New-York tribune., 1921-07-04
Present Cost
OF Brick Not
Likely to Drop
1921 Low Prices Believed
To Be Reached and Passed
for Material Owing to
War Time Prices for Coal

With brick manufacturers forced to
pay wartime prices for coal and pre-
dieting that the 1921 low brick price
has been reached and passed, building
material dealers cutting the price of
Portland cement to consumers 20 cents
a barrel and with metal prices slipping,
the second half of the building year
begins without much stability, says the
current Dow Service Daily Building
Reports.
Hollow tile prices have been reduced
and so has the dealer quotation to the
consumer on neat wall cement, which
has been lowered by 81 ton. On the
other hand, lumber prices, as far as the
run of the market is concerned, seem
to be more uniform.
Indeed, this material, together with
glass, certain finishing material like
white tile, marble, some oils and GER
tain other building commodities that
have been in competition with foreign
products of similar nature, may be ex-
pected to attain to more stable market
behavior under the new tariff sched-
ules.
Common brick was selling in the
wholesale market at the week end at
$15 for the best grades. Here and
there it was reported by some Of the
dealers that they had been able to
purchase "run-of market" brick at $14,
but not every one was able to obtain
this material at the low price.
Manufacturers say they are obliged to
pay wartime prices for coal with which
to burn the brick they are now manu-
featuring. This is ascribed as their
reason for believing that those who
are holding off brick purchases in the
hope that when the 1921 brick begins
to arrive in any quantity they will be
offered at prices below $14 to $15
wholesale will be disappointed.
Demand for Brick
Brick buying at the week end was
active enough to warrant price of
at least $3.50 thousand wholesale
for the best grades of brick, especially
since production and towage costs
have not shrunk as in other lines.
If past performances in building con-
struction may be depended upon and
the rate of development in building
material movement continues, the next
few months should offer the building
trades of New York much larger vol
ume of business than similar period
prior to the present offered.
Wholesale buying seems to point to
this conclusion in all departments ex-
cepting lumber, which has been rather
overstocked and has been moving slow
ly until the last thirty days or so.
There are evidences to be found in
current inquiry to show that railroad
purchasing is soon to be resumed on
moderate scale.
Speculative building construction
awaits wage cuts and a further shad-
ing in building materials, which have
dropped since last years peak about 80
per cent, counting the latest price cuts.
Brooklyn, however, is showing turn
away from a policy of procrastination
50 far as individual home building is
concerned. While the professional
speculative builder is frankly holding
back for further meager price cuts, the
individual builder is now satisfied that
with all the pressure applied upon
manufacturers and distributors alike
any further price cuts if made would
hardly warrant waiting for, in view of
the probability that any excessive de-
mand would quickly result in a read
justment upward of prices.
Little Call for Metal
Metal price reductions are due to
HCdlSlCy VI OluClS. MlIi OUCIdIlOnS
continue to be at low level and more
mills were scheduled to close the first
of this month. Prices are weak, even
at the reduced figures now being
quoted on steel sheets. Many mills
have not been soliciting business ex-
cept for material they could ship be-
fore July 1, or that can be delayed
until mill operations are resumed.
Further price adjustments are expected
in this department.
The price cuts in Portland and neat
wall cement that are reported iii this
weeks lists are not manufactured re-
ductions, but are due to the eagerness
Of the dealers to win what business is
just now coming out in this market.
In the prepared roofing department
manufacturers announced that new
price schedules issued on June 13 were
subject to a further revision down
ward, effective as of June 20.