Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

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July 26, 1913 RECORD AND GUIDE 173 BUILDING MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES TENDENCY TOWARD LOWER PRICES IN MANY LINES NOTED BECAUSE MONEY IS TIGHT AT PRODUCING CENTERS. Lumber Jobbers Held Responsible for Strict Adherence to List Quotations. .''IIIIMHIIIIII BIBIililK PRACTICALLY every line of build¬ ing material used in the Metropol¬ itan district has shown a tendency toward lower prices within the last ten days. The reason for this change lies in the fact that builders have had a chance to scrutinize the new Building Code, and most of them believe that if the code goes through with a few minor changes that it will not seriously in¬ crease the cost of construction. They therefore intend to stimulate construction as far as a tight money market will permit. In the brick market there was a little firmer tone in demand, resulting in a slight stiffening in prices, although this was not general enough to warrant a quotation on the wholesale market high¬ er than $7. The low range is $6.75 for Hudson river common brick.and $6.50 to $6.75 for Raritan river brick in this market. The storage capacities of many North River yards are severely taxed and dealers are reticent. Oils and paints reflect the improved tone in the finishing department of building construction. In the varnish market the steady prices of gums, oils and vehicles have had a tendency to keep prices to the consumer down, but the volume of business being done at present is exceptionally heavy for this time of the year, considering the slump in the volume of building construction under way. Linseed, oil in the New York market was without change this week. Lumber is in a tight market and wholly in jobbers' hands. There seems to be a well authenticated belief that the wholesalers in some lines have over- cut and are willing to have the con¬ suming market stimulated. This is borne out by the announcement that a 50 to 75 cent drop in vessel rates to New York took place recently, but the list of prices to consumers is rigidly adhered to by the jobbers here, despite the fact that buying is timid. The wholesale prices of lath, for instance, run from $4 to $4.50, with the chief level at $4.25. Re¬ tailers contend that a fair price for this material today would be about $4 as the chief level. All hardwoods are firm, because in this department mill supplies have been contracted as far ahead as December and all the dried stocks have been spoken for. If money continues as tight as it is at the present time for another thirty days building material prices will drop notice¬ ably for cash business. A change in the price of cement is looked for by deal¬ ers, although wholesalers declare that the price of $1.58 will be maintained as long as present volume of construction work holds. Large orders are being taken by big companies like the Republic Steel & Iron Company, the United States Steel Corporation, most of the big paint com¬ panies, hardware manufacturers, varnish producers and some cement manufac¬ turers. Most of this business is on ex¬ tended credits and long term deliveries, but it is sufficient to keep mills going, and, as long as mills are operating, the commercial fabric cannot seriously be rent. IIKICK V VKDS CHUCK-A-BLOCK. Slaek Loral Market May Result in Cur¬ tailment of Moulding Vp River. D RICK MANUFACTURERS in the Hudson '~' River are considering the plan to restrict moulding because storage capacities are Hear¬ ing their limit. One large producer had room tor only three more arches on Tuesday. He doubled-up his hacking capacity and provided tempDrary room by shipping a boatload or two, but with the local market continuing sick he said he would soon have to stop mouding. This is said to be the problem of a number of pro¬ ducers. Dealers are buying only for imme¬ diate needs and only when money is in sight. .\ manufacturer ot halt a century's experience said he never knew the market for brick to be so dull. Prices are weaker. OffifHcial transactions covering the week end¬ ing Thursday evening, July 24, with compari¬ sons for the corresponding period last year, follow: 1913. Lett over, Friday A. M., July 18, 71. Arrived. Sold. Friday. July 18................. lu 7 Saturday, July 10.............. 4 0 Monday, July 21............... 15 10 Tuesday, July 22............... 4 8 Wednesday, Julv 23............ 10 3 Thursday, July 24.............. 11 6 ■Total ........................ 54 S4 Reported enroute, Friday A. M.. July 25 7. Condition ot m.irket, dull. Prices, Hudsons. .$6.10 to .$6.00, with onlv a few specia, selects reaching .$7. Raritans, .$Q..50 to $6.75. (Whole¬ sale, dock, N. Y. For dealers prices, add profit and cartage.) Newark (yard), S8.2o. Left over. Friday, July 23, 91, 1012. Left over, Friday, July 19. 0. Arrived. Sold. Friday, Julv 19................ 6 6 Saturday. July 20.............. 6 5 Monday, July 22............... 15 !■) Tuesday, July 23.............. 5 § Wednesday. July 24............ 11 n Thursday, July 2.3.............. 9 iQ Total ,....................... i7 iJ Condition of market, easy. Prices, Hudsons $1 to .$------. Raritans, $6.75 to $7. Left over, Friday, July 20. 5. OFFICI\L SUMMARY. Lett over, Jan. 1, 1013................... 113 Total .N'o. barge loads arrived, including left overs Jan. 1 to July 25........... 1174 Total No. bargeloads sold, Jan. 1 to Juiy 25......................................J 083 Total No. barge loads left over, Friday A. M., July 23.......................■; m Total No. barge loads left oyer Jan. 1, 1012'. 71 Total No. barge loads arrived, including left overs, Jan. 1 to July 2H, 1912..........1117 Total No. barge loads sold Jan. 1 to juiy -6..................................... Ill'' Total No. barge loads left over. Friday A. M., July 2G....................... 5 CORRECTION IIV KAHN STANDARDS. Mi.sprint in Latest Bulletin.s May Con- fu-se EstimatorM. P STIMATORS figuring on reinforced concrete '-' work in this city and vicinity are advis»d by the Trussed Concrete Steel Companv. of 23 East 2Hth street, that on page 116 of the latest issue ot "Kahn System Standarr's" the heading .should be chan'?ed to read : "Safe Loads in Thousands ot Poun-is" instead of "Sqfe Loads in Hundreds of Pound's," This corr-ction is emphasized because ot the confusion that might result from the typographical error in the es¬ timating department of architects' offices. L,U:»IBER DE\L,ERS' STOCKS LO^V. A Survey of tlie Priee Situation in the AVIiolesale Harket. PRACTICALLY every retail lumber va-'d In the met'*opoliton di^tri-t his wn-k^d -'ts stock dnwn c'cse to the piling skids whi'-h ac- rourts for t^e stiffn'"ss in eerf^^n lines in the wholrs'^le merket at present. H^miooV v.'.or'is fretn Pennsvlv^nii fre verv fi'-m nt !':24 "0 f"r New 3'ork pnd vi^initv. Nnrth Carnlin-i o'ne, however, still is unsettled nw'n? to pr-ssu-e upon mill men to quickly sell stocks thev have cut. Yellow pipe, 'n a'l erqr'es on'' s'z^s Is dull w'th mill cenditioTis vrv mu"h Ike Ca^-o- lina P'pe. Tone l"of from G^nreia, Flori-la J>nd tlie tru'f and ^rkonsss shert leof er" na-ti-u- l^riv btird'^n'^erne 'a-t'^'-s in the niMl m-^^-v-ts iust now so thot oriees iiere a^-o ir-e?ii'„i. p^-tlv breeu=:e of a d-ep of 50 to 75 cfnts in vessel rat°s to th's port. W'l^-'te pino c^n be hoimht only at r=t n-i"es so th^^t ren''Um'''*s shenid pef p.'noct l»*^e-ql coneeccjops in th'S ff-o''e. CoTT'd'on shippers are J''«:o bel.'i'po^ to stri'-t li^^t pri.>os. T Pth. per^-ans, is tho mpst np^'-ttl-'d h^-'^nch of the wl^eleonle mirket. W''-'-=ol6 nri-es ren-'e a'l t^" ^-^y f-ijm .$t to .$4 "fl. w'th the chief level fi.2'. The top pr'ce on th^se quo¬ tations is for reloading cargoes from vessel for delivery into the interior points in the dis¬ trict. All hardwoods are firm, hence consumers must e.\peLt to pay list p.ices. Practically all ury stocKS are under contract at tue mills and orcers have been booked to take care of de- ■ iver.es running as late as November. There has been no change in local list prices for hardwooas auring tne recent slump in the lum¬ ber market. PAINTS IN BETTER DEMAND. Varnish Trade .\ctive—Linseed Oil Firm —Current Prices. QILS and paints are reflecting the improved ^-^ tone in the finishing department of builaing construction This incudes concrete dressings waterproofing compounds and varnish. In toe latter market the steady prices ot gums oils and vehic.es have had a tendency to keep prices to the consumer down, but the volume of busi¬ ness taken is said to be exceptional for mis time ot the year, considering the general de¬ pression in construction work. Paints are said to be in better demand than last year, probably because there is an increas¬ ing activity in alteration work. White lead in 0.1 in 100, 20J and 5U0 lb. kegs is 7'4 and 7V4 cents per lb.; in 25 and 30 lb, kegs, 1% cents and red lead and litharge in 100 lb. kegs is 7 and 7% cents. Lamp b.ack is now quoted at 1> to 14 cents; Chinese blue at 3li to 40 cents- Prussian blue at a2 to 30 cents; Van Dyke brown, 11 and 14 cents; chrome green at 1' and 10 cents; raw or burnt sienna, 12 and 15 certs, and raw or burnt Umber at 11 to 14 cents. Local jobbers are quoting 40 and 40i4 cents for turpentine, which is said to be in much better demand. Linseed oil, which has a direct hearing upon the current price of paints, some concrete dress¬ ings, waterproofing and varnishes, is steady at the new level of 40 and 50 cents for city raw American seed. LINSEED OIL FIRM. Fla.\.seed Price.s .Moved Up Slightly__Lu¬ bricants On Easy Call. T HE linseed oil market, which has a very close bearing upon the stability of the paint, concrete coating and damp and water- prooBng, IS steady at present, with prices run¬ ning from 40 to 50 cents lor city raw Amer can seed, but tbe price of flaxseed showed a tend¬ ency at Duluth to move up on Monday, Tues¬ day and Wednesday, owing partly to the heavy demand and low Government crop estimate with the result that the market stiffened con¬ siderably among paint interests, and the de¬ mand for linseed oil increased sharply. Any protracted rise in the price of seed will at once affect the oil market and, since prac¬ tically every paint ingredient is now higher than It was two years ago, it was said this week that any further advance in linseed oil will result in a change in paint lists upward. SOFT COAL PRICES FIRMER. Supply Not Likely To Overtake Demand —-Anthracite Requirements Lii^ht. ■T HE New York coal market is divided. Soft coal prices are firm and the demand is such as to promise little chance of the supply overtaking it. The heavy stacking and reserva¬ tions made by bui.din? managers early in the season is responsibe for the exaggerated lull just now for anthracite in the consuming market. Some of the mines are storing, and most of the larger companies are working their plants to full capacity, although here and there plants have shut down ostensibly to make re¬ pairs. The fact that anthracite stocking has been delayed until now will tend to reduce the amount of id.e time at the mines this month and next, so that scheduled sh.pments will go ahead. There is little prospect of supply overtaking demand in the soft coal department in the near future, since labor is no more plentiful than it has been and the car shortage is sure to become a factor as the crop moving period draws near. Managers who have not yet made their reservations should not defer action much longer. SLATE COMPANY- E.XPANDS. E. J. Johnson Iluys Nert- (Quarry at Pen .\rayl. Pa. P J. JOHNSON, the slate operator of S8 ^' Park row, has purchased the new slate quarry at Pen Arsiyl. Pa., from whi-h he will produce black roofing slate, structural slote and slat' bla-kboards for schools and institutions. This makes the fourth quarry now operated by this house, which has for years specialized on black, purp.e, green and red slate. GRANITE SITU.VTION PUZZLING. Movement Said to He on Foot to Have Much Cutting Done at Quarries. p RANITE interests in this city came Into ^^ the market with more confidence this week because of the settlement of the qu^sfons at is^ue between the ccnt"?ctors and the cutters, althcu'-h buvirg was n"ither active nor general. The chief sien of imprcvement was noted in inoui'-v and in this eenn^-^t'en a tendency rather out of the ordinary developed. Under the new arran^^^mert the cutt''rs will receive S5 a day for yar' worlt an! $5,.''iO a day en b'lild'rsrs. QuTry 'nterests who have re¬ ceived inoui'-ies during the iast week rp'^rt thet marv bu^rs are desiTus of hoving the granite eut et th" nuor-y where the wageg will r'main .$"^.2.'5. Many of the stone m'^n in this e'tv believe thet th's cannot UT-an a general t'-n''eT>cv be"ause it 's net D-aeti"able to heve all the stone rut at the quarrie-s for a city like New "^'ork for the re.oson that nil quarries havo ret the eouipm-nt to meet the requirements that a normal stone year demands.