July 14, 1917





RECORD   AND   GUIDE





45





Operate in an earnest endeavor to facili¬
tate a favorable action which must result
in safer construction and better metli-
ods.

In a recent statement Robert D. Kohn
pointed out that a basic building code is
urgently needed to govern those parts
of the " State outside of the few large
cities where adequate codes are now suc¬
cessfully in operation. Aside from the
danger to human life, outside of the
great cities, through absence of any pro¬
tective legislation, except in the con¬
struction of factory buildings, this lack
is a decided handicap to structural op¬
erations and something that calls for
immediate adjustment through proper
channels.

The movement for a State Building
Code is the first step in the direction of
liroviding against a time when sections
nf the rural districts will be densely
populated and will hence need the pro¬
tection   of  safe  construction.

All branches of the building industry
must be brought to a realization that
this situation is now a matter of prime
importance to the progress of struc¬
tural development and because the last
Legislature took no definite action it
does not necessarily indicate that thc
principle involved is not correct. There¬
fore the labor in furthering this measure
has not been lost, but the organizations
that have led in the preparation of the
ImU must be assisted in every possible
manner by all individuals and associa¬
tions interested in improved building
conditions. Better buildings will as¬
suredly be the result.





War-Time Economy.

The movement started at Washington
calling upon business men throughout
the country to cooperate with the
Council of National Defense to avoid
waste is a praiseworthy one, and should
be  encouraged  wherever possible.

It is true that in almost every line of
endeavor non-essential services have
crrown up. which could be eliminated,
without injury to the business. 1" ^ar
time they are a serious waste and should
be stopped.                           .

The Board of Commercial Economy
solicits suggestions and asks associa¬
tions of business men to appoint com¬
mittees to consider and act along these
lines. Readjustments have been made
in thc other countries at war and in
some instances they have been made
suddenly and drastically without oppor¬
tunity to avoid loss. But this loss is
only "a temporary one and the new or¬
der' of things finally brings about a
healthier and sounder condition, which
is shared not only by the seller but also
bv   the   buyer.





"The  Whumhummer/'*

Editor of the Record and Guide:

Whenever I want to crystallize that
hovering idea of a plan to increase sales.
1 stand at the window of my office and
look out on the "Avenue." It is al¬
ways an inspiration because it is the re¬
flection of "Life." Sometimes I see
more than just material things; people,
motor cars, and buildings. Sometimes I
see the "Avenue" of years ago. when I
first came to New York, and when most
of the buildings were low. flat and
squalid looking. I see mercantile build¬
ings here and there, but none to any
great extent. I see groups of men
"grouching" here and there about the
"saturation point." about the instability
of the building business: men prophesy¬
ing that in a few years there will be too
many buildings.

Then I see the "Avenue" of today and
T look in vain for the ancient shacks.
I see great commercial and industrial
buildings employing thousands of men.
I see the leaders in the building indus¬
try honored by their country. I breathe
deeply, square my shoulders and throw
my head back, proud that I am con¬
nected with such big business, proud of
what my country has accomplished,    I





determine to put my shoulder to the
wheel harder than ever before when my
door opens and the "Whum hummer"
enters. Immediately I feel the atmosphere
of a cellar long closed; cold» damp and
clammy. Courtesy is a demanding mis¬
tress—and I have to sit down and listen
to a wail of pessimism. A wail of com¬
ing business depression that will cause
untold privation and hardship. I am
toUl that the taxes, freight charges, etc.,
will kill the industry; that the demand
for steel and munitions will make it im¬
possible for the building material manu¬
facturer to continue operations even if
the consumer should continue to buy,
etc. I am told of many things, the theme
of all being that business is going to
hell in a hand car and all because of the
war.

When the Whumhummer leaves I gasp.
I throw open the windows to let in God's
air and sunshine. We are at war. We
are in a war that we are going to fight
to a deadly finish because it is a fight
for Democracy. We have got to do our
bit. every one of us. It may not be
that we can don uniforms and go to
the front ; it may not be that we are
situated so that we can go out and work
on the big farms; but we can do our
share and do it in a big way—we can
put our shoulders to the wheel of busi¬
ness and push. Uncle Sam is now one
of the biggest purchasing agents that
ever kept a salesman cooling his heels
in a reception room. On the door lead¬
ing into Uncle Sam's office is a sign
that reads "Purchasing Agent for United
States, Great Britain, France, Russia,
Italy, Japan and Company." And the of¬
fice boy at the railing announces the
fact that this purchasing agent has ten
billions of dollars in his cash box, a store
of money exceeding the fabled treasures
of the ancient Incas. And this pur¬
chasing agent. Brother, needs buy every¬
thing. Clothing, food, coal and oil. build¬
ing materials, steel and iron, machinery,
railway equipment, automobiles, motor
trucks, motor cycles, everything. Thc
money he pays for these things is go¬
ing to stay right here in this country.
It is going to circulate on the avenues
of the cities and to thc general store at
every cross  road.

Business as usual; No, Brother O'
Mine, not business as usual, but a big¬
ger business, on a newly adjusted basis;
the basis of war. Years ago when the
automobile industry first started to cry
from its cradle it caused an adjustment
of many lines of business. The manu¬
facturers of harness found their market
diminished; the carriage manufacturers
found their customers buying automo¬
biles : the men who ran public stables
found their customers using garages.
But this husky infant, lustily crying in
his cradle, did not cause a business
depression. Rather, business went on
bigger than ever ; the harness manu¬
facturer and the carriage manufacturer
discovered that in this new industry
there was a market for their product; a
bigger market than they had ever had
before. The stable man who was pro¬
gressive turned his stable into a garage.
And all have prospered. So right now.
Brother O' Mine, not business as usual,
but a readjusted business on a war ba¬
sis. Just what the readjustment will
bring forth, just what the readiustment
ueriod will be, none can say. One fact,
however, stands out as bold as brass;
and that is that this country, our coun¬
try, is too big and fundamentally too
prosperous to suffer what the "Whum-
luimmcr" predicts. The period that we
have entered upon may be hard and dif¬
ficult to analyze, to understand. But we,
yon and I, can do our share by facing it
boldly; by following the even tenor of
our ways, possibly pushing at the wheel
of business a little harder, economizing
in those things that will help in pros¬
ecuting the war. but avoiding false econ¬
omy. Above all. we can face the future
with faith, hope and confidence. And
if we do the "Whumhummers" can whum
all they they please, but business, "Big
Business," will go forward, always for¬
warded.                                            A. B.





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QUERY DEPARTMENT

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This department li Intended to be of lerr-
Ice to all Interested In the real estate market,
whether ai broker, agent or property owner.
The readers of the Record and Guide are In¬
vited to send In questions on matters per¬
taining to real estate, building and building
management, though legal questions will not
De answered in this column. Questions should
be stated aa fuljy but as briefly as possible
so as to allow Intelligent answers. Arrange¬
ments have bee» made through which the
questions will be answered by a Committee
of the Real Estate Board, including the
following:

H. A. Tredwell. real estate broker.
Frederick D. Kalley. real estate broker.
Robert R. Ralney, real estate fcroker.
B. E. Martin.

William Douglas Kilpatrick, builder.
H. H. Murdock, architect.





Question No. 251.— Will you. please let we
know xcJuit Icirislatioxi }}roinded for the transfer
of real estate under three numbers (such a.t
.4llen street, 137-9) (2-415-25); in New York
City. I take it tliat originally the grouxid xvas
eovered by platted additioxhs xuimed and xiuxn-
bered by lots axid blocks. What kixxd of a filing
for record killed this?                        A. H. D.

Anwer No. 251.—The provision of law
is known as "Block Index" established
by chapter 349 of the Laws of 1889, add¬
ed to the New York Charter without ma¬
terial change by chapter 514 of the Laws
of 1916, and is now chapter 24 of the
Greater New York Charter.





<^uestion No. 2r»2.—Does Building Zoning Reso¬
lution allowing business supplant'or xnakc x^oid.
a previoxis restriction running xoitli the land,
denmxiding jyrivote dxvellings for oxie family
o»^V-^                                                    P. A. L.

Answer No. 252.—No. The Building
Zone Resolution in many cases adds ad¬
ditional restrictions to those already im¬
posed by private covenant, but it does
not serve to abrogate any existing re¬
strictions running with the land.





'Definition :   "Whumhumiiier,"  one  whoso soul
grows inward ; a calamity howler ; a pesalmlst.





Question No. 253.—Kindly advise xne as to the
following : "A" is lookino for a store to lease.
•'B" is a brokex-. "C" has a lease on a store.
"B" goes to "C" and asks him if his lease is for
sale. Fie says it is. "B" dickers bctxveexi "A"
and "C" as to the sale of thc lease. Finally "B"
gets "C" to say he xvill take so xnxich xnoney
after some montJxs of xicgotiating for his lease
and gives his acceptance in xcritino to that effect.
"A" takes the matter up and finally decides ihm
the amount is too much, althouoh he hod made
an offer through "B" for the lease. Now "C"
says he u>ill sue '-A." What legal standing has
"C" in the matter, as to daxnaqes. etc.

P. H. J. n.
Answer No. 253.—Assuming that all of
the  facts  are  correctly  stated  above,  C
has no remedy at law.





The City Budget.

Editor of the Record  and Guide:

The article which appeared last week
in the Record and Guide relative to the
taxation and city budget problems is
timely and the advice given should be
followed.

The Real Estate Board deserves great
credit for what it has accomplished in
the past, but. so far as the taxpayer is
concerned, the battle has only just com¬
menced. Each year taxpayers must de¬
vote much time in order to protect
these interests, even though they pay
city officials for this purpose. In this
lies  a   direct  hardship.

Thc running of a big city is a monu¬
mental job. This is admitted. During
the past few years politics have not
played as big a part as formerly, but
still there are many people on the pay¬
roll who ought to be earning tneir liv¬
ing, let us say,  in other ways.

These are war times, and everyone is
called upon to economize to the last
.dollar. In this way alone can future
prosperity be assured. Let the city
economize to the last dollar, without
letting the plant deteriorize.

Everv citizen takes civic pride in New
York City, and is gratified by the ad¬
vancement made during the past de¬
cade, but when the cost is considered,
he   shudders.

Watch the budget in its making.
Strive to find out what expenses can be
eliminated. Send what suggestions pos¬
sible to the Real Estate Board and I am
sure cooperation will result.

BROKER,





RGCORD   AND   GVIPK   IS   IN  ITS   FIFTIETH   YEAR   OF   CONTINUOUS   PUBLICATION,