The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

Despite the reports that come from many
parts OF the country to the effect that all
signs point TO hard times and calamity
ahead In the building trades industry, men
in a position 10 know the true status OF
the industry, declare that the past month
has been unprecedented far as good
times are concerned. From whence the
statements come predicting calamity in the
building circles is hard to tell. but IL is
certain that the utterances do not come
from those who have Investigated the sta
tistics OF the building trades. At present
there are many shut downs Of factories,
much curtafIing of production and forces
OF labor. as is the case more OF less In
mid-winter but in the face of these things
the building trades show great increase
Past statistics show that November is
OF the slackest months of the year in
the building circles, because fewer build
ings are launched into construction at the
beginning OF winter. But at a time such as
the present when rumors come and go OF
a general panic in all industries. one could
comfortably expect slight decrease in the
work IN the building trades. But such is
not even the case. Statistics for last
month show that in twenty-one of the
larger cities OF the United States the build
4te tAi4uoIy udo luCiCdSCh - pei tChe wv
the same month year ago.
SEVERAL SHOW DECREASE.
Several OF these larger cities show de-
crease. but 1t win be seen from the statis-
tics that this is due partly to the cheaper
grade of buildings erected in these cities.
Many OF the cities show remarkable in
crease. ranging from 30 to s75 per cent. In
indianapolis the gain was q per cent. last
month over the month of November. 1902
Washington shows the largest gain, that
of s7s per cent, while Seattle follows with
"a per cent, and Louisville with 254 per
cent Minneapolis also shows a good gain
over last year, the building industry having
Increased over 105 per cent.
The cities that show the greatest loss are,
for the most part, cities in which the en-
ployers and building trade contractors have
had more or less trouble with each other
philadelphia. where a big strike practically
delayed construction work during the sum
p1er shows a loss OF 30 per cent, while
Cleveland leads the list with loss of So
per cent. One would expect st. Louis TO
show big gain. but II does not, probably
for the reason that the construction work
there Is OF a cheaper grade and because OF
several strikes among the building trades.
st. Louis shows loss of "a per cent, San
Francisco loss OF 30 per cent. and Kansas
City, where there has been several strikes
during the last year loss Of 81 per s,,, Gent
Industry In these twenty-one large cities
amounts to rs per cent
POINT THE OTHER WAY.
In view OF the statements that hard times
are ahead in the building world. these sta
tistics would point the other way. Pros
perity In the building trades means the
prosperity OF a great mass Of people, for no
less than twelve or fifteen unions each, with
q membership running into the hundreds
of thousands, are represented in the build
ing trades industry. As long the indus
try continues to enjoy such prosperity.
those In the business declare that 1t is idle
and Injurious TO predict hard times.
People are already beginning to predict
panicky times" said Frank Duffy, secre-
tary of the Brotherhood Of Carpenters and
Joiners, the other day. During the past
ten months there have been many COM
plants of dull business in the building in
dustry, especially here In our own city OF
indianapolis. On several occasions i have
refuted the reports, at least as far as In
diauapolis Is concerned. know from re-
ports made to headquarters that the build
Ing business was unusually lively. From
all parts of the country reports show that
business is good This is especially en-
couragfng when considers that bust
ness in the building line is usually dull In
the winter time"
Those Interested In building construction
will find the statistics for the month of
November very interesting. According to
special official reports permits were taken
out In twenty-one OF the principal cities OF
the country In November. as given below
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