The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-12-05
How Prices are Going Up.
FEW FIGURES DEMONSTRATING THE RISE
IN BUILDING MATERIAL.

IN BUILDING MATERIAL.
The Builder for November says the great
est rise in prices has been in articles of
hardware, and so far as these enter into the
construction of house the bu ilder finds
that his estimates must be very materially
increased. Nails are 70 per cent higher to-
day than they were at the beginning of the
present year. Window.weights have ad-
vanced fully rs per cent. locks and knobs
have risen nearly As per cent. upon the
average; locks and kindred goods, 25 per
cent; common door butts and hinges fully
100 per cent; and such other odds and ends
of hardware as are used In building an aver
age no less than 40 per cent.
Common window glass, either French,
German or American, cannot be bought to-
day within 20 per cent. as cheap as it could
on the 1st Of January. A box of glass suit.
able for ssshes l5 by 80 inches in dimensions
costs SO 80 to day, against 81 9S at the be-
ginning Of the year; box for 10 by 10
sashes costs 81 70 to-day, against s210 on
the lst of January, and box lof glass 13a
by 26 sashes costs s9 now, against $3.50
when the year opened. Ssshes, doors, and
blinds have recently undergone very ma
teral advance. Blinds have been unpro6ta-
bly, low, and the present prices constitute a
rise of from "a to 45 per cent. A blind
upon which the combination price was lately
so cents now costs G5; those which formerly
sold for rs cents now sell at 81 10. Sashes
with glass ready set are over 30 per cent.
dearer to day than at the beginning of the
year.
Doors are constantly advancing and it is
difficult to keep the run of the new prices
which are made by the manufacturers.
In brick there has been, since the 1st OF
January, an advance on some grades OF
common OF over 80 per cent, but in lime,
sand and cement there has been but little
variation, and the same may be said of points
and oils. In all these articles, however,
there is hardening tendency, and it may
be generally said of them that, though
there has been very little nominal advance
yet figures which could often be obtained
upon them six or eight months ago are no
possible to day. In dull times" it frequent
ly happens that dealers are willing to Civ,
quiet concessions to customers for the pur
pose of securing trade when there has ap
parenlly been no actual decline in tn,
prices; and, upon the other hand, whel
. business begins to improve, the frmer feel
ing which prevails renders such concession
difficult to obtain, even though prices ar
not quoted higher. The estimates whic
builders were able to furnish last winte
3 and spring, therefore, were lower than to
day, not only because of the advance whic
q has actually occurred in some materials bu
8 because of the concessions which were the
Q possible in others.
r Ordinary building lumber and shingle
clap boards, &C., are not quotably highe
$ to-day than at the beginning of the yea
e but the Eastern mills are generally runnin
+ full and and are approaching positio
e whore they can take their pick of order
n In the West a material advance has o.
l. Cured on finishing stock and the reta
o dealers are talking Of corresponding q,
10 vance here.
t: Hardwood lumber for finishing purpos
! is also firmer and ash and cherry will CO
d some per cent. more than on the LIST
e January. Black walnut sells to-day
l. about the same price as at the beginning
IN the year, but it has recently advanced
s. that figure after decline Of from three
d. five per cent.
'' The cost of plumbing house to-day
- from 20.to 25 per cent. greater than
:. January l.