New-York tribune., 1922-05-28
News and Comment OF City and Suburban Real Estate Narke
Rents Now More
NoderateThan
35 Years Ago
Census Shows Landlords
Received Big lrcome
From Property Infe-
rior TO That of TODAY

y rerts are much more reasonable to-
.,r than they were thirty-five wears
~ Il you compare the buildings used
: hose days as homes with those of
.s.day. In view Of the tales told in
,our,, the statements made by the
vayor's committee on Rent Profiteer-
nv Samuel Cntermyer and the Lock
rood committee II is hard to believe
hat there ever was ; time when
-eptals were as prohibitive as they
nc to-day. |. Berger. writing in "Real
F;ta.e News. the official publication OF
;se Greater New York Taxpayers Asso-
-,a.ion. says that though the general
ep.non IS that current rentals are un-
reasonable aud unwarranted rent pay
ers are generally better off than those
q thirty-tive years ago Mr.. Berger
yritgs:
A careful and impartial analysis
ot rentals paid and services received
.nen and now results in the establish
nent Of the astounding fact that
crea: majority Of tenants Of to-day
pay comparatively more moderate
'eHtal than those of years gone by.
wien apartments were plentiful. and
receive much more in return.
DAYS of kalsomine Walls
Tenement houses of those days.
compared with those of to-day. were
sacent structures consisting of two.
'afee and four room apartments The
aaiy windows leading directly to the
utter ar were in front or rear OF
t9f apartment. There were no win
dows or other means of ventilation in
20 bedrooms. The methods of decora-
! ION were simple. kalsomine was ex-
,.uSl7s.y used on walls as we'll as cell
o.
" living rooms were papered Flee
-cIty popular illuninant was un-
,towa and even now unfavored oa4
eht Was then rare luxury 10 be
stalled only IN the high class apart
fHt house. The water supply was
most rural in character, consisting
hand pump or hydrant in the
-ard. ms was the only source Of
1ater supply for the majority Of four
q five story buildings. Some time
ster, when there developed q tendency
mooernlze the tenement. hand
pumps were installed, one on each
Ioor, IN the hall.
bathrooms were q rarity. So-called
@iool SINKS IN the yard were used in
P2ee az the present day sanitary flush
EStem toilets. The joke about the Sat
-Fdsl y ght bath has its Inception back
| :.
1olrdual made his weekly pilgrimage to
ae reiehborhood bath house or labori-
Us y prepared the large. tin family
ajh tub for the weekly ablution. The
@ et mpartments. like the public
alls and stalrways. had to be cleaned
me tenants alternately. The only
mites the janitor then performed was
V light the kerosene lamps in the
taa& put out the garbage and ash cans
mclean the sidewalks.
Six Dollars Room
Rentals for apartments with such
s!Ylce, or. rather, self-service or bet
Af still, no service, was from So to Ss
sroom month in the cheapest type
G. building
't onsidering the tax rate which was
Ten about S1.50 per Sl0O on an assessed
nua-ion OF about 80 per cent of the
sexual value; the interest rates. which
we're At per cent, and the cost Of
'-ysical upkeep as represented by the
aghest days pay, any mechanic then
'eceiyed $2.50-and he had to be first
\ rsss T. get that much-the profits
Fade on such ventures can easily be
nged.
= There $ hardly any room for just
aaoe COMPARISON when the high rents.
NuS-e, IuES pTOHIS ana no service
years ago are considered against
me moderate rents. manifold and high
'os'a. low profits and complete service
o. Today. he present tax rate aver
ages about S2.75 on every 500 Of as
'eSsed valuation, and the assessed val
5suon Tow represents in most cases
we actual value of the property. In
,efest rates are uniformly per cent
BESIDES the mechanics wages having
Jumped from the maximum of $3.50 a
gay 10 the present minimum Of $40
1ay' extra costs go to swell the annual
-Spense list in the form of charges for
I 1DsI1slye DECORATING, instead OF the
.mp!e kalsomine OF the days Of yore;
f'' coal necessitated By the additional
Y ;e'ylce Of hot water and steam; in the
4 'oFm OF salaries to highly technical
] sa'tors VINO thoroughly understand
ae mechanism of and care of steam
4 'aa hot-water boilers and telephone
svltchboards
Old Rent Schedule
] From ar actual census taken of
4 1000 apartments through old records
ne following rental data were ascer-
aled relative TO apartments equipped
aiNa service that varied from ordinary
,a'aefn plumbing IN plain tenements
! deam and not-water service in the
'ser type houses:
.q-wate~ aDart-rents. is per cent be
60 ia per cent between s. and IS.
\ W,,,"ate~ aTartrnents. Il per cent be
~ %. 20 Pc cant between IS and s..
rsV. Taler and steam. is Per cent below
M per cent between $40 a nd Sl0 ! per
between SIS and $50.
..isIator. ror cont below 81. . u per
.s.y. eesiween }l5 and $25 Il per cent
4 What a change in quality of apart
q 4sn's and nature of service rendered
Use findings show, and yet how little
d rentals were affected. In some
y sses NE old level was not even main
q med ~ned' less being paid now for modern
8 tssF'ments with the modern service
3,ah lor only the four walls of yester-
~ some OF the tenants to-day,
q Caoss speciality is litigation over some
4 1oeo or trivial injustice in service
over small and quite often justi-
y a rent increase, could look back some
81 =. ."Y'hye years they would find that
-, landlord OF to-day is not usually
es"resssonable, and TO misjudgc him be-
,Ge :. ne Is an owner of property is do
=