The New York herald., 1921-09-12
NEW FREIGHT RATES
HIT JERSEY BUILDER
Force Change in Price OF Some
Materials; New York Not
Affected by Revision.

Price changes in certain building ma
tArials in the New jersey sector OF the
metropolitan district over the week end
were due to a revision OF freight rates
for rail shipments to intermediate
points, according to the current Dow
Service Daily Building Reports.
This change will not affect the New
York market. however. The rate on
cement for example. including war
tax. from the Lehigh cement manufac-
turing district to Jersey City and Ho-
boken In the past has been 39 cents.
The charge for Elizabeth, for tllustra-
tion. was 43 cents and for Plainfield 40
cents. The rate to Jersey City and
Hoboken under the new schedule has
been advanced from SO cents to 43 cents.
but the rates to Elizabeth have been
reduced cents, Plainfiel6- Bound
Brook and Somerville 10 cents, and
Paterson and Passaic 10 cents, and pro-
portionate reductions have been made
effective to intermediate stations.
The reason this freight rate change
does not apply to New York is that the
old rate OF 80 cents applies to direct
New York shipments, the change ap-
plying only to local deliveries in Jersey
City or Hoboken. The New York price
for cement Is not based upon Lehigh rail
rates. but upon Hudson district freight
rates, which include so cents for lighter
age, 40 cents for bags and $40 for
the cement, making the price $3.50 to
the dealer, wholesale, to which, for
delivered prive the cost of handling,
haulage and profit must be added.
making the price in New York delivered
on job between IS and $500 barrel.
Some Price Advances in Lumber.
There came simultaneously with the
rate change an announcement to the
effect that roofing material and patent
board for shipment from Bound Brook,
y. j.. had been dropped So per ton for
the tarred felt and 81 thousand feet
for the board
The lumber market is entering a
singular phase. Dealers arc facing ag-
gressive competition to meet the price
limits set by purchasers, while the
wholesale market Is not only stiffenins,
but actual price advances have been
recorded. n. G. Y. p. roofers have ad-
vanced 81 in the wholesale market, yell
low pine comb grain flooring has ad-
vanced So. There are still pale quota
tions made in the retail market on
yellow pine, while the same commodity
In the house building sizes in the whole
sale market is actually moving up. In
the industrial construction sizes OF yel-
low pine timber there Is no actual price
advance. but the wholesale price Levels
ara being rather strongly held in the
market as whole
While other flooring materials are
strengthening on price in the wholesale
market. maple flooring Is sloughing Off.
Earlier in the year the manufacturers
OF this kind of flooring sought appar-
emily to hold the market firm by pro-
ducing approximately what the mar
ket could absorb. This was ascribed to
a desire to avoid excess profits taxes
and to save the carrying costs of large
inventories during the Uncertain mid
summer building movement. The price
Of maple flooring, however. declined
with other types OF floor material, and
to meet the situation the mills have
reopened under lowered manufacturing
costs and arc attempting to stimulate
demand by seeking to meet the price
levels the buying market has set.
Maple flooring interests are now trying
10 unseat the comb grain market via
price concession.
Spring May See Wider Increase.
Competent analysts IN the heavy
timber market look for gradual up
lift in wholesale prices, which of course
viii be reflected ultimately in the re-
tail market during the remainder OF
this month. October and November.
These are the months during which
some industrial building development
may be expected.
BY December the big timber inter-
ests would not be surprised to expert
ence slight price slump, during which
prices may revert TO approximately
those ruling in August and September. |
Buyers are basing their present poll |
c'es upon the contingency OF this price
slump lasting through January and
February. The factors now governing
the turn OF general business conditions
for the better. II continued, should start
another upward price movement In
March, April and May, which, judging
by present dealer stocks. mill capacity
end supply and timber cut, should mark
the start OF a comparatively permanent
price range considerably above those