The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-03-27
DROP IN PRICES IN
GREAT INCENTIVE
TOBU|LD HOME NOW
w. w. Wood Tells Some of
the Features of "Service"
In Building Material
Business
BY w. w. WOOD


times more and never actually know,
never really see exactly what the ma.
terial looks like, then he is paying
good hard money for it, buying some
thing that is to last a lifetime and
not just for a session
The obsolete idea of simply giving
a man lumber that he has accepted on
a bid has been entirely obviated by
our progressive idea of lumber dis
play.
A display room has been carefully
soutfitted in order to actually show \
man who has only general idea of
what he wants, exactly the kind of
lumber that he is buying and what It
would look like when it Is received.
In this manner any layman can sec
what he wants, pick it out see the
quality, finish and design and not have
to accept material that is not strictly
up to his requirements. Isn't it far
better to take the time to investigate,
and permit us to go thoroughly into
detail? Seeing the lumber and the
Price rather than accept something in
the lark. which you have no idea
what will be sent except "cut and
dried figures and specifications? In
the display room can be seen all
grades of lumber that go into the
house. Along one display counter Isl
shown hardwood flooring. edge-grains
Aquai lCi SdWuJ anu Oti'St hlHuS Vi
pine flooring, also beaded ceiling and
many different patterns of moulding
Other panels show all kinds of wealth 1
erboarding in the different grades. In,
addition to the lum Der display, samples
and descriptive matter compost
ton shingles, slate and smooth surface
roofing is displayed; also screen doors
windows, hardware, paints etc, are
on display to give the prospective
builder an actual conception of all
materials that are to go into his home.
In this way something more than lum
Der can be bought from a progressive
company that believes in special cour-s
tesy, service and a true demonstra-
ton of all materials that make up
the home.
The w. d. Wood Lumber company
has originated the idea of service
department. This department is
equipped tc furnish photographs of
hundreds of Il opcs from which the re-
spective hons builder will be able to
get ideas and suggestions for new
home. If he sees one which he likes
this depa rtmont has also complete sets
OF plans tina, they will furnish free
Prom these It will be very easy to gel
4nick es innate, on just how much
Size house Mil cosg. You will find all
ssef the MIR gIea to give any Informal 3
s--ion m bn Hiif.s questions or the bene-
u - -near experience WnlCn Will IN
most eases mean 1ioney in the pockets
70 the home nu idtr
Now Is really -h- time to build
A. no line since the beginning of
the VA has cuil.'ing been more fea ST.
BILE or hstter investment than at the
present tine This has been caused
by the -ednct.on Of approximately SO
PEI ce.r IL all the lumber that goes
into III nome For instance: Lath,
which WI 50. six months ago for
$22 per n. now selling for $3.50;
first or looring, which in last
October w. selling f, over 500 per
M at the mill, is now being retailed
for less thcr $50. On an average room
this is a reduction OF 70 hitch it did
cost to the present price Of $3.50. The
same reduction applies m Iram.ng.
sheathin.g, as we'll as other lumber
that goes into the construction of
house. The extremely low prices that
the lumber market has reached at this
time are not at all likely to remain
the same, as there is not mill any
where that is coming out even on the
present market, even figuring common
labor on the new basis of 81 per day.
The spring demand which will likely
develo into a building boom on ac-
coy OF the great number of houses
wi 81 are actually needed in the
I'm ted States. will certainly allow the
huidCtuICTS u get cost or l1IIlS
more out of their production, and this
will meanaan advance of several dol
lars per thousand over the present
prices.
Birmingham is like every other town.
and the fact that the housing Short
age is actually acute. therefore build
ing must go on. Those who are far
sighted enough to realize that now ia
the time to build will certainly profit
Dy going ahead and not delaying IN
I'll further in the spring. when both
labor and material will be more scarce.
LABOR CONDITIONS IMPROVED
All of the building trades have
shown their willingness to meet the
present conditions snu further the
hnilding programme in BirminTham
by lending their aid. Both the car
painters and bricklayers' unions have
announced reduction in their wage
scales. Not only are the prices for
labor lower. but 1t IL the experience
Of all those building that labor is be-
tween one-third and SO per cent more
snicient now than six months pre-
vious At the present time not ali of
these men are employed SO they are
wiling to take jobs for considerably
less and do better work than at any
time In the last four or five years.
the w. d Wood Lumber company,
through Its service department. is al
ways glad to get the prospective home
SWAASA 49, eOuSa with ISHaDl6 COHLIaC-
tors as we'll as getting contractors in
touch with those who are going to
build
Without exception an of the material
which enter into the construction OF q
home have been reduced in price.
Sash and doors have been reduced
from 20 to 3b per cent; brick are on
s. or more per 1000; composition shin
giles have taken drop and some man
ufacturers have even Increased their
prices within the last month from soc
to 81 per square over the low market.
Cement. which was retailing for SIT. 50
per barrel six months ago, can now be
bought for IS, or - net. Lime and
plaster have also shared in the decline:
n fact. everything is now at prices
which makes building good fnvest-
ment. and anyone can go ahead NOV
without the fear Of a depression in
value within reasonable length Of
time.
II The ". D. Wood Lumber company
. one of the concerns which handle
everything that goes into the constrnc-
tton Of house, and the home builder
= therefore relieved of a great deal
Of his worries which usually confront