Evening star., 1928-11-10
OCTOBER BUILDING
FIGURES AT PEAK
Total Construction and Engi-
neering Work Shown to Sur
pass All Prior Records.

New building and engineering work
contracted for in the 81 States east Of
the Rocky Mountains during the past
month was the highest october con-
tract total on record, according to F.
w. Dodge Cooperation. Last months
total, S597 7103, 500 in amount. was 8 per
cent ahead of the September, 1928, to-
tai and it was per cent over the Oc-
tober, 1927 total. The above figure in
cludeS about 81 per cent of the coun-
trys total construction and is Segre-
gated into eight districts. which are re-
viewed below. When comparisons were
made with the october. 1927, records
it was found that the only district
where there was decrease was the
Central West.
The October building record brought
the total amount of new construction
started in these States since the first
of this year up to $5.724,047 600, as
compared with $3.50, ,297 900 for the
corresponding period of last year, the
increase being z per cent.
Analysis of the october contract to-
tai showed the following outstanding
classes of work: $239, ,69l 300, or 40 per
buildings; $148, 500, or 25 per cent,
for public works and utilities; $67,330,-
400 or IL per cent, for commercial
buildings, and $62 2,258.700, or 10 per
cent, for industrial projects.
New contemplated projects as re-
ported last month in The 81 Eastern
States reached total Of $616,933, 100.
This was an increase of 18 per cent
over the amount reported in the pre-
ceding month and gain of l per cent
over the october, 1927, total.
Record in Middle Atlantic Area.
Construction contracts awarded dur
ing the past month in the Middle At
1antic States eastern Pennsylvania,
Southern New Jersey, Maryland, Della
ware, District of Columbia and Virgln1a)
was the largest october contract total
on record for this district. The total,
$77,7s45o0, in amount was l8 per
cent ahead of the September, 1928, rec
ord. as we'll as 81 per cent ahead of the
October, 1927, total.
During the first 10 months of this
year there was $681 ,129,200 worth OF
contracts let on new building and engi-
neering work in this territory, being 8
per cent ahead of the amount started
during the first 10 months of last year.
Contemplated work reported in the
Middle Atlantic States in october
amounted to 84,503,000. This figure
reported in the preceding month and it
was 81 per cent in excess of the amount
reported in october, 1927.
New building and engineering prof.
ectS contracted for during the past
month in New York State and Northern
New Jersey, amounting to $187, ,T81 900,
was the highest october contract total
ever recorded in this territory. 1t was
also the largest monthly total on record
since December, 1925. Large contracts
in the public works and utilities class
and in the commercial buildings helped
to make the above records. The in
crease over September of this year was
81 per cent and the increase over Oc-
tober of last year was II per cent.
New construction work started in the
New England States last month reached
q total of SAL ABS, 200. This figure shows
q gain of "a per cent over the October,
1927, record, but there was a drop of
a. per cent from the September, 1928,
total.
Growing in New England.
Last months contract total brought
the amount of new building and engi-
neering work started in the New Eng
land States since the first of this year
up to $436, 100000, as compared with
total of $338.666,900 for new building
dIlU eIlB1l6GTulB WOTk SthIJGQ QuTulS
the corresponding period of 1927, the
increase being 90 per cent.
The Pittsburg district (Western
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and
Kentucky had $60,595, 900 in contracts
for new building and engineering work
during the past month. The above fig
ure was per cent ahead of the Octo-
Der, 1927, record. but there was a loss
Of 90 per cent from the total for Sep
tember of this year.
october construction contracts in the
Central West CIllinois. Indiana, Iowa,
Wisconsin, Southern Michigan, Missouri,
Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska)
amounted to $154,412,500. This figure
shows gain of IL per cent over the
September, 1928, total. but there was
drop of 81 per cent from the october,
1927, record.
Construction contracts awarded for the
month of October in the Southeastern
States (the Carolinas, Georgia. Florida,
Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Ar
kansas and Louisiana) amounted to
S51 ,128,300. The above total shows a
10 per cent increase over the amount
contracted for during the month Of last
year, but there was slight drop from
the amount contracted for during the
preceding month of this year.