The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-07

Manufacturers who have been hesi-
tatine to purchase and build new plants
will find themselves in tight place I'm
= few months II space available for In
dustrial development continues to go
out of the market as rapidly as II has
gone during the last few months. There
are no properties of any size available
now along the Manhattan shores. The
Brooklyn shore has been developed 10
such an extent-or is held In reserve
by big industrial corporations-tha
only a few parcels are now available,
and these generally are In the extreme
northerly parts, like Greenpoint, or in
Queens. The Bronx still has few fairly
large sized areas to offer but demand Is
fast taking them out OF the market and
the likelihood Is that unless the manufac-
turer Is willing to go far above the
Bronx River he will not be able to find
anything suitable to his use. Along the
Jersey side of the Hudson there re-
main but two or three large properties
which might be considered desirable
sites for large Industrial developments
Therefore there remains but one other
part of the shore line of the city of
New York which can yet be obtained,
and at reasonab Bile figures. This Is along
the shores of Staten Island
The great demand for piers. docks.
warehouses and manufacturing prop
critics which has been steadily growin,s
during the last fifteen to eighteen
months, and which demand is steadily
being increased by the Communicating
Of more properties needed by the Fed
eral Government to successfully carry
on the war programme, is bound to have
its effect on the available space. Cessa-
ton Of building operations. due in
large extent to the misunderstanding of
the wishes of the Government has added
greatly to the squeeze which manu-
facturers are experiencing. The Gov
eminent authorities have indicated that
II was not their intention to restrict
building which was needful to housing
OF essential industries or to the health
OF the Inhabitants.
The misunderstanding is vanishing
gradually and Washington advices indi-
cate that the authorities are beginning
to realize more and more that building
Is necessary to meet the requirements of
the port of New York. 1t stands to
reason that If the Government continues
to commander space as it is doing al
most weekly there will soon be none
manufacturing war products and other
essential commodities. There Is but one
means Of providing the space which the
Government wants, and that is by build
ing. But the Government cannot delay
its needs and has been forced TO take
over existing structures. Therefore II
seems only fair TO assume that the au-
thorities, having realized the fact that
tho supply OF space is rapidly decreas-
4vrcp 80 10.
areas. are more leniently disposed
toward providing new space by permit
ting new construction.
Manufacturers have shown a disin-
clination TO build, however. partly be-
cause of the delay in delivery Of ma
terials and partly because of the labor
situation. But while both these condi-
tons were an important factor during
the period when the Government was
erecting great cantonments and other
buildings Immediately needed for war
purposes the situation has eased up
somewhat, since this class Of building
Is gradually diminishing and the work
or fight order has greatly added to the
available labor supply The time there
fore, seems right for manufacturers who
feel that they would like to erect new
plants to choose sites and start develop
ment Their fears that at the conclu-
sion OF the war great quantities OF space
will be placed on the market again as
the Government releases building after
building should be allayed by the
prophecy Of the Collector of the Port
Of New York. Byron r. Newton, whs
sees in the future much greater posi-
bilities for New York
Tho industries expansion is bound to
grow and there is every reason to be-
lieve that the space released by the
Government at the conclusion of the
war will be in almost as great demand
as space is at present The manufac-
durer who has wisely chosen site
large enough to permit of expansion and
has built his plant will find himself
better fortified to meet this expansion
which is anticipated than the one who
has retired from business and attempts