San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-23
CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY IS.
SECOND IN j. s.
Only Agriculture Exceeds
in Magnitude the Build
ing Business.
GOOD YEARS AHEAD
Building Age Shows Why
Steady Increase Is
Probable.

The existing building shortage can
not be overcome in one year, says
Building Age.
In fact, it is questionable whether
the present available labor supply will,
for some years, permit of any great
increase in building per annum over
the record-breaking years Of 1922 and
1923, which averaged about $1,000
600, 600 each. Think of that figure
as five thousand millions of dollars
Taking our shortage of nearly S1O,-
000. 100000, putting our normal re-
quirements at $500, 00O.0 900 and fig
uring at the rate of S5,OOO,0O,OW
worth of construction annually, it will
take until 1882 before the existing
building shortage is overcome.
1t has already been pointed out that
in this country when there is gen.
uine need for a certain thing that need
is in time satisfied. The building
shortage will be overcome. But the
amount of building in any year will
depend to some extent on building
costs which, if too high will tend 10
slow up building. but no danger is
anticipated in this direction, as we
are apparently on sound, safe, mod.
crate and conservative downward
trend: to some extent also, the build
ing done in any year will depend on
business conditions generally and Will
increase and decrease in harmony with
those conditions.
Quoting figures in large measure
from an Illuminating document issued
by the Babson statistical bureau I'M
der date of January 8. 1924, one
should not, in concentrating attention
on the ups and downs of industry,
lose sight of the net growth of the
country's business. In laying plans for
long period of time, consideration
should be given to the fact that we
are living in a growing country and
should recognize that, in spite OF ups
and downs in business. there is a
gradual net gain which over term
of years, assumes very large proper
tons.
A surprisingly large number of
people seem to forget this growth OF
business and are constantly underesti-
mating future opportunities. For ex-
ample, in the 80 years from 1880 to
1920 the population of the United
States increased from $4,000, 900 to
1O5, zoe. 900, a gain of over 81 per
cent, with at least just that much in
creased business opportunity. In the
same period, the number of families
having homes grew from 1890, 900 to
24,35O,OOO, and the volume of business
also increased faster than the popula-
ton.
In 1890 the railroads were doing a
good business to carry 63O.00O.OOO
tons of freight in a year. In 1920 they
carried more than 1000. 100000 tons.
In 1890 a new record Of over 10000
tons of pig iron was produced. In re-
cent years the average production has
been over 100000 900 tons. In the early
9O's the United States consumed l.
500 OOO, 900 bushels of corn: today ITS
consumption is nearly 3,OOO,OoO,Voo
bushels.
Large Population Gains. .o
In the ten years from 1910 to l920
the population increased from 91,9!2,-
900 to 105.710.000 and the NUMBER
of homes from 20,255,000 to 24.35l, :
900. Thus in ten years from 19lO 10
1920 the increase in number OF homes
averaged 100000 per annum. The at
tention of the manufacturers OF Duild-
ing productions is particularly direct
ed to residential construction because
it exceeds the combined total OF all
other forms Of construction: both IN
value and in number Of individual
units. =,
If the population does no more than
continue the average increase shown
in the period from 1890 to 1920. there
will be about 12O,OO0.OOO people by
1890 and at least 135.OOO.000 people
:. L. Jvn.fa1 SfafaS hv 1910
It should be remembered, then, that
while business passes through alter
nate periods of expansion and depres-
sion, the net trend in its volume over
a long period of time ia almost certain
TO be upward. The plans which we
Law now should be elastic enough to
fit a much larger scale of business
10 or 20 years from today. The volume
which We now consider normal will
then be subnormal.
Higher Levels Then.
The "saturation points" in produc-
ton and consumption which we now
speak of will then be set at decidedly
higher levels. For example, real estate
operators, while recognizing that there
is now some initiation in property
values. should remember that 1o,0OO.-
600 additional people who will need
homes during the next ten years.
The building industry is the second
largest in the United States. being ex-
ceeded only by agriculture. Hence the
manufacturer of building products is
in a favored class. He not only has
increasing population which automat-
ically increases his opportunities, but
has increasing standards of living in
his favor also. added to which is a vast
existing building shortage caused
mainly by cessation of construction
during the war. He may. therefore,
sicily go forward in the belief that.
indefinitely into the future as far as
anybody can now foresee. his business
opportunities will continue to increas sc,
, with abnormal increase probably for
the next nine or ten years. or until
the present gigantic building shortage