The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-24
ST RAUS MAKES
N n I HLY
REPORT
Permits Filed in April Show
a Return to Normal
Conditions.

1kSQUElS Oh the NO1uINO VI DuIlu-
Ing permits and plans filed in April
In important cities and towns
throughout the country give evil
0ence of the approach of activities
which will more adequately reflect
normal demand.
April totals in 333 cities were
1881. S22,461 compared with $751;
S49,492 in April, 1923, a loss of $24.-
O27,O3l, or { per cent. With the
elimination of New York city, where
the volume of plans filed was ex-
s'essive, the country as a whole
lest nearly IL per cent compared
with April, 1928.
This exhibit of losses is in sharp
contrast with 1923 conditions, for
April Of that year showed Il gain
over 1922 of more than so per cent.
Since building permits and plans
1iled with the building departments
IN substantially all centers of i'm.
Eortance in the United States COM
prise en- infallible indication If what
may be expected in the industry as
whole. the curve Of activities may
he expected now to show dowh.
ward tendency as compared with
1928.
mind that large volumes of building
work are now in progress and anuch
still is pending. Up to May the
total volume of plans filed and
permits issued this year in the
twenty-five most important cities
from building standpoint) was
1927 100000, which compares with
$849, 100000 in the same cities for
he u l.
$563, 100000 in 1929. The amount
of pending construction on May l
this year was substantially per
cent greater than on May 1, 1923
end more than so per cent greater
than on May 1, 1922. judged from
the standpoint of contemplated con.
struction officially declared.
April, 1924, in the twenty-five
construction of 1904, 900, 900 as com.
pared with $4,000, 900 for the same
month 1922. !
The April, 1924, loss, therefore,
would seem to indicate only a
change in tendencies-the dawn of
q new era of more normal, substan-
tial and better stabilized conditions
throughout the industry, than has
existed during the recent periods
when the dangers of too great
expansion have been apparent.
During the past five years ap.
proximately $4,000, 900, 900 has been
spent in new buildings and altera.
tons throughout the United States,
substantially half of this sum be.
ing the product Of the last two
years work. Many cities and towns
are now supplied with enough
buildings to meet present needs.
and this list will be added to from
month to month, thus gradually
and healthfully restoring activities
to q basis Of actual demand and
supply. ~ $3.50. . : =
Labor and Materials.
The general tendency OF labor
during the month Of April was to.
ward higher wages. In more than
fifty cities definite increases were
granted to members of the various
crafts. With a general slowing up
OF business in many lines Of indus.
try, 1t was not apparent during
April that these conditions made
Tor lower labor costs in building, al.
though there was a distinct soften.
ing in the prices of lumber and
structural steel material. While
the declines were not especially
great excepting in the cases of new
grades OF lumber, they manifested
themselves in all markets. Other
building materials showed practi.
cally no changes with the excep.
ton OF cement, sand and gravel
which declined slightly in New
York, Chicago and Milwaukee.
Large Gains in New York.
In striking contrast with, condi.
lions throughout the greater part
OF the country, activities in New
York city, as judged from the
standpoint of April plans filed,
snow no Indications of immediately
slowing up. In the five boroughs
$4S,9O4,5S9 of building plans we've
filed against $35,772,19i in April
1928. gain of 81 per cent.
New York citys April figures
were IA per cent of the total IF
the other 332 cities included in the
months survey.
Regional Reports.
In the Central West, 1O9 cities
reported a loss over last April of
19 per cent. Sixty-seven Pacific
Western cities reported a loss Of
z per cent. In the South. SIS cities
gained 8 per cent. The Eastern
situation was dominated by New
York; 1O2 cities reported a gain of
per cent, but with New York
city eliminated the loss in the
Eastern section was IL per cent.
twenty-five Leading Cities.
The twenty-five leading cities, in
volume of permits, reported so per
cent of the total shown in the 333
cities, while. New York CITY &C.
counted for nearly rs per cent of
the total volume Of the leading 25,
Detroit, the third city in the list
showed gain of nearly SO per
cent, placing 1t ahead of Los An.