The Washington herald., 1922-07-16
BUILDING CONTRACT
REPORT SHOWS BIG
GAIN in HALF YEAR
Dodge Survey Reveals
cord-Smashing Figures
In Construction.

Building contracts awarded dur
ing June in the twenty-seven
Northeastern States, according to
the F. w. Dodge Company. amount
ed to sS4a,44o.ooo. Except for the
record figures of April and May of
this year, this is larger than any
previous monthly total. 1t is only
5 per cent under the record pay
figure, and shows a 81 per cent in
crease over June of last year.
The continued high rate of activ-
ity has brought the total amount of
construction started in the first six
months of this year up to $780,
$4,000. which Is by far the highest
figure for the first half OF any year.
1t is SO per cent greater than the
figure for the six-month period of
1921.
In the six months record are the
following items: s6S2.66S.00O for
residential construction, an increase
of SO per cent over the correspond
ing period of 1921: $2ss.sS2.0oo for
public works and utilities, being 1s
per cent over last year; $2So,32s, 900
Tor business buildings, "a per cent
more than last year: $164,641. 900 for
educational buildings. 5S per cent
over last year; and S123,1S1.o 900 for
industrial plants. an increase of AZ
per cent over the corresponding
period of last year.
Contemplated new work reported
from January l to July ! has
amounted to slightly over $1,000
100000. compared with $1,000, ,000, 900
for work actually started in the
same period.
1t seems not unlikely that the re-
naming summer months may show
a slight falling off from the extreme
high rate of activity that has pre-
vailed during the second quarter of
the year. However. there are
localities in the Middle West where
the revival has not yet gained the
headway that it has in the East.
These places may be expected to
show increases that will in a meas
ure offset declines elsewhere.
New England.
June building contracts in New
England amounted to $3s, 300, 900, an
Increase OF 16 per cent over the
previous month and of 1876 per cent
over June. 1921.
Construction has been started
during the first six months of the
year to the amount of $175.363, 900,
an increase of lis per cent over the
irst half OF 1921. Residential con-
struction, which has amounted to
$64.220, 900. shows an increase of 1O7
per cent over the first half Of last
year; business buildings, amount
ing to S41,772,o00, have been nearly
three times as great in volume as
last year; educational buildings
have amounted to $20,266, 900, three
times the volume of last year; pub
lie works and utilities, which have
totalled $1S,523,000. have doubled
last years six-month record; ala
Industrial buildings. in the sum of
S15,7S3.o00. have run IS per cent
ahead of last year.
Contemplated new work reported
during June amounted to s3s,577,-
900.
New York and Northern New Jersey.
Contracts awarded during June in
New York State and Northern New
Jersey amounted to 50, ,3S3,000, a
decline OF 10 per cent from May, but
an ihNi cdSc VI Z per cent over June,
1921. The peak month for this dis
trict was April. However, the de-
clines in May and June have been
confined to New York City, where
the building revival has been a wear
in advance OF the rest OF the coun-
try.
Construction started in this dis
trict from January to July 1 has
amounted to- S4s5.1S5,0o0. nearly
double the amount for the corre-
spending period OF 1921. On the six
months record, residential con-
struction, amounting to $256,52S,O00,
has run SO per cent ahead of last
year: mercantile construction,
amounting to sS4.715.oo0, has been
145 per cent ahead of last year;
public works and utilities, s5O,s4S,-
600, more than double last year; ed
ucational buildings, $34,4sl, 900,
about three times the volume of
last year: and industrial construc-
tion to the amount of s22,6o1 100, is
Al per cent ahead of the first half
OF 1921.
Contemplated new work reported