Evening star., 1937-09-25
AUGUST BUILDING
GAINS OVER JULY;
UNDER So FIGURE
Activity Up 6 Per Cent in
Month, Reports From
1,456 Cities Reveal.
DROP OF 4 PCT. SHOWN
FROM SAME SO MONTH
Fall of % Per Cent in Residential
Construction Accounts for
Decrease.

All types of building construction
activity throughout the Nation ad-
vanced in August as compared with
the preceding month. but was some
what less than in the corresponding
period of 1886, Secretary Perkins
stated today in announcing the results
of the building survey conducted each
tics.
Reports received by the bureau
from 1,456 cities in all sections of
the country revealed that the total
value of all types of construction for
which permits we're issued in August
was per cent higher than in July,
Miss Perkins said. The value of new
non-residential construction was IL
percent above the July level, while
smaller increases are Indicated in
permits issued for new residential
buildings, and for additions, altera-
tions and repairs to existing structures.
Compared with August of last year,
the total value of building permits
granted in August shows decrease of
per cent. This decline was due
entirely to reduction of % per cent
In the value of new residential con-
struction. An increase of 25 per cent
is indicated in expenditures for new
non-residential construction, and
gain of per cent in the value of
permits issued for additions, altera-
tions and repairs, comparing August
with the corresponding month last
year.
Washington Is Fourth.
Total construction figures for the
first eight months of this year show
Washington holding fourth place
among major cities of the country
Valuation of the Capitals building
for this period, including projects of
the Federal Government is S34, ,980,763
an increase of about $4,000,000 over
the corresponding period of last year
The increase over last year in Wash
1ngton is somewhat less than in other
cities of the country. New York City
is leading in the valuation of con-
struction for the two-thirds year with
total of SITS, ,165,384. Los Angeles
is in second place with a total of
s48,497,829, and Detroit third with
s40,690,221. Chicago and Philadelphia
trail Washington. the reports shows.
For the first eight months of the
year, the aggregate value of all classes
of building construction in the LASS
cities amounted to $l,142, ,359,0 900, an
increase OF is per cent over the cor
responding period of 1886. All types
OF construction showed gains, compar-
ing the two periods. The increase of
residential construction amounted to
is per cent. During the eight months
OF 1887, dwelling units were provided
in these cities for 127,339 families, an
increase Of 16 per cent over last year.
During last month no contracts
were awarded for P. w. A. low-cost
housing projects. In the correspond
ing month Of last year the P. w. A.
awarded contracts for such projects
having valuation in excess of $18,-
100000. Private residential construc-
tion, which would not include Govern
ment work. was per cent greater last
month than in August, 1886.
Drop Of 20 Per Cent
There were 13,425 dwelling units
provided by permits issued in the
cities in August, an increase over
July of per cent. However compared
with August of last year decrease of
ic cL iv, ,o L1r
of family dwelling units provided.
This was due to the activity last
lSee AIIGIIST uDING Pc C-1nl