The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-12
BUILDING. OUTLOOK
BECOMING SERIOUS
Winters Approach Threatens
Loss Of 80 Per Cent. Of Brick
Output; Below Normal Now.
$40 PER 1000 PROBABLE
Unless Something Is Quickly
Done All Work Will Stop
Ante-War Conditions.

New construction problems are be-
ginning to face the Eastern builder,
whether be has contracts for Government
work or permits to proceed with neces-
sary private building work. according to
the Dow Service Daily Building Reports
to-day.
In obtaining estimates on proposed
construction work the builder finds costs
are advancing out Of bounds. even OF
cost-plus construction work. for the rea-
son that the material Is not available
for future delivery. In the matter OF
Hudson River common brick the week
closed with wholesale prices for best
grades at SIS a thousand. and the price
may reach SEQ n thousand unless some
way Is found to burn the brick that now
lies In the racks before the autumn frosts
set in. Manufacturers have explained
70 the proper Federal authorities that In
stead of the normal output OF 100000
600 brick the yards have been able To
mould only about 300.000.000 brick. IL
the bricks, In practically mud form. are
carried over into the winter without
burning, the loss will be at least so per
cent, leaving an available supply for
this vicinity OF only 150,000,o00 brick.
Substitutes TO 10 useo.
IN view Of the disposition Of the au-
thorities to tighten up on the supply OF
steel the burden OF building construc-
ton in the next few months will be car
ried by such substitute materials as
lumber. stone. plaster, block. hollow tile
and similar materials, which heretofore
have been classed second in importance
to reinforced concrete. steel and other
forms of construction.
Lumber appears to be the one COM
modify that is not menacingly short on
supply. Neither Is there much likelihood
of prices advancing much further than
are now reported. There are some lines
that are scarce as far as the distribute
ing markets in New York, Boston, Phil
adelphia and Washington are concerned.
notably spruce, which has been largely
set aside for special purposes. But for
the most part there is plenty OF lumber
available, providing 1t Is TO be used FOR
Government purposes. The tendency Is
for the Government to take over and
operate Western sawmills. and in this
connection a 100000 foot a day mill
s. being established on the Olympic
peninsula In the State OF Washington.
thereby relieving the pressure on some
OF the Eastern distribution points.
The price movement In other DEPART
ments of the building material covering
the Eastern section of the country shows
that linseed oil Is reaching toward 81
q gallon level, the current week end
price being $3.50, with $1.92 a 194 for
less than carload lots. There are strong
probabilities that the fiaxseed supplies
In this country will have to be shared
with Engla lad. where the "rop Is far be-
low normal In the matter Of slate quo
eot fraiUht charpaS
very large proportion Of the delivery
cost, and therefore freight is quite an
important item to the buyer. who uSu-
ally desires freight allowed price. For
that reason T. Q. b. quarry price is not
very helpful.
Inventory by Government.
One Of the fiIlt things that will be
done after the .Sresenl war winntns
pressure on the uilding material mar
ket is relieved isfor the Government OF
its agency to make survey OF the inn
mediate demands for building materials
that still will be classed as essential and
non essential. Canvasses will be made
OF every district to ascertain what will
be required for home consumption, and
the total will be paired with the esti-
mates that will be received from France
and Belgium and the building material
production capacity OF the country. Dis
tribution will be about evenly divided be-
tween home requirements and those oil
Guy allies. The earlier this canvass car
be got under way the better. Only
actual operations under plan now W..
have Priority then. and they mus have
the merit Of being more than usually
essential TO receive consideration fol
steel and other mill supplies. The IN
vestor who expects sudden relinquish'
ment OF building restrictions upon an
nouncement of victory will be disap.
pointed. The return to building pros
perity will be as gradual and slow N
development, in the face Of a world de
mand. as has been the recovery of build
ing activity following a panic.