The Washington times., 1922-09-16
WORKS
NOT AFFECTED
BY WALKOUTS
Production Of Building Ma
teriaI Greatest In Five
Years.

As most slate quarries are oper'
ated by electric power furnished by
public utilities. no shutdowns rave
been reported as yet due to the coal
and railroad situations. Unless the
public utilities become affected and
slate shipments are delayed. 1892
promises to be one Of the best Of the
last five years in the slate industry.
Production IL not sufficient to NEE,
the demand for many uses Of slate.
because of the serious shortage IN
skilled quarry workers and slate
roofers. Some Of the workers who
left these occupations during the war
are gradually returning to the slate
business. their life work. but there
are stili many opportunities open
for the return OF any workers who
have ever worked in the slate bust
ness, either at the quarry or apply.
ing II on the Job, and good oppor-
tunities are offered young men to
begin to learn these trades as q life
work.
Many producers report a rush OF
business and an apparent increasing
demand for roofing slate. The pub
lie realizes more than ever that the
cost OF a construction material.
whether for the roof or any other
part of a building. Is measured not
only In the first cost, but In total
cost over a period OF years. taking
the first cost and upkeep and re-
pairs in consideration. On such .
basis, slate has the advantage over
all other roofing materials for rec
ord OF permanence. requiring no ex'
pense Of maintenance Tor paint,
patches and repairs. A slate roof was
placed on an English chapel at Brad
ford-on-Avon over I 200 years ago.
and has remained there through the
centuries, and is still in good condi-
ton. Here in America, II is report
ed that one slate roof covered six
buildings in succession, and was
again placed on the seventh after
176 years.
The increasing use OF blackboard
slate for bulletin and score boards
by newspaper Offices, railroad STA
tions. clubs. etc. together with the
record amount Of educational build
ing under way, promises to male
1922 the largest year in the sales OF
slate for blackboard purposes.
The record-breaking revival Of con
struction in all lines during the first
six months Of 1922 Is rapidly being
felt in the increased demand for cleo
trical and structural slate, but both
feel the revival In construction &C
tivities n few months after the con-
tracts for the buildings have actually
been awarded, as they are installed
normally in the finishing stages OF
the work.
While several manufacturers re
port restriction of production, due to
insufficient supply OF '-'c""Hrs, they
report the demand AMI production
for June, 1873, considerably in excess
of that for 1921 and 1890.
An extensive survey OF the couoi'
tions In the slate business ana the
methods OF distribution Throughout
the United States 10 being made. and
the preliminary reports are indica'
tive Of the revival Of demand Tor
slate as follows:
Richmond, Va. increase over former
wears: Boston, Mass, normal; Bur
falo, N. Y, normal: Bridgeport. Conn,
so Der cent Of normal: Waco. Tex,
improving; Wilmington. Del. fairly
good: several New Jersey towns,
brisk business; Kansas City, NO. i'm
provins; Savannah. Ca. good; Mime
apoils. MIMI, fairly good; New York
city, brisk: Philadelphia, Pa. brisk.
EVERY city reports the need OF
- A. - No.