New-York tribune., 1874-06-24
THE BUILDING TRADE.

THE FAILURE OF THE BRICKLAYRRs' AND LABoRERS'
STRIKE ACTING AS A STIMULUS 10 CAPITALISTS
AND CONTRACTORS.
The failure of the bricklayers and laborer5
to bring increase OF their appears likely
stimulate building trade in this city, This effect
may not be Immediately felt but 1t Is the opinion OF the
leading builders that within few months, unless an
strike should TO embarrass the trade there
will be great increase in the number of new building
enterprises They say that capitalists are deferred from
Investing their in building by rise In wages
more than by anything else. and when tho rate OF
wages is vaeillating they will not build at all II they
can help it. A prominent contractor told TRIBUNE
reporter yesterday that he knew OF many cases where
had had their plans drawp and everything pre-
pared to be gin building learning Of the proposed
strike OF the bricklayers had given up that Intention
and declared that they would either walt unu wages
were fixed at a reasonable rate not build at all. Tue
building trade, said TINS gentleman, would be moro
stimulated by the adoption Of the old ten-hour system
than by lowering wages. The eght-hour plan Is tho
great stumbling block in of building enterprise
Still the worknen cling with great tenacty, aud
will not be persuaded that 1t would be better for all 10
work ten hours day for larger wages Eight hours
work not enough to support laborer, aud the COM
munty cannot prosper on any system which dimnishes
the amount OF usefulness Of its laboring members.
Those who do not know from experience. said ono
builder can form adequate idea of the injurious effect
which the eght-hour system has had on the building
trade of NewYork. 1t has driven capital and popua-
tion from the city. When 1t was adopted. two
years ago, many builders, who did not
expect 1t when they made their estimates lost
largely, and the trade has never entirely
recovered from the serious blow which then received
The employers hope that the workmen will before long
see that they have made a mistake and will be willing
back to the 10 hour plan To forc6ly bring aoou.
such result Is, they say impossible Ihe only Ietnod
Of accomplishing IL Is that when they nave res9Neu 70
pursue, viz to keep decreasing wages 50 long as
Id EMPLOYERS
united action they could force the wages of brckayers
down 81 within 10 days, and unless trade soon oe
comes moro brisk they will do IT, II tine men Woulu
work 10 hours day they would willingly raise their
wages to a. o more, but for eight hours WORK
they must be content with more than proportonally
small wages The bosses all say that their great 9ees
in keeping down TO stimulate the trade Those
who wish to build constantly complain OF the hlgh est
mates contractors but the oay feasible me nod OF
reducing these estimates Is 10 decrease wages Wch II
the factor easily altered To show how selfish arc
the demands OF the brickayers one employer VINO onS
been regularly paying - day, related mat one OF MS
men who recently became boss refused To take VI
LAYERS who had been his fell0w-workmen because 10
would have TO pay them a. while by employing new
men he could reduce wages TO sS oo. -, p,,,
Inaurng at the Office OF the Department OF Bindings
yesterday, elected the following facts Inc numoet OF
new buildings begun during the first SIX months OF S
and the number during the nrst nSe months OF
1874 was 49, showing considerable increase this year
The number Of alterations made during the nrst SIX
months Of last year was 3i9 while the hunpef maao
this year. up TO june 702 The number OF buidnRs
progress July l. 1873, was l04S and the huDer IN
progress June 1874 was 66s The increase 10 Io
humber OF buildings Is partly ascrbed to the lower
rate OF wages which has far this year Ine
new buildings mostly stores, banking houses ana
Others OF that class while there is marked falling on
In the number OF tenemens and nrstclass residences.
The aggregate value OF new budiDgs this much
than since there no such large enter
prises THE TRIBUNE building aud the Delaware and
Hudson Canal Companys building, 70 swell the ager
gate IL is that building Will become orK again
If the rate Of remains fixed where It now ls