The San Francisco call., 1908-10-04
HOUSES COST LESS
THAN A YEAR AGO
Materials Are Low in Price and
Morkmen Available at Mini
mum Wage
-

Now is the time 10 build home,
says Walter A. Aver in Country Life
in America. Materials are low in
price. good workmen are available at
the minimum wage. contractors and
subcontractors are eager for work at
q small profit Money is getting easier.
year ago building costs were away
up. In another year they may be at
the top again. At any rate. with the
return Of business confidence and ac-
tiVity. they are sure TO adVance-how
soon and how Ear no man knows.
This is a bald statement Of a situa-
fion that is of vital importance to
thousands Of Americans who are plan
ming. more or less definitely, to build
homes. But it is not based upon
Euesswork or hearsay. IL is substan-
tiated by first class evidence, from all
parts Of the country, that drives il
home 10 the prospective home builder
and must make him sit up and take
notice, For the saving over last year
Is estimated at no less than 10 per
cent anywhere. and in some localities,
under especially favora bic conditions
as high as 80 or 40 per cent. For the
majority Of the readers Of this article
il would not be unreasonable to look
Fl =
now is the time 10 build
Wien the times got hard and the
financial panic struck. the building
business was knocked in the head
Money was IN hiding, and there was
manifested general tendency TO dc
notring until times got better. Build-
ing. operations took great slump al
most everywhere. Labor felt il first
and the poorer workmen sought other
Jobs Contractors felt it. and were
forced 10 offer inducements TO get
work The brick and cement manu-
facturers felt 81, and down went prices
PRICES At ROCK BOTTOM
N0w we have reached rock bottom
and I'll around are the signs of the
rebound But the cost OF building is
still at low water mark. and good
gtorkmen are not Yet busy. When the
tide has fairly turned then the rush
grill come. Prices VIII soar. Labor
viii become greedy and contractors
aCaric9ous. II viii be hard TO get
good materials and good workmen
No4r lis the time TO build
80 Tile facts which Justify this state
ment have been obtained. both direct
ly and Indirectly. from all parts of the
cQuntry-from architects. real estat,
men. builders. contractors and dealer.
~ and manufacturers OF building ma
fgria}s-backed Up by newspaper com
ment and investigation.
The most prominent factor in the sit
riatlon Is The reduced price of build
sing materials. The American Lumber.
man. an important Chicago trade jour
nal. which has been conducting
.:build now campaign. and which ha:
made extensive Investigations. saws:
In almost every city. town and vii
lage building materials now are Il
20 per cent below the schedule of price.
81 effect in 1907. In many instances
they are below the 1905 and 1906 prices
II some districts prices have not re
ceded materially. In others nominal.
lss the same prices are being asked
particularly for small lots OF stock
However. where the dealer is asked t.
figure on large bill. ordinarily hs
Is willing 10 make a lump price ma.
1erially lower than that for which the
same goods could have been furnished
last Eear."
COST OF BUILDING MATERIALS
IL letter. James E. Defebaugh. tn,
editor Of the American Lumberman
says:
p. 1T is a self evident fact that price.
are from 20 to % per cent less OF
nearly all building material in the wes'
and south. at least. than they will bs
in month or two from now, whe4
the election is over and our trouble.
are pretty much behind US"
One or Two New York contractor.
20 as far as TO say that the genera.
shriRkage on prices of building mate.
rails exceeds 25 per cent.
George V Hotchkiss. secretary O,
The Illinois lumber dealers association
said recently:
~candidly. I look upon the present
business as but the prelude TO an era
- prices higher than has ever beer
known 10 prevail"
Brick is down % per cent or more
Grades that sold I'm New York a yea,
Ago. for s. 10 IS per thousand are nov
selling al $3.50 and s.. Common bricl
sold ia Chicago for $50 to s5.25 pel
thousand in 1907; IL now costs s.. so I,
1915. Two or three years ago price.
were sometimes twice as high.
Domestic Portland cement, accord
ing TO contractors. can be bought ii
Chicago 34.e per cent cheaper than il
1907, and in New York about 80 PEI
cent
GENERAL MILL WORK CHEAPER
General milI work is now 10 to 1,
pc. cent cheaper than in 1907.
As 10 plumbing. steam fitting, etc.
Isaac r. Roe of Roe e. conover, New.
ark y. J.. says:
We believe we are conservative ir
making the statement that materiali
used for the plumbing and steIm heat
ing Of buildings are. on an average
about 25 per cent lower than they
We're nine months ago.
Reliable builders have informed us
that il is possible TO construct a build.
ing at the present time at about Is
ner cent lower cost than col,id he dopk
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