The Worcester spy., 1899-04-06
THOSE CONTRACTS
Master Plumbers Are
Not Worrying
Over Them.
PRICES HAVE GONE UP,
And Good Work Must Cost
More Than it For
merly Did.
PRICES HAVE GONE UP.

The members of the Master Plumb
ers' Association are not complaining Of
poor business. The contracts repres-
enting $12,500 which the men who are
bucking the association claim to have
landed are Of the sort known as the
gold brick job" The figures on these
contracts submitted by members Of
the association, were much higher than
those of firms doing business outside the
combine. Yesterday several of the
leading plumbers told a Spy reporter
that at the prices mentioned in the
awards, inferior stock would have to
be used to prevent a loss.
.. s. Kendall, q member of the asso-
citation. said; THE fact, if such it is,
that $12,5o0 worth of plumbing has been
given to firms outside the Master
Plumbers Association is in itself an
assurance that business is humming.
To my knowledge there are no mem
bers of the association who are clam
oring for more work. will admit that
the figures submitted in recent con-
tract jobs by members Of the associa-
tion have been high. The explanation
is easy enough.
Here is a letter received this morn
ing. You see that it is from one of the
largest dealers in iron In the country,
the Peerless Mfg. Co., OF Louisville,
KY 1t says that owing to the advance
In the price of iron of over go per cent,
the price list I have established with
that company is vOid, Several weeks
ago when the bidding ON these jobs
was In its height, there was scarcely
day but what members Of the associ-
alton received at least half a dozen let
ters from houses they were dealing
with saying that owing to the advance
In the price Of raw material, no more
stock could be bought at the old price
es.
Prices were in this unsettled state
with a tendency to rise, when the fl
cures on these Jobs were submitted by
member Of the association. The figur-
ing wasNas close as possible and a small
amount was added to the figulRs in
every case, in order for protection in
the event Of further increase in the
price of stock. The plumbers who have
received the contracts are not envied.
The cost of east iron pipe has advanc-
ed about 40 per cont Lead pipe has RI
sen IS per cent above the old price.
Plumbers in the association who are
figuring on contract work make little
If any allowance for the increase in the
price Of stock, SO that instead of MAX
ing the people pay for the additional
cost. it comes out of the plumbers
Dealers outside of the association
have limited at a stagnation in build
ing circles, save where they have con-
tracts. Building is not affected by the
attitude of the dealers antagonistic to
the association. The price Of lumber
is away UP, but carpenter has only
humber and nails to buy. Plumbers are
not considered good figurers except for
themselves, but the general public I'M
derstands comparatively nothing about
the details Of the business.
There is more reason for an ad-
vance In prices by plumbers than by
carpenters because nails and lumber are
considered in one case and iron, lead,
zinc, copper. brass and tin figure in the
other. There is a phase of the situation
which is not evident on the surface It
is the failure of certain plumbing con-
tractors to live up to the specification
in the plans furnished by the architect,
THAT is the reason some dealers can
AFFORD to cut under on contract Jobs
They read between the lines on the
plans and specifications and use mater
ial to suit themselves and their pocket
books, regardless or what the specifica-
tfons call for. These low bidders do not
figure TO get rich on the main Job itself.
They believe that when they have done
the plumbing work in q new house. If
after 1t is occupied there is any need
for plumbers services, they Will get
the job The so-called small Jobs count
up and the man who has awarded his
plumbing at a wonderfully low figure
finds later that he has plumbing work
in his house or building that requires
the attention Of mechanics most of the
time.
J. E. Fuller Of the firm of Fuller. De-
lano & Frost, architects, was amused
at the assertion reported to have come
from dealers outside of the Master
Plumbers Association to the effect that
the high prices charged by dealers in
the combine was killing the building of
many houses. Mr.. Fuller said "If the
association charges the exorbitant
prices alleged, there certainly should be
a reform. I am assured that the plumb
ers in this city know what they are
doing and I do not intend to mingle in
the affair One thing is certain in every
line of building and that is that If you
want good OF the best stock, you must
pay for Il. There is no cause for COM
plaint on the part of local architects.
We are doing more than our usual
business, and buildings and house lots
are springing up everywhere"
Secretary c. c. Brown Of the Master
Plumbers Associat tiOn, did not wish to
stir up any controversy as he consid-
cred it detrimental TO the business in
terests Of the city. He said that if
S12 500 worth Of contracts went outside
the association, it was very evident that
builders will be unusually busy this
spring. Some of the statements in
local paper he declared TO be fakes of
the worst sort because they created a
bad feeling between builders without
real cause.