The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-04-08
The Men Who Are Best Informed Say Building Costs
VIII Increase Rather Than - Wise to Wait?

~ EsrERDAY the Herald published an article
issued with authority of the Department Of
Labor tndicaiing that building construction
contracts had l2en Jet during the month Of March
%iotnlling *96.v00ooo, or somcwhai above any pre-.
vieus record w. tffe United States Tor the month Of
March. The stassnent should be discounted 70
some extent, because there have been included in
the totals flver several large government projects
mridcnt ~ the war a nnmber Of very costly factofy
conversions from a war 10 n peace basis. Neverthes
less Il "a plain from analysis OF the figures given
that building has been resumed IN this nation that
our big business concerns and our bir business
minds have abandoned uncertainty. doubt aud De.
lay aud have set ont actually to begin the recon.
%sfruction
We have heeii making a somewhat careful
study OF nlagazilts, Journals and trade papers de
voted to The building supply markets aud the
building industry and trades. We have asked the
opirions Of . number of men who are in very close
touch win these markets aud who do not speak
by guess or hope. We gather everywhere from
these sources, shat are the only real authority We
have, the impression, oven the convirtion. that build.
ing costs arc not ening 10 he lower AZ any time IN
the near future; aud, on the other hand. the gen.
eral feeling that these costs will advance. There
were advances IN the lumber market yesterday thnt
Jared local dealers. They were advances IN ma.
terlnls that had been expected 10 remain stationary
and while these are probably. temporary. due 10
temporary notwithstanding delays. they constitute
one al the signs Of the times. We are on n new
high prize level which win not recede, in OIL prob.
ability, FOR many months and perhaps for years.
N these be the facts and the conditions Is il
wise for our community. or sound business for us ~
individuals 60 hold back all our constructive opera
tom; 10 play the waiting game that in a situation
Of this kind cannot possibly prove profitable and at
very best can be regarded only as safe in a negative
sort Of wayi 1n
Albuquerque - IN pressing need not only of
houses IN which 10 care for people who wish 10 live
here. but FOR the activity that accompanies CON
s%truction. There j. nothing fictitious about the
shortage of houses here. We have had no building
Of consequence for three years. We have been
growing during all that time and we have simply
o~uigrown our equipment. Where a genuine de
mand exists for a product or a service the man who
provides that product or service. with reasonable
business Judgment. stands no chance to lose.
Those Of ms who have building plans in mind
the considerable number OF Us who actually have
building plans and estimates completed and the
none, with which 10 carry ont those plans. will not
profit BY waiting The hotel project. the apartment
house project, the cottage building project aud
similar enterprises now being considered by bust
ness men, are financially and indusirially sound.
There u demand and pressing need for the equip