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

\ ALSO notify the contractor now many more
| riers lie must put on the second story. and how
many more for the third story and so on. If
| there are any ''Siety' picnics going on every
/ thing must stop stock still and every nod car
| rier must 90 to the picnic. no matter whether
| the contractor is under bonds and is compelled
TO forfeit his entire job of work, the leader has
10 be Obeyed. These things are so annoying
that some OF the bosses have decided to abandon
the business rather than be subjected to the
dctatIon of such rabble
Mr. Martin said. tor himself. he found no
| trouble in 1indn" plenty of hod carriers at the
| OLD prices. and there We're numbers of good
strong white men coming forward and Offering
their services at = per day. He did not think
there was boss who would submit to the dc
Iuil Uf the hod carriers union.
LANGLEY & GETTINGER.
Mr.. J. G.. Gettinger of the firm of Langley &
"etthGer. said in response TO an inquiry:
The outlook at present is somewhat uncer-
tain In the first place, it is rather early in the
season, which is backward, and besides the agi-
tation Of the question of an increase in wages of
the labOrng men makes investors hold back
met gentleman the other day who has done a
large amount Of building and asked him il he
was going on this spring with some houses that
he had proposed to build. He said that he was
rather doubtful rs he was afraid that if wouId
cost too much. He had underStOO that wages
would De higher. think that this is a fair
sample OF The feeling of Others From this as
We'll as other facts have reached the conclusion
tha1 building operations Will not be as extern
sIVt as last year. You know that this is the
long term of Congress. and besides it is presi-
DENTAL year. aud both these circumstances will
affect building
AT the same time" continued Mr. Gattinger
II don think that the demand of the hod-car-
riers will be &cCedeCi to. II they get an increase
then the brick-makers' assistants and the
plumbers assistants and other laborers Will
; also want an increase. There seems to be no
reason for such an advance. The present wages
are good. and the cost of living has not ad-
vahced- The hod-carriPrs to-day. | believe get
| better pay than the carpenters, when you con-
Slder that the carpenter has to OWn'a kit OF
tools and keep it in order
Nv Ill there be an advance in the price OF ma
terlalS!" asked the reporter.
Il believe not, but, on the contrary. mate
Tlas VIII be cheaper JOistS and framing tim
Der are offered at lower prices than last wear
hardware Is at a low figure now and think
that building can be done at more reasonable
rates this year than last If investors find an
increase in prices there WILL however be very
little building
MOTLEY ANDERSON
'lhe prospect for building this season." re-
marked Mr. Motley Anderson, lis somewhat I'M
certain JUST at present 1t is rather early in the
season to venture an opinion as to the probable
amount OF building that will go on here and
there are the possible complications with the
labor interests which make the question still
more difficult to decide. The hod carriers. as
you Know. have taken stand and their exam
pie may be followed by others and il may be ma
II was last year that instead of the builders con-
trolling their own business it will be run by
their employees"
1T has been my experience" he continued,
'that the more business man did last wear the
worst he was of because it was not under his
control The uncertainty about the cost OF
labor, and the demand to employ ONLY certain
men, would enbarrass any business"
W NAT elect does 1t have Oh those proposing
to build:' asked the reporter
y ou can Judge of that yourself" was the re-
ply, II a man is told that "a house will likely
cost MN more than the price at first stated on
account OF some advance either in labor or ma
teriai. the chances are that he will say that he
VIII wait until the fail, or perhaps put it off
uiitli next Year. The amount of building is thus
largely reduced and the improvements here in
the city are not advanced as rapidly as they
should L hope that this will not be the case
fms year. and perhaps the events of the next
t'o or three weeks may determine it,
GEORGE ". CoRBErr
MI George W. COrbett stated to a STAR re-
porter that lie thought the prospect very good
Tor prosperous building season. He states
that ne does not think there will be so many
expensive houses built a. there was last wear.
lLe city needs mere medium-siZed houses and
probably this season will supply them He
thinks there will he work 'for ALL and that the
rates OF pay will be about the same as las: year
lhere Will be no rise in the price of material.
except. perhaps, i'll some OF tie fine woods used
III finishing fine dwellings such as walnut. etc.
which are growing scaTcer every wear There
VIII probably be no Increase in wages paid to
mechanics or labOrerS. AS to the pav of bOd
Carriers. he felt much in sympathy with them
lhey cannot make wages more than six months
III me year at best. Allowing their pay to be
$50 per day. is only S1.25 per day, calculating
for the whole year and Including the time they
are wing ldie- This Is very small wages for a
labnring man They generally have families to
support, and really they ought to be paid the
advance asked. Their work is heavy aud very
Iaborlous, and there is no reason why they
SEouid not receive what they claim. The addi-
uonal fifty cents adds very little to the cost of
Guiding AS lor himself. he would not oppose it.
wM. p. LIPsCoMB.
There IS no rise in the price of labor or ma
terlal expected" said Air, Lipscomb. There is
nowa little trouble among the hUtl carriers. but
that VIII be settled in a short time to the salts
faction of the bosses. The bosses will prevail
L do not think there is likelihood Of a rise in
any other branch or material or labor Tho
season VIII open with very favorable outlook
Tie bad weather has iHtericrcd with work ca
lar. bllt sometimes the season does not omen
actively until late in MAY II promises to hn
Il
work Is to be done. While the prospects are
good there are plenty here to do the work Pub
LEGATIONS going abroad that there is a great deal
OF work to be done here will bring mechanics
here from all over the country and that is not
desirable We don't want wages to come down
any lower"
w b. DOWNING & BRO.
Mr. Robert Downing. of W. b. Downing &
Bro, says the prospect for building is good. and
un.c>S the prices raise fully as much will be
cone as last season. The prices now are about
the same as last year, excepting brick are about
fifty cents per thousand higher than they were
This is. however, the usual spring advance when
there Is scarcity. Any further advance will
probably be felt in building operations The
rates OF WAGES here are generally somewhat
higher than elsewhere, but the cost of livinr
here Is higher. The advance asked by the nod
carriers he did not think would affect building
to any great extent
ROBERT /. FLEMING.
Col. r. l. Fleming was asked By q STAR re-
porter:
What are the prospects for this season."
They are excellent" replied Mr. Fleming,
and if there is no further increase in prices of
material and wages the work for this wear bids
fair to equal that of last year ANY material
advance Will affect the prospects of the trade
What is the prospect of an advance of
wages" asked the reporter
None whatever" was the repIy "NearIv
all the branches have fixed their rates. and they
mr.. cd h. ,,,it.I