The age-herald., 1899-08-06
DEMAND FOR ALL KINDS
 OF BUILDINGS
All the Mechanics of the City Are Busy and Contractors Have Their
 Hands Full.

The unusual demand for business build- ings and residences in Birmingham and vicinity is taxing the contractors and builders of this city to their fullest capac- ity.
 This revival in the building line has, as a matter of course, given employment to all of the mechanics and laborers of this see- ton, besides bringing many here from else- where.
 An erroneous idea that there is building boom on here prevails in some quarters, while the activity in the building line is nothing more nor less than an effort to supply legitimate demand for homes and business houses. This demand, 1t is true, Is very great at present, yet exceeding cau- ton and conservatism is exercised by prop erty owners in awarding contracts, there being an utter absence of a tendency to- wards recklessness. No hurry Is evidenced, and the very lowest estimates and bids are obtained before a contract is let. There is considerable competition among the con- tractors and builders, and as a result con- tracts are frequently taken at cost, and sometimes at less. Especially was this the case where there was sharp competition ip the bidding and where increases in wages were demanded after the contracts were awarded, which were not anticipated at the time the contractor submitted his bid.
 An Age-Herald reporter visited a few of the more important buildings in course of erection yesterday afternoon, and ascer- tained that every contractor and builder In the city had about all he could do, many of them being overcrowded with work. Of course they are all pleased with the present situation and the prospects for the future, yet there was no great buoyancy of feeling manifested over the situation, owing to the competition among bidders for contracts to be let and the fact that the cost of both materials and labor is subject to increase as result of the demand.
 Allen J. Krebs
 Among the buildings in course of con- struction visited by the reporter yesterday afternoon were some of those being erected by MT. Allen J. Krebs, the we'll known con- tractor whose office is located at 2230 Nor ris avenue. Prominently among MT. Kreb's contracts are the handsome three-story Mayberry building in First avenue, which has risen in so remarkably short space of time to adorn that popular business thor oughfare Among the others might be men, tioned the county insane asylum, nearly completed, and the B. M. Alien building in Third avenue, just begun, and the Birming- ham mattress factory, which is about com- pleted. MT Krebs has been identified with the contracting and building business in this city for several years. is thoroughly re- sponsible in every respect, pushes all work to rapid completion uses only the best ma- terials and superntends the construction
 A.Stockmar
 There have been but few buildings of equal size erected in Birmingham with such haste as the Loveman, Joseph & Loeb ad- dition, which is nearing completion. This mammoth structure is in charge of Mr. A. Stockmar, who needs no introduction to the people of this city, where he has done busi- ness for the past twenty years, and in which number of edifices attest to his efficiency and skill. Many compliments have been paid MT. Stockmar on the Love- man, Joseph & Loeb building. Within three months from the time the lot was cleared the roof was on. MT. Stockmars office is at his stone and marble works, cor- ner of First avenue and Eighteenth street.
 Dunn & Lallande Bros.
 Among the larger contractors of the city are Messrs. Dunn & Lallande Bros, wliase' main office is at 2015 First avenue. When asked yesterday afternoon for some infor- nation concerning the building revival those gentlemen replied that they had no cause to complain were doing their share and were entirely satisfied. This firm now has contracts for the construction of two branches of railroad were awarded an SIS 900 contract for street improvements by the city council' a few days ago, and have gards the responsibility of this firm it is too well known in the financial and indus trial world to need mention.