Evening star., 1925-10-15
BUILDING RUSH MAY
LAST ALL WINTER.
More Men Will Be Employed
Than Ever-Tremendous
Activity in South.
BY j. C. ROYLE.

BYJ. C. ROYLE.
More men in the building trades will
be employed throughout the coming
Winter than ever before In the history
or the United States, according to re-
ports to the Department Of Commerce
today. This Is due to two distinct fac,
tors. One, and perhaps the more i'm.
portant. is the tremendous building ac-
tivity at present in evidence in every
State south of the Potomac and Ohio
Rivers and east Of the Mississippi.
Florida and other Southern States are
bidding for men, skilled as well as un-
skilled artisans. There Is no question
that serious shortage of housing
facilities exists In Florida at the pres.
ent time.
Effort to Supply Demand.
Since in the South climate offers
iew obstacles toward building activ-
ltles. every effort will be exercised to
supply this pressing demand.
A corresponding II smaller activity,
exists IN Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi
ana Louisiana, but it Is not only in
the South that the increase in building
activity during this Winter will be ap-
parent. The move initiated by the De.
partment of Commerce toward the EN-.
couragement of Winter construction
unquestionably Is succeeding.
Employment Increases.
Employment during November and
december In tho last three years has
increased approximately per cent, as
shown by reports in 16 leading cities
The number of building contracts
placed during the past Summer un.
questlonably was the largest ever re-
corded. and the operations represented
by these contracts will extend in some
cases we'll into next year. The cost Of
construction during the extremely cold
months in the Northern cities, 1t is
estimated. is around 4 per cent more
than during the Summer months
Most coptractors, however, declare
that this money Is money well and
prontably spent In continuing con-
struction throughout the Winter.
Building Now More Even.
Winter construction has helped to
eliminate some of the evils of the con-
struction industry. which suffered from
chills In the Winter time, when work
erS were idle. material sales at a low
ebb. and the contractors organizations
disintegrating. and from fever in the
summer, when men were being lured
from one job to another by bonuses
and overtime and stolen" by one
hard-pressed contractor from another.
The gain in employment during No
vember. December. January and Feb.
ruary has been counterbalanced by a
slackness in employment throughout
the Midsummer months.
In consequence, the entire industry,
including the distribution of materials,
has been given additional stability.
Probable 1928 Total.
~ L. he
more thoroughly understood when il
is realized that construction during
1925 unquestionably will reach a total
exceeding S., 900. .000, 900. The services
of over 1000 900 workers have been
engaged in the industry itself. and it
has been responsible for full and part
time employment Of millions more in
allied lines Of endeavor.
Construction 10 one Of the balance
wheels Of American industry. and II
the wheels are subject to sudden Jolts
and Jars it will transmit them to other
parts Of the economic mechanism. If
those are kept humming smoothly, 1t
will benefit business in general by
absorbing minor shocks from other
parts.
Less Money Tied Up.
This stabilization should enable
larger building programs to be car
ried out with the same number OF
workers. The workers themselves will
be able to cut down the period In
which they are forced to remain Idle.
Building material producers will main
tain plants Of a size calculated 1or
steady business rather than the over
size equipment now necessary to nli
the demand Of the Summer rush.
The necessity OF dealers and con-
twin
terial stocks to meet the demand OF
the husy season will be less keenly
felt. Contractors will have a chance
to keep their trained organizations to-
gether throughout the year. 1t is pos
sible that incidental, savings Will be
reflected in moderation OF costs TO
building owners. The benefits to conn.,
munities in general through the re-
duction Of unemployment throughout
the Winter time will be incalculaple.
Labor Shortage in South.
According to reports Of the Depart
ment of Labor, building activities nave
not checked in the slightest In the San
Francisco Bay region, and there is
shortage Of skilled artizans In some
lines. In Los Angeles 5000 to 5000
workers are employed on an active
building program in the district. In
Mississippi building construction Is
giving steady employment to skilled
labor throughout the entire State, and
similar conditions exist in Alabama.
Tennessee and Kentucky. There is
general shortage Of skilled and COM
mon labor throughout Florida.
Building contractors are working
overtime, and the outlook for con-
tinued employment Of all available
building trade artizans is very bright.
In Atlanta the building program is
affording employment to over 5000
men, and much new work is being
planned. In South Carolina building
contracts and municipal improve
ment work continue on q large scale.
and practically all resident craftsmen
are employed. Similar conditions exist
in Virginia and North Carolina.
fCopyright 1921