The sun., 1917-08-27
PRICE FIXING WILL
STIMULATE BUILDING
Architects Only Await Gov
ernment Determinations to
Furnish Estimates.

Coincidental with the drop in the price
OF steel beams. Pittsburg base, at the
close Of the week, to cents instead
Of $50 cents pound. realty interests
and building contractors foresaw the
nrst definite assurance Of possible re-
vival In construction work in this city
and vicinity. In fact throughout the
country. says the Doc Se7ricc Daily
Budding Reports to-day At the same
time evidences were to be found to show
that the present halt in price advances
In other departments Is reflective of the
interest the Federal Government Is TAX
Ing in some Of the basic commodities
entering into the production OF building
materials. The price reduction in coal
and the promised attention to cotton
and paper. n survey Of the causes OF the
recent advances In the price of lumber
and their relation to the stagnation OF
building construction In the East. are
combining to give the building investor
an opportunity to come into the con-
struction market on something like a
favorable basis.
Price comparisons with current lists
and those Of 1912 show very little diff
fArence. In almost every case where
there Is shown sharp advance over
quotations prevailing before the war the
gain is ascribable to higher cost of coal.
increase In paper and cotton containers,
wood barrels or advances in carrying
charges due either to the higher cost of
steaming coal. or steel for machinery.
Now that definite base has been fxed
for fuel and assurances are given that
container material will have the same
attention there are reasons to believe
that the high price of building material
has reached its peak for tho present and
that only an abnormal demand for build
Ing materials calling for qualities In
excess OF mill stocks can force prices UP
again.
Current building material conditions
are In a receptive condition for new
building work right now. The statistics
of the National Terra Gotta Society for
July show some falling of in orders. but
the trade sees possibilities for return
OF activity. The inquiries are almCst as
large as ever. but after obtaining bids
many owners have been laying over
they projects awaiting the time when
struceegal steel will drop. Prices on
architectural terra Gotta have remained
normal for some months and the COM
panies make no very serious complaint
as to the scarcity Of labor and so far
have not had much difficulty in obtain
ing the necessary raw materials In ade-
Quate quantities. Most OF the plants
arc in proximity to their materials and
are not involved in transportation diff
culties.
Tho fixing of the price Of btuminous
coal by the Federal Government and the
prospect Of an early agreement in the
steel situation will do much to clarity
the building market. according TO the
Record and Guide.
There is a vast amount of work on the
boards in architects offices. all ready TO
20 ahead, but simply waiting until, price
regulation has been determined. 40 that
intelligent estimates can be given. Dur.
Ing the past few weeks there has been a
decided improyement All along the line
The feeling OF pessim,sm IA rapidly dis
appea ring as one d,fricultv after another
IN being eliminated. The feeling In the
trade IA that important CONCESSIONS will
he made as the resuIt NJ ooyerrman,,i
regulation of steel and that the fahri-
Gated product viii, ha deIiyere5 NJ
price which will make building nos.ihle
Consumers Of iron and stee, bars ore
we'll covered nv IN. wsar ,na iat,hars
are in rood shane Tha indrstry ex.
pects lower nrices az the resn,, ~ ar
tion from Washington Allowiny for
the Increased freight rates which he.
came afractiva Auo,s. on staa, hars 90
quoted at 46s5c TO 56e5c New york
and mill shinments of bor iron AZ Aaasc
TO 5.1e5c. New York New work. dis.
trict warehouses are selling steel and
iron bnrs at Asa5c % sea5c Now
YORK and mill shinments NJ har ;ron a,
4.s45c. TO 5,Is5c. New York New Yorl,
district warebouses arc selling stae, md
iron bars at 5c "a Z zoe
Hudson River common brick ia s,i,
quoted at 81 TO $3.50. although there 4.
n nerceptihle weakening at tho bighsr
level. on loads are selling n, slight Con.
ce.s,ons fror, ss hut ne, r,an', s.,n,
have been closed plants are cmrta iI,ne
production and in some instances have
shut down for the season. The Raritan
sitnatIon 10 unchanoed
Interest in the cast iron nine industry
Is centred IN Goyernment wori. hu, ths
greater part OF these contracts is nov,
completed. One new cantonment is vet
to be supplied. No change in nric. 10
reported. Carload lots Of I inch q
inch and heavier are quoted at $3.50
Der net ton. tidewater. and 4 inch at
$3.50.
Portland cement is holding firm AZ IN.
S2.12 level Mills have been working N
capacity and there is no prosnect of an
Immediate price change.
Some dealers in old materials are ,ook-
inr for improyed conditions in Tho war
ket Prices 10 New Work nroducors ana
dealer. are a. foilows. u.o,,,, sa,.t.
steel scran 1for sbinn,ert ~ ans,.n.
PennsvlyaniaI soe50 saoso !.
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