8
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, POKTLAND, JANUARY
1920
THREE NEW PHONE
EXCHANGES TO RISE
Building Programme for 1920
Is Made Public.
AUTOMATIC TO BE USED
from the local realtor, who Is now In
California. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson left
last week for an extensive tour of
California via the gasoline route, and
when last heard from were In San
Francisco.
Just before starting on his mid
winter vacation with Mrs. Johnson,
the local realty dealer made a brief
trip to Astoria, where he sold a piece
of business property' of his own for
$25,000. Los Angeles and San Diego
are on the automobile itinerary before
the return to Portland.
More Thau Million Dollars Will Be
Expended This Year, and More
Probably In 192 1.
Erection of three new telephone ex
changes and Installation of equipment
find new wiring in connection there
with, at a total cost of more than
J1.0U0.ou0, will be the 1920 building
programme of the Pacific Telephone
& Telegraph company in Portland, ac- j
cording to W. D. Moore, division su
perintendent of plant. One of the new
exchanges has already been complet
ed, and plans are now being drawn
for the other two.
The con.sln.ct ion of the new ex
changes and the r.ew wiring which
"Will be necessary is in line with the
Programme drawn up by the tele
phone company to provide adequate
telephone facilities for the city and
surrounding territory for the next 20
years, and eventually to transform
the entire system here to the auto
matic. All the new exchanges will be
automatic in nature, and will be
equipped with manual apparatus only
to the extent necessary to provide
exchange between the manual and the
automatic lines operating in that
section.
The company has drawn up its gen
eral plan to cover a perjod of two
years, and the year 1921 will be even
larger in point of building operations
for the company than the forthcom
ing year, with plans for the construc
tion of two more automatic exchanges
and the completion of the wings and
the addition of three stories to the
telephone building, at the corner of
Oak and Park streets.
Arletn HdtMIng C ompleted.
The Arleta exchange, located at
Foster road and Seventy - s e c o n d
streets is the first of the three ex
changes on this year's programme,
find was completed as far as the
building is concerned last week. The
structure, which is of steel and con
crete, is one story high with a full
bsem?nt and cost in the neighbor
hood of $;0,000. Automatic equip
ment already has been ordered for
the building at a cost of $102,200, fend
will l3 installed as rapidly as pos
sible. The second exchange on the build
ing programme is to be located in
Irvington at the corner of Twenty
fourth and Stanton streets, and work
upon this building will start just as
soon as the telephone company has
reached an agreement with the Irv
ington residents regarding a suitable
building. Plans have been drawn for
a steel and stone structure, two sto
ries high, to cost about $106,000. and
these have been gone over with the
Irvington property owners several
times already, and a further confer
ence will ba held this week.
The telephone company is desirous
of erecting a building which will be
in Harmony with the general archi
tecture in that neighborhood, accord
ing to Mr. Moore, one that will be a
credit to that community. The com
pany holds that erection of an ex
change at that point is a necessity if
auequate teiepnone service is to De
n aintained as the city expands.
Third to Serve Rom City.
The third exchange will serve the
liose City park neighborhood and will
be located at the corner of Kast
Twelfth and Morrison streets. Plans
for the structure are being drawn up
t the present time, and will follow
closely the plans of the Irvington ex
change. The cost is placed at $100.
flio. Tile cost of initial equipment for
the Irvington and Rose City Park ex
changes is estimated at $150,000 each,
as both exchanges will be arranged to
provide tor a considerably- larger
mirber of phone patrons than the
At'leta building. This will bring the
total cost of equipment for the three
buildings to approximately $400,000,
while the cost of the structures them
selves will exceed $250,000.
L'nder the plans made by the com
pany for ;he expansion of the auto
matic system, the i.ew exchanges will
be connected with each other under
ground, and an elaborate underground
ostein will he developed as the auto
matic system is extended throughout
!?e city. The cost of the underground
conduits to-be constructed this year
In connection with these three new
exchanges, as well as the overhead
local wiring which will have to be
done, is placed at $400,000, bringing
the total expenditure by the com
pany in connection with the enlarge
ment of its system to over $1,050,
UOU.
Plans Made for 121.
It is the hone of those in charge
of building to have all the work in
connection with election of the ex
changes. installation of equipment
and laying of wires completed during
"the spring and summer months, Mr.
Moore stated.
In 1921 two more automatic ex
changes will bp erected by the com
pany, one at Sixtieth and Stanton
streets to serve the outlying east
side, and one at some point west of
Columbia park to serve the St. Johns
neiahborhood, according to the plans.
The addition to the main building
at Oak and Park streets, also contem
plated for 1921, consists of complet
ing the two rear wings to the height
of the main body of the building by
adding six stories to one wing and
eight stories to the other, and of add
ing three more stories to the entire
building. The structure" was designed
as a 14-story building, but in 1913
when the building was erected, but 11
stories were put up and it was
planned to add the other three at a
Inter date. The foundation and frame
of the building were built so as to
allow the 14 stories. The building
cost approximately $650,000 in 1913.
and it is expected to complete the
w ings in 1'.'21, and also to add , the
three storiei unless the city zoning
laws at that time prevent, according
to Mr. Moore. The estimated cost is
$400.0n0.
Although Mr. Moore, division super
intendent of plant has been instru
mental in drawing plans for the im
provements here, he will not remain
to oversee the actual costruction, as
he h:Js been transferred to Seattle,
and will leave early in February to
take charge of extensive building
operations of the company there. H.
.1. Tinkham. who has been plant su
perintendent at Spokane, will be
transferred to this city and will take
Mr. Moore's place in overseeing the
work.
MANY HOCSES TO BE BUILT
$3500 to $5000 Residences Will
Be Started This Season.
Plans for a building campaign of
i medium-priced houses and bungalows
has been decided upon by the Metro
politan Investment & Improvement
company, and work upon the first of
a series of such dwellings will start
shortly. Such was the decision of
the stockholders of the company at
the annual meeting held on January
14. The bungalows will sell for from
$3500 to $5000, it is announced, being
payable in the installment plan which
the company provides. Rose City
Park and surrounding districts will
be the scene of most of this season's
operations, the major part of the com
pany's holdings being in that vicin
ity.
At the annual meeting II. G. Beck-
wlth was re-elected president of the
company and John Hall attorney.
New directors elected to the board
are W. F. Woodward. Robert K. Smith
and Blaine Smith. The company has
over 600 stockholders, it was reported.
In speaking of building prospects
for the coming year Mr. Beckwith
said: "In my opinion building costs
will go higher than ever, not so much
perhaps on account of any actual in
crease in manufacturing costs, but
because of competition after ma
terial and inability to obtain deliv
eries."
MILLION DOLLAR BUILDING PROGRAMME OF TELEPHONE COMPANY THIS YEAR WILL MARK
BEGINNING OF CHANGE TO AUTOMATIC.
AVIATION .SITE
Ol'TIOXEl)
Eugene Council Gets Refusal of
Civic Landing Tract.
F.UGENE, Or.. Jan. 24. (Special.)
Options are oeing taken by Hugene
city officials on property that was
used last summer and fall as an
aviation field for the forest service
with a view to its purchase by the
city if the voters at the polls at a
special election in May approve of a
proposed bond issue for the purpose.
Aside from the purchase of this field,
which contains 80 acres, it is planned
to purchase adjoining land, making a
total of 100 acres.
At the instance of O. H. Foster, city
attorney of Eugene, the legislature
at the recent session passed a bill
empowering cities to purchase such
land outside the city for municipal
purposes.
By the purchase of this land Eugene
will have provided a permanent land
ing field for airplanes, not only of
tne rorest service, but of any mail
and commercial lines that may be
established in the future.
WESTOVEIt LOTS ARE SOLD
Two More Go During Week; Build
ing Operations Are Resumed.
Sale of two more lots on Westover
Terrace, classed by the agents as
among the finest view lots on the
property, was consummated last week
Peter Kerr, president of the Kerr-
Gifford company, being the purchaser.
The lots extend all the way through
trom Cumberland road to Westover
road. Options on four other lots were
taken during the week, according to
Harold Jungck, secretary of the In
ternational Realty associates, and
these deals are expected to be closed
shortly.
Builders in that section are taking
advantage of the clear weather and
have been rushing to completion the
half dozen or more homes begun on
the terrace last fall.
During the week work was started
on the foundation of the new dwelling
of Mr. and Mrs. Boyd M. Hamilton.
The structure will be of the English
cottage type, and the cost is placed
at $13,000.
frh-r Effl- i 1 i 1 r i 1 i 1 i 'i EBRFti
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BUILDERS' BODY TO
DISCUSS
PROBLEMS
Northwest Convention Opens
February 26.
Two of the three new fiphanRm which will be In operation here by Hummers Above Drawing of proponed
I ii Kt on exchangee, corner of Twenty-fourth and Stanton atreetM, work upon which Is expected to Mart ahortly,
Below iew Arleta exchange at Foster road and Seventy-second street completed last week and now ready for
new automatic equipment.
MANY DELEGATES COMING
Addresses Covering Important
Features of Industry Large Part
of Three-Day Programme.
R. r. McFarland of Boston, Mass.,
architect of the project, who was In
the city securing prices on building
material.
The company has organized with
the following physicians and business
J men of that section as organizers: Dr.
v. Lm. rtutier, i r. i avia -m. dtowci,
D. R. Richter, George Riter and R. D.
McFarland. A feature of the sanita
rium will be its operation of a new
treatment for tuberculosis perfected
by Dr. Ruiter and which, it is claimed,
kills the germs by means of electrical
heat.
The sanitarium will be located on
the Bonaday farm, three miles east
of Roseburg, upon a 160-acre tract
covered with large pine trees. A main
administration building of hollow tile
construction, costing $150,000. and 24
small cottages costing about $1000
each are planned. About $150,000 has
already been subscribed by people
of Roseburg and vicinity for the com
pany. It is stated.
ECGEXE WAREHOUSE TO RISE
RIGHTS OF ASSIGNEE
OF BOYER DISCUSSED
Clause Inserted by Seller
Against Transfer Valid.
COURT DECISION CITED
Plans Ready and Bids on Sew
Building Will Be Called Soon.
ZONING BUTTLE GOES ON
HE ALT V BOARD DEFENDS ITS
STAND OX PROPOSAL.
52,000-ACRE TRACT BOUGHT
Land South of Mexican Border Re
ported Purchased.
PROSSER. Wash., Jan. 24. (Spe
cial.) About 52,000 acres of Mexican
land just below the California bor
der has been purchased by the Cen
tral Yakima Ranches company, ac
cording to a telegram from Aaron H.
Hover, president of the company, who
is now at El Centro, Cal., in the Im
perial valley. The land lies along
the border for 12 miles and extends
approximately eight miles into Mex
ican territory.
There are 12 sets of buildings on
the property and a good portion of
the land is tillable. The deal is said
to involve an investment of $250,000.
SHEEP
TO
ENTER RANGE
Klamath Ranch Sells for Good Top
Price.
KLAMATH FALLS, Or.. Jan. 24.
(Special.) Activity in comity real
estate is shown by a number of large
transfers made recently. One which
promises much toward assisting de
velopment of the stock-raising in
dustry is the purchase by Burr West
brook of the J. H. Lear ranch of 137
acres near Merrill.
Westbrook plans to raise pure-bred
sheep. He came here from south
western Texas where he. was engaged
in the growing of fancy livestock.
The price of the Loar ranch was
$12,000.
Fred W. German Says Efforts Will
Continue to Get Suitable
Place for Meeting.
That the purpose of the Portland
Realty Board in asking for the use of
the municipal auditorium for a meet
ing to discuss the proposed city zon
ing was misconstrued by Mayor
Baker, is the declaration of Fred W.
German, chairman of the board. A
week ago the board wrote a letter to
the mayor and city commissioners
asking for the use of the auditorium
for a mass meeting on zoning. Mayor
Baker refused the auditorium, with
the statement that he would not allow
the building to be used free of charge
for the holding of a mass meeting of
those opposed to zoning. The realty
board, at an earlier meeting; had
placed itself on record as opposed to
the proposed ordinance.
The Portland Realty board merely
takes the position that by fair the
greater percentage of property own
ers in the city of Portland have a very
crude idea of what the proposed
zoning ordinance is, and that all prop
erty owners have a right to be en
lightened as to the details concerning
the zoning ordinance," said Mr. Ger
man. He declared that the meeting
proposed by the realty board had not
been intended to be partisan in any
way, and quoted the following para
graph in the letter sent by Secretary
J. W. Crossley of the board to Mayor
Baker:
"I am also instructed by the execu
tive committee to request that the
municipal auditorium be furnished at
some date in the near future for the
holding of a meeting to be attended
by all property owners under the aus
pices of the Portland Realty board,
for the purpose of securing fullest de
tails concerning the proposed zoning
ordinance. At this 'meeting the city
planning commission could enlighten
a great number of property owners
on the proposed measure who do not
now understand fully regarding
same."
Said Mr. German further: "The
board has had no controversy with
Mayor Baker, and there is no stronger
supporter of anything that will look
towards the betterment of the city
than the Portland Realty board. Its
members regret very much the recent
attack upon realty operators, as re
ported in a newspaper article, in
which Mayor Baker is quoted as inti
mating that 'some of the opposition to
the proposed zoning ordinance might
originate from the unscrupulous
realty operator who could not bunk
the public if the zoning ordinance was
adopted
asmuch as the resolution opposing
zoning was passed by the Portland
Realty board at a recent session by
almost unanimous vote. Efforts to
secure the auditorium or some other
place for a public meeting on zoning
will be continued, he stated.
Members of tne realty board have
been invited by the city council to
meet with the city officials and the
Portland planning commission at 2
P. M. Wednesday for a discussion of
the proposed zoning ordinance, and
the Portland Chamber of Commerce
has also called them to meet for a
discussion of the subject on Feb
ruary 2.
OLD GHUHGH TO BE SOLD
EUGENE LAN DM ARK DESTINED
SOON TO DISAPPEAR.
Five Apply to Join Realty Board
Five ' new applications for active
membership . to the Portland realty
board were read at the luncheon and
meeting of the board Friday, as fol
lows: George F. Mahoney, F. B. Lucy
George E. Eyre, Dorr E. Keasey and
George J. Schaefer. The regulations
provide that the applications must be
read at one session and voted upon
at the next. A membership cam
paign is being conducted by the board
at this time and the regular initia
tion fee has been reduced temporarily
from $25 to $10. A. R. Ritter is
chairman of the committee on new
members.
REALTORS ISSUE QUESTIONS
Ideas for Interesting Meetings Are
Sought -4n Questionnaires
In an effort to make the meetings
of the Portland Realty board so help
ful and interesting as to merit the
constant attendance of all members.
the new entertainment committee last
week sent out questionnaires to all
members asking for suggestions re
garding the m tings.
Among the questions asked in the
form sent to members and which they
are asked to fill out and return at
once are the following:
What kind of meetings do you pre
fer instructive, purely entertaining,
or both?
Name three subjects you would like
to have presented and discussed.
Could you suggest a good speaker
to present one or more of the above?
Have you a snappy entertainment
feature or stunt to suggest?
Could you personally put on or pro
vide a stunt or entertainment feature?
The entertainment committee, ap
pointed following the recent election
of officers. is as follows: Harold
Jungck, chairman: W. W. Ferguson,
Charles Ringler, M. E. Lee, Max
Lueddemann and J. J. Jennings.
SILT LAND IS TO BE SOLD
Two Thousand Acres Near Coquille
to Be Put on Market.
MARSH FIELD, Or.; Jan. 24. (Spe
cial.) Two thousand acres of the
finest silt land in Oregon will soon
be placed upon the market by the
Russ-Branstetter company. in the
Coquille valley, between one and
two miles of the city of Coquille.
The land has been reclaimed by drain
age ditches and dykes and the en
tire tract Is actually bottom land
made by the annual overflow of the
Coquille river and formerly over
grown with small willow.
The Russ-Branstetter company has,
in the past few years, cleared most
of the tract and herded large num
bers of cattle upon it, where they
found luxuriant pasturage. The prop
erty is to be sold at reasonable prices,
on easy terms, and in tracts to suit
Building, Now Property of South
ern Pacific, .Erected by Meth
odists of City In 1886.
EUGENE, Or.. Jan. 24. (Special.)
The old wooden Methodist church
building, one of the land marks of
Willamette street in this city, is soon
to disappear if a buyer can be found.
T. L. Billingsley. superintendent of
the Southern Pacific electric railway
lines, is advertising the structure for
sale.
The building was erected in 1886
by the Methodist congregation of Eu
gene and was then one of the most
pretentious Methodist church edifices
in Oregon. It was occupied until
about 1912, when the new building
further south on Willamette street
was erected at a cost of about $73,000.
Later the Southern Pacific company
bought the building and the lot. to
gether with a great part of the entire
block. It was intended then to use
this block as a site for a terminal
depot for the electric railway system
then building.
The company laid a double track
of standard gauge the entire length
of Eleventh avenue west, over which
thoroughfare it was planned to run
electric cars into Eugene, and every
thing seemed to be in readiness for
the erection of terminal buildings on
the company's new holdings, when
the bubble seemed to burst and ac
tive construction 'work ceased. Since
then the company's property has re
mained vacant and idle.
Superintendent Billingsley. when
asked why the company desires to sell
the old building, replied that he did
not know of any company plans to
build on the property.
the buyers. The land is adapted to
Mr. German declared that the realty ! intensive farming or other ranching.
board felt that such an attack was Coquille city expects to profit largely
entirely unwarranted and untrue, in-1 by the prospective colonization.
CREMATORIUM VAULT READY
First Unit of New Building Opened
for Inspection.
The first unit of the new vault
building of the Portland crematorium
was completed last week and opened
for public Inspection. The structure,
declared to be one of the most beau
tiful of the kind in the country, has
thus far cost in the neighborhood of
$50,000, and when fully, completed will
represent an investment of $100,000.
The unit now completed contains
400 vaults and several family rooms
The structure is of reinforced concrete
with windows of art glass, and is con
nected with the old vault building
which fronts along the cliff overlook
ing the Willamette river. The in
terior is finished in Kasota marble.
with bronze doors. The building is
heated' throughout and is said to be
the first mausoleum in the country
equipped with a heating system.
Two days of discussion of problems'
relative to building operations and a
day of entertainment will comprise
the programme of the third annual
convention of the Northwest Masters
Builders' association, which meets
here February 26. 27 and 28. Plans for
the programme of the sessions were
completed last week by the committee
in charge, composed of C. M. Stebin
ger, chairman; J. M. Qulnn and
Thomas Muir.
The Northwest Master Builders' as
sociation is an organization composed
of general building contractors of
Oregon, Washington. Idaho, Montana
and British Columbia. The first ses
sion was held May 23 and 24. 1918.
at Tacoma. following the formation
of the association, and the second
convention was held at Seattle. Feb
ruary 20 and 21. 1919. Over 100 dele
gates from outside points were at
Seattle for the session last year.
The General Building Contractors'
association of Portland, which is the
local organization of contractors and
is affiliated with the northwest or
ganization, has charge of arranging
the programme here and of entertain
ing the outside builders. It is esti
mated that at least 200 will be pres
ent from the four states and one
province throughout which the mem
bership of the association extends,
outside of Portland, for the meetings
and a total attendance of between
300 and 400 is estimated. C. J. Parker,
president of the Portland association,
and one of the two vice-presidents
for Oregon of the northwest organi
zation, is aiding the local committee
headed by Mr. Stebinger with the arrangements.
Meeting Oprna Thursday.
The convention will open Thursday
morning. February 26, at the Multno
mah hotel, which has been selected as
headquarters, with registration of
do gates and other routine business
in connection with the work of the
convention.
On Thursday afternoon four ad
dresses are scheduled, all of which are
based upon the relation of other pro
fessions with that- of the building
contractor. The subjects are as fol
lows: "The Banks and the Building Con
tractor," C. C. Colt, vice-president of
the First National bank of Portland.
"The Architect and the Building
Contractor," Ellis F. Lawrence, of the
architect firm of Lawrence & Hol
ford, and dean of the University of
Oregon school of architecture.
"The Public and the Building Con
tractor." O. G. Hughson, secretary of
the Builders Exchange. Portland.
"The Material Man and the Build
ing Contractor," E. D. Tlmms, presi
dent of the Timms-Cress company,
paint manufacturers, Portland.
Thursday evening's programme will
cover practical points of the builders'
profession and reports of committees
named a year ago to conduct investi
gations for the northwest association.
The evening's schedule will include
the following:
"The Plans," J. M. Dougan, of the
J. M. Dougan company, general build
ing contractors, Portland.
"The Job." by a Seattle general
building contractor, not yet chosen.
The Books," D. L. Thacker. gen
eral building contractor of Yakima. I
A year ago the .sum of $300 was ap
propriated with which to conduct an
investigation to find the best system
of cost accounting and bookkeeping
for the building contractor and Mr.
Thacker was named chairman of a
committee to carry on this work. His
talk Thursday evening will be in the
nature of a report.
'The Licensing of Contractors." by
Christian Olson, general building con
tractor of Bremerton, Wash. Mr. Ol
son was chosen last year as chair
man of a committee on this subject
and will make a report. Several of
the eastern states have laws licensing
contractors, but none of the Pacific
northwest states have yet adopted it.
Mr. Olson's committee has been busy
during the year making a study of
the matter and is expected to be
ready to make a recommendation at
this time as to whether such a law is
advisable for the northwest states
or not.
Prmldent to Make Report.
On Friday morning will be given
the annual presidential message and
report by J. B. Warrack of Seattle,
EUGENE, Or., .Jan. 23. (Special.)
Plans for the new wholesale
grocery warehouse to be erected in
this city this spring by. Lang & Co.,
of Portland, have been received by
E. L. Keeney. manager. He has an
nounced that Dida soon will be asked
and the contract will be let within a
few weeks.
The building will be of reinforced
concrete and will be 12Sx90 feet. It
will be a story and a half high with
1152 square feet of storage space on
the first floor besides several hundred
square feet of space on the mezzan
ine floor.
BUILDING GAINS LARGE
1019 REPORTS SHOW 198 PER
CENT INCREASE OVER 1918.
Ascendency Continues Throughout
Year, Except December, Despite
Record High Prices.
Starting from an almost dead stop
and progressing on untried levels
of prices, building during 1919 has
developed a very favorable stage of
activity which bids fair to be car
ried over into 1920. according to the
latest issues of the American Con
tractor. New York.
Official reports to the American
Contractor covering the year for 171
cities give a total estimated value of
$1,326,936,702, for the building per
mits issued. This is a gain of 198
per cent over the total of $445,549.413
for the same cities during 1918.
The following tabulation shows the
progress of this activity month by
month from a 12 per cent falling off
in January. 1919. over January of
the preceeding year, to a constantly
increasing ascendency-, until a light
decrease in the rate of increase is
shown in December:
HANDSOME IRVINGTON HOME PURCHASED LAST 'WtEK' BY MARK R. COLBY.
RKALTOK TOURS CALIFORNIA
A. II. Johnson and Wife on Mid
Winter Vacation Trip.
Real estate transactions in Port
land are not worrying A. R. Johnson
of the Johnson-Dodson company.
Northwestern bank building, these
days, judging from word received
Harbor Cities Tulk of Zoning.
ABERDEEN. Wash.. Jan. 24. (Spe
cial.) The chief discussion at the
weekly- meeting of the Grays Harbor
Realty board, hinged upon the-ad-visability
of adopting the zoning sys
tem in harbor cities. Considerable op
position to the plan was manifested,
the objectors claiming that such a
system, which is intended to prohibit
the erection of business buildings in
residence sections would work a hard
ship on owners of property in the
near vicinity of a growing city or
town.
Yakima Real Estate Active.
YAKIMA. Wash.. Jan. 24. (Spe
cial.) During 1919, according to the
records of the city engineer, 1198
city lots changed ownership at least
once. Numbers of them were sold
and resold several times during the
year, which was one of more activity
in .Yakima city property than for
years before.
" J Cfl "vs
yyV w-wr"H J I jt 1 .
DWEI.I.IMi LOCATtSD OX FIFTKKXTH STRKET, NEAR KXOTT. WHICH WAS SOI,l THROUGH MAKV
McDonnell, irvinutom age.vt, to maak r. colbi for a consideration of tsoou.
Per
1!1! 1918 cent
Month. value. value, fiain.
January 2:t.S'!.J15 JJ7.2'.U.21S 12
February 32.0."iS.62 21.HMI.314 4S
March 14..SS4.3J3 3H.,V.,!l.l'co 77
April tt4.914.OOS 4t.Mfi.h-S 1
May ll'.7N.t40 S1.7ii4.74 11"
June 134.7JU.7ir. 47.7'.:t.l v.: 1 cj
July 140,474.t2 43. 4-.'4. 7iS 1!-'S
August l(il).047.J3 43.S19.3S3 U''i7
September ... 137."J3.73 3.V.I7U.M5 'JS1
October 13S.ftIM.WI0 L'S.417.115 447
November ... 14!).43.1.-rt 1S.30H.(!3:1 717
December ... 147.31(.UU r.or.3.98S 4S8
Loss.
It is evident from the table that
the peak in building during 1919 was
reached in August. December per
mits show an unusual activity, with
an appreciably better showing than
November, in view of the usual fall
ing off of building during the last
month of the year.
Throughout the year there have
been no marked areas of special
activity. Certain cities have done
more building than others, and a com
parison ot activity among cities 01
about the same class is interesting.
Los Angeles makes a remarkable
showing, with a total of over J2S.-
000, 000. Washington. D. C, goes over
the J20, 000.000 mark, as against $7.
000.000 in 1918. Greater New York's
building totals run over $251,000,000.
while Chicago reached $105,000,000.
The following comparison of 1919
activity with that of the years 1914
to 1918, inclusive, shows a less aver
age value per city in 1919 than in
1914. 1915 and 1916:
Kstim'd
valuation.
$ 6t3.fl2.8S
U'.l.l.ftOS.tCIL'
SS".I.SS4.B7'.
631.74.7L"2
44.1.. 149. 493
l.3i.U3.70-J
Moreover, it must be considered
that the purchasing power of the dol
lar has been lessened somewhat each
year, very noticeably so since 1916.
Balanced against this is the fact that
many small cities enter into the ag
gregate 171 for 1919. It is doubtful,
however, if this would compensate
wholly for the lessened buying power
of the dollar.
Figures on the estimated value of
building for the years 1918 and 1919,
and for the Decembers of each year,
for the leading Pacific coast cities,
are given as follows:
Provision Prohibiting Property
Changing Hands Without Con
sent of Seller Viewed.
BY W. B. SHIVELT.
Where a contract for the sale ot
real estate provides that the pur
chaser's interest is not assignable
without the consent of the seller and.
notwithstanding same, the purchaser
assigns the contract without the sell
er's consent, what rights as against
the seller does the purchaser's as
signee acquire.
A provision prohibiting an assign
ment of the purchaser's interest with
out the seller's consent is found in
nearly all local contracts for the sale
of real estate. The impression com
monly prevails that such a provision
is meaningless and that the assignee
of the purchaser is vested by such
an assignment with all of the rights
the purchaser had under the contract
irrespective of whether the seller con
sents to the assignment or not.
Court UrcUlon la Cited.
That such is not the case, however,
is held by wie supreme court of the
state of Oregon in the late case of
Smith vs. Martin, 1S5 Pac. 236. wherein
a contract was construed containing
the following provision: "He (the
purchaser) will not assign or transfer
this contract, nor deliver the posses
sion of said premises to any person
or persons whomsoever without the
consent in writing of the said first
party (the seller)." In construing
this provision of the contract and de
termining the rights of one to whom
the purchaser assigned the contract
without the seller's consent, the su
preme court said:
"The parties could provide that tno
contract should not be assigned with
out the written consent of one of
them. There was nothing unlawful
or contrary to public policy in such
a stipulation, and under proper con
ditions the same may be enforced.
There are instances where the per
sonal qualities of one of the parties
form an element of the agreement,
as where the personal services of a
physician or of an actor, or a tenant
for a certain share of crops as rent,
are involved. There, by operation .
law, the contract is not assignable
without the consent of the employe!
Clause Kvidrntly Valid.
"It is equally permissible for the
parties to append the same condition
by express contract, so that the in
hibition against assignment arises
from their covenant, rather than by
operation of law. . . 'tint- ,u
accepts an assignment of a contract
which by- express terms is made non
assignable acquires only a cause of
action against the assignor.'"
It follows from the foregoing that
such a provision in a contract for the
purchase of real estate is valid and
will be enforced. If the seller stands
strictly upon the terms of the on
tract. he can. legally, refuse to recog
nize the assignee of the purchaser,
and if he does so, the latter is help
less to enforce the contract or obtain
any rights under it.
In this same case the supreme court
further held, however, that the seller
may waive his right to insist on a
strict performance of such a provision
oi ine contract, mat such a waiver
need not be in writing and that any
recognition of the purchaser's as
signee, such, for instance, as by the
acceptance from him of payments
under the contract, will be construed
as a waiver.
Year
1914
1913
ll
1917
1918
19 1
No
el cities.
. . . 76
. . . 73
. .. 1(5
. .. 1U3
. . . 171
. .. 171
Avff. value
per citv
$S.733,0l)0
9..WS.IMI0
K.475.OII0
B.lll 7. IMIO
.tl'lrt.lMMl
7.7.-.oou
Long Beach . . .
l.o.s Anceles . . .
Oakland
San Diecro
San Francisco -Portland
Salt Lake City
Seattle
Spokane
Tacoma
nee. 1919.
. .$1,134.1X11
. . o.rttl.0S3
7S2.04S
..43. 70S
. . 1.3S!).SS7
K94.HSL'
1M7.1!MI
3B9.3IM)
74.l4.-
150.41!)
Pec. 1918.
$17S..1S4
60J,st'.
JS1.175
S3.3t.
477.KO.'
317.215
:,:;i.si-,(i
UMl.13.
13. SI 10
127.040
12 mos.. 1919.
S 7.21 7. S40
2S.-J.-.3.I110
7,134.363
2.8X0.137
14.s34.2s2
9.700.763
4.I0.3'.,1
15.61 5. OIMI
1.676.6SS
2,857,787
12 mo5.. 1918.
$ 2.SL'7.004
8.678.SU3
3.201.361
1. 6111.918
7.0-J4.310
6.43S.364
2.319.743
10.SOO.775
423.676
2,844.480
PROSPERITY HITS TOLEDO
COWLITZ VALLEY AWAKENS TO
ITS POSSIBILITIES.
head of the northwest association.
His subject will be "The Purposes
and Aims of the Northwest Master
Builders' association." other talks Fri
day morning will be: "The Contrac
tor's Profits If Any." by M. "V. Lor-
enz. contractor of Portland: "Rela-I
tions Between the General Building
Contractor and the Specialty Contrac
tor," Captain F. S. Cook of the J.
McCracken company. Portland. A re
port upon the subject of apprentice
ship and vocational training in con
nection with the work of the general
building contractor will be given by
S. C. Erickson of Tacoma. chairman
of a committee on this subject.
Kriday afternoon will be the annual
business session of the association
and will be given over to the election
of officers, reports of committees and
general discussion. On Friday evening
will occur the annual banquet at the
Multnomah hotel. O. G. Hughson. sec
retary of the Portland association,
will be toaslmaster.
Saturday will be given over en
tirely to the entertainment of the
visitors and the day will be consumed
with a trip up the Cojiimbia highway,
the party leaving the hotel at 8 A. M
and having lunch somewhere along
the route, probably- at Eagle creek.
Saturday evening there will be a
smoker in honor of all visiting dele
gates at the building exchange rooms
on the second floor of the Worcester
building, under the auspices of the
roofing contractors of the city.
$200,000 HOSPITAL PLANNED
New Methodof Treating Tuberculo
sis to He Given Trial.
Roseburg will have a J200.000 sani
tarium for tuberculosis patients, con
struction of which will start within
a short time, according to word
brought to Portland last week by
SEATTLE MAN BUYS FAKM
Thomas Hendricks Sells ISO-Acre
Place on Xcwaukum Prairie.
CHEHAL1S. Wash.. Jan. 24. (Spe
cial.) Sale of the 120-acre farm on
Newaukum Prairie, eight miles south
east of Chehalis, owned by Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas Hendricks, is reported.
George J. Nist of Seattle is the pur
chaser, the price being $24,000.
Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks will move
to Chehalis for the present. Mr. and
Mrs. Nist formerly lived near Adna,
eight miles west of Chehalis, but
moved to Seattle following sale of
their farm. Their new buy Is locat
ed on the Pacific highway- and is one
of the best farms in the Newaukum
valley.
Easterners Look to Pacific.
That the east is looking westward
as a place for investment is the judg
ment of O. O. Sletten, secretary and
treasurer of the Interstate Land com
pany, who arrived home last week
after an extensive business trip in the
east. Mr. Sletten declared that the
east, seems very active and prosper
ous, but that Investors there are de
sirous of establishing their capital
on the Pacific coast rather than in
the east.
Dekum. Jordan Open Offices.
George F. Dekum and W. W. Jor
dan recently formed a partnership and
have opened realty t offices in the
Chamber of Commerce building. The
firm plans to specialize in small acre
age, and will plat a tract of land of
this nature for sale in the spring. Mr.
Dekum is at present in California,
but will be in Portland shortly. Mr.
Jordan has been engaged in the real
ty business in this section for about
11 years past.
Manifold Resources of Undeveloped
Country Are Ready for De
layed Development.
TOLEDO. Wash.. Jan. 24. (Spe
cial.) Toledo, for a great many years
resting quietly and sleepily on the
banks of the turbulent Cowlitz river,
has been showing great signs of ac
tivity of late. The concrete piers for
the new Pacific highway bridge are
nearly finished and the laying of steel
Is expected to begin the end of Jan
uary. The Toledo State bank, housed for
many years in an old frame building,
will erect a modern concrete struc
ture in a new location, its business
during the last one and one-half years
having nearly doubled under the man
agement of Hugh E. Bran, who per
sonally is giving all of his time to the
upbuilding of this section. The Cow
litz valley cheese factory, which was
organized in the spring of 1919 as a
co-operative enterprise, now has over
100 members among the progressive
farmers of the Cowlitz valley, and un
der very capable management is
building up a large and profitable
business.
An old, ramshackle garage building
has been sold to more progressive
owners, who are having it remodeled
and brought up to the times. At
tracted by the wonderful fertility of
the f-oil and the mild climate, a large
number of people have come into
Toledo and vicinity- in quest of homes
and farms. Sheep and pure-bred cat
tle also were introduced and placed,
and the results are being felt by the
buyers in increased prices and yields.
An active campaign in the interests
of berry planting, for which Toledo's
soil and climate is ideally suited, re
sulted in a total of about 65 acres
being signed up for cultivation.
With the return of the railroads to
private ownership railroad talk is be
ing revived, and inasmuch as one of
the transcontinental railroads already
owns the right of way. through pur
chase, throueh this section, the little
town is quite hopeful of some day
hearing a real train coming in to dis
turb its long slumber. Enormous
tracts of splendid virgin timber lie
back of and tributary to the town,
containing billions of feet of the fin
est stand in the world, and with the
disappearance of the timber some day
hundreds of thousands of acres of
choice farm land will become avail
able for homes.
The paving of the seven-mile dis
tance to the railroad will be com
pleted this year, and thus a convenient
railroad outlet obtained for the time
until Pacific highway truck traffic
is established to serve the adjacent
country. Coal, wood and water power
in abundance are obtainable, and it Is
but a question of a few years until
country will come into it owju
ft