Evening star., 1925-11-04
BUILDING INDUSTRY
BOOMS IN BRITAIN
Activity Helps to Offset Lack
of Business Progress in
Many Other Lines.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, November 4.-When
so much that is pessimistic in regard
to industrial conditions is coming
over from Great Britain. 1t may be
worth while to take cogniZance Of the
facts about one industry which is said
to be f1ourishing-thati is the building
industry, according to information re-
ceived by Bankers Trust Co. The
building industry in Great Britain
Is experiencing a prosperous year, not
only in the metropolis, but throughout
the country, with the possible excep-
tion of the shipbuilding areas and cer-
tain parts Of the coal fields.
Although building costs remain
high, the latest report Of the inter-
departmental committee, appointed by
the ministry of health, after a survey
of prices of building materials, shows
that there have been no spasmodic
changes in prices in building materl-
ais since 1924. Some materials have
increased a little in cost, but others
have decreased in price, and, on the
whole, it has been possible during the
past II months to assure prospective
building owners that final costs would
not be much in excess of the original
estimates.
Price Levels High.
The price level, however. is too high
to enable economic housing schemes
to be undertaken for the accommoda-
ton of the poorer classes, and yet,
with Government assistance, some
$50 900 houses suited to the working
classes have been erected In recent
wears, and contracts have been made
for SO 900 more houses. while Il further
73, 900 have been authorized. Many
h. ~ ra
under f25 a year taxable value, have
been built without any subsidy at all
from the taxpayer during the past two
years.
In fact. since the beginning of 1923
no fewer than $50 900 houses have
been built in England and Wales by
unaided private enterprises. Many
small builders have been making sub
stantial profit out of building houses
for sale, and some have not troubled
even TO claim a subsidy, as they did
not wish TO be annoyed with official
forms and limitations.
Sweeping Changes in London.
Building in London has been of
very improved character, due to the
fact that within the last few years
leases have been expiring. and this has
made it possible for the owners of the
land to make new leases. ana In con-
nection Herewith to require an inn
proved form of building construction.
This is said to be particularly true of
the great shopping streets-Itegent,
Piccadilly and Oxford-where new con-
struction has almost entirely changed
the former appearance Of the streets.
This reconstruction has brought
about a revolution in building and has
led TO the use of steel in many ways.
1t has also caused the British archi-
tects and builders to adopt many of
the methods which have for some
time been so successfully used in the
United States. In connection with
house building many interesting eX
periments are being made. A num-
Der of houses are being built of steel
plates, on light steel frames. and in
sulated by the use of a core of cork,
covered with gunite.
The building boom, If It may be so
called. has helped many other sub
sidiary industries, such as the manu-
facturers Of light castings, manufac-
turers of sanitary ware and particu-
larly the manufacturers of brick.