Evening star., 1932-10-29

The current study shows that the
percentage received by labor was slight
ly higher on residential than on nom
residential buildings.
Boston Labor Highest.
Labor received a higher percentage of
the total amount spent in building con-
struction in Boston than in any other
of the Is cities. In contrast, in Dallas
Tex. labor received only 272 per cent
of the total cost of building. while the
expense for material accounted for
72.8 per cent of the total. In the
North, in general labor received
higher percentage OF the total cost than
in the South.
The information collected for the
193l-1932 study was compiled from
records kept by representative contrac-
tors in the IS cities. The bureaus
agents examined the records of the
local building officials and from these
selected typical buildings in the resi-
dental and non-reGidential groups.
The requisite data relating to the labor
and materials used On these projects
from both the primary contractors and
the SubcCntractCrS vino did the work.
Altogether, information was obtained
from 204 Buildings.
In each Of the cities, except Duluth,
information was obtained for six ordi-
nary dwelling houses. two apartment
houses and six nOn-residential build
ings In most cities the nOn-resi-
dental quota consisted OF two stores.
two office buildings and two factories
OF warehouses.
Cost Figures Limited.
The cost figures used represent only
the actual cost Of the building from
the time of excavation and do not in
clude overhead expenses, profits. cost
OF land, finance charges or architects
fees, it is explained. The cost of ma
terial was the actual cost as delivered
on the Job, including freight and haul
ing. The labor costs were those ccm-
puted for actual wages paid to labor
On the job and did not include any
shop labor. such as the cutting of stone
at the quarrieS.
The cities surveyed were Atlanta,
Boston, Chicago, Dallas. Tex: Duluth,
MINI: Indianapolis. Ind; Little Rock,
Ark; New Orleans. New York, Roanoke.
Va: Saginaw, Mich; ST. Louis, Salt
Like City. Seattle and Trenton. N. j.
Il was found that the proportion of
labor and material costs varied consd-
erably on different buildings within
tGCll Guy. FOI LII I've" L VI
City the highest proportionate labor
cost on any residential building was
426 per cent, and the lowest 1922, while
the highest labor cost on any nom
residential building was All per cent,
and the lowest 337. In indianapolis
one residential building had a labor
cost of 43.7 per cent. while another had
a labor cost of only PIT per cent.
The highest proportion of the total
expenditures going for material on any
one residential building occurred in
Dallas. where on one building 60.2 per
cent of the total cost was accounted
for by the material used The lowest
percentage spent for material occurred
in Boston. where on one residential
building the cost of material was only
439 of the total cost; the highest labor
cost in the same class of building also
was found in Boston, where on one
building 56.2 PEI cent Of the total was
accounted for by labor on the job.
Nom Residential Figures.
In non-residertial building, the high
est percentage chargeable to material
on an individual building occurred in
Atlanta, Ga, and the lowest in New
York City. The highest labor per-
centage on an individual building in