The sun., 1916-11-26
BUILDERS WILL NOT
FIGURE NEW WORK
Reluctant to Estimate Because
Of Steady Climb Of Ma
terial Prices.

With an almost unprecedented guam
tity Of new construction ready to 70
upon architects boards. a. q result Of
profitable business enterprises. archi-
tects are finding II difficult to induce
contractors to figure or them. because
OF trouble In getting quotations upon
which to q their estimates, accord
ing to Dow Service Daily Building Re-
ports.
Common Hudson brick moved up to
1915 to 50 a thousand Wholesale. Sheet
high brass. quoted last week At $3.50.
IL now $40 to S43. Portland cement
moved from S1.77 to $1.s2 and ei.s2 to
Sl.s2, making q mill base Of e1.25 to
$3.50 n barrel. Sheet copper advanced
from $3.50 to $3.50 TO $40. Pig iron
moved UP SO cents and $3.50 q ton.
Many crushed blue stone and trap rock
interests are making no quotations. be-
cause their capacities have been taken
up TO April 1. The price Of screened
building sand moved from 55 cents a
cubic yard to an indefinite price based
upon the combination requirements and
speed Of unloading barges. The new
sttf and temporary. Further upward
movements are expected in finishing
eastern common.
Discounts for window and plate glass
are without change. but architects and
jobbers are advised Of an early upward
movement. Some factories are refusing
certain kinds Of orders. such as large
quantities Of one size. There are some
plants. however. nat are still taking
this kind Of business. Plate glass prices
will advance within the near future.
Mason's finishing plaster has moved
up to SIS . ton in bags. Dry mortar In
bags 10 quoted At ee.!s to s7,:5 a ton. q
raise Of Is cents. Linseed oil has gone
to the most unusual price Of 80 cents
and u, with American city boiled at 90
cents to 3l.0l. This prizes movement, II
continued, will be sure 20 have an I'm
portant bearing upon paint prices, which
already have followed the lead Of linseed
oil almost without exception for the last
year. Sheet sino has gone from Us IA
The Portland cement situation. With
its 10 cent . barrel advance last week,
rejects basic conditions throughout the
country. Stocks in the United States
to-day are rs per cent. less than they
were at this time last year. Portland
cement production In October exceeded
5000, 900, or 5000 barrels moro than
In the same month last year. which had
a production in October Of $685. 900.
Shipments for the entire country In Oc'
tober reached 10.600,o 600. or 10000
more than In the Same month a year
ago. This 10 said to be the largest
/ amount of Portland cement ever shipped
in this country in a single month. even
including the Panam Canal years.
Although the price of Portland cement
advanced last week to 3l.s2 and H.92 a
barrel some companies do not care "a
take business even at this level. One
company Ii known to havo called In III
statesmen n at least one other company
IN threatening similar action because
they do not to be sold UP In a d
vance Of still higher prices. II snow
comes at least three mills will DO obliged
to shut down on account Of lack Of coal
The easement In the price Of coal thii
week In che W. local Portland cemen'
manufacturing districts was believed &c
be only temporary. Coupled with th'i
Haven and other New England roads.
Rarely In the history OF New Yorl
have dealers been willing TO stack bricl
for winter requirements at q price allow
81 n thousand. Within the last ten day,
brick dealers have been storing brick a
a price OF 1915 and In some cases 80 &
thousand. This IL considered more re
markabIe because there IL plenty Of bricl
available In Hudson River yards to NEE
an exceptionally heavy demand for win
ter and spring brick In this district. TIL,
cause OF the present high prices OF thit
commodity as well as that Of cement
crushed one sand and glass In s~carcit,
Of labor. Only five barges of 1000. 00'
brick were sent out from tho Hudson
River yards one week ago Saturda.
morning. consigned to a market that car
absorb 1000. 900 brick within ten days
There were not enough men available e
load more barges.