The sun., 1918-10-21
BUILDING MATERIAL
OUTLOOK Is GOOD
Stocks on Hand Enough to
Meet Demand Expected at
End of the War.
SOME FOREIGN INQUIRIES
But Builders Arc Advised to
Proceed With Plans When
Restrictions Are Lifted.
SOME FOREIGN INQUIRIES

Questionnaires sent TO building inter-
ests of New York and vicinity last week
were being compiled Saturday and In
seventy nine per cent of the replies re-
ceived UP to that time. building material
manufacturers stated that they were
wholly prepared to take care Of at least
40 per cent of normal demand next year
from the stocks that they will carry
over the winter; 81 per cent said that
they would be able to handle a larger
demand and 20 per cent reported that
they had already received inquiries for
export Of basic building materials. In
IS per cent of the replies the question
as to how they would advise prospective
builders to act In the matter of pro-
ceedins with building plans provided
Government restrictions are removed. is
answered by positive counsel to proceed
at the earliest possible moment as there
will not be any reduction Of building
material prices in 1919 at least accord
ing TO the DoW Service Daily Building
Reports.
Interesting reasons are ascribed why
the prices Of building materials have no
tendency to 20 down. Chief among
them Is lack Of labor and because the
demand on the scant supplies will be
great. 1t Is noticeable that most manu-
facturers refer to the fact that It will
saving machinery in quantity to OFFSET
the scarcity of labor because the scar
city OF steel will be such as TO make
the cost OF this sort Of equipment ex-
ceedingly high In the face Of the prob
able export demand for machinery.
As for the building contracting inter-
ests Of New York and vicinity there Is q
disposition among them to give every
ounce Of their cooperation to the war
ending programme Of the War Industries
Board at Washington. To this end rad,-
cal methods have been employed TO
work out substitute building materials
In one case heavy timbers instead OF
steei beams has been used I'm construct
Ing big warehouse in New York. An
other instan nee 10 the erection of three
story building entirely Of hollow terra
Gotta tile. the outside walls carrying the
load Of the entire building with the ex-
ception Of several concrete columns in
the floor. which is also built of hollow
tile through which are run the only steel
members used in the structure. they be-
ing steel tension rods. The floor con-
struction Is OF the long span type, and
the building Is to be used for Office pur-
poses by the Government.
The success Of this piece OF construc-
ton has attracted a great deal OF at
tention, especially since It has been the
assumption Of the laity that this form OF
clay product building material could not
be used to sustain loads with succesa
Since this type Of construction permits
the use of material thau,has no special
demand in the war programme. builders.
architects and prospective owners having
plans held up for necessary construction
work may be able TO proceed under
Government permission since the supply
Of this material is on hand in large guam
titles.
Building material prices are unstable,
the entire market being In the sellers
hands, although the sellers are hungry
for business.