The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
Odd Paragraphs From the
Worlds Housing Troubles

Landlords OF Detroit apartment houses
have recently been complaining that ten
ants are moving to the suburbs. But
can you blame the tenants after peruslng
the following conditions contained in an
apartment lease?
No children, no dogs. no cats, no par
rots or birds.
Visitors allowed to remain only until
10 p. NJ.
No music or noise after 10 o'clock.
Families may entertain only two Wis
itors at time.
Not even a handkerchief may be hung
on the clothes line on Sunday.
Reading of Sunday papers on front
porch prohibited.
A limit of two weeks is placed on all
visits from friends and relatives (this
may have fits advantages).
After laying down these blue laws"
the landlord asked an increase of 40 per
cent. in rent. Is there any wonder that
there are apartment vacancies in De-
troit?
Cooperative Hotel for Teachers.
Detroit teachers intend to beat the
high cost of living If they have to build
a hotel to do It, A meeting OF the
special committee Of the Detroit Teach
ers' Association was called recently to
decide whether the educators shall erect
or purchase q cooperative hotel or BUY
n string OF small buildings. The teach
ers say that for the last year they have
been compelled TO pay $12 q week for
small rooms and proportionately high
prices for meals. Conditions have be-
come so that they can hardly live and
dress decently. IL a hotel Isn't bought
q number of residences may be obtained
and converted into teachers homes.
Danger of Cheap Construction.
One of the most common of the many
suggestions being advanced as solu-
ton of the housing problem is to build
cheap houses in quantity to serve the
needs OF the hour. How shortsighted
this policy is ought 20 be clearly appar-
ent, vet supposedly intelligent persons
are advocating Il and even suggesting
that public moneys be voted for the pur-
pose. As the Providence Journal points
out. to build merely for the present is
cxtravagant. IL IL not a cure for the
housing shortage, but sort of quack
remedy No city that aims to grow
along constructive lines should be clut-
tered with cheap dwellings, which are
easier to put up than to tear down when
the need for them has passed. The aim
of any forward looking community Is TO
improve as much as possible each year
the soundness and the appearance OF its
business structures and It's homes. NO
city can build too well nor too carefully,
with an eye TO beauty as well as utility,
& It's aim is progress Of a stable and
enduring quality.
Even Rent BOARD Clerks Homeless.
Washington, ID. c., like many other
large cities, has n rent commission which
tries to adjust differences between land
lord and tenant It's commissioners have
found apartments for many who were
homeless. but Just now they have prob
lem that strikes home and IL more diff
cuff TO solve than any that has con-
fronted them. The employees of the
have been making a vain
search for vacant apartments In WASH
ington for weeks. II has been an earn
est, whole hearted search. too. for the
employees want these apartments for
their own use A commissioner said re- |
cently:.
Some persons believe that employees |
In the District rent commission are as |
familiar with for rent lists In Washing
ton as n railroad employee is with a |
lime table. Probably they would be, but |
he fact Is there are no for rent lists In |
ZEAL estate Offices. They became obso-
etc several years ago. IL any one Ques- /
ions thes truth of this statement let me |