8 B
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: MAY 23, 1920.
T
THE BEE'S
BUILDER'S
HOME
PAGE
BENSON CANNOT
SEE ANY CHEAPER
BUILDING HERE
Declares Country Is So Far
Behind it Cannot Catch
Up for Years
- To Come. '
The following statement regard
. ing the building and home situation
in Omaha, is issued by h. R. Ben
son. oresident of Benson & Car
michael, one of the biggest building
firms in the city:
"I can see small hope or prospect
of building being any cheaper for a
good many years to come. The
situation is simple, but is not gener
ally understood.
"In the last five years, the coun
try has" dropped behind just about
two years in building; that is, we are
today two years short in all kinds
of building.
"In Omaha, we are short approxi
mately 2,500 residences alone. Sup
pose we should start the first of
Julv and build the normal amount
plus 25 per. cent (which -is hardly
possible to do on account of the
shortage of labor and material), and
keep this rate up for eight years, we
would only be back to normal. Sup
pose we start to build normal plus
5G per cent (which would be a phy
sical impossibility), it would require
. four years to -breakeven.
"Material of every kind, except
possibly rough lumber, is short and
some kynds almost impossible to get
at any price.
"A recent investigation showed
that in New York City only about
one-third of the building permits
that had been issued in the last year
were being used, principally on ac
count of the shortage of labor and
material.
"It seems to be admitted by those
who know that freight rates must
materially advance, and freight is
one of. the big items of expense in
building. .
, "I only wish it were otherwise and
have tried to figure it out, but I can
find nothing to hang a hope on that
we are going to see any material
chtnge for some years to come."
Plans Announced for
Construction of 1 00
New Homes for Owners
'
Plans for a new type construction
oi fireproof homes in Omaha, to be
built quickly and at a reasonable
rost, were 'announced yesterday by
Dscar A. Wiegand, architect, and
Guy- A. Robertson, structural engi
neer, .
Mr. Wiegand and Mr. Rcfbertson
are the designers of the new con
struction. They propose to build
iW houses with five-room accommo
dations, for owners only. The con
struction is such that all modern
conveniences can be included in the
plans, plus absolutely fireproof con
struction, at a cost, exclusive of the
lot, o only about $4,350. This is
declared to be considerably cheaper
than frame houses of similar- size
nd convenience.
The walls will be stucco on hol
low tile and the floor will be rein
forced concrete finished with the
b;st resilient plastic composition.
Metal lath and plaster will.be used
for partitions and ceiling, making
the house fireproof both whhin and
without.. .
Jones Company JVIakes
Sales During the Week
The" following property was sold
last week by the George F. Jones
company: Flats, S31-7 South
Twenty-Sixth avenue, through C.
P. Birkett for $18500; saloon
building at 1702 South Eighth street
to Frank Nocita for $5,500; store
huilding at '811 Hickory street to
Eli Wirshbo for $3,250 ; 3311 How
ard street.' house to A. Cody for
$5,500; 2122 North Twenty-eighth
avenue to Fred Clarke for $2,500.
New Refining Co. Office.
The H. A. Wolf company has
leased to the EI Dorado Refining
company the old Ak-Sar-Ben office
at 1717 Douglas street to be used as
a sales office for petroleum prod
ucts. V
Trie petroleum office will be
opened by the Northwest Petroleum
company, which is a subsidiary of
the El Dorado refining company.
Chickens
By FRANK RIDGWAY.
Hatching season is about over.
The incubator should be filled this
week for the last time this season,
except where late broilers are de
sired. To avoid raising culls among
the chickens that are to be used as
layers next winter, eggs should not
be set much later than the middle
of May.
Heavy losses have occurred in the
broods of little chicks this spring.
Rainy weather and chilly days have
made it difficult for the average
flock owner to handle chicks suc
sessfully. Late hatches are not usually suc
cessful. June hatched . chicks" are'
hard to raise. Hatches that come
- off later than the middle of June
ire frequently poor, requiring con
stant care to save them from the
tttacks of diseases and insects.Mor
-warm weather is ideal for the chicks'
various enemies. Broods of late
hatched chicks often suffer heavy
losses during the early summer,
when lice, mites, chigres, or jiggers,
are especially active. .
" Even' if the chicks survive, "they
are of little value. Cockerels hatched
after the last of June bring low
prices on the market, for they are
not ready for sale at a good time.
More disappointment is met with
when the female birds are consid
ered,' for few late hatched pullets
make profitable 'layers. The1 laying
qualities of a flock are more im
portant than ever before, and the
; -ti u-... - 1......
is always higher in flocks where lateN
natcfesng PJ& ; "n
v wj. Lr t i an ij f in- .11 in n- in iiut . in 11 nni i- . m w t rr f iv ni 1 T
t w . iii ti w m 'lib .11 11 iu mi it -in is.' 11 1 mm - hi -r k. . i t
Of half timber and ' stucco,
this handsome cottage will
make a splendid home s for a
good sized family. " The first
floor is , made very attractive
with an unusually large living
room containing an open fire-'
place, , a central hall, -dining
room.'pantry, kitchen and laun
dry. There are four sleeping
rooms, plenty of closet space
and bath room on the second
floor. T4ie third floor may be
divided into additional sleeping
rooms if desired.
Clyde Smith Adams, Archi
tect. - -
ROHRBOUGH TELLS
OF BENEFITS FROM
CUTTING DODGE
Builder Who Has Watched
Growth of City Fore-
Its Trend.
sees
'Why did public sentiment recog
nize the need of grading . Dodge
street, and demand that the grading
be no longer deferred?"
This interesting query was pro
pounded by G. A. Rohrbough, pres
ident of the incorporated company
known as Home Builders, which
not onlyytonstructs dwellings, but
also builds business homes, big and
little.
Mr. Rohrbough has resided in
Omaha for, 35 years. .His offices
years ago were located in what was
then known as the Boston store
building", at Sixteenth and Douglas
streets, and he watched the slow
development of Douglas street and
studied the influences operating to
raise it to the, high plane of de
velopment which recent years have'
xwitnessed. v . '
Buys Early.
Early in the 90s, Mr. Rohrbough
bought a lot at Nineteenth and
Farnam, and put up what is, now
known as the Lyric building. At
that time he foresaw the certain
development of that neighborhood.
He has been in a business which
made -it necessary for him to study
the tangible and intangible forces
at play, which determine the trend
oi development of one part of the city
or other. His early impressions of
the future of Douglas street above
Sixteenth remained with him, and
us his business interests expanded
he and his associates tound oppor
tunities for making investments in
the neighborhood of Eighteenth and
Dodge streets,
Mr. Rohrbough and associates and
clients invested their money in the
vicinity , of Eighteenth and Dodge
streets, a little in advance of other
enterprises, which later have come
to see its value. He said:
To Work Changes.
"The grading of Dodge street will
work great changes in the topogra
phy of the area described, and it will
also be the precursor of important
structures which are already de
manded by the business develop
ment of the city.
"The location of the new medical
office building at Seventeenth and
Dodge is one result of the grading
of the street, as is the project to
build a largq insurance office build
ii.g on the corner opposite. It is not
too much to say that the large
purchase of real estate on the west
s-'de of the High school campus by
Mrs. Joslyn, may have - been in
fluenced to a certain extent by the
new grading project. The west end
of the grading stops at Twenty
second street, at the corner of the
Joslyn purchase. However, that
may be, it is fair to predict xthat the
residence section north ,of Dodge
street, will soon show rapid de
velopment made possible by the
completion of the Dodge street
grade, and intersections. This proj
ect might be likened to the letting
down- of the bars which have al
ways been an impediment to the
development of the . streets de
scribed. "My associates had the utmost
faith in the future development of
Ihis locality, and we rejoice to
gether in seeing our early predic
tions verified. We expect to see a
still greater development within the
next five or 10 years in'that section
of the city influenced by the Dodge
street grade." ...
Says High Rents Nullify
Best Efforts of Cupid
Denver, Colo., May 22. High
rents cause low birth rates, declared
Rev. Dr. H. Nutting Bascomb, pas
tor of the Plymouth Congregational
church of this city, in a conference
on "Mile High Rents" in his church.
. "Young people cannot get mar
ried because they have no place in
which to live and in this way the
birth rate is kept below normal,"
he said. ,.- v
"The 'old clothes movement is
the greatest joy of life. If people
would develop the idea to buy only
what they need and not what they
want, they would not only experi
ence this joy, but would, also,' go
far to reduce the high cost of lov-
Of Half Timber and
fxsT Hoes. Han
HOLDING A
Adele Garrison's
' Revelations
Questions Madge Asks Herself.
"Are you ill, ma'am?"
The boyish taxi driver, jumped
down from his seat as I put up my
hand in a feeble summoning gesture.
He had just deposited a fare, and
as I accepted his assistance into his
car' I felt almost as if he had been
sent by Providence to my aid. '
For;I believe I should have sunk
to my" knees in utter puerile weak
ness if I had not been able-to drop
limply upon the cushions of his car.
"A trifle. It will soon pass," I
replied, as I. gave him Lillian's ad
dress. ,
I forced myself to composure,
however- as the taxi turned into
Lillian's street, tried to appear as
if nothing had happened when
Bettyr my friend's faithful old col
ored cook, opened the door.
"Come right in, Miss Madge,"
she exclaimed with a broad smile
of welcome, "I'se been watchin' foh
yoh, chiTe, foh, de las' half hour.
Mis' Lillian she had to go out un
expected like, but -she'll be back
directly. I 'spects she tuk her foot
in her hand and is maktn right
smaht down de evertoo. She say
yoh was to go into her room, do
any prinkin', yoh wanted, an' she
tole me to specially tell- you not
to go into the library till she got
back.
Wondering at the queer message,
I turned to enter Lillian s wonder
ful white and crimson living room
As I did so I caught sight of 1
hat and top coat in the hall, Lillian
had a masculine caller then whom
she did not wish me to meet until
she was with tne.
Who could it be?
sHow Madge Steeled Herself for
Lillian's News. v
It 'was but a few minutes before
heard Lillian s signalling ring to
Betty, then a low-toned question,
Betty's voluble response, and a mo
ment later my friend's quick, firm
step across the living room to the
rose-hued. bedroom which Lillian
had kept inviolate for her small
daughter in the weary years -when
she was deprived' of. her. - Now
Marion was its dainty priestess, but
her mother .generally shared the
room at night, and it was the one
to which I was always ushered. Lil
lian, and I had many mutual mem
ories of that room confidences
shared, plans made, dangers dis
cussed, in the dramatic days when
1 - aided, her in her secret service
work. 1 . .
Well: Lady! tier voice was
cheery as ever, and to almost any
one else in the world her face would
have presented, an absolutely care
free expression. But with observa
tion sharpened by my rasped nerves
1 saw that the little tine lines run
ning from, nostrils to lips were more
deeply etched than usual an infal
lible sign of tension it Lillian and
I knew that her nonchalant look
was only the mask which she can
draw at will over hr face.
"Very much, at your service," I
dropped her a courtesy. "But
where is Marion? You see my hat
isn't crushed nor my clothing torn.
Naturally I miss my usual wel-
coms.'
She looked at me shrewdly, even
as she laughed at my reference to
her small daughter's tempestuous
greeting of those she 'knows and
loves. Marion is the most demure
miss -imaginable in greeting strang
ers, and one would never guess the
hoidenish possibilities concealed
behind her quiet mien. -
' "Gone to dinner and the movies
with her little chum," she answered,
and I wondered nervously if she
had purposely sent the child away
because there was something so
important scheduled - for discussion
between us as to make it imperative
to dispense with Marion's presence.
Commonplace Matters.
"Look here, Madge." Her voice
held a sharpened note. . "Has any
thing happened? You're not your
self. I can see that."
I could have retorted with a
similar assertion, but I forced a
laugh and. answered lightly:
ueuer consult an ocuusi, my
dear. Your eyes need attention. I
am-perfectly all right."
Her eyes narrowed as she looked
at me. . I knew that I had not fooled
her in the least, but she turned the
conversation abruptly into another
channel and sat chatting about com
monplace things, while my strained
nerves quivered with the unanswer
ed quejtjym that confronted me, ,
Stucco
Ckcoxd ftoctE Emm
HUSBAND
New Phase of
of a Wife
Why had Lillian sent for me?
Who was the maiuin the library?
Had news of Grace Draper come
to her? Was it the reason for her
summons?"
Betty's ponderous treads-she
weighs over 200 pounds approach
ed the door. Lillian opened it be
fore she could knock, for Betty's
knuckles upon a door are some
thing to remember, and-asked in
duleently: "What is it, Betty?"
Betty's Ultimatum.
. Mh'ss Lillian!" The old woman
planted herself firmly in the door
way, her arms akimbo. "I'se lived
wif yoh a long time, but I wants
to say dat if yoh an' Miss Madge
doan come to .dinner in two shakes
ob a lamb's tail I's goin' to walk
out ob dis house an' I won't nebbah
come back. I doan let my chicken
soup spile for nobody, an if it
hain't eat in 10 minutes it'll be only
fit for de garbage pail. So yoh jes'
take yoh foots in yoh hands an'
get yohselves out ob here."
. "All right Betty." Lillian ac
quiesced resignedly she savs. her-
slf, that her old servant rules her
with a rod of iron concerning the
spiling' ot meals by waiting
we 11 come right away. Please tell
Mr. Drake that dinner is served."
I caught my breath in dismayed
surprise. so Allen Urake was the
man in the library 1
Is Allen Drake Striving t, Impress
Madges'
As I followed Lillian into her liv
ing' room, across its crimson and
white beauty to the door of the hall
and stood waiting for Allen Drake
to descend the stairs, I felt myself
to De that delight ot the old roman
tic writers, a "prey to conflicting
emotions." I certainly had a num
ber of dfstinct thoughts upon the
subject of the man who appeared
at the head of the stairs, and they
were air warring witn each other,
there is no man, even Dicky,
whose mentality so appeals to me
as does that of Allen Drake. I do
not mean that his mind is superior
1 iuj iiusuajiu ,a it is simpiy mat
ca.u uidii iias nis own powers, en
tirely different from th other
Allen Drake could no more execute
one of Dicky's drawings than Dicky
touia soive tne least ot the prob
lems that daily confront' the brfi
liant secret agent of the diplomatic'
service.
- Truly Fascinating.
And I with a vacuum in the
chamber of my brain where artistic
skin snouid have its habitation I
fear that if-1 were absolutely free
10 cnoose an evenings conversation,
and my decision was- untinged by
rny love for Dicky, my almost dis
like tor Air. tirake, I should choose
a discussion of nroblems anrl Mmc
with the agent rather than the most
illuminative discourse upon art with
Dicky, Lillian or even that master
01 nis crait, Kobert Savarin.
A Blow to Vanitv ' :
I fancy it may be a good thing for
ny peace 01 mma mat Allen Drake s
personality is as irritating to me. as
nis peculiar powers tjf mind arc at.
tractive. It he were as appealing
aim nscinaung as lJickv. tor n
c(tm. 1 f ... , v
"""-c -" uc ir 11c, wisnes. 1 am
afraid that my liking for Mr. Drake's
uiscussions might Kive me and
Liicky cause for reflection. But
Mr. Drake. Wheih.he rhnncrc A
he i generally chooses is
maddening in his attitude tnwarrl
me mentality of women. Af th
end of most interviews with him I
tm generally so enraged that any
glamour which might linger around
nis wonaertui powers of mind and
his undeniable good looks has
Vanished completely.
It was Lillian, afraid of nn nnf
who' voiced mv thought.
"Extremely well done, deah boy!"
sne arawied. As a movie hern
you'd be a riot "But you can lift
the eyelashes now. We've been
properly impressed." r
i had the satisfaction of seeintr
Mr. Drake's lios twitch anflxilv. the
only , sign his wounded vanity al
low, 1 Tiim. But the next instant he
openea his eyes wide and regarded
us with carefully simulated astonish
ment "I fail to catch your meaning.
dearest lady." he said stiffly, address
ing Lillian." .
Well, it will give you food for
thought if you don't, Lillian re
torted. "But come along or Betty'll
strike, and then you'll have no food
tor your oody.
.lioutinueo. iojaoriv.. .
WOLF DECLARES
NOW IS TIME TO
B U Y PROPERTY
Issues Statements in Which
" He Says There Will Be
Greater Demand
, Than Ever: -
Harry A.' Wolf Saturday issued
the following statement outlining
the, future policy of the H. A. Wolt
company: ,
"The present money situation will
have a tendency to increase the
value of te'al estate, especially im
proved real estate. Practically all
building is done with borrowed
money. In practically every case
men do not build with .their own
money. They build with oorrowed
money.
"The present difficulty in getting
large loans will stop considerable
building that is being contemplated.
Increases Shortage.
"In growing cities that situation
will add to the present shortage of
business and residence buildings;
alsp in growing cities, such as
Omaha, the demand for improved
real estate, for business and resi
dence, will continue fto grow.
"This growing demand will in
crease the value of business build
ings especially and will maintain, if
not increase, the value of residences.
"Because of this condition I re
gard the present buildings owned by
the H. A. Wolf company as going
up in value, simply because the de
mand for them is growing.
Supply Limited.
"The supply of real estate is lim
ited' definitely. Not another foo
more of it can be made. Limited
iiupply is the basis upon' which the
value of all real estate rests.
"The money situation is retarding
the supply of real estate improve
ments. .1
"For these reasons the H. A. Wolf
company is in the market today to
buy real estate, just as actively as it
ever was. '
Realty Men to Study
Causes and Remedies
Of Housing Shortage
Kansas City, Mo., May 22. The
nationwide housing situation; its
causes and .remedies: how builders
of homes are to cope with present
day prices and shortage: better
homes as an aid to keeping young
people on the farm, and state laws
licensing real estate- dealers are
among the. subjects to be discussed
at the rannual convention here June
I to 5 of the National Association
of Real Estate Boards. -
Other matters to come before the
convention, according to officials,
will concern the financing of home
building on a large scale, restricted
somewhat at present because of
more stringent credit regulations
imposed by banks; and a. campaign
to show the-public the Benefits of
owning homes. ' . - ;
It also is hoped,' officials say, that
tne discussions at the convention,
nere win result in the adoption of a
uniform housing plan. that, may be
followed after the present conditions
have become normal ' through the
stabilization of prices and increased
building.
Twenty-five hundred real" estate
men from all parts of the country
are expected here for the sessions.
At a shoe store not lone
ago,
rresiaent inompson pointed 'out a
pair of shoes he liked. He was told
they would cost him $15. Refusing
to" buy them, he purchased an $8
pair. - -
Henry Johannszen
.' Glass & Paint Company
, GLAZING
Phone Douglas 349
114 So. 14th St., OmahaNeb.
Why have Omaha homes purchased two carloads
of "White Lily" Washing Machines this year?
Last Call for Planting Season
We have in crur frost and heat-proof storage a fine line of
quality trees and shrubs in dormant condition that can be safely
planted. - '
Our guarantee goes with every order. Call and inspect our
stock or phone and we will gladly call and plan your landscape
shrub planting. ,
Benson-Omaha Nursery
Cor. 65th and Spencer
J. FLYNN
Good Fences Make
Wlr and Iron Fmims
Gat (or Lawn
Wire Flowtr Bod Bordtr -Gartjaa
and Poultry Yards
Clot Posts; Iron and Wlr
Window Guard
'8cra Door Guards
Wire Arch
Tre and Flower 'Guards
CHAMPION
15U and Jackson St.
Former Omaha Mans
Making Good Selling
Traffic Motor Trucks
i y I
Paul Lofgren, advertising man
ager of the Motorist, returned from
St. Louis this week after inspecting
UIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!IIIIIIIIIIII1IIIIII!III
' AWNINGS
See our Special. Awninc Pattern and
set our price before, ordering- else- s
where. Idea and estimate fur- ?
nisned without cost.
Nebraska Tent & Awning Co.
H. S. McDonald, Mfr.
1204 Faman St.
iiiiiiiii!ii!ibiiiiiiiiii!iimiiii(iiiii!iiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iina
HEAVY
MlwtttsPssltMsjjjsjSMs7
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmwmmwmmmmmmi9
Hoisting
I ' T II I II I I "T- I' - T 1 T III lllfll IU 1- 11 . C"
H-B CONSTRUCTION I
SERVICE I
f - Can Help You Solve ' ' f
. ' Your Building fWliR i
I . Problems M mm I
' We Build We Finance jMyf QB2 i
Assets Over $1,400,000 zAQfy KgT f
! - '. Consult . ' ' Sm ; , '1
Construction Department " ' J
iTflMneyftuHderS
: ' fNCOItfOfWTf ft ,T
W. Boyd Jones, Mgr. " 1
Dodge, at 18th i T
E. J. DAVIS M QQl. n.cnr
1212 Farnam. Tel. D. 353 II
The Wif e Saving
Station
BLUE BIRD ELECTRIC SHOP
Itet the "Blue Bird" wire your house.
308 North 16th Street
Tyler 5050 Omaha, Neb.
Phone Walnut 4278
Good Neighbors
Trellis of Vines and Rose
. Wait Paper Burners
IRON & WIRE WORKS
J. J. LEDDY. Prop. , Jel. Douglas 1590.
the factory of the Traffic Motor
Truck Corporation and 'renewing
eld . acquaintances with Harry II.
Hawke, general sales nienager, and
Millard S. Binney, publicity man
ager, both of whom- are former
Omaha automobile men. Mr. Lof
gren states that he-just missed an
other Omaha man, Lewis W. Ber
wick, who has 'recently , joined the
Traffic organization and has charge
of the Omaha zone.
"When I bumped into these Oma
ha men it made me feel as much at
home as though I were in Nebraska,"-
said Mr. Lofgren. "I found
that the success made by Mr. Hawke
in flirecting Traffic truck sales has
placed him well near the top of the
list of this . country's automotive
sales managers. At the sales con
vention in December he booked-$22,-000,000
worth of orders in just 22
minutes he has trebled the factory
output tor this year and has the
foundation made for a similar ex
pansion next year. , At the present
time the factory has a capacity of
50 trucks" a day."
Woman Sells Property.
Mrs. Wilhelmina Parratt, real es
tate saleswoman employed by the
American Security company last
week sold the Thomas S.. Kelly
store building at the northeast cor
ner of Eighteenth and Jackson
streets, to J. H. Freiden for $15,000.
The ground is 41x75. Mr. Freiden
operates a grocery store in the
building.
. maaum 11
JAMES BLACK
MASONRY & CONTRACTING CO.
, Constructionists and Engineers
v Ettimate Furnished and Work
Dona en a Fixed Fee Basis
OFFICE BUILDINGS APARTMENT HOUSES
HOTELS STORES
'And All Kinds of Industrial Buildings
Off ices
New York Boston Detroit 1 Chleac i
St Louia Omaha ' Kansas City Seattle
Phones Harney 3463 and Tyler 1122
I VW Of
On All ;
Silk Shades for Floor Lamps
and Candelabras
We have a splendid assortment of
beautiful Library Table Lamps which
will be marked for special selling at a
33 J discount during this sale.
Waterproof Electric
Warming Pads will
be reduced for spe
' cial selling by 33
Granden Electric Co.
1511 Howard St.
TRY A FANT. AD IN THE BEE FOR RESULTS
Believes Wages Will
Follow Prices Down
But Not So Rapidly
Milwaukee, May 22. Percy A.
Rockefeller, nephew of John D.
Rockefeller, predicted here today
that the present drop in prices will
be followed by a slashing of wages.
He is here to attend the annual meet
ing of the directors of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad.
He does not believe, however,
that wages will drop as quickly as
the cost of living,
"If prices drop 50 per cent and
wages one-third it will mean a great
cr purchasing power of the dollar?
he said. "Readjustment will necefi.
sarily have to be slow. I am n&
in accord with the statement that
next year will see 1,000,000 out of
work. The world needs building
up and this country will have to
supply the material."
. Renovating Aluminum. ;
It is difficult to restore aluminum
to its original finish, especially to
get the frosted appearance back
after it has been worn. The only
reasonably satisfactory method of
treating the aluminum is to dip it in
a bath of water, slightly acidulate
wih sulphuric acid, allowing thf
metal to remain in for some hours;
This will cleanse it as well as it can
W WW
7T