San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-16
Building Age Makes Survey
Indicating Great Build
ing Shortage.
ACTIVE OUTLOOK 1924
About IS Per Cent of
Housing Shortage to Be
Made Up This Year.
From Building Age)

No discourse on economics generally
or on economics of the building indus
try is here presented, but merely a
few deductions from the building re-
ports this year and other years, and
from the figures as established by the
building survey through the chambers
of commerce of the United States
which we have just completed.
1t Is true, Of course, that when there
IL a genuine need for a certain thing,
that need is usually satisfied. That
there is a great building shortage Is
unquestioned. The amount of building
in any year will depend, however, not
alone on the shortage, but to some
extent also on building costs which, If
too high, will slow up construction.
and on business generally which, as a
whole, if depressed, will be reflected
in the building industry.
Such a thing as absolutely reliable
figures as to the probable construction
for q year in advance is quite impoS-
sible to obtain. For who knows ex-
sctly what will be built a year ahead
in his village, town or city?
1t was not surprising, therefore, TO
find that a very large percentage of
those who furnished us with figures
as to the building shortage did not re-
ply at all to that part of the question
naire which asked them for the prob
able 1924 construction.
Houses Take the Lead.
Neither was it surprising to find
that there was far more definite
knowledge on houses to be erected in
1924 than on what other forms of
structures would be built. In fact,
information regarding structures other
than residential to be built during
1924 was so meagre that we have dis
regarded it entirely. 1900
The figures of probably 1924 con-
struction of residences as obtained
from the chambers of commerce of the
United States and proportional for
the total population show that 30 per
cent of the shortage will be made up
during 1924.
II we use this figure OF S5 per cent
for construction of all kinds, as shown
in our survey, we get a figure of 81
746,556.750. Our figures of the total
building shortage, however, do not in
clude military and naval buildings
(arsenals, armories. etc.,, or public
works and utilities bridges. car barns
lighthouses, railroad stations, water
supply systems, etc.,, which IN the
past three years have represented
about IS per cent Of the total construc-
ton. Our figures for 1924 construc.
ton may be said, then to represent 81
per cent of the total construction
Figuring on this basis, we get q fig
ure Of $3.349. Ass, 900.
Church Construction Large.
To this total must be added the fig
ures Of church and memorial construc-
ton, amounting to over 100000, 00C
per annum, and farm construction for
1924 totaling So, 1850, 100000. Another
10 per cent, or $685., 100000. is to be
added for repairs and alterations &c
existing structures, thus making 6
grand total Of probably 1924 building
construction amounting to $4,345, 900,
900.
By way Of comparison we have ex
AHMED the building reports OF thu
past. The month Of September is usec
because most Of our reports in the
present survey were dated that month
In September, 1920, the reports
from rs states showed building con
templated that month as over $50,
100000. The year 1921 showed con
tracts awarded from the same section
S2,241, 0O0, 900. There was then, abou
seven times as much building dom
during 1921 as there was reported
contemplated In the month OF Septem
In September. 1921, in the sam,
states. the amount OF contemplate