602





RECORD   AND   GUIDE





March 23, 1912





BUILDING ^TERIALS.

Better Building   Weather Gives Stronger
Tone to the Market

Common Brick More Active-Western Cement
Combinations Encourages Eastern iVlanutacturers
—Sleel Firmer—Slone in Bellei Inquiry.

BKTTER building weather had much lo
do this week wilh the strengthening
movement in construction, Conimon
rick was freely taken from sacks anJ
he quantity of the available l^rick in the
market was reduced to about '-OOOOtW.
FAnl brick was in stronger lone, and m
S?l all clay products used in .building
consiruction was reported to l^e'n better
inquiry with a continued uplift m de¬
niand. Therefore quotations were flrmei,
Stone found a firmer level on those con-
uacts which came out. b"t /he movement
has not yet reached a settled base. The
Wholesalers have practically cleaned up
their winter supplies, and m one pi t^o
cales at least, have advanced prices to
c^fomtrs usink small quantities, on long

'^^inil'lear of a coal strike was, not so ap¬
parent in the building material market
his week. In fact, many concertos are
optimistic regarding the P^.^^^V"^ 'j^^'^^^t
compromise of some sort. At the Present
time thev have been laying in enough
fuel so. generally speaking, they can keep
the r plants going for at least two months.
This will unquestionably take care ot
spring and summer products, although it
fs freely staled that should the strike
occur prices will stiffen.

Among architects and builders there is
a feeling that building operations should
move ahead from now on, and they nave
been especially successful in developing
this sentiment in Queens.

There is more sand available at tne
ore-jent time than al any time smce the
first of the year. Quotations, however,
range from thirty-five to forty-five cents
in barges alongside depending upon depth
of water and pier facilities. Lime and
plaster are in a very firm markel consid¬
ering the dullness of the times, and there
is unquestionably a more general tendency
to specify brands that are ranged in the
standardization plan.

Taken as a whole, the building ma¬
terial market is firm and, in comparison
wilh last year al this time, it is very much
better There is unquestionably a feeling
of security among investors and operators
which is rather unusual in view of the
uncertainties that are expected to (iev^op
prior to a Presidential election. The
strength of the building material markel
undoubtedly reflects the stability of the
stock market. Money is available for
good building operations, especially m the
middle of the town, and it is in this di¬
rection that building activity is concen¬
trating.

Brick.

The common brick situation is clear¬
ing as far  as  consumption  is  concerned.
There were only three covered cargoes in
the wholesale market on Monday of this
week, and these were sold by Wednesday.
But nine cargoes were received from the
Fowler,  Washburn, Lynch,  Croton Point,
DeNovelles and Mailey yards on Monday,
so that the supply here is still safeguard¬
ed     With the passing of the last covered
barge,  prices  shrank   to  $7  for  the  best
Hudson River brick and to .>b. lo to ^iD. laVa
for Raritans.    Long Island brick held firm
I'or Queens  delivery,  but the quantity of
Connecticut   brick   for   Westchester   con¬
sumption   is   somewhat   less.     Out   in   the
country  districts of New  Jersey   common
brick    manufacturers    are    getting    high
prices.     In   Plainfleld   the   Hand   Interests
are   getting   $S.40   a   thousand   delivered,
and  it  has  the  situation  within its own
control because the Rajotte interests have
sold out.     New Brunswick dealers are get¬
ting   from   ?7   up   for   South   River   and
Sayreville brick,  and up in  the  Hacken¬
sack district they are asking from  $7  lo
^S for god brick, depending upon haulage.
In all parts of New Jersey the supply is
not as great as usual, while in this cily
there is plenty of brick available.

Brick Mnkers Under Probe.
Assistant District Attorney Ellison's
appearance in the Yorkville Court this
week, where he filed an information
against the Gnybco companies, revived in¬
terest in the case of the dealers against
the manufacturers, although the papers
cite only "Consumers" as the complain¬
ants. Reference lo this case will be found
In another pari: of this issue.

The bringing of this action did not dis¬
turb the general market conditions, and,
indeed, is not expected to. It is an action
to determine whether the court should
issue subpoenas ducas tecum for the rec¬
ords, books and papers of the Greater
New York Brick Company and subpoenas





for certain persons lo appear as witnesses
in order that the court may determine
whether a crime has been committed, and
to ascertain whether or nol warrants
should be issued for such persons as are
mentioned in the information.

Front  Brick,

The front brick market is strengthen¬
ing. There is still considerable difliculty
in getting shipments on lime owing to the
scarcity of cars. There is a much firmer
undertone, probably due lo the probability
of a protracted coal strike, although no
Dfticial announcement of an advance in
price has so far been made. Agents here
report an encouraging tone due lo more
active inquiry and the volume of contracts
coining out is being constantly expanded.
The shortage of-clay and the difficulty of
mining it during the flrst nine weeks has
passed.

Clay products all down the line show
greater strength. Fireproofing, which re¬
cently advanced five cents, tile, enameled
brick and even architectural terra cotta.
I am told, is being quoted on a firmer
level.

Transactions of Hudson -River common
brick during the last week with compari¬
sons wilh last year follow:

1912.
Open   Cargoes,   left  over,   March   16,   None,

Open    Covered
Arrivals.  Sales.      Sold.

Monday    ............

Tuesday     ...........             . .              2

Wednesday    ........             . .              2

Thursdav    ..........             ..               1

Friday    .............             . .              1

Saturday    ..........             . ■               0

Total    ............             . ,               C

Condition of market, firmer. Prices, $1.
for Hudsons, Karitans, }6,75. (Allow for
cartage and dealers profits). Total cov¬
ered left, none.    Open list left, none.

1911.
Left   over,  March  11,  9.

Open    Covered
Arrivals.  Sales.       Sold.

.Monday    ..........     17              9

Tuesday    .........       0              3

Wednesday   .......       6              4

Thursday     ........       0              i

Friday     ..........       4              6

Saturday      ........        0                 S               ■_!_

Total    ..........     27            32

Left over, March 20, four. Prices,
?5.12V> to J5.3S1A. Top prices, $3.50. No.
covered cargoes, one. Quotations on cov¬
ered cargoes, J5.50.

Cement.

The local Portland cement market was
considerably interested this week in the
successful culmination of the negotiations
which have been progressing for almost
six months looking toward the merging
of a number of the larger western com¬
panies. It is the opinion of many manu¬
facturers here in the easl that a similar
merger will be attempted among the Le¬
high and Hudson l^iver producers as a
possible means of preventing such ruin¬
ous conditions as have prevailed in this
district since the first of last year. In
fact, there were manufacturers who were
enthusiastic in their belief that the solu¬
tion of the Portland cement problem was
nearer at hand than il has been in a very
long lime. The merger such as perfected
in the west is not attempted here in the
east. It is freely expected that the effect
will tae beneficial. Much bf the trouble
among eastern Portland cement com¬
panies is derived because western com¬
panies have violated certain trade agree¬
ments as to territory. As one man said
this   week:

"That western merger is going to be a
big thing for the whole cement industry.
The question of its success rests upon its
ability to adhere to the price it estab¬
lishes. There is no doubt that some¬
thing has to be done, and that soon, to
prevent mill prices from dropping below
profit levels. Cement in the east now
sells at aboul sixty-eight cents a barrel
mill in the Lehigh district, the price at
Hudson Mill ranges from sixty-three to
sixty-five cents. In the west the mill
price is a little higher, running up prob¬
ably to seventy cents. I think it will be
difficult for these western people to get a
dollar a barrel as they plan, unless they
find themselves compelled lo advance
prices because of the possible coal strike.
There is no doubt of the need of such
merger, but il will have to sell between
two shores—one of the shores is that of
the recenl court decision bearing upon
the conduct of big business; the other is
dissatisfaction among the companies com¬
posing the central one. If they can
navigate this channel of difliculty, Ihey
will be doing themselves and the industry
at large a tremendous service and will
pave the way for a similar organization
here  in  the east."

This interview was obtained following
an announcement here of the successful
consummation   of  plans  for  merging  flf¬





teen of the largest western companies
under the name of the Cenlral Portland
Cement Co. with a capitalization of $45,-
000,000.

I learned here this week that the com¬
bination has been made in such a way
as to avoid conflicting with the Interstate
Commerce Law, the Anti-Trust Act and
recent court decisions regarding big busi¬
ness. It is understood that the Atlas in¬
terest and their Wall street affiliations
are very much interested in this deal,
and that they believe that if such a com¬
bination works out satisfactory in the
west il should work out well here,

Metals,

The attitude of estimators toward
building metals is less timid. They ap¬
parently realize that the market is flrmer.
and that the day of low prices is passed
for some time at least. The announce¬
ment that Canadian bounties on steel
products will not be renewed and that
no tariff changes will be made at this
session of the Dominion Parliament has
opened the door wider in Canada to
American mills. The Canadian mills are
filled lo capacity just now, so the esti¬
mators figure that overflow business from
the north will be coming into this coun¬
try as soon as the season for building
construction opens, which usually is
about thirty days after it opens in this
part of the country.

Current prices in this market run ap¬
proximately as follows, although actual
contracl quotations frequently fluctuate,
depending upon the purchaser, the quan¬
tity  he  wants,  and  the  date  of deliverj':

Bessemer sleel per ton mill is quoted
at 20 flat, open hearth from 20 to 20.50c.
and sheet bars 21 lo 21.50c. Sheets are
being shaded $1 and $2 per ton on the
following classifications^ Nos. 22 to 24.
1,75 for black and 2.oo for galvanized;
Nos. 25 to 26, l.SO for black and 2.65
for galvanized; No. 27. I.Sd for black
and 2.7o for galvanized; No. 2S. 1.90 for
black and 2.00 for galvanized; No. 29,
1.95 for black and 3.10 for galvanized,
and No. .50, 2,00 for b'.ack and 3.20 for
galvanized.

On structural material the present New
Tork levels are:

Beams   and   channels,   up

to   15   in...............?1.3iya @  |1.361i

Beams and channels, over

15    in.................   1.36^ @    l-46i^

Angles. 3 X 2 up to 6 X 6.   1.36'/- @    1.4G^

Zees   and   Tees   ..........   1.3H^ @    1.361^

Steel bars, half extras___   1.26!,^ @    1.31',^

Universal  and sheared.   34

in.   and   under    ........   1.31^ @    l.ZGM

Copper options are being exercised and
some small additional sales are being
made. Finished copper and brass are
firm. Copper sheets for flashing, etc., are
firm al IS^ and 10c base for large lols.
Full extras for small quantities. Copper
wire is held at 15c base carload lols at
mill. Seamless copper lubes were held
at 21c base, and brass tubes are running
at ISc per pound base in lots of 100 lbs.
or more, advances being made according
to size and quantities.

Stone.

There is a steadier outward movement
in building stone, due probably to the
more open weather conditions which have
permitted building operations to go ahead.
The call for granite is encouraging to
wholesalers, who are trj'ing to gel sup¬
plemental orders through. Marble for in¬
lerior work is dull, but exterior marble is
said lo be more active in inquiry than it
has been in some time. Blue slone is
quiet, but slate is in a firmer market.

_-----------—4--------------------

Concrete   Again to the Rescue.

The completion of drydoek No. 4 al the
Brooklyn Navy Yard marks the conclusion
of an engineering work of unusual per¬
plexity and difliculty. Jlore than one con¬
tractor abandoned the work in utter dis¬
couragement or through financial inabil¬
ity. Failure was due, says the Scientific
American, mainly lo the fact that the site
of the dock included a large bed of quick¬
sand, which moved in upon the excavation
and rendered il necessary to devise an
altogether novel method of consiruction.
Accordingly a continuous retaining wall of
concrete was sunk entirely around the
site, massive piers of concrete were put
through to the solid bottom, and the dock
was built within and upon these structures
as thus prepared.





West S de Taxpayers.

Next Wadnesday evening the members
of the West Side Taxpayers' Association
will be addressed al their rooms, 35o West
46th street, by J. Bleeker JNIiller on tho
subject of the New Tork Central's pro¬
posed Wesl  Side improvements.