Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-08
A BUILDING BOOM
Yet to Make It's Appearance Among Mill
Mon and Contractors.

Yet to Make It's Appearance Among Mill
Men and Contractors.
1t has been generally supposed by the
community at large that the coming sea-
son would usher in a veritable boom
among carpenters, bricklsyers, stonema-
sons, and those interested in the building
trade, generally, and that, with what looked
some months ago like general and ma
terial fall in the prices Of labor and ma
terial, q large number of buildings, espe-
cially small and medium sized dwellings,
would 90 up between April and October
next. With view of learning Just what
foundation there was for these hopes of
revival in the trades above
mentioned, a REGISTER reporter yester.
day interviewed all the principal contractors
and builders in the city as to the outlook
for orders in their line, prices of materials
and labor, etc., the result of which enquiries
are appended. ,
Beltz & Fladiug-This popular firm Of
contractors were found to be fairly busy,
but reported business as not nearly so good
as last year. Some work was now on hand,
and within few days there had been en-
ouiries for estimates from several gentlemen
who contemplated the erection of large resi-.
dences and business houses, but people OF
small means were holding of, apparently
awaiting still lower prices than were now
prevailing. Regarding this matter of
prices, Mr.. Flading thought there
was no possible chance OF furth
er decline. Labor was now about as
low as it could well be, the figures being lit
tie, il any, less than year ago. Material
was generally about the same, too, if rough
lumber-seconds-be excepted. First class
lumber was at the same old figures, aud
sould probably never be any lower, as it
was year by year becoming scarcer Taking
one thing With another, however, the coming
season would be the most favorable for
building for eight years past and he thought
those who contemplated the erection of
buildings had best go to work this spring.
Messrs. Beltz and Flading are pushing their
new factory, on the corner of Nineteenth
and Eof streets, to completion, and when
done will be the largest planning mill in
West Virginia. The building is l28x9O
teet, three stories high, and will be filled
with the latest and most improved wood
working machinery. They expect to occupy
it about May LIST.
Hares d Wilson-This firm reported
business rather dull-nothing what it was
last year-but the season of 1884 was hardly
q fair comparison, as the flood made boom
in building and repair work, which lasted
we'll on through the summer. Materials
were nearly the same in prices as last year,
and there had been no out whatever in
wages. This firm has had the contract for
the erection of the Wheeling Roller Skat-
ing Company's rink, on North Main street.
and expect to have the building ready for
occupancy by Wednesday next Last night
they kept their workmen at work until mid
night.
Armstrong, Coen & Co.-The season was
not considered favorable one by this firm,
and very little work was being done. Few
enquiries had been made for estimates, and
prices all around were about the same as q
year ago. The outlook, however, might,
and probably would, improve in the course
of the spring.
Baggs & Son, Bridgeport. was
only fairly good with this we'll known firm.
Lumber and some other building materials
were little lower, but labor was at un-
changed figures There had been but few
| calls for estimates, but their trade was q
! little slower in getting in than most mills
! from the fact that they had large country
trade, which was naturally not heard from
as soon as from city parties.
| Klevis, Kraft 4 Co-Business is rather
| dull at present, but we have good deal of
work which might be done were it not for
the continued bad weather. We hope for a
renewal CT building business when spring
opens up but nothing definite can be said
: as to the prospects. 1t seems to be habit
with the Wheeling people to delay making
contracts for building until the last
moment, then they want rush. We are
now engaged on the South End skating
rink, which will be rushed to an early com
plelion. On next big contract will com.
mence about April first 1t will be Mr.. NJ.
Reiley's new building on the corner of Four
/ tenth and Market streets, and will be one
OF the finest if not the finest business
/ block in the city. The reporter
took look at the plGas
( of the building, and found that it gave
J promise OF being an edifce that its owner
as well as the general public may well feel
proud of. The building will be four stories
in height, the ground story being about IL
/ feet inches in the clear, and the other
stories IL feet each. The corner room on
the ground floor will be 1886, and the in
side room l9x43. The other stories will be
vided up into roomy and pleasant Office
apartments, with entrances from Market
and Fourteenth streets. The outside of the
J building, on both streets, will be composed
/ of pressed brick, and will be very orns-
mental. The two first STOKES will have ele-
CANT plate glass fronts, and the whole build
Ing will be furnished in hard wood. This
will certainly make a conmodious and
! handsome block, and will be a great i'm
provement to that part OF town.
! A number Of contractors not connected
with any of the mills we're also spoken to.
Some Of them were doing little or nothing
while others had had fair run OF indoor
work during the winter, and thought there
would be considerable building during the
season. One gentleman said he found con-
siderable enquiry, for instance, for small
dwellings, of from three to Eve rooms, the
prospective builders being generally people
in moderate circumstances, who had
been saving money for the purpose for
years, and who proposed to take advantage
of the slight falling off in prices to put up
houses Of their own.
THE WAYS OF FISASCIRRS