The sun., 1918-07-29
MATERIAL PRICES
WILL Be HIGHER
Report That Government May
Spend Billion on Housing
the Reason.
BUILDERS TO BE FAVORED
Industries Board Sees Need of
COnstructiOn-Lifts Ban on
Several Products.

oHe reason why Dullulng material
prices are being held at high levels and
are Enthusiastically headed for still
further advances is the announcement
that the housing programme for which
S1lo.ooo,oOo has been appropriated may
reach a billion dollar scale II housing
enthusiasts have their way, says the
DeU Serptce Daily Budding Reports to
day.
The general stock OF basic building
materials OF all kinds on hand through
out the United States to-day In probably
sufficient TO construct only about $780,
100000 worth OF buildings. The normal
volume of construction that building ma
ttrial manufacturers cater to is approx
mately $500, 100000. From the pres
ent stool; on hand the Federal authori-
ties have levied heavily and will con-
tinue to do so. The volume of build
ing construction for the country this
year will probably not exceed $3.50, 00O,-
600, exclusive of Government building
operations Including the $40 600. 600
represented in the Government housing
plan II would appear as though there
was ample supply OF material on hand,
but when It Is recalled that ship con-
struction requires practically the same
materials that enter into modern build
ing operations and that the shipyards
are calling for an increasing amount OF
lumber, steel. clay products, cement.
&c. it is rapidly becoming a question
OF doubt as to how even a $4,000, 900
housing programme can be supplied with
b6ilding materials. much less billion
dollar or even half billion dollar pro-
gramme. unless the manufacturers oil
these commodities are permitted 10
produce them at n rate decidedly greater
than that now prevailing.
This uncertainty as to what the Fed
eral housing bureaus are going to need
in the way of building materials is the
main cause OF present / Ugh prices and Is
the direct cause OF the sharp advance In
quotations recently reported and which
are yet TO come. There ie. however, evil
dencc that Federal authorities are recog-
nizlng Il is condition OF affairs because
OF the recent action in giving priority 10
portland cement. certain clay products
and the latest, hollow tile, for certain
purposes. Tho fact that the War Indus
tries Board uses the following language
in communication TO building interests
impresses tie building material interests
as being a sign OF official realization OF
the serious condition the building ma
terial industry finds itself in:
THE Priorities Board Is OF the opinion
that yours is In part war Industry be.
cause your product is used In many OF
the building operations carried on d.
rectly by the war agencies OF the Gov
eminent and in the collateral. yet indis-
pensable. housing programmes. which are
being and will be presented in communi-
ties where soldiers. seamen and war
workers are being concentrated"
The fuel situation of each manufac.
turer OF hollow tile Is to be considered
ana while tfere Is a resale clause In the
opinion II states specifically that this IL
not TO prevent, however, the sale o'
small quantities OF materials for repairs
or or eN(enslons TO existing structures
involving IN the aggregate a cost not u
exceed sZ'SOo. II in any case the use
proposed 10 De made or the product shal
ne one not dehned as essential, but one
which the user conceiNes to be in tht
public interest and OF such essentially
that 1t should not he deferred. the pro-
posed user may make statement OF
fact to the local or regional repre-
sentative or the resources and CONVEX
SION section or the war industries Board
In his district applying 10 euc1 rep
iesehtauNe TOT MS approval OF suCn con-
strucuon.'
In brief this essential classification OF
the hollow tile Industry Involves on III
face only tile for Government work ant
for ailos.
That the situation existing In the
East is prevalent throughout the coun
| try Is proved by report compiled BY
| II. II. Murdoch OF the architectural frn
Of Iardine, Hill & Murdoch OF New
York, chairman OF the board OF "Ruild
/ Ing Industries OF New York, who wa.
chairman OF the committee on the ma