Evening journal., 1919-09-13

FlER months Of waiting for conditions in general TO
become settled and for the prices OF building ma
terias to become stabilized architects and builders have
decided that only through increased production the
part Of manufacturers prices be kept from showing
sti further advances, says the weekly review Of The
American Architect
While the country to believe that there is moth
ing TO be gained by delaying building operations any
longer II cannot be denied that there work
ing hard in opposition to this tendency. They dis
satisfied labor and the demand for artificial price stand
ards But with these conditions the building
most hopeful sign for it represents the faith which
business has. in the nation.
There can be no gainsaying the fact however that
the immediate need is for increased production With
decreased working hours this is impossible Labor
unions are making great mistake in asking both higher
wages and shorter hours. The laboring man is to
be the sufferer in the long for he has started
to burn the candle at both ends Labor must be warned
Of the danger Of shorter hours and the consequent
sened production
Possibly the history Of recent strikes, particularly
that on The marlborough Rapid Transit lines in New
York City, which died abornlng indicates that labor is be-
ginning to realize that1 may carry IFS demands for in
creased wages beyond point where patient and long
suffering public will docilely submit.
As means Of bringing about better understanding
between employer and empoye, rapid strides being
made in various sections Of the country by what
termed community councils. BY intelligent cooperation
by getting all classes together solution Of the
problem is helping TO do away with suspicion and dis
trust
To produce distribute the largest possible
volume Of commodities, whether viewed from economic
financial viewpoint the remedy for the present sua
tion the same there must be regular and efficient
work and absolutely shortening Of hours. Efforts
being made by many societies to cut down exraagant
buying, for America must both work and save There
are many ways to work but only to save In many
sections Of the country the question Of price almost
wholly disregarded great is the demand for COM
modities
While building conditions not necessarily safe
guage Of prosperity, they being the safest
have. AT present the whole trend is toward
great industrial expansion based partly the quckened
business life OF the country and partly what to
be the fulnlment Of Gadsone's prediction that
day the United states would achieve the commercial
premacy Of the world.
is estimated that building engineering projects
costing 81 5OOO00OOO contracted for during the first
months OF this year. The chief activity is in the
territory east OF the Mississippi river and north of the
Ohio where according to the estimate Of large eng
neerng company contracts for work valued at 81 POS PCS
600 have been let far this year This territory
prises industrial America and the increase In building
contracts may be regarded fair basis for estimating
the trend of industrial opinion to the immediate future
Of the country
Last year record building year, not OF dwellings
but Of industries and government buildings But
the building statistics for the first months Of 1919
show that the 1919 record for the corresponding year has
been exceeded by 20 per cent, rate Of which
promises to create for 1919 a record year