The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-24
RISE IN COST
Of MATERIALS
.L|KELYTOHALT
|. D.C.BU|LD|NGS
By BILL PRICE.

vided for in appropriations for the
last and current fiscal years, are
threatened with serious delay be-
cause Of the immense increases In
the cost of material and labor.
The District Commissioners fear
that In a considerable number Of
cases Congress will have to be asked
for deficiency appropriations, that
the original plans of the District
authorities and of Congress may be
carried out.
The great municipal hospital, to be
erected on Reservation 10, and about
which there was a long night: the
Phelps School. Burrvills School, Gage
School, possibly the Eastern High
School, suburban roads, and many
other projects are included in the list
about which there Is now consider
able worry among authorities and
eitiEenG-
Advance In Materials
The estimates for the municipal
hospital were made three years ago,
and there has been a huge advance in
the cost OF material and In labor since
that time. Fearing that the hospital
cannot be completed within the pres
ent appropriation OF $500. 900, the Dis
trict architect will have the excava-
lions made and the foundation put
down, appealing to Congress later for
the money to complete the building a.
provided for.
II Is not yet known whether the
new Eastern High School, the loca-
ton and other features OF which
were under hot controversy for q
long time, will be affected, but IL
there IL no recession in present prices
of steel. cement, lumber. and con-
struction material generally, labor
included, the big building cannot be
finished on the amount available,
t74o, 700. The plans for Eastern
Highs splendid structure will not be
completed inside . year. by which
time IL IL hoped that conditions will
permit the construction without the
delay that will be caused by having
to go to Congress for more money.
The Eastern High building will con-
tain 1omething like 1000 tons OF
steel and 10000 barrels of cement.
Steel has leaped 100 per cent In price
and cement nearly the same. The
labor cost has bounded up all along
the line.
Some Schools May BE Completed.
1t was the hope today that the
foursroom addition to the Deanwood
School might be made within the $780,
900 appropriation, and the District
authorities may pull through with the
see. 1000 for the wheatley School II the
additional grounds upon which to
erect the eight-room addition do not
cost too much. The same is true as
to the Gage School. all depending
upon what the ground for the four
room addition will cost.
For the Phelps School. the additions
TO which were to include an assembly
hall and gymnasium, the apprOpria-
ton of $50 900 is too small.
Takoma Park stands a good chance
of having the eIght-room addition to
her school finished within the appro-
priAtIon Of 100000. thereby causing
no delay.
The Burrvills school will be de-
Iayed pending a deficiency appropria-
ton.
Repairs on all school buildings this
year are going to be cut down 20
per cent because OF the high coast OF
everything. It was officially stated
today. The total appropriation for
all repairs is 1000. made on a ris-
ing market for everything. This
means that nearly all the buildings
are going to suffer.
Suburban Roads Involved.
suburbanites are complaining about
the bad condition OF suburban roads
and Of the delay in starting the work
lied by Congress. As to repairs on
these roads, the statement Is made
that the repair fund for the last hscal
year ran out in May last and that
work has not been begun Cor this Ms
cal year. For one class OF county
roads offered to bidders for construc-
ton this year there was only one bid
der. and the bids for all classes have
Increased vastly over last year.
Bidders are afraid TO take chances
because OF the labor and material
market" said one road expert OF the
District government Labor IL so
scarce that II the foremen does not
liIt MS nat 10 lne men "nen Lney
arrive in the morning they quit and
20 somewhere else"
Contractors on suburban roads are
paying men from s. 20 TO s. a day.
for pick and shovel work. The Dis
trict, which in past years got all the
men II wanted for repair work at
$3.50 per day, now pays 81 to S225
and finds them independent
Last fiscal year the District paid
contractors 80 to 46 cents per cubic
yard for grading. The bids this year
were around SO cents. The lone bid
der for macadam road construction
jumped from 81 cents per cubic yard
last year to SIS cents this year. The
lowest bid last year for concrete
roadway was SO cents per cubic yard.
In the bids recently opened the prices
ranged from $l.21 to Sl.55.
For granite block roadWays there
were no bids at all this year.
Prices for curb construction have
Jumped out OF sight
Contracts probably will be let for CON-
struction OF the roads as far as the an
propriations will go, more money IN he