Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-30
FTREPROOF HOMES PAY BEST
Architects and Builders Give Their
Opinion on Construction.
CAN SELL FOR MORE MONEY
Will Bring More Than Enough to
Make Up for the Extra Expense
of BuiIdinE of FireprOof
Material.

Material.
The day has long since passed when the
| fire trap form of construction in large
buildings was abandoned and no sane per-
son would think Of erecting a building that
was not as nearly fireproof as 1t is pos
sible to make 1t. So important is the
matter of proof from fire that architects
now have turned their attention to fire
proof dwelling houses.
The public has gradually come TO realize
the enormous loss by fire, the excessive re-
pairs. the rapid depreciation and the dis
comfort In both winter and summer arising
from frame construction, to appreciate the
TACT that the house Of brick is not only
nreproof but that 1t requires no painting,
that 1t does not decay nor depreciate, and
mat OF all types of construction, it is the
most beautiful
"A great majority Of the American peo-
pie however, who enjoy to the largest
extent the benefits of human ingenuity
ana skill In other matters, are stiu DENY
ing themselves the advantages of a SUI
perior material for the construction of
their homes because of a mistaken idea
as TO Its relative cost" says an Omaha
architect 1T is time. therefore, that the
present-day facts be made public in a clear
ana logical manner, that all may know the
truth.
Cost of Construction,
In order to prepare an accurate state
ment regarding the relative costs of DIFF
ferent styles OF construction a careful in
vestigauon has been instituted, in which
ali variable quantities we're eliminated, and
bona fide bid obtained for the construc
tion' In a given locality, of a series of
houses, each one exactly like the others
III every particular except the outer walls
which In the several houses were to he
constructed Of several materials to be COM
pared: Brick, wood, cement and hollow
block.
Lest single contractor might make an
error or for some reason be unduly favor
able to one material as against another
simultaneous bids from several equally
reliable contractors were secured. While
the several figures on the brick house vary
considerably among themselves. as Is in
eVltable with competitive bids. the relative
ngures on brick, wood ETC., are about the
same In the case of one contractor as of
"hotner' and the average gives a fair and
truthful conclusion"
Wood Costs More.
Conditions have changed in late vears.
wood is no longer cheap; the forests have
receded from civilization and have
dwindled in size until frame construction
costs almost as much as brick, until with
Its upkeep 1t costs more.
IN Boston well know architect recently
started an investigation relating to the
construction of homes and he asked six
contractors II they were willing to under
take the preparation of figures which
should truthfully set forth to the best of
ms ability the costs Qncluding his profit)
OF houses TO be built within ten miles of
Boston according to these several plans
ana specifications, Each was told that
the truth was desired as nothing could be
gained by an investigation of this kind
Whlch was biased or influenced by any
ravoritism for one type over another.
Each contractor entered into the spirit
OF the investigation heartily and agreed
to figure out the cost fairly to the best
of his ability Each contractor was given
the same information and instructions and
each took plenty of time to figure the en-
tire house with care.
FireprOOf Cheaper.
The result was a convincing verification
that the fireproot brick house was the
| N'OoP0i Al the lOlB rum IN this cOnneC-
ton one Of the contractors is quoted as
follows:
I'VE have built about 600 houses in the
city OF Columbus. The first year we built
entirely of frame, the second year about
half brick and half frame and then we
figured out the cost between the brick and
the frame houses, and we found that the
actual difference did not exceed $500 on
a 5000 house or about per cent more
for brick than for frame
I'VE build most of our houses with a
nlne-lnch wall and a one-inch air space,
| tying the two walls together with metal
ties and Turing. lathing and plastering on
the inside.
Taking tho saving In insurance, heating
and painting ON the brick house. we have
found that there is really no difference in
the cost of the houses at the end OF a
few years and We now build brick houses
almost altogether.
| When We come to sell the house, we
find that we can always get about 81 900
more for the brick house than for the
frame house on account OF the beauty,
durability and economy. which always
seems to speak for itself. The brick house
looks so much more substantial than the
frame house that we use brick every time
The brick house is much cooler in sum-
mer than the frame house and we have
tested the heating in winter and have
! found that It takes 3Sh per cent more
fuel for frame house than 1t does for one
of brick"
WALL PAPER RACKS NERVES