Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

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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. Fq UN '[mniMiuiuiuiuiii nmniiirmiiTiiiiii QUERY DEPARTMENT ™iflfiaiUiirrniuiiuirnimLLi[i;iiuiiiii[j;ijiL,ui:iiaii,-,i|]iii'-''iiiij' '!■.■'jmh i jjhh "]'■■! ir" iiiriMi.'M ?,}a L;a]i]rruiiu< \iii\i:\ii:i nT^miamaiim 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,