davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03

Some Of the foregoing items apply also to
high grade loft. construction.
Building authorities who figure that
$4,000 pre-war house would cost $4,000 to-
day-ths Is a virtually universal estimate
among them-count a considerably heavier
percentage of increase in the costs of apart
ment and office structures The common
estimate for f1reproof construction Is three
times the pre-war cost, while that for con-
tracts calling for an expenditure of $1,000
600 or over represents even more than
200 per cent. advance as compared with the
rates in 1913 and 1914.
Prices Highest Here.
Statistics compiled to cover the increase
in costs of building materials since April,
1915, and up to April, 1920 figures which APP
ply to much construction Just finished or
still under way, showed an advance of 1870
per cent.
Builders and economists say that building
materials always bring the highest prices
In the New York city district. The concen-
trating of an enormous demand here. the
geographical location in relation TO the
sources of many supplies. high costs OF
carting and rehandling and the tying up
of rail and harbor facilities by strikes are
some of the factors in making New York
pay top rates. Here are some of the most
striking items which entered into the aver
age of the whole, showing their advance in
price since 1918:
Common bricks at SIS per thousand,
wholesale, had increased 257 per cent.
Lumber at s5s per thousand feet had
increased 1877 per cent.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
"Matty's" Forced Rest Cure in Woods
Shows No One Is Disease Proof

examination is not made. The diagnosis Is
too often unthorough and faulty.
There are twenty-nlne clinics in the as
ISOLATION At any one OF these a sufferer
from cold will be afforded a thorough ex-
animation and means provided to STAY for
all time the consumption germ. At this Of
fee any person may apply for the examine
ton and DR.. Thornburn. our examining ply
scian will make 1t in thorough going way.
The persons who object to going to the or
binary hospital clinic are welcomed here.
And to return to the case Of Matty.' /
can readily surmise that his open air life
has kept latent n germ which he. like most
OF us when we were children, somehow and
somewhere absorbed. What started It into
activity so late in his life am able to sur
mise. but would not like TO say until | had
talked with him. l shall take the first OPP
portunity to talk with him and then I may
have more TO say on the subject with his
life as an illustration.
This Is true. however, that an athlete or
an outdoor man, a hunter. camper out,
back-to-nature man Is no more immune OF
consumption than the rest of us. II at any
time in his life he absorbed tuberculosis
germ which has never been spotted and
killed, but suffered to lie in the lung asleep.
conditions may arise to awaken It and then
he needs the same treatment that other
less robust patients are given"
! DR. Billings Is deeply interested In
"Matty's" case and as he IS acquainted with
and admires tho "old master" he hopes for
an opportunity to learn more about Il at
first hand. The common belief that lung
affections prey more quickly on men Of his
physique is not shared by this physician and
he is expecting TO hear of improvement In
Mathewson's case from his sojourn at Sara
nae.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
What the Carpenter Gets.

The carpenter, for instance. was receiv-
ing 81 an hour prior to the latest raise
This was an increase of 3f.25 cents an hour
over the rate that prevailed in the three
preceding years and so per cent. advance
over his wages in 1907. In 1915 and back
10 and including 1907 the carpenter received
62.5 cents an hour. He now draws pay at
the rate of 1925 cents an hour. goodly
slice of what the house costs goes to him.
Ter much of the work is In his line, but the
carpenters percentage of increase is by no
means the largest.
Before the recent raise the painter at 81
ar hour showed an even 100 per cent. in
ci ease over his wage In 1907. His jump
from so cents hour came In 1915, when
the rate went to 62.5 cents, and took Its
next bound in 1918 to 6S.75 cents, continu-
ing at that figure through 1919. He now
gets 112.5 an hour
The wage scale of electricians increased
more gradually than that OF the painters, but
Il too showed a 100 per cent. rise since 1907
and stood at the 81 an hour mark before be-
ing advanced to 112.5 cents an hour. The
electricians wage went from so cents an
hour TO 1925 cents in 1908. and remained
~ that point until 1914. Then 1t went to
10 4, and in 1915 to 62.5, in 1917 to 65 cents.
with rs cents as the rate for 1918 and 1912
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
Dwelling Construction Two and One-Half
Times as Expensive as in 1913, With Greater
Increases in Other Types of Buildings

Bricklayers, the bulk of whose work may
be comparatively small in an ordinary
dwelling, nevertheless make their presence
felt with rate of $125 an hour. an in
crease of IS per cent. over their rate in
1907. of 70 cents, which continued until
1914, when it went to rs cents and remained
there four years. In 1918 and 1919 they re-
ceived S7.5 cents an hour. Bricklayers' help
ers now receive S7.5 cents an hour.
Plumbers were getting 81 an hour, an in
crease of 6S per cent. over their wage in
1907 when their wage scale was put forward
to 1125 cents an hour. In 1907 plumbers
received Sc cents an hour. During the next
three years their rate was 62.5 cents, then 1t
went to 1852, where it remained until
the next jump, which came in 1917 and was
in effects three years when it went to rs
cents.
a Sc per cent. increase over 1907 figures
before their rate was shot up to 1873 cents
an hour. Their 1907 rate of 6S.75 cents an
hour still prevailed In 1913. In 1914 and
1915 they received 1875 cents an hour, rs
cents in 1916 and 1917 and S1.3 cents in
1918 and 1919.
Common Labor the Most.
Most impressive of all, however are the
wage figures of the common laborer. His
rate had assembled from varying minimum
in 1907 to rs cents an hour an increase Of
329 per cent. over his established rate of lis
cents an hour in 1909, when his pay recently
was marked up to 81 cents. From IT'S in 1909
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
An Apple a Day

,,I-HEY tell us" said Mr. Billtops.
that an apple a day keeps the
doctor away. and | guess that is
so; I am sure that an apple a night pro-
notes sound and restfu slumber.
I'VE keep our apples in the icebox. The
last thing that Mrs. Biltops, ever thought
full Mrs. Billtops, does in making her rounds
before retiring for the night is to get an
apple out of the cebox and place Il, with
fruit knife, on the dining room table for
me.
Nightly the last thing do before going
TO bed Is 70 go out into the dining room.
seat myself comfortably, and eat that apple
lesurely. I find IL cool and refreshing: IN
every way agreeable; and having eaten II
turn i'm and sleep delightfully."-.
AN apple a day keeps the doctor away.
An apple at night makes you sleep right
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
How Costs Have Jumped.

The amount of new building construction
in the United States from 1911 to 1919 in
elusive and the mounting costs are shown
hv the following table:
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03

Cement at $3.50 per barrel had increased
II per cent.
Sand at s1.25 per cubic yard had In
creased $50 per cent.
Structural steel at s79.40 per ton had
increased 81 per cent.
Hollow tile at s222.3O per thousand had
increased 1875 per cent.
Broken stone 1t S1.S5 per cubic yard
had increased 100 per cent
Roofing felt at sS4 per ton had increased
1855 per cent.
There are more than 5000 articles that
come under the head of building materials.
but the figures for the eight given in par
ticular will do to illustrate their price climb
ing propensities.
What the price of labor has done to help
the ascent is indicated in the calculations Of
economists who figure that of every dollar
put into brick, steel or cement for build
ing IS to 80 per cent. goes back ultimately
to the laborer for producing the material
handling it in transportation and assembling
IL in the structure.
Recently however, two of these leading
Items namely brick and lumber, have taken
n decided slump. Brick dropped from s25 to
SIS to SIS a thousand week ago and lumber
fell off 30 to "a per cent. in price.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03

The relation that the foregoing wage
rates bear to the pre-war figures and the
stages by which they have reached their
present marks may be illustrated by the
record of advance in some of the trades
which count as major factors i'm the erecting
of a dwelling.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03

NlA years ago 9lV,VVo Wouiu puiii q
stantial and attractive dwelling In
~ the outskirts of New York or in any
of the suburban districts within committing
distance OF the heart of the metropolis.
Offhand the contracting builder will tell
you that it would cost about s25ooO 10
erect the same house to-day. Then 10 get
down to brass tacks he would produce
figures to show that the costs of labor and
materials have more than doubled since
1914
In Analysing the astounding jump from
pre-war to the prevailing rates, the builder
figures that ITS virtually all labor" for he
points out that nature charges no mere for
her products than she did six years or six
centuries ago. And the contractor will add
that it's not the skilled laborer's raise of
100 per cent. or so, but the common laborer's
boost of more than $50 per cent. in wages
since 1907 that looms as basic well as
most striking factor in the situation AS
builder puts it.
Assuming that the common laborer is
worth his Sc day, it would be unreason-
able to. contend that the expert bricklayer
is not worth $40 day. The common labor
er's wage scale, therefore, is a controlling
minimum. AS pace setter it figures as
major factor not only in the actual con-
struction of buildings but in the cost of
producing every material that goes into
buildings
Two Kinds of Labor in 1t.
In a rough estimate on dwelling to cost
$4,000 house of the $4,000 pre-war
class-some contractors figure as high as
so per cent of the total outlay will go to
the labor actually employed in the construc-
ton, the labor the job,' he calls 1t to
distinguish from the items of labor involved
in the production of materials. The bulk
Of the other 40 per cent. is set down to the
materials. Fifty per cent. for labor on the
job" however is a fair average as author
tiles give it.
Another and vital factor, however enters
into the labor side of the situation that
finds New York city lacking in housing
facilities for 100000 families-that is the
marked decrease in efficiency among en-
ployees that has slowed up and increased
the cost of construction work and brought
the same results in the production and dis
tribution of materials.
Having taken fifty-fifty basis an
average one in figuring the comparative
costs of labor as against materials and in
cidentals in constructing a dwelling, the
extent to which labor figures in pushing
the total outlay up from $4,000 in pre-war
days to $4,000 at present becomes clear in
scanning the wage scales of the principal
building trades without going into the de-
tails of labor rates involved in the produc-
ton Of materials.
Here is list of wage rates taken from
the agreement between the Building Trades
Employers Association and the Building
Trades Council of the City of New York
which went into effect May l last:
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03

and 1910 his wages vent to 20 cents. remain
ing at that point until 1916, when it took
another jump to 22.5 and still another to
25 in 1917 In 1918 and 1919 the laborer's
pay was SO cents an hour
While the wage scales cited do their share
in accounting for the increase of from
$4,000 to $4,000 in the costs Of given
dwelling since the war, they do not tell the
whole story of the labor item. Overtime,
due both to shortage of labor and ineffi-
cheney, has added enormously to labor costs
already at record heights when figured on
the scale of straight pay for the eight hour
day. And in addition to all this, high premi-
ums have been paid by countless contractors
in an effort to complete their undertakings
in the face of handicaps arising from delays
on their own jobs and In the production and
transporta ton of materials.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03


day And in addition to all this, high premi-
ums have been paid by countless contractors
in an effort to complete their undertakings
in the face of handicaps arising from delays
on their own jobs and in the production and
transportation of materials.
Burden Varies Greatly.
These extra burdens of overtime wages
and premiums in the aggregate have added
a tremendous item to the cost of construc-
ton in general. To what extent they might
figure in any particular piece Of work would
depend not only on the type and magnitude
of the building but upon conditions ap-
plying especially to the job in hand. In
building a residence the overtime and pre-
MUM factors probably would figure less
than in almost any other class of construc-
ton work.
1t is one of the hopeful signs pointed to
by building contractors that overtime pay
In recent months has become declining
factor in residential construction work car
ried on in New York city and adjacent ter
rltory. The decline, however. is due in part
to the slump in building operations, par
ticulary of dwellings and apartment build
ings suitable to meet the demand of New
Yorks thousands of homeseekers.
Apart from the easing up Of the labor
SITUATION, many OF the ledulnB DulluerS see
indications of an awakening on the workers
part to the fact that war conditions are end
ing and that the worker not only in the
building trades but in every industry must
return to normal efficiency. With employees
giving a fair output In labor the item of
overtime pay of course diminishes, what
ever the ratio between supply and demand.
Each House a Separate Case.
Having divided the costs of building
$4,000 house on the basis of so per cent. for
labor employed In the actual construction,
the larger items going to make up the
s12,500 thus apportioned to the workers
would fall. OF course, to carpenters, plaster
ers and others in whose lines the bulk of the
work comes. But the exact proportion the
carpenters or any other of the trade groups
receive on given Job would not apply to
$4,000 houses In general for 1t would vary
In accordance with the building specifications
In the different cases. and the variations are
extremely WIDE even where total costs are
the same
How the S12,50o for labor shall be spent
depends in a large measure on the owners
ideas and desires. One might want three
bathrooms. That's an unusual number of
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03

1920, with the items which would apply to
high class dwelling marked with az;
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
Price Drops Recorded.

OF forty-two basic items te1 have dropped
off in price since August L. when the dwin-
ding of new construction work first made
IT'S influence felt i'm the market of materials
sixteen items showed no change and sixteen
recorded an advance.
The market in building materials, like all
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03

{ -" ssE1c 7aa01e0t ~ : o'
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Ancient Clothes

While rumaging through his ward
robe a few days ago for some "ole
clothes" with which to defeat the H.
G. L., W. r. Bobbitt ran across a
pair Of trousers which he had made
more than 80 years ago by Harry
Robinson, the Union City tailor.
They were as good as the day de-
livered to Mr.. Bobbitt--not blem-
ish, sleek and fine. Being made Of
the finest material, much finer than
could be bought today, many natu-
rally admired the goods, and it was
the general opinion that were it
possible today to get suit of clothes
made out Of material like that the
suit would cost several hundred
dollars.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Popular Young People Waa

Mr.. Tom M. Irvine and Miss Luz
Gle Allen, both Of Greenfield, drove
over to Dresden on Tuesday night
and were happily joined together in
the holy bonds of wedlOck, at the
home of Rev. c. L. Cmith. The
groom is the intelligent son of Mo-
ran Irvine of Greenfield, and the
bride is the beautiful daughter of
Mr.. George Allen Of Greenfield alsO
These young people are popular.
among all associates and friends
and are very highly esteemed.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
County Council Meeting

The regular set meeting of the
County Council of Agriculture will
be held at the court house Saturday
at 2 o'clock. Mr.. H. S. Nichols will
speak during the meeting. All farm
ers and otaers attending are asked
to bring their wives. A ladies' aux
iliary will be organized at this meet
ing.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
~~-o,~~o-o-o--o--~,-o~~~~-o-o.o-~,.~-o->c~>~.,l,
Fine Road Work

The Brooks Brothers-Doyle, Eos
ter, WoOlsey and Eric--are doing
some exceptionally fine road WORK,
50 Judge Hill informs us, out on
the Sharon road. The big army
truck is being used and the road put
in ship-shape by these expert road
men. y ''.@
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Decoration at Pleasant Hill

Decoration at Pleasant Hill
Our good friend, Mr.. J. M. Puck
EFT, informs US that the burying
ground at Pleasant Hill will be
cleaned off tomorrow, Saturday,
May 20, and that on Sunday follow
ing decoration services will be held.
Rev, Phil Fowler will preach there
Sunday at IL o'clock. Mr.. Fowler
was reared in that community and
desires to meet his old friends on
this occasion.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Little Tobacco Sold

Little Tobacco Sold
Mr. J. NJ. Pickett, Of the Pleasant
Hill community, informs the Enter
prise that there will not be more
than half a crop of tobacco planted
in his neighborhood this year, due
both to shortage of plants and the
prevailing low prices. He says very
few of the growers in that vicinity
have sold their last years crops, but
that Jess Osborne, representing a
Martin firm, was through there last
week offering 16 cents for good to-
bacco, however, buying but little. y
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Go to Visit Son

Mr.. and Mrs. W. H. (Horace)
Brummitt left last Thursday evening
for Detroit, Mich, where they will
spend several weeks with their son,
Oscar. This will be the first meet
ing # Nj. and Mrs. Brummitt and
their grand daughter, as well as the
latter's mother, Mrs. Oscar Brum-
mitt, and we imagine the meeting
will be a happy one, Oscar left Dres-
den six Yeas ago and has remained
steadily on the job all the while.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28

Be at our store Wednesday, June
2. We are selling voiles, worth 75c
at Acc yard; overalls, as good as
others get So for, special Wednes-
day, $1.85 a pair.-Al Gardner.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Big Birthday Dinner

Big Birthday Dinner
. On Thursday of last week the
family and friends of that splendid,
good citizen, Mr.. John Mann, gave
him a pleasant surprise in the ma
ture of big birthday dinner. In
all 70 were present and enjoyed the
many good things prepared by the
good ladies.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28

Death Of Harrison Shelton
Harrison Shelton, 80 years of age,
died Thursday night Of last week at
his home near Dukedom and was laid
to rest Friday at Good Springs. :
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Mr.. Rose Not So Well

Uncle Kin Rose, the aged citizen
of Dukedom who has been in de-
clining health and who last week
consulted specialist at Paducah, is
reported not so we'll. His condition
is alarming.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Writing Parents:

Visiting Parents 4 "..@-D Pa. "a'
Mrs. F. c. Lee and children, of
McComb, Miss, are visiting her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. w. E. Cayce,.
at Martin, and attending the public
school closing exercises. ~ .;t
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Death of Small Child

The six-months-old child of Mr..
and Mrs. Wess Harris was buried
Monday at Pisgah. The child died
Sunday very suddenly while Hr.
and Mrs. Harris were at the home Of
the latter's parents in the First dis
trict. .
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28

Get one of those fine pairs of OK
fords, black or tan, priced $3.50 to
$40, at AL Gardner,s.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
Mrs. Hudson Very Low

Mrs. Hudson Very Low
Mrs. Hattie Hudson is very low
at her home near Dukedom. Two
physicians were at her bedside on
Wednesday night.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28

When you're feeling hot and
thirsty, drift around. We have life
savers in form of cold drinks.-Rob-
inson's Grocery. ,... '.}
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28

We are overstocked on work
shoes and will give you from soc to.
81 off on the better shoes to unload.
AL Gardner. Mt
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28

LOst-on Sunday, May is, be-
tween Dresden and Ralston, the
glass and frame off my auto light.
Return to Brasfield's store in Ores
den and receive reward. M
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28
MIR. Speight Very Ill

Uncle Jessie Speight, living with
his daughter, Mrs. Henry Killebrew,
west of Dresden, has been very ill
this week with pneumonia. Mrs.
Killebrew, who was with her hus-
band in Nashville, was called to the |
bedside of her father.
Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1920-05-28

We handle nothing but the best
and Mobiloils are the best.-Tay-
lor's Garage. 6-2t