Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-12
Victims Report
Shows Up lncapacity
Oh Old Management OF
Home Building Assn.
CONTINUED from page II

than estimated. This does o make
the house and the stuccoing Of the
foundation is being done by myself.
Thus paying $3.000.31 more than fig
ured on is impossible for a man in
my position to pay unless a ason-
BILE reduction is made"
BlakcmOre'S Estimates.
Mr.. Blakemore informed one house
sible exceptions had been completed in
Bismarck that the houses in Fargo
would not ovcrrun the estimates in
Fargo by more than $500 and would
not overrun the estimates in Bis
marck. This ne builder said:
eat a meeting evening the last
days in December. 1920, Mr.. Blake
more advised a number of III that
houses in Fargo would overrun not to
exceed 5000 and that the houses in
Bismarck would not overrun the esti-
mates but in some cases would be a
little less. This was. as you know, aft
or all the houses in Bismarck were
complete with the possible exception
of my own and Mr.. Graham'G."
The owner of q farm home north
of Menokep also refuses to pay the
increased cost. He said: II was in
formed that the total cost of my house
located north Of Menoken is $1l.-
031.57 and was asked to settle on this
basis. Replying to same. 1 beg to ad-
wise o that the estimated cost of the
house was to be $1,000, the land was
| put in at $4,000, the total cost there
fore would be $1,000. The agree
ment was that $1,000 was to be the
limit and was assured it would prob
ably be much less. a*"I have met
every financial requirement demand
ed of me and certainly shall expect
the state to fulfill its agreement with
me the same as q private contractor
would be compelled to do. It would
be impossible for me to pay anything
over the original estimate as practi-
Really all of my wealth is tied up in
this property. The state should not
compel me to pay for ineficiency and
lack of qualification Of Home Building
association employees"
Another said that he had been a s
sured the final cost would not be over
the estimate. He wrote:
This will acknowledge q notifica-
ton from you that the house occupied
| by me and contracted for from the
state of North Dakota. is to cost some
thing over $1,000. This is to advise
you that I cannot accept any sucl:
price on this house and lot for the
following reasons:
Built Before Ordered.
Early IN the year lSGV l diiCu a
the state Homebuilders' association
office. and was informed by Mr.
! Prater. that the state was building
some houses which they were anxious
to sell. I went over the plan Of tht
house in. question and was informed
by him the house including lot would
cost, not TO exceed $4,000. I accepted
these figures and entered into ar
agreement with him to take the home
After I was occupying III home wa:
informed by Mr.. Blakemore. the man
| ager. the house would not cost al
much as original estimated. althousf
he could not give exact figures at TN
time. I paid the ASSOCIATION s95O OF
the basis Of a $4,000 deal. and havt
kept my payments OF $2S.65 paid VI
to date, which YOU accepted n there
fore I shall and do expect the state
of North Dakota to make good hei
agreement and deliver this house anc
lot to me, with contract for O price no
to exceed $4,000.
A letter in the files Of the Home
builders association with Dictator
marks of Ben Okert, an ardent
lacquer, was sent out Just before cleo,
ton denying that Lemke,s house
would cost over SIG, 900. After stat,
ing this and assailing II. a. lies hi
- informed the person to whom he
was writing that we wish to nan
Iyou for the interest YOU are taxing II
this election and wish to assure yot
that it will be appreciated by tht
great commonwealth i'll this state.