Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-25

Construction in the United States has
made an important contribution to the
stability of the Nations business In
recent years. It's volume of $1,000 ,000.-
900 a year has directly affected the
prosperity of many other fields of busl-
ness and large numbers of workers.
The construction industry itself has
advanced in a number of directions,
and notable among these are the close
cooperation of groups in the construc-
ton industry, more intensified research
and prompt application of its results,
growth of Standardization and simpli-
flcation, definite long-range planning OF
public utility and Government con-
struction, greater independence OF
local conditions in financing and con-
certed efforts toward stability.
These are developments reported by
DR.. John M. Cries, chief Of the Divi-
sion of Building and Housing, Depart
ment of Commerce, in a chapter on
construction" written for the COM
mittee on recent economic changes.
The chapter covers one of many re-
cent economic changes which for more
than a year have been surveyed by the
National Bureau of Economic Research.
The national bureaus surveys, together
with the committees report, has just
been published. The latter constitutes
critical appraisal of the developments,
that there may be a better understand
ing OF our economic system and
broader ability to cope with problems
as they arise.
Program Is Not Large.
The size of the national construc-
ton program, DR.. Cries indicates, is
not large, in relation 10 national income
and savings. There Is need for an an
nual addition of 100000 homes and
other types of structures. This is In
part due to the demand caused by
movement of population from farms To
cities and towns. The requirement has
been stabilized somewhat as result
of immigration restriction.
The increase in per capita income
and savings has influenced the require
ments of home construction. notable
advances as to minimum standards OF
light. air and sanitary facilities being
noted, and further emphasis being
found on furnishings, equipment and
landscaping Perhaps the most marked
improvement is in plumbing. Another
influence in this construction advance
is the growing percentage of vacan-
cies in rundown and undesirable
dwellings in many cities. City plan
ming and coming has become widespread
Statistics show that one family house
construction reached peak nationally
In 1925 and of multi-family houses In
1926. Among non-residential buildings
the largest group was commercial struc-
lures, including off1ces. banks, stores,
warehouses and garages. The greatest
fiuctuation was noted in Offices. Next
in importance was industrial buildings.
Recessions in 1924 and 1927, As COM
pared with preceding years, may have
been due to improved processes which
have frequently diminished space re-
Quirements, as we'll as to dependable
transportation, which decreased stor-
age requirements, it is indicated.
In large buildings, DR.. Cries states,
construction time is perhaps 30 to 40
per cent less than required before the
World War. More work on materials
is done in the factory and less at the
site. Approximately IL per cent less
steel is required In steel frame con-
struction by reason of changes in
basis of working stress. Other savings
have resulted from careful analysis of
strains and stresses. Wider use of
specifications and better inspection
Municipal building codes are being re-
vised IN the light of modern practices
More reliance is being placed upon
trained engineers. There has been in
tensified competition in building ma
terials.
Machinery More Ada ptable.
Labor saving machinery has been made
more adaptable and more reliable and
Is more widely used, DR.. Cries indi-
Gates, including the motor truck and the
gas engine. Economies have been de-
rived fro ma more general rental of ma
chinery and equipment by contractors
There has been no increase in the
ratio of labor to material costs in con-
Struction Of large buildings DR. Cries