Providence
II is a problem to find a place in which
to live. They are forced to take almost
anything they can get, and naturally
the class OF dwellings which can best
The sun., 1919-06-01
PITTSBURG REPORTS
NO RELIEF IN SIGHT
Families Doubling Up and
Thousands Need Homes.
special DespatcA TO THE sux

PrrrsBURo. May 91.-There Is a short
age of 10000 to $4,000 houses in this
city. with no Immediate prospect Of
relief through new construction. This
is an accentuation Of the shortage ex-
listing here for years and antedating the
war OF from an average Of 1000 to
5000 homes. The greatest shortage u
The sun., 1919-06-01
MARYLAND HoNoRs THE 18TH.
Fighters From France Get mig
Homecoming ovation.

BALTIMORE. May 31.-JThe men of
Maryland who fought In the Twenty
ninth Division and returned recently
from France were acclaimed by tho1-
sapds as they marched In a homscoIn-
ing parade here to-day. The units in
line were composed chiefly OF the old
Maryland National Guard. which con-
sisted Of two regiments from Baltimore
and another made up OF companies from
towns In various parts OF the State.
GOV. Harrington proclaimed the day
legal holiday and the city was Law
lshly decorated = Asasr - ~ eA>AsIen.
The sun., 1919-06-01
.CHICAGO'S HOUSING
- NEEDS INCREASING
Building Programme Sug-
gested to Relieve Congestion.
speelaI peipateA 20 Tun Sos.


CHICAGO. May 31.-Demand for houses
in Chicago has not subsidized since the
war ended and building programme
has been urged to relieve congestion.
No figures were available to show the
percentage OF unoccupied houses pre-
vious to the war compared with the
present. Real estate agents said to-day
the demand was greater than tho sup
ply. strictly modern homes being de-
manded irrespective OF rental cost.
Available figures show apartment
house building this year has fallen 90
per cent. below that OF last year and
So per cent below that OF 1917. Home
building meanwhile has almost trebled
that OF 1918 and has exceeded that OF
1917.
Ivan o. Ackley. president of the
Chicago Real Estate Board, said:
Never in the history OF the city has
the demand been 80 great for small
The sun., 1919-06-01
but these only suggested that further

but these only suggested that further
reductions were coming. t.t'
Suggestions ID relieve the situation.
which have not gone beyond sugges-
lions. are The passage of the home
credits bill by Congress; the formation
Of corporation Of employers to finance
homo building by wage earners; com
bined action by banks and building and
loan companies to reduce the interest
rate and increase the loan: getting en-
ployers to give wage increases TO work.
ers who will agree to build homes.
Rent talk is on everybody's lips. The
number of complaints to the Federal
rent board here, recently shorn of all
real power. has Increased enormously
since May 1.
The sun., 1919-06-01
sons unable to obtain apartments q,

sons unable to obtain apartments a.
reasonable rents
For the last few weeks plans have
been made for an Gown Your Own
Home" campaign, but interest in the
drive seems to have waned. There have
been no steps taken by the city govern
ment in view of the alarming conditions
In the East. The general belief Is that
building will begin on a large scale with
in the next two months with or without
propaganda drives by contractors. real
estate men or others.
Agents rent lists are to Is per cent
Of what they were six years ago.
The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-22
Pershing Will
Stay On Job

LONDON, May 21.-The proposed
visit oEngland of General Pershing,
the American commander-in-chief has
been indefinitely postponed. 1t is in
ferred here that this postponement is
due to the official view that it would
be inadvisable for the commander to
leave the Rhine until the Germans had
signed the peace treaty.
Announcement OF the postpone
ment Of General Pershing's visit was
made by the war office. The an
nouncement stated that owing to the
uncertainty of the German attitude
regarding the peace terms and the
military situation thus created, it had
become impossible for General Per-
shing to leave France at this moment
for his visit to London. The whole
program arranged for the generals
entertainment would ultimately be
carried out, it was added, but the date
for the time being would have to be
indefinitely postponed.
The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-22
No Equalization
Of 1919 Taxes

NASHVILLE, Tenn, May 22.-
There will be no equalization of tax
for the year 1919, ac-
cording to a statemen; ISSUED yester-
day by the state board of equaliza-
ton. The board states that it would
be humnaly impossible to make the
equalization this year and have 1t
ready by October lst, as required by
the statute. Since beginning their in.
vestigation the board has found that
the assessments in the state are in
such a deplorable condition that it will
require a complete overhauling of the
methods and this cannot be complet
ed for this year.
The board announces that it viii
continue to gather data and will as
sess all property that is found which
has been escaping taxation and all i'm
proved property and appeal cases
The statement is made that every steI
taken and every dollar expended SC
far is necessary for the working ou
of the system for the year 1920.
The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-22
Baseball Crowded
Out By Cricket

LONDON, May 5,-(By Mail.)-
interest in American baseball here
which was stimulated the last two
years by a number of young Ameri-
cans in London, is beginning to die
out by the revival of enthusiasm for
cricket-the national pastime,
Nearly two hundred cricket clubs
were doing a booming business in
London alone to-day. Though the
sport has not approached it's pre-war
status, preparations that are now go
ing on tend to indicate that baseball
will stand little chance to compete
with it for public approval. Many
objections to cricket have been met
with changes and further consdera-
ton is being given to suggestions that
the games be shortened.
In addition to the numerous teams
in London, each county possesses one
or more teams. The government is
also considering request from mum
Der of prominent ericketers that in
every town in Britain a plot of land
be purchased by the government to
be used for cricket
The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-22
Women Have
An Equal Vote
In Conference

WASHINGTON, May 22.-(By
United Press. The first national po-
litical "pow-wow" in history to be at
tended by both men and women open
ed here today with chairmen of both
the men and women's republican state
central committees sitting as dele
gates.
Republican party chieftains at the
opening of the conference said that
women delegates would have an equal
voice with the men in deciding organi-
zation maneuvers and policies to be
outlined with a view of carrying the
party to victory in 1920
The prospects for the passage of a
constitutional suffrage amendment
during the present Session of the Goth
congress are also expected to come up
for discussion.
The conference, which met at 10
o'clock this morning is to continue
through today and tomorrow, ending
with banquet tomorrow night,