Evening star., 1921-01-22
SEEK EARLY
IN 1921 BUILDING
Distributors of Material
Adopt Vigorous Methods,
Dow Service States.

| Indicative Of the vigorous methods
being employed by building material
| distributors to encourage an early
start for the 1921 building season are
further building material price re-
ducetions, declares the current Dow
service report
| The latest price list shows declines
on asphaltum. certain kinds Of face
brick. window and plate glass. blue.
black and galvanized sheet iron
! and plaster boards in certain sizes.
the report points out.
There are also price reductions re-
ported in the lumber department, in
ash. Eastwood. both quartered and
plain oak lumber. North Carolina pine
Studding, roofers, ceiling and parti-
ton. and all hardwood flooring, in
Guiding yellow pine.
Where Reductions Originate.
These price reductions have origf-
| mated at distributing points. There
| Is a general 1oss-taking movement in
market centers SO as to unload the
| material purchased at high price
peaks of 1920.
The report, in part, follows:
There is significance. as far as the
prospective builder is concerned, in
the fact that most Of the price re-
ductions that have taken place in
building materials since the first of
| the year have not originated at manu-
featuring points. In plan words, 1t
means that the manufacturer. with
his limited reserves of stock and his
uncertain manufacturing costs. real
ICES that with an active construction
market assured, even if not stimu-
lated by curative or invigorating leg
islation, he will be able to dispose of
all he has on hand this spring and
will face condition of demand in
excess of supply far into the close OF
the year.
to their. customers that delivery con-
ditions Of 1920 will be experienced In
the summer Of 1921. They say that
there will not be cement on hand
in sufficient demand to meet the mar
kets requirements. Most of the ce-
ment mills are closed at present be-
cause of lack Of forward purchasing
by dealers and distributors, who can
not gauge their market requirements
and are disposing goof;tiH OF their stocks on
Face brick distributors are talk
ing exactly the same way and are
warning their customers that if they
expect to be covered by the mills on
FACADE material III July anu DcJOHu,
purely upon an expectation basis un-
supported by contract, they must not
depend upon precedent and previous
trade custom when they find them
selves in danger of being unable to
supply their jobs. with the manufac-
turers unable to take their orders for
specified delivery.
Practically OF Ono Voice.
Building material manufacturers
are practically Of one voice, when
asked as to which way building ma
terial prices will go after the first
six months Of 1921 elapse. Their opin-
lon is that there is one hope for
keeping building material prices be-
low the 1920 precedents and that is
for an early buying movement to
develop.
"If the building material manufac-
turing Industries of the country could
be sure, by current demand. even
though spotty, that there was to be
building program before the middle
of summer they could take a chance
and produce a reserve supply for mid
summer and autumn needs, but there
does not appear to them to be much
on the present surface Of things to
I indicate that the present stalemate
l in new construction work is to be
| changed until all the dust of past and
present legislation has been given a
| chance to settle. It simply means. in
| their opinion, that when the build
| ing bars are let down the demand
for building material will be over
whelming."