The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-03-22

GfDU learn that engineers from
the Wisconsin, Telephone
Company were here the past autumn for
several months, during which time they
made what might be called an entirely
scientific survey of the city, showing
the likely comparative growth from
1916 to 1885. These statistics disclose
that Kenosha's growth is not fly by
night growth, but that of a steady and
prosperous town. Our population today
is in the neighborhood of $1,000, and it
is estimated by 1920 we will have a
population of little more than $500.
In 1885, according to this scientific
computation, our population will be
close to 100000
This statement, made by Walter M.
Burke, vice president of the Kenosha
Realty Company and an officer of the
Kenosha House Building Company, be-
fore the Kenosha Kiwanis Club at yes
terday's meeting and luncheon in the
Kiwanis room of the Hotel Kenosha,
was cheered to the echo by fifty mem-
bers and guests of that live wire bush
ness men IS organization
!" Having been asked by Hal P Den
ton, organizer Of the Kiwanis Club, to
give a short talk on the building of
houses now taking place in the south
western and northern part of our city,"
said Mr.. Burke in prefacing his re-
marks, :" / was somewhat surprised to
receive notice from him that the sub
ject assigned, instead of covering the
building of houses in detail, was The
Prospective Growth Of Kenosha. 1t is
needless to say that such a subject is
one that would require several hours
to thoroughly handle. However, just
few minutes with reference to the
house building project.
s'The manufacturers Of Kenosha, de-
string to provide homes for their en-
ployes at the least possible cost con
ducive to the highest grade of produc-
tion, had entered into negotiations with
several building concerns with that end
in view. Dan o. Head of the Kenosha
Lumber Company, and myself feeling
that we could produce homes just as
good as those being built by outside
concerns, and at less cost submitted a
proposition to local manufacturers, with
the result that through the influence of
r. G. Simmons, of the Simmons Manu-
featuring Company, we were accorded
an opportunity to submit plans and
figures to the Manufacturer Associa-
ton. The result was the formation of
a corporation known as the Kenosha
House Building Company, organized
under the laws of Wisconsin, whose
purpose is to build and provide homes
for workingmen at minimum cost.
The Kenosha House Building Company
in bidding upon various houses Of a
similar design, were able to compete
successfully against outside concerns,
outbidding them from $4,000 to
$4,000 a house.
Something like 80 houses were
erected during the. past year, most OF
CACuu III JIG oVubHWGSG part sUl Lure u ny
These houses are completely modern in
every detail The average house con.
sists of six rooms, viz: living room, Gin
ing room, kitchen, three bedrooms and
bath, with clothes closet for each room
There is a cement floor in the basement,
electricity and gas, cement sidewalks
in front and around the premises
Grading and the planting of shrubbery
serve to complete in every way ire
houses being erected on what will be
ultimately one of the most beautiful
subdivisions in the state.
Tt is gratifying to note that the
employees Of the various manufacturing
plants readily seized the opportunity
to secure high grade homes at mini
mum cost, and we are all indebted to
the manufacturers of the city for their
| thoughtfulness in endeavoring TO pro-
vide these homes. I might add further
that we are certainly indebted to the
First National Bank and the North.
western Loan and Trust Company, also
the Merchants and Savings Bank, fol
their ready response in helping take
care of many of the financial Difficult