The New York herald., 1921-09-19
CEMENT COST CUT
80 CENTS A BARREL
Makers Decree Sudden Drop to
CONSERVATION Of Building
Material Dealers.

Announcement at the week end to the
effect that manufacturers have taken
Off thirty cents a barrel on the price OF
cement caused CONSERVATION In the
building material trade. according to the
current Dow Service Daily Building Re-
ports.
Although there had been reason to
suspect that some price change might
occur before the first OF the year, the
trade had not been expecting Il to come
so suddenly nor with SO much precision.
IT became effective simultaneously with
the issuance OF the announcement, fret
by the Atlas Portland Cement Company,
and was Immediately followed up by
similar price cuts by other cement manu-
facturers. Within twelve hours from
the time the announcement was mailed
on Thursday evening every cement pro-
ducer selling this market was quoting
the price OF cement at $3.50 instead OF
$3.50 barrel.
The dealers Immediately followed suit
with reduction in price to their GUS
toners. Instead of the quoted price to-
day being SO to $500 barrel, the deal
ers are now delivering cement at S2.sn.
The reason for the price cut. as
given out by L. e. Burcl,, assistant TO
the president of the Atlas Portland
Cement Company, John X. Morron IS
contained IN the following statement:
Important savings have been made
by the Atlas Portland Cement Company
In the cost of manufacturing its product
1t has passed the benefit of these saw
ings on to it's customers. These savings
have been effected by greater efficiency
among the mill employees. resulting IN
lower costs of production.
Raw Materials Are Cheaper.
Coal and other raw materials are
cheaper. Tho company has reduced It's
Northampton and Hudson base p cents
a barrel and its Hudson lighterage rates
have been lowered from 80 cents to %
cents. This made possible drop IN
price to the trade from $3.50 to $3.50.
Various interpretations have been
made of the cut and the market at the
week end was full of rumors. It's prin-
cipal effect. however. has been to stir
up tempest resulting In a general re-
vision OF running contracts as pur-
chasers for current requirements seek
to exercise the clauses OF their sales
| agreements emitting them to any price
benefit a fluctuating market might
produce.
General unsettling Of the construction
market was not expected to result from
the price change in cement. Too many
items are now headed upward The policy
debating a cut in this particular depart
ment was generally accepted as being
enc Of expediency. Some OF the biggest
buyers freely stated that as the new
cut narrowed manufacturers margins
almost 10 the vanishing point condi.
tion OF stabilization might soon be ex-
| pected as far as prices were concerned.
The prediction was made that BY spring
cement prices would rebound.
In fact, the general trend OF the mar
! ket continues to be toward a higher
price level in spite OF the fact that nor
mally prices begin to weaken at the
approach of autumn.
| Hudson common brick was sold for
| SIG a thousand wholesale last week. ac-
cording to report. but there was not a
| sufficient quantity Of brick moving out
at this price actually TO make a market
at sle. The top price was brought by
the highest grade brick.
Practically all OF the market was SELL
| ing at s15 a thousand. wholesale. to
which, for delivered prices. must be
added tho cost Of handling. haulage
and 10 per cent.
Many Builders Garry Ont Plans.
On Friday night the wholesale market
was bare. There are. however, more
brick barges distributed about tho city
to-day for unloading than there have
been at any time within half a decade.
| and as these brick are being ridden
direct to actual construction work as
fast as they can be unloaded. dealers
are noting the growing contrast between
tho volume OF building plans fled and
those building Jobs that arc actually
going ahead, plans for which have been
fled In tho past and which have lain
dormant.
In simple language. actual building
construction is absorbing about all the
material that Is being shipped into this
market, although the volume OF building
construction now going into the building
department for record IL waning. When
building plan filing was most active
building material purchasing was slack.
Now that building plan hling shows
signs OF falling of the building investors
are going ahead with plans formerly
| fled because they now realize that
building material prices have not only
reached their low mark, but are actually
\ turning upward. Unless all presen,
| signs fail, common brick will be selling
/ for SIG before the end OF this month
Linseed oil has already moved UP two
points from the last slump and Is now
selling at SO cents a gallon. Some shce,
steel prices havo been advanced.
Baker buys Yonkers Home.
Merton l.. Cushman. president OF
Cushman & Sons Co.. bakers. has pur-
chased from Robert 7. Crossmore his
ten room residence rt 133 Valentino
lane. Yonkers. n. Y. through Thomas
s. Burke, broker. Mr. Cushman and
family. who have resided for many years
IN this city, will occupy the house after
october /.
Heights Flat In Deal.
George Steinman. lac, sold 567 West
18TH street. a four 5 ory flat. 176x95.
arranged for three families and held at
$4,000.
Garden City Sale Tonight.
Tonight at s 7. NJ. In tho Brooklyn
Real Estate Exchange 1So Monte gue
street, Joseph p. Day viii continue the
closing out, at absolute auction sale.
all tho remaining unso,d 'o.r at Garden
City Estates. Four hundred lots on
Stewart avenue, Nassau boulevard and
ad djoining streets will he offered TO the
public az whatever price they may see
fit TO paw. The lots to be offered are