The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-29
RECORD EXPECTED
IN BUILDING LINE
Banner Year in Construction
Predicted for
1910.
FIFTEEN MILLIONS
PROBABLE TOTAL
Conditions Looked on as Promising
Best Period in City's
History.

Nothing short OF disaster viii halt
Washington's steady march toward
making this a banner year in the heId
OF building operations.
This IS the prediction for -q10 made
by Morris Hacker. District In ectOr OF
Buildings. and which local real estate
men generally except as being probable
Of realization Moreover, il Is a belief
founded on conditions that are highly
promising. and Is made despite the fact
that the new year has not vet advanced
beyond Its Introductory month
Mr. Hacker peers into the future from
the standpoint OF what already has
been realized this month. and what the
succeeding eleven promise. He epitO-
mixes the situation in this line
Fifteen Million Dollar Year.
The year 1910 VIII 90 down in build
ing history as a $1,000, 600 year"
BY THIS the Building Inspector means
that the total value Of the building
operations. including ali classes Of new
buildings, extensions and repairs. viii
reach that reCor5-breekiuE figure. This
record IS, TO a certain extent. subject
10 weather and unsettled conditions in
@he building material market Reports
al hand indicate that the prices Of
building materials viii be moderate in
the coming sprinr and that there will
hardly be any wide fluctuations.
Real estate men generally express an
optimistic belief in lively ope~arions
ahead There has been no manifest
slac1zeninz this month In realty trans
actions Or building operations except
mat natural 20 the UnfavOrable condi-
lions OF winter weather Although this
month has several days Yet 10 run the
total Of building operations has run
CONSIDERABLY over the million mark.
Exceeding Last Year.
A few years ago this sum was IN
heard Of in a single month. Il is aizo
probable this months business viii ex-
coed that OF January a wear ac-o n .
total Of SI-26c,5Z2- This sum ran sl,ea,s
CT the total business Of the months NJ
April, May Or June Of the preceding
year and those months are normally
the banner months OF anv year
IN PREDICTING a record-brea king build
ing year for 1870 real estate men look
20 the figures Of 1909 for a basis r.
tween July I, 1908 and June an 7e1a
which is the period OF the fiscal vaa-
IN reckoning building operations. the
building improvements OF the District
JoTaled SI4, 5.059. representing the Is
suance or $s15 permits 10 builders and
real estate operators This item OF
permits alone shows the close relation
ship between Washington business u1eT
OF al classes and the District building
department
But what is more significant yet is A
comparison Of 1909 with the preceding
year In round figures the business Of
-ast year leapet S5,000.n01 above 1913. and
n this extraordinary advance in Oue-a-
lions Is found reason for the belief thar
a sun greater forward movement is frl
sight. 80 -'-
Separate Houses In Favor.
Washington Is said by some observers
to be 'top-heavyr with apartment
houses Yet real estate men say that
there IS reason for the belief that this
year VIII see many new and MAGNIFICENT
apartment structures in all sections Bur
investigation shows that there IS still
strong leaning toward individual
dwellings, which from the viewpoint OF
the real estate operator and investor IS
p surer sign Of q City's healthy growth.
While the amount involved in apart
nlent house building in Washington has
always claimed q considerable share OF
the gross operations. Il has not over
topped the cost Of city and suburban
dwellings The records show that last
year 1854 Of the total was spent in
The erection Of new brick dwellings
while sevenry-eizht new apartment
houses cost 3 81 DO
In anticipation Of a heavy spring and
summer. the head OF the building de-
paTUmeDt is giving mis- attention 10
methods which viii oil the machinery
OF his Office He has abandoned much
Of the old system and Is working IN
the interests Of greater efficiencE- with
the arrival Of spring and the thrush Of
work, Nj Hscller hopes TO be able TO
provide an extra clerk OF two 20 eN-
pedite the business OF issuing permits
and repairing records