Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-01
Ez1ID1NG PROSPECTS THIS sEAsoN.

Tie IfiMity In the real estafe nRtiux lnE
ynuy, UNI ufin great. Hnnfsr Of huaars ereraed
| give nnusuH inherent To the opening Of TIA
present HexWm- The Rlser1fatar, the real esaafs
brHber ind file mechanic are closely s4uayfns
tiIe signs III tlD times The real es4xte maj
talks hsgRfaIly er the nassoa from his point Of
virw- Tie FIXTURE IN moi quite 80 bright for the
hr,lsazr, Who fsans TINT the increase in the Coz,
OF iabsr and material viii check the building
boon
Juasts. from consultations held by reporters
Cd The STAR With builders and contractors and
with FOHne Of the busiest architects in relation
10 the prospects for private building and i'm.
prOyements, it seems to be general opinion
that there will be some falling of In the amount
OF work done in consequence Of this advance.
Several large jobs Of work laid out for this sea-
son have been abandoned by their projectors
until the prices of material etc, are moderated.
the large number of fine dwellings erected in
this city last year has attracted many wealthy
persons to this city to obtain winter homes, and
the coming season had been fixed upon to erect
such homes by even larger number than
availed themselves last year of the opportunity.
In counting up the cost several have come to
the conclusion to postpone building until the cost
shall come down, while others who have plans
and permits, will go on and finish under CON-
tracts made last year. It is also true that while
several large expenditures In this direction will
be postponed for time. there will be many i'm
provements OF less expensive quality made.
THE ADVANCE IN LABOR.
This general advance in material and labor is
explained by the most intelligent architects and
mechanics by the fact that there has been q
large increase in the demand for building ma
terial and for labor all over the country They
state that statistics will show that there never
has been year in the history Of the country
when there was 80 much building improvements
as last year. Another fact is also to be remem-
bered, that several hundred of mechanics left
this city last year for Chicago and places In the
west where wages were higher. In majority
of these cases. the mechanics have not re-
turned, but have found permanent homes or
therefore not so plentiful as in the early part of
the building season last year, and the wages
are. therefore higher. The cost of living which
continues high, also furnishes a reason for the
rise in thep price of labor. 1t is also stated by
the architects that the real estate spectators
In those parts of the city where it is most de-
sirable to locate.
THE SPIRIT OF SPECULATION
In ground has been too much in advance of the
demand for 1t. The advance in mechanics
wages and building material Ks estimated by
some to be IS per cent and by others at 80 per
cent. while the advance on desirable lots has
far exceeded these rates. These figures given
probably hold good in the matter of mechanics
wages, with the exception of bricklayers and
plasterers, which have been greater-sOme say
as high as 100 per cent. Mr.. RI. Fleming states
that he knows of $50 600 worth of work which
VIII be LETT out OF the market this year in conse-
quence Of the advance in wages There are
considerable number of buildings contracted for
last year yet unfinished which WILL as general
thing. be completed, but ip some cases the work
will be postponed. some Of the architects. how
ever say that they have fears all these things
Will adjust themselves. If the work stops, the
prices must come down.
THE INCREASED COST OF MATERIAL.
As contrast in the rates of material, prom
nent contractor gives the following list Bricks,
which last year cost SIS So are now selling at
$3.50 s. per /, 900; timber, such as scantling,
cuttings &C., which cost SIS last year, now costs
$40 go; stating has advanced from 81 to $40
per square thinning has advanced 81 per square;
white pine and other high grades of timber are
about the same; hard pine for flooring, from
$50 to $40 per 1000; Virginia pine, from S1S
80; hardware has advanced about IS per cent
generally; ten-penny nails, worth 1915 last
year. command from $3.50 $3.50; rough stone
is about the same, but the labor to work it into
shape has advanced; very little advance has
been observed in lime and cement, but it is eX-
pected they will go up too.
IMPROVED STYLES,
The styles of both outside and inside con-
structiOn and finish, will differ very little from
those of last year some new features are how
ever noted, especially in the patterns of thing,
terra Gotta work and in moulded brick Some
very handsome features have been made in these
and it is likely that continued improvements
will follow. as these things are now entering
largely into the internal finish of the best build
ings.
Inventive genius seems to have drifted in this
direction to a considerable extent within few
years past and with immense success. build
er told STAR reporter that within the last ten
years there have been produced more designs in
wood mast1c and terra Gotta ann in cut stone
all of which enter into't construction of build
ings, than ever before in his recollection. Some
OF the handsOmest designs in these things are
manufactured in this city. and are furnished at
q less cost than those sent here from abroad.
WHAT THE BUILDING INSPECTOR SAYS.
Building Inspector Entwisle, in conversation
with STAR reporter on the subject of building
generally, stated that prices have advanced all
along the line, both for building materials and
labor. He thinks the rise will not go above 20
per cent on the average, with the exception Of
brick work and plastering. Brick work in the
wall has taken jump from $12 last year to
S14 50 per NJ this year and the same rate will APP
"a
combination of all kinds of trades, extending
even to bod carriers and labOrers. The combi-
nation has been effected in such way as that
mechanics will stop work in case the adj
vance Is not paid the hod carriers and IabOrers.
and vice If any side ofthose belong
ing to the union are employed upon work, those
belonging to the union will quit and the con-
tractor Is left in the lurch. He thinks the effect
viii be to deter many from building this season;
that when these advances affect the erection of
fine dwelling to the extent of $4,000, which is
the fact in many instances. the owners will fold
up their plans and postpone their execution
until prices come down. He states that thus
far quite large number of building permits
have been given out. but for class of houses
much inferior to those built last year. The
heaviest permit thus far is $50 GOO for single
dwelling, and he knows of many costly contem-
plated dwellings which have been withheld by
the protector on account of the expense
HOPEFUL BUILDERS.
Some Of the builders do not share in the
alarm, and state that they have no fears but
that work will be lively enough this season.
They state that these advances in material are
the natural results ofa general demand through
out the states, and the increase of 20 per cent in
wages Of mechanics is reasonable and Just. The
increase Of more than that. except in few in