Evening star., 1932-01-06
FORECASTS
BUILDING REVIVAL
$50 Leaders of Industry At
tend Testimonial Banquet
Honoring RoSengarten.

! Revival of the construction industry
| Of the country, due to the growing de-
mands of an increasing population and
through improved building methods, was
forecast at rally of $50 leaders OF all
branches of the industry at testimo-
NAL banquet held last night at the
shoreham Hotel under auspices OF the
Washington Building Trades Employers
Association.
The gathering, held in honor OF E. h
Rosengarten, retiring president OF the
association, was addressed oy repre-
sentatives of the Federal and DlStrlCI
Governments. who praised the progress
the construction industry mas mace III
the past decade and foreSaW posslbln-
tieS of great advances for future years.
WAYS by which the amount OF con-
struction can be increased were clted
by James M S. Taylor, chief OF the Dl-
vision of Building and Housing OF the
Department of Commerce, who declareo
that from sheer pressure Tor more SpaCe
the Nation is going to demand more
construction on big scale.
Encouraging Sign Noted.
While noting that much can be
! learned from instances OF oVerounong
! in past wears. Mr.. Taylor reported one
of the encouraging things is that re-
| cent survey of number OF cities showed
! that vacancies in one-family dwellings,
were less than per cent ana thaE
there has been an unusual amount OF
doubling up" of families Que 10 Uhe
! depression. ,o,i,o
pointing to the need for modernlZa-
! ton of older buildings as one avenue
| to Increased construction, Mr.. Taylor
said that because of the rapid spread OF
art education uglineSs is likely TO pc
| come a compelling cause of the ooSoleS-
! cence of buildings.
| Since new construction rarely amounts
to more than 4 per cent of the existing
| structures in city in given year, ne
said, the Importance of recondltionlng
and undermining of buildings is bound
| to increase.
| He cited large-scale operations as
| future development that will mean new
construction of great olume, and point.
| ed to the reductions in unit costs OF
construction, ranging from IS to Is per
| cent, during the past several years and
| the increased hourly production OF
building mechanics. Improved Design
| labor-saving equipment, improved ma
| terials and methods, he concluded, also
| will stimulate the demand for con-
| Struction.
w. w. Husband Speaks.
Hope that the next era of prosperity
| is not far away was voiced by w. w.
Husband, Second Assistant Secretary
| of Labor, in a brief talk.
Because of the rapid transportation
| ~ is -
son why the progressive American can
not have a home far enough away from
city congestion to afford at least gar
den of modest size He lauded home
ownership as the foundation Of pros
| perity.
A paper prepared by Robert Kohn,
president of the American Institute OF
| Architects, which was presented by
Frederick j. Rice, general counsel OF
the Builders Association, stressed the
advantages and need Of close co-opera-
ton between all the elements OF the
construction industry.
Tributes to the character and service
of Mr. Rosengarten were given by
speakers, who responded with a woro
of commendation for the cooperation
/ here of contractors, subcontractors, ma
| terial and supply men, architects and
labor
Robb Extends Greetings.
Mai. H. L. Robb, Assistant Engineer
| Commissioner, extended greetings from
| the District government. Invocation
was said by Rev. James Shera Mont
! gomery.
An entertainment was given by Den
| is Connell, Thomas w. Brahany, Fred
East. William Raymond, George O'Con-
nor, Matt Horne and Arthur Pierce.
| E. A. Rule was chairman Of the ban
| uuet, Robert j. Barrett toastmaster and
| Charles ]. Columbus in charge of ar
rangements. The Reception Committee
consisted of ]. R. Skinker (chairman)
C. o. Romborg James F. Murtaugh,
Frank j. Shehan, J. B. Latimer, w. r.
! Carpenter, Joe High, William Stecher
| c. P. Oliver, R. Lester Rose, H. c. Nc
knew, L. Crovato, A. w. Lee, Merle
Cain. George H Zellers, Charles F,
Dowd. Frederick ]. Rice and Herman
G. Miller.