Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-22
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE BUILDING SEASON.
VIE Prospects a. They Appear from
Different Points of View.

WHAT CONTRACTORS tNp RETCK MAKERS HAVE
Y" sly N REGARD To THE SPRING WORK
THF VIEWS OF w"RHNEN-THE LABOR AGTTA-
TON N\p ir~ EFFEt'f>-NO ADVANCE IN THE
"n<I "F BUILDING NATERIsI.s-THE OUTLOOK
Tor = BUSY SEASON BRIGHT one.
II tHe present time the builders and cOntrac-
tor ia TINS city are ha>ily engaged in making
estimate pi the cost ~ proposed buildings. and
tie character Of thc>' estimates will determine
j. tbs I1..ls of iHVe-t,r> the question Of placing
the.I money in soIar real estate Improvement
j. j. roo early in the season for actual opera
Ion ? Hr-jn. but inquiries are being made by
I..E"Et.t reH and Careful Investors as 10 the cost
a hi,.,.j"-.- This : the a!I-impoTtant Question
aad lu.!l- the basis ~ TIE tide of Improvement
Ns.iEr - Gradually making the capital of the
It'ivI. q CITY of beautiful residences In order
Z. ascertain what i The prospect OF the coming
Season. TIE STAR has made an extended in
GuirE ;.,HpEG builders. the furnishers of ma
f"r..~ ,.Ut The representatives of LABOR and the
Jesuit o. given in the individual opinions ex-
pressed below. Tie c;.Urt has simply been to
;s-CrTtai:. IL there Wa to be an advance in the
cost 81 matcria! and labor this year and this
information has been obtained from thn
E"n hn We're the most likely To- know
a lrfU-Ii ct the yieWS expressed will
demonstrate that the higher prices. which is
sad Ia deter capitalists and check improve
n.tit- are not 20 prevail this wear and that the
values al last year for labor and material are to
remain UnCn;,nEel Tie representatives of the
hDor uTI;tIii ItIons say that there is not to he
demand "n their part for Increased wages
v 'iit viii be the result of the movement OF the
IOd ctiTIcrS has not IA yet been definitely set
tied; bat from the information presented of the
Cnnt ton OF affairs II i evident that there will
be no apPreClable advance over the cost of
building " hich prevailed last year
What the Builders say.
De S2ING AND JOHNSON.
Sons shot. No 49, V ,orri avenue Mr. Dear
In, was absent. but Mr. Johnson was found
busi!y engaged in looking over plans for large
and expensive new house for Mr. F. W Hackett.
t. De erected ON ". bet 18th and 18th streets
northwest.
w hat l. IT," present prospects for building
this Year: asked The STAR.
YER good" answered Mr.. Johnson. better
tHan | anticipated and fully as good as last
Year"
Have you much work on hand" queried
IHF STAR
Yes. We have some very good jobs to do. and.
with several others which anticipate to get
we VII. be- full up. There are however. some
oithen IN which there is very little money"
Has there been any advance made in the
Price of building materials
None whatever. thus far and I've had no in
tlinati0n ~ any The prices are Just about the
same 3 last year. Bricks are IS to IS 30 per
Thousand and wages are no higher so that alto
Gether the prospects for i busy season are quite
q, goUd aS usual"
w rat would be the effect of an increase in
the WAGES OF Journeyinen and labOrerS!" asked
the reporter.
Why, a general rise in the price of wages
~nuli make houses cost more a. matter of
course, hut nothing of the kind is ANTICIPATED
Something has been said about the increase of
OF he'd carriers wages. but the bricklaverS tell
me that they will not assent tn their demands
90 i&r ' the hricl contractors are getting along
Wlthout paying the Increase demanded, and
Some are using horse power to elevate their
brick !"T the third and fourth stories OF their
buidin-S'
'Iio'' does this method compare. as to cost,
with TIE hand carrying :"
VII IT can be done cheaper" was the reply
FOR instance. any Common laborerS can easily
euirN BRICKS 10 the IuaSons the first story
ami Ulalf at them can also furnish them ON the
s'coii'i stoTy- Now. where an open space say
fifteen az sixteen feet in diameter. can be OBJ
tanned "r The ground where Il horse can
WAX ar"Itld n a circle. thus forming a windaSs
power. ~ oua straight line. Gis to Use pull
ley ana block. bricks in this way cost less to be
i;'i'cd 'a',h IN the usual way by hand. The brick
layerS ~ay they Will pay no ADVANCE and
have u" fears about getting their bricks when
they want them
Iht''' YOU don't anticipate any trouble from
this q',tr1rr:' asked the reporter.
Men" 1T all. and ii theE do strike on Ms nos
sibly they HdY not yet back again. and by the
proper Gearing appliances we will get our
bricks whore want them OF course Won
must not understand ne as opposed to paving
honest and fair WaLes Tor honest labor but thu.
rules Gf the Hold Carriers Union are such that
fur dealing cn the part of the labOrers is not
Rendered. AMI cannot he. They regulate every
movement Of the men. and dictate how many
mea the bosses shall employ
CHARLES EDAoNsr0N.
Mr. Charles Edmonston said: The direction
which this labor agitation takes Will determine
In my opinion. the amount of building that will
be- done this season Ii there is going to be AN
advance over the present prices | think that in
Ee-t"rs VIII postpone building until some other
iiiht KNOW that several persons who in
tended u build tiris spring have about aban-
doncd the idea frightened 10y the prospect of an
Increase N the cost. The laborer- even if sue
crSStti. VIII be the losers in the end
teCduS1 the amount OF building 10 bc done
VII te much less The demand
al the bod carriers. which seems to be made a
f'>t question. will. understand not be arcelci
u Sy sc master ma>onS. If such is the case
tHc ln.titi agitation Ot the question will be- of
II" a.. II The laborcrS. but will be positive
In nv, - It will deter those who have the money
l" .hNr-' from going oG It'll their building
:" e.; J'eir ue ''iI advance in the price OF ma
trfiU.~- questioned the reporter
90 !. W t-.> are Increased there. will he An adj
vance u. The price IF bricks" was the reply. II
Nl@ t"id ~ . brick ra..er the other day that he
G'd not care I" give h-urcs for brick for future
't'NFiN f'ttt.-" 81 This prospective increase in
"d-rS ! don't think that the cost OF lumber
v. - 'JVaacrd ai!d the same might be said of
"'n'r materials. Hardware is now down TO a
pretty low figure. and am not aware of any
lr"!n-csi Increase.
" u, Tie fact that this IS presidential year
nav" q depressing effect upon building opera
tons :: ASKED The reporter
1 thlnk not, Was the reply That event
Goes ii'f have the influence here in that direc-
t0n AZ !r:iSJ that it used 10. The people that
are investing their money here are not affected
bS political changes. or rather politics does not
oepTe|air the value OF property. Whatever
party "In- this Mil remain the capital Of the
NATION. and real estate investments are certain
10 yiei,i good return. / have lived here for
The past MY years. aud during that time the
question q! moving the capital has been agitated
fEvH' &c 10 time with the result that people
have i','u unwilling To invest their money i'm
iihPI"'"iucnt. But now il To be def
ht"'l settled that the capital will be uerIna-
htiitiy located in the District. and that fact
: We e. value to property"
i TANK. continued Mr. EdInOnstun. "that
tHrI' vii ~ good deal of building here if i'll
''~'f> '.'c not frightened 10y the prospect of in
tI'+'-'-t prices. Some seem To think that the
bu''iIit-s" Ill :" on any Nay. but the experience OF
last i'.- demonstrates that such is not the case
iHEr-.--t~ III "at fur lower prices before build
III
CHARLES &. MARTIN.
>T'A reporter was told 10y Mr.. Charles c.
Martin that he regarded the prospects very good