Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-14
SERVICE TO GATHER
CONSTRUCTION DATA
Department Of Labor to Encourage
Capitalists in Plans for Public
and Private Building.

4 now division has hcen created IN tho
Department of Labor for the purpose oi
interesting the nation in pubic works and
private construction Secretary Wilson
announces that tho ncw service will
gather and distribute information that
Will enable private initiative 10 make the
transition from a war Ia a peace basis
without serious interruption, due to lack
81 data on which business Judgment must
depend
\ survey nf business conditions will be
made with a view to learning how labor
and capital may he profitably employed
during the critical perlod when factories
are being made over FOR peace production
and markets are being canvassed for
future outputs.
The DIVISION which will carry ON this
work Is now being organized by j l.
Miller the publisher Of construction
periodicals. as "a section of the Depart
ment'> Information and Education Scrv-
lcc, of which Roger ". Babson Is chici
The new organization is called the Divls
ION of Public " orks and Construction
Development. and occupies the building
~ HI Jackson Place, Washington
The particular objective OF the bureau
research will ne 90 secure data for the use
nf the CONSTRUCTION industry. hu, tho ma
teral Ia hC collected will be so warned
that the information will be oi value tc
industry generally The facts made avail
a,lc will hc of help 20 any community or
investor N determining whether II iS ad-
visahle 80 undertake public or private
building NJ present When circumstances
unfavorahe to construction are discover
cd. an attempt may hc made 10 correct
them. but there will bc nc stimulation nf
economically msound enterprise The
findings oi the bureau will bc gwen the
widest publicity
The pivotal nature of the building IN
duStry Is economic reconstruction and
the general purpose 81 the work of thus
division ~ expressed IN SECRETARY VII
sons statement
Building construction Will help -
provide employment for returning sol
dlerS and workmCn dismissed from var
Industries tnr ol thu largest sources ~
prospective employment i the building
trade and IL alhcc ta,forv industries.
Ia The ra>c g private construction. j
resumption ~ activity will also lessen the
congestion - population. improve con-
dliloa> Affecting tie public health and
couvcri inactive property into active
property Which supplies the means that
enable communities ta sgppor+ the iunr-
rou~ 81 governments
iiifiNM tnN WaT Ife nAll0N ffaCtiCetfN !
Nrf"n'rSfed ai rs Efforts on the prn- !
Gurfnu - groi. or nwedtli,, coH,urtp- |
'an v4r materials ,ead. clothes The |
altgrr - p-piu,r thc normal Quota oi I
goods 'ar trIrs consumption has made I
tte,, ~csicc and slch priccd and - they
-e essential 'o ilr,heg production rhey 1
aFc,i IT, cost II proiIctou and a>c-
r,en'lt Tho COS; ot LIVING Chcf among (
~Ioh goal~ arc huld.nc and othc. res.
estate Improvements including puhIl.
works - roads bridges -, The ~earciiy
80 buildings ior example creates high
rents.
Thc inQuirS will ne under tic dlnctIln
~ business men 81 VIDE practical eN-
icricpec who src serving wIthcu' pay
] hc arful investigation will be conducted
t group o' economists and special
agents supplied hS the department Ii
Labor and other government departments
~ lent bv universities The field viii IN
ludc =. aa,t and supply 81 traIdnc ms
'rrlt!~ The amount II lahof available and
cr-f the vaii,s cf lanI prevailing
I,uts 'tc supply -api'al the amount of
.nn.frIetion held ~ rs IA, war and the
iru rd f1r building ~ all psrts u the
au'ry
udcr 'hc supervision the economies
=. tia't we other SECTIONS VII prepare iii
ormauon tor publication ~ the means II
u. press. pubhc pc..Aer posters and the
medium az organized labor