Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-07-07
BIG BUILDING BOOM.
LARGE CITIES OF THE COUNTRY
NEARLY ALL BUSY.
Millions of Dollars Worth of New
Structures Going Up-High Wages
Paid in the Building Trades-Some
Interesting Figures.

The United States can boast of a
building boom. From practically every
section ct the country the reports indi-
cate that never before was there so much
construction work under way as at pres.
ent. The rise has been gradually dating
notably from 1898.
The percentages of increase in the
large cities, while indicating the general
movement do not represent fairly the
real gains, for the reason that the great
est ratio of improvement is TO be found
in the country and smaller cities. from
which exact figures are unobtainable. In
Chicago architects complain of lack of
local business, but say their out-of-town
work compensates for It. To the general
rule of prosperity there are some excep-
tons among the large cities. Chicago
building for May of this year fell 81 per
cent from the figures of May, 1902, and
smaller decreases are reported from some
other cities.
In Chicago, in the first FIVE months of
this year, there were erected 1884 build
ings, at cost of $13,095,310; in the
same period last year there were built
lob buildings, at Il cost of S24,601 ,295.
Labor and material prices during 1908
in Chicago have been higher than at
any previous time, and this has tended
TO keep down the figures. Fear of labor
complications has also entered into the
situation. In spite of all these consid-
erations an immense amount of work has
been done.
Labor troubles in New York and 0ma-
ha have had a very depressing effect.
For the first quarter of 1908 Manhattan
erected 263 new buildings and spent $780,
563,014 for new structures and the al
terations of old ones The corresponding
quarter of 1902 showed $40 buildings
that cost $21,5S7, 552. In New York
there was big change in the number of
buildings, the sky-scraper flats taking the
place of smaller buildings.
In Brooklyn in 1903 there have been
erected 1,191 buildings, at cost of ST.
366,3lo. Last year, in all the twelve
months, there were put up 8, 1T3 build
ings costing $1S,54S,062
One Of the cities showing the greatest
gain is st. Louis. There have been few
labor troubles in the Worlds Fair city,
but many delays in securing structural
Steel No less than 1912 buildings have
been erected in five months at a cost of
S6,29I61O. Washington has built 800
buildings this year, costing S1,116,370.
Birmingham put up los buildings at a
cost of $l,S00,000. Cincinnati's expendi-
lures are $323,005 for the five months.
Baltimore erected 1,437 buildings costing
S3,912,S11; Indianapolis 295 costing
$4,000; New Orleans 1853 buildings
costing $4,000, and Omaha 40 build
ings at cost of 1914, 5G2. Boston makes
the worst showing, with only 20 build
ings at cost Of $103,S00 This is the
smallest number of buildings erected in
the Hub in many years.
Wages in Building Trades.
1t is interesting to note the wages paid
in some of the building trades. Here
is list of the rates per hour:
Masons-Ch Chicago. 60 cents; Minneapolis,
90; Cleveland, so: Pittsburg, 60; Denver
6215 to esq st. Louis, So; Kansas City, 90
to 62h Tacoma, 62h; Cincinnati, as to
5615; Philadelphia, 90; New York, 65; San
Francisco, 75 Buffalo, 10
Plasterers-Chicago, 56h Cleveland 30;
Minneapolis, 56h; Pittsburg, 56A; Denver,
City, so; st. Paul, 56A Tacoma, e215; Phil
adelphia, 10; Milwaukee, 40; New York,
629; Providence, 43&; San Francisco, 67&;
Buffalo, 90
Plumbers Chicago. 56H; Minneapolis. 80;
Cleveland, 43%; Pittsburg, 30; Denver,
531s; st. Louis, 624 Washington 30; Kan
sas City, so; Tacoma, 56L Cincinnati,
43&; Philadelphia. 40; Milwaukee, 43&
New York, $685. San Francisco, 56A Buf-
falo, 3719
Carpenters Chicago, 30; Minneapolis
371a Cleveland. 35; Pittsburg 43A Dem
yer, As; st. Louis, AZ; Washington, 40ss
Kansas City, 35 to 37h Tacoma, As; Gin
cinnati, Philadelphia and Milwaukee, 35;
New York, 56A San Francisco, 80; Buffalo,
33M.
Painters Chicago, 40; Minneapolis, s5;
Cleveland, 85; Plttsburg, 40; Denver, 43&
st. Louis, 45; Washington, 37h; Kansas
City 80; Tacoma, 371a Cincinnati, 80; Phil
adelphia, 371a Milwaukee, 49, New York,
56h San Francisco, 43& Buffalo, 87ta
Electricians Chicago, Cleveland Pitts
burg, st. Louis ana New York pay 30 cents
per hour. In Denver the rate is As and 9TH
err cities pay as follows: Minneapolis, 30
Washington, 43& Kansas City, 37t Ia
coma, 37h; Cincinnati, 34s; Philadelphia,
40; San Francisco, 43%.
Laborers and Hold Carriers Chicago, 30;
Minneapolis %; Cleveland, 2sM Pittsburg,
31A Denver, 375a; st. Louis, 3715 Wash
ington, %; Kansas City, 30; Tacoma, 2s1a
TO 37h; Cincinnati. 20 to 35; Philadelphia,
1S% to 80; Milwaukee, % to 80: New York.
% to 409s; San Francisco Bin to 439a; Buff
fao, IL to 20.