The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-22
solving TIT FEcDLEM OF LABOR
UNREST,


While i; appears certain that most
commodities have reached stabilized
price level and that there Will be no rad
! ical or Immediate recession. thcre arc III
I dicationS that some building Materials
! particularly lumber and brick. Will so
even higher. says the American Archi-
;tcctS' weekly review. This is due mainly
10 the fact that during tho war conStruc-
: ton supplies. as Il whole. failed TO snare
the advance Of ether commodity groups,
and because thrr" is Il shortage OIL more
! than n years production.
! There was. however. n more general
! feeling among architects and builders
, that with the gradual elimination Of dis
turhinE features. many Of which are no
! longer viewed with apprehension, that
! the construction industry is rapidly at
: tanning its stride for long and steady
: squirt. Architects nrc coming to
clearer understanding Of their commu-
nifty needs and the part they arc to play
in satisfying them. Manu-. acturcrs are
| taking the long expected turn toward
! enlarged output. which is decided evil
dcncc OF growing confidence, as well as
n factor in reducing prices. y forecast
that the GcncSelitr OF business men ar ar
| accepting is that the solution OF tho
present problem lies in adopting meth
DDS Of production and Of distribution
| that will make for increased production.
! There can be no hope or reduced living
| costs until the shortage of commodities
| Is overcome by greater production. THIS
| reduction must come through Increased
! efficiency in plant facilities and mcthooS
| Of operation. Labor is the largest tcm
/ In the cost of production, and is strongly
! affected BY the c, 81 Of living. Increased
| output along can reduce the cost or Nv
| Ing. Laborcrs both skilled and unskillcd.
have more money than ever before. IL
| Is the non-tcChniCal and small-saiarled
class. clerks and hcokkccpcrs; VINO can
not live as comfortably MS before the
| war. Tho country. however. Is undo
| niahiy prosperous. Commercial agency
! reports shrw that weekly business fall
: urCS ere the smallest on record. DC
: srite the advance in prices or autono-
! hilcs and other Injuries dealers are nav
! lnE difficulty in supplying the demand
, Tho purchasing power of tho dollar is
I now regarded to he 50 certs. but many
! nrc earning two dollars instead OF ono.
! as before the war and find IL no more
: difficult to pay 81 pair FOR shoes than
! they did 81 formerly.
| With tho return to something like
staple conditions in the building Held,
, the country occupies most ndvanta-
! Ecous position. Conditions in Englan
| for instance. arc much worse than mere.
; There stool has advanced 1872 per cent.
! COMPARED with so per cent here. II has
/ been necessary in Great Britain for the
! government to guarantee the investor
against possible declines for period OF
, nvc years In this country. however,
building permits show how rapidly the
| boom is gaining Roadway. or course, 1t
Is country homes. apartments and COM
mcrcinl buildings that arc leading. The
revival Is much slower In public works
and railway construction.
| Americas building boom naturally
should hc greater than EnglanGs. The
| great ma jorltv of builders here have not
been affected rs they have in Europe.
| They nrc in n position to get needed ma
! tcrIals moro readily. The countrys
| finances. despite large loans made to for
, cign powers. arc stronger than eyer DC
| fore. There Is every reason TO believe
the prosperity that Is now being enjoyed
will continue for some time. The main