Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

Real estate record and builders' guide: [v. 90, no. 2315]: July 27, 1912

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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.