Evening star., 1922-11-11
TAKE UP PROGRAM
T0SERVE WORKERS

Local builders and real estate men
are manifesting interest in the step
just taken by the New York Build
ing Congress in initiating a program
to reduce the cost of building by
adding more seasons to the industry.
thereby eliminating both the rush
periods. when bonuses are frequently
paid. and doing away also with tins
periods Of unemployment.
A survey has just been completed
analyzing the building situation. The
findings are such that it is believed.
with the cooperation of all the ele-
ments contributing to the industry, a
workable program can be put In oP-
GRAFTON that will be material benefit
to every phase of society, from the
laborer to the investor.
Four Months OF Inquiry.
The congress conducted it's investi-
CATION over a period OF four months
and the findings cover twenty nine
distinct occupations as affected by
The average employment variation of
upward of 100000 workmen annually
during the past ten years
Recognizing that the basic factors
in the seasonal demand are Winter
and weather conditions. opportunity
for investment. general business ten
dencies and emergency needs, atten-
tion is being focused on new con-
struction subject to control.
In summarizing its investigation.
the congress finds that custom is
really the biggest influence in caus-
ing the peak loads on the demand
for labor. especially during the rent
ing seasons. Careful business fore
sight Is what Is needed more than
anything else to affect lower costs.
with less waste. higher quality. Of
n.y. - a NzIa
tton. according to the reports.
Three Main Divisions Cited.
It Is pointed out that investment
and speculative construction on new
buildings classifieS itself in general
into three main divisions-apartmen
houses, commercial buildings and loft
buildings. The periods for: renting
these types Of construction are based
largely on custom and tradition and
have an important bearing on labor
demand. Large apartments are COM
menced SO as to allow twelve to four
teen months for completion, the I'm
ished building to be ready for occu-
pancy by October l, which custom
has decreed the moving season for
residents of New York city.
Commercial buildings usually call
for commencing work on May l and
completion on or before the follow
ing May. Loft buildings are often
built in six. eight or nine months and
have a strong demand for occupancy
on February 1.
Thus. one of the vital factors in
tho new construction Is the estab-
ltshed rental period. 1t is also i'm
portant to remember that the volume
Of building in the three types of new
construction above mentioned varies
from year to year. due to the oppor-
tunity for investment and the supply
and demand, so that one year OF large
development in any one division may
be followed by a decline in volume
the next, and vice versa
The new construction most subject
to control, aside from construction
for investment and speculative pur-
poses,. is the large amount Of build
in6 done for the government, state
and city. This can be open to regu-
lation by the governing boards in
control Of their development. RelI-
gious and educational structures are
also Q factor, and new buildings AND
additions that are erected for the
owners prearranged occupancy. with
out regard for investment, or specula-
tive returns, are important.
In prefacing detailed statement OF
recomme ndations for adding more
seasons to the building trades. the
New York Building Congress Bulletin
states:
.While the congress feels fully
aware of the fact that an entire cure
for seasonal employment is impossi-
blS on account Of weather conditions.
Ssncy and the will of the owner and
speculator. still the opinion 10 gen
eral that much can be done to adjust
elements that affect peak demands