The Washington times., 1929-10-19
BUILDING WORK
IN SEPTEMBER
TAKESDROP

Official reports from sos lead
ing cities and towns in every part
Of the United States made to S.
w. straus and Company showed a
total OF building permits issued
in September of s21s,344,506. COM
pared with $251 .193.426 in Septem-
ber last year. The loss from All
gust was Is per cent and from
September, 1928. was 20 per cent.
The figures were without special
significance, excepting that they
indicated continuation OF the
downward trend in urban build
ing activities that has been in
existence throughout the greater
part of the year.
A study of the report reveals
that the losses were fairly well
scattered throughout the country
with no acute falling off in any
particular section. To q large ex'
tent the decline is in the smaller
types of construction.
The decline in the largest cen
ters of population is somewhat
greater than in the smaller cities
for example, building permits is
sued In the IS largest cities totaled
396,920.607, compared with SlS"''
107.473 in September. 1928. a loss
Of 90 per cent. The heaviest fail
ing off in this group was In New
York, Chicago. Philadelphia. Boston
and Baltimore.
Leading Cities Listed
In the group of 25 cities report
ing the largest volume of pelmits
filed for the month. the total was
$121, ,603,15S, compared with S147:-
O26,152 last year and s164,10S,49I
in September. 1927. The loss from
last September was II per cent
and from September two years
ago. 26 per cent.
Buffalo was included in this list
ranking fourth with total of over
$7,000.000 permits issued for the
month. Aside from that city. Ne"
ark, Cincinnati. Oklahoma City,
Cambridge, Mass; Cleveland. kearnE'
N. j.; Jersey City, n. j.; Portland
Ore; Flint, Mich, and Louisville
revealed gains over the correspond
ing month of the preceding year
Gains were reported in building
permits issued in the leading cities
Of the following States Florida
Idaho, Iowa, Kansas. Kentucky
Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma
Oregon. Rhode Island, Tennessee,
Washington and Wisconsin.
Building Materials Affected
The falling off In building ac-
tivity during the past month was
reflected to some extent in the
cost Of building materials. Port
land cement which has been weak
for some time, experienced further
declines Of from 10 to 20 cents per
barrel. Towards the end of the
month there was a slight easing
in the price Of structural steel
shapes and bars especially at the
Pittsburgh mills. No change was
reported in common brick and
humber.
Declines IN construction volume
are tending to increase unemploy-
ment which is not being offset
bv the five-day week in the cities
where this short week plan Is in
operation. For the month few
advances In wages are reported
particularly a 10 per cent Increase
in New York city. Boston steam
filters and plumbers have been
advanced from s1.s7th per hour
10 $3.50. Indications are that
wages are now near the high point
Of 1920, except that nine years
ago high wages were in large
part due to an inflated currency.
Considerable jurisdictional trou-
BE has been experienced in Bos-
ton and appeals have been taken
to the Building Trades Depart
i xnnet of the American Federation
Of Labor to seek relief which. II
satisfactorily granted, may estab-
ush a precedent for jurisdictional
difficulties in other parts of the