Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26
Minimum Period in January
Found $500 Workers
Busy in City.
CENSUS FIGURES SHOW
SEASONAL TREND HERE
September Climax Followed by De-
cline During Last Three Months,
Says Morehouse.

FO~~~-
of about $500, or approximately so per
cent more than the minimum, in July
August and September.
These figures were made public today
in preliminary statistics prepared by
Dr. Alanson D. Morehouse chief of the
construction section, census Of distri-
button In the United States Census
Bureau. Relating to the number OF
workmen on the pay rolls of the report
ing construction firms, on or near the
18th of each month, they show q
distinctly seasonal trend in employ
ment of construction labor in the local
field last year The peak from July
to September was followed by decline
during the last three months OF the
year to q level slightly higher than
that Of January.
Total Lowest In January.
Employment by general contractors
was at its lowest point during the year
in January. It increased gradually to
a maximum Of about 1890 in August
and September. and thereafter declined
month by month until the end OF the
year. The total for all classes OF sub
contractors, likewise, was lowest IN jan
uary, and, although there was little
change in February, the rise thereafter
was somewhat more rapid than in the
case Of general contracting firms, and
the first high of the year was attained
in July, with a slight decline in August.
The maximum peak for the year was
attained In September, followed by a
general falling trend toward the END
Of the year.
The month-to-month employment re-
ported by operative builders. on the
other hand shows a distinctly different
trend in that field from that already
observed for general and subcontracting
firms. The summary of employment
data reported by 40 operative builders
indicates that there was a considerable
volume Of construction work in prog
ress at the beginning Of the year. The
number of skilled and unskilled work.
men reported on pay roll on the 18TH
of January was approximately twice as
great as the number employed by these
same firms on December is.
Building Projects Completed.
As is generally known to those ia
miliar with the construction situation
within the District. several large build
ing projects were under construction at
the beginning Of 1929, which we're COM
pleted and ready for occupancy on or
near the established rental date, Oc-
tober l. This situation is clearly re-
hected in the trend Of employment by
operative builders, which started with
about 1,700 workmen in January, In
creased to q peak of more than 1900
in April and May, maintained rela-
lively high level through June, July and
August and then declined steadily until
the end Of the year.
Although the two classes Of general
contractors. for which reports have been
tab
are engaged in distinctly different types
of work, the general trend of employ
ment throughout the year is similar.
The Sc building contracting Arms from
which reports were received employed
about 900 skilled and unskilled work.
men In January. The total number on
pay rolls of this group was about IL
per cent higher in February and March.
increased another per cent in April
and maintained a slightly rising trend
through May. The first marked in
crease Of the year appeared in June.
with another sharp increase in July and
less decided rise in August. The high
point Of the year, about IS per cent
above the low in January, was reached
in September, followed by a regularly
declining trend to the end of the year.
Highway Level Highest In August.
Data relating to general highway and
street contractors show a higher level
Of employment in January than in
February of 1929, but the activity OF
these firms increased somewhat sharply
from March to a minor peak in May.
A slight decline in employment during
June and July was followed by a sharp
increase to the highest point Of the year
in August, after which employment in
that field fell of slightly during Sep
TENDER, october and November, and
very sharply In December.
OF the nine individual classes of sub
contrasting firms, the majority follow
the general averge of employment, at
tanning q peak for the year in either
July, August or September. The firms
engaged in plumbing, masonry, heating
and excavating reached their highest
point Of activity in July employment
by Arms engaged In electrical and ele-
vator installation, and sheet metal,
roofing and ornamental iron work was
greatest in August, with another high
In the month of November for the lat
ter class; painting, decorating and
plastertng, and marble and tiling en-
ployment activity was at its height In
September; while firms doing concrete
and concrete form work alone reached
a peak Of employment in May, and an
other much lower one in October.
The trend of employment of skilled
and unskilled labor by plumbing sub
contractors Is interesting in comparison
with the indicated activity of operative
builders and general building contrac-
tors during the year The total number
of workmen on the pay roll of 80 re-
porting plumbing Arms varied between
535 and 1877, the maximum being about
so per cent higher than the minimum
The number Of workmen reported in
dicates the lowest period of activity in
this trade about the middle Of February
A minor peak appears in April, with
a marked decline in May, and an in
crease to the highest point of the year
in July. These two separate peaks Of
activity appear to be related to the
height Of activity of operative builders,
indicated as occurring in April, May
and June, and that Of general building
contractors. which spread over the
three months of August, September and
october. 1t Is apparent from this cam
parison that the plumbing work re-
ported on schedules included In the
preliminary tahulation was closely con-
nected with the activity of these two
types Of general contractors, emphasiz-
ing the fact that the subcontracting
trades depend largely for their employ
ment upon the activity Of operative
builders and general building contrac-
tors.