The morning call., 1894-02-04
ALL OVER EXTRAS,
Hardware Men Enter Into
an Agreement.
An Agreement Which VIII Compel
Builders to Furnish a Schedule
of Material Needed.

| The leading wholesale and retail dealer:
| in builders hardware have entered into
an agreement which will not be kindly re
| ceyed by architects nor contractors
| People who are building houses will find
the arrangement more satisfactory than
the old custom, under which a man never
| knew what house would cost him until il
was finished in every detail.
Invariably bills for 'extras" would keen
coming in. Here and there in house
various changes would be found necessary
during construction. and each change
meant an additional expense. II in plumb
ing. an extra" bill for pipes. basins or
other material would be added 10 the
original cost; and it was so in building
hardware and every department.
Heretofore hardware men have been
accustomed 10 make their estimates on
architects specifications" said a dealer
yesterday, 'but this was not always salts
factory. After signing their contracts
other calls would be made for extras
People who have built houses know very
well what extras mean. The more extras
the more profit for all concerned, except
the owner. Materials bought on competi-
tive prices we're cheap enough, but the
builders had chance to make up on
extras, which would be sold at any price,
according TO the owners financial con-
ditiOn."
According to the circular which was dis
tributed among architects, contractors and
owners yesterday the principal reasons
for entering into the agreement are:
II is believed, judging from past experience.
that this action will obviate the necessity of
the adjustment OF extras furnished; that 1t
Will save all parties Interested much time and
annoyance in making explanations 10 the differ
ent parties estimating on said hardware, and
Will avoid many Of The difficulties ana misuu.
drrstandings now experienced.
Your hearty cooperation with US in this
action IS earnestly desired.
Then follows the agreement which
binds the hardware men not to fprnish h
estimates unless they receive from archi-
tects or bidders an itemized list, as
follows:
We. the undersigned, wholesale and retail
hardware dealers, located in and doing busi-
ness in he city and county OF San Francisco
Cal, believing II to the best interests of dealers
architects, contractors and owners, DO hereby
agree and bind ourselves thereto.
That on and after this date we will not give or
make an estimate on either the rough or fBish-
ing hardware from any plan or specification for
any building OF buildings or allow the same 10
be done through Us or give or make an estimate
on any bill or quantity of hardware. unless we
are hist furnished with an itemlZed list or
schedule OF said hardware TO be estimated upon.
The following firms signed the agree
ment: Durham, Carrigan Il Hayden Com
pauy, Huntington Hopkins Company, Mil
ler, Sloss & Scott, Hawley Bros Hard
ware Company. Baker & Hamilton,
Bennett Bros, Palace Hardware Com
panv, Joost Bros. Charles l.. Ackerman,
r. +. Osborn & Co.. +. w. Wright, G. w.
Alexander. Charles Brown & Son. John
T. Myer 81 Co.. j. Ii. Kruse. Adolph
Meyer, f. G. Norman & Sons, Lunt
Bros, ii. Gracey.
ut WILL save US no end of trouble" said
Mr.. Miller, land by insisting ON schedule
of hardware needed we eau know where
we stand when estimating"