Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-04-02
NOTE OF WARNING
WILL BUILDING OPERATIONS
KEEP UP?
The Mississippi Valley Lumberman on the
Situation. Presents Food for Thought to
Labor Unions. II Is Possible to Kill the
Goose That Lays the Golden Ess.

1t is matter Of record that activity in
building goes in cycles. Each period OF
unusual activity has been followed by one
when new construction has been at a
minimum. During the past few years
activity has been unusually pronounced.
The difference of opinion comes on the
question as to whether or not the top has
been reached and whether or not de-
cline is at hand. Tha record Of building
during the first two months of the year,
in the large cities Of the country would
indicate that the year 1908 was to make
a better record than any previous year.
The inquiries for building material and
the orders that have already been placed
point in the same direction. But the
year is still young
There are two reasons why building
operations fall off. One is that point is
reached when the demand for homes and
business quarters is equalled by the sup
ply. The other is that the cost Of build
ing reaches point where investors can
not see profitable returns in building
structures for renting purposes. This
latter is divisable into two. One division
is the cost Of material and the other is
the cost of labor. OF the former it can
! be said that there have been no radical
advances during the past few months.
| There has been some slight increase in
the selling price of lumber and other ma
terials, but the advances have been con-
fined to comparatively small proportion
OF the whole list. Further advances are
not unlikely in lumber, for it is matter
of note that the cost of logging and ex.
penses incident to the manufacture of
lumber have been higher during the past
winter
Indications are that the C. st of labor
will oe greater this year than it was last.
During 1902 the prosperous times induced
organized labor to make demands that
have been met by employers rather than
to interrupt profitable work. With the
J approach Of the first OF May indications
appear that lead to the belief that labor
is after still further advances. In some
of the larger cities demands have already
been presented. At Omaha carpenters,
plasterers, brick layers and other trades
have made demands for a general ad
vance of twenty per cent over the scales
OF last season. Whatever can be said OF
the advances made by material men,
they have rarely added that percentage to
the price OF what they had to sell. AT
Chicago wages are from ten to twenty.
five per cent higher and the labor unions
are so closely affiliated that everything
must be unionized. We are not informed
as to what the labor unions in other large
cities are preparing to present to en-
ployers when spring building commences
in earnest, but it is safe to say that some
thing along the same line can be ex.
pected.
We would not hesitate for an instant TO
give labor it's just due. Laborers are as
much entitled to the benefits of prosperity
as investors Of capital, but notwithstand
ing the fact that labor is better paid at
times than at others, the price OF labor
does not fuctuate as rapidly nor go to
such extremes as the cost Of materials.
For instance, when shorter hours are
once established they usually stick
Wages may vary, but the time man will
put in does not change SO easily. A few
years ago day laborers were satisfied to
put in ten hours of good work per day.
Since then there has been a reduction,
first to nine hours and then 10 eight.
Any one who has watched crew OF
men at work recently can readily zee
wherein comes very large proportion Of
the increased cost of building. As the
time approaches for them to commence
work, there is no hurry to get out tools,
take off their coats or make other prepar.
atoms. Nothing of this is done until
after time has been called, and a few
minutes before the end OF the day or the
noon hour, they commence to knock off.
Meanwhile, most of the trades are getting
more pay for eight hours of labor than
they formerly did for ten. The decrease
from ten to eight hours work is equiva.
lent to an increase OF Twenty-Five per cent
in wages and the increase per day in the
actual pay the past few years is not less
than that. Very few materials have in.
creased in like proportion, while men
with capital to invest are obliged, in
times like the present, to take much
lower rates OF inter est than formerly.
This is the situation that presents itself,
and before taking radical steps calling
for advances in wages, the labor unions
would do we'll to give consideration to all
the circumstances. In times like the