The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-08-21
STATISTICS SHOW
TRADE INCREASE
OVERCAST SEASON
Survey of District, Mary
land and Virginia Indi-
Gates Steady Boom.
HOPEFUL OUTLOOK
New Residences Costing $780,
$4,000 Now Under
Construction.
HOPEFUL OUTLOOK

July building contracts In the
building construction market, COW
ering the District of Columbia,
Maryland and Virginia. amounted
to s2s.342. 900, q decrease of IS per
cent from the June figure, according
to statistics prepared by the r. w.
Dodge Company.
The July total was divided as fol-
lows: s7.3sa00O. or IS per cent, for
public works and utilities; S7,170.-
600. or % per cent. for residential
buildings: 81, $50, 900, or II per cent,
for business buildings, and s2,570.-
OO0, or 10 per cent, for educational
buildings.
Increase Over Previous Years.
From January 1 to August 1, 1891.
this district amounted to S1s6,675.-
200. which is practically equal TO
the average for the first seven
months of the preceding five years,
il is pointed out.
During July. 1921. contemplated
new work in this district was re-
ported to the amount of S3S,765,O0O,
bringing the total amount of con-
remplated work reported since the
first of January up to S43S,723.O0o,
nearly two and a half times the
volume Of contracts awarded in the
same period.
Construction activity in July In
the country at large was ! per cent
less than in June, although 1t was
per cent greater than in July,
1920. figures show. Contracts
awarded during July in the twenty
seven Northeastern States of the
country amounted to $212.491, 600.
Although the increases in build
ing operations which were expected
to develop inv the summer months
have not materialized, construction
activity has held up very well In
: comparison with other lines OF busi-
ness, the Dodge experts declare.
During the first ten days of July
the volume of building contracts
was very low. while the last three
weeks showed total figures of con-
siderable magnitude.
Conditions Look Favorable.
Discussions of wage scales In
many centers have been protracted
and settlements have been delayed
Confidence in the stability OF con-
struction costs has not yet been
EeneTallN dllhONeh - -
the opinion of a number of reliable
authorities that necessary construc-
ton enterprises may be undertaken
now under as favorable conditions
as are likely to prevail at any time
in the near future.
The total volume of building con-
tracts let in the territory covered
nv the Dodge Company during the
first seven months OF this year has
amounted to sI,27s.747,OOO, which Is
10 per cent greater than the aver
age figure for the first seven months
Of the preceding five years.
Residential. building continued IN
the lead over all other classes in
July. amounting to $6O,452.0O0. or 70
per cent of the total Public works
and utilities amounted to $4,000
600, or I2S per cent of the total;
business buildings to s33,24O.OOo. OF
16 per cent; educational buildings
to S2S. 6O2, 900, or 13 per cent, and
Industrial buildings to $13,6O4,OOo'
or 6iz per cent
Contemplated new work reported
from January l to August i, 1871
has amounted to s2.s3S.00O.O 900, more
than double the volume of contracts
awarded in the same period