New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
Bx Joseph P. Day

.u,ne 10000 lots last year was
!. iudge tho strength and char
a she market. found that the
"a two lot buyer predominatea'
u, ,esr ne was in the majority
-, margin. OF course, in saying
.,,. lam disregardine sales Of apart
Ssases, business ana hlgh Siess ..s
~ .lsss sites distinctly oppof'Oh'''es
e. es.'II's,, Ply 4 ss.,ok Of the home site seek
NTe wcre particularly TO their
sss J ~. !, Gales in the Bronx, such
fff.snss sI,srd spencer. Morris. Wiss-
~ re fSi;r- r william Waldorf Astor,
ninh f"Sios Hoyt an Simpson cs-
kghl. Isi"~hia oval Z H the East Bay
isits' c.wnsnv. These auctions ac-
Lsno ~ sales Of over 5000 lots.
s'sss 40 long ago that 5000 lots
y -ss..,sS al the vacant land that
w York could absorb in whole
"- r.. .n,Il.lot buyer was also prom
n..,i, reprssented at the sale Of
.,,s ..,.Nt Nto,,a Hills West lots. This prop
- - .,s DISPOSED Of in six days. This
- world's record for lot auction
-. The best previous mark was the
~. sale OF 1000 lots, made IN two
-..fs' time. Other Long Island sales
,soyed the Queens County total to over
faC0 lots.
NJ advent Of the Aome site seeker
!, ,ri6suse Of the healthy condition
y 10 New York lot market.
New Yorks housing shortage Is far
tem being relieved. In support OF this
..rssntioa permit me 10 insert a por-
sss Of an able article by Charles N.
Tsod. quoting John J. Murphy. secre-
sv Of the Tenement House Commit
- of Greater New York. This article
"a, recently featured in a New York
rpspspcr. Mr.. Murphy's views fol-
~:
The most agonizing problem before
d, average Nv Yorker is the problem
Y where 10 find a suitable home-a
,sre where the rent rs reasonably
ribin his income and which is still a
4 plaee FOR q family 20 live in. Al
-,st everybody is feeling deeply on
ais subject. Very few arc thinking
i,sply upon Il. That's the trouble.
Ter In another year New York may
,uin face a crisis which will require
something more than intelligent plan
ring on the part Of those who have
slusly concerned themselves with this
problem. II viii require extraordinary
craftsmanship. II will require a lot
n public educHiOu. II will require a
degree Of co operation on the part OF
many conflicting elements in the com
rgnity-such 81 degree OF cooperation,
n fact, a. can hardly be looked for eN-
s,ys in the event Of a sudden social
asutrophe."
tgree with Hr. Murphy's vision on
u, best poysiblc way out Of housing
h,rsge situation that may well be-
cone desperatc-that IS, community
hul5ing 60 operation. The unfortu-
nate complications in the building
Tides situation will hardly make for
lowering Of construction prices
lkich had been confidently hoped for
he only answer, then, is community
the worth Of which has haf
fine exempiihcation in the Throgi
eek district Of the Bronx.
In the construction Of a Thousand
r more homes which have sprung ~
ehind auction sales. many Of them
Imost the majority Of them, were bull
b cooperative way by persons o
,oderate means the fireman, the po
ceman, letter carrier and artisan.
"Bill Jones'" the fireman. bought
,w lots along with his brother-in-law
se patrolman. his cousin and som'
amiiy friends. Then started game
4 "You help me Dig my cellar and II
slp you dig yours" This idea wa
srried right through to the actua
Of the homes, with The
.Omen and children joining in thu
iammer and saw symphony.
The building Of his own home nat
rally created a fine satisfaction fol
he owner and heightened the splendid
o. operative community spirit which Il
ne backbone Of civic advancement anc
Apsriea's hope for the future.
The builder OF apartments in the city