Evening Star Newspaper, January 5, 1924, Page 13

$4to Buy in 1924 What $5 Has . In Past, Roger Babson Says i ¥ Some. Living Expenses Falling—Housing Costs Worst in Ten Years—Fuel and Light Also Remain High. that the average family man can now buy thé things that cost him $1,000 fn 1020 for but $800. His ex- penditures for food, clothing and fur- niture and miscellancous items are los than they were thres years ago, hut his housing and fuel costs are Ligher. Turing the next twelve months the largest reduction will protably come in fuel. Housing should e slightly lower, but 110 great reductlone ‘can be looked for. The other ftems that go to make up liv- ing costs will remain at about their predent levels with a possible slight downward tendency in speclal in- | stances, . General business activity as. re- flected in the Babson chart is-run- ning at 8 per cant below normal and there is small foundation for a busi- ress boom that might send prices | up again, BY ROGER W. BABSON, Special Dispatch to The Star. WELLESLEY HILL, Mass., Jan- vary 5.—The cost of living has al- ways seemed too high and will prob- ably continue to seem too high. We have envied the good old days when sugar could be bought for five cents A pound, a pair of high grade shoes for three dollars and a half, and & fairly good suit of clothes for twenty dollars. Judged on this basis present prices seem exorbitant. Going back about ten years, to 1913 we find pres- ent living costs 72 per cent higher, that s, we must spend a dollar and seventy-two cents today to get' what & dollar would buy in 1913. - Living Costs Coming Down. Judged on @ 1920 average, how- ever, we find present living costs in a more favorable light. In 1920 ‘it cost two dollars and sixteen cewts to buy what one dollar would buy In 1913 Since that time we have ex-| perienced a very healthy decrease in living costs amounting to 20 per cent. Four dollars today will buy what five ! dollars bought in 1920. If your In- come is the same as it was then you can enjoy the same standard of llv- ing and have onesfifth of your money | left over. | This decrease has not occurred in | all jtems. 1f we examine the things considered by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States De- partment of Labor in making up § cost of living figures, we find th four have decreased, while two have | increased during these past three years. Food costs, for instance, have gone down about 32 per cent. The aniount of food that could have been bought for a dollar in 1920 can now be had for sixty-eight cents. It Is probable that the food costs in 1924 will re- | main about this same level. The long trend, however, is probably down- ward, Clothing Prices Lower. The next important item is cloth- ing, which has declined steadily from 1920 with the exception of a slight increase this last year. The total decline from a high point amounts to nearly 40 per cent. The fifty dollar suit of 1920 can be bought ! today for thirty dollars and the hun- dred dollar suit may be had for sixty dollars. Housing {s one of the exceptions in the general trend of living costs and is now a greater burden to the fam- ily budget than it has been at any time during the past ten years. Rentals on the average this winter are about 18,per cent higher than in 1920 and about 65 per cent above the prewar level. Housing costs move slowly and while the high point has probably been reached, the decline will be gradual. Fuel and light is another item that is held up with & tendency to increase during th past two years. The present levo Is just about the same s the average for the last half of 1920. Fuel and light still cost about %0 rer cent more than in prewar times. Outlook for 1924 Expenses. Furniture costs are about 23 per sent below the hlfih point and when we come, to the all inclusive clas: floation labeled mircellaneous we find that the average is almost as high as in 1920, an actual decrease of only about 5 per cent has been made. Looking ahead into 1824 we fi [} l More People Pass 14th and Park Road After Six Prospects for Food Stocks. The four most prominent groups of stocks representing companies Whose products enter Into the food budget are the meat packing stocks, the fruit packing, the sugar and the blscuit stocks. There is a wide dif- ference in tlhe position of these four groups. Meat packing' and ily speaking, are rela- Biscuit and fruit pack- e are relatively high. The first two groups have never fully recovered from the drastic readjust- ment of 1920 and 1921. The last two have been abnormally prosperous in the past two vears, and the stocks have reached record high levels and have not receded materially from those levels. In locking for bargains one would naturally pass up the biscuit and frult packing stocks purely from the standpolnt of price. particularly so when this conclusion would be con- firmed by the trend of general busi- ness conditions. In looking beneath the surface on the other two groups one Is naturally brought to the con- cluslon that in spite of the relatively low price level tkere is little in_pros- pect that would suggest any different trend than that of the stock market as 2 whole. Nothing would seem to | be lost by pursuing a waiting poliey. | Babson, the noted statisticlan and economist. will continue his special articles on business and financlal conditions in mext Satarday’s Star.) (Copyright, 1024.) DALLAS REALTORS MAKE | SURVEY OF CONDITIONS A oity-wide survey of housing, In- dustrial and mercantile conditions as they affect realty values and city growth s reported to the National Association of Real Estate Boards by the Dallas real estate board. The proportion of vacancles in business and residential properties, the types of buildings available for different purposes, the eort of structures needed, avallable unimproved prop- erty and its possible utilization and investment returns for the various kinds of real property are facts cov. ered in the survey. Facilitation of in. dustrial development through mak- ing comprehensive information on real estate easy of access is one pur- pose of the survey. Possibility of giving clients exact information on improved and unimproved realty over the city as a basis for investment ¢ is ¢ tral advantage of (8 compilation. i (Mr. O’Clock Than Any Other Cornerin Washington A few doors from this corner we have several very attrac- tive stores. There is a cellar under entire building; apartment above containing four rooms and bath. Several-unsold have good back yards to paved alley, with plenty of room for large garage or repair shop. This is a proposition worthy and investors. of the attention of speculators Two Sold—Six Left Priced Right—Reasonable Terms J. Dallas Grady 322 Maryland Bldg., 1410 H St. NW. Main-727 If you have the initiative to take advantéée of the winter market when buying your home. Of course, most people wait until ‘spring, when prices are at the year’s highest point, and you can do However, we have listed a number of offerings at prices considerably under the usual spring rates, and if you want te make the saving and will call us up, we shalt be glad to hel that, too. the money. New Homes in a Detached—Semi-Detached—Attached Styles Frame and Brick Built by Breuninger Pedersen. Co., on large Jots to 16-ft. alloy . These Homes Represent a Real Investment Inspect 1024 Girard (Brookland) ? Six rooms, tile baths, large screened pml;:a‘hkdurn!h;gm. fixtures, tion guaranteed. Representative on p: inspeet, Island Ave. -wr(lhn 1Zth St., three blocks to Girard St. Reasonable Terms Arlington Realty Co. out} h-w. heat; best plumbi; drive eut Rhede “Real Values In 1627 K St. N.W. p you save New Subdivision St. NE. 3“. 1 plan, Construc o 130 8t N3, them e I L wol the nale, CHIMNEY HEIGHTS residences, thirty to thirty-five feet, according to James D. Hoffman of Purdue Univer-| sity. | are likely to be erratic in their action. The various engineering eocieties Interested in furnace heating give at a least value twenty-slx feet above the furnace grate, which, to say the least, should be con- sidered a minimum in all cases. sectional area more frequently causes trouble, sectiow of any air duct one. with the brickwork, and a square se tion shou'd be approached as possible, keeping in mind that, what- ever shape is adopted, it must fit the usual sizes .of bricks. Real Homes" " Main 3174 . 813 15th St. N.W. 'Als bullding, mt 427 11th street northwest, occupled for many years by The Washington Herald, has been who Is having it remodeled for use ax a restaurant. William K. Hartung, in announcing to Charles M. Schnel that it s the property has changed hands {eight-inch round or an eight by eight inch, and in moderate sized houses the working conditions of the chimney are improved If this is enlarged to eight by_twelve inches. There is a dead zone next to every trictional surface—and the next to an wall {8 extravagantly FOR HOMES IS TOPIC| { ordinary bricik i large—which is ineffectiv 1 Variously Stated, But Less Than 38 PR Al ] oo Aree e gases moving along fuch a surface | do_not slide, but roll &nd tumble, thus | further restricting the free pass | the chimney. | thin rough flue, this neutral zone may | be sufficient to practically nullify the | entire draft area. The least helght of @ chimoey, for| One prominent authority states that 2 s zone extends a distance of ‘two ls varlously etated from |, g r more from each brick surface toward the center of the chimney. All_chimneys should be lned with hard-burned flue tile lining throughout the entire length of the chimney, the tile to be not less than three-quarters of an inch in thickness. This Thirty Feet Disapproved, James D. Hoffman Says. Chimneyp less, than thirty feet hi % ol by s i i B ibullt of u_singie . thickncss {work or of ‘a cement block construc: tion. There are two reasons for this The smooth Interior of the tiles eliminates & large amount of the friction usually found between the moving column of gases and the Inner surface of the brick- work, and, In addition, tiles are a safo- guard against fire, since they cover up any jolnts or cracks often occurring in the ‘average mortar joint in one- brick walle. —_— In the average residence the cross- than the height. The ideal is ‘a round This does not work in very a8 near When special delivery stamps were first authorized, In Cleveland's time, a million of them were used the first ear. N Th practicewno chimney flue” shou'd | n Pick Out the Men You Know Check over your various acquaintances and pick out the men that own their own homes. Isn’t it a fact that these men are inde- .pendent, are getting ahead, have money in the bank and are getting more real enjoyment out of life than those who are still chained to the rent grind? Home ownership is a goal worth working for. It is also more than that, because it is a means of achieving the even greater goal of everything that is worth while in life. Why don't you join.the men that own their homes? Come out Sunday and see the home that we consider is the best buy in Washington. 3721 Kansas Avenue N.W. Brand new; 20 feet wide; concrete porch; breakfast and sleeping porches; attic; facing public park. i Open from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Sunday (heated and lighted) _THOS. E. JARRELL 837 Woodward Building. o i il kit FOR LEASE OFFICES and STORES In the New Building 1416 K STREET N.W. For particulars and rates, see * Almost New, Detached Chevy Chase Home 5303 41st Street Just North of Jenifer Street i Open for inspection tomorrow, a charming and wonder: fully appointed 7-room residence with tile bath and shower, first_floor tiled lavatory, hardwood floors throughout, stone fireplace. . Large living porch, spacious closets with lights, hewh, elec, ;imbu‘rx‘ ot-water? heater, Jaundry, servant's toilet. . ¢ “ 77 Situated on'jot 50 by ovet 130 feet, wi&ne:&dcfivwform -PRICE LESS .THAN REPRODUCTION COST - 'See It Tomorrow Without Fail ALLAN E. WALKER & CO., Inc { | o In a chimney haml’ :' is | Bird. the | especially necessary if the chimney is{house, | of brick- | a million aré | be made of less in area thag a el v { i BIGBEST SINCE 1916 Is Placed at'38,000,000,- 000 Feet. According to' estimates wiich will appear in the National Lumber Bulle- tin, the.mation's. lumber cut for 1923 may exceed that of any year since 1916 and may not have. been sur-’ REAL ESTATE. 13 More Construction in Winter Urged to Prevent Congestio 1924 Expected to Exceed 1923 in' Bu ing Total and Fear Is Felt of Shortage of Material. A greater mmount of bullding dur- consideration of the winter of 13 Ing, the winter s & means of light- | Will reveal the cessation of constru fon durin, the winter months is ening the load during the warmer | o JUring the ‘esu] 2 Y1 . months is argued by the American | bicati it Of & Psychological hallu ‘War Brought Change, Construction Cauncil through Its| president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. | The most severe winter weather ““In the earlier days of the coun- | encountered in 1917—blizzards. entire lumbér production pussed in any year since 1914. of The the But : 2 |extreme cold, and high winds. try's’ development, when, time. was | S T, Tk, S0, S8R RLS RY: SALES NET $112,000 FOR TEN RESIDENCES Properties in Northwest Section Figure in Boss & Phelps’ Transaction. Sales of ten residence properties, leas essentlal and when the Indus- trial situation was less complicated, it was justifiable to defer building unt{l climatic conditions were het- ter,” says Mr. Roosevelt. “But in our present rapid age, when our vast population cousumes the Mmit ,of production in many lines, comstruction cannot afford to doze in the atmosphere of mid-Victorian non- aggressivenesy. United States ls conservatively placed at over 38,000,000,000 feet. Last year's production was 35,000,000,000, which was then the largest since 1916, In 1916 the mills made 40,000,000,000 feet, and in 1914 40,600,000,000, The peak of lumber production in the United States was reached in 1907, with nearly 45,000,000,000, feet. | Atlantic seaboard, ~docks, plers. | foundries, factories and warehouses | were in course of construction. Tons and tons of steel were bolted up while the snowflakes sizzled on the red rivets. . Yards of concrete were |poured while the tampers' gloves {froze to the shovels. The possibility |of a twelve-month construction year was revealed. Notable instances of major opera tion conducted during the fall and | winter months during the past year | clations indicate a 15 per cent larg aggregating $112,000 in value, were announced by Boss & Phelpa, as fol- lows: P. H. McGowan purchased 1746 La- | mont street. owned by Willlim' P.| This s an eleven-room brick | A new house at 1008 Quincy street | northwest was sold through the office | of N. L. Sansbury Company to H. J. Qyimper. This is & six-room house. Willlam T. Grant sold his home at 4224 4th street northwest to Arthur C. Smith. This is & colonial style, six-room hous W. H. and B. L. Butler recently completed hou: Rock Creek Church ri Marion G. Scharr. Thi; rogm. colonial brick house. suburban home at 2946 Upton street, in Fernwood He!ghts, was sold M E. McDonald to Julia Notz. a ten-room brick house, Walter A. Dunigan sold a house at 773 Hol bought a at 351 50 (Ordway street, was purchased by P. C. Sel 81X rooms. Harris Shapero sold a house just Translated into terms of average size lumber houses,’ 38,000,000.000 feet of lumber would build 2,000,000 ordi- nary dwellings. This would be enough to rebulld the devastated re- glons of France three times, The 650 larger mawmills of the country reporting weekly to the tional "Lumber Manufacturers' Asso- clation produced 14,000,000,000 feet, Imum’ny. in 1923, against 12,000,000,000 n 1922, Reports received recently by from eleven reglonal lumber business in 1923 than in 1922, gen- erally express satisfaction over 1923, and optimism regarding the outlook for 1924, has been fully em- ployed, and In many regions wag the highest on record. In tI country as a whole, shipments and other disposals were in excess of production. For the United States as a whole there has been no accu- mulation of stocks. ‘The Southern Pine Assoclation es- timates the total output of southern ine at 12,000,000,000 feet. The pro- luction ‘of its subscribing mills— nearly 5,000,000,000 feet—was greater than in any one year except 1916, ship- ments were greater than in any other year except 1917, and orders were ex- ceeded in only two previous years. The West Coast Lumbermen's Assoclation reporte that 1923 was the record year for the Dougles fir region, with an esti- mated total of 9,306,944,000 feet for all miils. Produetion of member mills only. was §6,300,000,000 feet. Total production for the year was 20 per cent greater than in 1922, shipments 81 per cent more, and new business 26 per cent more, WANT REALTY EXPERT. Call for an eficiency expert in real estate’' was among the requests coming this week to the National As- sociation of Rea! Estate Boards. An old Loufsville firm put in the call And the timeé may not be far dis- tant, officials’ “of the association point out, when just this kind of exchange may become & recognized development of realtor national in- tercommunication. completed by him at 4524 4th street northwest to S. Hammer. The house is of brick construction, colo- nial type, having six rooms. A home in Richmond Park, 2819 iz from W. W. Talcott. This s mi-detached brick house, having six rooms. Z A house at 1002 East Capitol street was bought by W. Howard Bell from W. H. and B. L. Butler. This Is a | three-story, tén-room brick house. | Bertie T, Lawson purchased a house | at 4927 street northwest, bullt and ow: by Walter A. Dunigan. This is A _gix-room. colonial house. “There is the possibllity of a vol- ume of conmstruction ~for 1924, if present indications are sound, equal to, if not greater than, 1923. Real- {zing this the council recently urged all those Interested in essentlal build- ing projects in the near future & undertake such work at as early date as possible In the fall or winter. Fears Congestion. | Or two, with savings in comstruction costs ranging as high as 10 per cent. show the practicability of winter | work and the benefits Immediately | accruing to individual owners and o | the public as well as to builders and 0 1abor on the job. | The country’s need today is wvery acute, The construction industry | must stand or fall in its obligation “If winter 18 to bring & lull in/to the public as it meets that need meeting the demand for construction, or falls it. It must have next, spring will find the construction | the who contemplate Indubtry confronted with problems of | building or other construction proj- shortage in materfals and labor, | €cts if it is to meet this need. Every transportation difficulties, and a. ris- lost means added accumulation ing market thdt will seriously Inter- |to the growing demand. fere with its progress. If that occurs' The large volume of construction the publio will be forced to incur |contracted for and already started costly delays in getting needed im- |during the fall months shows that provement and run the risk of higher |the public has thus far responded {f not prohibitive prices. | tavorably in undertaking winter “The ndvantages of uninterrupted|work. But more winter work should construction throughout the year | be done. Let every prospective must be apparent to every one |builder who contemplates necessary Whether used as an ameliorative | construction during the coming year on transportation problems, or as an | g0 ahead now with the work. ald to continuity of employment, or il SR S PLAN CITIES OF TREES. as @ necessity in stabilizing pro- | duction of materials or as an effective Campaigns for the general planting of trees, particuiarly to replace those contribution to the public demand for construction projects, every day being cut down owing to the er croachment of business, are report added to constructlon is of Incal-| culable value. to the National Aseociation of Real Estate Boarde this week by three “It s curious to note how tena- | clously prospective investors in con- California cities. Real estate boards of Sacrathento, of Stockton and of struction projects and bullders cling to the obsession that winter work is Compton are fostering movements 1 make their cities “cities of trees. impracticable. I have indicated how this pructice arose in the earller days, and I am sure that a brief An exclusively residential section of detached homes. Contaiping seven million feet of forest-covered land, with six miles of improved streets. Includes what remains of The Triangle of Increasihg Values between Connecticut Ave., Massachusetts Ave. and Woodley Road (Cathedral Ave.) Over five million feet of land sold. Over 150 homes from $15,000 to $200,000 built and under con- struction. Actual improvements and home values exceed $5,450,000. Wooded villa sites, lots and central and side hall homes, with lots from 50 to 115 feet front—Park Office, 32d and Cathedral Ave. (Woodley Road). MIDDAUGH & SHANNON, INC. - Woodward Building, 15th and H gu. : Member Washington Real Estate Board. . ~ $10,950.00 New Homes on Ogden St. N.W. (Old 14th St. Road, running diagonally from 14th and Oak to 16th and Spring Place N. W.) . $1,000.00 Cash Balance Monthly DESCRIPTION—Large 6-room homes. Open fire- place in the living room. Tile bath with many extra features. Double rear porches. Anyone desiring a house anywhere near this class and who wants something distinctive and different from the rows upon rows of “just houses” should see these homes, before buying. We have furnished them to bring out the charm not. otherwise evident. Furnished through courtesy « . THE HECHT cO. Exhibit House, 1456 Ogden St. N.W. ) ’ Inspection ‘Invited—Open Sanday, Week Days From 49 P.M. . BIEN, IN 3118 11th St. N.W