The sun., 1917-07-30
BUILDERS ARE NO
LONGER IN DESPAIR
Situation Here Improving, AL
though Prices Continue
b. at High Levels.

ThrouEhout the Metropolitan district
the building situation has improved. IL
not from an actual construction stand
point, In so far az sentiment Ia con-
cerned, according to the Record and
Guide.
Builders were almost in the depths Of
despair few weeks ago and II seemed
as though there was no hope for the re-
newal OF construction work for many
months to come. This feeling, however.
is being reversed. and calm judgment
shows that the demand IL % great for
certain types of buildings that the pres
ent high cost OF materials cannot act as
deterrent factor much longer.
Viewed from a certain light II is to
be considered fortunate that the build
Ing activity 10 not greater than at pres
ent The necessities OF the Government
must take precedence over private work.
Up to the present time the military work
has received every consideration from
building contractors Of the best STAN
dard, and in many instances they have
subjugated personal ambitions and OPP
portunities for large proits in a pa
trfotic endeavor to be of service TO the
country IN time Of need.
The settling OF the shipbuilding con-
troversy has had a beneficial effect on
the market. at least from q moral stand
point. The building trade is relieved
that this obstacle has been removed, for
II feels that the sooner the Government
work is started on a large scale the
quicker the situation will clear.
Steel mills nre doing their utmost to
comply with governmental orders, and
the capacity Of the mills throughout the
country is 90 large that only q compara-
lively short time should elapse before
private work can be actively resumed.
Orders for about $4,000 tons of sheets
and $4,000 tons OF steel bars were given
out by the Government this week. The
Navy Department has awarded con-
tracts for about 1000 tons of structural
steel for magazines and she'll warehouses.
France wants $4,000 tons OF rails, and a
large number Of cars. locomotives and
bridges Japan purchased 1000 tons of
tank and hull plates from American
mills, paying IL l-2 to IL cents pound
which Ia nearly four times the price paid
by tho United States. Russia Is re-
ported to require 10000 railroad cars.
The contracts for motor cars placed by
Great Britain, France and Russia will
total about $40 900. 900. which will 70
to American manufacturers. Mill ship
ments OF fabricated steel are being
quoted at 1859 20 $3.50 cents. New
York, for delivery in one to four months
The Federal Trade Commission will
not receive the preliminary estimates of
costs on iron and steel production for a
couple OF weeks, and until these figures
are available. price fixing cannot be ac-
complished.
Last Monday a programme to pool
all the export coal and much OF that
delivered for the city's consumption was
inaugurated at st. George. Staten ISL
hA NAr
working in cooperation with the rail-
roads war board and the coal produc-
ton committee OF the Council of Ma
tlonal Defence.
Other piers supplying coal for city
consumption for shipment by water will
put into effect a programme for tide
water pooling on August /. The effect
will be TO hasten boat shipments to New
England and other destina tons And re-
lease railroad cars as soon as possible
These piers are located at Elizabeth,
Fort Liberty. South Amboy and Fort
Reading
Similar pooling activities will COM
mence on August I at Philadelphia,
Hampton Roads and Baltimore. These
movements cover a considerable area
and will have a beneficial effect upon
the local market deliveries The total
amount Of coal likely TO be shipped from
s6,000,0 900 tons
The copper situation remains un-
changed. The consumption continues
heavy. labor conditions being the prn-
cipal deterrent factor. The refinery pro-
duction for June is estimated as hav-
ing been 200 900 900 pounds. The to-
tai output OF refined copper for the FIRST
six months OF 1917 Is estimated at l.
055, 900 900 pounds. compared with o.
25s, 100000 pounds during the year 1915.
The wire products situation is still
acute, the demand growing daily. Mills
are behind In their deliveries. and Gov
ernmental orders are increasing The
American Steel and Wire Company con-
tinues TO quote S3.20. while independents
ask from $3.75 10 -. The American
company states that 80 cents profit on
keE of nails is reasonable, and 81 and
$l.b0 profit Is excessive.
Advances of from 10 to 20 per cent
in builders hardware are announced.
Finished goods are hard to obtain
The manufacturers of cast iron pipe
are being called upon TO supply fittings
for the wooden pipe being Installed in
army cantonments. Carload lots s
inch, inch and heavier are being quoted
at $3.50 per net ton. tidewater. and 4
inch at $3.50. Window glass prices are
firm and well sustained. There is a
shortage of popular sizes, Prices are at
present unchanged, but there Is a like
llhood OF an early revision OF discount.
Hudson River common brick Is quoted
at Ss.25 to $s75. though some ofrloads
have been sold at S. Lower prices have
not stimulated much additional buying.
The average normal production OF plants
In the Hudson Valley 10 about 1.500, ,O00,-