Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1921-10-16
OCCUPANTS OF
JACALES Will
Have TO MOVE
New Owner Stillman Proper
ty Has Plans For New Sec
ton Lights are Promised

AT least one vital process in the
march of progress l'y which Brrwl
vile i becoming : ulg city j. stew,
ed with alarm by rpwa1 II thou
sand residents. Tnis j. the newt
able enhancement If land values
which i slowly but surely pressing
upon poorer tena1rs tEe wa,'iy un
inviting alternatis, Of paying two,
three and four 'inn. the nominal
rentals charged tnem while the
Stillman holdings lay idic an Un-
improved. or else moving shacls.
trappings and 9thcr nnpedims .iia tc
small lots in dissrh.s xlere they
don't want to 20. :
Fer years ''rentc-s." estimated II;
from 900 to l.400, have been oc-
cupying lots SO By 100. many Of
them now along paved streets. at
the rate of 81 per nlarth If the
family were particularly imp )vesish-
cd they could usually get il for 20
cents. Here they erected nuts.
shacks and cabins, installed pculsrv
and the inevitable goat, and settlei
down TO a squatter's enjoyment Of
plenty TO eat. genial climate and
with the landlord bogie reduced 10
. negligible proportions.
At last, however. Dame Destiny
recalled that Brownsville had a role
to play as the metropolis Of the low
er valley. where deep-water was
coming and a bigger volume of i'm
ternational traffic, and doubled
and trebled population and things
like that. A touch of boom-impetus
was apparently necessary. in which
several fortuitous factors combined
wholly unregardful of the humble
leaseholders' lotos-eating lives.
Among these was the untimely
death OF Judge r. G. Forto, who.
while past the Scriptural three score
and ten, was a hale and hearty old
gentleman apparently. For years
previously he had administered the
Stillman estate on which the renters
were largely located. and, the land
lying unimproyed, did not seek TO
make a profit from the tenants; /;
some years in fact, not collecting
sufficient revenue 10 pay the taxes.
Prior administration had pursued
the same policy. Shortly after the
Judges death the Stillman heirs
were Obliged to sell the property 70
make a pro rata division. This was
accordingly done, and as il could
not be bought and paid for unless
revenue was insured 70 pay taxes,
interest and overhead. land improve
ment was straightwSy in order The
era Of troubles for the poorer tenants
to many Of which it spells exodus
began forthwith
Provide Property For The Poor
ri. r. Fitch, new owner Of all the
Stillman property stated yesterday
that he realize the plight. of many
az the poorer occpants of these lots,
and that he is making preparations
to cut up tract ~ property back OF
the old rice mill To make permanent
homes for many tenants who may
not be able 70 meet the rise ID rent
entailed by the recent transfer a
the Stillman holdings. The proposed
lots. Mr.. Fitch sail. would BE- offer
ia for sale on easy payments az a
very reasonable price, thus enabling
the tenants who choose 70 take ad-
vantage Of the proposition eventual
IL 10 own their own homes instead
of having rent BY close figuring ne
had been able to bring the scale ~
navments down 70 sum but slightly
in excess Of the periodical rentals,
~ added. and he recommended thai
au tenants who were considering or
fers made along similar lines by sew
eral other persons during the past
two weeks investigate his plan first.
Electric Lights Are Promised
The city has assured him that
lights will be extended throughout
~ district. Mr.. Fitch further
stated. water pipes being already
laid there. The contractor took oc-
casion to point out that for many
wears poorer classes of tenants have
heen occupying lots belonging 70 me
ctillman or town site. properly,
which he has purchased, y; noniaa'
rental. in many cases on oroper'N n
eactions that have increased greatly
II value. '. Il impossible 10 continue
entails NJ the OH rates, he pursued,
as the combined total annual r'T'-
me from them would te Insufficient