The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-26
nuILDISG AND wHArTT oosTs.


BUILDING AND WHAT TT COSTS.
Cost OF Building Now aud One and Two
Years Ago-Laborers, Carpenters and
PIasterers wages-Cost Of Material, dc.
With the return Of better times comes
the demand for new and better buildings,
and also disposition to repair and beau.
tify old and questionable buildings, and
a better indication Of returning prosper
ity and confidence in its continuance than
either Of these is the disposition to build
large and handsome blocks and places OF
business in various sections Of the city.
Anterior to 1S79-S0 this disposition was
largely manifested, and many blocks, or
parts OF blocks, were in contemplation, but
the boom that these periods brought TO
the iron, nail and lumber business, also
inflated the workers in these commodities,
and building materials and laborer's wages
went booming up so high that they soon
got out OF the range OF the vision Of those
who wished 10 utilize them, and the con.
sequence was that all these projects were
temporarily or permanently abandoned.
Materials and labor are once more within
the reach OF all, and building has again
received an impetus and the indications
are that there will be large amount Of
building this fall and winter. A reporter
OF this paper in a conversation with Mr.;
Charles P. Hamilton, the architect, asked
him how materials and labor were at the
present time as compared with year or
two years ago. ~
In 1879, stone masons got So and So 25
per perch for ruble stone work in walls;
caps and sills 81 so apair; So and 40 cents
per loot for cut and axed stone work
This spring opened up with ruble work at
S. per perch; caps and sills So 25 pair
cut and axed work so and 90 cents pei
foot, but at present prices are somewhat
lower, s. 90 and g 70 being asked for ru'
BILE work, 40 cents for cut work, and g FOL
Brick in the spring OF 10 was remark
ably low, being built in the wall for s.
and ST so per NJ, the advance in this line
of work has been steady without any tluc
tuation, $40 being now asked, with view
to further advance in the near future.
Plasteripg, which for the last few year,
has been on the decline in this vicinity
without any apparent cause, has stittenec
mn and has a healthy look. In 1S76-I-S'9
the price per yard for three.coat work wal
anywhere from u TO IS cents per yard or
brick. and from Is TO % cents on lath
The bottom has fallen out Of this loosing
game for the plasterers, and they arc nov
asking IS cents for brick and % cents FOL
lath work. Common lime Is now selling
at l2S to is cents; white, or Maryland
and Louisville lime at 90 cents and 81 cope
barrel, OF three bushels. The same person.
in 1870 sold common lime at 10 and II cents
white, 70 and so cents per barrel. Hair
long winter. now selling at l6 cents, price
in 1879 l2i and IA cents. Lath could be
bought for s. 70 in 1879; now they arr
worth S. so. Painting and glazing are nov
averaging about 10 per cent. higher thar
in 1870. In the early spring prices wer'
much higher than at present, owing to TN
advance In glass, lead and oil. These arti
cles have declined about ID or Is pc
cent. since then.
Hardware in 1879 was the cheapest thin
in a house. A good lock could be had 10
"a 80 per dozen, and a fine bronze trimmed
lock at S24 90. The same to day cannot b.
bonpht for less than 81 90 and S. 90 for tn
first. and $50 100 and 3S 90 for the latter
OF course there are intermediate grade
mot quoted here. These are the ones uset
mostly here, and chow the advance II
this line OF building material. Door butt
selling at 81 so per dozen pair, S!x33 in
an advance OF so per cent.
Roofing material is slightly in advanc
of 1879. and somewhat lower than in tn
spring OF the present year. Tin roofing !
now put on for S. 90; slate, in figure, 81 90
plain, s. 90; patent iron at - w; shlngle
XXX, s. 90; clear butts, 50 5o; asbestos =
S. 90; gravel at S. 90 for the best, and 81 o
for common. Nails are sold at the care
rate OF s. Is; while at this time one yea
ago the card rate was 81 70.
Lumber has advanced about ~ per cen
over 10, locust posts selling at 3Oc, ceda
35c. each. Hemlock at SIS 90 per thons
and feet. Pine framing or bill stuff S25 90
Pine common boards SIS 90, prime an'
clear $50 to $50 per thousand feet. Shing
les selling at 81 %. Sold one year ago a
s. %. Mouldings have advanced bu
little II any, there being 5 per cent dis
count FROM book last year and none this
Western doors and sash are selling at al
advance OF SO per cent over last year
price. this advance allowed our own fac
tories to make up large lots Of their door
: at profit. There has been slight de
cline since June /, 2.Sx0.S doors sellinga
81 so each. Sash at 50c for Sxl0, unglazed
and 81 so glazed. Plumbing and gas fixture
have advanced about 20 per cent, attribu
table largely to the boom in iron and met
al
u In the matter Of wages the advance ha
been healthy and seemingly permanent
Since the strike in April carpenters hav'
been receiving g % per day for the bes
hands, common hands 81 IS and s. 90 pc
day.
Bricklayess get from g so to s. 90 pc
day; tenders, 81 60; common laborers
81 25; plasterers, s. rs and g 80; painter
the same; stone masons get 81 90 to - %
The rates paid in 1879 were: Carpenter
Isl 25 to 81 rs per day; bricklayers, So o.
to 50 %; tenders, 81 %; other laborers
90 cents and 81 90; plasterers, 81 70; paint
ers, 81 90; stone masons, 81 70.
BY a glance at the foregoing compari
sons It will be seen that the advance II
building has been about 20 per cent owe
llS7s. 1t Is the general opinion OF build
ers that the present is period OF gradua
but solid and healthy development which
will leave prices higher than at present.
MEETING OF THE REPUBLICAN, CouNT,
CoMMlrrRE.-The Republican County Elk
ecutiye Committee met Saturday after
| ,non nursuopt m adinnrnmnnt The