The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-08-21
RECORD LUMBER
YEAR IN SIGHT
Building Activity Greatest in
History, Dealer
Declares.


"All indications point to a record
breaking year in the building in
dustry in Indianapolis. according to
Forrest A. Hill, president IF the
Speedway Lumber Company Of this
city. Speaking of the situation, he
said:
"All previous sales records for this
company have been passed. Last year
was our greatest year, but we have
almost reached last years figure al.
ready. From the first of the year
we have noticed no lull, even the Gus
tomary July slack, until a few days
Of last week. but the halt was only
very slight breathing spell, for we
are as busy as ever again.
THE rail strike has not affected US
great deal as yet. We have been
able to get fairly prompt shipments
in all kinds of building material to
date, and we have adequate stocks to
take care of the trade for some time
Two large sawmills in the South have
suspended operations entirely and
have called in their entire sales or
ganization, but with these two excep-
lions, so far as / am able to ascer-
tain, our raw material sources are still
accessible.
1T is certain that lumber prices
will not decline and entirely probable
that they will increase during the
next few years. The present uncer-
tainty in the industrial fields Is slow
ing up operations. due to fear that
some have, that they will not he able
TO expand without a great waste Of
time. Especially is this true among
the railroads. and the railroads alone
in this country during the next ten
years will use enough material to as
sure n great volume OF business to
the building industries, and lumber
viii be one Of the materials most
used Statisticlans have recently com
piled figures on the building out
look in the larger cities Of the United
States, and their figures and graphs
show possibilities OF building boom
for the next ten years. Graphs is
sued by r. large bank in Philadelphia
we're recently printed in the uewspa-
pers over the country and these
showed that Indianapolis is two and
two-thirds years behind in the build
ing game. At this rate and with a
normal increase in the city's popula-
ton. building men could do a bust
ness above normal during the next ten
years equal to % per cent,
From recent reports II appeara that
in the larger cities building construc-
ffnv, 10 vrhf9o L., 49,. ev,, II av
communities conditions are stagnant
still. The only reason for this situa-
ton Is that in rural districts there is
an air of uncertainty as 10 what the
price will be IN the future. In the
cities this uncertainty does not exist.
II do not believe II is known gen
orally that in the past year many lum-
Der manufacturers have sold their
product below figure which would
yield a reasonable return on the in
vestment Decentralization resulting
from the war in the lumber mill
crews even yet has not been rectifed
entirely
There is no vocation more honor
able than the lumber industry From
time innmemorial he has been the
home builder and it Is becoming more
and more common for him to furnish
plans and specifications for lumber
built houses.
"In the past he frequently has been
misunderstood and has been the oh
ject Of great misrepresentation. He
has been accused OF profiteering. II
the public only knew It, lumber often
is sold at an actual loss at the mill
The public Is apt to accept the nor
NAL price as the proper price and does
not take into consideration unusual
conditions in the business world max
ing necessary a deviation from this"