The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-03

FORMING A TRUST.
The Associated Brick Company OF New
York and New Jersey filed articles with
the State Department yesterday. Their
place OF business in this State will be in
Jersey City. and out Of this Stale in New
York city and any place in the United
States where brick is or can be manufac-
tured. The objects are diversified, and
appear to have some connection with the
recent strikes of the building trades of
New YORK city. for one aim Is to protect
its members from unjust and unlawful
exactions, and another is to reform abuses
in trade. Other objects are to diffuse cor
rect and reliable Information as to the
standing of dealers and builders, to pre-
serve and disseminate valuable informa-
tion relating TO the brick interest. to pro-
teet each other in matters OF mutual inter-
est and settle differences between its
members, to manufacture and transport
bricks, and to carry on a general brick
business. The capital Is 10000.
sPECIoUs EXCUSES.
Several brick manufacturers were seen
yesterday, but refused to talk on the sub
ject OF wages for publication, except that
they said the reduction was necessary be-
cause the price Of brick has been so
ridiculously low for the past few years in
comparison to the wages paid for manu-
featuring.
"The usual time for commencement of
the brickmaking season is the first Mon
day in April, which will be April the 9Th
this year, but owing to the very wet sea-
son and the fact that all the manufac-
turers have a fair supply on hand,' said
one manufacturer, ''tne most of the YARDS
will not be started for at least a week or
perhaps ten days later than usual"
In answer TO the question as to the
prospects for the business for the year,
the reply was that the outlook was not
very bright, which can be attributed to
several causes. The prices OF brick had
steadily gone down the past three years
until instead of profit brick have been
sold in many instances below the cost of
production The wages of the workmen
during these three years have remained
the same, as the manufacturers did not
wish to reduce the wages of the men, il
possible, but it is a foregone conclusion
that there must be a reduction this sea-
son.
THE WHITE BRICK IDEA.
1t was also learned that in New York
where most of the Trenton brick are
shipped, the fad for white brick has taken
a great hold on the people, and that as a
conseQuenceithe demand for the hne red
brick made here will be greatly limited.
During last year the local manufacturers
made great effort to maintain iir
selling price for good brick by an Igani-
zation, but they gave up the job. as the
supply was so much greater than the de-
mand. None of the manufacturers wanted
to limit their production so the price
might be raised to point where some
money could be made. They all seemed
inclined to take the chance OF selling a
greater number of brick, with less profit
per thousand. For several weeks
the price was kept up to Sl8 per
thousand, but soon cut was
made dollar a Thousand, to get rid of
stock, until one manufacturer made a
sale at s12 per thousand, which is under
stood to be far less than cost.
The employees OF the various yards have
known of the low selling prices, and last
year they expected a reduction, but the
trust of the manufacturers prevented
such thing as something very inconsis-
tent. This year there will be no trust,
aud it is expected there will be no trouble
or strike in consequence of reduction.
ARE THEY LOsINGi
All the manufacturers say they have
made no money recently, but that II they
continue the business and wait for better
prices they ought to be in position
where they can make their production
and sell it for at least what it cost They
look on the encroachments of the white
brick as but temporary disaster, the same
as the craze tor brown stone which took
New York several years ago. The archi-
tects have great deal TO do with the
change of styles of front building ma
terial, it being notoriously known that
material men offer them great induce
ments for specifications which call for
their goods. The profit in white brick Is
enormous, the Trenton men say, and al
ready the competition OF the firms max :
ing them has reduced the price nearly
one-hai{. and that soon the superiority OF
the Trenton brick will commend itself to
people building, and in consequences bet
ter prices can be oDtained.