New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-10
$75,l75,0OO L a st
Months Bill for
Home Construction
Reports Show Residential
Building Is on Ascend;
S360,828,00O Appropri-
ated Since Last January

Harbingers of joy are the REPORTS
from various corners of the country
that the construction of homes is on
the ascendant, taking preference over
commercial and public improvements
According to statistics which have
been compiled by the F. w. Dodge
company covering the construction
field in the twentyseven Northeastern
states for June, SO per cent of the new
buildings are for residential purposes.
1t would be more impressive, per-
haps, to say that last months home
building bill totaled S75,175 900, which
is about $23 100000 more than was an
propriated for public undertakings.
which was the second highest in point
of expenditure. For this class of
work s52,967 900, or % per cent, will be
spent; $50, 493 900, CT IL per cent, for
business buildings; S23 900, or 10
per cent, for educational buildings;
and S1S,502, 900, or per cent, for in
dustrial plants.
Construction activity in June was
6 per cent less than in May, although
il was greater than in April Contracts
awarded during June in the twenty
seven states amounted to 1927 711,OO0
Those sections in which labor
troubles have been most pronounced
were the ones in which decreased
more, the latter half of June showed
up more strongly than the first half.
The two facts seem to Indicate that
TIE small decline in June was only a
temporary setback.
The first half Of this year has shown
UP quite favorably in comparison with
previous years. From January / to
July l the total amount of contracts
awarded has been $1,O66,25 900. This
figure is 91a per cent greater than the
average sem-annual total for the pre-
ceGing five years.
Included in the total for the first six
months of 1921 were the following
items: $3.50, $4,000, or 81 per cent,
for residential buildings; S242, 7O1 600,
CT 23 per cent, for public works and
utilities; $144 ASS, 900, or 10 u per cent
for business buildings; S104 ,l94 00O or
10 per cent, for educational buildings
and $86,940 900, or 8 per cent, for in
dustrial buildings
Contemplated new work has been re-
ported during the first six months of
this year to the amount OF two and a
half billion dollars.
June was month Of price and wage
adjustments. Pending these adjust
ments the public has maintained an
attitude of hesitation about going
ahead. There are certain advantages
in building now, especially in those
localities where wages have been sub
stantially reduced.
A stronger feeling of confidence is
the principal element needed to en-
courage increased activity in the re-
naming summer months. While there
is in evidence a tendency to hold up
building operations to the fall. there
is good chance that July will be a
month of somewhat greater activity
than June.
In 1919 60 per cent of the years
total construction activity occurred in
the second half of the year. Thus far
this year activity has kept somewhat
ahead of 1919 If it continues to do
so, the remainder of this year should
show SO per cent more activity than
the first half has shown. There are
numerous indications that something
like this may happen.