davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
Eastern Borough Provides Ground for Another Big Home
Building Project Which Will Involve Construction Of
LOO Single and Two Family Houses in Astoria
Section, Near Arleigh and Norwood Colonies
One Group Already Under WayPlanned to
Sell at So 500 Each

about s4,000.000 the acquisition of the
land from the Brown Realty
Company which gives full subordination
and furnishes the second mortgages; the
ncarness Of the property TO Manhattan.
being not more than fifteen TO twenty
minutes ride from the Grand Central
Terminal and Times square. and,the fas
that the houses will be tax exempt. which
will stimulate their stability
Behind this project are David w.
Keen. an old time Brooklyn builder. and
Henry B. Saltman and A. Afford. They
have formed the Potter Avenue Realty
Company. with Mr.. Saltman as president
and Mr.. Keen vice-president. This con-
Germ expects to build 200 one family
houses on Potter avenue between Van
Alst avenue and Crescent street, Astoria
They have also formed the Norwood
Gardens Realty corppration. with Mr.
Keen president and Mr.. Saltman treas
urer. This concern is planning to build
in Norwood Gardens, Astoria, which
section lies between Broadway and
Grand avenues and east of Fifth avenue
in Astoria They expect to complete
soon about thirty-six two family houses
and forty-one single family houses in
this section. These houses are within
three blocks of the Grand avenue sta
ton of the dual subway line and are
just southeast Of the Norwood Gardens
development, completed last year by the
Rickert- Brown Realty Company.
The Potter avenue project will be by
The New York herald., 1922-05-14

soon to negotiate loan with one OF the
largest trust companies in New York
city. ss
Mr.. Keen. whose building in Mapleton
Park and other sections of Brooklyn at
tracted the attention of the Metropoli-
tan, told reporter for THE NEW YORK
HERALD that he was induced 10 cast
aside Brooklyn attractions temporarily
and concentrate his attentions on As
toria because of the fact that economic
and transit conditions favor that loca-
tion. Land owners there. he says. are
more liberal. and with the b. r. t. and
the /. r. T. subway and elevated lines
operating over the Astoria extension of
the dual subway system direct TO the
undeveloped sections of Astoria he says
there Is not another section of the city
that offers equal advantages to- home
seekers with modest purses.
Mr.. Keen in explaining further his
willingness to build houses OF this type
to cost not more than 81 a room at the
outset, said that his conduct OF the OPP
erations on the wholesale basis enabled
him TO fight down the high cost OF con-
struction. With liberal provisions for
first and second mortgage funds. he said,
he expected to be able to take as his
profit in the enterprise about 3 per cent.
of the selling cost of each house.
The single family $500 properties
will be offered by the builders to buyers
for $1,000 cash down. The remainder OF
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
BUREAU OF ECONOMY
FOR HOME BUILDERS

The Copper and Brass Research Asso-
citation has opened a building service
department for the purpose OF supplying
information to architects, contractors
and the public
II is conservatively estimated that the
amount Of money spent by home-owners
in this country annually on repairs and
renewals to its approximately 2i,ooo,ooo
residence buildings Is sufficient to pro-
vide the carrying charges on 100000 res
idence buildings costing $4,000 each.
To assist IN the abatement of this tre-
raendous annual waste the Copper and
Brass Research Association will issue
a series Of publications for home build
ers. The first of the series has just
been published under the title How to
Build a Better Home" The book con-
tains twenty drawings, in which the diff
ferent parts of a house are detailed and
named. the purpose being to enable pros
pective builders to discuss plans for
building with the architect and con-
tractor in correct building Technology.
Other publications to follow will cover
exhaustively the subject OF roofing and
sheet metar work. plumbing and hard
ware.
The New York herald., 1922-05-14

statements In the committees report
and those made by trained and impartial
investigators Is furnished by the state
ment of the New York City 1920 Census
Committee, the substance OF which wes
published May s.
The Lockwood Committee in its re-
port to the Legislature, filed during the
session of 1922, stated on page 6:
1.-The Investigation disclosed that
there existed such an alarming shortags
OF dwellings IN the large communities
of the State. and especially in the city
! of New York, and that housing con
iitions were generally so deplorable. sri
growing steadily worse. ,
THE same report on page stated.
"The conditions of living thus created
and still existing among the masses OF
our people defy description. The term
overcrowding conveys no conception OF
the situation
1T was urged before the committee
by the Real Estate Board OF New York
that statements OF this nature were
based only upon loose generalities ut
tered by people more interested in Great
ing a sensation than in ascertaining
facts. and that careful survey OF con-
ditions throughout the city would show
neither shortage of dwellings nor alarm
ing conditions of overcrowdlng, and
that, in fact. conditions recently were
in that respect better than those OF
decade or two ago.
"Confirmatory eviddAce that an Inn
partial and dispasslonate review OF con
ditions as they actually exist would
have confirmed these statements made
by the Real Estate Board Is shown by
an analysis recently made by DR.. Wal.
ter Laidlaw, executive secretary OF the
New York City 1920 Census Commit
tee. In discussing the improved condi-
tions shown I'm tho 3.427 sanitary dis
trict areas into which the city is az.
vided. Or. Laidlaw declares:
"'Sixty-six of these in 1910, whose
acreage totaled 2.s66, then had popu-
iation OF 1,2es,6b7 an average OF 453
persons per acre. IL is. there
fore. most gratifying 20 find thar rrty-
eight of these sixty-six sanitary districts
lost population between 1910 and 1890
TO the extent Of 172,327 persons and that
the acreage OF this same group Of sani-
tary districts, now populated to the cx-
tent of more than 800 persons per acre.
has been reduced TO 1857 acres, or al.
most exactly four square miles.
In 1910 there were 149 acres OF this
area which were populated between 500
and 900 20 the acre.
These three densest districts have
lost over % per cent OF their population.
Five districts then populated be-
tween 500 and 700 per acre have lost
| "a per cent. Nine districts OF between
500 and 500 have lost IS per cent. Eigh-
teen of between 400 and 300 have lost
Is per cent and districts between 500
and 400 in 1910 have lost only per cent.
"'The greater tho density in 1910. in
! other words. the higher the percentage
loss between 1910 and l920.'" "a
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
Census Analysis Proves
Home anime Exaggerated

The so called alarming housing short
age In New York as depicted by the
Lockwood Committee is shown to be sem
sationally exaggerated by a study OF the
report of the New York city 1920 Census
Committee. according to the Real Estate
Board Of New York. That report. the
realty board declares, shows that those
areas which showed the greatest dem
sity OF population in 1910 showed the
highest percentage of loss of population
between 1910 and 1920.
In statement on this point issued
yesterday the Board says:
Statistics of the Tenement House
Department recently made public indi-
cate that the alarming housing shortage
claimed by the Joint Legislative Hous-
ing Committee during the legislative ses-
sion of 1922 was greatly exaggerated.
Other claims made by the committee
take on new interest as the accurate
facts are ascertained. The most recent
evidence of the conflict between certain
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
NEW BROOKLYN HOME
FOR TITLE COMPANY

Alterations are being made to the
new Brooklyn home of the New York
Title and Mortgage and American
Trust companies at 2o5-21S Montague
street. The property was purchased
more than a year ago from the Me-
chanics Bank and has a 100 foot 'front.'
age on Montague street and extends
through on one side to Pierrcpont street
The exterior Is OF sandstone with Cor
inthian columns. The Title company
will occupy the western half of the
building and the Trust company the
eastern half. The alteration plans are
In charge of Horace s. Luckman, archi-
tcct
The Brooklyn Office of the New York
Title, and Mortgage Company war
opened in 1902 and has kept pace with
the growth of the company. The de-
velopment has been steady. The total
Of Brooklyn mortgages and certificates
sold in 1919 was $4,00o.o0o: In 1920,
s4.b0o.0o0 in 1884,. s5.726.000. The
figures for the present year indicate that
a new high record win he set.
The New York herald., 1922-05-14

pected, will be ready this summer and
they will be sold for $500. The two
family structures will be completed a
little later and will sell for about
$4,000. Within the next two years
these builders expect to put UP 1,1oo
houses of this type of which approxi-
mately one-half will be two family
houses. The other half Of course being
six room single family structures of the
type described above.
Most Of the houses will be built in the
Ditmars and Potter avenue section of
Astoria. between the Ditmars avenue
subway station and the new S1,000,0C0
East River Park which is soon to be de-
veloped by the city.
A number Of reasons induced the
builders to undertake this extensive
project. such as the liberality of the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company,
the Roosevelt Savings Bank and two
other leading institutions in furnishing
loans which will amount ultimately to
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
Curbing the 'Curbstoners
Is Object of License Law

struction Of homes In the devastated
areas. The material made use Of to o.
great extent is agglomerate brick made.
on the spot. Stag and metal dross OF
all sorts are available, and with any OF
these substances 1t Ia possible to MAKE
splendid bricks with the aid Of heat.
The prerequisites are a semiplastic
mortar of the proper proportion. Stag
and a source of heat. Then the mixture
X introduced into the mold and well
packed and the upper surface is evened
off by scrapping with fiat board. The
brick is then left to set and is ready In
a few hours to be removed from the
mold. After removal the brick is left
ir the open to dry when II is put In Its
place in the wall without further cere-
p1ony.
Houses constructed In this fashion are
reported to be standing UP very well in
use.
The New York herald., 1922-05-14

Further evidence that the Borough Of
Queens is rapidly coming to the front
Of the stage in the drama of producing
needed houses for the class of home
seekers that Is searching for moderate
costs or rents was furnished last week
by the announcement tat two Brooklyn
builders have started a single and two
family house operation In Astoria
which Is destined to become the largest
and most important Of its kind In the
entire city. II the plans Of these
builders do not go awry. these single
family houses will be sold at cost
which will be equal to rent Of about
81 a room. Both single and two family
houses will have six rooms and bath
with room for garages. They Will be
equipped with hardwood floors. tiled
baths, steam heat and such modern
oonveniences as are ordinarily furnished
in houses coming within the same price
range.
The single family houses. 1t is cx-
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
Plan Long Island Colony

erected by the developers. and arrange
merits will also be made by the latter for
the financing of individual home building
enterprises.
Throughout the property and Ia the
adjoining countryside there are many
miles of bride paths. The syndicate
will add to these facilities tennis courts
and an organization to encourage trap
shooting. The new colony occupies a
focal position that permits of easy access
to both the South Shore bathing beaches
and the North Shore yacht clubs. The
village of Farmingdale Is well estab-
lished and possesses good stores. schools
and churches.
The New York herald., 1922-05-14

Insurance Company. erected aboV
thirty artistic single family houses II
the Norwood Gardens section OF Asa
toria. Practically all of the houses In
these two developments were quickly
sold
Some Of the largest apartment house
projects in Queens are now under way
IN this section between Broadway and
Grand avenue. The Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company has decided TO put
up some of its initial 50 room apart
tion of Long Island City along the line
of the Corona subway extension, which
runs out by Jackson Heights to Alburtis
avenue in Corona and which will soon be
extended 10 Flushing. At jackson
Heights is the largest single develop
ment of comparatively owned apartment
houses In the world.
Last March the American Real Estate
Company. through its receivers. sold
1,100 lots IN Astoria. between Ditmars
and Astoria avenues and Second and
Fourth avenues, to real estate operators,
who are rapidly selling them off in large
plots TO builders. Single and two family
houses have already begun tc spring
up in this section. which lies just east
of the subway line. Plans have been
filed for several taxpayers with stores
In this same zone.
AS far as transit facilities are con-
cerned builders seem to agree that no
other single section Of the city is better
favored. The I. r. T. subway and
elevated trains are now operating there
at a five cent fare, which give the resi-
dents access to all parts of Manhattan.
Brooklyn and The Bronx fer a single
fare. Plans are under way TO extend
the Queens borough subway to Eighth
avenue. In Manhattan. which will do
away with the necessity for using the
shuttle trains to reach the West Side
subway lines. IT Is expected that within
year the Brooklyn Rapid Transit will
be operating its trains over the Astoria
and Corona extensions.
The New York herald., 1922-05-14

far the larger of the two operations. 1t
Is being financed by the Metropolitan
Life. which has loaned $500, 900 so far.
The Roosevelt Savings Bank has thus far
loaned s250.000 on the Norwood Gardens
project. The Potter avenue develop
ment Is south OF the vladuct of the Hell
Gate Bridge. To the north of this VIA
duct. ON land subordinated by the
Woodward-Brown Realty Company. Mr..
Keen says. he expects to build during
the present year 300 two family houses.
1t Is learned. will finance most of the
latter building. This company, although
It Is one of the largest In the country.
has not heretofore been identified
prominently in making real estate loans.
Mr.. Keen. II Is also learned. expects
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
Banker Rent. ON Long Island.

william J. Roome & Co.. Inc. has
rented for Cocks & Willets the w. Buri-
ing Cocks homestead at Locust Valley.
L. L., which consists OF forty-slx acres
with large house, garage. stables and
outbuildings. for one year to Clarence
Dillon, head OF the firm Of Dillon, Read
& Co.; also for II. I. Nicholas the cot
tage on his estate at East Norwich for
year; for Mrs. j. Harper Bonnell her
house on the Split Rock road at Syosset
for one year TO Robert +. De Graft OF
Plainfield. N. J.
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
Nv THE ODD PARAGRAPHER.

The newly enacted law to license real
estate brokers still 10 the all absorbing
subject In the real estate offices. No
conversation on market conditions Is
complete without some reference to It,
Criticism that the law Is too elastic Is
hclrd less frequently and brokers gen.
orally agree that the ethics or the pro-
fession will be improved once the law
is in effect.
Here's hoping It at least curbs the
curbetoner," remarked a real estate
broker this week.
why" shot back another, this is the
law that put the curb In curbstoner."
This repartee calls to mind the Akron
Realtors definition Of "curbstoner," pub
sished recently In real estate magazines
of the West "A curbstoner," 1t says,
SIS nothing more or less than a real
estate man who cannot conform with
any rules, regulations or ethics In con-
duc.ing his business: who cannot stand
Investigation for reasons best known to
himself and who will not join realty
organization because It might incur
some responsibility. His action adver-
tises his attitude better than the printed
word"
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
brick Economy in France.

With ordinary brick reaching record
price levels, home builders in France
had 10 devise a cheap and convenient
building met.riel for use in the recoa-
The New York herald., 1922-05-14

* OMETHING of the character of the housing develop
- ments in the Astoria section of Queens county may
- be conceived from the photographs shown above
They merely suggest however, the extent of the
struction movement which has made the entire
borough o the important theaters of activity
in the alleviaton of the cy's home famine.
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
scII. FIRST Radio Dwelling.

Well IL had 10 come. An enterprsing
realty broker OF the West is now adver-
tising radio equipped residence for
sale.
The New York herald., 1922-05-14

The total expenditure equals SIS a
month. of which $40 Is paid off on the
first and second mortgages and $50 Is
the actual cost of maintenance for six
rooms, amounting to less than s6 per
room for the first year and diminishing
at the rate of $3.50 a month each year.
The saving at this rate is $3.50 per year.
plus the interest
There are undoubted evidences that
this section OF Queens. which lies
abreast of Manhattan and north of the
rapidly growing Industrial section of
Long Island City. Is soon to become the
most important home producing center
In the city. Much of the section has
been unexpected and the land is now
being sold to builders at auction or by
private sale In large plots The initial
projects were ytarted in 1919 and 1920
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
A warnsnsf

\ stationer In Brooklyn has placed
th.s very suggestive sign on the window
OF his store For rent SIGNS for sale
here"
Owners seem to think he had dis
pute with his landlord and is using this
method TO break the morale Of the land
lord army.
The New York herald., 1922-05-14
And Now Comes Housetop Golf.

s.hicagoans have hit on a scheme for
building miniature golf courses on the
,',-rs OF apartment buildings. BY the
,t- OF nets II is planned to corral golf
be US that may be hit too forccfully. A
chicago builder who plans the erection
of a twelve story apartment house In the
Hyde Park section announces that he
win install grass putting green's and
driving and approaching ways on the
expansive roof, far above the street. 1t
IL also said that such arrangements are
In prospect In the city of Chicago.
These Chicagoans can have all the
glory that goes with such an innova-
tion," declared New York owner this
week. ITO my way OF thinking they'vs
Just added to their troubles. Imagine
forty tenants approaching the green for
a little game on Sunday morning 20
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-20
OIL ROYALTIES
 FAT REVENUE
 FOR THE U. s.
Chief Income from Btu reau of Mines Derived from Western Fields.

Washington, Oct. 20.-Tn his role of millionaire oil producer, your tidy sum of s77s,S7s11 in royalties from the production of oil, natural gas and natural gasoline on govern ment lands in the West, according to the Bureau of Mines.
 Total net royalties accru1ng to the government to August 31 from these sources amounted to $7,1S7, ,49S.77. Of the August royalties $sss's1s.4s is California and $34.So7.25 sc Montana.
 Chief Revenue Source.
 Royalties on the production of oi1," the Bureau stated, ~const1tuted by far the largest portion of these Federal revenues and amounted to $7456e6.4S; royalties on natural gas were 2s,76o.2o, and on natural gas gasoline $3,e21.43."
 The bureau received from the Gen eral Land Office in August 271 oil and gas prospecting permits, bringing the total number of permits received to S,59S. Five leases were received making a total of S07,
 ""The governments sliding royalty scale on oil produced from govern Ynent leased lands, as provided by the leasing acts is an important 1nnova- ton for the petroleum industry. an official of the bureau said "Under II the governments royalties vary from 12 1-2 to Sa Is per cent, according to the rates of pood9ction. 6o
 
 During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1922, the total government royalty amounted to approN1mately S4'oOo:- 900. Under the leasing acts thIs the United States Treasury, ST IT per cent. to the state in which the oil and gas are produced. and o2 1-z Der cent. to the United States Re TgThe number of leases and prospect ing permits issued up to the close of the fiscal year recently ended was as follows: Arizona. aes per1'iss a 356 permits; Colorado. S4S permits Idaho, seventy permfts; Kansas. one permit; Louisiana. one lease ana ter permits; Mississippi. eight permits Montana, eleven leases and 1,1SS per Inits, Nebraska, six permits; Nevada S14 permits; New Mexico. @5s per mitss North Dakota, two perhlits oklahoIna. two ,,rs per5siss; sns;, 0asoea 0asgea sixty-seven permits; Utah, i.41S per. and Wyoming. 1sS leases and 1,Slf Inits; Washington, eighteen permits
 Lots of Field Work.
 Despite the business depression ane curtailed production, the bureau said field developments have proceedee rapidly in the Rocky Mountain dls' trict where on June 80 of this veal there were 366 producing wells or government land, of which 267 were in the Salt Creek field in Wyoming g On that date 100 new wells were be ing drilled in the Salt Creek field II Wyoming. On that date 100 new well: were being drilled in the Salt Creek field.
 Active preparations also were ir progress for the drilling programme required under the Mammoth Oi Company's lease of Naval Reserve No 8 on Teapot Dome The bureau ha: under construction a camp adjaeen- In nf Sal SF f5o, to maintain a supervisory force of com petent men adequate for sush large
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-20
RELIGIOUS CHINESE YOUTH SETS PARENTS HOME AFIRE
 TO AID DECEASED GRANDMA

Peking, Oct. 2o.-"HeIp grand mother get along in hel-,' thought little Chua Lii, aged six, and burned the house down in his zeal. Thus the Buddhist festival of the dead ended. When his father and mother came home late after their worship they found that their son had even been more pious-that he was solennly watching the smouldering ruins of their home while a curious crowd looked on in sympathy.
 It was the day when people pray for the dead, especially for those dead whose life on this earth was scared with evil deeds and who are forced to atone in the Buddhist he'll The latter refers particularly to wo- men The rites are celebrated by buring special prayer papers and packages of rice and also by setting out imitation lotus flowers on floats and letting them drift down the river in flames
 Chun Lis grandmother had died the year before. He had loved her dearly, for she had always brought him little candied apricots to eat and once she had given him money to buy q kite. But he had heard people say that she had been a wicked woman and that she would now pay for it in hell And therefore he was partic- her on the day of offerings for those in hell, and he was bitterly disap- pointed when his mother and father would not let him come with them to the canal, where they were going to light some paper and lotus flowers.
 With tears in his eyes he saw other people also going to the canal and