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,
