Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-06
HAD PSYCHOLOGICAL
EFFECT ON BUILDING
Announcement Of q Fixed Price OF
Steel Products Brings
Activities.

II no more tangible benefit accrues
tho recent announcement Of nxed
price of steel products has at least had
an excellent psychological effect on the
building trades. For a lengthy period
tho natural progress Of the building in
dustry has been impeded by the admit
teddy high prices of structural mate
rails.
Fabricated steel was one Of tho prin-
oipal commodities for which an excess
sive price was charged and the primo
factor responsible for the withholding
Of important structural projects from
an Immediate start. With the price OF
steel regulated there remains prac-
tically only one great difficulty-deaays
in delivery-to be surmounted before
building activity can return again to
the volume of normal times.
Price Alone Not Sufficient.
Architects and building contractors
throughout this city, almost without
exception, feel that the action Of the
federal government in regard to the
regulation of steel prices was de-
cided step in the direction OF encourag-
ing a strong building movement. They
freely state. however. that a fixed price
Will not of itself make an immediate
revival Of building possible. The ques-
ton of the available supply. with
prompt deliveries. enters in n large way
into the existing building situation, and
il is from the scarcity Of materials and
slow deliveries that TIE most difficulty
is at present anticipated.
A fixed basic price for structural steel
will be of little avail il there is no fab
ricated material to be obtained. or II
its delivery is impossible within a pc
Rod of six months or more. II there
could be some assurance that the de-
sired amount of structural steel would
be forthcoming within a reasonable Pc
Rod after the contract is placed there
undoubtedly would be a marke- inn
provement in the building condiiR rs
but throughout the entire country.
Local Situation Better.
With the steel situation partially "a
justed and the other deterrent factors
substantially improved, the local build
ing situation is in better shape than ii
has been for q long period. The labor
market is somewhat easier, and now
that the construction of Army and Navy
is rapidly nearly compile
tion. thousands of skilled and unskilled
men will be released into other chan
nels OF building work. The scarcity of
mechanics lately has been experienced
to marked degree, and it Is predicted
that the men coming from work on the
cantonment construction will be read
lily absorbed for private building opera
lions.
The building material market as n
whole is rapidly settling down to a
realization that an important part of
the responsibility for improving build
ing conditions rests with the manufac-
turers and dealers in materials and
supplies. There is a growing tendency
among these interests to assist matters
wherever possible by a close co-onera-
ton. through which the general well
fare Of the industry will be augmented.
Although as class building materials
have not been substantially lowered in
price there Is feeling Of additional
stability to the market that has
brought with it a more optimistic at
titude on the part Of the majority of
interests.