The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-17

For the purpose of ascertaining the
exact condition of the building trades
in this city at the present time, Tri-
bune man interviewed several of the
leading architects of the city yester-
day afternoon. What they had to say
on the subject and their opinions as
to the future outlook are given below.
John Davey, of Davey & Bross, said:
There is no doubt but that the build
ing trade in this city at the present
time is In a very depressed condition.
1t is in all probability due to the car
penters' strike, and / am of the opin-
ion that If compromise were effected
that there would be quite a boom be-
fore winter. While we have a large
amount of work on hand at the pres
ent time outside the city, there is only
one job being done under our super
vision in the city at the present time.
That is being done by a member Of the
Builders Exchange"
E. CT. Worden said: "The building
trades in this city is positively not in
a good condition, and / do not think
there will be a boom this fall. In this
city at the present time / have twelve
buildings being done under my super
vision. Nine of these are being built
by members of the Exchange or con-
tractors who have not acceded to the
demands of the strikers One Is being
built by a contractor who has acceded
the demands and the two remaining 1
am not sure about the standing of the
contractors building them regarding
the strikers.
NOT DUE TO STRIKE.
81 do not think that the present de-
preston is due to the strike, but think
it would exist If there were none at
all. The members of the Exchange
have all the men they require to do all
the work they have on hand, and those
contractors who have acceded the de-
mands have, of course, an unlimited
supply"
Asked if any one had stipulated to
him that only union labor be employed
on a job, Mr.. Worden said: mo per-
son has made any such demand to me.
In all cases persons having plans to be
bid on have told me to let the contract
to the lowest bidder, irrespective of
whether he employed union labor or
not"
J. Harvey Blackwood when seen,
said: THE building trade in this city
is certainly in a bad condition and it
will probably remain stagnant till
spring. / have at the present time only
two buildings in course of erection in
this city. Both of these are being built
by members of the Builders Ex-
change"
Percival ]. Morris said: "The build
ing trades in this city at the present
time is certainly in bad shape and there
will positively be no pick up before
spring. I have only two buildings un-
der course of construction at the pres
ent time, the laundry for the House Of
the Good Shepherd and the Founding
Home. both of which are being con-
structed by members of the exchange"
CONTRACTS NOT HELD.
There have been no contracts held
off on account of the strike. In fact
the strike cuts no figure whatever in
the present depression. 1t is simply
a case of the supply being greater
than the demand. There are over 25O
vacant houses in the city at the pres
ent time and no one is going to build
any more for speculation just now
The building trade is booming in the
surrounding cities, where the existing
conditions are different. In all cases
the contracts l have placed have been
given to the lowest bidder with the
sanction of the party for whom the
work is being done"
II. G. Rutherford said: 1.-THE build
ing trade is certainly in a very de-
pressed condition at the present time
and | am of the positive opinion that
it is due to the carpenters strike.
have only three building being erected
in the city and all of these are being
built by exchange members. | have
several plans the contracts for which
are being held off until the present
strike IS over.
"In no case has any one having plans
drawn by me offered the stipulation
that only union labor be employed but
on the contrary several have stipulated
that the contracts be given to MEM
bers of the exchange and these only"
A perusal of the above opinions will
show that there is almost a complete
stagnation in the building trade in this
city. Three of the five architects say
that this dulness is not due to the
strike. while the other two maintain
that it is. Only one looks for a boom
his fall and that one only providing
a compromise between employer and
emplOye is effected.
The strike will continue all winter,
in all probability, and there will prob
ably be no change in the situation
till the spring season comes.
Pennsylyania Pensions.