Evening star., 1923-08-25
Construction Cheaper in South,
Reports of Builders Reveal
Labor Costs Less and Work Is Stead;er
Year around, GiUing Stability
to Industry.

| Building costs in the suothern
| states are 24.7 per cent less than in
the cities of the north. A thorough
compilation of the principal items
entering into the construction ex-
pense' drawn both from the leading
cities of the east and the north, and
the principal contractors of the south,
reveal the startling fact that south
ern property owners are in a far
more favorable situation to meet
the increasing demands for buildings
Oh every nature than are their north
ern brethren
An investigation of the actual fig
! ures on the various items entering
into building costs as listed in an
! accompanying table will quickly re-
veal why this is so. 1t is estimate
taat material costs are so per cent
OF construction totals, while labor
accounts for the remaining 40 per
cent OF expenses. The principal
! items of materials are produced gen
efaiiy throughout the southern field.
particularly southern pine and other
common lumbers, brick and hollow
| tile. Being at the base of these sup
| plies. freight rates are reduced to a
the production of these materials is
The few items. produced princi-
pally IN the north, which show a
Greater cost to southern builders are
tnose which figure least in total con-
structlon costs, such as structural
steel, plaster and cement
Difference in Labor.
In the matter Of labor the differ
ence between the two sections is
even more marked. Because of cheap
! er living conditions, absence of cold
winters and ample man-power for the
! work, wages in the south are far
below those existing in the north,
portant part in the total cost. a high
ly favorable balance is created.
! Inc prices on commodities are list
eo as OF June l, and labor figures
were secured at the same time. The
| hgures were obtained from presidents
OF real estate boards in principal
northern cities, from The Real Estate
| record and Building Guide of New
I YORK through the courtesy of the f.
| w. Dodge corporation from the
| Foundation Company, and from the
! american Contractor. Southern sourc-
es include list of important con-
| tractors throughout the section.
Growth of South.
! The tremendous building program
OF 1923 in the south has not resulted,
| however, wholly from the favorable
price condition. The contraction ex-
pansion which has been so general
from Maryland to Texas has been ne
SSessitated especially by the urgent
the new and imposing industries,
which are springing up on every hand.
| and to care for the rapidly increas-
| ing population which is being drawn
! 10 this section because of the won
derful opportunities which have been
| opened up during the past few years.
| 1t has not been a question so much
! or investment for good interest re-
turns as it has been struggle to
meet the clamorous demands for
| homes. for office space in which 10
transact business, for great Industrial
| plants to take advantage of south
| ern resources. and elaborate hotels in
which to entertain hundreds Of thou
! sands of visitors drawn south by cli-
| matte conditions. which are now be-
/ ing combined with extensive resort
! features which are destined to the
south the playground of the nation.
| Attention is drawn to a second table
! printed in conjunction with the table on
| building costs. in which the present
| housing situation. both north and south.