Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-01
MOVING DAY HERE;
TROUBLES REIGN
Many Writs to Eviot Tenants
Prove Seriousness Of Famine
as Leases Expire
8 HOMES AMONG 80 AGENTS

Today is moving day. and the various
organizations from the sheriff's Office
down to social agencies are preparing
Tor the difficulties that will probably
present themselves within the next few
days. ~. I.-
Up TO the present. except in isolated
cases, the situation has given no indi-
cation that the problems Of house hunt
ing and spring moving are worse this
year than last. Nevertheless, the Ten
ants Protective Association is looking
forward TO busy time beginning today
Movers and storage people have as
much business as they can handle for
the next week, moving people from
some report that the year is excep-
tionally. busy, others that there is not
as much moving as last year.
People are going out Of storage"
according to Wesley Williams. manager
OF the Columbia Storage Co. 'During
January 100 loads left this storage. and
during last week forty loads were moved
from storage into houses. We have ten
movings from house to house today. and
this year, so far, has been the biggest
IN the twenty seven years We have been
IN business. There are plenty Of empty
houses in South Philadelphia. but the
owners want to sell and won't rent
them" -
The Fenton Storage Co. has not had
as much moving as usual during the last
month, but has as much as il can handle
today and the next week. 49,
Several storage houses report TINT
they arc almost filled and others that
May and later will be the time for
people to move into storage.
William II. Wilson. president of the
Philadelphia Real Estate Board, says
he has received no letters from individu-
ais, from the tenants association or
from the Mayor relative to the antici-
pated housing shortage at this particu-
lar time.
The fact remains. however. that
houses are not available and writs ask =
ing for the assistance of the deputy
sheriff to help real estate owners to
remove tenants are coming in at the
rate Of twelve day. Since the now
administration the Office has executed
166 writs out of a total of 900 cases
and the Office desk is piled with
trouble.
During the last two days the Society
for Organizing Charities has called up
eighty real estate agents to try to find
small house. Only three houses were
offered by the eighty agents and none
was possible, all three being in bad
condition.
In the meantime rents are increasing
and tenants are forced to get out or
pay the new rate. One Of the mothers
receiving q, pension from the state
through the Mothers Assistance Fund
was paying n rent of $14 up TO Novenf-
ber. 1t was then raised to $40 and in
January notice was received that be-
ginning in February the rent would be
$40. The increase smountedq to 35
per cent in three months and no repairs
were made in the house.
1.-THE figure of 25,O0O houses needed
in Philadelphia has come from the Real
Estate Board according to Mr..
Wilson. 'Until those 3 houses are
built and there is a nearer balance be-
tween supply and demand. there will. OF
course. be difficulty. But if the situ-
alton is worse than in other years We
have not had any indication of it.
''In the first place, many more people
own their homes. Even during the
months Of extended leases many people
have bought homes. This does not
mean. however, that there will be no
individual eases in which the housing
shortage will cause serious inconveni-
cnCe.