The Washington herald., 1910-01-09

that the proper records are kept from
which weekly reports may be made of
actual cost as compared TO estimated
cost, bearing In mind that the cost
record Is the only thing the general con-
tractor has for his guidance in ascertain
ing whether the work Is being executed
within the allowance
II is the volume OF business handled by
a large construction company that en-
ables Il 70 maintain an organization of
experts and a unique equipment and this
fact. coupled with the splendid record it
makes BY reason Of these advantages.
not only Inspires confidence with owners
and investors. but attracts business. and
in many ways works for the general
good.
Some troubles incident to rapid con-
structlon might be avoided If owners
would take less time 10 decide upon their
building enterprises and give their archi-
tects and builders more time in which to
execute them.
Owners Proceed Slowly.
II is not unusual for an owner TO take
a year and a half 20 make up his mind as
to minor details Of the building to be con-
structed and then call upon a contrac-
tor, say IN July. TO tear down old build
ings. excavate the earth and rock for a
new building. and improve a block front
with a twelve-story modern structure,
and have it ready for tenants by Deem
Der 81. OF the same year.
There is still another feature OF this
subject interesting in that IL affords an
argument against obsolete methods.
Practically nothing is impossible 10 such
an organization as the Thompson-Star-
rett Company. AS an Illustration Of this
few figures in connection with the NAM
moth Gimbel Building now being erected
by us al Thirty-third and Thirty-foUTth
streets and Broadway may be of general
interest. There are 24,O00.Go0 pounds Of
steel in the Gimbel Building. and every
ounce of II was riveted in place In little
over 400 hours. The record for delivering
and erecting fireproof tile arches was
formerly rs loads in one day, but they
eclipsed that every day. The latest re-
port showed that they received and set
more than 200 loads Of tile arch daily.
Old Methods Would Not Fit.
Such achievements in construction
never would have been possible under old
methods and without the equipment and
the system Of the latter day building
organization Yet such things are of
almost everyday occurrence, and any
one of this company's fifty operations
throughout the country bears testimony
TO what a properly organized building
concern can accomplish, not under
pressure. but in the daily routine OF its
activities.
Then. aside from the purely commercial
aspect, the building business is inter
esting In that it affords opportunity for
the study Of that complex thing called
Human Nature. for here you have an
army Of men OF a hundred different
trades, an industrial fabric of myriad
shades, and even the best OF them. the
brainiest. the hardest. though moved by
common impulse, severally requires
particular handling.
Not the least important that confronts
the body executive of a building organi-
cation, IS that Of imbuing its ranks with
a proper degree Of energy and enthu-
siasm for the work in hand Esprit de
corps is the silent force that helps IN
ravel difficulties and makes for a common
goal. and the skilled mechanic. no less
than those above him, works better under
the proper stimulus.
The bricklayer on the wall is no diff
ferent to soldier in action. II he sees
the building going up by leaps and
bounds. the brick piIlng up behind him
and every one hustling, he is infected
with the same spirit Just as the private
in the ranks catches the oontagion OF
nerve and fortitude under fire
But have a bricklayer in a hole looking
round every few minutes TO see whether
there's any more brick in sight, and he
is about the same as a soldier without
ammunition for his next charge
l. Discussion of the science of modern
building would be encyclopaedia in vol
ume, but, TO summarize, II may be said
that It largely resolves itself into proper
preparation. II is the old story over
again. We'll lathered IS half shaven"