Evening journal., 1917-08-11
review Of Week
IN BUILDING TRADE
Bricklayers and Plumbers
Refuse TO Bid on
Contracts
SOME CONTRACTS
ARE UNDER WAY

Local contractors, builders and archi-
tects arc awaiting with interest the
proposed Federal investigation into the
cost OF materials. They believe that II
an honest probe Il made IL will result
in O. sharp decline IN prices of all kinds
ot building materials, The journal Of
the American Institute OF Architects In
commenting on the. price situation and
the probe this week says
Accepting the mounting price Of
steel as q couspiciOus reflection Of tho
many factors which the war has injected
into the whole industrial sltuntion-
proft-takiEg through unusual cost and
labor shortage--we may await the re-
suit Of the Federal Trade Commissions
investigation Of steel prices with COLI
ddepoe that II will throw much light
upon a situation which is now so Oh,
scuTe as TO engender and nourish sus-
picions. The. President, in HE state
ment Of July IL frankly stated that
profteering Il not only crippling the
prosecution of the war but, In many
lines, lie materially restraining industrial
activities. the successful continuance Of
which Is Just as essential IN providing
NiAo iANANf W. pay ANA hNN NoAs 80 ~
every calamity the profit takers are
busy rifing the pockets Of those who
are helpless % prevent it,
Builders are cup in the air" over q
situation which developed during The
week with the tricllaycTs and plumbers.
Several contractors have plans and sped
hcations ON their boards and are ready
20 make bids, bit they cannot get any
bids from either plrmbers or bricklav.
crs. The plum bers make The defense that
the constantly ship shifting price OF
plumbing materials makes IL impossible
for them 20 present bids that will
stand for Logger than forty-eight hours
SO rather than take a chance on losing
they are declining 10 bid.
= Leon Wilde Crawford announces that
the building OF the Eugene dupont home
at Greenvillo Is about completed. but
that the advancing cost Of material.
and the shortage nf labor will make the
home cost more than the original bid
called for. Tho original bid was made
at sl25.0OO but Il is expected that tbs
home will cost close 20 sl50OO0.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Com.
pany Is asking for bids for the new
truck garage which II Is about TO
erect az Edge Moor. The building
will be of hollow tile and concrete
and stand 20 by 80 feet.
r. G. Tindall yesterday received
bids for the making OF alterations IN
the home Of W. G. Philips OF Fourth
and French streets. The building VIII
be generally overhauled and made
modern In every way
The william Freebooter Baking
Company have given Philadelphia
arch tect orders for plans and speci-
iications for a SO 900 addition 20
their baking plant at Pennsylvan'a
avenue and Lincoln street The build
ing IS to be Of terra Gotta and rein
forced concrete four stories N
height. so by 100 feet with granite
trimming and covered with a slag
roof.
John Dockery Thompson architect
has called for bids for alterations
and additions 10 the property OF Dr.
David ROssman, az No. 223O Market
street. The bids will be opened on
Monday.
William Woodburn Potter, Of Phil
adelphia has completed plans for a
new church ediflce for the congrega-
ton OF the Church Of The New
Jerusalem a. the southwest corner o.
Pennsylvania avenue and Broome
street The building VII be one
story in he'gh-. will measure ~ by
as feet Bids are to be opened IN
ten days
Great progress is being made on
the two structures Of he New Castle
Leather Company the store house e
cost $3.50 0CO and The Office to cOsl
5000 The build ngs are 20 DO erect
cd Il EIeventh and Wilson streets,
TIE auarsmcnt house owned by DIT
willard Springer. a Eleventh and
Madi 0. streets is progressing Iaplu
w. To structure Will cost ~ 600.
The residence of Jones II. MOTIFS
a. Nineteenth and Van Buren, stree !
10 we'll under way. Uhe br'cAiayerl
are working on the structure an'
favorable weather condi ions viii SCI
the new residence completed IN tn'
The National Biscuit Company q
constructing a store house al Hii
min avenue and the II. and O.. cost
inx So Coo which is also expected
10 be finished before the winter.
John ] Kennedy. architect Is pre-
naring plans for a garage ana tensn
house about ten mile away. from thN
city. Plans for the new s'ruc -ur.
will be open for bids in about tei
days. The structure will be tw'
stories high, 20 by 40 feet The con
struction les to be hollow .stile ant
stucco The building will also con
tain power hou~e. Tho ienan. hous
adjacent TO i will he 80 by 40 fee
and two and one-half stories high.