Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-20
Building Figures Show
Cliff dwelling Tendency
BY HARDEN .CoLFAx.

Whatever the fate of the rose bow
cred cottage in the individual case. the
American people rapidly are become
modern cliff dwellers.
At least this is true in cities OF
more than 100000 population, for fig
ureS announced last week by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics covering she
IS municipalities of this class in the
United States show the preponderance
in construction of residential buildings
continues to increase on the apartment
side OF the housing picture.
During the first six months of the
present year, the report discloses that
of rev housing provided for l4l 900
families In these cities, 59,4 per cent
was in apartment houses, measured by
family capacity. while in the first half
of 1928 the corresponding figure was
5S.S per cent in total provision made
for 1875, 900 families.
Comparable statistics do not 70 back
far for all Of these 85 cities in the
100000 class. but are available for IS
Of them, beginning with 1922. The
bureau obliglngly presents q table in
its report for these eight years. which
discloses that of new housing in these
comparable municipalities, with the
number Of families provided for as the
measuring rod, 34.6 per cent was apars-
the proportion passed so per cent IN
1926 and climbed each semi-annual
period until 1t reached 623 per cent
in the first six months of this year.
The contrast is with one-family and
two-family dwellings of all types. These
statistics are compiled and published
in semi-anEual reports, and the same
general tendencies are disclosed by
last-half figures on record.
- ~ n
In the IS cities of the 100 900 class
building permits for one and two
family dwellings of all types issued
$269, 000, 900, contraSted with $376, 000,-
900 in the corresponding period of
1928, while apartment house permits
aggregated 100000 in the period
this year, compared with $470, 900, 900
in the first six months of 1928.
| All classes of residential building
| have recorded a decrease this year, with
F., the exception of hotels and clubs,
which are not included in the figures
given above due mainly to squirt in
| New York City, which permits were
; issued during the first half of 1929
| for 12l hotels at an estimated ex-
| penditure of $232 ,O99, 500. The aggre-
/ gate for hotels this year is three times
; that OF last year in value and some
I $3l 600, 900 in excess of the aggregate
! estimated cost of oEe-family buildings
for which construction permits were
| issued in the IS cities in the first SIX
months this year.
| Taking another phase Of this very
| entertaining compilation Of statistics,
! the capital of the country, as reflected
j by building permits in the 85 cities OF
! the 100000 class, is beiEg poured more
/ heavily into construction of places or
| amusement than into new church
| buildings.
In the first six months this year
these IS municipalities issued permits
for 279 amusement buildings at an
estimated cost of $19,000,000. ard ass
! permits for churches, at an estimated
| cost of $l3,00O,000. while in the cor =
responding period Of 1928 there were
issued 504 permits for amusement
buildings to cost an estimated $32,-
100000, and S37 permits for churches
to cost $19,o00,00o.
| # y -
While residential buildings Of all
| types declined iE the 1929 period con-
I trasted with that of last year, and SO
! did construction OF churches and
amusement places, those who search
for signs of material prosperity in such
reports may find the rainbow's end Ill
the statistics of construction of factories
ard workshops in these 50 Cities
J During the flrst half of this year
the bureau reports for these cities the
issuance of 1858 permits for factories
and workshops which will cost an es-
timated total of $57 10000, In con-
trast to l,2a4 permits for an estimated
aggregate of $4,000, 900 during the
1928 period, an increase of So per cent
in number and Of 1,s per cent in esti-
mated cost.
The automobile age Is represented by
1858 new publicR yarages, $4,000 private