Evening star., 1922-05-21

iedu produced IN tnis country are
consumed In construction.
Go-It-AIone Policy
Prevailed in Past.
Heretofore. in this large industry,
edch element has, with rare excep-
tions. acted by itself, looking afte:.
Its own interest. neglecting gener-
ally the rights of the other elements.
and often being indifferen. to the
rights OF the public.
Since the war this lack of co-ordi-
hatlon, OF actual understanding and
OF confederation of the service rem
oered the public. has stood out more
strongly than previously. During, the
war 1t was necessary to POSTPONE all
but essential construction. leaving
the county at the close of 1919
win an enormous deferred volume of
construction work. In 1890 the task
OF catching up was begun. this work
q 1aiding back in 1921; Today there is
deferred total valued by students
or the industry at $4,000. .ooo,O0
ot the housing shortage. an i'm
portant part of this deferred con-
struction, the public generally and
residents of Washington particularly.
are wen aware. Yet the shortage
exists in every line of construction.
mere are not enough Office buildings
or schools. railroads or highways,
sewerage or water supply systems.
Trying to Work Out
Problems of Industry.
This shortage has put great pres
sure on every branch of the indus
try, and has forced it TO study anew
Its relationship TO the whole More
over. the public has lacked confidence
in the fairness of building costs, and
TINS has added to the pressure put
upon the builders. Not only has each
or the elements been re-examining
ITS position and responsibility, but
ehorts at co-ordinated work have
been made. The National Federation
or Construction Industries, a war
after the armistice in an effort to
pun the industry together nationally
ana has achieved some excellent re-
suits. The building congresses, not
ably those held in New York. Seattle.
and Portland, Oreg., attacked the
problem from local angles. The Ma
tional Board of Jurisdictional Awards.
representing labor, contractors, archi-
tects and engineers, as well as the
Joint conferences of engineers, archi-
tec.s ana contractors on estimating
ana on standard contracts, have each
tackled specific problems common ia
the whole industry, and have demon
strateu the need and the practicabllity
OF co-opera tioR for the good of all.
Ihe way has thus been opened for
great national movement and the
coming conference is the climax.
Nearly every one of the $50 national
associations in the industry has test
ed out Its own work and learned from
experience the large amount of dupli-
cate effort and the inability to
grapple effectively with the Questions
that extend beyond its especial field
They are ready and eager to have
these common problems taken over
by an al-embracing organization SO
duplication and more resultful work.
Anxious 10 Win Back
Confidence of Public.
They appreciate that the public de-
mand will no longer wait and that
only a broad. virile and effective
movement. dedicated to the improve
ment of the service which construc-
tion renders the community, states
and nation. can the industry hope
to gain public confidence. Through
the co-ordinated action there is an
opportunity for tremendous waste
elimination, assuring to the public
more and better homes. public build
iHBS, RAILROADS., bridges, etc, for their
construction expenditure.
1t is with these possibilities in
view that high government officials
arc willing to lend their aid and to
assume leadership in the movement,
dedicated TO the public service
Among large construction interests
expected to take part in the meeting
next month are the building trades
department of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor. the National Fedora
ton of Constructive Industries, the
National Building Congress- the Ma
tional Association of Building EN-
changes. the Building Trades En-
pioyers' Association. the National
Association of Real Estate Boards
and various architectural, engineer
ing and manufacturing associations
With this backing the promoters
of the American Construction Council
feel confident that the construction
industry soon will be able to play a
more important part in the industrial
life of the nation. Work of great
magnitude awaits action and is dc.
handing attention.