Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-16

The 1925 construction volume was
not only large beyond all precedent,
nut II continued at rpcord-breaking
rate right up TO the end of December,
according to +. W. Dodge Corpora =
ton. December building and engi-
neering CONT acts in the Sc Eastern
States amounted TO S5lO.S6S 400, by
Tar the highest December figure ever
recorded. There was an increase III
TO per cent over November. which is
quite unusual, and an increase Of 81
pee cent over December of the proceed
Ing year.
Total construction started in these
So States during the year 1925 amount
ed 10 S5.S2l,06s. 400. an increase Of 80
per cent over 1924. which was itself a
record year. A conservative estimate
OF last years construction in the en-
tire country would be So 500. 900 900
compared with $5,237 900 900 for 1924
a 2s per cent Increase. Texas the
tar Western States. which are out
side the Dodge compilations, did not
show such large increases as the 80
Ia stern States did.
Last years total for the az States
included the followins important
itemS: s2,6f1 SIS. 400. or ~ per cent
of AL construction for residential
buildings; SSS5.732 900 or IL per cent
FOR public works and utilities: $685.
400, or II per cent. for CONNER,
ctal buildings: Sf62 al 200. or per
cent, Tor industrial and electric power
pla nts. and S4l3. 203 700 or per &c MT
for educational buildings. Residen-
tial buildings increased 30 per cent
over 1924, public works md utilities
increased ," per cent: commercial
buildings increased 4 per cent: indus
Al y
educational buildings increased II per
cent. The most SpeCta CulHr increase
was rs per cent in social and recrca.
tional buildings. which amounted To
S24s .326.300 in 1925.
Contemplated new work reported
for these States during the wear 1925
amounted to SS.S26,I52 100. this being
81 per cent in excess of the amount
OF construction actually started. This
large excess indicates n continuing
heavy construction demand carried
over into the new year
Opening of Year 1926.
The year 1925 opens with copstruc.
tt"n continuing al a record rate and
practically no indication yet in sight
OF any slowing down within the next
Few months. Should there be any
slowing down during 1926 it does not
seem likely to occur until after the
Spring season has passed. Some OBJ
servers look for A reaction some time
in 1925, while others anticipate an
even greater volume than in 1925
Even the most conservative business
men will expect a very large building
volume. particularly during the frs,
half Of the year
December building and engineerins
contracts in New England amounted
10 s4.11S.90o, being an per cent de
crease from November and a - PEI
cent increase over December of tn,
previous year.
The years total for New EnsIa no
construction was S441.lS1. 600. which
was 3S per cent over the previous rec
ord volume of 1924. This large tota'
Included s216S15.a 900. or 45 per cent OF
all construction for residential build
1ngs: SIT. $40. 900. or 1e per cent. for
commercial buildings: S54.717. 500. or J.
per cent. for educational buildings
$4l.O5O 500. or Q per cent for indus
trial buildings. and s35 500 900. or s
Per cent. for public works and utilities
Contemplated new work reported for
New England during the past II