Evening star., 1926-11-27

! For the first time in the last few
| years Washington has failed to keep
ahead of previous records in residen
tial construction. At the end of last
month Washington residential build
ing dropped below the same 10
months period Of last year.
The chief drop has been in house
construction, which has now reached
decline of about so per cent. Apart
ment house construction. however, is
| ahead of last year but not sufficient
to bring the combined total Of house
and apartment construction up to the
same value as 1925.
Last year residential construction
| for the first 10-month period amount
ed to about $39 100000; this year 1t
totals $38,686,350. This represents
about 75 housing units less than last
| year
General Record Likely.
These figures, however, only apply
| to residential construction and there
seems to be no question that the
| total amount Of construction here
this year will establish a record.
During the month Of October. how
ever, according to the latest survey
Of the country, Washington dropped
| from sixth to twelfth place among
the leading cities of the country. No
vember will see a considerable jump
in construction here. This week
showed increased activity in the con-
struction industry in Washington.
| That the building industry is clos
| ing the year on a reasonably stA-
| bilized basis was indicated by build
! ing reports for October from 4S2
cities and towns. The decline from
| October, 1925, was only little more
| than 4 per cent. This was apout
the same as the September and not
so great as the August decline from
| the same mouths last year. The IN
crease in volume of permits for
| October over September this year
| was nearly "a per cent, which also
) emphasi the apparent stablnty OF
the building situation at present.
Change In Winter Plans.
A few years ago, or before the
movement to increase the volume
of Winter building was started, the
| normal trend was a decline from
! September to October, but during
| the past three years, since the VIM
| ter building movement has been
| gaining momentum, this trend has
| changed from a decline to a gain.
| Building reports show, for example,
| in 1924 a gain of a little more than
| IS per cent from September. Last
wear the increase was slightly more
| than II jer cent. Thus. this years
| gain Of "a per cent establishes q
| record.
| While it is impossible to tell
| whether this increase over Septem-
Der is due to a further Strengthening
| in the Winter building movement,
or to more accidental circumstances,
the October gain is probably indica.
| tive of a considerable volume or
building during the closing month
| of this year.
Another important phase OF the
situation at present is the increase
in. building throughout the larger
cities of the country. The 25 lead
| ing cities, for example, showed a
gain Of per cent over Octoper'
| 1925, and a gain Of AZ per cent over
September this year.
Cities Show Some Gains.
In this connection it is also in
teresting to note that the Volune
Of building in the 25 leading cities
was more than 60 per cent or the
total reported in the 405 compara. .
tive cities and towns. Eleven OF
the 25 leading cities showed very
substantial gains, indicating that only
only is the Winter building move
ment more CHARACTERISTIC OF the
larger centers, but also that Dullo ,
ing activity is shifting again toward
! these centers.
The three leading cities in volume.
New York, Chicago and Detroit all