Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-13
BUILDING ACTIVITY is
NOW BECOMING GENERAL
From tho Mississippi River to the
Atlantic Ocean Contractors Have
Their Hands Literally Full.
RICHMOND MAKES GOOD SHOW
In This Section Of Country Both
Business and Residential Buildin.,
Has Become Very Activc-Pcssi-
msin OF Six Months Ago Dcparts $.

HaS bccoEic very Activc-PcSSt-
/ mlsm Of Six Months Ago Departs.
! Reports now from all over the cuun-
! show that all OF that part ot IL eas,
/ OF tho mississippi River is getting on
| 10 reriiable building boom. and 50
! il would seem that Richmond is not
| the only city in which the architects,
! contractors and builders are getting
| their hands fun.
Z From Dun'S review IL Is learned that
extending tho expansion OF recent pre-
ccdinS months, building permits issued
a, iol of the country's representative
cities. including figures from Richmond,
last month involved an estimated ex.
penditure. OF si14,5s2.1l1
Not only is this total 1881 per cent
III excess or the little more than $40
100000 OF June. 1918. says Dun. but il;
IS ,hs largest rencrtcd in a Ions period
ana ana Gem nor, that important work
anticipation of declining prices Of ma
te!'tals is now going forward. The gain
III June permits. while pronounced at
Greater New York, where the aEErc-
Sa;e. Se5. 65S.i2+, is 5a.S per cent above
imnn s2s ner cents EMS Erar ana no less s
poor showing of s35cnGi2 OF June
l"ls ~ the 100 centers outside the
permits granted. sSS.?22oS1 is 1905
per cent larger than last years total
and ninety-two OF the cities. Richmond
Some Interesting Comparative Figures
f.. W. Dodge Co.'S review gives
in that portion of the United States
east OF the Mississippi and brings the
,oia for that period UP to s2S?.aO4. 600.
This indicates an increase in volume
average volume for similar periods Of
the I'VE years preceding 1919 This
noiaole Increase has taken place in
spite of the many conditions which AT
the opening OF the year were looked
uron as deterrents 10 the resumption
OF building activity.
For purposes OF accurate comDasi-
son. iiGures for years previous 20 1914
have been reduced 10 figures based on
isl' co ,ms ra'' costs The aver
Cd during the first half % each OF
the Years laii IN to 1915 expressed in
II should he noted ,hat ,ISis '- aWerows
includes s3on.0oO. 600 worth OF gov
crnment work in the frs; half OF 1915.
In expressing values Tor previous
on tn" increase Of construction costs
rs compiled by the division Of public
works and construction Development or
the United States Denartmen, or Labor
have been used. These figures show
,hai on the average construction costs
cent higher than in 1919. In 1915 they
were - per cen, higher than in 1914:
il 1917 they We're 80 per cent higher
cent higher th>n in 1915 In 1915 con
stru"tiou costs were practically the
same as III 1911
NJ the onenins Of the wear the ma
joriiy Of people were either puzzled
or pessimisiic about the outlook for
building activity in 1915? Prices and
wages were high in comparison with
previous years. and almost every one
expected declines. Rents and property
! sufficiently to give prospective builders
/ me prospect 81 an adequate return on
/ their investments Al prevailing costs.
In view OF the uncertainties inherent in
I the situation. bankers were slow In
makins loans on building ventures.
res*imism REGARDING the outlook Was
/ In spite OF siackness in business.
Z prices did not drop. Government bu-
r=aus and other agencies gave nation
( wide. publicity 10 the underlying eco
moTic conditions affecting prices and
wages These factors Increased public
confidence in the stability OF prevailing
/ costs In the meantime. rents and
rroparty values advanced considerably.
reaching figure hearing normal re-
Ia,!on 20 current prices and wages.
Z pressure of actual building needs. The
country Was several years behind on
is norma buiidins proosram. The
. buildings for industrial purposes was
very great. The public. which had seen
an enormous volume OF business done
Al high prices during The war soon
/ learned that the same thing could be
done in peace time.
Where Residences Arc Leading
The figures for contracts awarded for
each Of tn. past six months tell the
story OF the growth OF pubiic conf
6enc4 and III" increase OF building
I activities Contracts awarded IN Jan
. uar% Gin the territory covered by the
Dodge Company amounted to $50
/ Ial 900. which was just 81 per cent Of
J the average for the same month Of the
! preceding 1vc Gears. the February
/ figure Was % per cent OF the average
/ for the same month Of the preceding
+ Eve years: March. 81 per cent: April,
/ 10 per cent; May. lsS per cent The
total amount Of contracts awarded in
June was sco9,I1s0OO This was 10,
per cent OF the average figure for June
/ OF the preceding five years In these
comparisons all figures for the years
previous to 1919 have been reduced 10
1919 values.
OF the total value Of contracts
awarded IN 1919 up 10 the first of
June. IS per cent was for residential
building. and II per cent for industria,
building. The Middle Atlantic states.
in which Virginia is classed show the
largest proportion OF residential build
ing OF any OF the districts covered. AS
we'll As the larEcs; total volume OF
/ residential construction. II was in this
section that the housing shortage was
most acui" and that rents and property
valnes have shown tho most ark ed
advances.
Activity LIKELY to Continue.
In the Central West. where the
amount OF contracts awarded was in
II N