Evening journal., 1916-07-29
Declare BUILDING
DEMANDS VARIABLE
Local Architect Also Ex-
plains Prices of Materials
and Labor Costs
SUMNER HEAT IS
NO BAR TO ACTIVITY

In Wilmington. according TO G. Nor
ris Whiteside 2nd. of Brown & White
side architects, who declares that in
spite Of the warm weather and the |
alleged high prices Of materials, there |
IS a good deal of activity in building
lines ard especially a great deal of
inquiry for plans apparently in antici-
patton OF operations in the fall.
Especially is this true of matters
relating to commercial buildings, Mr.
Whiteside says, there being demand
shat indicates wide possibilities FOR
BUSINESS and shows something of the
manner in which business concerns
are spreading out on account OF in
creased business or are altering plants
10 provide better facilities for hand
ling their business operations.
Mr.. Whiteside. also declares that
high prices Of materials are not in
huencing builders. to any large ex-
tent. To be sure, he says, high prices
have to BE- paid for laborers and it is
difficult TO obtain first class help and
10 keep 1t. But except on certain i'm
ported things and furnishings that re-
ouire copper, prices of materials are
not excessively high. ne says. A great
many articles of building materials
are no higher than they were three
years ago. Copper articles are high
because of the tremendous demani for
roper in Europe. Imported materials
pre- high Patented flooring. brought
from Europe, is high But as a rule,
he says. there has been no generally
concerted rise in price of materials
Rs a result of the war.
Reports from contractors show con-
ainued activity. although there is con-
finued complaint Of lack of men TO do
ordinary labor This shows itself in
a curious way. II is declared. La
iborers are paid from so per cent. to
geo per cent. higher wages than be-
fore present conditions began. There
fore. the ordinary laborer as soon as
he receives his pay for two or three
hays, quits his Job with as mucn
money as he received before for a
weeks work. spends it and returns tC
work. Instead Of working a week FOL
his pay. ne now works a few days and
EARNS money enough to quit before
hhe end of the week. The money y
lnot saved by the Garner, it is declar
led. he simply does not work so man.
DAYS. This sort of thing is disas
hrous il is declared. to building Oper
Rtions.
Tn spite OF this. however, under
kakings OF all sorts in the way o
building are being carried on as rap
5dlv as possible. This is especial.
hrue Of smaller operations. Con
tractors declare they have about al
they can do.
John f. Healy and Sons repor
work progressing in all lines. Worl
has been started on the Quale hous
at Delaware and Riverview avenue
The excavating is being done and vii
soon he finished sufficiently to per
init work being started on the found
btion.
Work on the garage. being bull
for william Coyne at Nineteenth
street and Woodlawn avenue is con
tinuing The Hardesty apartments
al Thirteenth and Washington
streets was rooted in last week In
nerior finishing is being done on tn
houses being constructed for r. Q
Cook and w. d. Wood. on Grand ave
nue and Parkway Drive. The old Rid
die mansion. being fitted up 70
Joseph Bancroft is also we'll unde
way.
William d Haddock and Company
ueport great activity in building lines
esnecially in small jobs. Estimate
arc being prepared for a new build
ing. to be constructed by the WI
mington Leather Company. at Secon
and Greenhill streets. John J. Ken
nedy is the architect. The buildin
is to be a two-story addison to tn
present building 150xS5 feet in siz'
Bids are being received from locs
contractors. Mr.. Kennedy declares
and contracts will be awarded
4 few days.
Mr.. Kennedy also reports thG
excavations are under way on III
building being erected for the De
marvia Baking Company. at Fourt
and Union streets. The work is b.
dng done by Pyle and Stannard col
tractors. Excavations are also beir
made for the Mrs. Joseph Bow
house on which the work is bein
done by c. J. Darney, contractor.
A. S. Reed & Bro. Co., has receive
plans for a new chemical engineerir
building to be used for a laboratol
for the dupont Powder Company.
Is TO be located on the Miller Roa
near what would be the intersectiC
of Broome and Thirty-first stree
across Brandywine creek and nel
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Rob
son Lea Perot, OF Philadelphia, is Il
architect. II is rather a large bull
ing except as to height, which is on
one-story. or at most two. has lar
surface Of glass and extends in tv
wings with a main building until
them at an angle
Roscoe c. Tindall, architect, is pr
pairing TO move into his handsome ne
studio quarters in the building T
gently erected at Ninth and Oran
streets. The studios are not qui
ready for use, 1t is understood,
will be ready soon and will provi
what are thought to be some of I
dnest studios in the city.
z. James Dallett, architect. repoI
plans on hand for various buildin
and considerable activity in buildi
lines, especially in the way OF
quiries. e. L. Rice, Jr. Company, !
ports activity and a good deal
movement in building circles wi
numerous inquiries for plans or es
mates Work on the additions and |
lterations being undertaken by Ba
nnard, Banks and Bryan jewellers