The Washington herald., 1920-02-09
CONSTRUCTION.
WORK BRISK
Booms in Area East of Mis-
souri, River Under
Way.
FACTORY BUILDINGS
New York and New Jersey
Show the Biggest
Increase.
BUILDINGS

Statistics of building contracts
awarded during the month of jan
uary in the territory east of the
Missouri and north OF the Ohio
rivers. as compiled by the F. w.
Dodge Company. show two out
standing facts. In the first place
the contracts amounted to 10 per
cent more than the average month
ly figure for 1919: and, in the sec
ond place. industrial plants took the
lead over all other classes of build
ing, comprising SO per cent of the
total.
Contracts let in January amounted
to S235,S4S.000, whereas the average
monthly figure for 1919 was approx
imately S213.O00,O00. The January
figure included s91.712. 900 fof indus
trial plants. or 80 per cent of the
total; $47,727. 900. or 20 per cent of
the total for residential buildings;
S37. .697, 900. or 16 per cent of the
total for public works and utilities;
and s34.726.O00. or Is per cent of the
total, for business buildings.
These figures give an indication
of the accumulated demand for con-
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 5
or 6 per cent of the years total.
With so large a figure for January.
the previously published estimate
Of 5000, 100000 for the years total
af m
be fulfilled.
Projected or contemplated work
amounting to s523,000, 900, was re-
ported in January. as against a
monthly average of s360.000,000 for
projected work reported in 1919.
New England.
Building contracts awarded dur
ing the month of January in the
New England States amounted to
SIT, 900. While this is somewhat
less than the average monthly
figure for 1919, which was about
s1s.9o0.00o. it is nevertheless an un-
usually high figure for January.
The month of January. 1919. showed
a total of something less than So
900. 900.
The largest single item is for in
dustrial plants. amounting to s6.-
30S.000, which was 3S per cent of
the total: residential buildings
amounted to s4,7o2,0 and busi-
ness buildings to s$3,962,OOO.
Contemplated projects amounting
to S71.771.000 were reported in jan
uary. The average monthly figure
for contemplated work in 1919 was
s32. 500. 900. The comparison gives
an indication of activity that may
be developed later.
New York and Northern New Jersey
In New York State and Northern
New Jersey. contract awards in jan
-uary amounted to S79,5700O0 which Is
not only an unprecedented figure for
January, but is greatly in excess of
the average monthly figure for 1919,
which was just under si6,0oo,0OO.
In this district Industrial building
has taken first place. amounting In
January to sS7,oi5,Oo0, or a per cent
of the total. Public works and util-
tiles amounted to s19,Ss3 ,0OO. Residen-
tial buildings took third place, the
total for this group being SIC, 81, goo
The promise of continued activity
Is given in the reports of contemplat-
ed work. which amounted >in January
to s112, 900, which may be COM
pared with SIC. 100000. the monthly av-
erage for 1919 /.
Phila., BALTIC. and Wash.
January building activity in Eastern
Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey,
Maryland. Delaware, the District of
Columbia and Virginia, as measured
I'm contract awards. amounted to sae,-
191, coo. The average monthly figure
for 1919, was roughly. s22.50o. 900; for
the month of January, 1914 1t was
slightly under $4,000, 900.
In this district residential buildings
held first place in January. amount
ing to s10,5l1. 900. or 10 per cent Of the
tital and industrial buildings came
second with s7.sss.ooo or 30 per cent
of the total.
Contemplated projects were report
ed to the amount of s9S. $4,000. The
average monthly figure for conten-
plated work in 1913 was SIS, 900.
These fgures give promise Of greater