Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-30
LAMONT REVIEWS
u. S. CONSTRUCTION
Tells Contractors Executive
Board Present Trend of In
dustry Is Encouraging.

The present trend of the construc-
ton industry is encouraging, Secretary
of Commerce Lamont told the executive
board of the Associated General Con-
tractors today at their convention at
the Washington Hotel, which will come
to close this afternoon.
While recounting figures which
though below records Of the first quar-
ter of 1929 are higher than those of the
same period Of 1928. Secretary La
mont bespoke efforts to improved
methods for credit and financing ar
rangementS for home building.
Contracts for construction of COM
mercial and industrial buildings dur
ing the first quarter of this year, he
reported, though Is and II per cent,
respectively, under the corresponding
period a year ago, were higher than
during the same period Of 1928.
Figures for the month of March"
he said. were distinctly encouraging,
commercial buildings, well above the
same month in 1929 or 1928. and STA
100000 for industrial buildings, sub
stantially above any other first quarter
month during the preceding three years.
These are encouraging figures.
Public Work Increased.
"As you know, public buildings and
public works construction contracts
during the first quarter Of 1880 in
creased 35 per cent, compared with the
same period of 1929. Public works and
utilities contracts during the first quar-
ter, amounting to $303,000,0 900, were SIS
per cent higher than year ago and
are approximately 25 per cent higher
than the previous high record for the
period made in 1928. The railways and
other public utilities have made their
splendid contribution by going ahead
substantially according to schedule with
the largest program on record for CAPT.
tai expenditures for the group as a
whole.
1.-THE executives Of these organizations
have thus given the best possible evil
denca of their confidence in the future
of American industry confidence
which believe has been we'll justified
by developments and in which be-
lieve we may all wisely share"
Discussing the financing OF construc-
ton, Secretary Lamont said:
Generally speaking, there is ample
credit available at reasonable rates for
all legitimate and sound undertakings.
Loans for home building are still diff
cult to arrange in many districts; local
bankers are pretty well loaded up with
real estate mortgages. But, with am
pie credit and low money rates in large
trade centerS, 1t Is q question of only a
few months before mortgage money will
be available again."
u. S. Must Maintain Plants.
The policy of the Corps of Engineers
of the United States Army in carrying
on the huge building programs for the
Government is to avoid placing the
Government in competition with private
industry, but the Government must
maintain construction plants to handle
work where private contractors are I'M
able to meet specifications or to submit
reasonable" bids.
This explanation of the relations of
the Government to the private con-
of criticism from private industry over
the awarding Of contracts, was voiced
by Mai. Gen. Lyle Brown, chief of
Engineers, United States Army, in an
address yesterday before the contractors.
1.-The branch of the Government with
which l am connected" he said, ''ex-
ponds about hundred million dollars
year for services, supplies and con-
Struction work. The settled policy Is to
do as much construction work by con-
tract as possible, he said, because:
al. It is contrary to our principles
TO place the Government into competi-
ton with private industry.
20. In the long run, contractors can,
by all odds, do work much more eco
nomically than can any agency OF the
Government, and with highly skilled
organization can do 1t better.
There are occasions when the Gov
eminent must do work by hired labor.
They are, In general: Where 1t Is ap-
parent that bids to do the work will
not be received where bids that are
received are unreasonably high; and
in cases where the work is Of emergency
nature that will not permit Of the for
mality of receiving bids and making
contracts"