Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-22

! AND KNOT.
! Mr.. Scott of the firm of Scott & Knot said
The building prospects this year are much
more favorable than we anticipated. We shall
do more work than last year by good deal.
! Repairing also is brisk. 1t would make no dit
ference in building if wages did advance some
what. but we do not expect any change from
last year in the price of labor
| THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
| Building Inspector Entwisle in response to a
| STAR reporters query. as to whether he had no.
| ticed any change in the situation of building
affairs, said he could see daily an improved state
| OF things. The best criterion was the number of
| building and repair permits issued daily. There
| were twenty eight more building permits taken
! out in February Just passed than in the CORE
] spending month last year. but coupled with this
! statement should he the fact that they are ren-
/ orally smaller and less expensive houses: vet
! enough can be seen to indicate healthy and
prosperous state OF affairs. Persons are not ONLY
building houses to occupy themselves but for
investment: lie sees no cause for anything else
imam continued prosperity.
Opinions of the Brick Wen.
| THE WASHINGTON BRICK MACHINE COMPANY
| The president ana manager of the Washington
Brick Machine company, Mr. Holbrook. said to a
! STAR reporter:
| From our standpoint, the outlook is very
favorable for a good season. believe that
| there is going to be great deal of building Of
course it is possible to Brighten investors off,
and an increase in the cost of a house. some
/ times not amounting TO more than $50, will
cause man to abandon the intention of build
/ ing. AS tar as we are concerned there has been an
advance III the cost ofbricks of fifty cents per thou
sand. which makes an increase In the cost of a
/ very large house of about ?,5. That is not very
much. you NAV saw and it is not | don't think
| no afy in brIpl
and have not heard of any increase in the cost
of other materials"
| suppose there is an advance In wages 2"
! asked the reporter
! Il don't anticipate that there will be apy ad-
vance. was the reply. Il understand that the
| demand OF the bod carriers will not be acceded
/ TO- Ii there is an advance, it wi Of course.
nave depressing effect upon building. With
| the present prices for labor and material the
! opportunities offered here for investment are
| OF such character as to continue to attract
capital in the future. as il has in the past. A
/ judlcious Investment in real estate pays a net
return of eight per cent, and this is the induce
ment for men who have their money placed at
| six per cent to invest
! 1.-The cost of brick" continued Mr. Hobrook,
lis naturally one of vital interest to those con-
tempating building. The improvements of the
past few years have not been of a speculative
character, and L see no reason to expect any
change in the character of Improvements in the
future. The fact that this is presidential year
Will not have any influence in this direction
Inc improvements will 90 on if prices are favor
able believe that the cost of building will
show no appreciate advance over last year, and
look forward to a busy season."
THE VIRGINIA BRICK COMPANY
Mr.. Lewis Clephane. the president of the Vir-
ginla Brick Company, said in response to an
inquiry.
1.-The orders for brick have come in earlier this
year than last. There was large consumption
last year. and the weather has been bad for
| making brick so far this season and if we had not
hau some IN hand we would not be able to sup
PLY our customers. There has been so much
wet weather that it has been difficult to dry
brick. and Impossible almost to make hand
made brick at all. If the present demand con-
tnues during the season predict a very brisk
building season during the present spring and
summer"
. The movement begun by the hod carriers
continued Mr. Ciephane. ''has deferred num-
| Der VINO intended building this spring from be-
ginning operations. and if this movement be-
comes general the effect upon building operations
WIFI. OF course, be bal. There are a number of
large buildings that are either now in process of
erection or to be erected that will consume
great quantity OF bricks. and this CONSUMPTION
VIII be independent of those used for private
, houses. There is the new building for the PEN
sion Office, and the building tor records, and
possibly new library building all to be put I'D
this year. 1t strikes me that the outlook is very
favorable" " wy
vii! there be an advance in the cost OF
| bricks:" asked the reporter
we have not advanced our prices" was the
reply, and we do not anticipate that we shall
DO SO. The prices remain as they were last
year. The last season was good one, but
think that this will be better. The character of
building constantly improves and it is seldom
now tlat you ma man putting up row of
houses of the flimsy character that prevailed a
few years ago. There is a better class OF brick
made here and don't know place where such
good variety OF clay is found"
What the WOrkinsmen Saw.
THE COST OF LABOR NOT TO BE MATERIALLY
ADVANCED.
Members Of the various workingmen's unions
say that none Of the building trades will make
demand for increased wages this season. ey-
cept, perhaps, the granite cutters, who are en-
deayoriIg to have their wages made equal to
the soft-Stone or journeymcn stone-cutters. and
to obtain one hour less labor. The granite cut
tiers now work ten hours a day for 50 The
tOurneyman stone-cutters wages is 3d. a day
for nine hours work The plastercrs have fixed
their rate Of wages at $3.50 day. The timers
have announced publicly that the standard
wages for the season viii be 50 day-the rate
that has prevailed since 1882
1t was rumored.' said a timer to STAR re-
porter. that we intended to make a demand for
II " uaS. Inc uosseS gOl uneasy about 1t and
! thought we intended to take them by surprise
SO We thought wewould relieve them by maxim"
public announcement"
Painters are getting 50 day. and say they
do not contemplate asking for an increase This
does not include fresCo and ornamental painters
who receive $3.50 and 81 day.
The standard wages for brcklayers is 81 a
day, for carpenters % day. and for plumbers
$3.50 a day. The hOd carriers union is demand
ing $3.50 day, an advance of 50 cents upon
the rates of last year.
SO. from the statements made by the repre-
sentatives of the different organizations il
appears that there will be no increase in wages
asked of consequence enough to seriously affect
building operations.
The wOrkngmen look forward to an active
season. and In some trades wages NAV be in
creased by the law of supply and demand Last
year, a member Of the Federation of .abor said
there was such demand for bricklayers that
although the union scale was 81 men rot work
i'll many instances for so and IS.
THE HOD CARRIERS CLAIM
The trades. the members of the federation
say, are better organized this year than ever
before, and there are fewer "scabs" or nom
union workmen in the city. The rates Of wages
are generally the same as prevail in all eastern
cities A member of the bricklayers' union
said that some Of the Bosses in order to avoid
making an increase in wages, got the boss
brickmakers to add one dollar thousand to the
price Of the brick. This advance in the cost of
the material they used as an excuse for not
/ Th0 md do h,,k ~,