New-York tribune., 1921-01-09
Spring May |
See End of I
High Costs
Peak Building Prices of
1920 Never Will IA
Seen Again, Say Build.
ing Company Officials
Construction Is Promised
Break in Labor and Mate.
rial Rings Expected to
EnCOuraUp the Ro.v
Construction Is Prom;sed

After weighing the influence - ev.
factor at play in the building field sna
after thorough survey Of the si.us.
ton during ethc year just closed ~.
George A. Fuller Company adva1ce, th.
opinion that building costs viii ~
lower and there will be a goodlv smo,,s
OF construction carried throuvb A..
next twelve months.
The end Of the year finds ~.,.
.lon II the price Of cement. brick ir-
Der and steel, as compared with ,h.
peak prices, and the pIices % som. no
sne oIhcr materials are softeninc aS.
iurlher oeclnes are expected, but ~
day the general average in mst..:0, ~
costs is somewhat higber tba, ;naaerlai
the beginning of 1920" the con,nss.- g.
says. 0oAApahy
Building material prices y,ar ),
vlded into two classes: tboss "J 80 o.
nave been normally high ard haen .hasn
which have been abnormallv hisb rs Tse
general economic situation OF the cor,'
| ory, including the average droo 81 SOW.
90 per cent n wholesale co,omod;t,,
pr1ces Tor the year, has had its efr... :.
! reducing normally high buildjnr 49, nr;oal III
"hlle lnVestgations and the nrees,'r,'
or public opinion are beqinr;n, .,
knock the props from under thoss ~ ~
normally high prices which hays ~. 80
maintained BY unlawful combines sn.
trade agreements.
Lower Prices in Spring
we look for a stabiljzat;on ~ 49,
terial psices st lower level, IN ~.
late spring and early summer rhas
| building activity will be revived md.
the encouragement Of these love
prices. Some upward trend, even. NAV
result from this increased huild;ns
program, but 1920 peak prices vii CO.,
tainly not be seen again.
he beginning Of 1920 found wsre.
IN the building trades also high and
| on May there VAS wage Increase
IN practically every trade. Those no.
raised on May l were advanced on Oc-
tober !, 80 that wage in al building
trades are higher to-day than yea.
ago. In the face OF & marked and con
| tnulng decline IN living costs and o
reduction IN wages in man other lines
Of industry, the present wage scale can
rot be justified much longer. A soften
ing OF the scale ls already evident IN
unorganize6 ard common labor circles.
Union labor, however. operates under
term agreements which tx the wage
scale for definite periode It will re-
sist any wage decrease to the last, but
it must unquestionably adjust Itself 10
the new conditions.
Investigation Has Been Helpful
"Contractors, like manufacturer.
are rejoicing III the decrease in labor
unit costs, due to the marked incresse
II the efficiency OF labor, even though
the wage scale IS not changed. Whethe-
this increased ineficiency viii be SUI
! .icient to keep wages al their present
; levels however, is doubtful
The Lockwood comm t'ee invest
CATION has had very healthy influence
on the building business. Temporarily
it has tended TO check construction and
certainly has revealed some ugly con
dit;ons, but this much-needed surgical
operation will leave the business as s
whole cleaner aad healthier than eve,
before.
The elimination Of the evils Of trade
agreements in both material sao
: labor practices VIII enable contractors
to quote lower prices and give their
clients better service, which will re-
suit in a decided benefit - .hs coun.
runity as g whole"