, 1925-01-03
HOME BUILDING
SHOWS GAIN IN
THE LAST YEAR
Increase in Figures
for 1923 Shown by
New Records
By J. G. RoYLE.

VOopyfiBhN isSS, Jasper II10une)
NEW YORK. Jan. S.-The urge
to "own your own home" has been
translated into build your own
home" according to building ma.
terial men. To substantiate this,
they point to the tact that last year.
ever though It had period of bust.
ness depression. saw some $780,.
600 900 more spent in residential
Aeonstruction than 1928. In view OF
the prospects for = period Of general
business prosperity In the early
months Of next year. they anticipate
another period Of great construction
activity.
This will BIO fostered. they say. by
the fact that the man with only a
few thousand dollars to put into a
house car now secure a small cost
detailed plans and specifications pre-
pared by competent architects
through various house plan SER
vices and car build a substantial.
permanent homo planned for both
appearance and convenience.
New records in the 81 OF concrete
masonry were hung up in 1924 and
manufacturers expect to break them
again in 1925. More than 5000
manufacturers now are engaged In
making concrete products which, in
the new year, will have a value Of
approximately 800. coo. 900, accord
ing to the Portland Cement associa-
ton. About ss2 .7oo. 900 standard
size concrete blocks were turned
out,last year and in tho last ~
Cars, annual sales of these blocks
, alone have increased from S1a .o0o,.
900 to SIT 900 900. Development Of
n and two family residences is
largely responsible 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 ac'
counted for 1000 900 barrels OF CO.
ment In 1924. Cement shipments
were 10000. 900 barrels larger than
in 1923. In spite of this fact. stocks
are two million barrels heavier than
at the start Of the year. This IL In
preparation for continuation OF
construction during the winter
months and for a heavy spring de.
mand.
Prices Of cement, according to
Morris Kind, president OF the Her.
cules Cement corporation. have de-
clined well below tho 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. 2.22h cents
IA barrel TO the average for October.
1924. amounted to 37h cents a bar
rel or Is per cent
Assertions that neither work
manship nor materials used In mod
ern dwellings compares with that OF
>25 years ago nre being emphat'cal-
~ refuted by builders and material
men.
TT used to be that very large
timbers were used in house con
struction.' said John H. McClatch'
ey. a large builder OF Philadelphia
today. land 1t required large mar
power to put sills and beams In
place. Then in the 1905 came
the period OF the balloon frame
People were amazed when they saw
scantling nailed together to take
the place OF the cumbersome tim
bers n made dire predictions OF
collapse. But that innovation has
stood the test.
For years material was wasted
and strength put where 1t was not
needed. construction today has been
reduced to a science. The modern
builder does not rely wholly upon
his own judgement. He calls In
engineers and experts who study his
problems and give practical advice
to materials and workmanship.
This has given better results by Oh
Waiting waste In both materials and
labor.
Problems OF excavation. drain
age, walls. foundations. roofs.
plumbing. heating. Pipe fitting.
lighting, painting and interior dec
Grating are worked out by experts
who guarantee the results of their
calculations to give satisfaction.
Concrete and steel have simplificd
our problems. Make no mistake, the
dwellings Of today are superior In
most respects to those OF our fath-
ers and grandfatherA"