New Britain herald., 1918-12-28
BUILDING OUTLOOK
FOR COMING YEAR
Indications Point to Increased
Activity in Construction in 1919

(By Noble Foster Hoggson, president,
Hoggson Brothers, Builders New
York;
Despite the unusual and varied
factors affecting construction work at
this time, indications point to the
greatest building revival during 1919
which this country has ever expert
enced. This is true largely because
certain classes of structures must be
erected almost at once to provide for
actual demand.
First of all, in the larger cities,
apartment houses and dwellings will
lead the way, but closely following
will be office buildings, lofts and in
dustrial structures. Then there will
be d tremendous amount of bank
building. All over the country our
financial institutions have been carry
ing on their work in their old homes,
in crowded inadequate quarters, wait
ing for a favorable time to erect new
buildings or modernize their quarters
by remodelling. Banks have never
been more prosperous, and the bank
ers seem to feel that not only will
they be meeting an economic need by
building now. but that their action in
this regard will set n precedent In
their communities and encourage
other owners to build. 1t is the
specified wish Of the government that,
in order to provide employment, con-
struction work be put under way at
the earliest possible moment.
In the industrial as we'll as in the
domestic and commercial fields,
building should see a large and
healthy increase in volume. New fac
tories must be built; plant extensions
are an economic necessity, war plants
instead of being scrapped or aban-
doned, will in many instances be al
tered for peace work.
Housing for employees, which re-
ceived such an impetus during the
past two years. will be carried out
on vaster scale than we had ever
thought possible. Employers have
recognized the actual money-value re-
turn of providing good housing &C
commod ations for their employees. 1t
is fatuous to believe that the en-
ployers have not profited by the
lessons of the war. They have learned
that contented workmen are the best
possible asset, that high labor turn
over is wrong and expensive, and that
proper housing is one of the greatest,
if not the greatest factor in reduc-
ing labor turnover and keeping en-
plOyees happy on the job.
The immense amount of RECONSTRUCT
ton work to be done in France and
Belgium is going to affect building
conditions in this country more than
is generally realized. This is true
particularly in regard to prices for
Materials The excessive demand for
certain materials for use abroad, is
most likely to keep prices in this
country up to the present high level.
Steel, so far, has been the only ma
terial which has shown any tendency
to decline in price, but, with the
great number and kinds of buildings
needed, the matter of cost will prob
ably not enter into calculations as
much as under ordinary conditions.
1T should be remembered that since
1914 this country, except for a short
period in 1916, has been underbuilt.
Building must cease being
gambling proposition, the owner TAX
ing a long chance on getting his
structure erected for q sum of money
which he sets aside in the beginning.
In the future, there must be a closer
and fairer relationship between the
owner and the builder. The builder
must gain the confidence of the owner,
and in turn, the owner owes certain
duties to the builder Under the
usual building procedure, the builder
is a gambler, too; taking a job on q
low competitive bid, and hoping by
some hook or crook to make money
on it. The formation of the Associat-
ed General Contractors of America, re-
Gently worked a great step forward
in raising the building industry to a
higher level, and it is through move
ments OF this kind that the investor
will feel free to put his money into
building operations.