New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-10

Ih're was something approaching it ten or
eleven years ago ;but that was a false boom under
the impetus of the flush times of the Tweed Ring.
But then nothing Of the magnitude of the buildings
now constructing was contemplated. They are
binding nowadays two houses on plot one on
top of the other; and rs the walls have TO be much
thicker The use Of and consequently demand for
material is much greater: and of course for labor
also. Owing to the thickness of the walls there
are great many more bricks i'm a building ten
stories high than in two buildings of five stories in
height and naturally more labor is required in the
taller than III the smaller structures These are
features not generally thought of by Won gentle
men who speak of the great increase in building:
ana they are features that affect prices and cost to
the cOntractors.'
REMARKABLE INCREASE.
Was this great increase anticipated Z"
Not generally. anticipated il. Oh thought
was smart, and was smarter thau most Of en-
but dd not calculate on such an increase rs this
ioro,aw from the number of plans submitted to me
that there was going to bc great activity in build
ing but did not dream OF this. made calcula-
tons on basis OF large increase in prices of ma
tcral and Labor, but calculated TOO low. paid
~ per thousand for brick last year | thought
would be smart and made estimates on basis of
- % per thousand | would be very glad to con-
tract Tor all | want at -, but cant. They are
held now rs high as $40. We were paying - last
year 10 brlc<laycr and the the I}ricAlaycrs Union
and the Mechanics Association had a conference in
which 1t was fixed that - 80 per day should DE the
price for this season for hYicllavcrs But whom the
great demand for good worAmcn developed itself.
She men broke away from the Union and demanded
higher wages than had been agreed upon. never
had much faith in the Union being able 10 keen IFS
bargain, and | made my calculation on a basis OF
~ per day. Even then | did not estimate bich
enough. They are getting . 30 and asking -,
and they are conloundcd sapcy and scarce Mt
that used to hire common laboIcrs at ~ 80 and
~ - last year. I'm paying every one of those
Italians you see There - 30 a day. And the worst
ot it j, that the higher the wages you paw the less
work they do. The brirl,laycrs are SO independent
that they actually do less work for = 80 than they
would do for 50. When wages are low and
mborcrs plenty, the man who has a Job works TO
keep it, for it is rot always easy 10 get another
and there are plenty 80 take his place. When
wages are high and aborcrs scarce. they are in
different rs to the rapdty with which they work
for they can throw upa ob here and get one across
the way without loss of time while you have the
devils own job to replace thcm.n
" These figures represent very heavy advance -
10 per cent on material and about 30 per cent on
labor
"Ihc figures are correct, howcvcryour percentages
may be; and labor and materials are both scarce
Almost any number Of briclllaycrs could find en-
ploymcnt here next month at good wages"
" l. this advance exceptional to your business p
Other trades are striking, but they get no al.
vance. think that it is the great activity in
binding which affects wages in or branch. aud
workmen i'll other brancLc, are excited to strike.
without the Same basis fox doing so.r
The architect had been asked if the advance in
wages was confined to worhmcn in the building
trade, and hc had answered aiirmativcly. "Some
idiot pressed time OF his contract lately
offered - day for few brioklaycr4 1t flew over
the town like widire and the bricklaycrs have had
their heads in the air ever since. The other trades
are demanding advance without getting it, because
no such unusual demand exists for their services |
can buy glass cheaper to-day than last year, and
contracted for the iron for of the largest build
ings now going up in New-York for 3 40 where |
paid cents last year. The strikers in other trades
are not succeeding beyond getting half-holi-
day, and such like concessions; and it is because
there is such demand for labor in other branches
as in the building trade"
DO YOU find" was asked of a builder " that it is
more expensive to build the prevailing style of
high buildings than the ordinary four and five story
buildingsp
"rhcrc is no apprcciabe difference Steam lifts
in tall buildings economist greatly and whenever
building is above the average height rig a lift
which abolishcs the hod."
"On the whole, do you think the prospect for the
builder is bad ~
MANY will make heavy losses others will fail,
and others will abandon their contract any eX-
cuse or none. Very few anticipated this extraord-
nary demand"
"Would You advise skilled wormen to come o
New-Yor> just now :"
Not generally But carpenters. stone masons and
bricklaycrs, yes-for a season or two. They in
great demand. | notice in your paper mention of Il
Colorado railroad company advertising for 10, 600
common laorers in Great Britain for years con-
tracts. 1t would pay to import German English
brick and stone masons TO this city two years
contracts ut double the wages they get at home
and 1T may be done yet. The German is very
skilful laborcr in our branch of trade"
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS VIEWS
Talks with half score of house agents, land
lords and tenants elected many facts and q di-
verslty of opinions. The facts formulated
below; and occasionally such opinions as appeared
to be generally entertained injected between the
facts to illustrate and enlivcn them.
Tall buildings became necessary because of the i'm.
possibility of obtaining reasonable revenue from
the ordinary structure upon ground bringing such
fabulous prices downtown property commands.
go to almost any height which the building laws
and the economy of space nj the ground floors war
rantcd. Two and sometimes three houses now
built on single lot and the top floors bring in as
large percentage of revenue the lower floors.
That assertion is very nearly if not quite exact,
though 1t appeared exaggerated to the reporter
when first uttered by house-agent Of Ccdar-st
The rates Of rental for top floors propoItonately