Evening star., 1932-12-31

$AA,SOS,A40 frlVaCe BullQlng.
The relations between labor
sili employers in the construc-
ton field remained peaceful, al
though efforts were made now and
then during the year to bring
about reductions in the wages of
union mechanics.
Only two of the major trades
received SlasheS in wage scales,
however, although extended ne
gotiationS concerned other i'm
portant groups of mechanics, and
the wages of union construction
workmen generally were pegged
by operation of the Bacon Davis
law.
Construction operations in the Dis
tfict, with the exception of the huge
Federal activities, had cost volume of
approximately $1l ,283,145, according to
tabulation of official reports of
Col. John w. Oehmann, building. in
spector, for the first IL months of the
year and including an unofficial esti-
mate for December. The total includes
items for buildings erected by the Dis
trict government. which now are sub
jected to approval by the building in
spector Just as are private building
projects.
The total Of s1l,2ss,145 is about 6s
per cent lower than the level of $780,
82l, ,649 attained during the year 1881.
Residential construction accounted
for the largest single total in the record
Of the private building business here
during the past year. The estimated
cost Of construction Of dwellings was
computed to total 5000 000 o. slightly
fhav, 6,o1F of k1 %;r,,
cost for building Of all classes.
s22 Homes Authorized.
Plans were approved by the District
building inspector during the past year
for dwellings numbering 922, which
would give s6,594 as the average cost
OF houses erected here during the year
nc-T enoings.
The total expenditure for home build
ing within the boundaries of the Dis
trict during 1881 IVES greater than dur
irg the past year, but it should be re-
raembered there was an increase of
about 100000 last year for building
operations Of all classes over the private
construction total attained IN 1880.
During 1891 the District approved
tngs. having a total estimated cost of
Sl0,046,680. This is to be compared
with a total of 957 houses, costing
s7,4S2 500. erected during 1880. The
record Of the past year. of 922 houses,
costing $6.0S0,000, thus appears in a
favorable light, considering the heavy
recession In the total of local building
operations from the levels of last year
and the preceding year.
Dwelling construction had an esti-
mated cost of $40 1896, 900 in 1929, when
plans were approved for the erection OF
1855 houses; of Sl0,27l 900 in 1928,
dwellings: and $11,600,000 in 1927,
when permits were issued for the erec-
ton of 1884 houses. The peaks in
dwelling construction here were reached
In 1925, when permits were issued for
the erection Of 4,720 houses and in
1926. when there were permits for 1926
dwellings
Many different conditions appear to
have been contributing causes Of the
low volume Of private construction in
the District during the past year.
Cost Of Material Drops.
The general economic depression, Of
course, was In the background of the
picture. With this came the troubles
OF the reduction of the income of Gov
eminent employees, an increase in un-
employment, shrinkage Of demands for
residential and business housing space.
which increased the percentage of space
in both residential and business build
ings, and q tightening of the strings en-
the construction money purse.
The wholesale cost of building ma
terials as a group dropped slowly but
rather steadily to level below that at
the end of 1881, a situation which did
not encourage the large financiers or
the larger holders of existing properties
to proceed with additional construction.
The wage scales OF union building me-
chanics. with the exception of two
major and one minor trades, remained
steady during the past year. The
scales of non-urion mechanics, however,
declined.
A large PORTION of the private resi-
dental construction here is performed
by non-union labor, with the Govern
ment projects being the principal field
of work for union mechanics.
Declines in the costs Of building may
encourage the individual builder of a
home, or the operative builder who Is
selling as fast, or almost as fast, as he
builds to proceed with new and addi-
tional construction, or may stimulate
the individual property owner to pro-