Evening star., 1922-08-16
BUILDING MATERIAL
SHORTAGE H|TSD.c.
Rail Strike Cuts Shipments
of Stee-Brick Supply
Lacking.
COSTS ARE ADVANCED
Contractors Saved From Forfeitures
Only by Provisions in Bids Gov.
ering Such Emergencies.
COSTS ARE ADVANCED

Disrupted industrial conditions ma
tionally are threatening seriously 10
tie up construction work In the Dis
trict of Columbia at a time. when
Washington's building boom Is at
unprecedented heights. it became
known today.
On the heels of long struggle to
cope with marked shortage OF
brick in the National Capital came
the rail and mine strikes, further
complieAtin a situation which local
builders have been forced to admit
endangers the largest private build
ing program. backed by millions or
invested capital, ever projected In
this city.
The inability to obtain sufficient
brick to carry on numerous eAten
sive apartment. hotel. nome ana
business operations already starteu:
coupled with the apparent futility OF
frantic efforts to obtain rail ship
| ments of structural steel for tne
| larger enterprises, is causing knl'
.brows and sleepless nights in bullo-
| ing promoters circles. 1t was learned.
Forfeitures Prevented.
Contracts for the early completion
! of some of the big hotel ana once
building opera tionS, entered into by
bidders when conditions appeared ia
vorable for facilitating construction
would be nearing forfeiture but Tor
provisions covering such emergencies.
| Production of brick for the WASH
ington market has been far below the
demand for the material, and is tax
| ing beyond capacity the two large
nearby Virginia brick companies. a
Bladensburg yard and other sources
| of the local supply. Owners of one OF
| the larger factories have but a small
quantity of fuel on hand with which
to operate their kilns, and a competing
company is managing to continue ac-
| tivity only through constant EFFORTS
! to obtain coal.
! Rather than suspend work, DIS
| charge large numbers of bricklayers
\ and delay supplemental processes OF
| consumption, several builders have
| succeeded in attempts to secure brick
| from out-of-toWn points in west Elr-
ginia. Maryland and other nearby
| states. The existing conditions In
most of these places do not permit of
| the Exporting of brick to Washington.
however, and what little has been re-
ceived here has cost the purchasers
extra transportation rates
Sand-Lime Brick Outlawed.
About 10000 brick daily are at
present being produced for the
facturer, who has kept his force of
workihen ON the Job after regular
hours and on the past two Sundays.
investigation disclosed. His office is
| being besieged with persuasive re-
!. .quests by worried builders for ad-
ditional consignments of material to
no avail. Il cannot begin to meet
! the demand explained the head of
| this company. A rival concern re-
! Gently asked this producer If he
! could spare any brick to help him
supply his customers, but in view
! of the producers own difficulties aid
could not be extended. The head of
! this company pointed out that the
brick shortage here has been ag-
gravated of late through ruling Of
| the building inspectors Office against
what is.45nown as lime"
brick, pressed into shape without
heating. The elimination of this
product. he said. had added to the
kilns' burden:
The brick situation is not the only
! factor contributing to the construc-
| tion dilemma. however. Steel for
structural purposes is exceedingly
scarce here, due to the rail slow
down, and one of the foremost apart
ment builders here yesterday ex-
pressed grave concern over this angle
of the situation.
Il have had several carloads Of
steel on the road since August A."
he remarked.
The end of the coal strike and
the possible settlement shortly of
the rail squabble should greatly re-
lieve conditions in Washington, ac-
cording to opinions of local con-
tractors. The brick shortage, how
ever. is serious matter, as it is
not directly the result of the strikes
but builders are hoping for the best.