Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Predicted Increase in Business Fol-
lows End of Campaign.
KANSAS CITY TRIP GIVEN UP
Omaha Exchange VIII Not he Guests
of KawviIIc Dealers Tuesday,
but VIII Go at Later Time
building Notes.

Predicted increase in real estate activity
following the election materialized the last
week, but not in a spectacular way. Deals
Of size and consequence require considera-
Bile time for contamination, for, as a gem
eral rule, there are few people outside OF
novels except John w. Gates who buy
property in a slap-dash, price-be-hanged
fashion. There are rumors well authenti-
Gated Of pending transactions OF much i'm
portance and the near future will undoubt-
edly see these realized.
However. the total sales the last week
were not small and showed an Increase
over the preceding week. The two princi-
pal items involved were the leasing Of the
property at Eighteenth and Douglas for
a large building by John L. Kennedy. and
the incorporation Of his real estate holdings
by c. n. Dietz.
In suburban and residence districts there
was the usual large purchasing for homes
and a good increase In the number of
men buying this kind Of property for in
ves.ment.
It is now announced that the projected
visit to Kansas City by members OF the
Omaha Real Estate exchange Tuesday will
not come to pass. The reason set forth
is that the number of agents who are able
or willing to separate themselves from
business for a two-day trip at this time
Of the year is not large enough and so the
visit has been postponed for a time.
The last week saw the new president and
other Officers of the exchange ushered into
office. President Robbins, in his inaugural
address, after pleading for a greater Omaha
including South Omaha, Omaha and neigh
boring communities under one government,
went on to say: ''This exchange should CO.
operate, in my opinion, with other organlza-
lions and interests in such a movement to
place this great city of ours where it be-
longs, and 1t is not too early to begin now.
I know there would be opposition to such
a movement, but 1 believe the differences
could be harmonized and the consolidation
accomplished. The reward, at least, is suf-
ficlent to justify an heroic effort. Prosper
Gus as our real estate business is, our
trades depend too much on local parties.
II Is too much a business of swapping be-
tween ourselves. Omaha is now rich in
local money for real estate investment and
we are not unappreciative of this business,
but we must admit that we have not yet
interested foreign investors to the extent
we should. We will not reach the posi-
bility OF our business until we interest out
side capital to a greater extent. We know
there is foreign capital seeking investment
TO which Omaha real estate would be at
t~ractive, If 1t could be once interested; and
nothing interests investors so quickly as an
evidence of something doing and con-
solidation in our case would be a forcible
evidence Of that fact.
"The questions of home rule and govern
ment by the commercial plan are also ques-
lions that should be considered in connec-
tion with consolidation, and there will be
other subjects of vital interest that will
come up from time to time, and as one of
the strong organizations of the city, the
exchange should be ready and willing al
ways to do its part.
This city may be said to be in a forma-
tive state now, and perhaps there has never
been a time I'm its history when its future
greatness depended so much upon the right
actions as at present. Our members, for
strength of character and ability to do
things, will compare favorably with men
in any other line OF business, so the ex-
change can, and | am sure will, exert a
strong influence in the solution of the ques-
tions affecting the great interests of this
city"