Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-07-16


1.-THE majority of working men will
naturally go where they will be COM
fortably housed. They may be lured
temporarily by attractive wages to
over-populated cities, but they will
not stay there. Particularly is this
true if the workman has family ties.
Then the chances are hat ever
though he may not care where he
himself lives, effort will be brought
to bear from other sources and he
win move until his family is happy
and contented with their surround
ings and they are in a suitable en-
vironment. During the past few
months many families have been
away from the larger cities because
the lack of adequate housing facili-
ties was first felt in centres where
the manufacturing of war necessities
hourished. They have been obliged
to seek employment in smaller COM
munities, where the chances of be-
ing properly housed were better.
Situation Far From Solved
with building at present only
about 80 per cent. under way in New
York city and about so per cent.
throughout the country the situation
is yet far from solved, and it is be-
lieved tf,at the maximum for the
present building season has been
reached. The volume scheduled to
proceed mex spring is assuming
stater proportions. but the question
of building material supplies appears
to be increasingly urgent, as more
manufacturers are refusing to take
heavy orders for future delivery.
But of hat residential building
being done now, particularly in cities
of the second and third class, there
has been a sharp turn to apartments.
In many cities houses a lost first
place in residents choice for the first
time in fifteen years. A notable ex-
ample is Minneapolis, which city,
with it's big increase in construction,
is moving into apartments. There
GAG families preferred apartments to
dwellings, in the first five months of
1919, against 513 families who sought
and built dwelling houses.
Excepting pace with the increased
volume of building construction, ma
terial prices continue the upward
movement. Lumber is the strongest
on the list. Oak flooring, 1916
CHARTERED white, advanced this week
from $167 to 5000 retail, delivered
on the job in New York city. In
creases of from $3.50 to $40 per thou
sand retail were scored by yellow
pine, Douglas fir, maple flooring, red
gum, sap gum, chestnut and spruce.
Wood lath was also advanced by New
York dealers from $3.50 to 81 a
thousand delivered, which reflects
the scarcity of-the Canadian spruce
supply and the lack of common car
rierS.
.tSteel has advanced in price more
proportionately than n other OF the
commodities. Producers claim that
any reductions below present levels
will force many mills to suspend OPP
erations. Wages have been advanced
to more than double pre-war scales
and labor is becoming scance. Fuel
and limestone for fiuxing are at least
double former costs. Both sand and
gravel have doubled since 1913, be-.
ing dependent on common labor and
the cost of transportation.
Dealers expect prices to remain at
present levels or increase slightly.
There may be a small drop in the
, price of some construction materials,
such as hardware and tools, but In
| creased wages of workers and ad
| vances in other materials will more
| than offset this decrease, tending to
make prices seek a higher rather
| than a lower level"