The Washington herald., 1922-09-10
BRICK INDUSTRIES
INCREASE OUTPUT
DESPITE HANDICAP
Plants Report Production
OF 112,OOO,OOO During
Single Months Work.

August's report Is that In spite OF
great obstacles and much discour-
agement the brick industry has by
Herculean efforts kept up Its
volume OF production surprisingly
well. This was necessary to salts
fy the vigorus and sustained de-
mand for brick. The principal ad-
verse factors are the mounting cost
and scarcity OF coal. unsatisfactory
transportation conditions and In
some localities scarcity Of labor.
Meanwhile there has been only
slight increase in the average price
of brick. A little short Of 112 100000
brick were produced by ninety-four
manufacturers in the month re-
ported. as against l06.O00.00G pro-
duced the month before by ninety
fve manufacturers.
II present conditions continue
much longer the brick industry and
building generally must be dis
turbed in ever increasing ratio.
While coal Is now being mined in
many districts. transportation Is not
satisfactory. four out of the ten
shutdowns reported being because
OF the lack of coal. In addition.
nve more plants report that they
must close shortly for this reason
Funda mentally Sound.
The surest indication that under
lying economic conditions are fun
damentaliy sound is shown by the
great volume of building contracts
now being let in spite Of unsettled
conditions: and II Is to be hoped
that the rail and coal difficulties
will be disposed Of before they ad-
versely affect the construction in
dustry more seriously than now.
The building industry is the key
Industry of the nation and it Is to
be regretted that this fact is not
more widely recognized. especially
by many who WELD considerable in
nuence in forming public opinion.
When homes and other buildings
are underway. the basic industries
such as brick. lumber. and cement
are active. together with the thou
sand and one speciality industries
such as hardware. electrical sup
plies. roofing. plumbing, glass
mint. etc When the buildings are
another and much longer list Of in
dustries Is set going. Furniture.
linen, clocks. musical instruments,
books, rugs, silverware, kitchen
utensils. stoves. curtains. china
ware. and an innumerable variety
Of other products are required.
Nothing could be more evident than
that a slowing up Of building means
required to furnish new buildings.
while an active building industry
uuickens a surprisingly large group
OF Industries and benefits myriads
of people who hardly realize that
their prosperity or otherwise Is
largely related to the question OF
whether or not the builders have
been busy. 1t Is therefore to be
hoped that IL present conditions
should unfortunately REQUIRE some
restriction of transportation before
they are settled, that such regula-
tions should bear lightly as posst-
Bile upon the transport Of build
ing materials. The less building Is
interferei with. the less will our
general prosperity be eventually af-
f,ctcd. In the past construction has
as the most pronounced Injuries.
but IL Is hoped that the government
and railroads now have a better ap-
prcci1tiun Of the Importance of con-
struction.
Optimistic for Future.
One plant among those closed
down can make no shipments owing
TO the rail strike. Fortunately
many brick manufacturers are
equipped with trucks, which enable
them tn deliver material over
moderate radius regardless Of rail
conditions,
In spite Of these discouraE"
the brick industry faces IN" future
with optimsm. The manufacturers
are generally absorbing their in
creased production costs without
passing them along to the public
and seventy-one Of them believe
that the immediate outlook Is
good" or "rair," only four feeling
Discouraged enough to say poor
or bad" Nineteen express no
opinion.
Thirtv-siN firms report that man
ufacturing costs are on the increase.
thirty-uar report mo change while
three say that their costs hlv"