Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-07-03
BIG BUILDING BOOM.
LARGE CITIES OF THE COUNTRY
NEARLY ALL BlISY.~
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
building boom. From practically every
section of 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 1885,
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 2,334 build
ings, at a cost of $13,095, $40; in the
same period last year there were built
1922 buildings, at cost of $24, 601 ,295.
Labor and material prices during 1903
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.
In Brooklyn in 1903 there have been
erected 1,191 buildings, at a cost of ST.
366,315. Last year, in all the twelve
months, there were put up 3,173 build
ings costing $1S,54S,O62.
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
$6,297,6 go Washington has built 859
buildings this year, costing $1,11G,37O
Birmingham put up 1O8 buildings at
cost of $1,S0O,OO0. Cincinnati's expendf
lures are 1923 ,005 for the five months.
Baltimore erected 1,437 buildings costing
$3,912,S11; Indianapolis 295, costing
$4,000; New Orleans 1913 buildings
costing $134,0OO, and Omaha 100 build
ings at a cost of 1914, 562. Boston makes
the worst showing, with only 70 build
ings at a cost of $103,S0O 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 a list of the rates per hour:
Masons-Ch1cago, 60 cents; Minneapolis,
65; Cleveland, 80; Pittsburg, GO; Denver,
6213 to 6sA; st. Louis, 55; Kansas City, so
561a; Philadelphia, 90; New York, 65; San
Francisco, 70; Buffalo, 45.
Plasterers-Chicago, 561; Cleveland, 80;
IS; St: Louis, e2ta Washington, 50; Kansas
City, so; st. Paul, 56A Tacoma, 62b; Phil
adelphia, IS; Milwaukee, 40; New York,
621a; Providence, 43&; San Francisco, 67%;
Plumbers Chicago, 56A; Minneapolis. 30;
Cleveland, 43A; Pittsburg, 80; Denver,
531s; St Louis, 621a; Washington, 80; Kan
43A; Philadelphia, 40; Milwaukee, 4SA;
falo, 371a.
a71s; CLEVELAND, s.; Pittsburg, 43A; Den,
yer, As; st. Louis, As; Washington, 405s;
Kansas City, IS to o71A; Tacoma, As; Gin
cinnati, Philadelphia and Milwaukee, IS;
Painters Chicago, 40; Minneapolis, IS;
Cleveland, 80; Pittsburg, 40; Denver, 43M
St. Louis, As; Washington, 37A; Kansas
adelphia, 371a; Milwaukee, 80; New York,
5eA; San Francisco, 43A Buffalo. a7h:
Electricians-Chicago, Cleveland, Pitts
burg st. Louis and New York pay so cents
per hour In Denver the rate is As and 9th
er cities pay as follows: Minneapolis, 80;
Washington, 43&; Kansas City, 371a: Ia
coma, 371a; Cincinnati, s49s; Philadelphia,
40; San Francisco, 43A
Laborers and Hold Carriers Chicago, 80;
Minneapolis, %; Cleveland, 2s1s; Pittsburg,
ington, %; Kansas City, 80; Tacoma, 2s1a
to 371a Cincinnati 20 to 35; Philadelphia,
1871 to 80; Milwaukee, 25 to 80; New York,
Is to 405s; San Francisco, 31A to 43A; Buf-
falo, II to 20.