Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-10
CEMENT SHORTAGE
H|NDERS BUILDING

| Washington is in the throes Of
cement shortage which threatens
soon to be virtually famine and re-
suit in complete suspension of many
large building projects. This was the
statement made today by c. T. Kins-
bury, of the Rosslyn Steel and Cement
Company and corroborated by prom
inent contractors and builders.
| At present but one-sixth of the
normal supply of cement is being re-
| ceived in the District Of Columbia. it
was declared by cement dealers. This
| is due entirely to the embargo placed
on the product by the Interstate Com
merce Commission, acting to relieve
freight congestion caused by the re-
cent series of labor troubles exper-
fenced by the railroads.
| Trucks Go for Supplies.
| Some builders engaged on import
ant operations have sent their own
trucks over the roads to cement fac
tories in Hagerstown and Union
| Bridge. Md. The cost of the product
brought into Washington by this
route aggregates from 1915 to 81
barrel, it is stated. The prevailing
price for cement coming by rail has
| been about s3.75 barrel
| Confronted with the alternative of
paying the increased price and facing
| large financial losses contracts
already signed or stopping construc-
! ton work altogether for the time
| being, several builders are preparing
| to adopt the latter course.
| Others, handling important prof.
ects which cannot be abandoned or
ton methods antedating the intro
| duction Of cement. One of the best
known builders in Washington, it
was learned today, has determined
| to do without cement when possible
| and he has instituted old-time build
| ing methods in his largest and most
modern projects. Wherever wood can
| be used in place of cement without
| detracting from the appearance or
| rigidity of the structure this firm is
doing so.
No Relief in Sight.
i According to dealers in the product.
Of which there are about dozen in
| this city, no immediate relief is in
sight with regard to transportation
/ Attention was called to the fact that
Senator Calder of New York has
Written to the Interstate Commerce
building materials be lifted and
/ pointing out that serious housing
| situation may be the result if MAJ
terials are not given preference over
other freight shipments
/ Until something is done to break
/ the famine construction of buildings
in the District is bound to be seri-
ously hampered. builders declared to-
day. In many projects under way
involving the erection Of large down.
town buildings. cement is said to be
absolutely essential. To be forced to
pay an increase of los per cent for
this material is more than most firms
can stand. especially where contracts
have been let on narrow margin Of
profit.
Cost OF Lumber Lower.
The rise in price OF cement follows
directly on the heels of slight re-
duction in the cost of building lumber
/ drowning the hopes of builders who
had forecast Improvement in the
building situation In Washington.
Other materials have either re-.
in price in the last few weeks.
i One prominent builder in this CITY
1 cited figures compiled by the Phila-
/ delphia Builders Operative Associa
ton to snow the increases in cost Of
| construction.
j In statement given out by this
| association 1T was declared that the
| cost of building dwelling houses at
the present time shows an average of
Ioo per cent rise above the normal
/ Subcontraets for material and labor
have gone up as follows the state
/ ment shows: Hardware, increase 200
per cent; plumbing. increase, 200 per
cent. heating. increase. $50 per cent;
painting. increase, 125 per cent:
paperhanging. increase. $50 per cent:
parquetry floors, increase, 200 per
cent; roofing. increase, 100 per cent:
metal work. increase. 200 per cent:
electric wiring. increase 200 per cent:
millwork. increase. 300 per cent:
| plastering. increase. $50 per cent:
gas ranges. increase, 200 per cent:
| excavations, increase, 200 per cent.
stonework. rough. increase, 200 per
/ cent and face stonework, increase, 200
i per cent
/ NEW QUEBEC PREMIER.
/ QUEBEC, July 81. A. Taschereau.