56 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



of money fast, which could be much better employed. The 

 gross rents do not pay more than twelve or fourteen per cent : 

 certainly, there are no taxes, but wooden houses are continually 

 wanting repairs, and require a coat of paint every twelve 

 months. 



The premium for insuring this sort of buildings, which is 

 done in England, is also very high. At the end of the year, 

 when the landlord receives his rent, and reckons up his out- 

 goings, I am convinced he will not have cleared six per cent, 

 on his money, which if properly employed in other pursuits, 

 where he has the opportunity of returning it two or three times 

 within that period, he would have made cent per cent of it. 

 Again, a certain loss attends all buidings when resold, especi- 

 ally these built of so perishable a material. I am so far satis- 

 fied on this point, that I would recommend any merchant 

 going out, to hire — not to build; and thereby profit by other 

 men's experience. 



The labor of mechanics is with us extravagantly dear. A 

 negro carpenter, or mason, earns from five to ten shillings a day 

 according to his skill. Perhaps it would answer to send out 

 from Europe a company of practised builders, under the com- 

 mand of an able architect, who might undertake, first at Sta- 

 broek, then at New Amsterdam, the constructions requisite. 

 Houses could be built by them for half price, and usually 



