The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-10-02

struction records are bound to fall
this year, he said, for there has been
greater activity throughout the coun-
try than for years past. Speaking of
the situation he said:
Our plant is still running at ca
pacity. Most of our business at the
present time is confined to work that
we contracted for during the sum
mer months. New operations of late
have been slowed somewhat by a
shortage of that m-uch-needed building
material, cement. Without cement, a
foundation is impossible and where a
foundation is impossible, a building is
out of the question. The farming trade
demands Lehigh cement and the fac
tory producing that brand has been
closed for some weeks due TO a lack
Of sufficient coal to operate. The
same is true of other plants manufac-
turing popular brands. The coal strike
has now been settled, but it will prob
ably be some time before cement
plants can resume operations since the
farmers crops take precedence over
all other commodities n the rail
roads are taxed to capacity and es-
p~ecially is this true after such a strike
as has just been ended. ] would there
fore hesitate to make a prediction as
to when cement will again move.
Our sales for this year to late ex-
coed considerably those for all of last
year in spite Of the fact that last year
was universally the best year in the
building game all over the entire
country. Here and elsewhere this
year bid fair to Guido last year so far
as construction records go.
There was enough building started
during the summer to keep the build.
ing trades busy for some time. The
summer, different from usual, did
not disclose a lull IN construction
work and for hat reason there is yet
much building to be completed, This
includes homes. commercial build
ings, public buildings, etc.
Frequently lumber at the mill is
sold at an actual loss, This price the
public is apt to accept as the normal
price and an advance to a fair price
brings a storm OF protests and accuse
tons of profteering. Nothing would
be Of greater advantage to this time
honored industry than to eliminate
from the business all sophistry and
false impressions.
THE following appeared in a late
issue OF the American Lumberman:
While the railroad situation generally
seems to have shown considerable i'm
provement with the last week, lumber
shippers are still wrestling with an
acute car shortage, as a r continue
TO be diverted to the movement Of
coal. grain and cotton. There is a
marked decrease shown in the amount
of business placed with Southern pine
mills, but this does not necessarily in
dictate a cessation in demand. Ship
pers IS a rule are declining TO take
orders where prompt shipment is
necessary And there is no assurance
that cars can be secured in which to
take these shipments. On the West
Coast latest reports show production
at about two per cent above normal,
but this has not as yet resulted in any
undue accumulation of stocks, for
stocks on mill yards there and all over
the country are low and assortments
are badly broken.
"'If cement again moves. n the
acute car shortage is removed, the
building business will surely go for
ward during the coming months. The
railroad strike is settled. The coal
strike was over thirty days ago. In
many industries wage nave been in
creased. Despite rather low prices for