January 3, 1903.





RECORD AND   GUIDE





13





should pnove the U. S, Congress to enact measures that wil!
guard the public from a repetition of them. If the mining and
transportation of coal were carried on naturally, without arti¬
ficial restrictions, there would be coal in plenty, for an honest
price, at all times. Water, air, flour and fuel should not be
within the power of any unholy combination to witlihold.

From present indications there will be next to a famine of an¬
thracite all winter, although every effort is being made by mine
operators to relieve the situation. Production is at the rate of
3,000.000 tons a month, but this is insufficient, and the transpor¬
tation problem is another factor. The car supply being inade¬
quate, movement from the mines is curtailed; and in tliis harbor
the difficulties of ferriage have contributed a measure of
hindrance.

In some European countries the coal problem is measurably
solved by using "briquettes," a composition of coal waste and
lignite. Machinery for making them is to be found in the highest
perfection in Germany, where a syndicate has just been formed
for promoting the export of this machinery to the United States,
and an engineer has been ocmmissioned to come here and make
estimates of the cost of plants and describe the processes of
manufacture. Coming with such good intentions, he should be
welcomed.

LUMBER.

Lumber has been nearly stationary for about a month, and
some big lumbermen agree that It is likely to continue so all
winter, with the exception of a few items in the higher grades.
This is almost equivalent to saying that they well make no at¬
tempt to raise the bar.

During the past year lumber reached the highest point in the
history of the trade as regards price and difficulty of securing
stock. The white pine mills were driven to their utmost capacity,
and yellow pine manufacturers had to contend with similar con¬
ditions. What will be the situation another year? is the ques¬
tion that some readers may be perplexed to answer. Undoubtedly,
for the general good, there ought to be a retreat; there ought to
be a lessened demand resulting from the continued high values;
but what may be actually expected, and to what extent should
the retail dealer stock up during the winter in anticipation of
next spring's business?

It is conceivable that a fairly prophetic answer might be of
value. It may be said that during the past few years the white
pine producers have sold more lumber than they have made,
with the result that there is little if any stock on their hands;
and. as white pine is practically all air-dried, it is necessary
to saw stock well in advance of the demand. Hence, it would
take a season of poor trade to put the manufacturers in a po¬
sition where they should have to force business. Yellow pine
will accumulate during the winter, but inasmuch as the rail¬
roads and other large concerns that required so much of this
material in 1002 will be In the market again in 1903, no variance
in conditions is to be expected. There will probably be a con¬
siderable output of hemlock lumber for nest year, but dry stock
Is hard to get now, and new lumber will not be ready until the
season is well advanced.

'■Even with a considerable falling-off in the consuming demand
during the coming year, it will yet be a difficult matter for the
entire retail trade to get supplies sufficient to take care of busi¬
ness," said a well-known authority. "The scant stocks and the
even balance between productive and consuming capacity, even
With a material reduction In the demand, preclude the idea of
any decided falling-off in prices during the next six months. The
dealer who places his orders now and at present prices takes
less chance than the one who delays until he actually needs the

lumber."

------------•------------

BMiMing   News.

MERCANTILB.

MERCER ST.—Sonn Bros., No. 440 Washington st, wfll erect
an 11-sty fireproof store and loft building at Nos. 276 to 2S2 Mer¬
cer st, southeast corner of Washington pl, a plot 49.9x100;
Henri Fouchaux, Broadway and 162d st, is the architect. The old
buildings now on the site are being demolished.

RIDGE ST.—Sass & Smalllieiser, No. 23 Park row. have drawn
plans for a 7-sty loft building to be erected at Nos. 87 and 89
Ridge st, a plot 50 feet front and irregular In depth, for Lazarus
Levy & Son, No. 13 Catherine st.

APARTMENTS, FLATS AND TENEMENTS.

ELIZABETH ST.—Bernstein & Bernstein, No. Ill Broadway,
have drawn plans for two 6-sty tenements, each 37.4x84.8, to be
erected at Nos. 198 to 202 Elizabeth st for Jacob Weinstein,
northeast corner of Madison av and 104th st.

174TH ST-—Frank Kee, No. 661 West 17Sth st will erect a
6-sty brick and stone apartment house, 63x90, at the northeast
corner of 174th st and Audubon av, from plans by Henri Fou¬
chaux, Broadway and 162d st,

SPRING ST.—Horenburger & Straub, No. 122 Bowery, have
drawn plans for a 6-sty tenement. 45x50. to be erected at Nos.
201 to 205 Spring st. for Morris Fine. No. 10 West 119th st.

ST. NICHOLAS AV.—Charles Hensle, No, 302 West 120th st,
owner of the plot 99.11x150, at the southwest corner of St, Nich¬
olaa av and 126th st, will erect a 6-sty elevater apartment house





to accommodate alxty-five families. Gilbert Robinson & Son,
No. 39 Hancock pl are the architects, and will be ready for bids
February   1.

lllTH ST.—Gunn & Grant, who have purchased the plot lOOx
100.11 on the north side of 111th st, 150 feet west of Amster¬
dam  av,  will erect thereon a 7-sty elevator apartment house.

UNIVERSITY PL.—Buchman & Fox. No. 11 East 59th st, are
preparing plans for a 12-sty fireproof addition, 40x100. to the
Hotel Albert, to be built on the northeast corner of University
pi, and IOth st. The exterior Is to be of brick and stone. Plans
will be completed by Feb. 1st The Rosenbaum estate, No. 16
Exchange pl,  are the owners of the property.

SOTH ST,—Gilbert Robinson & Son, 39 Hancock place, have
plans for a 5-sty four-family apartment to be erected on the
south side of 89th st, 100 feet east of Amsterdam av; will be
ready for estimates January 12.    Owner, Felix Krupp,

127TH ST,—The Astoria Land and Improvement Co. (William
Dempsey), will erect two 6-sty elevator apartment houses on a
plot 100x99,11 on the north side of 127th st, 150 feet west of Tth
av. Neville & Bagge, No. 217 West 125th st, will probably be
the architects.

ESTIMATES RECEIVABLE.

By Treasury Department. Washington, D. C„ until January
27, at 2 p. m.. for furnishing the low-pressure steam heating ap¬
paratus, etc.. complete in place for the U, S, Post-Office at Cres¬
ton, Iowa, in accordance with drawings and specification, which
may be had of James Knox Taylor, supervising architect.

HARTFORD, CT.—Otto Strack. No. 121 East 23d st, is re¬
ceiving estimates for a 2-sty and basement brick building, llo
xl30, for the Hartford Dairy Co, The estimated cost is $60,000,
exclusive of machinery.

ST. NICHOLAS AV.—Ludlow and Valentine. No. 100 Broad¬
way, will be prepared by Jan. loth to receive estimates for the
brick and stone church to be built on the northwest corner of St
Nicholas av, and 141st st, on a plot 114x127 for the Lenox Pres¬
byterian Church, owners.

67TH ST.—Frederick Jacobsen, No. 54 West 18th st, is receiv¬
ing estimates for building a 6-sty brick warehouse, 50x96, at
Nos. 56 and 58 West 67th st. The cost is estimated at $60,000.
Charles R. Saul. 155 Columbus av, is the owner.

Sealed bids will be received by the Superintendent of School
Buildings, at tbe Department of Education. Park av and 59th st,
until 12 oc'clock. noon, on Monday, Jan, 12th, for:

Bronx,—Sanitary .work, new Public School No. 17C, Amethyst
av, 175 feet north of Amsterdam av.

Manhattan.^Installing heating and ventilating apparatus, new
Public School No. 31, southwest corner of Monroe and Gou¬
verneur sts.

Queens.—Installing heating and ventilating apparatus. Long
Island City High School, north side of Wilbur ay, between Acad¬
emy and Radde sts.   For full particulars see page No, 16.

CONTRACTS AWARDED.

AMSTERDj^M av.—E. E. Paul. No. 289 4th av, has been
awarded the general contract for the 3-sty Carnegie Library to
be built at No. 1902 Amsterdam av, by the New York Public
Library. Carrere & Hastings. No. 28 East 41st st, are the archi¬
tects.

13TH ST.^Boring & Tliton, 32 Broadway, have given the con¬
tract for 2d floor office partition work in the brick warehouse,
northwest corner of 13th st and Oth av, to Wm. P. Worn, Brook¬
lyn, and for stamped metal ceilings to Lyles and Mills, No. 231
William st. New York.

42D ST.—John McKeefrey, No, 289 4th av. has been awarded
the general contract for the erection of a 4-sty brick and stone
theatre, 119x100, on 42d and 43d sts, 164 feet west of 7th av,
for E. C. Potter, No. 137 Broadway, The estimated cost is .$200,-
000.    V,   Hugo Koehler,   No.   11  Broadway,   is the architect.

The Board of Education has awarded the following contracts
for work in public schools, in Manhattan, for constructing new
school No. 106 to Patrick Sullivan at $338,000, to be completed
March 1. 1904, other bidders were: Thomas B. Leahy, $385,167;
Charles H. Peckworth. $349,147; Thomas Cockeril! & Son, $374,-
500 and P. J. Walsh. $369,000; for improving new lots in rear
of No, 121, to James Hamilton, at $4,743; in Brooklyn, for con¬
struction of new school No. 145, to William P. McGarry, at $2:23,-
876, to be completed Nov. 1, 1903, other bidders were: Edwin H.
Thatcher, $228,000; Thomas Cockerill & Son, $234,603; Charles H,
Peckworth, $233,775; Myron C. Rush, $237,555, and George Hil-
debrand, $237,060; Nos. 91 and 119 were awarded to Charles H.
Peckworth, at $119,730, and $148,445, respectively, both to be
completed Feb. 1, 1904; other bidders on 91 were: William &
Thomas Lamb, $124,288; Myron C. Rush, $134,555; Thos. Cock¬
erill & Son. $134,900; George Hildebrand, $122,250; Edwin H.
Thatcher, $123,000 and Rutan & Heningham, $120,971; on 119
Rutan & Heningliam, $150,925; Edwin H. Thatcher. $163,000;
John H, Goetschius, $155,250; George Hildebrand, $156,900; Thos,
Cockerill & Son, $154,000, and Myron C. Rush, $163,999; the con¬
tract for sanitary work in No. 138 was awarded to William C.
Ormond. at $11,987; in Queens, E. Rutzler received the contract
for heating and ventilating apparatus in No. 51, at $6,2SS; C, B.
Hewitt & Co. the contract, at $1,495. for electric light wiring, in
No. 51; in Richmond the contract for constructing new school No,
34 was awarded to Thomas Cockerill & Son,  at $58,900, to ba