Evening star., 1924-12-31
CAMPAIGN IN HOME
BUILDING SUCCESS
About $780, 100000 Spent
on New Residences Dur
ing Past Year.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 31.-The
urge to "Own your own home has
been translated into Build your own
home according to building mate
rial men. To substantiate this they
point to the fact that the last year,
even though it had periods of bust
ness depression, Saw some s350,000.-
600 more spent in residential con-
struction than 1928. In view of the
prospects for period of general bus
mess prosperity in the early months
of next year, they anticipate another
period of great construction activity.
This will be fostered, they say, by
the fact that the man with only a
Few thousand dollars to put into a
house can now secure at small cost de-
tailed plans and specifications pre-
pared by Competent architects through
various house plan services. and can
build substantial permanent home
planned for both appearance and con-
VenienCe.
New records in the use of concrete
masonry were hung UP in 1924 and
manufacturers expect to break them
again in 1925. More than 5000 man
utacturers now are engaged in max
ing concrete products which, in the
next year, Will have a value of APP
proHimately 100000. 900, according to
the Portland Cement Association
About %92, 700.ec0 standard size con-
crete blocks were turned out last
increased from $4,000. 900 to s77.-
sales of these blocks alone have been
increased from $4,000, ,0O0 900 TO sT1.-
100000. Development of one and two
family residences is largely responsi
bic for this gain. For example. 25S
residences of this type were built In
one suburb of Miami, Fla, in the last
year.
Block, building and roofing tile
brick and architectural stone account
ed for 100000 barrels of cement in
1924. Cement shipments were 10000
goo barrels larger than in 1928. In
spite Of this fact stocks are 1000. 00C
barrels heavier than at the start OF
the year. This is in preparation for
continuation of construction during
the Winter months and for a heavy
Spring demand.
Cement Prices Lower.
Prices of cement, according TO
Morris Kind. president of the Her
cules Cement Corporation. have de-
clined well below the level of 1920
and are only slightly above those
of 1918, before the great boom In
building developed. The decline from
the peak price of 1920, 2.22ia cents
a barrel, to the average for October.
1924, amounted TO 37ia cents a bar
rel. or l6 per cent.
Assertions that neither workman
ship nor materials used in modern
dwellings, compares with those of %
years ago are being empha ticaIly
refuted by builders and material
men.
1T used to be that very large tim
bers were used in house construc-
ton said John II. McCTatchey, a
large builder of Philadelphia, today,
and it required large man power to
put stlls and beams in place. Then
in the 1S70's came the period of the
balloon frame People were amazed
when they saw scantling nailed to-
gether to take the place of the cum
bersome timbers and made dire pre-
dictions of collapse. But that inno-
walton has stood the test.
Less Timber Wasted.
For years material was wasted
and strength where 1t was not needed.
construction today has been reduced to
s science. The modern builder does not
rely wholly on his own Judgment. He
calls in engineers and experts, who
study his problems and give practical
advice as TO materials and workman
ship. This has given better results by
obviating waste in both materials and
labor
Problems of excavation, drainage.
walls, foundations, roofs, plumb bing,
heating, pipe fitting, lighting, paint
ing and interior decorating are
worked out by experts who guaran-
tee the results of their calculations
to give satisfaction. Concrete and
steel have simplified our problems.
Make no mistake, the dwellings of
today are superior in most respects
to those of our fathers and grand
fathers"