Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1903 — BIG BUILDING BOOM. [ARTICLE]

BIG BUILDING BOOM.

LARGE CITIES OF THE COUNTRY NEARLY ALL BUSY. Million* of Dollar* Worth of - New Structure* Goins Up—High Wane* Paid in the Building Trades—Some Interesting Figures. The United State* can boast of a building boom. From practically every section of the country the reports indicate that never before was there so much construction work under way as at present. The rise has been gradually dating notably from 1898. The percentages of increase In th* large cities, while indicating the general movement, do not represent fairly the real gains, for the reasob that the greatest ratio of improvement is to be found in the country and smaller cities, from which exact figures are unobtainable. In Chicago architects complain of lack of local business, but say their out-of-town work compensates for it To the general rule of prosperity there are some exceptions among the large cities. Chicago building for May of this year fell 37 per cent from the figures of May, 1902, and smaller decreases are reported from some other cities. K In Chicago, in the first five months of this year, there were erected 2,334 buildings, at a cost of $13,095,310; in the same period last year there were built 2,522 buildings, at a cost of $24,601,295. Labor and material prices during 1903 in Chicago have been higher than at any previous time, and this has tended to keep down the figures. Fear of labor complications has also entered into the situation. In spite of all these considerations an immense amount of work has been done. In Brooklyn in 1903 there have been erected 1,191 buildings, at a coat of $7,366,315. Last year, in all the twelve months, there were put up 3,173 build ings costing $18,548,062. ' One of the cities showing the greatest gain is St. Louis. There have been few labor troubles in the World’s Fair City, but many delays in securing atructflral steel. No less than 1,342 buildings have been erected in five months at a cost of $6,297,670. Washington has built 859 buildings this year, costing $1,116,370. Birmingham put up 108 buildings at a cost of $1,800,000. Cincinnati’s expenditures are $323,005 for the five months. Baltimore erected 1,437 buildings costing $3,912,811; Indianapolis 295, costing $470,000; New Orleans 158 buildings costing $134,000, and Omaha 120 buildings at a cost of $344,562. Boston makes the worst showing, with only 70 buildings at a cost of $103,800. This is the smallest number of buildings erected in the Hub in many years. Wages in Building Trades. It is interesting to note the wages paid in some of the building trades. Here 4s a list of the rates per hour: Masons—Chicago, 60 cents; Minneapolis, 65; Cleveland, 60; Pittsburg, 60; Denver, 62% to 68%; St. Louis, 55; Kansas City, 50 to 62*4: Tacoma, 62%; Cincinnati, 45 to 56%; Philadelphia, 50; New York, 65; San Francisco, 76; Buffalo, 45. Plasterers—Chicago, 56%; Cleveland, 50; Minneapolis, 56%; Pittsburg, 56%; Denver, 65; St. Louis, 62%; Washington, 50; Kansas City, 50; St. Paul, 56%; Tacoma, 62%; Philadelphia, 45; Milwaukee, 40; New York, 62%; Providence, 43%; San Francisco, 67%; Buffalo, 60. Cleveland, 43%; Pittsburg, 60; Denver, 53%; St. Louis, 62%; Washington, 50; Kansas City, 50; Tacoma, 56%; Cincinnati, 43%; Philadelphia, 40; Milwaukee, 48%; New York, 53%; San Francisco, 56%; Buffalo, 37%. Carpenters—Chicago, 50; Minneapolis, 37%; Cleveland, 35; Pittsburg, 43%; Denver, 45; St. Louis, 45; Washington, 40%; Kansas City. 35 to 87%; Tacoma, 45; Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Milwaukee, 85; New York, 56%; San Francisco, 50; Buffalo, 33%. Pointers —Chicago, 40; Minneapolis, 85; Cleveland, 35; Pittsburg, 40; Deuver, 43%; St. Louis, 45; Washington, 37%; Kansas City, 35; Tacoma, 37%; Cincinnati, 35; Philadelphia, 37%; Milwaukee, 35; New York, 66%; San Frfflfclsco, 43%; Buffalo, 87%. Electricians —Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburg, St. Louls/pnd New York pay 60 cents per hour. In Denver the rate is 45 and other cities pay as follows: Minneapolis, 30; Washington, 43%; Kansas City, 37%; Tacoma, 37%; Cincinnati, 34%; Philadelphia, 40; San Francisco, 43%. Laborers and Hod Carriers—Chicago, 80; Minneapolis, 22; Cleveland, 28%; Pittsburg, 31%; Denver, 37%; St. Louis, 37%; Washington, 25; Kansas City, 30; Tacoma, 28% to 37%; Cincinnati, 20 to 35; Phiadelphia, 18% to 35; Milwaukee, 25 to 30; New York, 25 to 40%; San Francisco, 31% to 43%; Buffalo, 17 to 2a