Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1916)
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: DECEMBER 31, 1916, Showing Social and Governmental Activities in Omaha During 1916 6 D MANY BIG DEALS IN OMAHA REAL ESTATE Total Bans Up Big for the Tear Just Closed, Especially in Downtown Property. NO MOEE TAX ON DEEDS Peal estate to the value of about SI6.3OO.0OO changed hands in Omaha and the county during the year 1916, according to the closest estimates that can be made, based upon the record in the court house of real estate trans fers, and upon the revenue stamps sold for the deeds. This shows an increase of about SI. 000.000 over the volume of transfers for the previous year. The aggregate of the considerations recorded on the deeds themselves, would make the total of real estate transfers for the year something over $8,000,000; but here again it must be remembered that the tendency to rec ord a deed with the mere nominal consideration of "$1 and other valu able considerations" is more and more growing. Thus a $100,000 transaction may be covered up by recording the deed tor but l, that the actual con sideration shown on the deeds falls far below the actual consideration as paid over in money. War Sumps Abolished. The federal war tax revenue stamp on deeds was abolished September 8 of 1916, when the repeal of this act became effective. Up to that time the revenue stamps revealed the fact that the real estate transactions of the year already ag gregated $12,120,118.14. That is for iust a trifle over eight months of the year. A comparison of the figures for 1916. as recorded in the deeds, and as recorded for eight months by the volume of revenue Stamps used, indicated that the actual considerations from month to month are usually almost double the amount actually recorded in the deed by the. use ot the and other valuable con aiderations" phrase to cover actual prices. ' It is on this basis that the remain ing three and three-quarter months of the year are estimated, bringing the grand total of transactions up to well over $16,500,000. Many Big Deals. . . The year's activities are replete with big deals, the purchase of the site for the new Omaha Athletic club of Jake Schlank and Arthur D. Bran deis was one of them. These lots, in cluding the one on which the Doug las auditorium stands and the vacant lot adjoining on the east brought $218,000. The negotiations for the Schlank lease part of the deal were handled by A. P. Tukey & Son. The sale of the Hamilton apart ments to Ernest Sweet was one of the really big deals of the year, involving $375,000. The property waa sold by the Hamilton Improvement company, George & Co. handling the negotia tions. , The sale of the O. C Redick prop erty, corner of Nineteenth and Doug las streets, to the Nebraska Telephone company for its proposed new plant, was another of the larger transactions involving $200,000. Old Bank Sold. The old First National Bank build ing, too, waa aold during the year in a deal involving a trade, the total con sideration for the bank building being put in at $250,000. A. E. Cook of Chicago got this. The transfer of the northwest cor ner of Twenty-fifth and Farnam streets from Leonard Everettr of Council Bluffs to Joseph Barker for $108,000, was a notable deal in va cant Farnam street property, , ' Dr. Gifford also bought the south east corner of Twentieth and Farnam streets for about $73,000 and the site for the new Sanford hotel for some $80,000. Joseph Barker sold a strip of ? round on the northeast corner of hirtieth and Farnam streets to the Overland Sales company for some $40,000, the deal involving an adjoin ing piece of property also, which brought the total transaction up to $65,000. ( r - The northwest corner of Twentieth and Harney streets was transferred from Elmer Redick and Helen Phales to Bertha Schwartz for $75,000. The leasehold on the brick flat at the southeast corner of Twenty-fourth and Harney streets was sold by George & Co. to Travers Brothers for improvement purposes, the considera tion being withheld. Buys on Farnam. Charles ft. Sherman bought the northeast corner of Thirty-sixth and Farnam streets of the Stephen O. Bangs estate for $45,000. J. A. C Kennedy and T. F. Ken nedy bought of Mrs. Boyd the corner at Thirty-sixth and Farnam streets, iust east of the Blacks tone family lotel. for $40,000. George Barker, owner of extensive real estate holdings in Omaha, only ten days ago, bought the National Fidelity and Casualty building at Twelfth and Farnam streets for some $47,000. The Odd Fellows bought the 120 foot front of the Judge Lake proper ty near Twenty-second street, on the south side of Douglas, scarcely two months ago. The southwest Corner of Twenty sixth and Farnam streets, part of the Shepherd estate, was aold or leased on a long term to the World Realty com pany, on a basis of a $40,000 value. These are only some of the princi pal sales made in downtown property during the year, making no mention oi the innumerable sales of other business property of less value, and many hundreds of transactions in resi dence property ranging in value from $2,000 to $20.000. Figures On City Street Lighting Gas Lamps According to J. P. Butler, commis sioner of gas fighting, the average quality of gas during the year was 601.4 B. T. U., based on 549 tests. The city requires not less than 600 B. T. U. Superintendent A. C Taylor sub mits the following financial statement of the department: MtlM ; l,3 (llobn i.U rmr nil.... Gu I .a IT) p aoata 1.191 14.114 t 1,104 II 1 1,111 Im-Klrntiila Number of lamps Installed .Number of lamp discontinued Xumber ot lamps la carries The annual cost per lamp for the j ear was $24.05. i ! Greater Omaha I I : ii Faaalaalaa atlmata Araa ftqMW mllaa) Nambcr of park 1 1 1 1 in aartui awl plaifroamlil Bavlavard On aillrat N anther mile parrd street Miles pel manual Nldrwalka. . . . amer mllee ef newer issues I 10 MOO S8 237 913 319 4SJWI SIS.SSS.ISS Number af telephone. . . , Beaded IndebterineM Namber of bank 19 pltal SI0.S40.ltS Beak depoelk SM.10MS7 Namber bulldlni bad kma S BaUdlnc ajd loan aaaeU MO.000,000 Namber ar psblle ratial brlld- laa-a IMplW aaralled la paMIr aeboola ltM2 Valoe ef public refceol balld- laa-a S3.ooo.ooo Neraea la aeboel Inepertlea work s Naaiber af pararhlal rbooie... 21 Namber of anl remittee 3 Namber of eharrhee 14S Namber of break Uaea of rail- rarmiager train each 34 haara. Namber of parkins uouee Namber of fartmire Namber of whotemie honnea. . . Namber af hoapltaU Namber of eoantry eloba Namber af theater Namber of mnrle theater Commercial elab membership . . . 103 4 973 4110 It 3 7 33 !,000 PARK DEPARTMENT SPENDSJOCH CASH Improvements and Mainten ance Cost Hundred and Sixty Thousand Dollars. BENEFITS GREATER OMAHA During the year the park depart ment expended $90,000 from the park fund proper, $20,000 from road fund and $50,000 from park bond fund Maintenance and improvements were distributed over the entire system of Greater Omaha. In Miller park the driveways were paved, a new tool and machinery house was erected and a curling rink established for the hardy Scots who enjoy winter sports. Excavation tor a lagoon embracing four acres in Fontenelle was one of the important projects started. The plan is to make this a popular place for swim mina and wading in the summer time and skating in the winter time. Even tually a pa'ilion will be erected. Next spring this lagoon will be flooded and it is proposed to begin water sports in this park next season, Elmwood Paris, Elmwood park was favored during the year by the opening of a fine eightcen-liole golf course, with com plete sprinkling system. Dressing rooms for foot ball and base ball players were provided at Elmwood. Citizens ot that district have re quested a pavilion, which will be one of the early improvements, probably during 1917, although that has not been definitely decided. ' At Hans- eom park a new heating plant was in stalled in the pavilion and 1,000 or chids added to the greeneries. The first modern concrete swirfi ming pool of the Greater Omaha park system was opened at River- view park. This improvement cost $4,500 and proved popular from the start. A pavilion and playground equipment were placed in Mandan park and playground equipment in Morton and Clearview parks, new play centers opened in the South Side. Flower Beds. " In connection with flower beds dis tributed through the parks 5,000 rose bushes and other plants were appor tioned. Forty-five municipal band concerts were held in parks and play grounds during the summer. During the year 120,000 gallons of road oil and 225 carloads of cinders were dis tributed over the boulevards and park drives. Fifteen hundred maple and 500 elm trees were planted along the boulevards. Land was acquired for a boulevard link from Fontenelle to Miller parks, a distance of 2.3 miles, and to con nect Happy Hollow and Fontenelle boulevards, 1.3 miles long. Twenty fifth atreet, from Krug's brewery to F street and thence to Spring Lake park was taken over as a boulevard. The Happy Hollow boulevard was paved from Farnam street to Under wood avenue snd the Paxton boule vard was graded and cindered. Considerable grading was done on the Carter boulevard and the entire drive of three miles was surfaced with cinders. A suction dredge was in operation during the summer along the east shore of Carter lake, preparatory to further extension of the lake shore drive. Recreation Board. The Recreation board, working in connection with the park depart ment, expended $20,000 in supervised playground activities, under the di rection of C. H. English, superin tendent; new play centers were opened at Spring Lake, Mandan, Clearview and Morton parks, all in the South Side. It is estimated that playground attendance . during the season was 100 per cent more than the previous summer. Pushmobile races, pet shows, lantern parades and doll shows attracted considerable terest in eleven plav centers. A," downtown championship pushmobile race was one of the big events of the season. The bathing features of the park system, as supervised by the Recrea tion board, exceeded all expectations and tested the capacity of the swim ming places. The attendance at Car ter lake beach was 3,500 to 4,000 on some evenings during the days of excessive heat. Life-Saving Crew. A complete life-saving crew, with physician, was maintained at Carter lake. Life guards were in service at other public swimming places. Base ball games held on municipal dia monds were under supervision of the Recreation board, with accredited umpires at each game. For eight base ball diamonds 1,045 permits were issued. This system avoided clashes over rights to diamonds and also improved the deportment of the games. On the upper floor of the Hanscom park pavilion 126 dances were held during the year, this priv ilege being extended to responsible groups to whom permits were issued. Paid supervisors were in attendance at the play centers, which were pa tronized liberally. RAILROADS HAVE AN ERA OFPROSPERITY Business Never Better in His tory is Claim of Transpor tation Lines. MUCH IMPROVEMENT WOEK Railroads operating in and out of Omaha have closed the books for 1916 and it is agreed universally that there has never been a year when the lines were taxed to capacity as during the twelve months that have gone. The executives and general managers as sert that the business of the last year has been about all thai they could I nave uunnira, even i more naa oecn thrown tn thrm All of th roads had to contend with the car shortage, especially the shortage applying to freight and coal cars. It started with the opening of the 1916 shipping season and was acute at the close of the year. It is asserted that a very large volume of this increased business came as a re sult of the war in Europe, but aside from this, there was a largely in creased volume added by reason of the splendid crops all over Omaha trade territory. Omaha Lines Hit Hard. In one respect the Omaha lines were hit pretty hard when the car shortage ramc on. They were the owners of plenty of cars for handling uic normal tranr, nut there were numerous lines in the central and eastern sections that had short equip ment. These lines commenced to bor row trom the Omaha roads and as a result of what the outcome has been is best demonstrated by conditions in connection with the Union Pacific. Officials of this road assert that 10, 000 of its freight cars have been held at eastern terminals because con signees have been unable to deliver the freight on shipboard, or to pro vide the necessary warehouse facili ties so that cars could be unloaded. What is true with the Union Pa cific applies equally to the other lines operating in and out of Omaha, For the six months ending Decem ber 1, 1916, along its line the '-Union Pacific loaded out 190.83.1 cars of freight, an Increase of 20.425 over the corresponding period of 1915. This included largely grain, live stock and merchandise. The Union Pacific spent millions of dollars last year in new work, im provements and betterments, one of the important items of expenditure be ing an even $1,000,000 on the new bridge over the Missouri river here, opened to railroad traffic last week. Million! for Improvements. During the year thirty-nine and one half miles of side track was built, eleven and one-half miles in Nebraska. For maintenance of way and struc tures the expenditures amounted to about $12,000,000. New coaling sta tions were built at Vine Bluffs and Wamsutter, Wyo. New turn tables were put in at Armstrong, Kan., and Sidney, Neb. At Denver an electrical interlocking plant was installed at the Union 1 station and new depots were erected, either freight, or passenger, or combination structures, at Council Muffs, Penokee, Kiro, Garrison, Lind say, Kan.; Vutan, Dix, Neb.; Fosston, and Galeton, Colo. Track scales and water tanks were installed at numerous points along the system and in Nebraska stock yards were built at Finrhvill an3 ' Kevins. Shop buildings were erected at Evanston, Wyo., and Armstrong, Kan. Seventy-two and one-half miles of mail line track was ballasted with Sherman gravel and fiftv-four miles equipped with automatic signal. new equipment costing $254,900 was added during the year and orders placed for $4,500,000 to $5,000,000. to be delivered at the earliest nossihle date. Burlington Keeps the Pace. While the expenditures of the Union Pacific Were in excess nf inv rtn i-,f the other roads, the other lines kept abreast of the times. The Burlington spent fullv 2.500.000 nn it. line. . of the M issouri river, one of the prin cipal iiems Deing tne construction of the Chalco-Yutan cut-off ennnertinor Omaha up with Sioux City. Due to a shortage of help, this line was not completed, but it is expected that it will be opened for traffic early in the spring. For grading, bridge building and tracks laying the cost during the year aggregated $600,000. Along its system west of the river, the Burlington replaced light steel rails with heavier rtnp. at i f $475,000 and for resisting the croachments of the Missouri river $55,- vw was expended. I lie Gurnsey line out in Wyoming was completed at a cost of $100,000 and an expenditure of $200,000 was made on the line from Onn Junction to Thermopolis. New coaling stations, depots, other build ings and loadinc tract mot tjjnnnn and water stations and pipe lines $53, 000. Automatic block sicmaU signals were in.tnlUH a. - $143,000 and bridge reolacements meant the spending of $125,000. New ballast cost $65,000 and right-of-way fences $65,000. Of course a large Sum of mOnCV was eir.nH.,l f- in-i'qulp,ra.'ntv bu'. this purchase is ." Ine Keneral orhce in Chi- cago, the proportion is not taken to consideration with reference to ex penditures west of the Missouri river. Northwestern Expenditures. In round numbers during 1916 the Northwestern spent $636,065 on its lines west of the river. The largest item was for bridge betterments, this amounting to $303,360. The money spent on track betterments amounted to $165,000, which included the laying of new steel. New and remodeled depots cost $15,000 and improvements to station grounds $22,500, while new equipment and machinery amounted to $36,400. As in the case of the Burlington, a good deal of new equipment came to the lines west of the river, but its cost is figured in the general offices in Chicago. ' Other roads expended large sums in this territory, notably the Mis souri Pacific that completed putting its Omaha-Kansas City line in first class condition and beginning work looking to the elevation of the Belt line tracks in Omaha. It is asserted that $750,000 would be a fair estimate of the expenditures in this vicinity. Persistence Is the Cardinal Virtue in Advertising. Number of Phones Per Capita Breaks The World's Record The addition of 3,700 telephones to the Omaha zone during the year placed this city first in the world in the number of telephones in propor tion to population. On December 1 the area served by the Greater Omaha exchanges had 43,581 telephones, divided among the exchanges as follows: Bellevue, 136; Benson, 879; Colfax. 3,111 Douglas, 15,857; Florence, 502: Harney, 6.822; Ralston, 76; South, 4,269; Tvler, 3,064; Walnut, 3,726; Webster, 5.139. Ao average of 250,000 calls are made over telephones in Omaha every day. The Nebraska Telephone company has 1,400 employes in Omaha and its annual payroll is approximately $1, 000,000. During 1917 the company will spend $500,000 in Omaha for underground conduits, extensions of pole lines, in stallation of new cables and additional : , ,i :i -j a ditional $750,000 will be expended for Blacksione at Thirty-sixth and Far construction of a new headquarters at "am. stre? a """""r6 f "ty Nineteenth and Douglas streets. This building will be occupied as the head quarters of the Bell Telephone com panies operating dii Nebraska. Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota. YEAR SEES GREAT CHURCH BUILDING But Prospects for Coming Twelve Months Are Even Better Than Past. BIG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The last year has been marked by great activity in church building in Omaha and still greater activity -in planning big things for the coming year. The most notable church edifice completed is the First Presbyterian, Thirty-fifth and Farnam streets, a beautiful structure of brick trimmed with stone and with a capacious par ish house in connection, all set on beautiful grounds. The total cost of the edifice and ground was $150,000. S(. Mary's Avenue Congregational church sold its big frame building on St. Mary's avenue to the Seventh Day Adventists, the latter coming from a very small structure on Twenty-fifth north of Cuming street; The St. Mary's Avenue Congregational church is now selecting a site and will begin this spring the erection of a new church farther west, costing about $150,000. The Westminster Presbyterian and the Parkvalc Presbyterian arc each planning new churches, probably to be erected in 1917. St. Cecilia's cathedral, costing $350, 000 was brought so near completion that the installation of Bishop Har,y was held there December 21, though it will be several months before it is completed entirely. New Catholic Church. St. Peter's Catholic church has bought ground and has plans com pleted for the erection of a new church at Thirty-second and Pacific streets. The First Unitarian church will be gin the erection of a building early in the spring on the northwest corner of Turner boulevard and Harney street. irtnity l.utneran cnurch I tnglish) dedicated a remodeled building at Twenty-fifth strce and Ames avenue1 a few weeks ago. Within two or three years this congregation expects to erect a new church a few blocks far ther west. The Second Church of Christ, Sci entist, has plans for the erection of a new edifice. The First Methodist church was renovated with an expenditure of about ' Bold Little Cupid Works Overtime Time in Leap Year Leap year broke all records for marriage licenses issued in Douglas county. Figures taken from the rec ords of "Cupid" Stubbendorf, mar riage license clerk in the clerk of the county court's office, show that 2,726 legal permits to wed were granted in 1916, as against 2,404 the previous year. This record is 225 greater than the previous high mark 1913 when 2,501 couples started on their matri monial careers in Douglas county. Comparative tables showing the num ber of licenses issued by months in iy 16 and the previous year are as follows: 1915. 1916. January 1M February 165 March U3 April 18 May 177 .Tuns 170 July 179 Auiruvt ISO;! Hptmbor , 254 October 311 Novpinlwr 821 December , , , 31 ToU! 1.404 176 I7U :-0B 3.11 :oi ?1S L'se 310 Greater Omaha Has Over Two Hundred Miles of Paving Greater Omaha now has: Two hundred and thirty-seven miles of pavements. 5i miles of per manent sidewalks and 319 miles of sewers. During the year the public im provements department, under City Commissioner Jardine. expended $1,147,669 in pavements, curbing, sewer, grading and sidewalks, as fol lows: Cost. Curbinc t'.tt mil. $ 73.S41.JI Pa vlnj U.tt mllea 5S4.6',4.12 Swr 51.7 tnllea 37, 600.00 (Approximately 10 pr cnt direct levy.) Oradlnv :17, 187.0 cubic yard. under contract. . . 137.675.31 117,848.0 cubic yard by prtrate contract.. 19,0.U bi, 644.56 Sldewalka 2.7 mi leu brick . 183.83 14.!mll. artificial toat 4l,;jfj 7t 65,456.38 Total coat Inipromeata for 111 fl, 147,66. 33 Infant Mortality Rate Is Higher This Year The infant mortality rate for Greater Omaha for the year up to De cember' 1 was 6.1 per "100. For the eleven months there were 3.431 births and there were 211 deaths of infants less than.l year of age. The infant mortality rate for 1915 was 4.1. BUILDING RECORD GAIHSONE-THIRD More Than Seven Million Dol lars Worth of New Build ings in Year. NEW BANE HOME BIGGEST Building activities in Omaha show a gain of 331-3 per cent during 1916 over the year 1915. The 1915 record was something over 25 per cent ahead of the 1914 record. The total volume of building in Greater Omaha during the year just closed was approximately $7,190,000. In 1915 it was $5,385,005. The fourteen-story First National bank building at Sixteenth and Far nam, begun and completed within the year, was the largest single undertak ing during the year in the city. Notable among the buildings com- pieieu auruie tne year was the stories, which was built by the Bank ers' Realty Investment company for the Blackstone Holding company. Qther Big Projects. The Masonic Temple at Eighteenth and Douglas streets is now well under way, while the roof is on. The warehouse of the Lee-Coit-Andreesen company at Ninth and Farnam streets, costing $200,000, is past the framework stage and the building is pretty well enclosed. This structure has six stories and a base ment In process of construction at ores- ent is the $213,500 warehouse and machinery shop of the Armour Pack ing company of the South Side. This is to be a six-story building with" basement and is located at Twenty ninth on Q street. Many Important Braidings. Other big buildings in the down town district during the year include the World-Herald building, the du plication of the Castle hotel, the new Sanford hotel, the big family hotel at Eighteenth and Dodge streets, and a number of important warehouses and store buildings. Several big fac tory buildings were erected, the larg est among them being the big Ford plant at Sixteenth and Izard streets. The Morris Packing company is re building its plant, which was badly damaged by fire, and is making im portant extensions. Many costly apartment houses and residences were also added during the year, and smaller homes by the hundreds were built, diaries Martin took out at one time building permits for $90,000 worth of homes to be erected in Minnc Lusa addition. The new hos pital in connection with the Univer sity of Nebraska college of medicine, is nearing completion. For the Coming Year. For 1917 a most encouraging pro gram is already laid out. Most im pressive on the list of announcements is the Nebraska Telephone building, to be fifteen stories high, at Nine teenth and Douglas streets; the Com niercial Realty company's hotel build ing of ten stories and basement at Sixteenth and Harney streets, to be erected by the syndicate headed by Harry Wolf, and the $100,000 garage building which Charles R. Sherman plans between Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth street on Farnam street. The Nebraska Methodist hospital is soon to build another addition to its present plant, to cost $30,000. Then there is to be the duplica tion of the present plant of the Pax ton & Gallagher warehouse on Tenth street. The M. E. Smith company has also announced a big new addition to its plant. New H()me For Anto Trade. Thirty automobile dealers have pretty definitely decided that they will move from Farnam street to Howard street, between Eighteenth and Twentieth streets, where they intend to buy the entire frontage on both sides of the street for a dist ance of two blocks and erect a per manent and substantial system of buildings to constitute the big auto mart ot Umaha. The Heyn Brothers have definitely decided to build apartment houses of ultra-modern design costing nearly a quarter of a million dollars. The Drake Construction company is going ahead with this work the coming year. Many new factory plants have either been begun during the year or are to be begun immediately after the firit of the year. The rebuilding of Brownell hall will mean the expenditure of more than $250,000. Nearly $150,000 has already been raised for this. The U. P. Bakery companv is planning a big up-to-date plant at Twelfth and Jackson streets. The Graham Ice Cream company will complete its fine new plant, and j the Waterloo Creamery company will j finish the big plant it has started at I the south end of the Sixteenth street i viaduct. The big buttermilk meal factory ad ! joining the Fairmont Creamery build- j ing will also be completed during the year, adding another substantial in- j dustry to Omaha's busy center to i work up an important by-product of the creamery business. Athletic Club. Within a short time work will probably be begun on the new Omaha Athletic club building on the north side of Douglas street between Sev enteenth and Eighteenth streets. This building and ground combined is to cost $400,000. The work on the great cathedral of St. Cecelia's parish is now to be rushed to completion during the com ing year. Work will commence immediately on a big alfalfa warehouse for the M. C. Peters Mill company. The structure is to 'be 300 feet long by 50 feet wide. Swift & Co.. packers, on the South Side, will build hog pens to the value of $25,000. The First Unitarian church congre gation is to build a new church build ing at Thirty-first and Harney streets. The plans are being drawn. Many minor projects involving amounts up to $10,000 are under way. and many more are being talked of. so that the outlook for the building year is most encouraging. Give your Want Ad a chance to Lmake good. Ruu it in The Bee. NINE HUNDRED NEW SCHOOLCHILDREN Value of Public School Build ings and Grounds is Five Million Dollars. IMPROVEMENTS ARE MANY The total enrollment of the schools of Greater Omaha at this time is 28, 542, an increase of 906 during the year. Of the total mentioned 1,150 are attending the Central High evening school, 277 at South High evening school and 495 at the South, Comenius and Kellom elementary evening schools. The average daily attendance dur ing the school year ending June, 1916. was 23,480. The value of the public school sys tem grounds and buldings is nearly $5,000,000 and the bonded debt is $2, 795,000. There is an unexpended bal ance of $825,844 in the site and build ing bond fund, being part of $1,000,000 bonds authorized by the voters in 1915. This money is being expended in the fulfillment of a building pro gram which is engaging the attention of the buildings and grounds commit tee. Need More Schools. During the year the board decided to erect new schools on the Park and Clifton Hill sites and establish new schools to be known as Henry W. Yates and Field Club schools, on sites already purchased. Architects were engaged for these buildings, but the unexpected advance in cost of build ing materials upset the plans of the hoard. The contract for erection of the Henry W. Yates school has been awarded to Alex Beck and will be ready for opening at the beginning of the new school year next September. Architects are now revising plans for the Park, Clifton Hill and Field Club schools. During the year the following im provements were made in the con struction of annexes and additions Belviderc, four-room annex: Park, Mason, Saunders, Lothrop. Walnut Hill, Clifton Hill and West Side, two- room annex each; Bancroft, comple tion of four-room unit to sixteen-room building; High School of Commerce, eight rooms in annexes; Central, three-room addition; Columbian, four room addition; South High, new gym nasium; South Central, new ten-room building all on ground floor; Frank lin, addition of eight rooms and audi torium; South Franklin, addition of tour rooms and auditorium; Lincoln addition of six rooms and auditorium. The board decided to build on the old Train site a new eight-room school with auditorium. A site was our chased at Twenty-second and Chicago streets for a new High School of commerce building. Medical Department. A medical inspection department has been established with a corps of eight nurses and a superintendent who maintains an office in the school rooms on the fifth floor of the city nail. Kegular inspections are made of all schools. The 1916 school census was 38,592, as against 37,823 for 1915. During August the board approved a budget for 1917 in the total sum of $1,630,149, of which $1,134,519 is ex pected through general taxation and $354,000 in liquor license revenue, but the adoption of the prohibitory amendment in November will leave a gap in the school district finances. The last school levy was 25 miles,5 which is the maximum. It is proposed that the legislature shall be asked this winter to increase the school district mills levy to 30 mills, or perhaps more than that maximum. The prospect of increasing salaries of grade teachers and principals adds another phase to the financial problem awaiting the new school board. Last summer vacation schools were conducted at Saratoga, Long, Ban croft, South High and Farnam schools from June 19 for a period of six weeks. These schools were provided for pupils who fell behind during the regular school year and were anxious to make their grades. The school board will start the new year with six new members: Francis A. Brogan, Samuel Burns, jr., Frank E. Clark. Charles O. Talmage, Arthur R. Wells and Thomas Falconer. Buy Shares in Alfalfa Butter Company $100.00 Each Pays Vz Per Cent Net. See us now regarding investment ALFALFA BUTTER CO. Cor. 11th St and Capitol Ave. Omaha, Neb. OMAHA'S FIRE LOSS IN ELEVEN MONTHS Destruction of Morris Packing Plant Swells Financial , Toll of Fires. TOTAL COST IS $678,431 Fire losses in Greater Omaha, ac cording to figures just issued by Charles A. Salter, chief of the fire de partment, up to December 1. 1916, to taled $678,431, as against $301,559 for the first eleven months of 1915. This, however, is explained by the fact that in thej period in 1916, cov ered by the report, there was, also, almost twice as many fires in the first eleven months of 1915. and fur ther, by the fact that one single con flagration that of the Morris plant on the South Side resulted in a loss of $443,001. On June 2 the second largest fire occurred, when damage in the sum of $16,445 was done at the State Furniture company's building at 1315-17-19 Harney street. The fire at the Willow Springs brewery, which caused $12,000 damage, was the third largest, although this is not included in the figures issued by the fire chief. Millions Endangered. The total value of the buildings and their contents endangered by fire dur ing the first eleven months of the year, was $20,581,311. The loss on buildings was $211,244, while the loss on contents was $467,178. On these losses $665,751 in insurance was paid, which leaves a net loss of only $12, 680 not covered by insurance. During the period covered by the report there were 1,419 alarms, as against 1,131 for the entire year of 1915. One hundred and eighty-two fires from December 1 until Decem ber 23, this year, brings the total up to 1,681. Of the 1.419 alarms up until December 1, 921 were telephone calls, 24 box alarms, 31 still alarms, 412 spe cial duty, 9 second alarms and 2 third alarms. There were 22 fires for which no alarms were given. Many Dwellings. For building fires, dwellines lead with a total of 378, the other fires classified; 47 were in rooming houses, 43 in barns, 27 in sheds, 23 in flats, 20 in garages and 11 in restaurants. Leading causes given for fires are: Sparks from chimneys, 133; burning weeds, grass, rubbish, etc., 125; un known, 107; burnt out chimneys, 88; cigar or cigaret stubs, 56; children and matches. 5i; sparks from locomotives, 45; ignition of gasoline, gasoline stoves, etc., 35;' spontaneous combus tion, 31; defective electric light wires, 27; carelessness with matches, 26; overheated stoves and rauges. 26; de fective chimneys, 24: supposed incen diary, 21: back fire of automobiles, 20. One Fireman Killed. But one fireman was killed. On Oc tober 3, John Q. Adams, a member of hose company No. 15, was crushed to death while at work in the Morris plant when the walls fell in. Fireman Edward Simpson was badly bruised about the head and shoulders and Fireman James B. Jensen suffered a broken collarbone and other injuries. On the day previous, Assistant Chief Martin Dineen was severely burned about the face and hands and Batta lion Chief George C. Crager, Fire man James Kennedy, Edward Koch anowski, John Pollock and William Howley, all of hose company No. 16, were overcome by smoke and blis tered by fire. Sixteen persons, other than firemen, were injured in fires, five of them fatally. Those who lost their lives were William H. Shields. 2124 Bin ney street; Helen John, 2515 Valley street; Mrs. Marie Pennisi, 610 Pierce street; Mrs. Carl Malmberg. 3047 Evans street, and Mrs. Charles Tost, Sixtieth and Dodge streets. Omaha Loan Association Declares Five and Half Melon At the semi-annual meeting of the board of directors of the Omaha Loan and Building association, held Thurs day, the secretary's report showed an increase in the assets of the associa tion for the year of $1,458,807.88. A dividend of S'A per cent per annum was declared for the six months ending December 31. which, together with the 6 per cent dividend declared on July 1, makes a total dividend of 5-J4 per cent for the year amounting to $421,084.42. In addi tion to the dividend, then- vuc t?? 641.75 added to the reserve fund and unnivuien profits. 4,