The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-17
CONDITIONS RATHER QUIET
Architects and Builders Have Some
thing to Say astothe Seasons Work.
Snail Contractors Find Plenty to Do, but
Those Looking After Big Jobs Think 1t Is
aLittle Too Early to Make Predictions.

Inquiry among the architects OF the city,
Yesterday. elected the information that, as
a rule, orders for new buildings are little
backward this season, although at most of
the Offices the craftsmen are busy on plans
for nsw edifices here and elsewhere.
my own business hardly furnishes fair
basis for the purpose of comparison" said
one architect, ''for / have only three or
four years of my work here to refer to. but
Ihave more on hand than ever before, and
a good deal more than had this time last
year. Most of it is IN the way of orders for
plans for dwelling houses. which. / take
it, is . pretty good index of prosperity. since
people do not as a rule, invest in new resi-
dences unless the projectors consider their
own copdition and outlook are satisfactory.
MyIs includes houses at Woodruff Place
for Percy Hord, w. ,. Dillman, III. j. Eddy
for ID. w. Lovett; one on North Illinois for
Lee Hunt; one on College avenue for DR..
Woodburn; two on North Alabama for A.
B. Meyer Il Bro; one on North Mississippi
for Henry Boyle; one on North Tennessee for
Mrs. 4. b. Newcomb; one on North Alabama
for Henry Grassland; one ON North West
street for A. u. Kreitlein, and q three
story fat building on North Delaware, for
Lee Pearson. ALI the above were let this
year. There are several others on which
plans have been furnished, but as no con-
tracts have been let it may not be proper to
include them"
What are the recent changes in the new
house plans here, if anyp
Each year. think, people in this city
are inclined TO put more money into resi-
dence properties. Formerly about 81 800
was the average for people in comfortable
circumstances. Now 1t is from 800 to
are disposed to add on modern
conveniences in the way of improvements
In plumbing, furnaces, bathrooms, etc."
docs not the absence of sewerage in
people from building a complete class of
hGusesp
is not the Same necessity for sewerage, and
the plumbing. The houses of which / have
been speaking run from $500 to 5000,
and most of them have all the improve
ments of modern-built houses"
One firm of architects is largely en-
ployed on out-of-town work, and not
inclined to be sanguine over the prospects
of this seasons building. But this firm
has furnished the plans of new residences
for j. L. Elliott on North Pennsylvania
street, and for John B. Wood on North Ala
bama street, and remodeling Otto FrenzePs
residence on North Illinois street, and III. NJ.
Talbott's business property on West Wash
ington, besides other city work. The firm
does not look upon this season here thus
one, either in the matter of contracts
made or the prospects for contracts
later in the spring Several large
building undertakings in which we have
been consulted said a member of the firm,
shave been Withdrawn or postponed, and
our business for outside folks makes a
much better showing than that called for
here. Our most important plans this sea-
son have been furnished for points like
Noblesville, Huntington and Anderson.
The local situation may change during the
next few weeks, but think you will find
the greater part of the building planned
for this city is of the kind in which the
architects are not usually consulted"
But some of the builders and their men
are more hopeful, and anxious to resume
their labors. The three classes to whom
new houses mean a great deal, have been
comforting for several days, and if the
saw viii be heard in every quarter of the
city before many days. The winter has
been so mild that many contractors have
not ceased work. Since the first of last
November two hundred or more cottage
houses have been erected In various parts
of the city, and at the present time
the number of new houses of the hum
bic class IN course of construction
around the city's suburbs is considerable.
The large contractors, though, are like the
architects, not greatly encouraged by the
outlook, but they admit that 1T Is too early
to Judge what the season will bring. AS
YET no contracts, so lar as can Do learned,
have been let for costly blocks or resi-
dences, and several contractors from whom
opinions were sought yesterday, say that,
so far as they know, no persons are cOntem-
plating the erection of any very costly
structures this year. I'VE simply have
nothing In sight . SAID Pc ,sr Goutier. "Still,
1t is htulevoo early to begin to judge as to
what VIII be done. People were not ex-
rPvyting such warm weather at this time,
and they are not ready to begin building.
he Ifx1 11ao
anyway. When they conclude to do a
thing they do it at once. If a man
makes up his mind to build block
or. q residence, he wants the contractor to
architect ought to turn out the plan at once;
and that everything else should be arranged
within a few hours. For that reason, say
1T IS difficult to predict what Will be
done here this summer. There are good
many little houses going up, but the work
Is being done by small contractors, who dc
all the work themselves. Building material
is cheap, and Go not see why there should
not be very great amount of building done
Brick is cheaper than last year, and there
is big supply on the market. Lumber is
selling at the same price as last year, and
is very low and the planing-miH business
Shower & Christian had about the same
report to make as Mr.. REUTER-. Their book
keeper said that so far nothing of impOr-
lance was ahead. I'VE are not disappointed
at all, though" said he; 1T is very early
yet, and we expect to have plenty to dc
after few weeks. There is every reason
to think that there will be more building
done this year than last. The natural gas
companies, il is thought, prevented many
people from building last year. 1t is a fact
that nearly every poor man put his entire
summers savings into the Trust company
and if he had had any intention of building
he was compelled to abandon it. The mod
erately poor people will not be so hard
pressed for money this year, and more Of
them will undoubtedly erect cottage
homesp
Other large contractors repeated these
statements, but all hoped for change
after the warm weather had lasted q few
weeks. and people had time to examine
their bank accounts, and count their cash
The small contractors, though, say they
have no trouble in taking contracts now
They are engaged in putting up sinai
houses to cost from $500 to $, 200.
The large contractors are hoping that the
Mccormack Block 1t the corner of Della
waue ana Maryland streets will be erected
TINS summer. but as yet they have not re
celved any encouragement from the lndl
ana agents of the reaper company. 1t II
understood that the Ohio firm which pur
chased the old State bank property, at thu
corner Of Illinois street and Kentucky ave
nue., viii put up fine ten-story block thu
spring, but as yet none OF the indianapolis
contractors know anything definite con
corning it.
Real Estate Market.
Inc real estate market Is gradually becoming
~aTA A.<4w- 49,