Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-25

one need not necessarily be rich to give
grace and charm to his habitation," says
Charles Wagner In the Simple Life. That
is true. In fact, there is more grace. charm
and homelike comfort to be found in mod
est homes, properly planned and designed,
thar is possible in the palaces of the rich.
Why? Because the true home spirit, the
sentiment that pervades a cottage home
properly built is lost in the social scram-
BILE to Guido a neighbor or rival million
aire. But-are you going TO build right?
Are you going to invest your several thou
sands In a home which will be lasting JOY
TO you and your family? Are you going TO
be assured at the start of the greatest
possible comfort in the most conveniently
arranged and artistically designed home
obtainable for the amount you desire TO
invest? Or. are you going to try and ave
on one of the least expensive, but the most
important items in the construction Of the
house-the services of an architect, and
accept as a substitute one of the most
expensive items you could put into a house
"a carpenters plans?
If this is your bent of mind, Danish the
thought. 1t will prove an expensive I'M
dertaking, to say the least, and-get right.
Carpenters mistakes are always more ex-
pIlIolNt Nldh dICilllGNN6 pAdllbs lit DGSl
contractors fully realize this fact and in
variably ask prospective customers to OBJ
tain a good set of architects plans, that
they may give them the lowest price on
the work and properly execute It.
Now and then som man tries to build
his house without plans. Have you no.
ticed the usual result? Have you noticed
In what an irregular manner the work pro-
cceds? Have you noticed how many mis-
takes are made and how much work Is
torn down and done over, all because of
a lack of proper plans for guidance and
a systematic arrangement of details? Have
you noticed how long II takes the foreman
to lay out the work and how slow the
woTkmen were to comprehend his orders?
Have you ever stopped to consider what
the time so spent at the prevailing wage
scale was costing the owner? Also have
you noticed that the second time a man
builds he almost without exception obtains
complete plans? Would you try to nave a
piece of machinery made without COM
plete drawings of all its working parts
No. Then why try to erect that most
complicated structure, a modern house,
which involves not only important struc-
tural problems. but has an artistic ele-
mcnt TO consider as we'll. without en-
plete wrking plans? Properly drawn plans
will save on the cost Of the house, fore
stall the needless care and worry over
details and accomplish the building of a
home that is strong and pleasing to look
upon, In a systematic, labor saving man
ner. Furthermore. completely drawn plans
will enable the owner to take competitive
bids on the work, thereby saving on the
cost, and let his contract on a business
like basis. knowing at the start just what
h will get in the finished structure.
A contractor in visiting me expressed this
opinion. He was having trouble with his
client over his own plans. IF all pros
pective home builders could only be made
TO realize the Importance Of having good
plans to build from there would be less
unwarranted suspicion cast upon pains
taking contractors, less complaint about
the everlasting extras and more beautiful
and saleable homes. ! know II TO be q
fact that every first class contractor in
this city has built his own nome from