Evening journal., 1918-05-18
news OF week IN
building TRADE
Labor Continues Scarce; All
Material Keeps at Record
High Prices
MANY CONTRACTS
ARE UNDER WAY


Wilmington architects and builders
are fairly busy despite tho fact that
each week finds The prizes Of labor and
material steadily advancing. Structural
steel is not only prohibitlve in price
but IL is also almost impossible 70 pro
cure. orders must he sent I'm weeks /
ahead Of schedule TO get steel slrders
and llniels at the operation I'm time to
keep up with tho rest Of the work. The
quotations on lumber arc treble what
they were IS months ago, and some
varieties Of wood arc eKceedinSy
scarce owning 10 their use IN the build
ing Of ships and for other war work.
The labor situation Is worse than
over before in The history of the city.
There Is a scarcity OF stair carpenters,
masons, and plasterers. in fact Of all
skilled artisans. While tho laborcrs all
seem TO be working In munitlon plants
and shipyards. 4 call for nifty laborers
was sent 10 the us. Employment Ser
vice al Sixth and King streets a few
days ago for work on the new housing
developments started under the iurls-
dictlon Of the DUPONT Company at The
old Wawaset Driving Park. Ninth
street and Woodland avenue. The men
were somewhat slow 60 answer this
call. but a sufficient number Of men
have been obtained for the present
work Whether or not future calls for
men, both for this operation and the
one proposed at Front and Union
streets. will meet with q good response
Is a matter OF doubt.
Included In the work announced this
week Is one $4,000 residence addition
and alteration. a two-stOry offlce build
ing. a two-story stable, garage and
wagon shed.
j. J. Kennedy. architect, has finished
plans for alterations and additions on
/ the residence at No. $40 Washington
street. owned by John Govalos The
main feature Of the operation will be a
/ three-story brick addition. i2 by 30 feet
/ The present structure Will be reftted
throughout. Hardwood floors viii b'
I laid and the entire interior will he eX.
pensively reftted A tiled yestihul'
and bathroom floors viii also be laid
The new exterior will he Colonial ir
design. with a hipped roof and dormers
The cost will be about $4,000.
The chapel addition 20 the Chesinu
Hin Catholic Church. by the same archi
teci, viii be completed in about a week
10 has a marble floor and shrine ami
the total cost is expected TO aggrezat
5000.
BIDS for 2 new residence TO be erect
ed at Laurel. Del. FOR Sirman u. Mar
VIII are expected tn a few days by Arch
, tect Wallace Hsnce.
John Dockery Thompson spon w
complete plans for new and beauti1
o. interior alterations 10 the properi
r owned by the Hurley Powell Compsn
, OF No al Market street, az No. q
Market street The alterations wi
e make the interior one Of the finest bus
. ness houses in the city. Estimates fro
E Contractors for this operation VIII
3 received in a short time
: Mr. Thompson Is also prepariT
;, plans for two-story brick ONT
. buildine. a two-story stable with She
y and a one-story garage for the HAM
n ton Coal Company a. Tenth al
D. Church streets.
N Bids have been received by BROW
q and Whiteside. architects, for the ne
residence Of John Hare, seventh ar
S Rodney streets The contractor wi
n be announced i'm few days Ii
u buildinz viii be OF brick, two stories
g height
= W. n. Haddock & Co.. contractors ar
builders. announce satisfactory pr
r gross on the buildings of the new 81
s. NJ the Delaware state Fair Associate
.e ai oak Grove. Elsmere. All buildin
p ARE expected 20 be finished by the el
O N July. in ample time Tor tho fa
some DELAY was experienced when tV
G. wooden structures which were
n framed ND and ready 40 roof, had
lg he taken apart and removed to anoih
m siie as the Baltimore & Ohio Raiiro
4 90. had acquired the land upon viii
o. ths Two operations were being hui
a. The plans of the new governme
quarantine station at Reedy Island
IS nriyate. but ii Is stated that the hui
81. ings will be principally or reiniorc
20 concrete and hrich with a Few iral
Ms buildings There will he besides
g. main building laundry once
IT'S houses and barracks.
A laree number Of new architectu
nd nlsns have been temporarily shelly
an owing 40 the dismay Of prospect
ts clients when the architects estima
er costs were submitted 10 them. Nea
orl every architect I'm the city has one
more sets OF plans for residences
&, mercantile buildings pigcon-holed
isl recilv due 10 increased costs or ira
on norisiion and the causes listed pre-
s.. a.