The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-25
WILL BUILD A BLOCK
J. {. Petree to Erect One
Three Stories High.
AT 40 WEST DOUGLAS
Good Weather Starts the
Building Fever.

West Douglas avenue, between Main
street and the bridge is going to show up
this year with more modern improvements
than any other section Of the city judging
by the present indications. The work on
the Union mills is well under way. exca-
walton for the big building of the Baker
Implement company was commenced last
week and is progressing favorably, and
now It seems that another handsome
building will be commenced Immediately.
This is q large three-stOry brick building
which viii be erected by Mr.. J. L. Petrle,
al 10 West Douglas, adjoining the hand
some Dittman block, and it win be the
equal Of and q match to that block, giving
TO the street metropolitan appear
ance in the way Of substantial buildings.
Mr.. Petrie is already having the material
placed upon the ground for this building.
The little frame barber shop Will be NOV
ed out OF the way. Mr.. Petrie says the
new brick Will be 116 feet long by , feet
wide, with three stories and basement,
the lower floor Of which wiz be used as
store room, and each Of the other floors
Will be arranged for Offices and living
rooms and furnished with all modern con-
veniences throughout. Mr.. Petrie says his
Unbounded confidence in the future OF
Wichita prompts him to undertake this
project which he believes will be d splen-
did investment.
The rough material IN this building
comes from the West Side, where Mr..
Petrie is tearing down two rooms of
handsome brick block at the corner Of
Maple and Seneca streets, which have
been earning but little revenue on account
Of their location. The brick, stone and
lumber in these buildings will be used to
advantage in the construction of the new
brick. The tearing down Of the two rooms
on the West Side leaves only the lone
brick building ON the corner to mark the
place Of a once handsome and valuable
brick block consisting OF five store rooms,
three stories high. The late Michael Stan
ton told PIr Petrie, just before he met
with his tragic death a few weeks ago,
that the three buildings next to the cor
ner cost him $4,000 in cold cash.
Another landmark Of West Side push
during the boom is being torn down and
removed. Il is the large three-story double
brick at SIG and 81 Maple street, and is a
substantial and valuable building, outside
of its isolated location for business. It is
said that the material of this building
will be removed to this side and used in
the construction of the large new building
which the Johnson Frazier Produce COM
pany is going to erect right away, men
ton of which has heretofore been made
in the Eagle. Workmen are now employed
in the destruction of the big brick block
The beginning of fine spring weather
seems to be an incentive for a decided
movement in the way of building, both in
the matter of business and residence
properties. a prominent real estate man
said yesterday that it would surprise one
10 see the number of laborIng people who
are figuring on either purchasing or build
ing homes this spring. Under prosperous
times, he says, they have steady employ
ment and good wages, and the Incentive
to own their own home has permeated a
great number Of industrious laboring men
who have been paying rent for a great
many years.