Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-13
MEN OUT OF WORK
Serious Situation in Chicago
Building Industries.
TRADE ALMOST AT A sTANDsT1LL,

Thousands OF Men Idle and Employers
Doing Practically NOthing-Great FALL
ing on in the Number of Building Per-
mits Issued from Last Year-City Called
Upon to Provide Relief Work-Exten-
sive Street improvements.
Chicago. May 13.-Building operations
arc at a standstill Never in the his
tory of Chicago, or at least since the time
when the city showed signs of CONNER
cial activity, has such dullness been
manifested in building circles The de-
preston in this branch of city work is
noticed in the reports of the city depart
ment Of buildings. The number of per-
mits issued by the commissioner has fall
en- off to such an extent that alarm must
be felt for the big contractors and the
horde Of small builders. They are idle
and appearance seem to indicate that no
betterment of conditions can be ex-
pected. Commissioner Of Buildings Nc
Andrews says the situation is absolute
ly hopeless. His predecessors in office
met with no such conditions as confront
him at the present time
Builders Doing Little or Nothing.
AS a consequence he is fearful that he
Will not be able to make good showing
for the current year. His daily reports
show continued falling off in the num-
Der of permits issued and a consequent
large decrease in receipts compared with
the same period last year. May is ac-
counted the liveliest month by the build
ers. They look forward to it during the
Gull months Of the year as the time when
their business will be on the boom. This
mn fInt,,
realized, for they are doing little or
nothing. They have reduced their forces
OF men, and hundreds of carpenters, ma
sons and laborers are out of employ
ment. Where, a year ago, the building
department received an average of over
$50 applications for building permits in
one week the weeks of this month may
not average thirty applications.
Ten Thousand Want City Jobs.
Last week eighty-six were received,
but the majority of permits issued were
Ior sheds, outhouses, etc. The actual
building done at the present time is un-
worthy of great city like Chicago, ac-
cording to the building officials. The
unfortunate dizziness in building circles
tends to increase the number Of appli-
cants for positions under the city. Men
who earned from So to S. a day as ma
sons, carpenters and kindred artisans.
are now willing to accept the wages Of
day laborers. President Kraus, Of the
civil service board, admits being as
founded at the number of men who have
asked permission to take examination
LOT positions within the service. Already
over 10000 names have been handed in.
In the past two days nearly $500 appli-
cations were received.
Talk of Street improvements,
There is little or nothing to do in the
building department. Once the office
was hive Of activity; now it is as dull
as the proverbial tomb. Commissioner
McAndrews facetiously offered a reward
few days since for the man who would
go out and find new building going
up This serves as an indication of the
unusual dullness in the contracting and
building world. Mayor Harrison has
been informed of the condition CT affairs
ana IS willing and anxious to give en-
pioyment to the thousands who seek it.
IL Is now Planned to commence street
Improvement on a broad scale. The
condition of the streets in the outlying
districts is deplorable and Commissioner
McGann has been directed to turn his
attention to them as soon as possible,
Work at Cleaning the Streets.
Inc appointment of a superintendent
OF streets will mark the beginning of an
active onslaught on poor streets, and
the making of a record which will glad
den the hearts of an afflicted commune
". Hundreds of men can be employed
during favorable weather on the street
building work. Many others VIII be put
to work cleaning the thoroughfares and
the depression in the world of workers
may be counteracted in this manner.
CHICAGO ATHLETIC CARNIVAL.