Evening journal., 1916-07-15
Investments, NOT
HOMES. LACKING
Dealers Explain Lack of
Houses Here; Realty Spec
ulation Not Popular
ARCHITECTS REPORT
CONTINUED ACTIVITY

demand for investment in real es-
tate AS a result. contractors are not
building new houses because. as a
rule, the properties cannot be sold for
sufficient to provide what is regarded
as a good investment. People who
can build their own houses are erect /
ing them, but construction Of new
houses by contractors solely for in
vestment purposes is not active.
This IS the building situation as ex-
pressed by contractors here and the
cause of shortage Of homes for rent
Moreover. IL Is declared, rentals are not
high even in the so-called newer sec
tiong OF the city On the other hand,
the difference 10 prices OF properties
north Of the Washington street bridge
for example, and those in the south
ern and southwestern sections of the
city is considerable, il is declared
There Is no evidence OF over
building, however, It is declared
There is a good healthy demand for
homes to live in, but the demand ap-
pears not difficult to supply in the
northern section Of the city. To sum
marze, the investment real estate
market has been affected adversely by
the popularity of bonds and other Sc
curities for investment
Continued warm weather also has
caused difficulty in securing compe-
tent laborers. Old pieces Of work are
being carried on slowly. The demand
for laborers is excellent. and the men
are paid high : ages. but on account
OF the summer and ability to COM
mand high wages for a minimum Of
labor. all sorts of work requiring un-
skilled laborers or mechanical trades
men like bricklayeYs. stonemen and
cement workers are progressing but
slowly.
A. s. Reed and Sons Company re-
port receipt of sub-bids for work on
the proposed house for Eugene E. du-
Pont, and will have final bids ready
for presentation today. The Beaden-
kopf building, at Seventh and Shipley
streets. is now well under way. Brick
work IS being put in place on the out
side. and the floors arc completed.
Wallace Eugene Hance, architect,
reports excellent progress on all jobs
under way except the Wilmington
High School building, where work is
moving very slowly, principally
through lack of competent laborers.
Bids are now being received by Mr..
Hance for the subcontracts on the
Max Breuer building, at Fourth and
Orange streets The building VIII
contain q hotel and apartments and
four stores. The structure Is four
stories high. and has a slag roof
Final bids are expected in shortly. and
work will be started at once.
Plans for extensive alterations and
additions to the Homeopathic Hospital
have been prepared by Leon Wilde
Crawford. architect. and bids for the
construction will be called for July
22 Just what the entire proposition
VIII cost is not given out John r
Healey & Sons are among the bidders
The new work consists Of two addi-
tional stories on the present new build
ing, one additional story on the Cause
building, a huge sun parlor and an
automobile shelter. The additions
will provide a new oonimodious ma
ternity ward, with diet kitchen. baths
children's room, nursery and every
thing necessary to provide a modern
and up-to-date hospital OF that sort
This new ward will be on the third
floor. where there also will be eleven
new rooms for patients and nurses
recording room.
On the fourth floor will be the oper.
ating room, a room for anesthetics, g
sterilizing room, a room for surgica
supplies. doctors room. recovery
room. three bedrooms and a complet;
outfit cf baths, showers, closets
toilets and the like for the conven
fence Of doctors and surgeons. Al
additional feature OF the new addi
tons is the open-air solarium.
William D. Haddock & Co repor
the starting Of work on the remodel
IMP Of the Eighth street market fo
the Middletown Farms Completion o
the work will require about six weeks
Plans provide for changes that will
make a thoroughly equipped, up-to
date market
Work on the remodeling of Lippin
colts store viii be completed by tn
middle Of August. II is declared Had
dock & Co. have the matter in charge
Speaking OF the work yesterday, MI
Overdeer said the changes would b
extensive. The roofing-in has beei
about completed. and the interio
work will be commenced shortly
Old jobs being done bv this con-
pany include construction or change
on the building of the Wilmington
Automobile Company and the resi-
dences of Frank Lackey. Victor du
Pont and David Marvel.
Architects report continued deman
for new buildings. All sorts {
propositions arc on hand and IN
cuirics are large. Expense of ma
terials and lack Of laborers have bee
holding up a good deal OF work it
reported In spite Of these draw
backs there has been a good deal {
work done. it is declared
John j Kennedy viii receive BID
for construction of the Delmarvi
Raking Company's building. at Fourt
and Union streets. on Monday. July
Work will be started by the success
mi bidder at once. T. is declared J.
Pador and Company. John r. Heale
and son, c. j. Dougherty. Joyce ar
f-~~i~7n. and John Stanrard are II
bidders
Plans are being drawn by Mr.. Kel
nedy fcr two houses at the southea