The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11
DEMAND FOR BRICK
SHOWS SLOW BUT
STEADY INCREASE
Sees A Healthy Condition
In the Erection World
From Reports.

Roger Babson says the corner
has been turned in some lines but
not ALL"
Although 1t is no: stated direct
ly by this expert, it is claimed that
brick is one of the commodities
that has a l':tie further to 60.
Brick can go lower in price only
by an increased production, and an
increased production will not come
until there is an increased demand.
There is nothing to indicate
stampede or an abnormal demand
which might create a condition
which would send prices higher.
Rather, there is an indication that
the demand will be slowly but
rather steadily increased, permit
ting the plants to operate at
point nearer normal than they have
In the past. Such a demand un-
ouestionably would lower the cost
of production and would be re-
Elected in lower prices in some sec
tions. Note the italics. In certain
markets the price of brick today
is below the cost of production. 1t
has been consistently too low in
the southeastern States for sew
eral months. From the viewpoint
OF Ine DTlthHttIt OHiy DIe feature
of this situation in the southeast
can be viewed with satisfaction. 1t
has proven that the price of
commodity like brick does not
stimulate the use of the commod-
ity. Apparently. no more brick
are being used at Sc and 81 per
thousand price than would be used
if the price represented a rea-
ahoVa
Looking over the report from
102 manufacturers throughout the
country, we gather these facts.
The prices generally are being
euuaIized. Some of the maXimums
have been lowered and some mini
NUNS have been raised. The COM
posite remains practically the same,
being s13.64 per thousand. This
is fictitious as representing an
average because IT Is not weighted
Plants reporting have produced
during the past month a little over
g.. OOO. 900 bricks. The same plants
have moved out of their yard dur
ing the month over 10000, 900
brick. The stocks of burned brick
on hand, compared with practically
the same number of firms report
ing a month ago. shows a slight
increase Of about 25,000,00O. The
orders on the books show SINH
lar increase, being just a shade
better. This carries out our con
tention of the past three months
that the market for brick is headed
in the right direction and is con-
sistently maintaining an increased
demand.
Only eight manufacturers out of
1O2 report conditions bad. Three
of these are in District No. ?, one
in District No. 5 and three in Dis
trict No. I.
Relief from the high and practi-
cally prohibitive freight rates Is
reported from a few local districts
! Manufacturers at Trenton. n. j.
have secured a favorable adjust
ment to some of their principa
markets. Ohio. the Pittsburgh dis
I trict and some other sections are
actively engaged in a fight on rates
/ al the present time.
The building brick manufacturer
. in Ohio faces a peculiar situation
/ Ohio is one of the largest clay
producing states in the Union. Ike
Gently the Public Utilities Commits
/ sion ordered lower rate upor
/ paving materials including paNnI
brick This rate has permitted. tho
manufacturers of shale brick. whlci
may be used either for paving oil
f building purposes. to ship the bri"F
as pavcrs at the lower rate. the
/ brick actually be ng used as bu Id
ers when they arrive at their dCS
/ tinatiom The result is actual dis
: elimination against the manuta"
] hit Tho m