Evening star., 1920-02-10
January BUILDING
SHOWS INCREASE
Contracts Demonstrate Ad-
vance of 10 Per Cent Over
1919 Monthly Average.


sippi and north of the Ohio river
showed an aggregate increase of 10
per cent over the monthly average 1or
1919, according to statistics comp!leo
by the +. w. Dodge Company. Janu-
ary's contracts, according to the ON.
cial statistics, were nearly $23.OOO,OOO
in excess Of the monthly average Tor
last year.
A further significant fact was that
more than one-third of the total vol
ume of building for which contracts
were awarded in January was Tor In
dustrial plant building. which took
the lead over all other classes.
Contracts in January.
Contracts let in January amounted
to $235.S4S,000, whereas the average
monthly figure for 1919 was approx
mately $213,O00.000. The January
figure included $91.712.0O0 for indus
trial plants, or 80 per cent of the
total; S47.727,000. or 20 per cent OF the
total. for residential buildings; $37,-
public works and utilities. and s34,-
126.0o0, or Is per cent of the total, for
business buildings.
These figures give an indication OF
the accumulated demand for construc-
ton work. Ordinarily the month OF
January shows but little activity IN
comparison with months later in the
year. the amount of building contracts
let in that month running normally to
only about or 6 per cent of the years
total. With SO large a figure for Jan
uary, the previously publlshed eSti-
mate of three billions for the years
total Of contracts seems very likely
to be fulfilled.
Projected or contemplated work
amounting to s523,000.000 was report
ed in January. as against monthly
average of $3.50. 100000 for projected
work reported in 1919.
Figures From New England.
Building contracts awarded during the
month of January in the New England
states amounted to $17,S62,000. While
this is. somewhat less than the average
monthly figure for 1919. which was about
s19, 800, 900. it is nevertheless an unusu-
ally high figure for January. The month
of January, 1919, showed tota! OF
Isomething less than five million dollars;
The largest single item is for Industrial
plants, amounting to $6.30S.O 600. which
was Sc per cent Of the total; residential
buildings amounted to $4.702.OOo. and
business buildings to $685.. 600.
Contemplated projects amounting to
81, III 900 were reported in January
The average monthly figure for contem-
plated work in 1919 was $32. 500, 600. The
comparison gives an indication of ac-
tivity that may be developed later.
In New York state and northern New
Jersey contract awards in January
amounted to $79.570.000, which is not
only an unprecedented figure for !anu-
ary. but is greatly in excess Of the
average monthly figure for 1919, which
was Just under SAC. 100000.
In this district industrial building has
taken first place, amounting in January
to $37.045. 900. or ~ per cent Of the total.
$19. .S83. 900. Residential buildings took
third place, the total for this group being
SO, ,235, 900.
The promise Of continued activity is
given in the reports of contemplated
work. which amounted in January to
with 100000, the monthly average
for 1919.
WashinSton Included I'm List.
January building activity in eastern
Pennsylvania. southern New Jersey.
Maryland, Delaware the District of
Columbia and Virginia, as measured in
contract awards, amounted to $26, 191,-
9oo The average ponthly nss tn yod s1re fos fS
month Of January, 1919. it was slightly
under $16,000.00
In this district residential buildings
held first place insJanuary. amounting
to $1O,511,000. or 40 per cent of the
total, and Industrial buildings came
second with $7.9s6.000. or 30 per cent
Of the total.
Contemplated projects were reported
to the amount Of $9S. 458 900. The aver
work in 1919 was $55,000.000. These
figures give promise of greater ac-
|tivity that is due to mature as the sea-
son advances.
January building contracts in west
ern Pennsylvania: West Virginia a, and
figure is somewhat in excess of the
average monthly figure for 1919, which
amounted to $35.000,000.
More than half of this total, or $22,-
10000, was for industrial plants, one
project, an extension to one of the
large steel plants. accounting for $14.-
100000. Public works and utilities
amounted to $6.1s1, 900, and residential
buildings to $5,750,000.
Contemplated work amounting to
$37.775, 600 was reported during the
month. While this figure is under the
total for contracts awarded, it shows
an advance over the average monthly
figure for contemplated work in 1919,
which amounted to something over
$31. 100000.
Central West Exhibit.
Building contracts in the central
west Comprising Illinois. Indiana,
Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and por-
tions Of Missouri and eastern Kansas)
during January amounted to SCI. .423.-
900. While this does not equal the
monthly average for 1919, which was
$74.O00.000. it is more than double the
figure for any previous January.
Industrial plants accounted for $17.-
309, ,999, or % per cent of the total;
Business buildings amounted to $16,-
$4,000 or q per cent Of the total. and
residential buildings amounted to
$12,s7o.ooo. or II per cent Of the total.
A great increase in activity in the
central west may be expected, if the
reports on contemplated projects be
taken as an indication. In January,
these reports amounted to $190,326.-
900. The average monthly figure in
1919 for contemplated work amounted
to approximately $137,000.000.
January building contracts in Min
nesota and North and South Dakota
amounted to $7,24S.000, which is great
ly in excess the figure for January of
any previous year recorded, and about
27i per cent in excess of the average
monthly figure for 1919. The month Of
January, 1919, showed q total under
81. .000, 900.
Practically half Of this January to-
tai, or $3,659.080, was for residential
buildings.
Contemplated work amounting to
$12,40O, 900 was reported in January.
FACE LOTTERY CHARGE.
o. H. Gregory and Alexander Ham
:1ko~ Hs~n HaJ1~k>->1