Evening star., 1938-10-29
HON { bU|LD|NGUP
.55PER CENT OVER
SEPTEMBER0F 81
Figures for 2,169 Cities
Show Non.ReSidential
Construction Gain.
PAST MONTH SHOWS
REVERSAL OF TREND
All Operations Z Per Cent Over
August-Washington Third
in 9-Month Total.

An increase of SIS per cent in the
va1ue of residential building, compar-
ing last month with the corresponding
period of 1887, was the most striking
feature of September building permit
reports, Secretary Frances Perkins
stated today, following completion Of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics sur
vey of building throughout the country.
There was an increase of per cent
In the value of new non-residential
buildings last month over September,
1887, while the value of additions, al
terations and repairs to existing struc-
SEes decreased 19 per cent. Total per-
nit valuations were 81 per cent above
1887.
Climb Despite Season.
Miss Perkins stated that contrary to
seasonal trends. total permit valuation
was slightly higher during September
than in August. This, she said. was
entirely due to an increase of Z per
cent in the value of new nonresident
tial buildings. New residential build
ing declined l per cent and the value
of additions. alterations and repairs
VAS off S per cent, comparing Sep
tember with August. Total permit val
uations last month were l per cent
higher than in August. The bureau
included in its survey 2.l69 cities
having an aggregate population of
nearly 6O.O00000.
During the first nine months of 1888,
as a whole. permits were issued in
these cities fpr buildings valued at
s1,252, 900. This is decline Of
approximately 2 per cent from the
corresponding period of 1887. The
value of residential building over this
period showed a gain of 8 per cent.
There was a decrease of per cent in
the value of new non residential build
ings and of l8 per cent in the value
of alterations, additions and repairs.
Washington in Third Place.
Washington is safely entrenched in
third place among the cities in the
value of all types of construction. The
nine-month total for the Capital, in
cluding Federal and District govern
msnt projects, is s44,074,159, gain
of Slightly more than $6.000000 over
1887 figures New York City is in first
place, with Los Angeles just ahead of
Washington.
The September figures show con-
tinuation of a significant reversal Of
trend that has been noted in every
month since July. For the first six
months total permit valuation in 1888
was IL per cent under the correspond
ing months of 1887. For the three
months, July to September inclusive,
It, was 10 per cent higher in 1888
than in 1887.
There were 23,479 family-dwelling
units provided in the new housekeep-
ing dwellings for which permits were
issued during September in these cities.
This is an increase of more than l
per cent as compared with August.
The data collected by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics show, in addition to
private and municipal construction,
the number and value of buildings
for which contracts were awarded by
the Federal and State governments in
the cities included in the report. For
September, 1888, the value of these
buildings amounted to sl7068, 900 for
August, 1898. to $l0,598.00O and for
September, 1887, to sl2,407,000
Important Projects Listed.
Permits were issued during Septem-
ber for the following important build
ing projects: In Medford, Mass. for
q school building to cost $50O,O00; in
New York City, borough of the Bronx,
for apartment houses to cost over
$la,000,000; borough of Brooklyn, for
apartment houses to cost $875, 900;
borough Of Queens, for one-family
dwellings to cost over $4,000, 900, and
for apartment houses to cost over
$4,000. 900: borough of Manhattan, for
apartment houses to cost $775,OOO; in
tSee CONSTRUCTION, Page B-3)