Evening journal., 1919-07-30
Solving The Problem of Labor Unrest

While at appears certain that mos
commodities have reached stabilize,
price level and that there will be n,
radical or immediate recession, Their
are Indications that some bulldnl
materials, particularly lumber ant
brick, viii go even higher, says Thi
American Architects weekly review
This Is due mainly 10 the fact iha
during the war construction supplies
as whole. failed 10 share the advance
OF other commodity Toups, and be
cause there IS a shortage Of more thar
years production.
There was, however. a more genera
feeling among architects and builder;
that with the gradual elimination oI
disturbing features. many OF which are
no longer viewed with apprehension
that the construction industry Is rap
idly attaining It's stride for a long ant
steady spurt Architects are coming tC
clearer understanding OF their com
munity needs and the part they are Ia
play In satisfying them. Manufactur-
ers are taking the long expected turn
toward enlarged output. which Is a de-
cided evidence OF growing confidence,
as well as a factor in reducing prices
A forecast that the generality OF busi-
ness men are accepting is that the
solution of the present problem lies
in adopting methods OF production and
OF distribution that will make for in
creased production.
There can be no hope Of reduced liv-
ing costs until the shortage OF com
modlties is overcome by greater pro-
ductlon This reduction must come
through increased efficiency in plant
facilities and methods Of operation.
Labor is the largest item in the cost
OF production and is strongly affected
by the cost OF living Increased out
put alone can reduce the cost of liv-
ing Laborers, both skilled and un-
skilled have more money than ever
before. 10 is the non-technical and
small-salarled class. clerks and book
keepers, who cannot live as comfort
ably as before the war The country,
however, is undeniably prosperous.
COmmercia agency reports show that
weekly business failures are the small
est on record Despite the advance in
prices OF automobiles and other lux
uries dealers are having difficulty in
supplying the demand The purchasing
power OF the dollar is now regarded
60 be 80 cents. but many are earning
two dollars instead OF one as before
the war and find IL no more difilcult
to pay Si5 a pair for shoes than they
did 81 formerly.
with the return TO something like
staDle conditions i'm the building field
the country occupies a most advan-
tageous position. Conditions in Eng
land. for instance. are much worse
than here. There steel has advanced
1872 per cent. against 96 in the United
States, and concrete is 27S per cent,
WITH so per cent here. II has
been necessary In Great Britain for the
10 guarantee the investor
against possible declines for a period
OF nve years. In this country, how
ever. building permits show how rap
idly the boom is gaining headway. OF
course. 20 is country homes. apartments
and commercial buildings that arc
leading. The rNiva is much slower
i'm pubic works and railway construc-
ton
Americas building boom naturally |
should be greater than England's. The |
great majority Of builders here have |
not been affected AS they have in I
Europe They are in a position to get
needed materials more readily. The /