Evening journal., 1919-10-25
Building Costs Must be Reduced
by More Efficient Methods

II the cost OF labor, one Of The most
important items OF expenditure in CON
slruciion work. can be reduced or
economical by skillful management I'M
proved methods and better working
conditions. 10 is believed that the ulli-
mate cost Of building will be cor
respondngly reduced. Architects and
builders accordingly expressed the Opin-
ion this week that there soon must
come a breaking away from many OF
the existing stereotyped methods Of
operation 70 was generally felt that
economies can be made i'm many direc-
tiOns il the workman is persuaded 10
adopt a different attitude toward his
work, states The American Architect.
That labor has its duties and respon-
sibillties as we'll as its privileges seems
TO be forgotten by many trade union
leaders. There appears to be no effort
by Workmen themselves 10 secure ef-
nciency and increased output. Labor
must be educated 10 realize the duty
Il owes 10 itself and the community.
li should cultivate an ambition TO give
fair and honest work in return for
good wages, short hours and better
conditions Of living.
The present attitude of labor Is. adj
mittedly, one Of the most menacing OF
the many serious difficulties which
must be combated So much is at
stake. and so great is the need for
greater productivity that no question
exists that it is more momentous than
any other problem Of the present time.
In the field OF construction two pos
sible solutions Of The difficulty are Oc-
cupying the attention OF the archi-
tectural and building profession One
is substitution in building materials
and the other, closely allied, Is the ad
yancement of new departures in the
execution of building operations. It
is not surprising i'm view Of the
calamtous dearlh Of building commo-
dties that architects and builders are
earnestly seeking all trustworthy in
formation concerning the substitutes
for heretofore considered essential ma
terals-both those that are Of cstab-
lished reputation and those that haye
been newly introduced (which inven-
tive genius has produced.
AZ the same time a strong effort is
construction methods which have been
in general use for the past fifty years
and put any Improvements into execu-
tion that will make for efficiency in
the present great rush Of reconstruc-
ton While it is true that in the field
Of engineering practice many econO-
mics have been effected, II is certain
that in ordinary operations OF building
there has been little disposition to
break away from stereotyped methods.
Charles NJ. Schwab, who began his
career as an iron worker, is a stsunch
advocate Of economy and industrial
efficiency The New York Sun quotes
Mr.. Schwab on increased productivity
as follows:
"The basis Of the sO-called German
efficiency is founded on an honest days
work for an honest days pay, and when
that theory is applied here then will
the high cost Of living disappear, for
there is but one way TO secure that
economy and industrial efficiency"
Strong words and sound gospel-true
Americanism, comments the Sun.
concentrated working effort and er-
fioiency must be the means OF COM
batting the destructive policy Of in
creased pay and shorter working hours.
The present estimated reduced labor
output OF 20 per cent, due TO eXoep-
tional war influences. must be still
further reduced il this country is 10
maintain its industrial position. lI
must be assumed that the wage increase
in the building trade is permanent.
therefore any reduction in labor values
in building work must be obtained
through an increased efficiency Of the
worknen themselves and the adoption
Of all or-ssving machinery and i'm
proved planNorganization il is possible
10 secure.
If industries are TO be tied up by
strikes. such as now affect the steel
industry, what is going to happen 10
the men who are engaged in building.
the carpenters the masons and the