The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-12

France is finding one comfort in the
housing shortage. Divorces are decreas-
Ing in Paris and other French cities be
ments." Unable to find suitable places
in which to live apart. disgruntled couples
in many places are composing their diff
ferences and continuing to live under the
same roof. During the first three months
of this year s.005 DEGREES were pro-
nounced in Paris alone. but since April
tho shortage Of houses has been making
itself felt. with the result that the num-
Der of divorce actions has been falling
steadily. Last month the number of
applications fell below one thousand.
and this month 1t is believed the number
will not reach the seven hundred mark.
1t is an III wind, &c.
Skyscraper Investments.
The president OF trust company in
Philadelphia now substantiates tho con-
tcntion of many New York owners that
skyscraper improvements are anything
but gold mines from the standpoint of
investment He announced recently that
before rents were increased one of Phil
adelphia's largest business buildings
invested. To the eyes of foreign
tourist in the United States the most
striking feature of our large cities Is
tho towering business building They
represent enormous sums OF money and
the daily inhabitants of any of the big
structures In lower Manhattan would
populate a good sized town. But. as
has been pointed out, big, grand and
imposing as these American skyscrapers
are. they have usually yielded less rev.
enue to their owners than the smaller
and less expensive business structures
In great European capitals.
The Face of the City.
The faces of buildings which are
turned toward the world are OBJ
~svusly of interest to the public,
and all citizens have property
in them, declares London Mercury The
spectator Is, in fact. part owner No
man builds to himself alone. General
interest and intelligent appreciation OF
public arts are a necessity OF civilization.
Civic aiertness. honest pride or firm
protest are not matters of taste tor a
few; they are essential activities Of
tho urban mind. In cities buildings
take the place OF fields. trees and hedge
rows. Buildings are an artificial form
Of nature. We have n right to consld-
Grafton and some politeness In buildings.
Our cities do not alone belong to profit
lords, railroad companies and advertls-
ers.
High Rents to Solve High Rents.
The quickest way to produce housing
accommodations and force rents down.
ward would be to allow n good rental
return and provide other incentives for
building, instead of placing obstacles
and disbursements in the path OF the
man who Is willing to invest In building
enterprises, according to Fred h. Taylor
of Portland, president Of the National
Association of Real Estate Boards. Mr..
Taylor declares that lack OF general
understanding as to what constitutes a
fair rental was resporg,t.,s for much
OF the agitc1sn ssu1nst the so-callcd
rent proritscr.
Town Planning.
Tho familiar rush of the people from
tfe land 10 the cities. so pronounced a
feature of modern living, has encouraged
congestion in most communities. Re-
course to town planning has been forced
by the necessities of efficient transpor-
tation and sound land values. as we'll as
good health Since IL Is fashionable to-
day 20 deplore the slums. why provide
rev "nes? asks the Montreal Star. Why
ada congestion to existing congestion
when. simply by looking ahead and taxi
ing thought. healthy growth may be
assured7 Town planning provides the
city with eyes TO see whore IL Is spread-