The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-31
BY j. EDWARD SMITH.

booming. In days of the last typical
boom, construction was far ahead Of
the needs of the city. When the col
lapse came it was discovered that Min
neapolis had buildings "to burn. -
These remnants of twenty years ago
reminders Of a time When MinneapoSis
was too ambitious and builded worse
than she knew.
A glance at the building permits for
the year will show that the larger ones
are for buildings that were actually
f ne g a
permits will be found to cover repairs
to old buildings, additions, passenger
elevator installations, and other things
which tended to increase the usefulness
of existing structures. They also COW
cred a feature Of Minneapolis building
which is decidedly gratifying, and that
Is the hundreds Of small houses which
are to be occupied by their owners, or
to be purchased in installments cor
responding in amount to monthly rent.
It Is All Needed.
While the building Of larger struc-
lures is pleasant to contemplate, the
additional consideration that there is
still a lack Of nearly all kinds Of build
ings' save possibly flats, to accommo-
legitimacy of the building movement.
Rarely is structure put Up nowadays
on hazard. Builders and capitalists
are accustomed to find out just about
what patronage they can expect before
| they begin erection Of store, office or
whatever building it may be. When
ever, however, some less conservative
efdqa has ahsad and built
situation that good sense seemed to
dictate, he has generally found his
space all taken before the structure
has been inclosed. While the lack Of
| accommodations for new enterprises is
to be deplored, nevertheless the very
scarcity goes to show that there is no
boom, in the unfortunate sense Of the
word.
improvements Of Best Quality.
Another feature Of the season s build
ing is the fact that it is of the best
quality. The advantage of combining
t the esthetic with utility in building has
years, manifesting itself in the sew
| eral new implement warehouses, the
| Cream of Wheat factory, the Electrical
Commerce, the Northwestern National
bank, the German-American bank, and
SO on thru the list; :, =.
|
,congratulation on the part Of the Min
neapolis public is that the buildings
which are already outlined for the rest
Of the year and for the first Of next
season are of the same distinctive type.
These will include the Security bank
building, the First National bank build
ing, which promises to be unique in
Minneapolis; the Wymann,. Partridge 8
Co. warehouse, the Hurty- Simmons hard:
no otol hot 41,io
construction mentioned as slated for
next year is in each case an actual
necessity, on account Of the growth of
the different institutions. The Security
bank building will relieve the office.
building congestion and at the same
time will force an improvem ent in the
cheap office structure, as tenants move
to the better ones, maRing way. fo1
concerns which do not wish to main
tain high -priced quarters.
A Higher Standard.
Two or three of the newest build
ings may be mentioned as showing the
tendency Of areh h as ct and eonatruc
superior inherent protection against fire
and style Of design different anc
apart from the sterotyped forms. The
influence of prosperity is being felt anc
recognized in larger expenditure in the
way of substantially and appearances
In fact, it is recognition of a demand
all along the building line for better
things and better effects.
500 line general office building on Sec
I|icost is being spared to produce max
imum of safety for life and content
against fire. The floors are of concrete
the exposed windows are of wired glas
and the exterior walls are Of bricl
: which has proved to be very successful
!. in resisting fire from outside. Mean
I while the door trimmings, and the gen
| nature of decorations as we'll Of use
| are to be Of the best quality. In exter
I Tor the design by the architect, w. M
Kenyon, is calculated to enhance tn
appearance Of Second avenue and at tn
same time to maintain the standard
set by. the New York Life, the Metro
which grace the same thorofare.
| Another building worthy Of mention
in this connection is the Plaza apart
! ment house, which w. ]. Keith is hav
ing put up between Loring park an
: the, Parade. This hotel is a. distinc
to o. the prosperity Of the af
/ apartment buildings, such as would no
have been considered feasible ten year
ago. In architecture, in interior dc
sign, in preparation for the safety an
comfort Of it's patrons it is unique
h Following the lines of the typical Bel
lin concrete building it will impart
zest to the enjoyment Of the architect
ural picture Of Minneapolis. With a
exterior coating Of concrete it is dis
tinct from any other style Of buildin
in Minneapolis save the Keith con
pany's one-story office building on low
er Hennepin. Its interior constructio
bic makes It absolutely safe from fir,
50 far as human ingenuity has pr
ceeded to the present time.
A third structure to be enumerate
herewith Is the armory, facing th
taken to make it structure ideal fo
its purpose. It will provide a buildin
for balls, public gatherings and indoo
sports, such as the city does not 20.
sess on the West Side. It's enormou
arched roof girders give a tremendou
clear space and its exterior Of cemen
blocks will provide test of the ne,
large structure to employ here.
Homes Of All Sizes.
While it is a very desirable state Q
affairs in Minneapolis that thousands Q
u l1ow-priced houses are going up alt owe
Z tho cifv making ii a rnuY,inina1 itv n