The New York herald., 1922-08-13
BUILDING ACTIVITY
CONTINUES TO GAIN
July Is Fourth Month Show
ing Unprecedented Figures
in Northeast.
DECREASE IN THIS CITY
New York State and Northern
Jersey Contracts Drop
in Month.

July was the fourth consecutive month
OF Unprecedented building activity, ac-
cording to the f. w. Dodge Company.
Contracts awarded during the month In
the twenty seven Northeastern States
amounted to s35o.os1.o 900. This was a
Q per cent. increase, compared with
June, and 65 per cent. increase. COM
pared with July. 1921. 1t is greater
than any preyiou monthly total except
the record figures of April and May.
The July increase was in central West
ern territory. Eastern districts having
shown slight declines.
The following figures brought the
total for the first seven months of this
year up to s2,041. .065,000, an unprece-
dented figure. so per cent. greater than
that for the corresponding period OF
1921.
July showed leveling tendency, not
only as between localities but as be-
tween classes OF construction. There
was a decline in the volume OF residen-
tial construction from that of June.
which was more than equalized by In
creases in industrial and public works
construction. The figure for Industrial
plants. $31,SS2.000, which was per
cent of the months total, was the larg-
est for that class since November. l92o
Residential construction, however, still
maintained the lead, having amounted
to sos, ,951 900 in July. 81 per cent. Of
the months total. Public works and
utilities amounted to s79.162,oo0, or 20
per cent. OF the total business buildings
to $44,O20.0o0, or 13 per cent. of the
total educational buildings, $4O,6sO.oOO,
or IL per cent. of the total
Contemplated new work reported dur
ing the month amounted to s6oS,22Z,ooo,
contrasted with s350.0s1000 for con-
tracts awarded
Contracts awarded during July in New
York State and northern New Jersey
amounted to SIC, 900, q decrease OF
per cent from those Of June. but an
increase of 45 per cent. from those or
July, 1921. The July decrease was In
New York city, the remainder OF the
district showing an increase.
From January / to August the
amount OF work started III this district
was s556.996,O 900. an increase of Sc per
cent. compared with that of the corre-
spending period Of last year.
Included In last months total were
s33,3S9.000. or "A per cent. for residen-
tial buildings; $13,245,00o, or II per
cent. for public works and utilities
s12.017,00O, or 16 per cent. for business
buildings. and 1881. 900, or 13 per cent.
for educational buildings.
Contemplated new work reported in
July amounted to S150.709.000.
Returns of building exper ditures Tor
July. as expected. show slight decline
from the peak totals of June, but con-
tinue to record a heavy gain In aggre-
gates compared with the corresponding
month of last year Thus. reports to
Brodstreers from 149 cities OF the
United States show n total expenditure
permitted for of S1Ss.155.537 for July,
in contrast to 1924. 4.503.146 for those
cities in June. and S135.327,s33 in July,
1921.
There is indicated decrease OF 1872
per cent. compared with June. but a
gain of 80 per cent, compared with
.JuIv a year ago. Even with returns for
flfteen> cities out of the 164 regularly
reportinr to Brndstreets not received.
the total for July exceeds that OF any
month previous to March,
Most larger cities show declines from
the June totals. These includes New
York. Chicago. Philadelphia, Boston,
Los Angeles, Kansas City, Pittsburgh.
Detroit. st. Louis and San Francisco.
Exceptions to this. however. are found
in the cases of Cleveland. Minneapolis,
ST. Paul, Baltimore, Memphis and
Washington.