New-York tribune., 1919-06-02
News and Comment of City and Suburban Realty Market

tracts on wage scales and labor con-
dltlons terminating on January l.,
1921. There seems to be an increasing
feeling that the Presidential election
Will have bearing upon the labor
and wage situation as a whole and that
II the reaction comes at all it will come
next year. Building trade employers
have been comforting on the matter.
There are many interests, however.
which desire no change in the longev-
lty OF the wage agreements between
labor and employers.
Better Building Activity
This trend of events is believed bv
many in the building trades here and
elsewhere in the country to be re-
sponsible for the sudden turn for the
better in building activity, the impress
sion seeming to gain ground week by
week that those who contemplate big
building work will operate to their
own advantage better if they begin
work at once.
In the New York market this turn
has become so pronounced as to have
had an effect upon the pulse of some
material prices, although actual gains
so far are few. Common Hudson brick
. of the best grades probably will be
nearer $3.50 a thousand, whoj esale,
before long. Quotations for ordinary
Hudson brick are still SIG, with the
usual additional charge for carriage,
handling and distributing charges.
Plaster prices are verging on an up
ward change. Linseed oil, affecting
paints. is actually advancing in price.
In the early part Of the year, when
white and red lead manufactures rs
guaranteed existing prices against de-
cline to July /, many were of the
opinion that a reduction must be
made, as at that time pig lead was
selling in st. Louis at $475 and the
spread between raw material and fin
lshed product was too great. While
the trade is non-committal regarding
the price movement of this important
paint ingredient after July 1, it is en-
planned that there is not now as good
in consideration of the upward changes
in pig lead prices Of late. St. Louis
prices on Thursday were s5O5.
Record Orders in May
Portland cement mills reflect the re-
cent change. While it is too early to
quote the May statistics, the belief is
general that May will show the biggest
volume of orders and shipment since
the same month in 1917, with produc-
ton still behind potential orders and
with limited stocks on hand. Lumber
orders from twenty-five associated mills
Will show approximately 115 per cent
OF orders over 1918, with shipments
about 7s per cent and production about
10 per cent according to trade esti-
mates Saturday. Fabricated steel mill
capacity under order in May probably
will be in the neighborhood of 80 per
cent. More orders and larger specifi-
cations are being placed with the big
mills. Open markets are talked Of, but
stable prices are more to be expected,
even though the mills are hungry for
business. Cases are known where or
ders have been refused rather than
make concessions, by both large and
small mills. Nobody knows what costs
will be when labor IS as restless as it
is and steel manufacturers are holding
firm at safe levels
Drive for Cast Iron Use
Cast iron interests are preparing to
get back into the building business
promptly, an important conference
toward this end being scheduled for
to-day There is to be a nationwide
drive for greater use Of cast iron pipe
columns and sewer conduits Some
radiator adjustments have been made
The schedule on radiation remains un-
changed, but as a bid for big business
orders from $500 to 12,50o square feet
are allowed an additional per cent
Another firm in the hot water heating
line dropped its prices approximately y
/ 71a per cent with usual terms and de.
/ liveries.
Freight movements approximately ar.
20 per cent below what they wer,
at this time last year, when war de-
mands and shipments were at thei,
heaviest. With crop moving to be fig
i 4 Il