172
RECORD AND GUtdE
July 27, 1912
BUILDING MATERIALS.
State Geologist Verifies Record & Guide's
Brick Predictions.
The Cement Market in Retrospection—American
Steel & Wire Company Warns Trade ol Im¬
pending Advance io Price of Wire Mesh Con¬
crete Reinforcing.
BUILDING construction is active in
practically all ol the leading cities
ol the country so lar as plan filings are
concerned. Bradstreets reports a gain ol
7.6 per cent, lor 104 cities in June over
the filings lor a corresponding period last
year, and, in addition it shows that build¬
ing projects have had a gain ol 14.3 per
cent, in the second quarter ol this year
over a similar period in 1911. For the
flrst half, 1912 leads 1911 hy 9.1 per cent.
Furthermore, it is shown that appropri¬
ations in the last six months for new
building construction in 65 cities, with
which comparisons are possible back to
1905, amount to the third largest aggre¬
gate recorded in a corresponding period,
being exceeded only 'by the 1909 and 1910
aggregates.
But New York is one ol the exceptions.
In plan-filing the record is -below that lor
1911 from January 1 to July 18-19 by 225,
the cost ol alterations is $937,227 below
last year's figures lor the same period
•but the gain in value ol new buildings,
the one redeeming leature about this
rear's building figures lor this city shows
"a gain ol $22,864,110. The lour leading
boroughs reveal the cause ol this peculiar
situation in a measure:
1912.
Plans Cost
Borough Filed Value Alterations
Manhattan ...... 503 $69,771,225 $6,933,734:
Bronx ........... 825 22,904,420 681,305
Brooklyn .........3,300 24,276,463 2,633,822
Queens ........... 2,687 11,005,674 504,475
7,315 $127,957,782 $10,753,236
Gain ............ 22,864,110
1911.
Plans Cost
Borough Filed Value Alterations
Manhattan ...... 532 $o9,860,(B0 $7,634,190
Bronx ............ 747 12,090.235 644,932
Brooklyn ......... 2,945 19,066,731 2,942,979
Queens ..........3,346 14,076,656 468,362
7,570 $105,093,672 $11,690,463
Gain ........... 255 937,227
The loregoing analysis ol building
activity proves several things. It shows
that the Borough ol Queens, contrary to
general belief, has lost its lead of last
year over the Borough of Brooklyn as
a center of construction activity, both in
point of numbers and values, and that
Manhattan, despite general reports ol
sluggishness and scarcity of money, is
actually going ahead of last year's values
by approximately $10,000,000, or approxi¬
mately half the gain lor the entire city.
Furthermore, it shows that despite the
cry of protest against the enlorcement of
the encroachment law, the cost ol alter¬
ations does not equal last year's record
by $700,000.
Another important revelation made by
this computation is that Bronx has evi¬
dently recovered from its fit ol peevish¬
ness about the enlorcement of the en¬
croachment order by Borough President
Miller, and is again coming into the
market lor building materials. Its new
building plans lor the first hall ol this
year represent a value ol $10,000,000 more
than last year, with alterations running
about even as lar as cost is concerned.
Brooklyn also shows a gain lor this year
In values and numbers ol filings, and
Queens shows a corresponding decrease
in numbers and values ol new buildings
projected.
The unusual increase in the value ol
projected Brooklyn building operations
tends to substantiate the reports re¬
ceived now and then from building ma¬
terial interests, that they are beginning
to feel the inroads ol apartment houses
and it would seem as 11 the Queens
boosters' claim that they were slowly, but
surely wringing from Brooklyn the sobri¬
quet ol "The Borough ol Homes" really
had some loundation to it.
During the first hall ol 1911 the per¬
centage ol new building plans filed that
went ahead was on an average ol 79 lor
ali boroughs, including Richmond. Dur¬
ing the first hall ol this year the average
per cent, ol projected building plan filed
that had acually started to be executed
up to July 15 was 61. On alteration work
the percentage during the flrst hall ol
last j'ear was 76, while during the first
hall of this year the percentage was 91.5.
Building material interests are basing
their hopes lor luture business upon this
sluggishness in the construction market.
They think that a little deflnite work
along the line of building code revision
will bring out all the business that has
been held up and will bring more ol it
into the market. This is reflected by the
Iact that practically all material interests
are preparing lor sharp advances.
The stiffness that has leatured the steel
department so long cannot help but have a
stiffening influence upon other huilding
materials. Select Hudson River common
•brick could easily bring $7.12 Vi per M.
wholesale because the market is trimmed
do.wn to only a lew scow loads Irom
week to week and dealers cannot stack
because the increasingly active market
requires all they can put their hands on.
Portland cement has already advanced.
Bars are up, copper Is stiffening, and
now co'mes the American Steel & Wire
Company with a warning to its cus¬
tomers to prepare for an advance in con¬
crete reinforcement.
Lumber is advancing and hardwoods are
gaining in demand despite the efforts of
the mills to catch up with flood-delayed
orders. There is talk of 'building stone
moving up. The terra cotta fireproofing
interests are filled almost to capacity
and some of the architectural terra cotta
companies are working near to capacity,
some of them up to the first ol December.
These are conditions which architects
and owners cannot afford to ignore. Alter
the elections money will be dearer as a
result ol increased demand lor it, and it
would therelore seem as though the time
was ripe to go ahead with building plans.
Hudson River common brick is in an
active market, quotations running to
$7 flat. Raritan Rivers are in good con¬
tract demand and are bringing $7 top.
Connecticut brick is bringing about $6.75
to 6.87%, and there is a lair call lor
same. The transactions lor the last two
weeks follow with transactions lor the
corresponding period in 1911:
1912.
Lelt Over, July 6, 0.
Arrived. Sold.
Monday................... 14 12
Tuesday.................. 0 2
Wednesday .............. 10 10
Thursday........,........ 15 13
Friday.................... 12 8
Saturday.................. ^6 4
Total................. 6? isT
Condition of market active. Prices,
Hudsons. ---------- to $7. Raritans, $6.75 to
$7. Wholesale, Dock, N. Y. For job de¬
liveries add dealers' profits and cartage
charges. On hand, July 13, 8.
1911.
Left Over, July 1, 5.
Arrived. Sold.
Monday ................... 8 4
Tuesday .................. 2 4
Wednesday ............... 2 1
Thursday ................. 4 7
Friday .................... 8 10
Saturday .................. 2 4
Total ................. 26 30
Condition of market, sluggish. Prices,
$5.50 to $5.75. Selects, $5.87%; Rarif.ans,
$5.50 to $5,75, Arrivals, in corresponding
week, 1910, 51; sales, 43; with 4 on hand
and 12 left over.
1912.
Left Over, July 13, 8.
Arrived. Sold.
Monday .................. 26 21
Tuesday ................. 4 10
Wednesday .............. 9 7
Thursday ................ 9 11
Friday ................... 6 6
Saturday ................ 6 5
Total .................. 60 60
Condition of market, active. Prices,
Hudsons, ------- to $7.00; Raritans, $6,75 to
$7.00. Wholesale, dock, N. Y. Add deal¬
ers' profits and cartage charges.
On Hand. July 20, 8.
1911.
Arrived, Sold.
Monday .................. 22 15
Tuesday ................. 6 '7
Wednesday .............. 5 12
Thursday ................ 8 10
Friday .................. 9 6
Saturday ................ 5 8
Total.................. 56 58
Condition of market, active. Prices,
Hudsons, $5.87% to $6.00; Raritans, $5.75
to $6.00. Arrivals in correspondmg week
in 1910, 57; sold, 58; 8 on hand; 7 left
over.
The report just published by John M.
Clarke, State Geologist, covering thp out¬
put ol common brick in the Hudson
River district lor 1911 corroborates the
estimate lor the year's output made "by
this department in the issue ol January
6, at which time it was stated that the
total volume turned out by the Hudson
River manulacturers in 1911 was 1,000,000,-
000. The State Geologist places the total
at 1,085,019,000, valued at $5,472,000. The
total output lor the nine counties in¬
cluded in the Hudson River region was
807,713,000.
The Record and Guide's estimate was
based upon both the Hudson River dis¬
trict and the Hackensack, N. J., district.
which supplies part of the Metropolitan
district. Tha total volume of brick en¬
tering New York City Irom all points
during last year was 1,209,000,000.
The State Geologist reports that the
brick trade suffered a relapse. According
to the department ol Geology the aggre¬
gate production ol clay material lor the
year was valued at $9,751,659, a decline ol
about 15 per cent. Irom the total oi
$11,518,982, which -seas recorded in 1910.
The Hudson River brick industry made
the poorest record ol any branch, owing
to the Iact that the yards had to carry
over a heavy stock Irom the previous
year.
The manulacture ol building brick held
first place in the industry, the total prod¬
uct last year amounting to 1,085,019,900
valued at $5,472,000.
The material next in value to build¬
ing brick was pottery.
The American Steel and Wire Company
sent out letters this week to their cus¬
tomers announcing that an advance in
the price ol Triangle Mesh Reinlorce-
ment is imminent. No date is announced
lor this advance to take effect, but the
company advises, 11 their customers are
figuring on their products or any con¬
struction work requiring Triangle Mesh
Reinlorcement, that measures be taken
to protect themselves, "as the increased
cost ol basic materials, such as rods,
wire, etc., the advancing wage security
lor labor and recent legislation affecting
the working day period, make the ad¬
vance in price ol finished material obliga¬
tory."
No intimation is given as to how much
advance on this material will be the quo¬
tations can not longer be made for the
buyers' acceptance at his convenience.
This also reflects the conditions In the
labricated steel department. In this con¬
nection it is interesting to note that
plans lor the Biltmore Hotel, which will
cost $5,500,009 and will be part ol the
Grand Central Station Terminal, have
been let to the George A. Fuller Com¬
pany. The building, it Is said, -will be ol
stone and brick, Irom plans by Warren
& Wetmore. The total quantity ol brick
estimated lor this job is about 1,200,000
and the tonnage ol steel about 6,000 tons.
Granite will be used extensively for the
base. It Is estimated that about 5,000
barrels ol Portland cement will be re¬
quired. The new building will be ready
lor occupancy by September 1, 1913.
DEPARTMENTAL RULINGS
Proceedings of the Board of Examiners
Appeals No. IOO to 129 Inclusive, Covering Flue
Construction, Classification, Vent Shafts, Exits,
WjJI Thickness, and Courts in Theatre.
(MEETING OP JUNE 25, 1912.)
NOTE: Fireproof shutters, cases and appeals
that are withdrawn by the appellants are not
reported, 1. e., details are not given.
Appeal 100, affecting ^w Building 170 of
1912, premises Park av. oSUand 53d sts, Man¬
hattan, Messrs. Rouse £' (MIdstone, appellants-
Withdrawn.
Appeal 114. Shutter case. 35 Goerck at.
Disapproved.
Appeal 12a. Alteration 1045 of 1912, prem¬
ises 1 East 64th st, Manhattan, F. T. Youngs,
appellant.
Question of Hue construction In a fireproof
private residence. Section 65.
APPROVED.
APPEAL 126. Alteration 1089 of 1912. prem¬
ises :^O4-310 East 64th st, Manhattan, George
Fred Pelham, appellant.
Withdrawn.
APPEAL 127. Alteration 1232 of 1912, prem¬
ises 34 East 64th st, Manhattan, F. E. Al¬
brecht. appellant.
Question of classiiication, vent shafts and
exits, in altering a one-family non-flreproof
dwelling Into a building containing 31 sleep¬
ing rooms, to be used by the servants em¬
ployed in an adjoining, but separate, apart¬
ment hotel.
APPROVED, so far as It relates to Objections
1 and 3, ON CONDITION that a wrought iron
balcony not less than three feet wide be pro¬
vided at each of the three upper floor levels,
along the west wall ot the building, with an
exit from each room leading thereto, and, fur¬
ther, that an Iron staircase not less than
three feet wide be pi^vided connecting said
balconies, leading to the ground.
APPEAL 128. New Building 439 of 1912.
premises west side Grand Concourse 125.02 feet
north of 192d st. The Bronx, John C. Watson,
appellant.
Question of toall thiclcness, 2%-story dwell¬
ing. Sec. 31.
APPROVED.
APPEAL 129. New Building 383 of 1912, prem¬
ises 207-223 East 13th st and 214 Bast 14th
st Manhattan. George Keister, appellant.
Question of courts In a theatre. Section 109.
APPROVED ON CONDITION that the foyer
shows In the north court be eliminated, and
In lieu thereof that a fourteen-foot court be
provided, open to the sky.