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Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 26, no. 660: November 6, 1880

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Real Estate Record AND BUILDERS' GUIDE. Vol. XXVI. NEW YOEK, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1880. No. 660 Published Weekly by TERMS. ONK IfKAR. in advance....810.00. Communications should be addressed to C. W. SWJBET, No. 187 Broadway NEW YORK'S INFLUX. It is, indeed, refreshing to those whose leis¬ ure time is devoted to studying the progress of our country and the effect of this progress upon the metropolis of America, to notice the antics of those who are astounded when plain matter of fact figures show them the changes in the political preferences of a voting population, such as is being crowded to-day on Manhattan Island. Here we have been talking from week to week in the columns of The Real Estate Record not only of the enormous increase of our population, but of the distinguish¬ ing features of that inci-ease. We have said for more than a year now, in these very col¬ umns, that— First—^Many capitalists who had made money in California, Texas, or other Pacific, Southern and Northern States, were quietly dropping their "specs" there, and, having realized their cash proflts, had moved to this city of New York. Second—Those who had under their con¬ trol the manufacture of articles requir¬ ing an accessible shipping point had set¬ tled down with their machinery, their fore¬ men, their workingmen in and around New York, not only from New Jersey, but from Connecticut and other New England States. We have frequently pointed to the increase of manufacturing establishments, small and large; for instance, in the Eighth and Ninth Wards of this city, in the annexed districts across the Harlem, and in Brooklyn. These facts, continually repeated in these columns, have since been confirmed by the official statement of the special supervisor charged with gathering statistics in regard to manu¬ facturing, and he predicted, under his own signature, that the facts when published would prove New York City to be not only the largest commercial, but also the largest manufacturing city in the United States. And yet we hear of people being astounded at the change, which the total vote of New York represented as cast on Tuesday last. To us it appeared in quite a different light. We are, indeed, astounded that the increased vote for "no change," originating mainly among the workers in these factories at one side, and the increased number of resident capitalists on the other side, has not been jarger. And here we now give the test upon which we based that belief. We know from sources entitled to credit, and worthy of belief, that no less than fifteen thousand new families have settled down in some fashion or other in this good city of New York since the summer months set in, and especially since the close of the summer months. There is to-day a demand for unfurnished and furnished houses in this city that can¬ not be supplied. It is even currently re¬ ported that the Astors, with all of their im¬ proved property, had not a single house to let on the morning of November 3d. There is also just now a very large demand for the purchase of houses, and if no more are sold than recorded in these columns, it is simply due to the enhanced views of sell¬ ers, and the as yet moderate views of buyers. Aside of this influx of strangers, however, let us remind our readers that our popula¬ tion is expanding just now to a greater ex¬ tent than they have been giving full credit. While during the panic times, foUowing closely upon 1873, people were loth to marry, better times have changed aU this. Smart real estate operators and brokers can see the difference plainly before their eyes. During the prevalence of hard times, people " doubled up," so to speak, in boarding and lodging houses. Those who boarded below Fourteenth street then, have since gone up into "the brown stone" districts above Thirty-fourth street. Those who occupied these eligible boarding quarters have since gone into the suites of various apartment houses, found so exquisitely and nicely ar¬ ranged in the very best parts of the island. And last, but not least, those who have lived in flats before, are now seeking either to rent houses or to buy them. The real estate riarket, carefuUy studied in all its various tendencies, is the very best index to those novices who, in a country like this, where universal suffrage lies at the bottom of all political changes, desire to flnd the cause for this change. No one who has carefully read the col¬ umns of this journal during the past twelve¬ month, has any reason to be surprised at the change. Capital and labor work hand in hand in this Ajnerican metropolis, and hon¬ est capital as well as honest labor combined, both looking towards the same result, have, indeed, brought about the change which is just now worrying the heads of the wily poli¬ ticians and the good for nothing theorists. tractive houses by designing porticoes or what would replace the ordinary awning over their door steps ? When receptions or wedding parties are given, an awning has to be hired t'^ save the dresses of the ladies, should it rain or shine, in walking from the carriage to the door. It would serve a use, therefore, if our finer houses were provided with a covering over their front steps. Not only would it be useful, but it would be novel and ornamental. Such coverings or porches should be artistic. In Thirty-seventh street, near Fifth avenue, will be seen a device of this kind, and it certainly has differenced the house to which it is attached from any in the neighborhood. Ladies on opening a door do not care to face 'the wind or sun directly. They wish to adjust their dress before descending the steps. They would like, also, to have a chance to open their umbrella or sun-shade. This can be better done under a porch than in the open air of the day. As we have said, ours is an exceptionally warm climate in summertime, and porches, porticoes, awnings if you please, give a sense of coolness to a house which it cannot have otherwise. It helps, also, to create a draft when the hall doors are opened. We make this suggestion to builders as they all know a little fanciful device or or¬ nament adds greatly to the value of a well built house. We are constructing a great many dwellings in New York to-day, and next spring will be erecting a largely in¬ creased number of new residences. The builders who furnish the most attractive res¬ idences to customers will secure the largest trade, and then it is in the interest of art and our domestic architecture that there should be a wide diversity in the residences of the rich. Nothing can be more elegant than an ordinary brown stone house, but there is rather too much of this kind of architecture now. Houses built of fine brick and orna¬ mented with varying colored stones, have proved to be very attractive to pupils of taste and wealth, and there is all the difference between a living and a fortune to the builder who caters to the taste as weU as to the com¬ fort of his customers. PORTICOES AND DOOR FRONTS. In view of the tropical climate of New York in summer time, why do not our builders vary the fronts of their more at- POINTS, HINTS AND FORECASTS. The action of the Secretary of the Treas¬ ury in stopping the weekly purchase of bonds gave a sudden check to the rise in prices, and the market was quite weak on Thursday. The wisest heads in the street looked for lower prices towards the latter part of November and early in December. But it is argued that this check to a booming market may keep prices steady. No one ap¬ prehends any such disastrous break as we had