Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-03-14
NATIONS BUILDING
ACTIVITY GROWS.
Losses in New York Offset by
Marked Increases in
the Southwest.

Building activity continues to run
very close to the rate established in
the early part of the last year, ac-
cording to a survey by the f. w. Dodge
Corporation. February building con-
tracts in the Sc Eastern States
(Which include about seven eighths
Of the total construction volume of
the country amounted to S299.260.-
o00 This was very slightly under
/ he figure for February of last year
and less than ] per cent over the
i figure for January of this year. The
! combined total for the first two
months of this year, $595,653, 600,
ihows n decline of one-half of l per
ent from the first two months of
asst year.
Although the total building volume
Of the two years has been running so
lose. there has been shifting of
;ctivity as to localities and as TO
classes. There has been a decided
falling off in New York State and
northern New Jersey; a slight de-
rrease in the Northwest; a slight in
crease in the Central West; and sub
"tautial increases in New England,
the Pittsburgh district and the South
cast. Public works and utilities con-
tracts have increased ConSidera bly,,
taking up the slack in other classes
OF construction.
Last months total of S299, 200. 900
included: s136,023,2 200, or As per cent
Of all construction. for residential
buildings; S52,SG5, 200, or is per cent.
for public works and utilities; $3S.-
S25, 100, or - per cent, for commercial
buildings: $20,767,200, or I per cent,
for industrial buildings, and S20,27S,-
600, or per cent, for educational
buildings.
Contemplated new work reported
last month amounted to $500. 700, 500
This was an increase of 4 per cent
over the amount reported in January
and of 81 per cent over February of
last year.
February building contracts in New
York State and northern New Jersey
dropped to $63,5Sl, 500, the lowest
monthly total since February two
years ago. The decrease from jan
uary was Is per cent; from February
of last year, Al per cent. Total build
ing contracts for the first two months
of this year, amounting to S174,352,-
zoo, show a drop of is per cent from
the corresponding period of 1924.
Building contracts awarded in New
England last month amounted to
Z4,25S,50O. This was practically
equal to January's total and was a
81 per cent increase over February
of last year. The combined total for
the first two months of this year.
S4S, 45S,700, shows an increase of %
per cent over the first two months
of last year
Increased 81 Per Cent.
February building contracts in. the
Middle Atlantic States eastern Penn
sylvania, southern New Jersey, Mary
land. Delaware, District of Columbia
and Nirginia) amounted to $33, 531 400
The increase over January was SIS
per cent; over February 1924, 25 per
cent. Construction started during the
first two months of this year has
amounted to $50, 100, a decrease of
per cent from the corresponding
period of last year.
Construction started last month in
the Southeastern States (the Caro-
'inas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee,
Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and
Louisiana) amounted to S46,67S,400.
EhiS was a IA per cent increase over
January and 10 per cent increase
over February of last year The COM
bined total for the first two months
of this year, $S7.704,1 100, shows IAN s
per cent increase over the first two
months of 1924
February building contracts in
western Pennsylvania, West Virginia.
Ohio and Kentucky amounted to SAL
$4,000. This was % per cent over
the preceding month and Sc per cent
over the corresponding month of last
year. The total amount of work
started during the first two months
of 1925 is SS6, 042, 900, an increase of
AZ per cent over the first two months
of last year.
Last months building contracts in