Evening star., 1924-09-13
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
SHOWS UPWARD TREND
General National Tendency Is Reflected
in District by July and
august Boom.

Building construction throughout
the United States took an upward
trend during last month. This gen.
eral national condition was also re<
f1ected in the big building boom dur
ing July and August in Washington
According to F. w. Dodge Corpora
tion's survey of the conditions nation
ally, contracts awarded last month in
the So Eastern States (Which include
about seven -eights of the total con-
struction volume of the country
amounted to $354,442, 700. The in
crease over July was nearly per
cent; over August of last year, near
ly 19 per cent
The more important items in the
August record We're: $14S,231.S0 or
A. per cent, for residential buildings;
s65,296,4 400, or 1S per cent, for public
works and utilities; $41.151,300, or II
per cent. for commercial buildings
$31,771 100. or 9 per cent, for educa-
tional buildings; and $30,379. 700. or 8
per cent. for industrial buildings.
Increase of II Per Cent.
Total construction started in the
Sc Eastern States during the first
eight months of this year has
amounted to s3,O2O,761.4OO, an in
crease of II per cent over the cor
responding period of last year. This
increase has been largely in the
States in the East and Southeast, the
territory north of Tennessee and west
OF the Allegheny Mountains having
been rather less active in building
than it was last year.
Contemplated new work reported
last month amounted to S560,3S6,10O.
During the year ending September l,
the excess of reported contemplated
work over contracts awarded was 53
per cent. This is the lowest percent
age of excess since the war, so per
cent being the normal excess. This
IS one indication that the amount of
deferred construction which may be
expected to go ahead is not large at
the present time. In certain dis
tricts middle Atlantic States, South
eastern States, and the Central Vest
all of which are comparatively active
a present, there seems to be an ap-
preciable volume of deferred con-
struction, which will tend to main
tain a relatively high rate of activity
in these districts. In the remaining
territory, the supply of new build
fngS seems to have fairly well caught
up with the existing demand.
August building contracts in New
York State and northern New Jersey
amounted to SS6,617.500. This was a
very slight decrease from July, and
an increase OF per cent oyer August,
1923. Included in last months total
were: $40 5313,100, or 81 per cent for
residential buildings; S12,219,300, or
II per cent, for commercial buildings;
sS,455,70O, or 10 per cent, for educa-
tional buildings; s6,4so2O0. or per
cent, for hospitals and institutions,
and $4,736,600. or per cent, for in
duStrial buildings.
Total construction started in this
district during the first eight months
Of this year has amounted to $685.
oSS, 500, an increase of 43 per cent
over the corresponding period of last
year. Contemplated new work re-
ported in August amounted to $93,-
4S5.600.
Increase in New England.
Contracts awarded in New England
in August amounted to S30,249,200
This was per cent increase over
the preceding month and per cent
over the corresponding month of last
year. Last months record included: