The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-11-10
Realty
Merry Christmas.
construCtion-More.
A Newcomer.
Already Boosting.
ROBERT LESLIE BELLEMl
Real Estate Editor.


family not excessive in size and
. desire to better himself, in all
probability has a little money put
aside for the proverbial rainy
day. From each pay envelope
he manages to extract another
little drop for the bucket Of his
savings account. This is not a
universal practice, to be sure;
but the habit has been inculcated
in the minds Of enough to insure
a fairly large average audience
for this little sermonette.
THE man we have described is
probably beginning to wonder
what he's going to get for his
wife-and for his children, IL he
has any-for Christmas. The
modern Yuletide is not complete
without it's flood of gift giving
and receiving. The main diff
Guilty, in most cases, is in the
selection Of the appropriate
token. In too many instances
the gift that is given is Of no
earthly use to the recipient save
as a tender reminder Of the
donor; useful articles have not
as yet universally supplanted the
purely sentimental.
nor the family man with q saw
ings account no better Christ
mas gift to his dear ones could
be more appropriate than a re-
ceipt for the first payment on
q home. Rent receipts are all
sight as indications Of honesty
and promptness in meeting one
indebtedness-but they never ao-
cumulate interest for the payer.
A Christmas gift Of a nome
means freedom from such bond
age: means independence OF rent
day; means q Yuletide filled with
serene content under q roof tree
that does not belong to someone
else.
A Merry Christmas. indeed.
Say It with real estate.
CHEERING news on the ma
~ tional trend in real estate
and building construction is en-
bodied in the latest monthly re-
port from the offices Of the F. w.
Dodge Corporation. Eeptember's
chart, you viii recall, showed q
rather precipitate YET none the
less seasonable drop over the
previous month, which had
climbed; but the figures are once
again on the right track. Here
is an extract from the Dodge
dodgers
October construction showed q
surprising increase, according to
r. w. Dodge Corporation. Total
contracts awarded during the
month In the thirty-six Eastern
States amounted to $3.50, 6S7 900.
The increase over September was
% per cent, whereas the normal
season increase is per cent. In
twenty-seven Of these Suites the
increase over October OF last
year was Is per cent.
The large October increase
was heaviest IN New York State
and northern New Jersey, and in
the residential class. Apparently
the fact that building costs have
declined only slightly Is not act
ing as q very strong deterrent on
building operations The Octo-
Der increase, coming after a
be viewed from two angles. A
fairly heavy construction vol
ume, Keeping the industry busy
through the winter, is desirable.
IL the October record 10 a fore
runner OF abnormally high con-
struction figures for the rest Of
this year and up to the opening OF
the spring season, there is danger
OF a more severe reaction next
year than there was six months
ago.
Included in last months REC
ord were the following important
items: 73.042, 900. or 4S per cent
of the total, for residential build
ings; $50, 499. 900. or Is per cent.
for public works and utilities;
$35, 1913 900, or 10 per cent, for
business buildings; $32,721 900 for
industrial buildings; and $26,OS5,-
600, or 7 per cent, for educational
buildings.
THE total amount OF construc@
ton started during the first ten
months Of this year has amounted
to $2,947 1877 900, an increase OF
2 per cent over the correspond
ing period Of last year.
Contemplated new work re-
ported in October amounted to
$3.50. 491 900, an increase OF AZ
per cent over the September
figure"
Incidentally, II you are inter
ested IN figures by actual districts
you win find scattered through
out the real estate section Of this
Newspaper todav the individual re-
turns, Al listed by the Dodge tab
ulation exparts. They are inter-
estIng-and indicative.
In q recent interview John Cad
wallader Griffith, a recent arrival
in Washington, is said to have ex-
pressed an extreme interest in the
real estate GeId of this city. 1T
seems to me-" Mr.. Griffith il ac-
credited with having said, that
there cannot be found anywhere
today q better investment than
Washington realty. At my first op-
portunity ] intend to conduct q
thorough investigation as to the
merits Of various nelghborhoods as
home communities, with an eye
to future purchase. I am delight
ed with Washington from every
angle"
Mr.. Griffith has been In this
city less than q week. His present
address was not divulged. But
he seems to be q Washington
booster of the first water.
| nn7Raan O. MW