8
HANDSOME AND COMFORTABLE HOMES LIKE
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wIT -ml- Gi5E:r , - .i iffrHil j'- 4 !4 5 33 "
4 ovte:2Tcit I i m xl" - f-; yw -i. its. -
HOUSES TOO FEW
TO MEET DEMAND
Heavy Building Movement Is
Even Exceeded by Growth
of Population.
BUSINESS BLOCKS
Rental Situation, as Well as Realty
Market and Construction Activ
ity, Reflects Prosperous
Condition of Portland.
In spit of the heavy movement In
residence construction that has been a
feature of Portland's progress for sev
eral years past, there are very few
vacant houses In the city at the pres
ent time. So remarkable has been the
building- movement ' In the residence
districts that from time to time the
more conservative cltlsens have ex
. pressed fear that the supply would soon
exceed the demand. That such fears
were groundless Is made evident by
a few minutes' talk with any agent who
deals in rentals or by a trip of inspec
tion In any direction from the center
of the city.
During; the Bummer a considerable
number of houses were vacated, as is
always the case at that season of the
year. With the aprroach of Fall, how
ever, the Influx of families has been
unusually heavy and rental agrents
are at their wits' end to supply the de
mand made upon them. There arer
practically no West Side dwellings to
be rented and when one tenant leaves
another usually moves In within 24
hours. On the East Side the situation
is about the same, showing- not only
that there is need for all the houses
built but that . the construction move
ment must continue to be heavy in
order to meet the needs of the increas
ing population.
Good Houses in Demand.
"There are some flats on the market
but good houses are at a premium."
said Donald G. Woodward, who doals
exclusively in rentals. "It is remark
able how rapidly dwellings on both
sides of the river fill up as soon as
vacated. The number of people com
ing to the city this Fall is larger than
ever before. Some of them are families
returning-from spending the Summer
at the beaches or In the country, but a
great many new residents are arriving
from all sections of the country to
make this city their permanent home.
"A feature that is especially notice
able is the large percentage of people
who are seeking houses of high-class
and willing to pay a good figure for
them. There was a period during the
panic that the call was for cheap places
but now people are asking for the best
and everyone seems to have money."
The situation In regard to business
' buildings is practically the same as
with residences. Dozens of large of
fice and business buildings have been
completed within the past two years
and yet today vacant rooms suitable
for the use of either retail or whole
sale firms are practically unknown.
Just as fast as new skyscrapers have
been completed they have been occu
pied from top floor to basement.
Old Buildings Also Full.
Nor has this been done at the ex
pense of the older structures. In cases
where tenants have left the older
buildings for the new, their former
quarters have been promptly engaged.
It is therefore pointed out that the
rental situation shows conclusively the
rapid growth of business in Port
land at a time when many cldea
are experiencing a slump ' and
have many vacant rooms in their busi
ness districts.
"There is actually a pressing need of
more rooms for stores, despite the mll
l.cns of dollars that have been put Into
this class of buildings within the last
two years." said a prominent rental
agent yesterday. "Tenants could easily
be found for such structures, even though
they were not on the principal business
streets. Ground floor rooms on Yamhill.
Taylor and Third streets, as far south
as the City Hail, can be rented at almost
a moment's notice, and It is not diffi
cult to And tenants for the upper floors.
"In some Instances owners have shown
a tendency to seek unreasonable returns
on their investments. Such a policy is
against the best interests of the city, and
I have known cases where prospective
.business men bave been kept from locat
. lng here, because owners wanted too high
returns on the only available rooms. As
It -la, Portland property is yielding good
revenue at the recognized standard of
rentals."
Look for Active Fall.
Realty men are predicting heavy trad
ing for the Fall months and base their
prophecies on the brisk Summer busl
' cess. The recorded transfers bear out
Che statement that the business of July
if 9 I igp OH ,
and August was unusually heavy for that
season of the year. The trading is con
tinuing during September, and is showing
signs of the usual Impetus that comes at
this season.
"I am pleased to find conditions partic
ularly good," said Percy Blyth. of the
firm of Russell & Blyth, who last week
returned from a trip bt several months
abroad. "Demand is heavy here for both
residence and building property and there
is every Indication of a busy Fall and
Winter."
Pay $38,000 for Lots.
Transfers of residence prorperty have
been numerous all Summer and seem to
be on the Increase. An Important sale
of this kind was reported yesterday, F.
L. Shull and M. W. Hunt purchasing ten
lots along Overton street west of Twenty-fifth.
The consideration was J38.000,
and the property was bought from sev
eral different owners. The buyers have
acquired enough property to assure the
opening of Overton street through to the
Cornell road, a distance of two double
blocks. It Is their intention to do this
Immediately. They will then build resi
dences for themselves and put the other
lots on the market. They Intend to
macadamize this section of Overton
street, which lies in a fine residence
neighborhood.
On the down-town buildings now under
way construction is being rushed during
the good weather. Excavation started
yesterday for the T. B. Wilcox annex to
the Imperial Hotel at the southeast cor
ner of Seventh and Stark streets. It was
announced yesterday by C K, Henry,
agent for Mr. Wilcox, that the building
will be nine stories in height, instead of
eight, as was at first Intended. It
will be constructed of reinforced concrete
and will be completed within from eight
to ten months.
NEW CHURCHES NEARLY READY
Congregations on East Side
' Have Handsome Homes.
Will
Rev. J. F. Ghormley, pastor of the
Central Christian Church. East Twenty
first and East Salmon streets, has an
nounced that the cornerstone of that edi
fice will be laid with appropriate cere
mony about the middle of October. The
concrete work on the foundation Is fin
ished and the stone portion is being com
pleted to the top of the basement. The
cost of the building will be J40.000.
On the handsome stone edifice of the
Methodist Church South, .Union avenue
and Multnomah street, good progress is
also being made. The stone walls have
all been built and work is now In progress
on the tower. Heavy timbers have been
assembled for the interior work. It Is
estimated that the cost of this church will
be fully $60,000 and it may run up to 175,
000. It will hardly be completed before
the first of the year.
The addition to the Westminster Pres
byterian Church, East Tenth and Weidler
streets. Is being finished. It adjoins the
main edifice on the south side and har
monizes well with the latter. It will be
used as a Sunday school room. The cost
will be about fl'wO.
Foundation for the west wing of the
Homeopathic Hospital on East Second
street. Holladay Addition, has been com
pleted, and work on the main structure
will start next week. This wing will cost
Jl-5,000.
East Side Lot Brings $8500.
E. J. Daly reports the sale of an L
ehaped lot, 60x100, and 25x100, at the
southeast corner of Williams avenue
and Sellwood street. The consideration
is In the neighborhood of 18500. The
property was owned by A. Schneider.
The name of the purchaser will be
given in a few days. t
Mr. Daly and his associates have
just refused $75,000 for the 100x100
southwest corner Sixth and Johnson
streets. Property near the Union De
pot has-tajien a perceptible advance
since the recent fires in that section.
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 13, 1908.
y . ; y, . .; . A 45 beach LT CONTRACT THIS WEEK
" , " - ? ?- JJ LOMBARD BUILDING TO RISE
Jht : ' " l" 7:", ca' LX" k six stories. '
, I I"1! Reinforced Concrete Will Be Used
"! ; 1 I I! I ilTl l - and Provision Will Be -Made
II s if - ; lor Additional Floors.
FAVORS PIPE OF CONCRETE
ENGINEER DISCUSSES SECOND
BULL RUN LINE.
W.. A. Grondahl Declares Material
Would Cost Less and Give Long
er Service Than. Steel.
The use of reinforced concrete for the
second Bull Run pipeline Is being advo
cated by W. A. Grondahl, a Portland
engineer. At the test meeting of the
United East Slds Push Clubs he spoke
upon the subject by invitation and made
the following remarks:
When I called attention to reinforced
concrete dIdb. and sajeffested the use of
such for the Bull Run conduit, it was pri
marily with ths object of having uch con
struction thoroughly considered and In
vestigated before final decision on what
material to adopt be made.
There can be no doubt but that reinforced
concrete, if at all practicable, would give
as nearly absolute permanency to the con
duit as possible; and when. In addition to
this, the cost of such conduit would be less
than any other . with the exception of
wooden pipe, the consideration of its adop
tion will ba of the greatest importance.
As to the strength of such conduit It
lies absolutely with the designer to make
It of any desired strength; and right here
Is the main advantage of the reinforced
concrete pipe if on one foot of pipe you
want to provide for 1000 pounds pressure,
you put In steel to care for It; If on an
other foot you need only strength to over
come 100 pounds pressure, only steel enough
for such pressure goes In. All of which Is
done simply by varying the spacing- of the
reinforcement rings. We all know that the
strength of any structure Is measured by
Its weakest point, and reinforced concrete
is the only combination of materials which
can be used In such a manner as to give
absolutely equal factors of strength
throughout the whole length, of the line.
The internal strains to be taken care of
by this pipeline vary as the pipeline -goes
down Into the ravines and over the hills,
and is measured on the profile by the dis
tance between the hydraulic grade line and
Uie pipe. As aa illustration, we wlU sup
THESE ARE BEING BUILT IN
II ' ' l 1 jr -y
- m - -
xvwiD. jyrurre, ixt.tjbotz xylite: j&jea7?
pose that at the summit of Kellys Butte
the pipeline is up to the grade line, and
thus having no Internal pressure, and at
the Section Line road, before turning up
to reservoir No. 1, the pipe Is 200 below
the grade line, having 8tf pounds pressure
per square Inch.
A steel pipe would be made of even thick
ness throughout this distance, while the
reinforcement in the concrete pipe might
De varied with every foot a six-loot aiaro
eter pipe which would carry the total flow
or Bull Hun and which would be ample to
furnish water for a Portland of twice its
present size would have about one-half
thickness and weigh approximately 400
pounds per foot. A concrete pipe would
have on this stretch an average of about
150 pounds of reinforcement and one-half
cubic yard of concrete. The former -would
cost flo per foot, the latter $12.50.
In the United States concrete has not
yet been used very extensively for con
duits under high pressures, but the only
point on which there can be any question
as to its absolute superiority over other ma
terials is on the permeability. Care In se
lecting the aggregates entering Into the
composition of the concrete and the fineness
of the cement used are vital factors as
well as thorough mixing and placing of
tne concrete. Tests on concrete pipes bave
almost Invariably shown more or less leak
age, but It has also been found that what
ever leaks there have been at first bave
all gradually closed, up automatically except
such as are clearly traceable to faulty con
struction. Different compounds and patent processes
are In existence aiming at absolutely Im
pervious concrete. Some experiments to de
termine on such could be made to ad
vantage by the city.
This is not the place to go Into any of
the details of constructions, but there Is
no doubt in my mind, however, that the
conduit should be built over stationary
steel forms In Sections of COO feet or more
In length, such sections being separated by
short spaces, say six or eight feet, which
after forms were removed would be filled
In. However, these matters must be left to
the engineer, on the competency of whom
the success of this undertaking will depend.
In summing up, I would only add that if
concrete is used as the primary substance
for the building of this pipeline, a purer
water supply will be given the city; the
money expended will be retained at home
to a much greater degree due to the fact
that a larger percentage of the material
and labor could be procured locally; that
aa equal volume could be delivered at less
money or a greater volume for the same
money. As to the life of the two there is
no comparison. If the city of Portland
builds for the future, conserving the en
ergies of the present, having as its ob
ject pure, wholesome water, it will at least
uorougnijr investigate reuuorcsa ewenw
as the means of conducting the crystal
waters from the distant hills into the city
through conduits of reinforced concrete.
TO ADDRESS REALTY BOARD
Lawyer Will Discuss Legal Phase of
Street Improvement,
"Legal Aspect of Street Improvements"
will be the subject of an address before
the Portland Realty Board next Tuesday
night by Harold W. Sawyer. The ad
dress will be delivered In the assembly-
room of the Commercial Club, and will
follow the regular business session of
the board, which will, begin at 8 o'clock.
Mr. Sawyer is a lawyer who has re
cently come to Portland from New Tork,
and has made a study of street improve
ments and their manner of initiation in
various cities. He has been Invited to
address the board on this subject in view
of the proposed changes. In the Portland
charter. It is believed by the realty deal
ers that the topic is one of general Inter
est, and for this reason the public has
been invited to attend the meeting.
Good Fishing at Newport.
Advice has just been received that
silverslde and Chinook salmon are being
caught on trolls In Taqulna Bay. -
Prescriptions filled at Eyssell's.
California Bungalow
1 4fto , Original la design. Perfection in arch.
Itecture. The CaJifornia Bungalow if
the Ideal home suited to all climatic conditions, send ten
rents in stamps for oar booklet, showing some at the most
lamoo bungalows In California.
California Bungalow Plan Co.
404-ft-i Fay Building Lo Angele CaL
EVERY SECTION
Contracts will be let next Tuesday for
the business block that is to tbe erected
by Gay Lombard at the northwest corner
of Fifth and Stark streets. This struc
ture Is to be six stories In height and
will be the third modern reinforced con
crete business block to be erected In
Portland, the others being the eight-story
Couch building and the 11-story Board
of Trade building. It Is planned even
tually to carry the Lombard building up
to ten stories, and provision for the ad
ditional four stories will be made in the
original construction.
The Lombard building Is planned to
cost llBO.OOu, and it will probably be
completed by April 1 next and perhaps
by March 1. The specifications were
PACIFIC IRON WORKS
O. E. Heintz, Kanager. Phone East 57, Home B 1157.
CASTINGS OF ALL KINDS,
STEEL BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES
IN STOCK 3 to 24-Inch Beams. 4 to 15-Inch Channel.
lVaxlVa to 8x8-Inch Angle
East End Burnside-Street Bridge,
DAVIS & DRENNEN
406-408 East Biirnside Street.
Gas and Electric Lighting Fixtures
Sold direct from manufacturer to the consumer the highest quality
at the lowest prices. Do not fail to get our prices.
Fixtures Built to Suit the Home
B.' E. DAVIS Phone B2151, East 591. H. T. DRENNEN
OF PORTLAND
prepared by D. C. Lewis, who was also
the architect for the Couch and Board
of Trade buildings. The retaining walls
are now in and most of the footings have
been installed. Work on the superstruc
ture will be rushed as soon as the con
tracts are let.
There will be 160 'offices in this build
ing, 30 to each story, the ground floor
being devoted to stores. Tt is planned to
have the offices on the two upper floors
especially adapted to the use of doctors
and dentists, while the second, third and
fourth floors will be given over to gen
eral office purposes. One of the rooms
on the ground floor will be occupied by a
bank.
The basement will be one of the deepest
In the city, being 11 feet In the clear. It
will have an entrance from the street
and will be arranged for uce as a rath
skeller. There will be entrances on both
Fifth and Stark streets, and two high
speed elevators, with provision for a third
to be installed later.. The building will
be faced with brick and cement finish,
and in appearance will closely resemble
the Board of Trade block.
Lecture on Flreprooof Construction.
"Fireproof Construction" w!!! be the
subject of a lecture to be delivered Tues
day night. September 22. at the Commer
cial Club auditorium by John B. Leon
ard, of San Francisco. The lecture will
be given under the Joint auspices of the
Portland Architectural Club and Tortland
Realty Board.
Builders' Information
We have made a life-time study of the lighting and
fixture business, so are better qualified to do this
work for you than most firms. Wo find now a
number of people very much disappointed on ac
count of the lighting effect in their houses which
was all caused by poor or little knowledge of the
business. , .
We are certain we can bo of assistance to you
in solving the lighting question. Before placing
order see
M. J. WALSH CO.
Electric and Gas Work In AH Ita Branches Prompt
ly Attended to. Ring on Either Phone.
811 STARK. BET. FIFTH AXD SIXTH.
Portland, Oregon.