The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-05

of material laid down here! And
% there any chance Of an early de-
crease? In answer to the second
question the claims OF the inter
state commerce commission were
cited.
It was found that freight rates
per 100 pounds on lumber from
Minnesota had increased 1875 cents
since 1914. Lumber from the west
ern coast and from the ssouth cost
correspondingly more on account
Of the longer haul. Freight chars-,
es on coal, brick, stone, steel and
other materials were cited from the
various sources Of production. One
point that was made. that steel
coming in from Joliet has cost
equivalent of the freight cost had
it been sent out from Pittsburgh,
Pa. No reason could be found for
this charge
Increase in Paint Materials.
A. E. Gardner reported for the
committee on paint and glass. and
some big increases were noted in
prices. especially for windshield
glass for automobiles. Prices went
from a rate of So in 1914 to SIT at
the present time. Building of sedan
cars was the reason given by deal
ers. Unmixed paint sold for $3.50
a gallon in 1914 and sells for So
now. which is a decrease from
$4.05 last year.
| C. A. Moses reported on brick
and tile, and claimed brick prices
are as low as possible under pres
ent circumstances. Sand, gravel
and stone were said to be too high.
Average increase in all of these
materials was placed at 1874 per
cent.
Big Increase Plumbing Cost.
Vance Lockhart reported on
plumbing supplies. The biggest
increase was in soil pipe, which in
creased 500 per cent in cost from
1914 to 1915 and which is now sell
ing at PIP per cent higher than in
1914. There were also big IN
creases in brass, steel pipe, MALE
able fittings, cast iron fittings, "a
diation, boilers, lead goods and
sewer pipe. Dealers were said to
promise reductions. Cost Of raw
material, freight rates and labor
costs were held to be the reason
for the increases.
| Labor Increase 81 Per Cent.
i A. Mccall reported on labor costs
He said that in the last II years
labor had received increases in pay
amounting to "a per cent There
have been no reductions in The
building lines, as new contract.
have not been signed, Mr. Mccall
estimated that labor costs on var
. ious works range from 221a to A
per cent of the total cost Of thu
work, and on plumbing and heating
the labor cost is Is per cent.
. J. w. Passmore reported on stee
prices. The 1920 prices we're givel
as 146 per cent higher than in 1914
, but have decreased 20 per cent IL
, the last few months.
: Raw material at the mills soil
at $27. 80 a ton in 1914. and wen
, up to 1880 ton in 1920. but lha
decreased to $3.50 a ton.
> Reinforcing steel is 80 per cen
above the 1914 prices. The peak il
all steel prices was in 1917 and NJ
, figures were presented on these.
: H. E. Haldall reported on tn
. lumber and material prices. H
reported that mill work on a two
a story six-room house with bat
. cost $234.21 in 1914, $602.55 in 1926
. and $436.1S at the present time. s
q percent higher now than the 1911
: prices. Shingles and rough lum
Der for a seven-room house cos
:, $905.2O in 1916. $2.051 in 1920 an
s1,390.32 at present, sc per cen
higher than in 1914. These price
n were given to include freight rate!