Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-28
100000 Renters in Philadelphia

the employers or workers in building con-
struction, but upon the renters, and, in "a
reflected way, upon all people OF the city.
Recent statistics show a total Of about 3S5.-
900 buildings in Philadelphia. of which
about 90 900 are occupied by renters. These
renters are from all industries, vocations
and businesses, from the common laborer
to the professional man, and all join in pay
ing the burden of high rents.
THE building materials man, the con-
tractor, the building trades mechanic and
others who have hand in building con-
struction thus owe heavy responsibility
to all of these renters and to the public to
use their best efforts to overcome the present
building stagnatiOn and to at once get under
way as big a program of building as is
possible during the remainder of this season.
Investigations indicate that rents are the
one important element of living costs which
have not materially receded in Philadelphia,
and that the tendency under present con-
ditions is upward rather than downward
The results of this inquiry are supported by
governmental information. Though rents
did not initiate during the last year to such
high points rs did most materials and labor,
they should gradually reccde with the
marked drop in general commodity prices.
"Rcntals are estimated by various au-
thortics to be In the ncighborhood OF 20
per cent of the average wage Garner $ IN
come, under normal conditions. Food,
which is materially Debated, is much the
largest element of living costs; nevertheless.
rentals take an important portion OF monthly
incomes.
''It is asserted by those having expert
cnce with real estate in the city that there
can be no expectation of any reduction in
rentals until the acute housing shortage is
ended by the supply of thousands OF new
dwellings. These high rents, as indicated,
not only form a tax upon the building trades
workers, but upon all people, including
workers in other industries Of the city who
rcpt, Therefore it is distinctly n public
interest that construction be begun at once.
building Has Fallen on
.'Thc public is affected by the effect on
business of the idlcness of labor caused by
the building stagnation and strike.
''prcyious to the war new dwelling houses
constructed in Philadelphia each year are
cytimntcd TO have numbered over 1000. This
annual addition in houses was sufficient to
care for the growth of the city. As Is well
known, from the time this country entered
the war to this year, there has been de-
felt of from 2O0O to 5000 In the new houses
erected in this city annually, while tins
year building is largely at standstill'
During this period the growing pOpula-
tion has been cared for largely by dividing
Of buildings already erected, and many peo-
plc have been greatly crowded,
Prominent builders, architects and en-
ginccrS of the city agree that had there been
reasonably Dictated and stabilized costs Of
Materials labor, money and other elements
entering into construction At the beginning
Of the construction season this spring, much
work would have been started. 1t has been
estimated by those whose opinions carr
weight that more than 5000 dwelling houses
and comparative amounts Of other structures
would have been erected during the season.
Though many more than double this number