Evening journal., 1918-01-26
news OF Week IN
THE BUILDING TRADE
Return of Moderate Weather
Gives Builders Chance
TO Do Something
MANY SMALL JOBS
ARE ON BOARDS

side and outside, have been at almost
a standstlll for about one month be-
cause Of the long stretch Of freezing
weather The break that came in the
temperature yesterday sounded a well
come and joyful note to the local
builders, who have been sorely affected
by the cold spell. Since Christmas,
builders have been compelled TO sus-
pend almost entirely. but with the ad-
vent Of warmer weather, they are plan
ming TO rush their work and make up"
for the lost time. The building trade
came closer 20 a tie-up this past month
than it has for many years because OF
cold weather Even indoor work was
halted because Of the cold.
Contractors and architects are appre-
hensiye as TO what this year will bring.
Last year goes down in building history
as about the most depressing year that
has been suffered by the building trade.
While government building this year
will undoubtedly set precedent, yet 10
cannot be foretold as yet as TO what the
private building operations will amount
TO.
Architects are fairly busy at this time,
it Is stated. having enough work TO
keep them working" but not enough
10 rush them Contractors are generally
busy with contracts, mostly jobs Of a
minor character But It Is stated by
one local builder that 90 build at this
time is a serious undertaking. as build
ings, after the war. will sell for just
about one-half the amount it would re-
quire TO build them at this time, and
few are risking To build
The prize Of steel continues high. It's
prices, which have been unstable since
the start OF the war. show It's great
increase since the first Of last year:
January ( 1917. $40 q ton: July. 1917
500 so O ton: September, 1917, $50 GO
Shortly after the setting Of the last
quotation prices for the material were
fixed at SCI 20 a ton, which Is the price
demanded for steel now practically
double It's price Of one year ago.
During the past week the local build
Ing trade showed a slight improvement
over its previous dullness.
Brown and Whiteside architects, have
completed plans for lunch rooms, rest
rooms and laboratories for the en-
ployes Of the Wilmlngton Jute Mills,
Sixteenth street and and Railroad
avenue. Alexander F. Clayton. owner,
and have awarded the contract 70 a. S.
Reed and Brother Sons Company. The
building will comply with the women's
employment law.
The same architects have several
other plans In progress but withhold
their nature at present.
Bids will be received by r. e. May.
architect. on February 1. for alterations
and additions to the store and apart
ment house NJ Mrs Rose Gross, at Mar
cns Hook. Pa. The work Will cost
$4,000. Revised plans for the work are
in progress by Mr.. May. The addition
Will be OF brick. two stories IN height
a. feet by 40 feet in dimensions. with
Stag roof. steam heating, electric light
ing. pine floors and bulk windows.
Plans have been completed by Mn
MAY for additions and alterations to a
residence and garage the owner and
location of which arc withheld at
present. The work win consist Of a
two story addition Of brick and stone
10 the garage. 20 feet by 81 feet IN
dimensions. with tin roof, concrete and
hardwood floors and general Interior
alterations.
w. f. Hance Is preparing plans for
the erection Of n modern new garage
FOR Dr. Samuel G. Elhort, at the south
west corner of Tenth and French
streets The new building promises to
he the best equipped and most attract
i've garage i'm the city. The building
will he of brick. three stories high, 100
feet by G5 feet. with concrete roof, con-
crete floors. electric lighting. rolled
steel sashlng. and skyllghts. fire doors,
metal laih. elevators and gasoline stOr-
ago system. The plans have been COM
nlelcd and will be out for bids in a
few days.
J. J. Kennedy, architect. IS preparing
plans for the rcmodcling OF an old
building into a threc-story apartment
house. and for the erection OF four
large houses on an adjoining piece OF
land. 10 cost s25,OOOO The owner Of
the property and IFS location Is with
held for the present but it is said TO
he in the central part Of the city The
plans will be out for bids in a few
weeks
The contract for the chapel addition
10 the Catholic Church at Chestnut
Hill. Philadelphia has been awarded 20
Jacob Myers and Sons Company, con-
tractors. of Philadelphia, and the work
will be started in a short time. MT.
Kennedy was the architect.
The work OF razing the old historical
building. at Tenth and Market streets.
Is progressing. The building is being
carefully torn down, brick by brick,
so that Il can be restored in its original
style. f. c. May is the architect Tor
the restoration Of the old building.
Owing to the cold weather the work
on the Cahill building, at Second and
French streets, has been held up. All
materials for the work are now on
hand. and the contractors, Joyce and
Kerrigan, are preparing to push the
work as rapidly as possible.
The same conditions exist in regards
20 the new addition TO the Mullin
store, at Sixth and King streets. The
brick work has reached the third floor
IN this building. and the structural
steel work has been completed. w d..
Haddock and Company is the coptrac-
tor. and Brown and Whiteside the
architects.
Roscoe C.. Tindall is preparing plans
FOR a bungalow TO be erected at
Twenty-nrst and Boulevard. The
bungalow is 20 be one and one-half
stories high, % by 40 feet. It's con-
struction IS 10 be brick and hollow tile