Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-11
OMAHA LEADS In BUILDING
Makes Greater Per Gent Of Increase in
October Than Any American City.
TWO HUNDRED AND TwENTY-NINE
Construction News of Chicago Calls
Attention to Omaha's Progress
as Most Significant
Feature of All.

According to figures compiled by Con-
struction News of Chicago, Omaha leads
the country in point of gain in building
operations during October over the same
month last year. Says the News
Building construction in all parts of the
country for October shows an increase of
IL per cent as compared with the cOrre-
spending month a year ago, but there is a
slight falling off in the proportion OF gain
as shown for the preceding months of the
year. This is in no sense unexpected be-
cause operations have been at an abnormal
rate and the percentages Of increase for
every month of the year have been remark
able. Offcial reports TO Construction News
from thirty-three of the principal cities
show that permits were taken out during
October for l2alS 6Ildin4ggs' Involving an an
permits, and 36S62,165 for the correspond
ing month year ago, an increase OF S54
1t is Interesting 10 note that in the larger
cities in the list the figures are practically
the same, with the exception Of two in
cent, Philadelphia Z, Pittsburg 4, while Chi
cago and Brooklyn both show gains, the
former of only and the latter of per
| cent. 1t will thus be seen that the great
gains-and there are some remarkable per
/ centages-are in the smaller cities, OF
thirty-three cities twenty-one show in
creases varying from ! to 229 per cent, while
eleven show losses Of from 10 43 per cent
The losses are so widely separated that
they have no bearing upon the general sit
Q
the figures are the remarkable gains
amounting in Omaha TO 229 per cent; Spo'
kane lG9; Duluth, ll9; Denver, IS; Cincln'
natl, 81; Louisville, IS: Cleveland, 10; Co
lumbus, 43; Toledo. 81; Indianapolis, 33; Mil
waukee, 81 Davenport leads in the de,
/ crease with 4S per cent. Nashville 81. New
Orleans q, Allegheny II, while the other;
/ are really insignificant.
Interest Is Astounding.
Building has been going on at a remarka
I BILE rate in all sections of the country foi
a long time. The percentage Of increase;
! for every month Of the year has been as
founding. Notwithstanding conscientious
attempt has been made 70. keep as nearN
an accurate record Of building operation!
in all Of the leading cities and tho statistics
presented from time 10 time have accu
/ rately reflected operations, they give ate
| all a very incomplete idea Of what is reall!
going on. In the small cities. whereve
; they may be found, there has been vas
( amount Of construction, the percentage o
{ increase being as great, If not greater, thar
| in the long list OF cities from which Is Oh
| tanned accurate details Of construction. /
| is worth while TO stop and think occasion
| ally of what the other cities are doing II
4 the way OF construction.
| The situation is healthy and PROMISING
l from every standpoint. There is this tina
! should be taken into consideration, how
/ ever; Prices Of building material wer
| never higher, yet upon the other hand
never has there been constructed NOR
| complete or perfect buildings than at tn
! present time, People get more for thei
| that when they open bids and find that tn
| cost Of construction is probably 20 per cen
/ higher than the figure at which the mos
| competent experts had estimated IT, FIX
| brilliant prices for material and labor VT
certainly put a damPer on building