The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-01-12
HOME BUILDERS.
REFUSE TO PAY
THE FINAL COST
Standing Pat in Declining To
Meet Cost on Houses Built
BY The State
SUIT TO BE BROUGHT
Test Case Will Determine Many
Matters of Debate in Con-
necti0n With Work

Persons for whom houses were
built by the state HOmebuilders' AS.
sociation are standing pat in their re-
fusal to pay the cost OF the houses as
given by the former administration,
which which was was. 81 peesspt 'ss above the est'-
Following instructions from the In
dustrial Commissions to take up the
matter with each person for whom a
house was built, the former and pres.
ent manager of the association got
in touch with more than so persons
for whom houses were built All re-
fused To abide by the final figures Of
the association.
The new administration is 81 altering
all information and figures possible
for the purpose Of submitting test
case to the courts II which a number
Of questions which will determine the
final method of settlement will be an
swered Several persons, Manager
Diehl has b In informed, have retain-
ed attorneys to contest any effort of
the state to collect the full reported
cost of the houses.
Manager Diehl also is engaged in
disposing of the lumber lin Yards at
Bismarck, Fargo and Mandan. A
great quantity of material is on hand
In these yards, much of it being piled
out tof doors. Theft has reduced the
amount Of material somewhat. Rental
charges for storage are eating up"
the value Of the lumber, Mr.. Diehl
said. One vacant lot on which lumber
is stored was rented by the associa-
tiOn at SIS per month.
Houses Built Before Sold
Letters received from persons for
whom houses were built reveal that
many houses were started by the
Hcmebuilders Association before buy
ers had been obtained for the houses.
they were sold" during process OF
constructions t3r at completion. The
explanation for building a number of
houses before buyers had been OBJ
tained was, according to one letter,
that the Homebuilders Association de-
sired to get the program under, way.
The letters mention the names of
former manager ]. B. Blakemore. and
William Prater, formerly employed in
the association, more frequently than
Superintendent Baker, upon whom
league officials put most of the blame
for the condition in the Homebuilders
Association Some of the letters re-
veal that persons for whom houses
were built are financially unable to-
carry the load under the final cost.
A Bismarck man wrote: When
agreement was made with the Home
builders Association to build an ai-
dition 10 my house it was with the un
derstanding that it was not to exceed
$1,000, including mortgage of $3.50
against the property which the Home
builders Association would take over,
leaving an amount of $1,450 for which
the, new addition was to be built. On
these figures saw it was possible for
a man in my position to, pay monthly
installments for 20 years. until paid
However, l am now informed that in |
stead of being $1,450 the bill .is
e4,450.31 which makes it $3,00O31 !
more than estimated. This does not
make the house complete as the paint
ing of the house and the stuccoing OF
the foundation is being done by my
self. Thus paying $3,00031 more than
figured on is impossible for a man in |
my position to pay unless a reasonable
reduction is made
Said Cost Less
Mr.. Blakemore informed one house
Cwner when all houses with two pos.
sible exceptions had been completed
in Bismarck that the houses in Fargo |
would not Overrun the estimates in |
Fargo by more than $500 and would
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