The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-11
BUILD NOW IS THE
ADVICE OF EXPERT
s. w. Straus Declares That
Cost Of Construction Can.
not BE Reduced.

Two slogans that should be rivor
the most widespread popularity in
America to-day are own your QUA
home and Build now" said s W
6traus OF S. W. Straus & Co. retrn,lv
'"They signify movements that ar.
worthy of the greatest encouragem.n,
from every agency, both public and mi
vate Notwithstanding the efforts ba.
ing made to revive the building industry
and correct insufficient housing comb,
lions, the amount of construction worl
now going on throughout the country 4,
not equal to normal demands, and con.
ditions are daily growing more serious
Much of the present stagnation I,
due to feeling on the part OF MANY
that construction costs will he cheane,
later on. AS a result hesitation exists
everywhere, buildings become mora
scarce and rents continue to mount
higher.
There is ample capital In the coun.
try to finance the construction 30.
gramme necessary to restore no..,sl
conditions. Just as soon as the public
generally comes to understand that
building costs cannot go lower-that thu
tendency, on the contrary, Is toward
higher levels--we shall see a quick r.-
sumption of the building industry.
The fundamental conditions which
prevent recession from present general
price levels may be enumerated as fol-
lows:
Il. The consta ntly increasing scale OF
wages and the universal tendency to-
ward shorter working hours.
"2. The shortage OF unskilled labor.
'3. Inflated credit conditions which
depreciate the purchasing power Of the
dollar
-. The present abnormal shortage ot
buildings in the United States ana in all
allied countries.
"5. The tremendous amount of nece..
sary public construction work OF all
kinds
&c. The tendency toward better stan,
dards of living among the masses Of the
people.
ut must be remembered that building
| costs have not gone UP as much as the
prices of food. clothing and commodities
in general. The government index num-
Der of all building materials exclusive
of steel. had risen 61 per cent. at the
| end OF the war as compared with the in
dex number of 1913. During the Same
| period the index number for commodl-
| ties, exclusive of building nlhterials,
had risen 11S per cent The average
| wages in the construction industry in
the leading cities of the United States
increased less than 80 per cent during
the four year period prior to the ending
| of the war, while wages in all commodi-
ties increased 81 per cent. during the
\ same time.
THE hesitation in the building in
| dustry Is due to tn, act that present
prices seem high when compared with
pre-war standards. but when they are
compared with other commodities they
are low. The record of prices shows
that there always has been general up
! ward tendency. and that, with each new
advance. costs seemed high by way OF
comparison with previous levels. The
same is true now
Artificial efforts to stimulate build
! ing will not be as productive OF results
as general acceptance of the fact that
| building costs are not coming down
The individual who has in contemplation
| owning his own home will find no better
time to build than now for every fun
damental condition indicates that costs
| will not be lower