New-York tribune., 1919-05-26
Cure for Housing
Shortage Indicated
I'm Contracts Let
Building Activity So Far
This Month Better Than
for Any Similar Period
Since August, 1916

Building interests in New York, with
me accord, declare that all they want
IL fair chance to do business on a
normal basis and their own enterprise
and organization will give far quicker
relief from the housing shortage than
can any remedial legislation, according
to "The Dow Service Daily Building
Reports" to-day.
Distributors and dealers in New York,
AZ we'll as in various metropolitan dis
trlcts Of the country, report that price
quotations are actually being held at
levels below what the potential outlet
would seem to justify, solely to en-
courage the small investor to get into
the market promptly The remarkable
lump in percentage of basic building
materials leaving mason supply yards
within the last three weeks shows that
sstute builders realize their present
opportunity, for there has been more
building contracts let in May for
private building work than in any
month since August, 1916.
As a matter of fact, the cure for
the housing shortage is now actually
under way and the bigger jobs, those
concerning commercial and industrial
housing, are being reported daily with
much greater frequency. Ordinary
American business enterprise is free
ing itself from the shackles of govern
ment restraint, and in the building
business. at least, is reaching out for
uuhampered trade. Tho best opinion
in the building industry is developing
strong resentment toward anything that
looks like meddling with d quick re-
turn to peace time trade. The building
profession wants a fair chance to meet
the present pressing need. Their plea
is that all during the war they have
meekiy stood aside and made their
heavy sacrifices when the nations need
decreed that theirs was an unessential
trade. They have lost their organiza-
tons, and now when the soldiers are
returning and they have chance to
put these men back to work at their
old jobs, when demand for buildings
nager was so good, they say investors
are deferred from going ahead for fear
the legislature Will enact a ser of laws
that will harrass them in their eager
ness to meet the shelter need.
Seek Relief, Not Restraint
Investors say they want relief, not
more restraint. The fact that prices
are almost stable now assures them
that il is time to go ahead and they are
moving generously. The building de-
partment records amply verify this
The building material dealers say that
one branch of the government is urging
building while the other holds back
lighterage relief and puts unloading
burdens upon them that helps to keep
the prices high. One wholesale stone
distributor is authority for the state
ment that ar immediate drop Of 10 per
cent in the price of domestic building
stone would ensue if the railroad un-
loading facilities were merely made
adequate TO handle the increasing VOL
ame Of material coming in. 1t cost
him $3.50 in charges last week to move
freight car half a mile so as to reach
d crane.
Another case is where three cars of
material urgently needed in building
operation IN New York was held I'D
On the New Jersey flats three days be-
lore It could be moved to railroad
platform. Free Ighterage promised al
most month ago is still fiction as
iar as its being restored in this market
concerned, and that helps to keep
Material prices high. Even the brick
large captains who have threatened to
90 out on strike on June . for the
aree-hour shift which would have put
me price Of brick in g wall to almost
seo thousand, have modified their
demands to jump from S125 to S135
: month by way Of doing their bit
""ard keeping cost of new construc-
ton down.
normal functioning of the law Of de-
osnd and supply is already meeting in
moderate degree the housing prob
sm Of the day, but this law is going
oe made imperative again if pater-
aailstlc factors disturb anew the set
seo dust Of doubt in the minds Of
-'''s with necessary private capital