Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19
81 MILLION SPENT
. ON CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS IN 1929
Amount Includes $751; 600, 900
Government Used on Its
Buildings,
LARGE CONTRACTORS
ExPEND $37, 500, 900
Census Bureau Study Shows d. G.
Firms Did 100000 Out
side Business.

The approximate total value of con-
struction work, both private and pub
lie, in the District of Columbia last
year was $4,000, 900, the Census Bureau
announced last night In q preliminary
tabulation Of data relating to construc-
ton.
OF this amount about $4,000, 900
represented work on Federal Govern
ment buildings, it was pointed out. OF
the grand total, $37,60o,000 was ex-
pended on construction work by 104
District of Columbia firms classed as
operative builders and general build
ing and highway contractors.
Estimated value of construction work
done directly for owners by 1913 sub
contractors whose gross business for
the year amounted TO $4,000 or over,
was $2.500,000 A similar total of
50 100000 was reported by 389 firms
with gross annual business of less
than $4,000.
$l5,OOO,O0O Federal Program.
OF the $15,00o,O0O in Federal con-
struction about $6,100,000 was included
in the reports of the firms cited, In
included in the foregoing reports there
was municipal construction work valued
at 81 ,40O, 900.
Outside Arms reported construction
work In the District totaling in value
81, 400, 900.
The minimum volume of business for
which detailed reports were required
for this census Of the construction In
dustry was $4,000. While this pro-
vision, obviously, limited the number
Of firms by whom returns were made,
the aggregate volume of construction
work done by reporting firms may rep
resent as much as 90 per cent Of the
possible total for all firms. Thus, of
the ITO operative builders and general
building and highway contractors from
whom returns have been received, the
104 Arms which did more than a $25,-
900 business reported q total Of $42,.
$4,000 as the value of construction
work, Of which $37 ,648, 900 was the
value Of work done within the District
and $5,193, 900 outside.
446 Subcontracting Firms.
The total for the remaining firms
whose business fell below the minimum
would amount to only about $700, 900,
upon the basis OF an average OF 10000
each, derived from an analysis of ac-
tual reports received. Although
greater number fell below the S25. 900
limit than in the case of general con-
tracing firms, the case of subcontract-
ing firms is similar and, Of the 446 such
firms from which reports were received,
1913 reported total volume Of business
amounting to 5000, 900, while the re-
naming 323, which are below the $25.--
900 minimum, show only $2,30O,O0O II
their years business averages $1,000
each as indicated by reports received.
Work during 1929 on Federal Govern
ment construction projects in the Dis
trict of Columbia amounted to about
S15,00O,O00, of which q little more than
So, 000, 900 is included in reports OF local
firms contained in the detailed tabula-
ton. The bulk Of the construction
work under the Engineering Department
Of the District. of Columbia is also
covered In the reports Of these local
firms.
The total value Of subcontract work
performed By local subcontracting firms
within the District during 1929 was
$I5,076, 900, distributed among the vari-
Gus trade groups az follows:
Per Cent.
ElumDlng 's'ssss zo'o
Masonry and stone work. $780,. 16.5
Generating and concrete form work 14.3