Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-21

were 80 low that he decided to make II
fireproof and therefore asked for other bids
on the hreproof construction. The excava-
ton is completed and ready for the founda-
ton.
The Western Electric company has
cured the contract for installing a tele-
phone system in the new Battle Mountain
sanitarium at Hot Springs, S. D. The sys-
tenn will consist of twenty-five instruments
of the stromberg-Carlson intercommunicat-
ing type.
The contract for the &C mpletion Of the
upper five floors of the new Brandeis build
ing was awarded last week to John Harte.
The price was $172OOO.
The sooner you build, the less it will cost
you. The tendency in building materials
still seems to be upward. Apparently moth
ing can make building material worth less,
unless it would be hard times or a panic,
and in either case no one would want to
build.
A dry cleaning apparatus was installed
last week in the dye house of the Ward
robe, 1923 Leavenworth street. The cleo
trical work was done by the Wolfe-Lovett
| Electrical company.
The Omaha Cement, Stone and Brick
Machinery company has just completed
work on the new home of Mr.. Meyers, Forty
| first and Farnam streets. The basement,
chimney, front porch and steps are all con-
structed of concrete and hollow cement
blocks. Mr.. Meyers says the hollow blocks
used in the basement foundation are a
| perfect protection against moisture.
The Western Electrical company has the
contract for the wiring of the new Bran
| deis building The work is TO be done in
the latest and most approved style. The
wires will be laid in conduts throughout
! the building. It is estimated that more
than fourteen miles of wire will be re-
! quired.
! II D. Frankfurt, architect. has opened an
! Office at 81 Douglas block. He IL now work.
! ing on plans for a number of residences to
be erected during the coming summer.
Advance sheets from May Fireproof
Magazine show the scope and improvement
there has been in that lively journal that
has done so much to awaken popular in
terest in the better construction OF our
cities. One of its most forceful articles
is a stirring appeal by Architect Fitz-
patrick, the chief officer Of the Building
Inspectors society representing virtually
all the principal cities of the world to
municipalities and Individual owners to
give at least as much attention to fire
prevention as to hre fighting The writer
describes the efforts and expenditures made
by cities for increased water supply and
I wonderful fire apparatus, while more and
more fuel is constantly being added for
possible CONGREGATIONS to consume. II Is
made quite evident that a much less effort
In the right direction, the compelling of
hreproof construction in all new buildings
and the revamping OF the old ones so as to
make them less combustible would soon
effect a much lessened expenditure for
dre lighting appliances and insure greater
safety to life and property. No country
on earth tolerates such IRE losses as we
do; we have permitted to be- destroyed
over A,OOO,OOO0OO worth of property in six
years; our normal fire loss is 100000 a
day; the average city OF 10000 TO 10000
people is lucky when the years fires do
not net $4,000 damage, while In Europe
cities OF similar size feel terribly stricken
when more than $4,000 represents the years
loss. Mr.. Fitzpatricks appeal through the
press Is but a reiteration OF what he has
so persistently preached to our city officers.
Much good has resulted from this work.
virtually hundreds Of cities having re-
vised and improved their Ubuilding ordi-
nances, but there is yet much to be done
and II behooves all intelligent municipali-
ties and thinking individuals TO listen 70
and follow the advice OF this keenest of
observers and most public spirited of sx-
perts.