Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-08
NORTHERN BRICK
TO BE USED ON
COUNTY BUILDING
HOME PRODUCT REFUSED FOR
HALL OF RECORDS
AUTHORITIES SAY LOCAL AR
TIcLE is SUPERIOR
Contractor viii Go to San Francisco
for Material Which Could be
Purchased In Los
Angeles

N the hall of records, now under the
initial stages of construction, will
- Los Angeles resources be repre-
sented to the fullest possible extent.
Buy and boost home products" the
slogan of Los Angeles commercial
world Made in Los Angeles" the
proud call of the city's manufacturer
will they mean anything in the pur-
chasing of materials for the new build
ing, which, on account of its public
character, should be representative of
the products of county and city in
every possible portion of it's construc-
tion?
The enameled bricks that will adorn
the outer walls OF the nine-story struc-
ture will come to Los Angeles from
San Francisco. Furthermore, it Is
claimed, these bricks will prove to be
inferior to those required by the specifi-
cations of the architects. and 1t is pre-
dicted that they will be rejected and
that delay in construction will result.
Better brick at the same price paid to
the manufacturers fthe northern city
could have been secured in Los An
geles, according to local makers, who
contend the only reason for going to
outsiders for this material was that
larger profits might be obtained by the
contractors.
Superior to Northern Bricks
One hundred and twenty-five thou
sand bricks will be needed to cover the
exterior of the new building. Accord
ing to the specifications, they must be
of the best quality, ivory white and
enameled pressed. These specifications
can be complied with in Los Angeles,
manufacturers here claiming they can
furnish a better brick than that con-
tracted for in San Francisco, one that
will hold it's color, and that they have
offered to make the price the same as
that charged by the brickmakers of the
northern city.
On the other hand, the contractor
states the puIchase was made from the
Carnegie company of San Francisco be-
cause that company furnishes the terra
Gotta, and that the latter material could
not be purchased in Los Angeles. The
| cost of the terra Gotta, says the con-
| tractor, IL purchased alone, would have
been much greater than If the brick
was included in the transaction.
Even granting this to be true, many
persons believe a point might have
been stretched and that the contract
for supplying the brick should go to a
local firm.
The concern that will furnish the
bbrick for the new county building sup
piled the brick for the facing of the
Severance building, Sixth and Main
streets, and even the contractor who
built that structure does not deny that
1t is "off color" This building was
erected about five or six years ago.
Since then the greater portion of the
outside walls have taken on various
hues of discoloration. dingy brown III
some places, dirty gray in others.
Northern Brick Dscolors
Contrasted with this is the material
used in the Central building, on the
opposite side of the street. The brick
in this structure was made in Los An
geles, and to all appearances is marked
ly superior to the imported article.
Similar experience can be noted
where San Francisco brick was used
in construction work In this city. Brick
purchased from another concern than
the Carnegie company of San Fran
cisco was rejected on two occasions
when about to be used in the construc-
tion of a modern residence in the south.
western part of the city.
The erection of a business building
at Broadway and California street was
greatly delayed owing to the necessity
for condemning the interior brick pur-
chased for it's outer walls. Invariably,
it is said, these imported bricks lose
their color in a short time, turning pink
or gray or brown.
Perhaps one of the best examples OF
what can be done in the way of brick
manufacturing in Los Angeles is mani
tested in the Pacific Mutual building,
recently finished, the outer walls show
IN uniform color tbrOIIghOut
AS proof that Los Angeles brick is
not only not inferior, but eXcels in quail
ity the brick made in San Francisco,
1t is stated that manufacturers here
are supplying enameled brick for con-
struction of business houses in Port
land, Eureka, Vancouver and other
cities north of San Francisco.
Railroads Use Local Brick
The Southern Pacific and Santa Fe
railways have also shown preference
for Los Angeles made brick by pur-
chasing here and shipping to the north,
east and south. Still more striking is
the fact that brick made in Los Angeles
has entered into competition with that
manufactured In San Francisco, many
contractors of that city coming here for
this material and expressing a willing
ness to pay higher prices rather than
run the FISK OF uSlllS eIil lilCliOA 6IctuS.
The county is paying for first-class
brick, and if this can be obtained in
Los Angeles it should be done, is the
general opinion. Big profits may be
made by the contractor If an inferior
grade is used, but how is this going to
benefit the county?
There is also a patriotic reason, one
in which pride of home possibilities is
involved. Besides, the Los Angeles
concerns pay heavily for franchises,
and their taxes are also large. Each
employe has his burden of taxation to
bear also, and the question arises, Why
should this money be sent out of the
county to benefit San Francisco?
"If San Francisco was constructing
a public building, she would not go to
another locality for the materials If
they could be obtained in that city,"
said local manufacturer yesterday.
"And If a contractor was given the
work of constructing that building and
went outside to get his materials his
action would be met with a howl of
protest"
This same manufacturer said local
brick, which he considered superior to
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