Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-29
BUILDING BETTER QUALITY
Brick Men Form National Association
to Boost for Firmer Structures.
DEPRECIATION IS MUCH LESS
Great variety Of Face Brick Avail
able Incrcns~s Opportunities for
Better Outside Designs
Guild Better"


Following closely upon the remarkable
publicity campaign in behalf Of Portland
cement as a building material, is the re.
cent organization Of a National association
composed Of the principal brick manufac-
turers and jobbers Of the United States.
Through judicious and persistent advertis-
ing, cement has become a household word.
II Is adaptable to many important uses
and has found ready demand for the ex-
terror OF buildings as we'll as for foutings.
floors, foundations and masonry.
a vast amount Of lumber has been dis
placed by the adoption OF cement construc-
tion and TO this extent there has been a
distinct Improvement in the quality Of
buildings in every section of the country
particularly in residences The Use Of &C.
ment is, however, but one step toward the
perfection to which American residence
architecture is tending. The better class
OF architects do not encourage the use of
cement for the entire exterior Of residences
The artificial is giving way to the real
While cement Cor "stucco') work is consid-
cred to be right and proper for gables
dorners and upper stories which overhang
It is only because OF the "overhang" that
1t is right and proper
indicate strength or support. 1t is merely
a curtain wall. a thin fabric OF lath and
plaster which adds no cement Of strength
to the structure and without resistance to
rain ana dampness unless tbs pores are
closed periodically with some special water
proofing composition.
Artistic effects have sometimes been pro-
duced from a discreet use OF exterior stucco
work, but they are tho exception rather
than the rule, II used for the entire exter-
Tor.
Demand for the Real.
1t is a growing demand for the real rather
than the artificial that accounts for the
increased uso of brick in residences. This
increased interest in brick as an artistic
building material is apparently due to sew
eral facts, viz:
L. In abstract, intrinsic quality, no ma
terial compared with brick
2. The handicap of a strictly limited variety
of kinds and colors has been completely re-
moved and at this time the manufacturers
are striving after high quality and beauti-
full colors.
3 The brick industry has been placed upon
business basis, the manufacturers being
soey concerned with the problem of maxi
ing brick, while the product is marketed
as In all other lines, through wideawake
jobbers and dealers.
4. Architects have discovered that the great
variety of face brick now available has
greatly increased the artistic and archi-
tectural possibilities.
8. owners, most of whom build but once
have begun to appreciate that the use OF
brick involves reduced cost of upkeep, in
creased beauty enhanced investment value
and greater comfort against extremes OF
temperatne.
AS general proposition the public shows
an interest in the present tendency tc
build better" and in no way can the ''cit1
beautiful" be realized more quickly or more
surely than through the use of brick as 8
building material
AS matter Of personal interest to every
prospective builder reports from other citle,
confirm the expressions obtained from loca
owners that the slight additional first cost
or facing building with brick is offset BY
reduced cost OF maintenance, and the net
result is greatly increased Investment
value
The idea of depreciation, which heavily
discounts the value of a ten-year old fran,
house, scarcely enters the mind of tn,
prospective purchaser If the building Is o.
brick. 1t is only fair to the realty to Civ,
1t chance to earn for its owner a natura
increase In value-wlthout having to deduc
an equal or greater, amount because tn,
improvements upon it have deprecated.
The modern tendency to build substan
tally and permanently implies the use o
brick because Of its indestructibility.
Inc recently organized Building Brick as
ISOLATION of America has for it's purpose tn
creating OF an increased interest in bricl
as building material