New-York tribune., 1920-04-12
Hope Vanishes
For Unity in
Construction
Proposal to Lay Aside
Differences for Public's
Benefit Seems to Have
Been Defeated
Prices Are Upward Bound
Buildings Here Worth $l3,-
100000 Untenantable;
Cannot Get Window Glass

There has been llttle pTactlcal re-
,ponse to the proposals that all special
interests be submerged for the present
10 that the general building construc-
tion might take full advantage of the
advancing building season, says the
Dow Service Daily Building Report to-
day. Wage adjustments, always upward,
and rescheduling of working hours,
always downward, are too great to abb
sorb. One by one the proponents Of the
cooperative plan to keep the building
market open and free to all corners
have withdrawn and some Of the re-
suits of this turn of events will be felt
in the Portland cement, sand, grit,
gravel and crushed stone departments
when the market opens to-day. The
halcyon day is beyond this years
horizon.
New Buildings Lack Window Glass
An important factor in shutting off
nrorapt occupancy Of various buildings
now almost completed is that of COM
mon window glass. A conservative es-
innate of the value of buildings now
practically completed, but awaiting the
installation of glass, has been placed
ct $4,000, 600 in this city alone. There
has been a strike among the GLACIERS
since January /. The issues involved
in this strike have nothing whatever
to do with rates Of wages or hours of
labor. The contention centers princt-
.pally on whether or not the distrih-
utors in this market will recognize out
side organizers. The matter has been
carried into the courts and an injunc-
ton has been granted restraining any
conspiracy toward the damage of glass
set up by Independent interests. The
supply Of window and plate glass is
far below the current demand, and dis
counts on recognized lists are purely
nominal None of the manufacturers
Is accepting any new business for the
next few months. This policy has been
adopted in order to complete old or
ders
Cement Price Is Up
Price changes this week include
20-cent advance over the recent 10-cent
advance on the price of Portland
cement. An adjustment in the price OF
crushed stone, sand, gravel and grit
compensates for the increased cost OF
handling same by reason of the de-
mands of truckmen. Portland cement
manufacturers are quoting on the new
price base on fifteen-day delivery only,
with no future contracts. Some are
quoting on 25-cent bag rebates, which
is 10 cents more than has been pre-
vailing in this market; some not quot
ing at all, and it is frequently reported
that some companies will not accept
The general plan is to catch up with
existing orders before taking on new
business in justice to old customers.
The structural steel interests report
that they expect to have 100 per cent
of their jobs in the open shop classif-
cation at the end of this month. Com
mon brick is being absorbed at S25 a
Thousand wholesale, with the usual ad-
ditional charges for handling, carriage,
and Is per cent, about as fast as it
comes into the market. The week
record was twenty-five barRes arrived
and twenty-five barges were dlstrlbu-
ted. Lime and plaster are in a close
market with supplies uncertain and
fast running low on dealers hands. A
distinguishing feature of the brick
manufacturing situation is the fact
that state road work is actively bidding
against brick manufacturers for the
available supply of unskilled labor
THIS will probably result in much
higher costs IN the manufacture OF
brick 1t was reported from the Hud-
son district this week that brick
barge leaders at various manufacture
ing plants up the river are being paid
Ave times what they were four years
ago. In spite of all these obstacles
there is certain. amount of persistent
optimism in the market and the volume
Of prospective work continues to come
forth in increasing volume.
The week will open with new prices
on sand, grit. gravel and crushed stone
as follows: Sand, cubic yard, delivered
in Manhattan, Bronx. Brooklyn and
Queens boroughs, $3.50. Grit, gravel
and crushed stone will sell at $3.50 ID
cubic yard in all four boroughs men
TONED. Coverage is to June 80 only,
at which time the former price ruled
on previous contracts which will, of
course, De carried out. The foregoing
prices apply only to new business.
One significant feature of the close
o. last weeks business was the declar-
alton Of the building material dealers
that they would defy the mandate of
the unioa truck drivers to unionize
sne building material yards.