Evening star., 1908-01-25
Building Material Cheaper.


| the present duilness is not for long.
Building Material Cheaper.
| Besides the growing Improvement in
The money market it is also remarked
that building materials are being quoted
at lower figures than have prevailed. 1t
| is asserted that ii is possible to build
cheaper at this time. that is. TO get build
ing materials practically of all kinds for
Hess money than was the case even a few
months ago and when the funds can be
secured for such purposes IT is thought
the favorable condition of the material
market we'll as the outlook of the
buying market. Will result in encourag-
ing builders to proceed with their enter
prses.
At the same time the labor situation
is one of uncertainty. The season last
year closed with the employers and em-
ployeS with locked horns over the open
shop question. There has been so little
building since then that the fact this
labor war is on has probably escaped
notice except among those who are close
ly identified either with one side or the
other. 1t is an armed truce, if the lat
ter term can be used to describe s!tua-
tion that is not of the choosing Of either
party. While there is no build ng. or
course there is nothing which can bring
20 an issue the questions in dispute. The
result is the apparent peace of the past
few months.
The Open Shop.
As far as known. neither party has any
idea of yielding. The men are insisting
on the employment only of members Of
the unions, while the employers want to
do away with such a distinction.
1t is also claimed on the part of the
employees that paying the highest wages
to the men does not represent the entire
cost of labor in building as owing to
union rules and other causes the output
of the men has fallen off. In other words
the individual man does not accomplish.
it is asserted. as much in one day as was
formerly the case.
If the amount of each days work is
increased, then, of course. the cost or
building would be modified to that ex-
tent But with what is looked upon as
the present high level of wages. coupled
with the falling off In the productiveness
of the wor.Amen. the cost OF labor is much
greater than is represented merely by
the wage
Rhode Island Avenue Extended.
The section OF the city along Rhode
Island avenue extended has steadily ad-
vanced. Building is going on. John l..
knopp has just completed a residence on
Jackson street between 18th and Goth
streets which makes total Of eighteen
houses facing the street in the one block.
Three years ago one house was the only
residence on the street.
Messrs Edwards and Nesbitt have just
completed FIVE cottages Lawrence
street between Goth and 22d streets.
city water main has been laid from
18th to 22d street on Lawrence and I'D
streets by the District.
Messrs. Charles A. Capell. Thomas II.
Collins and Isaac II. Bryant have con-
tracted TO build three residences on lots
recently purchased from the Edwards
Land and Building Company at Sher-
wood.
B. <. Harper has just completed a six
room cottage on kearney street, between
Goth and 22d streets. and has recently
purchased a corner lot in Sherwood TO
build another home.
NJ H. Bronson has let the contract for
six houses at Woodbridge. just west of
Sherwood.
Mr.. Harbens has applied for bids for
two brick residences on the hill near the
car line.
Messrs Veith and Hustled are preparing
plans for three roomy cottages on ground
in West Woodbridge One of these will
face the avenue and add another attrac-
tive home TO the neighborhood.
Mr. Hazard of South Dakota avenue
has about completed his bungalow just
south of his present home. This section
is rapidly filling with residences. Busi-
ness houses are also keeping pace with
the residential portion. Plans have been
prepared by c. f. Webb. architect. for
Two new brick stores adjoining with
large commodious hall. The enterprise
is being promoted by the odd Fellows.
MANY other houses are contemplated IN
the near future.
.I~sy