New-York tribune., 1873-07-04
LABOR OvERREACRING ITSELF.
sTAGNATIoN IN THE BUILDING TRADEs-rHE ULrI
MATE EFFECT.

sTAGSATION IN THE BUILDING TRADEs-rHE ULI-
MATE EFFECT.
Builders and all persons engaged In trade
in building materials complain OF an unusual sagnaton
in business In June. 1874 permits were granted DY tue
Department OF Public Buildings to tho number OF l5I;
during the period Of tho present only li nave
been granted. Builders, judging from present ndica-
tons say that during the remainder Of the year tho de-
crease will probably be much greater. Yesterday
TRIBUNE reporter talked with several builders on tho
subject and they were united in the opinion that the
only cause OF the stagnaon in building was tho attitude
toward tho masters assumed by the workmen IN the d
eren trades It snot the higher poos charged Tor aoor
which they complain Of those. they say they coud pay
and still make tho business sufficiently profitable to in
snre ts continuance But not only do the workmen fix
their own rates OF wages but also the number OF hours
they shall labor and the manner In which each part OF
tho work shall bo conducted down TO tho smallest de-
tail they in fact. the masters contractor mas no
basis upon which he estimate the COST OF erecg
building with any confidence that he may not be far be-
low tho true figure he has no control OF the matter
and n oombinaton may be formed at any moment which
will overthrow his most careful calculations. The re-
suit OF this OF uncertainty that very rev bd'
ngs being erected except SUCH as are TO be USED Dy
those constructing them stores churches, and single
dwelling houses constituting the largest part OF the
work now progress Few buildings are going up to
be sold or rented and this in the past, has constituted
the heaviest part OF the building business Of NewYork
This they assert reacts directly upon the very class
who are tho of the trouble very large proper
ton OF laborers the various departments OF building
out OF work. and will necessarily remain so Tor the
entire Summer master mason told the reporter that
IL he should tell his men at night that he wished TO
double his force on the following day, tho required num-
Der would be on hand at the hour OF beginning WORK
but If he should propose to cut down wages 70 meet he
depression in business and attempt to recognize the law
Of supply and demand not man conid De ODtaheu anu
those employed would leave hm' ine same would DO
fha ha ahnuId
greater number OF hours than they had marked out a
had had dozen stonecutters staring him In the
month past asking for work. when ne was unable 10
give them. IL is the opinion OF many that afer the
tenement t-hOuses which were begun IN the spring are
finished which VIII bo about tho middle OF July or the
first of August nearly onehaf tho abOers at work
will be thrown out of employment and remain during
the coming Winter, unless they leave the city. such Ii
the effect OF tradesunions obligations upon their
bers; while they require the strctest compliance with
their demands in this city tho men wl cross the river
to Brooklyn or NewJersey, and make their own bar
gains The consequence that building in the suburbs
Is active as usual and cheap homes are added 70 oter
influences which tend to draw OIL the population Oh new
York to neighbOrlng towns.
Dealers in building materials are Affected inJuriousy
by the check which the building interests have suffered
Nearly all articles Of this nature are now offered at or
below cost importers OF foreign glass are selling at 60
per cent discount from prices OF few months ago.
Brick lumber building stone. and building iron have
suffered the depreciation. The general aspect OF
the trade is gloomy, and those chiefly interested have
very little hope in the immediate future. They say that
the which have led TO the present state OF things
are Of slow growth and viii not soon bo removed The
ultimate effect will however, be less disastrous To the
than 10 the laborers, who Will be driven from
the city through lack Of employment.
superintendent Adams OF the Building Department
that the applications for building permits still fall
below the average number for this OF the year.
which conclusive proof OF the duness OF the build
ing interest It b this view, rather remarkable that
many applications are mado for permits for erecting
certain costly structures Among those recently made
are the new buildings OF the Delaware Canal Company,
which will cost s75OOO0 the Coliseum which VIII cost
100000, and private residence at Fitthaye ana
Fftieth-st, which will Sg3,O)O Indeed Superin.
tendenf Adams states II the same amount OF money was
distributed among small building enterprises through
out city the would DO muon better one for
trad