The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-24

ssss MONDAY. MARCH e. 1919
.'1 CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
iss7 The American construction industry employs
more labor than any other field except agricul-
ture. It produces annually about three thousand
million dollars worth Of wealth, tax-paying prop
erty A shortage in this production increases
The cost of living.
The industry is hating. Those engaged in
it are deeply concerned with return to normal
conditions.
During the period of reconstruction it is pri-
marily necessary that all idle labor and material
be engaged for the future use of the nation
Here are some Of the thoughts briefly stated
: which industry has to advance.
It is estimated that the accommodations of
savings banks and insurance companies during
the war amount to from three to five thousand
million dollars and that these, if invested, would
make good our impaired construction facilities
&. The BODYBUILDING Of the country could be
y greatly facilitated by the creation of home
loan bank, similar to he New York Land Bank
which would permit borrowing by the building
and loan associations at low rate of interest
upon their securities, which amount to about two
thousand million dollars, making these available
i to the home-builders throughout the United
States.
Building labor throughout the United States
is said to have advanced in cost an average Of
; 285 per cent during the war period. It is pos
sible to reduce labor cost by the elimination of
the jurisdictional strike It is estimated that
95 per cent of all strikes in construction lines
and Is per cent of all delays due to strikes in this
have had nothing to do with controversies as to
wages.
The cost Of living has gone up during the war
about 65 per cent, while the cost of construction
has increased so per cent to 80 per cent accord
ing to the type of building.
1t does not seem reasonable to suppose that
labor in the industry in various forms win inn
mediately substantially decrease in cost and con-
sequently it cannot be expected to drop in the
cost of materials to pre-war basis, or anything
like that. 1t is generally accepted as q fact that
from 20 to 90 per cent of The cost Of producing
of an average run of products from the stump
to the finished article is labor.
Market values need stabilizing. If the material
prices in any branch of the industry are out of
line with prevailing costs than the leaders in
such industries should make adjustments.
One item in costs should be corrected without
delay. That is war schedule of freight rates
on certain materials which was undoubtedly
PLANNED to limit construction during the war
These rate advances ranged from Is per cent
to $50 per cent.
s" There are more idle than at any previous
time. To place these freight rates on a peace
basis would bring the railroads revenue fol
carrying building materials and also additions
revenue on a vast quantity of other traffic which
moves when construction is going on and me1
ARE earning and spending wages. In normal times
Is per cent of the railroads tonnage is in con
struction materials.
-, Another means of encouraging building is thu
possible waving of all taxes on such building
for period Of years such as may be consisten
with the local needs.
- The standards of living in this country an
high; it is the judgment of many thoughtful
men in industry that the purchasing ability o
the wage-earner should not be decreased. Thi
country must therefore, look to its natural re
sources, to its improved tools of industry and t
1.-The efficiency of its labor to improve it's strageti
.sy