The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-02-08
BURDEN
OF QUIZ BY
COMMITTEE

Included in the testimony to be pre-
scented in the report of the Gary indus
trial conditions committee at the ses-
sion of the Gary Commercial club to-
night answers will be presented that
were filed by the contractors These
answers came in response to questions
that have attracted county wide atten-
ton in union and contracting circles.
They follow:
Questions to the Contractor.
No. During your operations in
Gary, has it been your experience that
the cost of building has increased each
successive year during the past three
years. during your operations here?
If so. to what do you attribute the
cause? Answer fully. Also state. as
correctly you can. the average per
centage of increase in the cost OF
building during this period.
No. 2-would you say that the cost
of material has increa sed in any par
ticular: that is to say. we do not wish
to single out any one item. but the gem
eneral material that goes into the con-
struction of house or building. If
that increase has taken place. would
you state what the increased cost has
been in material?
No. s-we would also ask whether
the scale that you pay for labor has
increased materially during the period
of your operations here and if so, in
what crafts and how much?
No. Allow does you experience in
Gary compare with your experience
elsewhere. and If the cost is higher>in
Gary, how much and why: and where
your former business operations
conducted and under what conditions =?
No 5-How does the material furn-
ished here compare with the material
furnished elsewhere in its various
classified tons: that is TO say, is the
grade of lumber and material in Gary
the same as it is in the markets you
originally from2
No 6-As a whole have you found the
standard of efficiency of the la Dor en-
ployed in Gary equal to that employ ed
in other points with which YOU are
familiar ard where YOU have operated?
No. Have you found that there
have been any restrictions made by the
labor organizations as to the amount
of work that should be rendered for a
days wages? If so. in what special
crafts have such restrictions been
made:
No. s-what comparison can you
make as to results obtained from labor
here and your former location?
No. 9-IIave you been able to obtain
at all times the necessary number of
men to meet your requirements? If
not. has this lack of supply resulted
from union control or from other rea-
sons?
No. 1e-If you have at hand any lists
of material figured in 1910. in open
please submit original estimate for in
spection of committee. The estimates
will be returned to you.
No. 11-How many jobs in the year
1910 did you figure in open competition?
No. 12-How many jobs were let to
YOU without competitive bids being
taken.
No. 13-How many jobs did you fig
ure, to your knowledge, that were
abani oned on account OF the high cost?
No 14-will you please state for the
benefit of this committee. what was the
total amount OF work that you did in
the building line last year? Kindly
separate work rendered for the indi-
vidual owner from that done under sub
contract Will you also state. IL you
can, what was the total in dollars and
cents of the work that was figured or
and was later abandoned, owing to the
high cost 81 building?
The committee will appreciate as full
answers to these questions a your rec
ords viii permit
Any additional information that yor
may have, not covered by the foregoing
questions and directly pertaining tx
the question of building cost in Gary
that will be of aid TO the committee il
arriving at fair decision of the sub
ject under investigation, is particular,
desired by this committee
Yours. truly,
Committee on Industrial Conditions
II. H. HARRIES.
s. J. WATSON
II. G. HAY JR