The Washington times., 1921-05-07
CONSTRUCTION IN
NATION BOOSTED
Last Months Figures Show Big.
gest April Activity Of Any
Year Except 1920.

Constructive activity In, April. ac-
cording to figures published by the
w. +. Dodge Company. was greater
than for any other month since June
OF last year. Contracts awarded in
the twenty-five Northeastern States
during April amounted to $220.SsS,-
600 This Is the largest hgure re-
corded for April of any previous yeae
except 1920. April. 1920. was the
peak of last years boom.
The April total was 34h per cent
greater than that for March. During
the past Ave years the average in
crease of April over March has been
IA per cent
Residential building maintained
the lead over all other classes In
April This class amounted to $75.-
OILS, 900. or 81 per cent of the total.
Public works and utilities took sec
ond place. amounting to 34S O43. 900.
or 90 per cent of the total. Business
buildings accounted for 13 per cent
or $40. 5000. and educational build
ings 10 per cent, or $22.64O,O0O.
REVIVAL ACQUIRES MOMENTUM
The building revival has acquired
considerable momentum in the past
four months. At the end of January.
activity from the FIRST of the year TO
date was 8 per cent behind the aver
age for the preceding fve years; at
the end of February IL was II per
cent behind: at the end OF March 4
per cent behind. and at the end OF
April IL was 5 per cent ahead of the
average for the FIRST four months OF
each OF the preceding nve years. The
total Investment represented by
building contracts let from January
1, 1921, to May I. 1921. has amounted
/ to $597, 100000.
The demand for new construction
still continues very strong. Contem-
plated new work was reported in
April to the amount OF S392.272 900
bringing the total of contemplated
work reported from the frst OF the
year up to 81. .694. .3s4 900, nearly three
times the contracts awarded in the
same period.
The demand for new construction
is so insistent that II seems likely
that increased activity will prevail
during the coming months. At the
present time the one thing that
threatens a setback Is the attitude
of labor. Wage disputes are report
er from numerous large centers.
However, in view OF the fact that
other fields are so much less active
than construction. and that the
amount of unemployment Is matter
Of serious concern. IL seems probable
that, at the worse, labor troubles
will retard construction activity only
temporarily.
NEW ENGLAND.
Contracts awarded in the New Eng
land States in April amounted to
S17, ,s2s, 900, An increase Of 35 per cent
over the March figure.
Total construction started In the
irst four months of this year has
amounted to $40, ,402, 900. While this
is less than the average construction
figure for the first four months OF
the fve years previous to 1921. u Is
'25 per cent greater than the hgure
for the same period In 1919. that
year in which the economic factors
affecting construction were most
nearly like those of the present year.
Included in the April, 1921. con-
tracts were: ss.941. 900, or 50 per
cent, for residential buildings: &3,S5s,-
900. or % per cent, for business build
ings; s1.773.OOO. or 10 per cent for
Industrial buildings; 81 .70S, 900. or 10
per cent, for public works and utili-
ties.
Contemplated new work was re-
ported during April in this section
amounting to $42091 900.
N. Y. AND NORTHERN N. J.
In New York State and Northern
New Jersey April building cvntracts