The Washington times., 1902-09-14
STRUCTURAL STEEL
CONTINUES 70 JUMP
impossible to Obtain Rapid
lty at Any Price.
ALL MATERIALS ADVANCI
Plays Havoc With Contracts = Wages
Also Eigher-Master Builders Asso-
ciation and Workmen Consider Stu
tioE-The LEGAL Effect.

Inc cost of building construction has
materially increased in this city within
the past eighteen months. The per-
centage of increase, it is said, will
show that an additional expenditure of
not less than % per cent is required to
carry out the plans and specifications of
buildings now under. construction or
contracted for.
This is due to two causes, primarily.
First, 1t is the fact that the increase
in wages paid the various artisans need
ed in the erection of structures has ma
terially increased the outlay required
Secondly, the prices OF building mate
rials have advanced in some cases as
much as so per cent. The carpenters,
bricklayers, and masons have advanced
their scales. The hod- carriers and plas-
terers have arranged new schedule of
wages with the contractors, and nearly
every other branch of labor has felt the
rise to a greater or less extent within
the year.
Price of Structural Steel.
Structural steel for building purposes
has advanced considerably. Where two
or three years ago the price per pound
would hardly reach IA cents in large
quantities, it has now jumped to close
in the neishborhood of 3 cents. Even at
this figure, the demand for this class
of material so necessary in the modern
building is so far in excess of the sup
ply that orders have to be placed
months in advance in insure reason
able delivery of the material
Nearly all other classes of material,
such as stone. brick, and the like have
advanced in the same ratio. The man
ufacturers OF the steel material are
long way behind in their orders, AMI
the contractors who at the present time
are under bond to complete their con-
tracts within specified time are be-
ginning TO feel trifle nervous over the
situation.
No short-time orders will be accepted
by the big steel mill people at any price,
for they assert they are unable to cope
with the demand. The modern sky
scraper is composed TO a large extent |
Of steel, and in some cases the buildings
are practically at standstill for want |
Of this Ecst necessary product.
A Master Builder Talks.
The Master Builders Association of |
he District OF Columbia has held sew
eral meetings of late to talk over this |
situation. prominent official of the
association said:
Within the past year the price of
abor has advanced considerably. and a
building which at that time could have
.f n,t
would at the present time require an
expenditure of not less than sl35, ,000.
his. OF course, is due chiefly to the in
reased price of labor and material. All
lasses of building material have ad-
anCed in price. and since September l
he laboring class have managed TO in
rease their prices in proportion.
1T may be mentioned as a case in
cint that the new Carnegie Library,
GW nearly completed, felt this increase.
| reeollect correctly, the original gift
TO $2j6,00e, and after the plans
I'D been drawn and the estimates
'orked out. it was found a further gift
SJ0,GG0 was necessary. This increase :
: the cost was due wholly to the ad 7
ance in labor and building material.
mink every contractor aud builder in
has felt this advance and
as worried over it to some extent" G
Small Profit on Building. y
At the office of Richardson & Burgess, h
lie builders and contractors, Mr.. Gala a
her. the manager, said a q
"All classes OF material and labor h
ave advanced materially within the ;,
asst year. Contracts which were made =
rior TO this period, when fulfilled. usu- :,
lily leave the contractor with a very
nall profit on his work. Even at the
resent time the builder has but small I
argin 10 his credit when he has COM
eted his building. Things are now Il
iaved Down pretty closely when 1t
,mes to erecting a modern building. n
t course accidents are allowed for and L
,rtain other contingencies are taken e
ire of. but even with this provso, i: