10
TITE ' SUXD AT" OltEGONIAN, " PORTLAND, DECEMBER 16, 1&17.
SAVE HEAT. APPEAL
MADE TO TENANTS
Importance of Fuel Conserva
tion Urged on Renters by
Owners and Managers.
FUEL OIL IS VERY SCARCE
Robert H. Strong, President of As
sociation, Emphasizes Necessity of
Co-operation to Avoid Danger
Wood and Coal Famine.
The Portland Association of Building
Owners and Managers has sent out
Hdlnj
printed slips to its members urging
them to call the attention of their ten
ants to the need of conserving the fuel
that comes to Portland. Important re
sults can be achieved, it is believed. If
the tenants will show the proper spirit
of co-operation.
The suggestion is made that while
tenants should look after the ventila
tion in their rooms, they do so without
wasting unnecessarily the heat that is
furnished. Tenants are requested to
avoid leaving windows open immedi
ately above the radiators in use. - Also
at such times as there is no real de
mand for heat, to keep the radiators
turned off.
The notice which the association is
Bending out, and which has been en
closed in the rent receipts of tenants
Of the members, is as follows:
"Owing to the fact that there is acute
danger, not only of a shortage, but of
an absolute lack of fuel, both coal and
oil, F. J. Holmes, Federal fuel admin
istrator for Oregon, has asked building
owners to conserve, to the utmost the
use of all fuel.
"In accordance with this suggestion
tenants are requested to avoid having
windows open immediately above such
radiators as are in use. Also at such
times as there is no real demand for
heat to keep the radiators turned off.
"PORTLAND ASSOCIATION" OP BUILD
ING OWNERS AND MANAGERS.
-December 1, 1917."
Fuel Conservation Essential.
"The impression has gone out among
a great many people that there is real
ly no need in this section of the coun
try to conserve the fuel," said Robert
H. Strong, president of the Building
Managers' Association. "It is declared
that the present experience in this part
of the country is not parallel with the
conditions which exist in the Eastern
United States. While these differences
are quite radical as to cause, there are
factors entering into the production of
light, heat and power in the Pacific
Northwest which have resulted in a
shortage similar to that now existing
in the East. .
"The most important and the most
generally used fuel in this section is
fuel oil." continued Mr. Strong. "The
shortage in the supply is acute. There
is not to exceed 75 per cent of the cus
tomary amount of oil being delivered
at this port. Whereas 400.000 barrels
a month came to the Columbia River in
normal times, not more than 300,000
barrels a month are being received.
Those who are using oil for fuel and
for manufacturing purposes, and whose
contracts have expired, are not now
getting any more oil. This is the case
with very few exceptions. The Mult
nomah County Courthouse and the city
are two of the most prominent' excep
tions. A great many users of fuel oil
have been compelled recently, on ac
count of the limited supply, to turn to
other fuels for the production of their
heat, light and power.
Oil Too High for Many.
"Another thing, the price of fuel oil
lias gone up to such a point that it is
not economical for many users to burn
It any longer. On this account, too,
many of the former users of fuel oil
will not be able to return to this meth
od of meeting their heating needs.
Many who manufactured their own heat
for warming their buildings have
turned to the Northwestern Electric
Company's central heating service.
This does not help matters, as the com
pany Itself uses fuel oil exclusively for
making this heat.
"There is undoubtedly a plentiful
supply of Western coal to be had at
the mines. Thus far there has been
little trouble in securing cars for the
transportation of the coal, although at
times the car shortage has prevented
the mines from working to their maxi
mum output at all times. Local dealers
have not only been able to secure a
sufficient supply for their immediate
eales. which by the way have been
rather light, owing to the warm weath
er up to the present, but they have
been able to create a surplus and have
stored many hundred tons of coal in
their yards.
"The Washington coal is a good coal
for heating purposes, but it cannot be
used to advantage or economically un
less the furnace equipment is specially
prepared for this fuel. Many of the
Individual steam and heating units are
not thus equipped. While conditions
are favorable at present in the matter
of coal coming from points farther
away, there is no telling when a short
age may result from the tying up of
freight service, due either to the short
age of locomotives or to the moving of
troops.
Day of Cheap Oil Is Faat
"In regard to the probability of a
larger supply of fuel oil coming to
this point, the authorities differ. Presi
dent Sproule. of the Southern Pacific,
while here recently, gave us the as
surance that in his opinion the peak
of the trouble had been reached. He
asserted that while there would prob
ably never be any more cheap fuel oil,
he thought that the quantity of fuel oil
available for distribution would be in
creased before very long. He thought
that, those with oil burning facilities
should not at this time make expensive
changes in order to be able to use an
other form of fuel, if they could meet
the price conditions.
"An oil expert who was in the city
the other day. after having visited the
"Wyoming fields, where prospects for a
new oil supply are being investigated,
was confirmed in the opinion that fuel
oil for manufacturing purposes would
before very long be an unknown propo
sition in the Pacific Northwest. He did
not wish to have himself quoted by
name, owing to the mission in which
he was engaged. He asserted that the
oil area had not Increased 6 per cent in
the last several . years, and that the
demands for the Navy and other pur
poses which would demand priority
would take care of the future supply.
"It is known that Government offi
cials in their reports have recommend
ed that no more fuel oil be used for
manufacturing gas or steam. It is also
known that the demand in California
is still uch greater than the supply,
and that the reserve stocks are con
stantly Doing drawn upon.
Save Klectricity, Too.
"Coupled with the problem of the
shortage of fuel oil is also the fact
that a wrong Impression may prevail
in the "general mind that there is no
necessity for saving electrical energy.
It is generally believed that the Fed-
V
NEW HOME OF
ffl ' v : .iWr
I -' MM.'-
RESIDENCE AT 30 EAST SIXTTT-NIXTH STREET NORTH, PURCHASED BY
. ME.-VZIES. THROUGH SAMUEL DOAK, FOR
eral Fuel Administrator will not be
required to take drastic action, limit
ing the use of advertising signs and
other electric illumination as has been
tried in the East.
"The largest consumers of fuel oil in
the city include, besides the office1
buildings and hotels, the Portland Rail
way, Light & Power Company, wi,th its
supplementary power stations; 'the
Northwestern Electric Company, with
its supplementary power stations and
building-heating . plants; the Portland
Gas & Coke Company, which uses fuel
oil In the manufacture of gas; the
Willamette Iron & Steel Company and
the other shipbuilding companies and
the railroads.
"The Northwestern Electric Company
and the Portland Railway, Light &
Power Company both supply energy for
illumination purposes, advertising and
otherwise, and both are dependent upon
fuel oil for their auxiliary plants. The
Northwestern Electric Company seldom
has to use oil for this purpose, but it
is taking time by the forelock and is
planning, it is understood, the erection
of a generating plant which will use
coal for fuel. The Portland Railway,
Light & Power Company has been a
large user of fuel oil for some time
past, due to the shutting down of the
wood supply at the sawmills and the
low water.
Hotels Turn to Slab wood.
"Owing to the high price of fuel oil
some of the hotels and office buildings
whose fuel 'contracts have expired
have turned to wood for fuel. They
are, however, compelled to use' green
slabwood, as there is but a limited sup
ply of dry slabwood in the city. This
means that as long as the logging
camps and mills outside of the city are
running there will be no danger of a
shortage of this form of fuel. Should
it happen, either due to strikes or snow
or a continued spell of bad weather,
logging and sawing operations might
be retarded for some time, the supply
of wood fuel would necessarily be af
fected. '
"A remedy for the impending short
age of electric energy for light and
power purposes is undoubtedly con
tained in the suggestion found in the
editorial printed in The Oregonian
of last Tuesday, in which it calls upon
the Government to open up for use the
wasting water powers of the Pacific
Northwest. The same remedy should
also be applied to the fuel oil lands.
The Government, through its legal de
partment, has stopped practically all
new fields from being opened.
"The conservation of fuel of all
kinds, whether used in the production
of light, heat or power, is incumbent
upon every one and is most opportune.
The public's attention to the necessity
of this movement should be called to
the matter of fuel conservation as well
as the savings along other lines, made
necessary by war conditions. The
Building Managers' associations of Se
attle and San Francisco are making
similar requests in printed form. The
success of their efforts will largely re
sult from active co-operation by the In
dividual user of heat."
REAL ESTATE IMPROVES
J. A. WICKMAJI FIVDS CONDITIONS
BETTER ON RETURN.
Realty Man. Formerly IVIth Fred A.
Jacobs Company, Finds Situation
Healthier All Around.
"It is 'with a great deal of pleasure
that I note the improved conditions in
Portland, more noticeable to me after
an absence of tworyears than to those
who have lived here continuously dur
ing the readjustments that have taken
place all over "the United States." said
J. A. Wickman, formerly . connected
with the Fred A. Jacobs Company for
a number of years, who has Just re
turned from the East, where he has
been actively engaged ih the real estate
business at Flint. Mich., and- Canton, O.
To find the sawmills all running to
full capacity and so much ship building
going on as well as all other business
prospering is-vastly different from con
ditions that prevailed when I left for
the East.
"The absence of 'For Rent' signs is
also apparent.. My only regret is to
note so few homes have been built and
are now under construction. Take, for
instance, Flint.- Mich., where the same
mistake was made, during the tempo
rary, depression. No one took into con
sideration future demands, with the
result' that the city suddenly found it
self unable to supply sufficient suitable
houses to meet the demand. Rents,
therefore.' have become exorbitant,
families being forced to live in two and
three rodms, at rents of "from $20 to
$30 monthly.
"Small houses there are now being
built, which, have 'no sanitary con
veniences of any kind and are sold at
$700 to $1000 over the actual cost of
construction) before they are com
pleted. I am firmly convinced that be
fore long we will find that if persons
do not want to pay exorbitant rent and
suffer the humiliation and inconven
iences of having a rented house sold
over their heads, they will have to buy
their own homes.
"So my advice at this time would be,
to anyone who does not own his own
home, that he take advantage of the
present low market and purchase a
home, as I look for a good Increase in
values from now on and a considerable
idrvance from the present prices. The
demand- for homes will also create a
market for vacant lots and I look for a
general improvement of the entire real
estate situation."
MR. AND MRS. M. O. PROCTOR, OF
RATES HELD LOW
Companies Charge Little More
Than Government.
AUTHOR . EXPLAINS BILL
Rate, Slightly Lower Than Charged
by Companies, Made Possible
Through Fact That Nation
Carries the War Risk.
Here is the Government's own an
swer to the man who says that he
knows life insurance companies charge
too much because the Government
charges little for life Insurance
policies for Its soldiers. There is
really nothing new- in the following
statement, but it will carry weight be
cause of the fact that it is official.
The statement that follows has been
compiled and condensed from the
Bureau of War Risks Bulletin No. 3,
issued by the Government. This bul
letin was written by Judge Julian W.
Mack, who drew up the Government
War Insurance Bill.
"Term insurance." explains Judge
Mack in thiS Government bulletin, "is
the cheapest form of reliable insur
ance. But under ordinary conditions
it is not the kind of insurance to buy,
and although the companies sell it.
they do not advocate it, which is
proper.
"The war has created an emergency.
The men who go into service need all
the insurance they can carry; But.
even under such conditions, cheap
term Insurance is not ideal, unless it
can be converted into regular forms.
So the Government prepared a plan
whereby the Government will save the
cost of the medical examination, waive
the item of taxes, pay the administra
tive expenses and carry all the war
risk, whatever it may be, and when the
war is over permit the insured to con
vert the cheap-term policies into en
during forms at a. higher rate.
"The companies are willing to carry
the risks, to be fair and Just and gen
erous, but someone would have had to
assume the war hazard, and it seemed
best for the Government to-do it.
"Under such an arrangement there is
nothing remarkable about the rate be
ing so low, it is within $2.50 or $3 per
$1000 of the rate a company would
charge, without the war risk, which
the Nation will carry."
ONE AD SELLS TWO HOUSES
Frank L. McGuire Gets Results, as
Shown by Sales of the Week.
Frank L. McGuire made a number of
sales in the week just ended. Three
sales were effected in one day, one
small classified "ad" in The Oregonian
selling two houses.
F. D Warner purchased from Victor
Bode as an investment lot 2 and the
south 10 feet of lot 1, block 201. East
Portland. -Improved with two. cottages,
for $2600; E. Oberg sold to Dr. Jerome
FOUR-STORY GARAGE BUILDING NEARLY COMPLETED ON SITE OF OLD FRAZIER &
McLEAN LIVERY STABLE AT FIFTH AND TAYLOR STREETS.
w-pi, ;iy,a kit
MV'LTi-- UlV)
SEW fTHlCTUBB TO BE HEADY ABOUT JAJVUARY 1.
Work is progressing rapidly on the big four-story garage to be occupied by Jack Ruegg,. who has the
automobile mail service contract from the postotfice to the depots in Portland, as a public garage under
the name of the Portland Garage. The building, which is to be completed about Janauary 1, - covers the
lOOxlOO-foot site of the historic old Frazier & McLean livery stable at Fifth and. Taylor streets. Parker
& Banfield are the architects and builders.
ROBERTS BROS.
MR.
$5300.
PROCTOR FROM ARTHUR
E. Perry a lot in Highland Park, im
proved with five-room residence, for
$1000, whfch the purchaser Intends to
hold for speculation; E. B. Miller sold
to John M.-Rosenbery a lot in Creston,
improved with five-room bungalow, for
$1275. purchased for. investment; Mrs.
Minnie -La Flemme purchased from E.
Michelsen a lot in Field's Addition, im
proved 'with modern residence, for
$1400. which "Mrs. La Flemme intends
to make her' future home; Olaf Olson
purchased from- Ann Semple "a lot -in
Katherine, Improved with small house,
for $575, as. a speculation; title to two
lots in Spanton's Addition was passed
from Frank S. Stiles to H. C. Wood for
a consideration of $550. These - sales
were made by G. C. Goldenberg, sales
manager of the house department, who
reports a scarcity of modern houses
for rental purposes.
REALTY SALES PICKING XJP
Fred "W. German Company Reports
a Number of Recent Sales.
The Fred W. German Company re
ports a strong demand for small, run
down properties that can be purchased
on easy terms. - Several recent sales
have been made by this company of
properties that have been vacant for
two or three years, many of the new
owners being newcomers to the city
who are employed in the shipbuilding
industries Among the sales . reported
are the following:
Lot in Midway Annex, sold for John
Rlesenbeck, of Salem, to Albert Martin,
improved with rvn-down cottage which
is being remodeled, also for Mr. Rlesen
beck a five-room cottage at 4 204 Forty
fifth avenue Southeast was sold to
L. F. Frazeau; a lot in Center Addition
was sold for Mrs. Edna Neeley, of Big
Timber, Mont., to Mary E. Deterlag;
a lot in Lorrinton was sold for Walter
and Myrtle Chandler to Bert and Bessie
Cole. This property had a partially fin
ished three-room cottage, which is be
ing completed by the new owners; half
a lot in Mallory Addition was sold for
F. A. and Viola M. Johnston to a local
investor. This property was improved
with a modern, stucco bungalow, and
after being held a short time a
resale was made to Edward W. and
Netta "L. Purves on a valuation of ap
proximately $3900. For Sarah J. Cheney,
of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, a modern
bungalow at 2080 Bast- Glisan street
was sold to I. J. Gordon. Mr. German
personally purchased from Mrs Cheney
a five-room modern bungalow at 111
East Eighty-fifth street North and a
lot in . Aibina Heights Addition, im-'
proved with a five-room cottage, from
George Hansen, and made a resale of
the same property to Ellis Ewlng. Mr.
German sold two lots in Gregory
Heights to Hazel E. Wiltze, and Frank
E. Haddock purchased two lots Mi the
same addition, both properties being
partially improved.
Bennett's Island Sells for $13,500.
BANDON. Or., Dec. 15. (Special.)
Bennett's Island, a strip of rich bot
tom land along the Coquille River,
comprising 132 acres, located between
Randolph Slough and Parkersburg,
has been purchased by Aimer Wal
strom and William F. Philpott from
the Bennett estate for $13,500. It will
be converted from a grazing pasture
into a highly cultivated dairy farm.
Carlton to Have Xew Garage.
CARLTON, Or., Dec. 15. (Special.)
Excavation for the brick and cement
garage building, to be erected by G. H.
Carl, is nearly completed. The build
ing will be 100 by 100 and be modern
in all respects.
tm lit
t i:
f it I ;
CAPITAL HOT LIKELY
TO BEC0NSGR1PTED
Regulation of Earnings and
Capacity Production Re
garded Satisfactory Curb.
THRIFT LESSON IMPRESSED
Poslbilities - in Financial Way Are
Indicated by Canada, Which. Has
v : Raised $350,000,000 at Home
Though Borrower Before.
' Conscription -of -capital,, often asked
for nowadays, means destruction of
production, say Eastern financial au
thorities, who see no merit in the cry.
In fact, they declare the demand to be
due to loose thinking, and 'that it re
sults in terms that are not understood.
Capital is said not to exist in forms
that can be seized readily and turned
into the treasury.-. It is in the form of
mills, farms, railways, machinery and
all the things with which men work to
produce wealth. In short. It is the tools
of the race. Capital - is productive
property.
The greatest service to the country
capital in this form can render is to
have it operated with the highest pos
sible efficiency. The Government docs
not want property in tWese forms, but
it does want the products that come
from it. It would be a benefit to have
production increased at this time, but
nothing less than a catastrophe to have
It curtailed when there is such an over
whelming demand for war materials.
Conscription Not Probable.
The conscription of these properties.
In the sense of taking them out of the
hands of the present owners,, is not to
be considered seriously. The Govern
ment has no staff of men available to
operate them, and, if It took them over,
it would have to arrange with the pres
ent owners and workmen to go on
operating them. It would have to make
terms that would satisfy workmen, pro
vide working capital and buy material,
supplies, provide for repairs and re
placements, etc.
The conscription of capital means lit
tle more than the fixing by Government
authority of the terms under which
private property will be devotee) to pub
lic work. This is already, being done.
The generous slice of profits taken iw
war taxes is one way. Another is the
rather frequent issues of liberty bonds,
which contemplates taking the savings
of- private enterprise for Government
use. .
Thrift la Most Needed.
A gigantic lesson in thrift is the
basic object of the Government, in sell
ing its war savings certificates, more
than the apparent objective of raising
war funds amounting to $2,000,000,000.
The gospel of goods and services is
to be drummed into the ears of the
people, just as the British have heard
it during the past three years. It will
be told again and again that, no man
can spend money without causing
someone to work for him, and Just now
the Government needs all the work that
the people can do to produce essential
war materials and necessities closely
related thereto, so that anyone who
goes on buying non-essentials, as usual,
is merely competing with the Govern
ment for the goods and services that
the country must have to win the war.
Every person who converts his money
into war savings certificates permits
the Government to use the goods and
services over which that money has
command.
Speculation la Discouraged.
England. is having to meet the same
questions of war finance that confront
this and the other countries at war.
One is to keep the liberty bonds In the
hands of the original purchasers and
thus prevent a fluctuating market.
Rather an odd means has been hit
upon in England to do this. The coun
try is now considering the issuance of
premium bonds in order to make cer
tain classes of the population perma
nent investors. The premium bond
takes on something of the lottery. The
purchaser of the bond Is sure of his
interest regularly and of the principal
at the time the bond matures. But at
the time of maturity there will be a
rirawiner in which a certain numhAr nf
lucky persons will get a bonus or
premium.
It is thought this will tend to
stabilize the bonds in the hands of the
original purchasers, who will not throw
them overboard at the first temptation
to realize on the investment.
Canada'a Loan Sacceaafnl.
Canada has recently completed its
victory loan,' and subscriptions are ex
pected to reach a total of $350,000,000.
The number of subscribers will, doubt
less, number 000,000.
It i declared in Canada to be the
most popular and successful loan yet
launched by any of the allies since the
tt.
n.-r laWr
i
YOU SHOULD OWN A HOME
Most people enj"oy the out-of-door life like to "putter
around the garden.'" Then, added to the pleasure of garden
ing is the reason which daily is coming to our attention with
greater force the high cost of living.
The one great hindrance to the development of the little
farms as homes for those having interests in the city has -.
been the lack of transportation.
The automobile has changed all this and now city con
veniences with country advantages are within the means of
the average person.
You can today buy acreage near Portland at reasonable
prices. These prices will not last, however. Everything pro
duced from the ground has advanced in price from 25 to 4U0
per cent.
Does it not follow that the land, which produces this
wealth, must also increase in value?
. Some reliable Realtor will have for sale the piece of land
you wish to own at the price and on .the terms at which, you
can afford to buy.
"BUY. IT NOW. "
PORTLAND REALTY-BOARD, -.
outbreak of the war, with the possible
exception of the second American loan,
considering the population of Canada
and the number of subscribers to the
latest issue of bonds. In view of past
financing, the recent loan looms up be
cause of its large comparative size.
. Before the war the largest loan ever
issued by the Dominion of Canada in
London, the great money market of the
world was $30,000,000. Yet Canada, a
borrowing country before the war, is
now subscribing more than 10 times
the size of its former loan of accu
mulated savings.
. The securities market has now
reached the position where it Is predi
cated upon the date of peace, and there
is only one peace that can be made. The
first, shock of the war has been sus
tained, so far as the markets are con
cerned, and it is reasonable to expect
that in the future they will react less
severely than has been the case In re
cent weeks."
London Markets Firm.
. Indeed, the London market received
the disquieting news of the Russian
collapse and the Italian reverses with
less demoralisation than existed in
America. During the war England had
already time to get down to a solid
basis whereby the war news affected it
less than was the case with Wall Street.
Spencer, Trask & Co.. In a recent
market letter, give four causes for the
heavy liquidation of Stock Exchange
securities. The liberty loan, that has
pried out almost every loose dollar
from the pockets of investors, a belated
readjustment of investment values,
forced selling of margined accounts
that at one time had shown large equi
ties, and the Italian collapse, which
carried with it the threat of a long
war. Possibilities of a fourth or a 10th
liberty loan then loomed up, and there
was a more general recognition of the
vastness of the work that lies ahead
In Europe.
Hawaii made a gallant response to
the liberty loan demand, according to
Walter Kendall, of the bond-dealing
firm of Clark, Kendall & Co., who has
Just returned from a two months stay
there. A total of $8,060,660 was sub
scribed by 19,151 persons. Japanese
banks subscribed $94,500 and the
Chinese-American Bank $31,500. These
figures do not include all the Oriental
subscriptions, however, as many if
them subscribed through plantation of
fices and other banking concerns.
BUXGALOWS IX LARGE DEMAND
W. W. Metzger, of Stanley S. Thomp
son, Closes Several Leases.
A good sign of a rising realty mar
ket, in the opinion of W. W. Metzger,
president of the Stanley S. Thompson
Company, is the demand for five and
six-room bungalows. Like other realty
men he is unable to find the houses of
this description to sell or rent.
Leases closed by Mr. Metzger in the
past ten days include:
Store room, 1480 Virginia street,
leased to S. Friend and J. Sincik for a
grocery store, Ralph Ackley, owner;
store room, 89 North Sixth street,
leased to Roy White and W. E. Parker
for demonstrating purposes, Fi-ank E.
Dooly, owner; the Jacobson farm, sit
uated 20 miles from Portland and
mile from the Columbia River High
way, leased to George S. Cummings,
Pearl Jacobson, owner; store room, 6S
North Sixth street, leased to the Clyde
Transfer Co., for a transfer and stor
age business, Edith E. Goode, owner;
store room. 50 North Fourth street,
leased to C. Rones for a restaurant,
John Dellar, owner. A farm owned by
J. G. Hammer situated at Merced. Cal.,
was traded for Income property owned
by Mrs. Mary A. Botsford, at Francis
and Kenilworth streets.
DEMAND FOB LOTS IS BETTER
Fred A. Jacobs Company Finds Mar
ket Beginning to Strengthen.
The following sales are reported by
the Fred A. Jacobs Company for the
last week made by Mr. Teepe:
E. B. Miller sold to Elizabeth Capell
house and lot In Alameda Park, con
sideration $4000; J. II. Brooks sold to
Newton Crasher five-room bungalow
in Crest View Villas, consideration
$2600; P. H. Flynn sold to Martha
Plckell five-room bungalow in Raven
wood, consideration $2400: C. A. Young
sold to P. F. McConron five-room and
sleeping porch bungalow In Syndicate
Addition.- consideration $2700; Charles
M. Millei sold to Charles H. Hoxworth
two lots in Hyde Park: Wellington In
vestment Company sold to Orville J.
Baker two lots in Wellington: Welles
ley Land Company sold to J. H. Brad
bury two lots In Wellesley.
Several of these sales were of vacant
property, which Is the first indication
this firm has had that the lot market
is beginning to strengthen up.
FLAT BUILDING IS EXCHANGED
Property in East Taylor Street Trad
ed for Improved Acreage.
Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Wicklund have ex
changed their highly improved 1.16
acres, including extra good set of
modern buildings, for the two-story
double flat building of Mr. and Mrs.
M. C. Gregory at 754 East Taylor
street.
This was an even exchange, each
piece of property being valued around
$5000, and all parties to the transaction
were represented by Samuel Doak.
During the week Mr. Doak also sold
for Mrs. Charity A. Flook to Mrs.
Emma Wicklund and E. O. Wicklund a
modern . five-room residence in Rose
City Park at 427 East Forty-ninth
street North. Mr. and Mrs. Wicklund
bought the Rose City Park property for
a home, to which they expect to move
soon.
To relieve labor shortage on sugar
plantations. Mayor Behrman, of New
Orleans, recently ordered all idlers ar
rested and put to work, and released
from prison those guilty of minor of
fenses wilng to work in the sugar bet.
AND A PLOT OF GROUND
HOUSES
DEMAND
Only Residences in Poor Re
pair Remaining Vacant.
RENTAL TREND IS UPWARD
G. G. Rolirer, Chairman of Rental
Committee of Portland Realty
Board, Emphasizes the Need of
Modernizing Vacant Houses.
If owners of vacant houses in Port
land want to rent them, and every
owner does, they should have their
properties overhauled and placed on
the market In an attractive and tenable
condition.
This is the emphatic advice of G. G.
Rohrer, rental specialist and chairman
of the rental committee of the Port
land Realty Board. Mr. Rohrer declares
that there Is a great scarcity of mod
ern houses for rent, though quite a
number of houses in poor condition are
available that would be quickly rented
if they were fixed up.
For this reason, declares Mr. Rohrer,
the rental situation In Portland is not
as satisfactory as it should be.
"In Portland, as in Seattle, Tacoma(
and Vancouver, Wash., there is a great
scarcity of modern houses for rent."
said Mr. Rohrer. "On the other hand,
the condition of the houses that are
vacant imposes a serious problem . on
the rental agent in Portland, inasmuch
as the owners are either unable or un
willing to spend sufficient money to
put these properties in proper, repair.
"There are some owners who are
willing to make repairs, but they are
not willing to do so until a tenant is
obtained. Consequently the old, unten
able house is remaining vacant.
"There has been quite an influx of
new residents to Portland from distant
cities, the largest percentage of which
are demanding furnished apartments
and small cottages, which are not avail
able. A tour of the apartment-house
districts, to one seeking an apartment,
reveals an absence of vacancies.
"On approaching an apartment-house,
the apartment hunter is greeted with
a large sign in the vestibule reading,
'No Vacancies.' One day recently I re
ceived a special call from the East for
12 to 15 furnished apartments ranging
from $30 per month up, but was un
able to nil the request either in apart
ments or small houses.
"The demand for unfurnished large
houses and flats is not as strong at
this time as might be expected under
present conditions. This is due to the
fact that very few of the home people
are changing localities, while the new
arrivals are seeking furnished houses.
"In my opinion this condition will
change with the advent of Spring.
Those who are unable to obtain fur
nished houses will buy their furniture
and furnish the present unfurnished
houses, or their newly purchased
homes.
"Let me advise owners of most of
the vacant houses today, very strongly,
to have their properties overhauled and
placed on the market in a tenable con
dition." Mr. Rohrer declares that rents are
still improving on a basis of from 5 to
20 per cent in residence properties over
last year's prices. The owner of the
modern house of today is receiving more
revenue to cover fixed and carrying
charges than in the past, he says, and
the prospects are that a further ad
vance by Spring is not improbable.
Directory of Prominent
Life insurance Agencies
Members of Life Underwriter
Association of Oregon
Wm. Goldman. General Manager.
NATIONAL LIFE OF VEKJIONT.
Oregonian Bldg.
H. G. Colton, Manager.
MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFB.
Chamber of Commerce Bldg.
Harmon & Cummings, General Agents.
PKNN MUTUAL. LIK1S.
Northwestern Bank Bldg.
Horace Mecklem. Manager.
NEW ENGLAND MUTUAL LIFE.
Northwestern Bank Bldg.
Pettia-GroBsmiiyer Co., General Agenti,
TRAVELERS INSURANCE COUrANI,
303-31O Wilcox Bldg.
MORTGAGE LOANS
Very flexible contract. '
NEW WORLD LIFE INSURANCE CO..
Stevena Bldg.
Albee & Amesbury. ueneral Agents.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INS. CO.
Northweatern Bank Bldg.
John Pauer. Superintendent,
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE CO.
601 Northweatern Bank Bldg.
T. H. McAllls, State Mgr.,
UNION MUTUAL LIFE INd. CO,
Board of Trade Bldg.
Edgar W. Smith, Manager.
EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.
306 Oregonian Bldg.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Representative Realty Operators of
the Mates of Oregon, Washington.
Who Are Non-Reaident Members of
Portland Kealty Board
These men can be depended upon to
sell or exchange your property, or
represent you in any way.
OREGON.
Aatoriav Astoria Harbor Imp. Co.
Bend J. A. Eastes.
Marahfleld Title Guarantee A Abstract Ce
Stan field James M. Kyle..
WASHINGTON. ,
Hoquiam Grays Harbor Land QaV tM
Rldgefield H. B. AppersoCW . i-VR.
lacolt Lew r. Williams. ..'.