The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-04-07
MATERIAL PRICE
SLASH REPORTS
Architects, Contractors
Talk Like Optimits
BRIGHT TIMES AHEAD
Number of Prospective Struc.
tasss Which Are Going to
NseG af4ch Labor

that with the building that looms on
the horizon of prospect te acute
housing shortage which has prevail
ed in Mankato for several years
win be passed.
On account of the late spring that
Is the rule in this part of the coun-
try there is little activity in the
building line before the first of June
and it is a fact that many who will
build begin TO make no plans until
the weather warns. When that
weather comes the average builder
finds that he is somewhat held UP
by preliminary arrangements which
are bound to occur in every building
Of a home.
With a resumption of building.
business in Mankato is bound 10
boom in all lines. Labor will be
engaged, retail business in all
things that 90 into a home will be
accelerated and as result money
viii circulate more freely than it
has in some time.
SeevraI Building Projects
Already there are several large
building projects in the city that
e have gone far toward helping to re-
ieve an economic pinch that may
coin school building has given en-
ployment to many craftsmen and
laborer in varied lines. The build
ing viii be in the finishing stages OF
construction for the most part Of
This summer, according to the re-
ports made to the city board of co.
ucation by Architect George Pass
and Contractor Eric Carlstrom who
are in charge Of the project.
J. B. Nelson and company are
now engaged on the construction Of
the national guard ar1nory and there
are nearly forty men eployed there.
The same firm is building a store in
Garden City at this time and also
a Standard Oil company filling sta
ton at the corner of Main and Bel
grade avenue in North Mankato.
Another building operation that
will employ many men and conse-
quently put money into circulation
in this city Is the new structures of
the State Teachers college which
will be begun this summer accord
ing to the announced plans of the
state teachers college board of
which I. n. Tompkins of this city is
member. 1t Is expected that there
will be work on that structure for
at least year.
Yesterday the plans of the Man
kato Creamery were announced for
their new building on North Front
affair and as soon as the plans of
the architects are approved the
contract will be let and work begun.
Another sure sign of sufficient en-
ployment 10 meet the needs Of this
city.
Architects are Optimistic
Schippel and Schmidt, architects,
were Of the opinion that the pros
pect for Mankato home building this
IL ffn
cases of home building were given
out by the firm bVt it was made
plain that there are to be a number
of homes built.
d. G. Willard of the Mankaru
Savings, and Loan association said
that he has heard of a considerable
number of persons who are to build
homes this year and of at least one
apartment building that is to be
erected but as Is usually the case II
Mankato the season is short and
the actual letting OF contracts has
not yet begun He stated that SO
far as his inquiries havesgone prices
of lumber plaster and brick are now
at the low point for several years to
come and ne predicted the possibil-
ity of an increase in these lines later
IN the season. Without divulg1ne
any names he said he knows OF two
contractors who have already made
arrangements for building private
dwellings, this year. $685..
Secretary w. E. Olson of the CiVs
ic and Commerce association retain
ed his optimism for the building
schedule yesterday and said that
since the building show at the ar
mory he has seen nothing that would
warrant any change from the hope
full aspect that appeared at the
clinic. He stated that the majority
of those who are contemplating
have been renters and are now pre-
pairing to live in their own homes.
At the Botsford Lumber company
the opinion was expressed that
building in the entire county would
be better this year than in several
but that at this time there is moth
ing extraordinary in that line OF
business Again it was. stated that
the season opens late and unNl the
deal of action is taken on nome
building although the planning may
have gone within the family for sew
eral years.
A. Neubert of the lumber com
many of that name stated that al
ready his firm has made arrange
mentS for building seven new
homes this season in Mankato> and
vicinity. Work is not to oegin on
any of these until a little later In
the season but at least this mum
her is an assured fact already. Mr.
Neubert said that the business was
a trifie harder TO get this year than
In some previous years but plug
cling seemed to produce results as
1t has before.
Eric Carlstrom when interviewed
that he has been busy with the
Lincoln school building here anc
the new school at Rapidan and has
had little opportunity for investi
eating the house building situation
but as far as his hearsay know
ledge goes, he believes that many
of his fellow contractors are going
to build houses in 1922. He stated
that today the heavy steel worn
over the gymnasium and auditor.
ium OF the Lincoln school was plac-
ed and building operations on tina
part of the big structure will pro-
gress rapidly from this time.