Evening star., 1939-04-29
Construction Takes
Jump in First
Quarter Of 1899
"a Of AZ Surveyed
Show Rebound Over
1888 Period

Construction activities In the first
quarter of 1899 show an increase
over similar periods Of 1887 and
1898, according to E. M. Craig, ex-
ecutive secretary of the National
Association Of Building Trades En-
ployers. This encouraging news is
indicated in the spring building sur
vey compiled by Robert D. Steele,
the association statistician. .
The first 1899 quarterly returns
OF A States had an estimated dol
lar value of $846, ,189 562, compared
to $595 ,982.843 in 1888, $72l ,439, 1856
in 1887 and 1902 ,95s.791 in 1896 for
the like period. Estimated dollar
value Of a cities the first 1899 quar-
ter totaled $199, ,383,570, compared
to $194, ,233,513 in 1888 and $199 $780,
p59 in 1887 in the corresponding
quarter. Individual permits Of AZ
cities were S.. 5.548 the first 1899 quar-
ter, compared to 43,759 the first 1898
quarter and 42,204 in the like 1887
quarter.
OF the a cities surveyed. "a show
D rebound in the first 1899 quarter
over the like 1898 quarter. New
York continues in first place on
dollar value, although 1t is ap-
proximately $47,000,0O0 behind a
year ago. Los Angeles is second
and Detroit is in third place. Chi
cago's standing is seventh, the same
as one year ago. It is interesting
to note that Tulsas total in the
first 1899 quarter was 81 1,0S8, ,667, and
that $964,792 of this amount was
disbursed for residential work.
youngstown showed the largest 1899
volume increase over 1898. the first
1899 quarter being $2,552, ,187, against
&l67,476 for the first 1898 quarter.
Toledo shows the second largest in
crease with $2579,4l8 in the first
1889 quarter. against $3.50 800 for the
first 1898 quarter.
Los Angeles Leads.
Los Angeles leads with 1854 in
dividual permits. Cincinnati was
second with 5,525.
Los Angeles Is also the home
building leader with 2,649 homes un-
der construction or completed dur
ing the first 1899 quarter. Chicago
occupies sixth position on home
building activities. Youngstown had
the largest home upturn with 642
for the first 1899 quarter, against
IL homes in the like 1898 quarter.
In the Boston total Of 116 homes
Is included four F. H. A. housing
projects costing $8.50O,000. Eleven
thousand, five hundred and seventy
homes with an estimated dollar
value Of $50 253,065 were constructed
or under way in these "a cities dur
ing the first 1899 quarter, against
b,564 homes with an estimated dol
lar value of $27, ,448,259 for the like
1898 quarter.
80 Million Working Populace.
Consensus still persists among
Nation wide contractors, says Mr..
Craig, that home construction costs
should be reduced to be consistent
with the present earning power of
the working masses. Government
statistics lately released show that
during 1898, the Nations working
populace was 100000. Five mil
lion OF these workers earned $4,000
or more annually and the other a.
100000 earned less than $4,000 per
year. Also 100000 of the $4,000 :
900 earned less than $1,000 annually.
It IL conceded there are already any
number of home owners among the
Nations 80 900 900 wage earners, yet
the home-ownership field Is unlim-
tied among the legion Of workers
not owning or leasing homes. Real
izing that lower construction costs
are necessary to persuade the lower
income group to buy or build, cer-
tain basic building trades of Phila-
delphia and Milwaukee established
lower collective bargaining rates on
residential work. Nassau County,
N. j., carpenters recently agreed to
an eight-hour day at 81 an hour
for housing work, instead of seven
hours work at $40 a day pay.
Rochester. N. Y. carpenters, effec-
tive March %, reduced their hourly
wage from $1.33 1-3 per hour to
81 on this type of construction work.