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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.