The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-17
PASSES
CONSTRUCTION
PEAK
Decline Of Seven Per Cent
Seen In Reports From
Large Cities

Reports Of the volume Of build
ing permits and plans filed in
April In important cities and
towns throughout the country
give evidence Of the approach Of
activities which will more ade-
quately reflect normal demand.
April totals in 1913 cities were
$685., 1929 ,461 compared with 1851 ,S49,.
492 in April, 1928, a loss Of $24,-
O27,O31 or per cent, according TO
the national monthly building sur
vey Of s. w. Straus and Company.
With the elimination of New York
City. where the volume Of plans
filed was excessive, the country as
Q whole lost nearly - per cent
compared with April, 1928.
Contrast Sharp.
This exhibit OF losses il In Oharp
contrast with 1898 conditions. for
April Of that year showed q gain
over 1922 OF more than 30 per cent.
Since building permits and plans
nled with the building departments
In substantially all centers of i'm
portalce In the United States com.
prise an infallible indication of what
may be expected in the industry rs
o whole. the curve Of activities may
be expected now to show a down.
1928.
However. 1t should be borne in
mind. the Straus survey points out,
that large volumes of building work
are now in progress and much still
10 pending. Or. to May the volume
Of plans filed and permits issued
this year in the twenty-five most
important cities (erom q building
ST. nlpoint) was $927. OVO, 900, which
compares with $S49, O0O, 900 in the
same cities for the same period in
1929, and with $4,000, 900 In 1929.
The amount Of pending construction
on May l, this year, was substan-
tally 3 per cent greater than on
May /, 1928, and more than so per
cent greater than on May /, 1922.
judged from the standpoint OF con.
templated construction officially de.
clared.
Total Greater.
April 1924 in these twenty-five
leading cities accounted for pend.
ing consumption Of $204, 900, 900 az
compared with $40, 100000 for the
same month 1922.
The April 1924 loss, therefore,
would seem to indicate only q
change In tendencies-the dawn Of
q new era of more normal, sub
stantial and better stabilized condi-
tons throughout the industry, than
has existed during the recent periods
when the dangers of a too great ex-
pansion have been apparent.
During the past five years an.
proximately 10000, 600, 900 has been
spent in new buildings and /altera.
tons throughout the United States,
substantially half Of this sum being
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
VIII be added to from month TO
month, thus gradually and health.
1ully restoring activities to- q basis
OF actual demand and supply.
The general tendency Of labor
during the month Of April was to.
ward higher wages. the 8. w.
Straus Company survey reveals.
In more than fifty cities definite
increases were granted to, members
Va LAG V0&AO0B CEAILb. WIN q gen.
eral slowing up Of business in many
lines OF industry, It was apparent
during April that these conditions
made for lower labor costs in build.
ing, although there was a distinct
Softening In the prices Of lumber
and structural steel material. While
the declines were not especially
great excepting in the case of new
grades Of lumber, they manifested
themselves in all markets. Other.
building materials showed practi-
caIly no changes with the Axcep-
ton Of cement, sand and gravel
which declined In New York, Chica.
go and Milwaukee.
New York Active.
In striking contrast with condl.
tons throughout the greater part
Of the country, activities in New
York city. as judged from the stand.
point Of April plans filed, show no
indications Of Immediately slowing
up. In the five boroughs $4S, 9O4..
$50 Of building plans were filed
against $36,772,1e1 in April 1923,
gain Of 81 per cent. New York
city's April figures were II per cent
Of the total Of the other $50 cities in
cluded in the months survey.
In the central West, 100 cities re-
D0rfA0 a Lose rHyoYs 1aot ApriI ~ 10