Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-26

There are decided indications that
the new year will see a marked activity
in realty Improvements in this city and
vicinity, notwithstanding the continued
high prices of essentials in construc
ton. Architects, however, are very re-
luctant to give details for publication
at this time, as it is period devoted
to the drawing of plans and the making
OF estimates rather than the closing Of
contracts. Every member of the pro-
fession is almost overwhelmed with
work, and the Office forces are as busy
as bees with the preparation of details
and the drawing of designs. A month
hence the existing circumstances will
probably crystalize into definite facts
but just now the situation is one of an
| ticipation rather than actuality, and
there is little Of tangible nature to be
depicted in print.
Many city Improvements are being
| put on paper, giving promise OF mater
| ial embellishments sooner or later, but
| in not few instances they are merely
projections for an indefinite time in the
| future. Some will go through with the
opening of the building season; others
will not. 1t is question of cost, eX-
pediency and opportunity
AS general proposition, the cost of
| building during the season to come will
not be materially different from the
| year past. In some essentials there has
| been a shading in prices others are
practically stationary, and in one i'm
| portant essential-that of brick-work-
there will be an advance of about soc per
| thousand for material laid in the wall.
| The net result will be about upon par
with the past summer, with no present
! probability of a material change for a
| twelve months to come. These practi-
cally stationary values have naturally
given some realty owners, anxious to
| improve their property, pause, but. as
| one leading architect expressed il yes
| terday, the public has, TO a very con-
siderable extent, become used and re-
conciled to the enhanced cost of mater
| ials, and in numerous instances will
not hesitate where the additional ex-
| pense over a few years ago promises
remunerative returns in the future.
Local architects are not only busy
| Will oLiANliy N4ty plans, bul diSO with
| suburban and State projects. Ideas for
| the more pretentious residential and
| business buildings in the chief towns of
! the State naturally drift to Wheeling,
and for that reason there can be at
present found in local offices plans and
specifications for many out-of-town
edifices. There are not lacking indica-
| tions that the immediate suburbs of
+, Wheeling will be further embellished
| the coming summer by additional ar
tistic homes, and some business build
| ings of decided Importance are under
consideration, as well as city residences
! and fats, many of which have been
| heretofore referred to in print AS a
general proposition, however, there is
| a present reluctance to go into specific
details, and they must be awaited until
owners come to a determination at pres
ent in many instances, entirely lack
ing.
There is a general disposition, how
ever, on the part of both architects
and contractors, to anticipate a lively
year, and a widespread belief that the
close of the season will see some notable
additions to the architecture of Wheel
ing and its immediate vicinity.