Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-18

\ings IN Omaha is part OF the record
of 40 years OF successful service of
the contracting finn of Collins Broth
ers. who constructed the new pack
ing plant of the Skinner Packing
company, at Twenty-sevcnth and Y
streets.
In 1882, S. J. Collins OF Rock Is
land. H., and his brother, Frank.
then members of the firm, began the
erection OF the Paxton hotel, the old
est of Omaha's large buildings. And
in 1918, the day following the sign
ing of the armistice, to be exact,
Roy I, Collins, son of S. j., present
head Of the firm. began the construc-
ton work on the new packing plant.
n Mr.. Collins, as we'll as Omaha
real estate men and other contrac-
tors, commented on the coincident
of these two structures representing
the efforts Of Collins Brothers here.
But what MFR. Collins alone men
toned was the additional relation,
through the many obstacles that had
to be overcome on both buildings.
First Big Contract. =
The erection OF the Paxton hotel
was one of the first big jobs tackled
by his father and uncle. Mr.. Collins
explained, and was undertaken just
two years after the organization OF
the partnership. Bad weather, i'm
passable roads, labor shortage and
lack Of confidence of Omaha men
were just few of the conditions
that had to be contended with. The
last mentioned was one Of the most
serious in the way of the young con-
tractors, Mr.. Collins said. AT thar
time Fourteenth and Parnam streets
was considered too far west for any
business to succeed.
The hotel men and the builders
were hooted, almost, for working on
that site, which then was on un-
paved streets, without sidewalks. 1t
was freely predicted, he said, that
only failure would reward the faith
of those behind the hotel. The dirt
roads were mire most of the time,
Mr.. Collins father told him once,
which made hauling material a
grievous task. Weather interfered
continually with the work on the
building, and frequently it was
slowed down by lack of men. The
building was completed in about
: two years, however, and stands
structurally as it did the day it was
opened.
"If our last building in Omaha
stands as long and as well, and is
as continually in service as 'our
first. Collins Bros, will never feel
anything but pride in their work in
Omaha" Mr.. Collins said.
Contractors Remark Speed.
Building men in Omaha are re-
marking on the speed with which
the. big Skinner plant was COM
pleted, and without the use of
double shift at any time. Actual
construction work was finished a
little more than II months after
building operations began. What
Collins Bros. point to is. thes fact
that it was completed in record
time in the face, of material short
= age, adverse weather conditions, two
actual strikes that suspended activi-
ties entirely, and continual labor
shortage.
In planning the construction of
the building, Mr.. Collins explained,
consideration was taken of the ap-
preaching winter and the effect that
would have on concrete work and
also on the material supply. As
railroads will not ship pumped sand
or gravel during the cold months,
enough-te last until warm weather
had to be acquired before the en-
barge shut down.
On that account, he said, they
purchased all the sand. gravel iand
crushed rock tney could, But the
tendency of such material to freeze
to the consistency of granite, the
reason why railroads will not ship
1t IN the winter, also presented a
problem to the contractors, as they
were forced to store it out of doors.
Install Heating System
This was solved, he said, by the
installation of heating system that
not only kept the material thawed,
but actually heated it to a point that
made walking through, "a pie uneom-
portable. A central boiler plant
was installed and heating pipes
from there laid along the ground.
The sand and gravel was dumped
on these pipes, which supplied suffi-
cient heat to bring the pile to high
temperature, in spite of winter cold
and frequent snowfalls.
The heating of the sand also aid
ed in continuing concrete work all
winter. Tie hot sand was added to
the rock and cement in the mixer,
= and the mass additionally heated by
hot water. This kept the concrete
at high temperature while it was
being conveyed to the forms and
after pouring. =.
BY using such expedients they
were able to continue work all win
ter. Further trouble from lack of
material were prevented by buying
lumber. brick, cement and all items
used in the construction of the plant
m huge quantities and storing the
surplus ou the ground.
Acute Labor Shortage.
The real trouble began, Mr.. Col
Inns related. after warm weather re-
turned, when labor became. scarce
and continued so. To add to that,
a strike developed on May /. 1919,
and continued for three weeks,
necessitating a suspension of con-
,atruction. The matter was finally
settled and work begun again, >but
early in juno another strike tied up
all work on the building.
In the last case it was the un-
skilled lahorers that walked out,
leaving ,n,asons and others without
.he assistance needed to continue