The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-15

were born and raised in brickyards, abso'
lutcly know nothing about the business we
profess 10 carry on. The result is in two
or three months the supply is 200 per cent.
in excess Of the demand. and down comes
the price of bricks TO bedrock" aye, and
nearly ''cable.tow's length" below cost;
and then, 10 and behold, the tailor, the
shoemaker and those who advanced the
money TO them, vanish out OF sight and
leave room for other deludod beings To
"take the same medicine" with the same
| old mule, etc, the following year. Now,
gentlemen OF the convention, is brickmak-
ing an art, requiring brains and study like
any other profession? lanswer, yes, and
assert, without fear OF contradiction, that
it requires as much judgment, deep study
and practical experience TO manufacture
good bricks as is required 10 manufactured
good locomotive, and such knowledge can
only bo obtained after years OF earnest
labor, aud have vet to see brickmaker,
no matter how long he has been in the
business, who still cannot learn something
advantageous TO him, either in making or
burning his bricks. Such being tho facts,
gentlemen, brick manufacturing should be
carried on independently OF any other
business, thereby stimulating pride
among brickmakers TO cxcelin the beauty,
strength and perfection OF their manufac-
lures. But such Will not prove the case in
any city where contractors manufacture
and lay their own bricks. for they place a
stumbling block in the way OF honest
competition for quality, seliishncss being
their only aim, and why these contractors
should persist in manufacturing their own
bricks | am unable 10 answer, for there is
not one Of them, tony knowledge, who is,
| today, 81 better or than their brother CON
tractors who have 10 purchase all
the bricks they use. To remedy this evil
and 10 encourage the science Of brick man.
uiacluring ID "A problem rather difficult u
solve. | do not think, gentlemen, that
there will be any remedy until the archi'
tects and builders in general will take q
| thorough business view OF tho matter. II
any gentleman should desire 10 have q
coat made ho would not go 10 shoemaker
| 10 have him make IL, would hc2 ! think
not Then, ON the Same principle, why
should any person desiring to purchas,
bricks go 20 a bricklhycr 10 get them2 IlC
shows Just as much ignorance in the on,
ease as he would in tho other. II tho
buyers, MS u rule, would not purchas,
bricks from any one but n practical brick
maker, they could demand from saIt
brickmakcr tho quality they desired, will
tho certainty OF getting tho same. Thu
would have q tendency 10 improve the art
keep prices ON more uniform scale, plac,
| all brick contractors on an cqua
footing, and cause their services I,
be recognized according 90 their mcr
liz, and brick manufacturers WHIT
would not, or could not meet tn,
demands Of tho public, would DO Obliged
TO step out and give place To other NOR,
moritorious persons.
Delegate burlington, Of Chicago, told I
story in connection with tho subject oI
tho paper, which is too rich for publca
ton.
Delegate Adams, Of indianapolis, sni,
the prico in his city always fell in summer
because OF the pressure 10 realize Of mel
with small capital, the fluctuations somo
times were as wide ~ 50 per 1000.
| Delegate Stiles, OF Connecticut, sug
gcsicd rs q remedy tho adoption OF les.
selfish policy among brickmakcrs. tn,
members Of the trade were too promo e
regard with n jealous eye the sales Of com
petitors and rushed into the market anu
forced sales for no other reason than be-
cause another brickmakor had made q
good sale.
Delegate Eudaly, OF Cincinnati, dcpro.
Gated the proncncss OF brickmakcB 10 do
cry each others product. lie also al.
yiscd prosperous manufacturers 10 assist
their weaker brothers.
Delegate It,ner. OF Omaha, Nob.. atlrib
utcd the hablt Of decryiug the product o
competitors 10 tho influence Of tho patcn
machine men.
Delegate lttncr. Of st. Louis, said ihcr
wcrc various factors In the 1uctuation O
the price problem. lilo thought quotations
were sometimes affected by the accidental
financial distress OF brother mnnuiac
turcr, Who cut tho price 90 NEE, an cmcr-
gcncy. This, Tor the timo being. fixed
the price and compelled all others TO meet
H.
Tho hour for meeting the members o
the Merchants and Cotton Exchanges IL
their rooms having arrived, the convention
adjourned until ? o'clock pm.