Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-04
PH|LA. IS ON VERGE
Of BUILDING BOOM
Starting Of Big Projects Seen
as Indicating End Of Mori-
bund Period
LABOR WILLING TO HELP

'For the first time in years. we can
tell an optimistic story Of the building
outlook" - Henry G.
Woods, secretary Master Builders Ex-
change.
"Building activities in Philadelphia
during the present year will greatly
exceed those Of 1921. John G.. VIII.
liasns. president Philadelphia Real Es-
tnte Board.
There Is a slight, tendency toward
betterment. Harry A. Stone, Master
Builders Company.
"Cncertainty about the demands OF
labor is holding back $50 .00O, 900 worth
Of work. which would otherwise start
within the next ninety days. j. W.
Pearce, former president Master Build
ers' Exchange.
Labor is not impeding the construc.
tiOn OF buildings in Philadelphia. Every
member of our union Is an American
citizen. We have done all we could
to come TO nm understanding with the
master builders. ."--F, X. Sullivan.
Bricklaycrs Masons and
Plasterers' Union No. I.
All builders, contractors and archi-
tects who are in close touch with the
building construction situation in Phil.
ndelphia agree that there Is n forward
but there is some difference
of opinion as to the extent and strength
of the movement.
Some of the builders and contractors
assert that labor unions, because of
wage demands. have retarded building
plans and still are causing a feeling of
uncertainty. They say that the labor
unions will have much to do in decid.
ing whether the approaching season is
one Of great building activity or one Of
cautious and curtailed construction.
What Is needed. they declare, is n
definite, binding agreement. signed by
officers Of unions. fixing for the season
certain reductions which have already
been accepted to large extent.
Labor leaders, however, deny that
the unions have impeded building plans
or caused uncertainty to any greater
extent than the contractors and build
ers themselves. They declare that the
workmen want to see great building
activity, and are ready to do their part
to speed construction. They ASSERT that
the real difficulty is disposition on the
part of builders and contractors to hold
aloof from the unions.
Prices Going Down
One Of the large contractors as.
serted that some building material, such
as structural steel. had actually dropped
to pre- war prices, and that uneasiness
about labor alone was keeping persons
who contemplate erecting structures
from closing contracts. To this, leaders
of the workmen engaged In building
construction replied that there was Ger
tainly as much or more unensiness con-
cerning the prices Of material. which
probably would be advanced whenever
building Is again under way on large
scale.
One indication of strong belief among
builders and contractors that the coming
season will be busy one IL that the
Master Builders Company Is making re
newed efforts to end the dispute with the
Bricklayers' Union. which has been go
ing on for ten months. The master
builders have sent communication to
the Bricklayers' Union, asking that the
members of that organization vote next
Monday night on new proposition Of
fered by employers.
May Reach Compromise
The offer indicates n disposition to
pay the S1.25 an hour demanded by the
Bricklayers' Union. or n compromise
scale between this and the 81 an hour
offered by the builders. But to get the
wage concession, the union Is asked to
agree that there shall be no sympathetic
strikes and no penalties imposed upon
bricklayers working during strikes; and
also that the termination of agreements
as to wages and hours shall be in Jan
uary and not in May, as in the past.
The contract for the new public II.
brary IN said to have caused some com
plication in the situation here. Th'
successful bidders arc said to hnv
large contracts outside of Philadelphia
on which during the last ten month.
numbers Of the striking Philadelphia
bricklayers have found work.
| II the contractors. in doing the worl
on the library, try to adhere To the rules
laid down by the master builders be,
cause Of the strike here. It II said. the,
may have strikes on their jobs outside
For this and other reasons It Is dc,
sired to have the trouble with the unlor
bricklnyers settled before the buildin,
season II In full swing.
Mr.. Woods Is one Of tho most opti
mistic nf the men In touch with th
Philadelphia situation.
1.-THE Outlo"k,' he said. "is for
will be satisfied with n lower scale q
wages. High wages have headed o
many men when they have thought q
building. and it will be best for laho
and for every one else IL satisfactor
wage agreements can be reached.
present Indications are encouraging
Contractors and workmen should have
busy year il nothing occurs to ma
prospects rs they now appear.
'Onc encouraging thing Is that III
number of building permits issued las
, month was greater than In any 9th,
February in the history Of the cit,
; The estimated cost of the work TO /
: done was also greater than ia any 9th,
February.
: dwellings and apartments are beiu
planned In all parts Of Philadelphi,
As an example in the Olney and Mil
bourne sections they are preparing
! build what might be- described as u ne
city. Permits were taken out for IA:
, new dwellings in Olnry and 1000
= Milbourne. That Is u total of 245O
just two parts Of Philadelphia.
"But the movement to give the Gil
the homes that are needed IL general
/. all parts.
( "A number Of important pieces
q work are also under consideration
, Take. for example. the tearing down
; tn. old Bingham Hotel. at Eleventh nr
Market streets, ana the cOnstructio io
, on the site Of an otiir" building and thca
tire. That Is a 81. .OOO, 900 undertaking
p "Othcrs are the proposed $1,000, ,M