The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-03-11
BUILD NOW.

In recent issues this paper has
urged citizens of Punta Gorda who
contemplate building to delay no
longer and pointed out that instead
of lower prices for building material
even higher prices might be expected,
and that it was Is years after the
! civil war until the price of building
material declined to Tre-war levels.
Since the fret of these articles was
printed materials have advanced
again and still greater increases will
be noticed when the spring building
season opens in the north.
Punta Gorda needs more and
better houses, apartments and hotels
worse than anything else and simply
! MUST have them if the town con-
tinues to grow. Hundreds of people
would have spent the winter here if
they could have secured suitable ac-
comm Not only Punta Cor
da but the entire country, with the
exception of a few cities like Miami,
is five years behind with building and
there was never such q demand for
houses. IF someone will build
1000 cottages in Punta Gorda | will
sign &. contract for every one of them,
guaranteeing a reasonable rent, and
fill every one of them within two
years." said man to us a few days
ago-and nc is a man of means who
could and would back his words with
cold cash.
Remembering that the prophet is
not without honor save in his own
country" we reproduce for the con-
sideration of our readers an article
that appeared in recent issue of the
Literary Digest, which will give them /
the benefit of the opinion of the best |.
experts on this subject:
Do not put off till next year the
building that might be started this (
spring. is, in short, the advice given .
to prospective builders and investors
concerned about building by Mr..
Allen E. Beals, secretary of the Dow
Service Daily Building Reports.
costs are excessively high, !,
but this expert insists that nothing
IS to be gained by waiting unless one
IS prepared to wait five years or more. |,
AS Mr.. Beals reminds us in a signed
article on the financial page of the
New York American, after the Civil
War thirteen years elapsed before
he price of building materials re-
'erted to pre-war levels" Even
hough the price peak of materials
nay be reached in less time than
hat it seems to this authority on the
market that there will be a
high price level either at or above
he present prices which will be main
aimed for long time. So the best
hing for the builder to do is to :
tart his plans at once instead of
until next spring and finding
hat the prices are still higher. The .
builder need not expect a speedy job. :
Up to the present the lack of labor :
las been interfering with the COM
'letion of work, but Mr.. Beals be- -:
ieves that from this time forth the
'etarding factor will concern itself
o the ability of getting materials as :
hey are needed" But there are ,
.hings that are decidedly in the :
builders favor" We are told; they .
include the present market price, for :
building material will not suddenly .
recede; he will be assured OF high re- g.
.urns upon his enterprise for at least .
Two years after the supply of build .
ng material and their prices return :
20 an approximate normal, and he .
viii get probably better constructed
because less reliable con-
.ractors are now out of the market d:
The abuilding-material price trend :
S upward-bound now. AS the de- :
nand increases the prices will he
orced higher. ::
The best thing to do is to start !;
plans at once, because il is ::
certain that next spring building ::
material prices will be considerab Iv ::
higher than now. ::