San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-11
BRICK PRODUCTION
AT HIGHEST MARK
REPORTED IN YEARS
But Nearly One-third Of
Plants in Country
Are Shut Down.

Inc winter production OF brick is at
the highest mark that is has been in
recent years although nearly one-third
of the brick plants in the United
States are shut down, according to
report received here by a local brick
dealer from the Common Brick Manu-
facturers' Association Of America, with
headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. Brick
manufacturers throughout most Sec
tons of the country face the coming
building season with confidence, and
are producing to the maximum of their
ability under existing weather condi-
tons, the report states. No increase
in price is expected despite the fact
that the demand is increasing rapidly.
The report follows:
The one section of the United States
which still Tags behind in building is
the agricultural district just west of
the Mississippi, centering in Iowa,
Kansas and Nebraska. In all other
sections an unusual amount of winter
work has been going on and the de-
mand for brick is larger than a year
ago, and except in a few of the most
important building centers, even ex-
ceeds the phenomenal demand in the
early months of 1920. The report of
the members of the Common Brick
Manufacturers Association, made last
month, indicates that the market is
now in the healthiest condition it has
experienced since before the war. The
situation is much more favorable than
in 1920. for labor, fuel and shipping
conditions are far better.
OF the plants closed down at the
present time the majority are sum
mer" yards, not equipped to operate in
cold weather. A number are closed
for repairs. There are probably more
extensions to plants being made than
in any recent years. A few plants are
closed on account of car shortage.
The number of brick produced dur
ing the month of January by 90 plants
reporting to this association is 5S,71S.-
600. More than 100000 were moved
from plants during January. The
amount of brick on hand at the pres
ent time has decreased from the
amount on hand on January 1 by near
ly 40,000,000. There is an even great
err decrease in the amount of unburned
brick, while the orders on the books
have increased since January 1. This
is most satisfactory condition from
| the brick mans point of view. Out
of the total number of manufacturers
reporting only two report the outlook
as bad" while all others say that it
is "fair" or good" the majority lin
ing up in the latter column.
1t is the view Of considerable num-
Der of manufacturers that the cost of
production is increasing. This, as
usual. is due to increased labor cost
and increased fuel cost. The compos-
! lite price. according to all manufactur-
ers reporting at the present time. is
S14.45 per thousand. This is the first
month in which there has been shown
an increase in price Of any account
during more than year. The peak
price is found in the East and along
the Atlantic Seaboard where $50 is
the maximum reported. The lowest
price is in Oklahoma and Texas where
current over-production has resulted
in some sales as low as 81 per NJ.
With no immediate danger of a coal
shortage the manufacturers as a rule,
anticipate that they will be able to sell
brick during the building season of
1923 at prices no higher than pre-
vailed during 1922. although the de-
mand may be greater and the supply
in some sections may be inadequate.
In view of the rapidly increasing de-
hrs,l, in oil tvnNc nF
struction. resulting from the advertis-
ing that is being given this commodity,
this association continues to urge its
members to increase their capacity
and as nearly as possible to be able
to supply real brick wherever brick is
needed. To do otherwise would tend to
encourage the use of inferior substi-
tutes which naturally flock into the
market whenever real bricks are
scarce.