The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-27
GOOD BUILDING SEASON
MANY CONTRACTS COMPLETED AND
NEW ONES COMING IN.
The New COld-StOrage PIant-C.. III. &
ID. and Pennsylvania DepOts-NO
Labor Difficulties.

A visit to the Builders Exchange on Sat-
urday found contractors in good spirits
Ihey report many contracts taken in the
early spring as nearing completion. Work
is now in progress on six new school,
houses, and several business blocks are
about ready for inclosng During the last
few days, says one Of the contractors. no
contracts Of Importance have been award
ed, but prospects are good for a number in
July. Not for several years. he said have
bricklayers, stone masons and carpenters
been more steadily employed at Indianapo-
lis than this spring, and thus far this sum-
mer one thing that has helped local me-
chanics is that outside men have not been
coming to indianapolis in as large numbers
as in the years 1896 and 1897, consequently
local carpenters, bricklayers and stone
masons had been better employed and
wages had been better maintained.
1t is expected that the contracts for the
new building the Cincinnati, Hamilton &
Dayton is to erect at this point will be let
within the next thirty days, and for the new
freight depot of the Pennsylvania
lines in the near future if the
city authorities give the Pennsyl-
vania Company authority to lay addi-
tional tracks across Delaware street. The
will be completed this week. and the large
building South Senate avenue the Deer
ing Harvester Company is erecting has
reached the second story. The Shower block
on East Market street and two new large
blocks on East Washington street are about
ready for occupancy. The plans for the
new Columbia clubhouse are we'll advanced
and contracts will be let in the next thirty
days it is expected.
Another important contract is that Of the
Indianapolis ice and cold storage plant,
which, when completed, will be the largest
in the West. The contract, as whole, has
already been awarded, but some subcon-
tracing is yet to be done.
The new buildings of the Kingan Glue Com
pany are now ready for occupancy, and the
production of glue will be largely increased.
The movement to organize a company to
manufacture wagons on a large scale, D. M.
Parry says, has taken definite shape, and
the location of the works is now under con-
sideration. The company will have ample
capital, and will erect buildings to do large
business and will give employment to many
hands.
Local contractors are doing more outside
work than in any former season. having
been successful bidders a number of
buildings at such points as Anderson, Mum
Gle and Terre Haute. ProprietorS of the
planning mills say their business for the last
few months has been highly satisfactory.
Eldridge q Co. report doing double the BUSH
ness they did in June, 1891, and the Foster
Lumber Company never was doing as ex-
tensiVe business as now, the contracts
awarded it in the last ten days exceeding
100000 Material for building is still low,
good brick selling at So thousand, and
lumber at the same figures as last year
This year, fortunately, there has been no
friction between contractors and employees
Mechanics in other lines, as well as in
building, directly, report their business as
having been better thus far this spring and
summer than last year. Especially have the
usual friction between the boss painters
and painters union has been avoided.
The English Hotel has for several weeks
past given employment to large number OF
men, which has helped several lines of me-
chanical work. 1t is said the contractors
have not been undertaking each other to
the extent they have in the last few years.
and as a consequence they Will make money
on their work.
Another point made by one of the COM
tractors was that among the bosses there
has been disposition to give employment
to home mechanics, and not hire men who
come in here for work at smaller wages
In the long run it does not prove profitable
to the contractor, and as result there has
been greater harmony between the con-
tractor and the employee than has prevailed
in any year since the labor unions were or
ganized. The tenor of conversation with
the members of the Builders Exchange was
that after July / a number of good contracts
would be let So far the war is con-
cerned, none expressed the opinion that the
erection Of any buildings had as yet been de-
ferred on that account. With the new Cincin-
natl, Hamilton a. Dayton depot built, the
new freight depot of the Pennsylvania lines
on the former Sinker & Davis grounds, and
the new ice and cold storage plant which is
to be erected directly across the street from
the Pennsylvania depotS, the South Side
will show some enviable improvements, as
the three will be on large and an expen-