Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-05

frame houses They exist in every section
- in almost countless numbers and seemingly
are the one insuperable obstacle to every
plan for the artistic regeneration early crudeness in
construction and design They are used for every sort
of business and residential purpose and occupy such
relation to existing economic conditions that any at
tempt at wholesale demolition must be regarded as
among the present impossbiities They are too good
10 pun down and not good enough to justify con-
unued existence Singly they cold in winter and
hot in summer and require frequent and exnensive
renewals of paint Severay their inflammability Is
constant menace to the safety of city town and
their usual dsreputabe and unsubstAntal appearance
violates every instructive desire for the artistic and
beautiful
Happily by a process of evolution II has been re-
Gently demonstrated that the needed remedy is now
available and its name is stucco This material 20
composed OF portland cement and sand in about the
same proportions used in making sidewalks. The word
to the average mind conveys an impression of some
thing cheap and perishabe.
On the contrary, it is the most durable building
material known. 1t does not shrink, burn or decay
and readily adapts itself to every form of architectural
expression 1t is, further, not realized even by manv
Foreign travellers that at least 80 of the build
lngs in continental Europe, public and private
are finished in stucco laid rough brick surfaces
Far from being SHAM 1t is the aristocrat of building
materials as 1t covers the palaces the royalties and
NOBILITY IN every country and climate The ancient
Greeks and Romans knew its value and gave It almost
universal USE 1t would be strange If the ingenious
Americans did not some time discover it's adaptabity
Tor their purposes Their ardnoss this respect NAV
be explained by the former abundance and cheapness
of lumber, which the good enough" of early and
hasty days when shelter and cheapness were the ru
ing considerations.
Western architects ever on the alert for improve
ments, are among the first realize that with the
aid of metal lath holding device stucco could be
used In combination with wood, not only struc-
lures but the old ones. Those who occupy standing
frame houses have rejoice over their ability
TO quickly and economically convert their structures
into the more comfortable and slightly finish
by attaching metal ath to the weather boarding and
applying the plastic overcoating AS a rule those de-
voted to business purposes require only the fronts
be treated.
1t will readily be that when this process
spreads to the towns its general trans
formation of houses stables and other outbuildings
from the appearance of wood that of stone the re-
suit will be If fairy had waved magic wand
and in twinkling the novels became palaces. The
rule OF construction is to leave air space between
the plaster and the weather boarding in the Interest
of dryness and uniformity of temperature. Expert
ments in the of wood lath for this purpose have
been uniformly disastrous. The cement protective
of rust on metal lath.
The Bee gives space for several examples Of over
coating old houses in the hope that the success OF thu
initial efforts may induce general adoption, and thu
western cities and be redeemed from the appear
ance of ragged and nondescript architecture worke
out in the most unsubstantia material. The citizen
of Wheaton and Lake Forest, important suburbs o
Chicago, have undertaken at public expense to recon
struc the fronts of their business section along
monious and correct lines and when completed 1t vii
mark the elimination of much that is offensive goo
taste and the substitution OF beautiful and artistic
fects 1t is to be done in white cement and dark
ing tile affording udicious combination of color
very satisfying to the eye.
If by cooperation of effort the property owners
this city should in like manner inaugurate a wholesal
reconstruction of the fronts of the frame building
used for business purposes under skful architecture
advice immediate and substantial increase Of trad
and real estate values would doubtless be the prof
able result
II is a fact that the frame house is passing. Tw
factors at to this end First 1t is almost in
possible nowadays to get the white pine building mi
terial which once ranked a real "hrst class" But
accepting that which is the old first class mater
good as il may be--the builder OF the frame house
discovering that the cost of building is great
enhanced in the last fifteen years Hemloek lie works
In on the building, especially in rafters joints ar
heavy supports, and hemlock is uncertain piece
timber.
That other great for interest in the Gene
coated structure that while cost may be no les
II properly constructed 1t has proved itself stabii
and workmanship. To all purposes 1t becomes a sto
building in winter and cooler in summer. Al
more than anything else, the necessity for paint
and repainting Is eliminated. Honest paint and hone
painters applying 1t cost money If a frame house is
be kept up."