The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-18
BUILDING IN CITY
Prospects for Early ReSump-
ton Construction.
Capital and Labor, COntrac-
tors and WOrkmen
LOOKING At THE SITUATION
If the Men and the Materials
Be Forthcoming
Owners Will Resume Building
Operations in Spring.

Following the almost complete ceS-
sation of building operations in To-
peka from the minor addition or ga
rage to the important business build
ings from two stories up, the coming
spring promises much activity along
all these lines.
Some Materials Declining.
The only discoura ging elements are
those of the cost of material and the
uncertainty of the labor situation.
Since January l there has been nota-
BILE decline in various materials essen
tial to the construction of residences
and business buildings. During the
Ia ten days there has been drop IN
bathtubs and other plumbing mate
rails of IS per cent. The American
Radiator company probably the
greatest manufacturer of heating
plants for residences or large build
ings, announce this month a reduc-
ton in their prices of from 25 to 33
per cent. The American Steel compa-
ny announce a drop of So per ton. Re
auctions in the prices of iron have
also been given out
The Labor Situation.
other materials essential for build
ing operations are about to be listed
in the declines. In regard to the la
Dor situation, there is already in To-
peka and other cities a large
amount of available unskilled labor
due to returned soldiers anxious for
work. In this class also are large
number of skilled workmen. In some
lines of trade the government necessi-
ties forced prices of labor along build
ing lines to abnormal rates. These
prices naturally must come down or
those contemplating building will not
proceed with construction, on the the
DRY that those excessive war prices
cannot be used for basis for making
a satisfactory return on investments
in new buildings. Contra ctors in To-
peka are watching this situation with
much interest, and meetings have
been held during the last few days by
committees representing employing
contractors and the skilled trades.
What Contractors Say.
Contractors say that certain union
labor they employ have indicated they
will demand an advance of one dollar
per day April first, about the time
building begins. The contractors de-
clare that if they must figure their
contracts upon this new basis they
will not take the contract at all, and,
as far as they are concerned, build
ing operations will not be resumed.
They indicate that instead of an adj
vance in prices, there should be low
ering from the war figures of last fall
The labor committees on the other
hand say that the high cost of living
continues and even increases.
The feeling is general that certain
foods will be lower in price and pros
poets for the immediate future are for
a material drop in prices on important
foods generally and that present in
creases are due in large measure to
"profiteering," a practice to be con-
demned most severely and a practice
which the government and state au-
thorities are likely within the next few
weeks to condemn and punish unless
the old prices are not only restored but
reduced.
The 'Profitccrs.''
The State Journal desires to say twc
things right here in this article. Ir
the first place in its advertising col
urnns the reader will notice big reduc-
lions at certain stores in shoes, cloth
ing and provisions generally and the
reader of course will take advantage OF
these announcements; but what thi:
paper wishes to point out at this time
is the outrageous advance in some
food or feed prices that have an i'm
portant bearing on the price of SucF
common necessities as milk and but
ter The editor of this paper take:
the responsibility of making the above
statement and he knows whereof he
speaks, for he has two cows of his OWL
from which he secures his milk an(
butter supply and during the las
thirty days he has been compelled t.
pay for one necessary feed, bran. thu
following different prices: Early II
December bran was $1.70 per hundred
pounds, then Immediately following
the removal of government restric
lions bran shot up to S2.40 per hun
bred, then to $3.50, then to $3.50 an;
today it is $2.7O, these advances al
within about thirty days. This condi
ton is absolutely outrageous because
the bran is made out of wheat which
has not changed a particle il price
The mill men and feed men will maxi
all sorts of explanations but the ad
vance in the price of bran from SIT
to $2.70 while the raw material
wheat, has not advanced a particle
cannot be satisfactorily explained t.
the general public.
When bran comes down, milk will
come down and butter will come down
Let the millers and feed men com
down from their high perches or suf
fer from the condemnation of the pub
lie. both consumers and producers, TO
owing to these excessive prices RICH