The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
NEW Use ] { FOR CONCRETE
ALARMS bR|CK[AYERS
If Growing Use of Concrete Is
Not Checked Men May Have
to Turn "Concreters."
President Bowen Of Bricklay-
ers' Union Raises Interest
ing Question in Address.

Are the bricklayers and masons be-
coming alarmed at the growing use Of
concrete in building construction? In
speech brim full Of forethought and
wisdom. National President Bowen Of
the Bricklayers' and Masons Union
raised an interesting question at state
conference Of his organization In New
York recently.
After referring to the present pros
porous condition Of the trade and the
satisfactory relations existing between
employers and the union, he said:
THE only matter that Is giving the
members of the Bricklayers' and Ma
sons Union serious concern now Is the
erection Of buildings made Of concrete.
buildings made of concrete are
much less durable and cost as much as
those constructed Of stone and brick.
People do not seem to understand this,
however, and we should educate them
to the fact. Concrete buildings have
become a sort of fad, and unless the
style is killed the bricklayers' and
masons' trade will die.
'Time will show that concrete build
ings are far less durable than those
constructed Of brick and stone, but In
the meantime members of our craft
will die Of starvation and old age I'M
less people continue to have their build
lngs made of the latter materials"
To this statement Jos. r. Buchanan,
the veteran labor writer makes the fol-
lowing comment which should be read
by every bricklayer and stone mason
in the country:
'There is abundant evidence in sup
port of the statement Of President
Bowen that concrete as building ma
terial is displacing brick and stone. He
might have added that it is also taking
the place of wood. A tour through the
suburbs about New York will show that
the fad for concrete has taken hold
upon the builders Of dwellings in COM
munities where heretofore nearly every
house has been Frame
Thus, 1t seems that, II the popu1 arity
of concrete continues and grows, the
carpenters, as we'll as the bricklayers
and masons. will find their occupation
in danger,
The question Is one which must be
tackled by intelligent trades unionism.
Makes the Test. Don't Wait.
But what is to be done? What can
be done?
IT, as President Bowen says, concrete
as a building material Is inferior to
brick and stone and this can be clearly
shown, then both the bricklayers and
the carpenters will be saved. But there
are those who claim that concrete Is
superior to the other and older building
materials, and they are proving their
faith by works; they are putting up
concrete buildings.
The Bricklayers' and Masons' Union
should not wait for time to show that
concrete buildings are far less durable
than those Of brick and stone.' AS
President Bowen says, members OF
our crafts will die of starvation and
old age" while time is making the
test
It is not necessary to wait for years
to see the concrete buildings tumble
down. 1t is a simple matter to apply
the tests of time, the most important
of which are rains, heat, cold and vari-
atoms of temperature. The Bricklayers'
and Masons' Union could not expend
few thousands of dollars to better ad-
vantage than in giving proof OF the
claims made by their president with
reference
buildings.
Probably such was the thought in
his mind when he spoke Of relocating
the people" on the question.
Be Ready to Meet Change.
The bricklayers, masons and carpen-
tiers should make the necessary expert
nents to settle the point for two rea-
sons.
The first, to head off the use Of con-
crete, If it is an inferior material; the
, second. to decide whether 1t Is neces-
sary to take other steps to protect
themselves and the workers in the
trades to come after them, by other
means.
It may not be impossible, should con-
crete win out, for the craftsmen who
would be displaced thereby to adapt
themselves to the new conditions
Here's where organization again proves
its usefulness to the workers.
When it became settled fact thai
composition could be done by g. ma
chine, the Typographical Union faced