The Washington herald., 1922-05-14
'BRICKMAKERS FEAR
RUNNING AFOUL OF
TRADE RESTRAINTS
Results in Warped Con.
ditiOn of Building Ma
terials Market.

Fear among building material
dealers and brick manufacturers of
running afoul of the New York
State laws affecting restraint of
trade is at the root of the present
stressed situation with regard to
brick supply in particular and in
the building material stocks in hand
in general, according to Allen f.,
Beals, of Allen L. Beals Corporation.
publishers of the Dow Service Daily
Building Reports,
Practically all the common build
ing brick available for immediate
demand in section comprising the
eastern shore line of northern New
Jersey, all Ave boroughs of New
York, southern Long Island. the
State of Connecticut within 100
miles Of New York City, and New
York State practically from Albany
south is l5,0OO.000 One New York
dealer alone could dispose of this
quantity Of brick on a normal run
OF business in little over a
month.
Forescen Year Ago.
This situation was foreseen a
year ago when the public mind was
tilled with charges to the effect
that combinations were in existence
among building material men to re-
strain trade and thus keep high the
price of building materials to the
consumer. Under the old order OF
things and, indeed, at a time when
situation similar to that which is
now developing occurred. durinS
and following the war. plan of
cooperation was developed that
provided for .allocating scanty sup
plies of materials so that no neces-
sary building operation was halted
for any length OF time.
But, under the Interpretation. OF
the law covering trade restraint. no
one dared. either among the manu-
facturers or among the dealers. 20
propose the ALLEGATION of the rapidly
dwindling supplies of brick during
the recent months.
This fear that the eral "goblins
would catch them Il they did not
watch out" prompted both distrib-
uters and producers TO Keep out Of
traps. Result: Important housing
operations, requiring only sufficient
brick to erect a half q story or COM
plete a rear wall are today stand
ing still. while commercial struc-
lures. like bank buildings. libraries
clubs and similar structures. where
expediencies can more readily be
met. are proceeding
Market Warped,
The direct result of this situation
is a serious warpinC of the entire
fabric of the New York building
material price market. Brick, fol
example, has been advanced in price
50 per 1000 within a few weeks. II
is entirely probable that the war.
time price of $40 per 1000. and be.
yOnd, may be recorded between this
date and June l, as the situation
becomes more acute.
A manufacturer and a dealer mel
at luncheon last week. Nothing a.
the luncheon table was mentioned
about price, but the dealer haC
| heard that a barge load of brick
was coming to New York unsold
He wanted that brick. AS they
arose from the table the manufaC
| turer to him he could have the
barge load that was due to arrive
that afternoon.
The dealer with whom the manu-.
facturer had been dining. fearint
for the sanctity OF the unwritter
promise in the face of the risinG
spot market, drew near the Other
| two dealers and his luncheon host
The competition was keen. but the
manufacturer. taking a piece of pa.
per from his pocket. wrote on II
"S1S" and handed il to the man who
had been his guest a few minute:
before.
This incident shows that the brick
manufacturers have not been a:
susceptible Of counterbidding a.
they could be under present cir,
cumstanCeS