Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-20
THE COST OF BUILDING.

The prices of building materials, and,
as a consequences, the cost OF building,
seem to have advanced more rapidly
than any other articles OF trade since the
boom in prices began. This is specially
true of such odds and ends of hardware
as are used in building. The average
advance in such materials is put at 40
per cent. within the present year.
We find in a table of statistics COM
parison of prices now and at the begin
ming of the year, showing, for example,
that nails are 20 per cent. higher; win
dow-weights have advanced fully 70 per
cent. locks and knobs have risen nearly
IS per cent. on the average, and kim
dred goods % per cent; common door
butts and hinges fully 100 per cent.
Common window glass, either French,
German or American, cannot be bought
to-day within 20 per cent. as cheap as 1t
could on the LIST OF January. \ box oil
glass suitable for sashes 10 by 80 inches
in diminsion costs $500 to-day, against
=. 9S at the beginning OF the year; box
for 10 bv II Sashes cost $40 to-day,
against S2.lO on the first OF January,
and box OF glass for Is! by 20 sasheS
costs 3 now, against = so when the
year opened. Sashes, doors and blinds
have recently undergone very mater
ial advance. Blinds have been unpro-
fitably low and the present prices con-
stitute a rise of from 81 to 10 per cent.
A blind upon which the combination
price was lately 90 cents now costs 60;
those which formerly sold for 20 now
sell for 90, and those which formerly
sold for IS cents now sell at Sl.lO.
Sashes with glass ready set are over 80
per cent. dearer to-day than at the be-
ginning of the year.
In brick there has been, since the LIST
of January, an advance on some grades
Of common of over 80 per cent, but III
lime, sand and cement there has been
very little variation, and the same may
be said OF paints and oils. In all these
articles, however, though there has been
very little nominal advance, yet figures
which could often be obtained upon
them six or eight months ago are not
possible to-day. In dull times it fire.
quently happens that dealers are will
ing to give quiet concessions TO Gus
toners for the purpose OF securing trade
when there has apparently been no ac-
tual decline in the prices; and, upon the
other hand, when business begins to inn
prove, the iirmer feeling which prevails
renders such concessions difficult to OBJ
tain, even though prices are not quota
bly, higher.
Ordinary building lumber and shingles,
DC, are not quotably high
er to-day than at the beginning Of the
year, but the Eastern mills are generally
running full and are approachinga po-
sition where they can take their pick OF F.
orders. In the West a material adj
vance has occurred on finishing stock |
and the retail dealers are talking OF
corresponding advance.
Hardwood lumber for finishing pur-
poses is also firmcr and ash and cherry |
will cost some per cent. more than on |
the LIST OF January. Black walnut sells |.
at about the same price As at the begin
ming of the year, but it has recently adj /
vanccd 20 that figure after q decline Of /
from to per cent.
The cost OF plumbinga house to-day /
is from - TO y per cent. creator than
on January |.