Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-01
summary of Building Permits.


1911 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 52l 16l3,26i
lyD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. lbl Dl,Z3)
lsyy ............................. 6yb lVo,55i
1888 1876 1851 ,2j2
1897 ......................... sos 129s COS
1896 .......................... $50 POI, 15S
In only two years in its history has
Omaha's building record gone above that
of 1905-ln 1887 and 1889 when construction
estimated to cost more tnun 56,11S629 and
A,663, 1856. respectively. was authorized years
when the city was on the crest Of its IA
nous boom.
There has been nothing OF the boom ele-
ment, however, In the building expansion
of the last few years. and yet a condition
of activity, growth and improvement has
been evident, amounting in quantity almost
to that OF the halcyon period, but having
a solid foundation based on the force of
natural and healthy circumstances.
The present wave of new construction
got its start in 1903. During part of the
1903 building season progress was crippled
by labor troubles, which, however. have
not since reappeared. In 1904 construction
to the value of s2O5 800 was authorized
by the city, a gain of nearly 100 per cent
over the preceding twelve months. For
1905 the amount is -- and the rec
ord OF the year just before is again doubled
This percentage of gain is considered re-
markable not only by Omaha people, but
by expert observers elsewhere. In 1905 the
construction amounted to more than any
two years in the prior ten years and nearly
as much as any three years.
BuiIders' Exchange.
The strength and prosperity of the con-
struction guild in Omaha is shown by the
hourishing condition of the Builders ex-
change, now In its third year. Large and
attractive quarters are maintained on the
third floor of the New York Life building
and afford a medium between contractors
of all kinds and the work they have to do.
Plans for large buildings invariably are
sent there and all contracting firms in
vited to submit bids. The membership Of
the exchange is more than 100. The sec
rotary in charge is J. II. Tate.
ONCE buildings and stores.
The mammoth new store of ]. L. Bran
deis & Sons. stretching all the way from
Sixteenth to Seventeenth streets, on Doug
las. is every day making rapid strides to-
ward completion. Within the next year
the new store will be occupied in all its
departments. This great structure will not
only be the largest mercantile building in
Omaha, but II will also be the largest,
most complete and most thoroughly mod
ern retail store west of Chicago. The
new building, with a frontage of 264 feet
on Douglas street and 1872 feet frontage on
both Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets
will give to the enterprising Brandeis firm
eight and one-half acres of floor space 1t
will comprise eight floors and basement
the top four floors being devoted to mod
ern and perfectly equipped offices, and
the lower four floors and basement will
be occupied by the different departments OF
J. L. Brandes & Sons great establishment
The brilliantly lighted subway arcade, di-
rectly under Douglas street, joins the first
floor of the new building with the first
floor of the present Brandes structure
thus giving the store a length of practic-
ally a block and half north and south
as we'll as a full frontage on Douglas
street. The building when completed will
cost 100000. 1t will give employment tc
in the neghborhood of 1000 people the
year round. The building is to be abso
lutely fireproof The Brandeis bank will
be located at the corner of Douglas ant
Seventeenth streets. The exterior of tn,
building will be of handsome polished
granite and Royal Blue Bedford stone
The skeleton is entirely of steel. In It!
interior equipment, the Brandeis store will
equal the exterior in stately beauty. TIL,
four floors above street level will be I'm
ished entirely In mahogany, while tn
wood work in the basement will be oak
The ten passenger elevators and the thre
freight lifts will be run by electricity. Tn
lighting will be the most improved system
of electricity. Heating will be by hot al
blast. while in summer a cold air bias
from the refrigerating and icing plant will
maintain a uniformly cool temperatur
throughout the building.
Only second to the Brandeis store is tn
100000 George A Hoagland block, on tn
southwest corner of Sixteenth and Howar
streets. 1t was begun in 1904 and not com
pleted until in the fall of 1905, when
was Immediately occupied by the Orchar
Wilhelm Carpet company and Thompson
Belden & Co. The building is of presse
brick, with ornate stone and iron trim
mings. 1t, too. was designed by job
Latenser and the general contractor wa
Henry Hamann. Inside and out the build
ing is a fine example of the most moder
ideas in mercantile construction TIL
structure is six stories high and 1s2 fee
square
The webster-Sunderland mercantile an
ONCE building is to be OF similar proper
tons to the Hoagland block. Its front
will be OF vitriied pressed brick. used fo
the first time In Omaha In a structure
this size. The estimated cost is 1880
Excavations have been completed and a
rangements made for the rapid raising {
the building. Fisher s Lawrie III
architects and ID. Shane and A. Rosenberr
will be the general contractors
One OF the new business blocks built
1901 Is that of James Neville at Sixteent
and Harvey. II Is a three-story bricl
ssx99 feet. the first floor being occupied /
retail stores and the others by Office
Charles Gloves served as the architec
There was general contractor. The est
mated cost was $4,000.
Seeing the trend OF business setting
south on sixteenth the men interested
the north end of the thoroughfare orgal
tied an improvement club early in l9C
One OF the first tangible results was
induce DIR. A. s. Wright, a resident
California, to erect substantial brio
store and Office building In place Of son
small. dilapidated structures at S14-1s Nor
Sixteenth. The estimated cost is SO.
John Mcdonald is the architect and C.
Partridge the general contractor. Besid