Evening journal., 1920-10-27

a. nAciv 10 a shortage. InerefOre,
y means that the smaller or occa-
sional user OF steel has Ia bear fhe
cnfef brunt OF that shortage. which
oIten means there is no steel az ali
ior hlm-the builder is such an oc-
casional user OF steel. A shortage
tllerSlore OF 100000 tons in the steel
illdlhet does not merely mean ih at
ulcre IS 20 per cent. less steel for
MN. but means there Is no steel at
All lot MIN, or so little in proportion
70 tne demand that he has TO pay
eA0rDitant prices for it.
me tnird and final way in which
building has been in holding mn or
stopping the transportation OF build
ing material.
All the freight traffic is divided into
classes. Smaller, more valuable prod
ucIs. ana perishables which require
carerul and quick transportation are
put under the head of first-class
irelght, more is charged for trans
porting them, and they are given a
preferential right OF way. In the
same way, there are second, third and
fourth class freighls.
When, because of such a strike as
lines or for other causes. more trafe
nc has 10 be transported by a rail-
road than the railroad can transport
shoppers who are extremely anxious
20 get their freight through, and par
ltlcuiarly Wflere the value OF the com
inoulty IN proportion to its weight
WIZ warrant il. invariably send il
uhder higher classification. In this
way the railroads have their entire
capacity demanded by first or first
riu rh second class freights, so that
uIir1, ana particularly fourth class
ireignt cannot be handled at all.
Eourtn-class freight obviously con-
slsts or coal, lumber. stone. brick.
sand and other Commodities which
nave a very large bulk and weight in
proportion TO their valire.
because coal is absolutely neces-
sary, special arrangements are always
maze, even under conditions OF IN e
seVerest congestion, to give coal pref-
erence, but the balance OF sourth-
class commodities under such circum-
stances hardly move at all. II Is also
OBVIOUS that most Of this balance
Wlilcn cannot be moved at all con
slsts OF building material.
Itlls strike, then, on the boat lines
congested the Southern railroads
over which a large part OF our stone
lumber, and other building material is
normally transported. SO that ali
spring the rest of the country got
virtually no building material from
this section. ' " ''o'i'
Ihe outlaw railroad strike, which
began a little later and which al
though II did not tie up. Handicapped
tne transportation Of the whole coiln-
Try, operated in exactly the same way
70 virtually. prevent the transporta-
tlon OF building material from any
section OF the country.
Moreover, as these strikes hecame
more and more seriously felt and n
became necessary for the Railroads
10 use every car with maximum EN-
cHncy Just 10 move coal and food and
tne absolute necessities OF Industry.
an embargo had 10 be put on 'buiIdine
material, which prevented its trans
portation at all, even at higher rafss
This is the chief reason why bricks
are Si4 a thousand.
| Thls, plus the constant, danger nj
building strikes. or the Just as ex-
| penSiVe increase OF workers demands
packed by the threat Of strikes. /.
Wnat makes a piece OF limestone
which can be mined and fullv nre.
pared for $40 in Indiana. cost sit
When erected in New York. and hav,
raised other building costs proper.
. Edward p Doyle. secretary or IN,
Mayors housing commission. after ,
thorough Investigation into The hirl
cost or New York rents, saws In,
ichief reason is labor unrest. witt
Improbable strikes"
capital can be procured.- esavs
ana men viii be found who moi
Withstanding the unpopularity OF rea
estate ownership, are willing 10 bull,
houses because OF their imminen
need. The situation is entirely IN L
labor. UP "
AT the present time" ne goes on
houses cannot be built in large unit.
Ior less than $50 a room per month
Io- uecently. house any family, how
ever small, four rooms are absolufel,
necessary. Eighty dollars is an I'M
economic rent for a man receivinj
from $500 TO $4,000 a year, and thesi
are the men who need additiona
housing facilities"
AS typical Of the whole situation
commissioner Doyle gives this spe
CHIC example. THE City and Subur
ban Homes Company began "buildinl
on cheap land, with a splendid organ
izdtlon, abundant capital and thor
oughly capable supervision. Tn,
original intention OF the compan,
was TO rent rooms for not more tbai
St2 month, but it finds il eanno
rent the rooms Just built for les
than S72 TO SS7 a month for fou
rooms" which means just S32 pc
month more rent, not only now, bu
for years TO come.
And this official authority adde
again; The situation is entirely u
. / to labor"