Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-13
Arthur O. Olaussn, ArOhiteot.

select a level one; If there are several
trees on it, appropriately located trim them
up, but do not cut them down, as they
add materially to the homelike atmosphere
of the place. If there are no trees, plant
several elms or naples. Be sure that your
lot is in a good neighbcrhood, one where
most of the people their own homes
and not far from a street car. Never put
a duplex house on a cheap lot, it will prove
a mere profitable investment to put a little
more into the lot and a little less into the
house, where the total cost is limited, than
to try and arbitrate by buying a cheap lot.
especially In a neighboThood where vacant
lots are plentiful. for this is apt to mean
an influx of cheap houses. There is moth
ing about a we'll designed duplex house
that would offend the highest class Of
~neighbors. and the better the neighborhood
the higher the rents for a dupIex or any
other kind of a house.
The basement should include a laundry,
Zone well equipped laundry will dol, two
storage rooms for canned fruits, vegeta-
Ties. etc, with all heating pipes running
through them, covered. If the owner Of
the building lives in part Of it. one heating
plant will dc, since the owner can take
care of it and charge the other tenant
for the heat in his rent, II both flats are
rented, however, it is best 10 provide sepa-
rate heating plants and fuel rooms in
separate rooms, under lock and key, mot
contemplating any trouble, but to avoid
it," as your relative says in transacting
all family business in writing. The entire
floor should be cemented and the laundry
walls neatly plastered with cement and
painted white. The basement ceiling should
be given a rough coat of plaster.
The first and second floor plans are
in most respects the same, the only
marked difference being about the front
stairway. The front stairway should be
open, (neveF closed in between parti-
tions) with room to set a nall rack on
the first floor. with a coat closet on
either the first or second floor for use
of the upper tenant There should be an
independent rear stairway from the
basement to the attic for the use of both
tenants. having an outside door on the
first floor, There should be at least
two chambers to each flat. with extra
chambers in the attic for two ~ervants
Five or six-room flats are considered the
best Investment. A Aeven-Foom flat
brings no more rent than a sIx-TOom
flat and costs more to build. This is the
unanimous verdict Of all real estate men
and they are in a position 10 speak
authoritatively Each chamber shpuld have
a closet, with an extra closet for linen
All the chambers should be On a separate
hall connecting with the bath room, the
reason is plainly apparent. This ineOn-
venienee OF having to pass through one
OF the living rooms to reach the bath
room can only be fully appreciated BY
experienee. There should be a toilet IN
the basement for servants.
A fireplace in the living room Is a de
lightful establishment and a good yenti
lator-not a gas log fireplace, but a rsa
old-fashioned wood OF coal Fireplace 4
warm UP the living room and dining room
on chilly mornings and evenings, TIT
dining room can be both increased in siz
and made more homelike By the addition
OF a bay window. II bath room appoint
ments. pantry and kitchen should be com
plste. A closet for pats ana kettles in tn
kitchen should b ineluasa when poSaibls