New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-24
WORRINGMEN'S PROSPECTS.
THE BUILDING TRADE sTAGNANT.

THE BUILDING TRADE STAGNANT.
A MARKED REDUCTION IN BUSINESS FROM LAST
rEAR--BUn.DING MATERIALS CHEAPER--ME-
CIANICs' WAGES UNSETTLED.
The indications are that building in this
city and its vicinity will less vigorously prosecuted
this season than for many past The price OF
labor and building materials and the uncertainty as to
the future deters capitalists from investing to great
extent as yet in building enterprises. BY the middle OF
next month fair estimate be made OF the amount
OF building that will be done during the coming season
The records Of the Department OF Buildings chow a
marked reduction the estimated value OF the buildings
the plans for which have been submitted For the two
weeks ending Jan. H. s73 there submitted % sets
OF plans for 20 buildings These buildings comprised
three rscass stores three rstcass factories, twenty
one tenements, hotel and stable. The esti-
mated cost Of these A666,7O0. For the two weeks
ending JAN a. 1874 there 81 sets Of plans for 70
buildings submitted. These comprise two frstclass
dwellings, one second-class dwelling. six French fats
sixteen tenemeEts, two factories and one stable The
estimated cost OF these Is a4sOoo The reduction, II
believed, will be even greater for the last two weeks
OF this month, and for the month OF February com
pared with last year.
A TRIBUNE reporter conversed yesterday with sew
era builders, well dealers in building materials.
with to learning the prospects Of the building in
terest for the A. o. Rowe, superintend-
OF the Building Material Company. at the foot OF
teria from 10 to Is per cent lower an average
than they were last year at this time, except in the
single Of cement the price OF which IL kept up by
a combination Hard brick sell at from 70 30 to ~
thousand by the cargo against so to 80 GOA year ago.
To this added 81 thousand for deveryand profit Eo-
senale cement selling at 49, against 90 to u 80 last
year To ths is added 25 for delivery. Portland
cement rules at from 81 50 to 75about the same as
year ago Ground lime is worth 81 against VI 20 last
year G ems Falls and Bald Mountain lime, the
Plaster OF paris tweivemoDth since was bringing u u.s.
Peck & WandeT, dealers in builders materials at
Thrtiethst aud North River report that they do not
expect before March, but they think this
10 tho building interest. They say that the average
prices least 40 cent lower than at
any time during the last nine years and are likely to
remain They think the low price OF brick will neces-
sary compel the manufacturers to hire cheaper help
than heretofore and that prices generally VIII ee con
ys to as ss Of
building interest for the coming spring 49, ,
nends On the labor question: Owners of real estate de-
clare If the price of labor Is not reduced they Will
not undertake any neg building tp lSr
not allowed by the rsdesunons TO DO iul days WORK
S na e T
Of the busiest eras ever known. He THINKS thas
capitalists have become tired OF investing IN raiifoau
their money real estate thaf capitalists could build
to realize small but sure Profit they would
at once He regards the conflict between labor
and cap all wrong ana as especlay uniavorao.e
10 the fsbOrpg classes He says the still adhere TO
the rule aud the old scale OF prices although
there are "a who secretly work for what they can
get and that there many more who would adopt
the same policy they not afraid OF incurr1nk the
hostility OF the unions.
John Demarest, builder at No. 80 Barrow-st, thlnRs
that there are many stores and houses TO let tnat
there small induceInent for building enterprses
that capitalists likely to put their money INTO
houses where they realize only from three 10 Tour
per interest when they readily get seven per
cent from other sources He thinks there viii be no
more building Spring than h absolutely necessary
Others say that 1t is too early yet to make careiu
estimate of the prospects Of the probabilities for the
coming year that prices for both labor and material
are altogether hign and that there are more build
ngs m the market than there Is an immediate de-
Inand for.