, 1883-09-08
- Brick.

+ There is nothing tha. has so delayed
/ the growth Of our towns as the scarc,tS oi
( builiing material, and this in spite OF the
( fact that we have forests tecming with
lumber and mountains of clay admirably
adapted for tae maEGfac'ure OF the hnesi
or;ek. But We are evidently behind the
zee fsr so far as we knos there Is not ye-
either in Oregon or Washington Terrific
" single briek making machine; these
,,,cb;oes viii make far better brick than
any now made By hand cut OF the most
common dirt TO the number OF 20, oO per
diam. II some os our readers Will give
THAR attention to this vital subject the
Sr,rrsv,y will render them every assis-
,.nce in working the measure up 80
f.-ssxs can find out the whole plant
f,r machinery Will cost abont slo,UOo,
and allowing one quarter more for Incl
dental expenses the sum of S2O,0oWouid
be all sufficient and at only ons-tourth
the urice now paid for brick sodid pay
dividend of four per cent per month a
ioip, stock company for the introduction
AZ these machines could be easily gotten
-, hr some good men who understand
the business. The Seattle Ia'el',ge'cer
has the following sensible article on the
suit iect which we commend to the atten-
tion Of our readers.
Bricks are worth in Denver, Cob, 81
per " There are now on hand IN tha'
cIfv twenty millions in excess OF the de-
m mtli, and one-hali the brickmakers have
stopped operations, alleging that four dol
lars ,loes not more than Cover first cost.
Ofo.s are made by contractors IN Denver
70 ll.ild blocks OF ive-rOom houses, one
sto,, high, Of the best workmanship III
SIDE ana ont, inside wood work nnely
trained, and each house provided with
Usutrv and three closets at $40 apiece
Bricks are contracted to be laid In the
wall for S7.25 per thousand. Such
houses, with from four to SIX rooms, rent
n that cily at from eight to twelve dol
iars per month, and, estimating the value
Of the lot equal giththe cost OF the house,
oay one per cent. per month Of the IN
vestmenl.
Bricks in Seattle are held at Sl0 per
NJ ana many have been been sold dur
.ng the present season a. that figure with
oh
quantity. We are at loss to understand
Why with sucn prices and an increasing
demand there Is not great profit In brick
making, nor why the market is not well
supplied with them. II four, or even SIX
dollars per NJ. will cover the cost of max
ing bricks in Denver, 1t certainly should
do 90 here. Labor Is but little II any
i.i.h :, fuel is cheap-may be had almost
ior the asking-and the market IS reliable
and permanent. If bricks can be manu-
faclured at any accessible point within
ten miles of Seattle at a cost Of six dol
lar., IT would appear that a very large
margin Of profit exists between such cost
.ud the prevailing prices. Even al IS
grr II there would be money in the bus
mess.
Tits scarcity and high price have oper-
a.ed largely against the erection of brick
buildings in our city, and have prevented
the improvement OF much valuable prop
er.v On business streets. The low price
# lumber and high price Of bricks have
compeiIed the erection Of wooden build
:n-s On lots where tho owner would under
different circumstances have erected per-
aareht brick structures. Next year will
~iiness a vast activity here i'll building.
There are IN contemplation nov buildings
which wiil require over 100000 bricks,
and il is safe to estimate that within the
next twelyemonth there will be needed in
this city from four TO six millions more.
If there isn't money in the business, We
AL to understand the reason and are
puzzled to know why some company is
not organized which will contract for,
manufacture, and deliver all there will be
demanded for next seasons building