The sun., 1917-09-21
CITY BADLY IN
NEED OF BUILDINGS
Shortage Is ScriOus-Many
Reasons for It-Builders
Planning Relief.

Borough President Marks was enpow-
cred yesterday at a conference Of the
building interests Of this city TO select
committee to investigate building con.
ditions In New York and suggest ways
by which construction might be revived.
The meeting was called for the purpose
or devisins ways and means OF inducing
ouiioing In the metropolitan district.
which since the war has been very in
active. 90 little construction has taken
place here that the situation 10 serious.
The shortage Of apartments and business
space has forced rentals to undue levels.
Many New Iorkers have been forced to
md living Accommodations outside Of
the city because OF the rentals. and
others have been forced into tho suburbs
and other cities because Of the lack Of
apartment space here.
Investment interests. builders and city
oficials appreciating the seriousness Of
the situation called this conference yes
terday in the ONCE OF the Borough Pres
ident In tho Municipal Building to lay
out plans for relief
1t shall be the duty OF this committee.
the personnel Of which will be made
known in few days. to make n report
as to how many building operations arc
held up for the want Of capital. through
the inability to get loans: through non
delivery OF building materials and un-
certainty Of prices: heavy bonuses asked
for loans. and how construction can be
stimulated. The committee Is then to
open negotiations with the Federal Gov
ernment. with the purpose OF having
some one designated to look after the
industries not involved In the further
ance OF war preparations but absolutely
necessary when peace comes. 1t was
pointed out that the products Of over
5000 industries enter into the construc-
tion Of one building.
President Marks In his address gave
figures for the last four years showing
the tremendous falling of In buildings.
IN 1914. plans were fled for buildings
during the hrst eight months valued At
S3&.asl,et0; in 1915. $50.ss6.3oo: in
1915. 310o.9s7.6+5. and in the present
year. S23.Ss2.9?5. Many OF the plans
filed In 1916 and 1917 were In anticipa-
tion Of the soninG law restrictions.
About 40 per cent. Of the new buildings
now in course of construction were
planned in 1915. But OF the S23,s52.925
worth Of new construction planned this
year less than 100000 worth Of the
work has been completed to date.
I'VE should not encourage the slogan
nusiness as Usual.'" Mr.. Marks said,
Government business Is paramount.
think we all agree on that. But for the
ers, as well as other important interests.
We must consider seriously present
building conditions"
c. ]. Curtin Of the Building Material
Exchange said the building trades were
confronted with a situation that called
for some special attention. since the
steady increase In population demanded
a certain amount Of housing.
The blame for the staEnation In build
ing WAS placed In various directions.
The loaninG Institutions were said to be
calling mortgages and refusing to be lib
eral with building loans; in defence rep-
ressntatives Of these institutions ex-
planned that the institutions were In the
position OF trustee and had to protect
their depositors and be prepared to meet
tho demands Of the next Liberty Loan:
labor came in for Its share Of blame in
that 1t was demanding larger salaries
higher prices were defended on the
ground that la Dor concessions had to be
met.
Among the speakers were William X.
Hammond, brick manufacturer Of New
burRh F. F.. Connor Of the, Building
Trades Employers Association. l.. w
Harrington, prss'dcnt Of the Credit
Association ~ Building Trades Of New
York Arthur u. Pendleton. secretary of
the National Terra Gotta Society; Her
bert D. Fredenbury. front brick and
cement manufacturer Benjamin Traitel
Of the Traitel Marble Company. Walter
T. Smith Of the George A. Fuller Com
pany, Walter Stabler. comptroller Of the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Henry Atterbury Smith. architect
Charles Burns. Long Island Building
Trades; Michael Cohen, building stone
q. Harris Jones. former Superintendent
OF Building OF The Bronx: William n
lockwood. stephen p. Duffy John NJ
Demareet. Joseph Palermo and Aller
Beals.