The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-07-04
Building Boom Experienced by
Richmond This Year Has
Surpassed All Former Local
Records.
OVER 100 PERMITS
HAVE BEEN ISSUED
Buildings Contemplated or
Under Construction Include
Both Modest Cottages and
Public Buildings.

Both Modest Cottages and
Public Buildings.
With the records in the ONCE Of
City Controller Webster Parry showing
there have been one hundred and nine
building permits taken out since the
nrst of the year up until Wednesday
evening last. and the estimated value
Of these improvements. when finished
aggregating q grand total Of 1886. $3.50,
which docs not include more than $44,-
600 to be spent by the school board on
. new heating plant for the new high
school building, making the total value
Of improvements more than $43O,55O,
there IL no reason to complain of the
manner in which the city is growing
up"
Richmond eExceIs.
In comparing Richmond with other
cities in the state, relative to the con-
struction Of business blocks and the
erection Of residences, this city can
claim to be- far ahead of them. Espc-
cially Is this true of the cities and
towns In the gas belt where desirable
houses are rented almost for nothing,
just to got people to live in them.
Consequently there Is no demand for
new properties and there Is no sale
for the old. Capitalists, judging from
the way visitors from these cities rep
vestmcnt in real estate in these places
OF much value
While Richmond has never expert
enced boom such as these cities did
at tho time Of the discovery Of gas, its
growth has been steady and capitalists
here consider the modern residence .
good investment. This is shown by the
fact that there have been SO many resi-
demo 4. erected, or improvements OF
cor truction for the first half year
Also properties are very scarce.
Real estate men doubt v'--ther
there are more than fifty empty ,uses
suitable to reside In, In the city at the
present time. This is a very small
proportion for city of approximately
$4,000 residents.
Many Frame Houses.
In examining the city records in re-
gard to the building being done at the
present time, the books show that
since January / there have been IS
permits for new frame dwellings. The
total amount being spent as shown on
the books for frame residence property
is $95,525. The individual permits
show that amounts to be expended
range from $3.50 to $1,000, with $500
being the approximate average ex-
pended on each property.
The construction of frame dwellings
far outnumbers those of brick. In fact
the proportion of new brick houses IS
far below the average of previous
years. Contractors say this is due to
the prevailing prices Of material and
labor. Lumber Is much below the
price paid last year while brick is also
lower. but not 50 much 50 as the form
or material. The big expense in the
construction OF brick properties is the
item Of labor. Union men. brick mas
ons. make 62h cents per hour, while
the wages OF carpenters Is from sol
cents to IS cents per hour. There
have been but four permits for brick
residences taken out this year, the
grand total being $7.O25.
Brick 70 Popular.
However for business properties and
large buildings brick is popular mate
rial. There have been eight permits
taken out for such properties. the
grand total being $266 100. To this
should be added $4,000, the contract
price for the heating plant Of the high
school. No record Is shown that a
permit has been taken out for this
construction az yet.
Under the head OF repairs on old
frame and brick buildings. the records
show that business has been good. In
respect to repairs on brick buildings:
there were fourteen permits taken out.
The estimated cost Of the improve
ments. as shown by the records, Is
$89O6. There were twenty-five per-
mits taken out for the Improvement
OF frame buildings. either sheds,
houses or stables. The estimated cost
for the total number is $7.995.
But one building will be made Of
stucco. This is residence to be erect
ed BY OHM Bundy In West Richmond.
The estimated cost Is 5000.
Figures Below Value.
IN speaking 81 the accuracy Of the
estimated cost Of buildings as shown
by the permits. City Treasurer Nimrod
johnson and City Controller Webster
Parry state the estimates were much
more liable to be several hundred dol
lara short of the amount spent when
the Improvement Is fnitned. than to
DO above the actual price Of construc-
ton. Mr. Johnson recalled several In
stances where such was the case. He
also pointed out one instance In parti-