Evening Star Newspaper, November 13, 1926, Page 17

REAL ESTATE BUILDING WAGES WASHINGTON, HOLDING FIRM, WITH LABOR SUPPLY PLENTIFUL Unions, With Largest tory, p]an Movc Week Campaign. ‘Wage ncales of building craftsmen | ughout the country are generally lding firm and there is no indica- on of any immediate widespread downward revision of rates, according a national survey of the lobor con- | tions in the building industry just Membership in His- to Press 5-Day | { | ! Sheet Metal Workers' Union. which | have been quarreling for the last five or six years over the installation of metal trim, are reported to have prac | tically adjusted their grievances. The controver between the bri rs | v and the plasterers’ unions also | D. CHEAPER TO OWN THAN RENT HOME Opportunities for Invest- ments and Business . Ad- ment Also Improved. BY T. B. MU home owner position in ROE. occupies an the The hle things. en- pompleted by the bullding economic | being settled by arbitration. Disposaljthe independent and the respect of search bureau of the American nd and Mortgage Co. bor conditions are_summarized as | llows: (1) Rising tendency in ms to be stopped fou t least. (2) Bullding crafts plan to maintain | wuges and working conditio fained during buflding prosper rlod. (8) Common labor plentiful and sup- | {-Iy of skilled craftsmen adequate to| ke care of present consiruction, ex- cept in & few localitles ! (4) Bonus payments and practice of | eontractors bidding against each other | for men have practically disappeared. ' (5) Lebor fairly tranquil and little | nterference to building operations from strikes expected this Winter. 6) Building unions with largest | membership in history plan renewal | ©f campaizn for five-day week. 7) De: rogress being made by Jabor officiais in eliminating jurisdi tonal striles “The building industry is now being | favored by a more pronounced tend- ency tow: abilized labor costs,” | gaid the survey. “Conditions of em- | ployment and labor rates generally | au g the last 69 davs have ,\'hu\\!lj but little change, labor costs the present | Some Small Advances. i ‘Wage readjustments reported have | Peen very small and in a majority of cases affeoted only a few of the so- called ‘ke- trades,’ such as plasterers, bricklayers and carpenters. In a few | citles where building operations are | large thev have asked and received emall wage advances. The majority of crafts, however, show a willing- ness to go alonz under present sched- ules. Faw wage reductlons have been reported but tnere is nowhere any indication of any radical down revision. “While contractors in practically ali the larger cities have decided aga bigher wage rates. they are showing a disposition to co-operate with th ®llding trade unions and peacefull: adjust wage disputes. As a result. Jabor conditions generally are quiet and no serious troubles have hindered constraetion in a few locali- tles, whe been made to ¢ op.” or the unie nterunion strite “Determination Indefinitely the iix have ol vears w v d at tion of | ment of the Aine wtion of Labor Deteori, Micn., t month. The building unicns unnimously d cided ‘to hold their d main taln to the utmos' of ability the wage scales ana conditions which have reauired nmany rg of ef- fort to shtain declared that wage redicts it of the questior at this tin cept eifort Den ed n in tahor to maintain ae rates they | the last two the conver trades depar a Memberships Large. sership in history i national and vepresented at Union “The lar was ceported by the tnterpaional unions the =onvention. Thess unions. which | hags a pi mbership of 574.497. gained 5 members during the Past vew as the largest galn | reporied ene venr since the | buildings trades department was or-| ganized in 08 H Tha United Brotherhood of Car-| penters and Joinors. the largest build- ing trades union. which is not affilf &ted with the huilding trades depart- | Tient membership of 404917, | havivg gained 39921 members in the Jast 12 months e combined mem- Perchip of the 17 building unions af. fllated with the American Federation | of Labor now totals 979.4 nion offic s pointed out that ju tsdietional troubles re being satis- | ?nvlomy adjusted and greater solidar- tv than ever before prevailed within the building trades or otice was also served on the con struction industry that labor would ptrive for a shorfer work week. The 44.hour work week now prevails gen- erally throughout the country, and | there are few cities wit iShour week. In & number of cities the ef forts of the painters and plasterers Ehorten the working week to 40 hours has aiready heen succe Employers Resist “Buflding trade emplc wenerally taking cog shorter work-week movement and are planning organized opposition. They | contend that the shorter work week | would add to building costs and tend ‘to further create shortage of labor “All building lahe: ploved, and there ts an of sklled and unskilled inech: yiest = presep construction Bonus payments h peared, except in n few ities. The demand for #lso rveported to have though high schonls u trade schools througho continue 10 n o out pumbers of new bhn “Indications are that the Jdeoline in buildin employment Ainter wi'! be less than in past ye: 3 unless eually severe weather is encountered he fact | 1hat builders are bec er edu- | cated and equipped to cone with ad- | verse weathe: jons and ave ar- | ranging their work in such as to provide Winter employm Workers Adjust Differences | ‘Leading labor officlals have joined in an effort to eliminate jurisdictional disputes, which have been a continual mource of annoyvance to the building industry for many vears i Brotherhood of has @ nizations. Move. are now | ce of the ‘mple r entirely isolat appr suh: vers ihie considerable icmen seasonal | | Although the Landis citizens' comm | andethers still remains. 1 as reported by the Natlonal Associa- | | valling rate | brid | common labor. | disturbances have been reported dur- | ciation of Real Estate Board this | . | of Real of these two interunion disputes | Buflding | would go far toward the re-establish- | tion. ment of united action and harmony in | country. his community. his State and his Na the status of the home owner and the in home ownership over | REALTORS GATHER TO OUTLINE APPEAL AGAINST REVENUE ACT Dealers Meeting in Chicago Plan to Seek Modification of Measure Passed in 1926—To Conduct Survey. e e 0 scheme of | Naijonal Assoclation of Real enjoys the security of | gourds throngh its committee on Fed- A confercnce to formulate requests of real estate boards over the count for modification. of the Federal re enue Act of 1926 is being held in Chi- cago. The meeting -was called by the tate eral legislation and taxation. It will m : - Na-| g into the whole matter of the pres- There is no comparison between | gt jncome tax situation In regard to real estate sales, will study recom- | building trade tircles throughout the | renter, and there are so many ad-| ;i iations which have been made to | vantages = the committee at its request by mem “Reports on wage changes (rom | renting that it is hard to believe 80 | ye\ )ourds of the association through- | cities and towns throughout the coun- | many try show that small increases, rang- | ing from 11; to 1215 cents have been granted in abou in fourteen citles. These increuses were reported from Atlanta, Ga.: Bul- | falo, Chicago, Ci Detroit, | Duluth, Kansas City Day | Nashville, rrolk, “Wu. | tsburgh, Philadelphia and Reading. | Pa. ‘Reductions were rep: Philudelphia, Salt Lake City and At- lanta, These were very small and | mainly due to a surplus of common labor and some skilled craftsmen Strike in San Francisco. | ‘Few strikes were reported and labor conditions generally were re- ported quiet throughout the country except in San Francisco, where the carpenters’ strike against the ‘open! shop’ continues to interfere with | buflding activities. In Cleveland there | has been some jurisdictional trouble, and the glaziers and painters’ strike | has had its effect on building. In New York there is plenty of Winter work in prospect and labor conditions are quiet. “In Chicago there has been a short- age of labor and some trouble has de- veloped on building projects due to the effort of the Building Trades Coun- ¢l to carry out its threat to enforce union conditions on projects that are now working under the Landis award. rted from tee has up to date imported approxi- mately 19,000 building craftsmen, a | shortage of carpenters, bricklavers “Wage scales in the building trades, tion of Builders' Lxchanges, show that | labor is getting the highest wages in history. Bricklayers throughout the country are receiving from $1 to $1.75 per hour; carpenters, 60 cents to $1.50; plasterers, 90 cents to $1.87%: bulld- ing laborers, 25 cents to 8715 cents; structural iron workers, 80 cents to $1.50; plumbers, 80 cents to $1.50; elec. tricians, 65 cents to $1.50: stonema- sons, 85 cents to $1.75: lathers, 75 cents to $1.6215; sheet metal 3 b | cents to $1.50; painters, cents to .50, and hoisting engineers, 50 cents New York Wages Highest. W of these wage scales shows that New York bullding mechanics are recelving the highest wages of any city .n the country. Bricklayers, plas- | terers, holsting engineers and | masons are receiving $1.75 per hour, | and the majority of other trades, per hour. St. Louis, Chicago, Pitts- burgh and Philadelphia, where the pre- is $1.50 per hour. are about tied for second place. “Columbia, S. C.. reported the low est wage scale. tlere laborers receive from 15 cents to 20 cents an hour: <layers, 90 cents to $1; carpenters, 40 cents to 60 cents: plasterer: 90 cents to $1, and painters, 50 cents. ‘‘Reports from Canada indicate that wages and conditions in the building industry are well stabilized. Both skilled and unskilled labor s well em- ploved, and in the provinces of Que- oec and Ontario there is a shortage of Only one or two labor ing the last 60 day REALTY INVESTORS WARNED BY BOARDS . R Bay State Dealers Urge Appraisals Before Buying—Tax Issue Held Paramount. Warning that conservative and sound appraisals are the only solid basis for Investments in real estate mortgages, the Massachusetts Asso- at its annual convention just closed at Worcester, calls the attention of in- vestors, savings banks and other financial institutions to the necessity for such apprafsals to guard against the possibility of overfinancing in veal estate “Tha outstanding probler before the people of this Commonwealth is the growing burden of local taxation,” | the association pointed out. It is | hampering our industries in _compe- | tition with those in other States and | i placing a crushing load vpon the | investor in real estate and the owner of a home." Extensi county pl 1o any n of the law permitting nning so that it will apply unty in the State desi planning will _be of the Stata Leglislature of Wis. in by the Wisconsin Assoclation ate Brokers. Development of technical education in real estate was made a major part | of the Wisconsin association's pro- gram for the coming vear by action | taken at its annual convention just closed at Racine Making Up for Loss. From the Arkansas Gazetts. Physlologists say women are grow- tng larger bones. Which. no doubt. will compensate for the 1088 of thelr ags and their hanks of hal | per cent each month, $1,17 people are listed as rente The renter who hLangs his ha temporary quarters is subject to the and is usually lassed as a “floate he Is one at heart. From the practical side, important reason why you should own your home is that it is actually cheaper to own a home than to rent. Thousands of venters do not know this. but it has been proved thousands of times. The family that wants a home badly enough to save $1,000 for an initial payment can buy a home costing $8,500 in 111, vears and save $2.400, assuming that they would pay $85 a month rent for a similar home over the same period of time Costs Are Listed. Here are the costs during 11 7 vears of buying and owning an $8,500 home on which $1,000 was the initial payment 3 Interest, diminishing annually with principal payments, during period at 6 per cent, $2,923; taxes at $100 a year, approximately, $1,159; repairs at $150 per vear, approximately, $1,737; Insurance at $25 per yvear, approxi- mately, $289: heat at $100 per vear, approximately, $1,159; interest at 6 per cent compounded semi-annually on original investment of $1,000, $980; total cost for 11 7-12 years, $8,247. Cost of renting same home—Pay- ments of $85 per month for 11 7-12 vears. $11,815. Deductions from gross rent—In- terest compounded semi-annually on average total amount disbursed each month by owner, in excess of rent, asslming that the renter puts this amount, approximately $21. out at 6 net cost of renting, $10.640. Comparison in dollars and cents— Total cost of renting for period. $10.- 640: total cost of owning for perlod, $5, total saving by owning, $2,393; average saving per month, $1 In owning a home on the above asis, the money disbursed each month would be $106. This Includes the monthly payment of $75 and the pro- ta share of taxes, insurance, etc., Mch must be paid in addition, and which all together results in $21 more than the rental. FHowever, this is not to be confused with actual cost. as a portion of the monthly paymen' is applied as a reduction of the princi- pal amount. Actual Cost Saving. Therefore, assuming when renting that you would save this $21 per month and receive interest therefrom, which is rather unlfkely, as most people have trouble in saving con- sistently unless forced to do so. you would still save approximately $2.400 in_actual cost by owning a home. In the ownership of homes lies tha foundation of wealth. The renter rarely saves or invests in other e curities. but experfence showa that the home owner does. In saving for his home he has laid a foundation of | thrift that he carries throughout his lite. He has learned to save and he continues to do so0. He sees before his eyes the r 11t of hix first attempt to save a considerable sum. He real- izes what his effort has brought him nd statistics show that from then © he is The home owner is bound continu ally to add to the value of his home. He makes additions and improve- ments, paints a little, plants trees and shrubs and thus Increases the equity in his property. The renter has the same lelrure hours in which this work could be done, but, of course, he is not interested in improving some- thing that does not belong to him. In addition. the home owner se- cures business opportunities that the renter cannot obtain. He is more likely prospect for loans or a part- nership or share in a business. Fur- thermore, many organizations engag- ing & new man or promoting an old employe ask—Do you own your home? If the answer is yes. the employer knows that this man can be depended upon, that he is not likely to move or change his position He knows that he must be grounded in the principles of thrift or he would not have been able to secure his home, and this means that he will probably be careful with the firm's funds. Renters Have Little Status. Renters are regarded as floatera and | | dren may be sturdy and grow up into often have little status soclally. There ‘s no question that the home owner enjoys more social prestige than the renter. 1f you move into a new com munity, and buy your home, no matter modest, the people living th: usually classed as a good | I patron of his bank | the most | | { out the country and will draw up sug- in | gested changes held necessary to re- move injustices, inequalities or uncer- tainties resulting from the present whether or not | giatute and the Treasury Department regulations. which have been issued under fit. Changes to be considered are leld not only to involve milllons of dollars in tax returns, but (o be of serious im- | | portance in real estate selling in vari- | | ous sections of the country, and to| | have an important bearing upon the | | encouragement of _home ownership | long-time through vitally affecting and payment sales of residence lots lLomes. The committee plans to present to the joint committee of Congress on in- ternal revenue taxation some time in December a request for modifications in the revenue act in accordance with the findings of the conference. In ad- dition to changes which may be asked in the revenue act, the conference will consider any other requests which the association and its member boards may make at the coming session of Con- gress. Robert Jemison of Birmingham, Ala., president of the association; C. €. Hieatt of Louisville, president-elec and other officers of the association | will meet with the committee to con- | sider the formulation of a legis estate matters. Real estate boards of | communities where the Federal tax | problem is a serious one, due to the large interests involved, have been in- vited to send representatives to the conterence. It is expected that approx- imately 18 member boards in the larger cities of the country will be represented. Henry Zander of Chi- cugo, chairman of the committee on Federal legislation and taxation, will preside. to require at least two day: The present law, erty and in reference to so-called syn- dicates for the financing of real estate developments, is in its wording so mal- adjusted to the actual conditions in re- gard to the time when profits accrue as to be in effect a serlous handicap upon the selling of ing, particula has already lhomes, the assoclation pointed out. | The association states that in | porting sales of personal propert offected on the installment plan the taxpayer is required to return only | such portion of the profit as is in due | ratio to the amount of the purchase price actually received by him during the year. In instaliment sales of real estate, it contends, on the other hand, if the taxpayer receives during the vear more than 25 per cent of the purchase price he must pay taxes not on the portlon of the anticipated prof- it which he actually received in that year, but on the whole amount of the anticipated profit, even though later payments may be defaulted, and the transaction as a whole may, as a mat- ter of fact, net loss rather than profit. CENTURY OF LIF E FORECAST FOR MODERN CONSTRUCTION That the age of permanency in building construction is dawning. and that 100 years from now our children's great-grandchildren will be working and living in the same steel, brick and concrete office and apartment build- ings that today are towering 20, 40, 67 stories above us, was the prediction made by Col. John Reed Kilpatrick of New York City, vice president of the George A. Fuller Company, speaking before the fifth annual convention of the American Construction Council at Cleveland, Ohio. Arrangements on the roofs of our buildings for heating and lighting by harnessing up the sun’s rays, and ghe bottling up of Winter's blasts for cool- tng our buildings during the m months, may not be far distant, ac- cording to Col. Klilpatrick. As vice president of a company which is car- rying out at present in 22 cities of the United States and Canada a building | program of more than $100,000,000, he stated that he voiced the general opinions of leading engineers and financlers in this fleld. “America is now in the age of per- manency in construction, just dawn- ing,” Col. Kilpatrick safd, “and far ahead of any other country In the world. It was American-buflt butld- ings that successfully withstood the Japanese earthquake in Toklo in 1924. The modern fireproof ateel and ma- sonry buildings. intelligently planned, completely designed and honestly buflt in Florida, for example, were not dam- aged by the terrific hurricane two months ago. 1 am proud to ray that none of the many atructures built by our company. 3 In Toklo and 21 in Florida, including a number that re- ceived the full force of the hurricane in Miami, suffered other than trifiing damage, confined to broken glass and ater damage resultant therefrom will feel that you are to be & per- manent addition to their community. They will want your co-operation in many civic matters in which your ownership of a home will give you voice, and they will welcome you wholeheartedly. But If all these reasons were net sufficlent, you should own vour homse for the sake of your children. A happy memory of home life may shape the entire future of your chil- dren—make or mar their success. Children who are moved from one rented abode to another are to be pitied, for they grow up without at- tachment to any particular spot, any particular nelghborhood, without any friends that they can know and with whom they can grow up as the years pass. And aside from this is the im- portance of vour children’s health. In modern times the renter usually lives in the city In a flat. His chil- dren are deprived of fresh alr, sun- shine and a place in which to run and play. Own your home 8o your chil- useful citizens. There {8 no satisfaction greater than that of making yourself inde- sndent, and the first step to real in dependence to own ur hom Col. Kirkpatrick took exception to the statement made by Frank W. Skinner at a recent convention of the American Institute of Steel Con- struction that the average skyscraper outlives its usefulness in 27 vears. “With this I disagree most emphatic- ally,” he stated. ‘Were this state- ment to be taken out of its context and accepted as a truth an owner might well stop to consider very care- venture. Should he consider the im- provement of his property practically a permanent one, or should he en- deavor to scale down his initlal invest- ment by skimping the construction and finish of his building, so that it would just last out the 27 s of useful life allotted to it This would be ridiculous, even granting the cor- rectness of the 27-vear theory, which I most assuredly do not. “Fortunately we need not accept this theory. While in this day and age it {s dangerous to attempt (o fore- cast what changes the grouping of population and modes of living will | bring about, I will make the prediction that our modern buildings will be faithtully serving our great-great- grandchildren 100 vears hence.” That the present trend of city and town planning is wholly toward per- manency in construction. Col. Kilpat- rick polnted out. e likened our big stabilized cities today (o the capltals of Europe—Paris, London, Rome-- 150 vears ago, at the time of the Revo. lution, “Compared with the Old World citles the life of important American citfes {s measured by decades rather than by centuries. Since 1876, over a pe- riod of 50 years, the growth in popu- lation of our cities has been such that we have far surpassed our foreign rivals, the capitals of Europe. Now we must begin to build for the indefi- nite period—for permanency, for sta- bility. No longer is it fair for us to assume that because so few of our Revolutionary day bulldings are still standing, or, for that matter, build- ings built §0 years ago, that 50 or 150 years hence a correspondingly small percentage of our present day bulld- ings will be still serving useful pur- poses. 1 belleve that they will be. The history of well bullt old buildings in Europe's capitals will only repeat itsel? in our stabilized cities of Amer- foa.” Referring to the possible changes in design of bulldings which may come with the development of air transpor- tation, Col. Kilpatrick drew some in- teresting comparisons. “Perhaps sev- eral blocks of modern bulldings will be razed to provide for a towering aero- plane or dirigible landing stage high above the housetops.” But he does not believe that new buildings of the fu- ture or our present-day buildings will generally be altered for private aero- plane landings. As has been the case with raflroad, trolley and new auto- mobile bus terminals being located in selacted accessible centers in our | cities. Col. Kilpatrick contended that | aeroplane landing terminals—flelds or elevated stages-—of the future will | likewise be fixed location: 2,3 & 4 Rooms with bath, $50 to $85 monthly (Garage accomodations if desired) For Rent —in the NEW BUILDINGS at Connecticut Ave. and Davenport St. N.W. These apartments, in the pleasant- est part of the city, do not lack one pleasing feature of regsonable cxpectation for the tenant’s comfort. This most recent and modern development fronts on three streets at one of the highest points in Washington. New Re-subdivision on Woodland and Rock Creek Drives, ad- joi The Triangle of between Connecticut, Massac e Rock Creek Park, one block west of Conn. Ave. Bridge and near Mass. Ave., now available. Included in what remains of Increasing Values husetts and Cathedral avenues. Over 250 homes built and under construction. Actual improve- ments and home values exceed $10,500,000. Wooded villa sites, lots, central and side hall homes, froat, from $25,000 to $200,000. with lots from 50 to 300 feet Middaugh & Shannon, Inc. ESTABLISHED 1899 717 14th St. N.W. Apartments Ready for inspection now and will be ready for occu- pancy by December 1st. To those looking for definitely improved rental apartments we advise early inspection, for no such values as these are obtainable elsewhere. Resident manager on premises daily and Sunday until 9 p.m. 1430 K St. N.W. WARDMAN Telephone Main 3830 national | slative program In regard to real | “The conference is expected | peclally in refer- | 2 % ence to installment sales of real prop- |and buflders; H. L. Breuninger, archi | $22,000. upon certain types of real estate sell- | |(lots 47 and 48, square 2958); to cost 1'$1,000, ve- | | repairs. 3131 O street (lot 804, square fully before embarking on a building | obsolescence he gntning gtaf SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1926. §725,000 BUILDING PERMITS FOR WEEK One Dwelling to Costi $150,000 Included—Many ' Repair Jobs Listed. ~e | | Building construction in the District | totaled $726,000 during the past week. Permit was granted for one $150,000 dwelling for Edwin B. Parker. Other permits granted by the office of the bullding inspector during the past seven days were: TPoretsky & Silver, owners and builders; George T. Santmyers, archi- tect; to erect seven 2-story brick dwellings, 1462-74 Holbrook terrace northeast (lots 176 to 181, square 4055); to cost $35,000. L. Breuninger & Sons, owners tect; to erect two 2-story brick dwell- ings, 7707 and 7711 Twelfth street (lots 47 and 48, square 2958); to cost L. E. Breuninger & Sons, owners and butlders; . L. Breuninger, archi- tect; to erect two frame private gar- ages, 7707 and 7711 Twelfth street ‘Anna R. Shoemaker, owner; Jullus Wenig, architect; C. A. Campbell, | Juilder’: to erect one 2-story brick store | and flat, 904 Tenth street (lot 82 square 348); to cost $8,900. Arthur R. Eno, owner, -architect and bullder; to erect one 2-story frame and stucco dwelling, 818 Alabama avenue southeast (lot 1, square 5948); to cost $5,500. John C. Letts, owner; Warren ¢ cer, bullder; to erect brick private | garage, 3200 Ellicott street (lot 800, square 2035); to cost $3,000. Israel Mensh, owner; R. T. Cator builder; to make repairs, 3218 Georgia avenue (lot 879, square 2892); to cost 2,900. Dr. H. H. Kerr, owner; Metrépoll- tan Construction Co., builders; to make repairs, 2400 Tilden street north- west (parcel 56-33, square 2231); to cost $1.000. Tdwin B. Parker, owner; Wyeth & Sullivan, architects; C. A. Langley Cn..i builders: to erect one 2-story brick and tile dwelling, 2001 Twenty-fourth street (lot 20, equare 2522) to cost $150,000. Kenneth A. Shaw, owner and archi- ; Leroy H. Harrison, builder; to| erect one 2-story cinder block and con- crete dwelling 3941 Legation street dots 17 and 18, square 1749); to cost $10,000. Rose Greeley, owner and architect; E. J. West Co., Inc., builders: to make 0 cost $2,000. Mrs, Jeanette Brooks, owner; Walter Case, builder; to make repairs, 1327 Montello avenue northeast (lot 801, square 4063); to cost $350. . W. Kramer, owner and builder; to erect one brick garage, 5301 Eighth street (lot 806, square 3151): to cost Brick Office Building. United Clay Products Co., owners and builders; Harrls & Harris, archi-| tects: to erect one 2-story brick office bullding. Eighth and Jackson streets | northeast (parcel 133-63, square 3835); to cost $7,000. Sylvanus D. Hamlin, owner; Charles Hewlett, bullder; to erect one frame shed. 1208 Fiftieth street northeast (lot 45, square 5173); to cost $300. | Terrell & Dinger, owners, architects | and buflders; to erect one frame gar- age, 3032 Stephenson street (lot 144, square 2335) to cost $300. Terrell & Dinger, owners, architects and_builders: to erect one 2-story (Continued on FEighteenth Page. |a HOME & GARDEN 17 REALTY OFFICE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS ARE DESCRIBED Mlbert B. Landvoige Tella Y. M! C. A! Class of Factors Entexjing Into Successful Exccu_tive~s Job. The complex business of conducting a well-run real estate office was ex- plained by Albert E. Landvoigt, who addressed the Y. M. C. A. real estate class on “Real Estate Office Organi- zation” at the second lecture of this course last Monday night. With the registration jumping from 66 to approximately 80 students, con- siderable interest was manifested by those taking the course in this par- ticular subject. The lecture was followed by & quiz, which resulted in the class staying considerably overtime because of questions asked. Prior to entering into the technicalities of office manage- ment, the lecturer drew the attention of the students to the many problems which confronted those entering the real estate business and pointed out the necessity of a proper understand- ing of these problems in order to suc- cessfully give service. He pointed out that a knowledge of many things was required by those entering this bust- ness, which ineluded the abllity to oc. cupy executive position, to have proper Rnowledge of real estate law, for the benefit of not only them- selves but thefr clients, and an ade- quate understanding of titles. In- surance, both fire and casualty, zoning laws and valuations of all types were part of the general requirements, he explained. Not only 1s it necessary to study these very definite problems, but the question of construction values in regard to various types. ranging from frame cottage to large modern fireproof buildings, rental problems and systems and proper knowledge of construction and building practices are highly important. Normally, a general real estate of- fice is divided into seven distinct de- partments—the rent department, loan department, settlement department, sales department, insurance depart- ment, accounting department and building department. In thks connection, Mr. Landvolgt pointed out that in the law and med- jcal professions, there is a general tendency to specialize, but in the real estate profession, an executive has under his immediate control thems seven highly specialized departments with which' he must be thoroughly famillar. The lecturer insisted that a speclal ist should be placed in charge of each department and the head of the or ganization should not be required to carry out details, but should ba given an opportunity to engage in civic work and become as much as pos sible, interested in civic activities and other organizations, which will not only be of benefit to him In his office but will give him an opportunity to study the needs and desires of his community. A head of the organiza tion, however, should cary as much as possible, details of his business a: his finger tips, and familiarize him self with the workings of his organ ization, so that he may create the policy and study the future course of his business. This contact between the head of an organization and his various departments should be brought about through reports and accountings of the actlvities of each department. These reports should be ench as to give the head an adequat idea of the work of the department S0 as to enable him to sea whether or not, it is profitable and what remedies are needed to handle certain sit tions that might arise. One of the most important neces sities of & highly developed and de partmentalized real estate office, ‘sald Mr. Landvoist, s co-ordination be tween the various departments and the executives so that the office as an entirety may work together and be in & position to supply such service and information to its customers as it is called upon to give. The rent department, said the le turer, has to serve as an information department to the incoming customers and therefors should be so organized as to direct clients and customers to the department or the proper person who can take efire of his needs. e stressed the functlons of the sales maneger’s position and the fact that the sales department is the big in come-producing department of moat real estate offices and that the bufld ing department is the merchandia~ production section. Make Rose Responsible for Your Roof HIS is the age of specialists—and we are roofing specialists. Whether it is a new roof; or the putting of the present one in condition we’ll give it that specialized service which compre- hends more than theory—but knows what it knows from long, and varied and 100% success- ful experience. 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