Evening Star Newspaper, July 10, 1926, Page 13

~ WASHINGTON, D. C, ' VOLUME OF BUILDING CONTRA' _ SHOW DROP FOR MONTH OF JUNE| Pittsburgh Area‘and Central West States Are Only Sections Reporting Gains to .~ The volume of building and engin- eering eontracts declined very slightly in June, according to F. W. Dodge Corporation. let during the month in the 37 states east of the Rocky Mountains (which include about 91 per cent of the total ¢ construction volume of the gountry) amounted to $547,792,400. The grease from May, 1926, was less than I per.cent and the decline from June of last year was 2 per cent, TI ry g0od showing for June of this year Was to a copsiderable extent due to in- creased activity in the Pittsburgh dis- triet, ‘which -had last month its high- est total mo far this year. . ‘The more .important classes in last month’s bullding record were: $23 724,900, or 48 per cent of all constru tion, for residentlal building; $98,200,- 200, or: 18 per cent, for public works and utilities; $67,960,200, or 12 pe cent, far commercial buildings; $54, ’ 514,700, or 10 per cent, for industrial bulldings; $40,753,400, or per cent, for educational buildings; and $17,036, 600, or 3 per,cent, for social and rec- reational projects. A New construction started in the 87 Eastern States during the first half of 1926, reached a total of $3,113,158,- 500, as compared with $2,748,694,800 in the corresponding period of 1925, the increase being 13 per cent. The figure for the first 6 months of this year was also the highest on record for the first six months of any year, Contemplated building and engineer- ing work for the 37 Eastern States was reported in June, 1926, to the amount of $807,281,800, being 2 per cent above the.amount reported in May of this year, as well as 16 per cent above the amount reported in Jure, 1925. Decrease to New York. Bullding and engineering contracts were awarded during June to_ the amount of $127,149,600 in New York State and Northern New Jersey. There was a decrease of 9 per cent from May of this year and an § of 4 per cent over June, 1925. The more _important items in the June building record were: $70,938,200, or 56 per cent of all construction, for resideritial buildings; $18,349,200, or 14 r cent for commercial bulldings; 10,274,300, or 8 per cent, for public works and utllities; $8,323,500, or 7 nt, for educational buildings; 00, or & per cent. for industrial idings; and $5,340,000, or 4 per c’;r;q for social and recreational pro- ts) .. < Corstructional started “in the dis- triet 'during the first half of 1926 reached a total of $895,979,600, as com- pared | with $625,066,300 for the cor- respordling ; six months of 1925, the increase being 43 per cegt J Contepiplated new Wwork reported for Ni York. State and Northern New Jersey last month amounted to $198,224,900, being a loss of 2 per cent fromii the amount reported in May of this year, but a gain of 23 per cent iw.w’e‘r ‘the amount reported in June, New England Drops. 9 per. s Cist year. An;'?;m of June's construction record showed the following items of note: $18,168,000, or 47 per cent of all col struction, for 'residential buildings; $8,175.400, or 16 per cent, for commer- clal buildings; $5,623,000, or 14 per cent, for public works and utilitiés; . $8,274,800, or 8 per_ cent,. for educ: tional buildings; $1.804,600, or & per cent, for hospitals and institutions; $1,668,000, or 4 per cent, for industrial . buildings, and $1,175,000, or 3 per cent, ftor religious and memorial buildings. The first six months’ construction total for the district was $210,413,800, ‘which was a decline of only,1 per cent trom the ns’un for the corresponding period of 1926. Contemplated construction projects were reported for New England jn June to the amount of $51,013,900. This .exceeded the amount reported in May of this year by 4 per cent, as wel as the amount reported in June, 1925, by 21 per cent. Local District Declines. The total volume of construction contracts let in the Middle Atlantic States (eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Dis- trict of Columbia and Virginia) during June amounted to $53,067,600. This figure showed a decrease of 9 per cent from May, 1926. However, there was sn increase of 18 per cent over June of iast year. The month's record in- cluded $23,904,300, or~45 per cent of all' construction, for residential bulld- ings; $9,261,800, or 17 per cent, for public works and utilities; $6,458,600, or 12 per cent, for commercial build- ings; $5,849,500, or 11 per cent, for educational buildings; $2,727.800, or § per cent, for industrial buildings; $2,008,700, or 4 per cent, for religious. and memorial buildings, and $1,383,600, or 8 per cent, for social and recrea- tional projects. The first six months' construction total for the Middle Atlantic States was $208,430,300, as compared with $276,799,400 in the corresponding six months of last year, the increase being 8§ per cent. Contemplated construction projects were reported for the district in June to the amount of $93,456,700, which was a 6 per cent decrease from the amount reported in May, 1926, but a 33 per cent increase over the amount reported in June of last year. .- 'Big Gain in Pittsburgh Section. Building and engineering contracts were awarded last month to the amount of $95,061,800 in the Pitts- burgh district (western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky). The above figure exceeded May, 1926, by 48 per cent and June of l‘nlt year by 51 per cent. Last month’s record included the following items of impor- tance: $30,192,900, or 32 per cent of all construction, for residential buildings; 22,666,000, or 24 per cent, for public 2 !vorlu and utilities; tzt.m.oo‘, or 23 cent, for industrial buildings; $6,986,200, or 7 per cent, for commer- clal buildings; $6,098,000, or 6 per cent, for educational bulldings, and $2,25i 900, or 2 per cent, for social and’ rec- during the first amounting to *$392,895,000, has de- mdfiperwntmmth:;l.l;;ntor the corresponding period of . Contemplated construction planned Construction contracts | b Dodge Company, cial bufldings; $14,631,200, or 10 per cent, for industrial buildings; $10.383- 900,”0f ‘7" per eent, for educational ings; $4,761,700, or 3 per cent, social and recreati projects; $: 522,600, or 3 per cent, for public build- ings, and $8,128,200, or 2 per cent, for religious and memorial butldings. The first six months’ construction total for the district was $709,225,300, as compared with $746,344,800 in the fArst half of 1925, the decrease being 5 per cent. \ ¥ Contemplated construction work re- ported for the Central West last month amounted to $281,753,700, being 12 per cent in excess of the amount re- ported in May of this year, as well as 25 per cent over the amount reported in June, 1925. Southeastern States Lose, Construction started during June in the Southeastern States (the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Atkansas and Louislana) reached a total of $51,701,000.- This figure showed losses of 12 per cent trom May, 1926, and of 30 per cent from June of last year. Included in the June construction record were the following items. of note: $18,911,300, or 37 per cent of all construction, for residential buildings; $14,122,600, or 12 per cent, for commercial buildings; $4,079,500, or 8 per cent, for industrial buildings. and $2,164,200, or 4 per cent, for social and recreational bufldings. Bullding and - engineering work started In the district during the first half of 1926 amounted to $428,792,900, as compared with $335,122,400 for the frst six months of last year, the gain being 28 per cent. Contemplated construction projects were reported for the Southeastern States in June to the amount of $92,- 881,200, - Decreases of 17 per cent from the amount reported in May of this year and of 26 per cent from the amount reported in June, 1925, oc- curred. ° Northwest Is Lower. The total volume of construction New England had $38. :nmtzrmwb-:m;h iy, v b ng worl < R contracts let in the Northwest (Minne- sota, the Dakotas and northern Mich! cent from May, 1926, and of 17 per cent from Juhe of last year. The more important items in the June building record were: $3,614,700, or 34 per cent of all construction, for ' residential buildings; $2,758,300, or 27 per cent, for commereilal buildings; $1,895,200, or 18 per cent, for public works and utili- ties; $874,100, or 8-per cent, for educa- |- tional buildings; $626,000, or 6 per cent, | for feligious and_memorial buildings, and $442,000, or 4 per cent, for indus- trial bulldings. ‘The first six. months’ constructio; total for the Northwest was $54,130,: 000, as compared with $51,055,900 the corresponding period of 1925, the Increase being 6 per cent, Contemplated new work reported for the in June, 1926, amount- ad to $14,603,200. This was an increase of ‘19 per cent over.May of this year, as well as 35 per cent over June, 1925. n [insurance companies right: The bedroom. RETURNS FROM MORTGAGES - YIELD AVERAGE OF 6.19 PCT. Report of Life Insurance Company Holdings Over 11 Years Shows Investments More Fruitful Than Those in Stocks and Bonds. The mortgage investments of life of the United States have ylelded an average gross in | retarn of 6.19 per cent over a period of the last 11 years, according to a premliminary feport of thé Institute for Research in land economics and public utilities to the mortgage and finance division of the National As- Boards, fice the same period was 4.76 per cent. Difference of 1.43 Per Cent. The -differential in interest returns | between mortgage investments and for remidential bulldings: $6,391,200, or 26 per cent, for publc works and utilities; $1,908,800, or:8 per cent, for educational buildings; $1,896,- 400, or -8 per cent, for commercial buildings; $787,700, or § per cent, for industrial bt and $527,600, or 2 per cent, for and bufldings, g Construction started in Texas dur- ing the first half of 1926 has reached a total of $123,201,600, being 39 per: cent in excess of the figure ed to $26,802,800. This was 82 per cent below .the amount reported in May of this year, but 8 per cent above the amount reported in June, 1925. SALES HEADS" MEETING - T0 BE HELD TUESDAY niortgages was, in 1925, 28 per cent ‘| greater than real of Columbia. A number of important topics are ex- pected to be discussed at this meeting. R AT “Time waits for no man"—but hangs around the corner a bit for the average woman, says the e Boy. (L TLTII 7777777777 77 7T T 2R 70 LTl 07 DrI1IIILII LI investments in stocks and bonds was, therefore, 1.43 per cent. That is to the mortgage investments of the companies in ~ question have yiélded approximately 80. per cent more ‘ than their investments' .in stocks and bonds. Never save once in the period studied has the return from mort- gage investmerits been under 6’ per vent. This was in the year 1919 when the average réturn received was 5.90 per cent. On the other hand, never have the returns from stocks arnd. bonds owned by the in- surance companies in the same period exceeded the years 1924 and 1925, when they ylelded 5.01 per cent and 5.04 per cent, ly. » tion of - the desirability of mortgage investments on the part of life insurance companies who are eleven of is -inc cated by the fact that the percentage of their total investments placed in' has increased mortgages from 31.65 per cent in 1911 to 40.5 per cent in 1925. That is, the of life funds thus invested in it ‘was in 1911, actudl increase is, of The course, tre- 5 per cent, except during |’ mendous, leaping from $1,228,000,000 in 1911 t0-$4,775,000,000 in 1925. That ‘s, life insurance. companies have -inéreased -their investments. in mortgages both ‘absolutely and rela- tively. The average rate earned on the different types .of investments for each ‘year from 1916, to 1925 is givén in the following table: Comparison of the Average Gross Rates of Income Ea by Insur- ance Companies on Mortgages and Stocke and Bonds, 1915-1925, Average Giogs’ Rates Barned, & IR P REAL ESTATE OFFICER DIES IN MINNEAPOLIS C. T. Moffett, Vice President of National Body, Was Expert on Financing. C. T. Moffett of Minneapolis, Minn., vice president-elect of the Na- tional Association of Real Estate Boards, died June 28, Mr. Moffett was for four years chairman of the taxation committee of the association and guided the early shaping of its policles on taxation and legislation. He was also chairman of the taxa- tion committee of the Minneapolis Real Estate Board for a number of years. £ Originator of a popular finanding plan for small .homes, My. Moffett had been identified with real estate .{ activities in Minneapolis forsthe past $1,000,000 BUILDING FOR DOCTORS’ OFFICES Baltimore Structure Will Be Eight Storles High—Work to Be Started Shortly. Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, July 10.—Plans for a million-dollar medical arts building here have been combleted and work ‘will be started shortly, it is said. According ‘to information, ;ho,hullfl- necessary without difficulty. Woodland Drive Sites m CLo Park oming steadily more limited. Washingtonians of long standing are continually amazed at the splen growth in this fine residential community, which” includes all that rerqains of The Triangle of Increasing Values —between Connecticut, Massachusetts and Cathedral avenues. . Wooded and rolling sites for individually designed homes are now available. $i A As the firm under.whose successfully developed into one ment this restrictéd has been sispapement thisire area has e city’s fine seétions, we are singu- larly prepared to furnish accurate information. 3 lrark Office: 32d street and Cathedral avenue, Middaugh & Shannon, " Rosé Roofs are Reliable -/ ‘because Rose work is .'rcsponsiblet"f - is why Rose “doctored.” t kind of reatment. That %ve it : oofs don't have to be continually 20 years. He was elected president SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1926. JOUN MuELL! Upper, left to right: (1) Porch of the semi-detached home at Thirteenth and Upshur streets northeast, fully furnished. (2) The dining room. Lower, left té flr (2) The living room. of the Minnesota Realty Association in 1925. An authority on taxation, he was one of the first group of mem- bers of the Minneapolis Taxpayers' Association. Resolutions of regret for the death of R. Leedy Matthews of Memphis, Tenn., were adopted by the officers and delegates in attendahce at the nineteenth annual convention of the National Assoclation of Real Estate Boards. Mr. Matthews died in Okla- homa City on June 7, en route to the convention, which took place in Tulsa. He was formerly a director of the assoclation and was serving on its committee on ethics and arbitration at the time of his death. Permanent Furniture. Convert your partitions between rooms into permanent furniture. The permanent bookcases are useful ar- ticles of household furnishing and they cost very little more than would lath and plaster for the same space. These. cases. - are never in the way,; for théy take .up ' very Iittle more " floor space than would the partition. | Marylind Model COLONIAL-TYPE HOUSE HOME & GARDEN 13= ¥ IS READY' 'FHROUGHOUT FOR PUBLIC VIEW Home Is in Wynnewood Park—Row ' - Houses Alsoto Be Open Tomorrow : for Inspection. ° Two ' mbre of The Star’s. model homes have been completely. furnished and opened for inspection to the pub- ‘This brings the total number of the model homes that are now opened for inspection fully furnished and landscaped to four. The model house at Thirteenth street .and Alaska avenue and 'the semi-detached ' houses at Thirteenth and Upshur streets northeast have heen on view, completely equipped, for some time. Tomorrow Maryland . model house and the northeast row houses will ‘be on view with the. interior decorating plans fully carried out. Frame Colonal Type. The Maryland modeél house is lo- cated at Wynn Park, near Silver Spring. - This structure is a frame, colonial type resMlence typical of a Maryland suburban home. It was buflt by the Stambhugh Construction Co. and designed’ by P.* C. Adams. Fully equipped and land- in a ‘manner- commensurate with its style and cost this house will furnish a’ very informative and in- teresting study for those who are de- sirious of ‘a suburban home; : This project will be opened tomorrow fully furnished from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. It will remain open until the end of the demonstration. ‘The row houses will open tomorrow fully equipped. They are located at West Virginia ayenue near Queén street northeast. These model houses were built by the C.. H. Small Co. and designed. by J. Wilmer Smith. The small houses have been particularly stressed in the demon- stration conducted by ‘The Star for the reason that they are erected in the greatest number here and because they form the chief means of housing by far the larger proportion of those persons in. Washington of moderate means. ' These houses will unquestionably be of great interest to many people as will the ‘northwest row houses at Fifth and Decatur streets, which will be opened. fully furnished. the latter part of next week. Questions Are Invited. Thé attention of - the visitors is called to the materials used in these model houses. The plannisg and equipment is worthy of study as they "give some idea of what can be ex- pected in houses of various types and sizes.. The public is invited to make inquiries of the persons who have been placed in charge of each exhibit, Inquiries may be made in regard taq the design or construction to the architects or builders whose names appeéar on the sign at each of the proj- écts or to the Real Estate Editor of The Star, . Next week in additon to the north- west row houses the Virginia model home at Lee Heights, Va., will be eompletely furnished. Progress is being made on the other demonstration houses. The detached house at Wesley - Heights is struc- turally complete and the details for the landscaping and interior decorat- ing are now in process of formula- tion. - The largest model house, a stone colonial detached residence at Thirty-fifth street and Massachusetts avenue, is nearing structural com- pletion and now presents a worth- while house. to visit. " The community group houses at Fifth and Longfellow streets will be completed within a week or so. SOFTWOOD SHOWS- ADDED PRODUCTION Holiday Delays Reports, But Ac- tual Increase Is Indicated in Returns. On account of the July 4 holiday reports to the National Lumber Manu- facturers’ Assoclation were incomplete for the week ended July 3, being re- celved from only 354 softwood and 101 hard mills. Data from 339 com- parably reporting softwood mills ap- parently show that there was little relative change in total production, shipments and new business, when compared with reports from 393 mills for_the week eariier. In' comparison with” reports for the same period Iast year, when 44 miore mills reported, thére was, nevertheless, an absolute increase in new business. The hard- wood operations show decreases in all three items when compared with re- ports for the previous week, when 49 more mills reported, which, again, is no doubt chargeable to incomplete re- turns due tq the holiday shutdown. Reports not received from the Southern Plne Association in time for publication. For the 102 West Coast mills the unfilled orders were 410,064, 100 C0-OPERATIVE It’s the p»r'a'cti‘cal . thing to do--- ‘For luxurious comfort, real economy, freedom from house maintenance, assurance of select ‘kenvironment anda hundred sim- Jilar reasons, YOU SHOULD OWN A MODERN CO-OPERA- TIVE APARTMENT. - ,Washington 3 362 feet, as against 431,424,824 feet for 106 mills a week earier. 4 Altogether the 339 comparably re- porting softwood mills had shipments 105 per cent and orders 103 per cent of actual production. For the South- ern pine mills these percentages were, respectively, 110 and 95, and for the ‘West Coast mills 108 and 113. Of the reporting mills the 319, with an established normal! production for week of 214,740,564 feet, gave actual production 98 per cent, ship- ments 103 per cent and orders 102 per cent thereof. Gable Roof for Dwellings. The gable roof is the plain pointed roof which is confined almost en- tirely to dwellings. Its effect depends upon the pitch of the roof, meaning its inclination or degree of steepness, and upon the skill with which dormer windows and chimneys are introduced to break its monotony. ) Age of Gloom Passes. The drab wall, the uninteresting decorative scheme; in fact, all the earmarks of the “age of gloom.” are passing. “Decorate everything.,” is the ‘new: formula. For decoration of any sort—particulariyy that.in which pure color and flexibility of ‘medium are desirable—paint naturally comes to ‘the foreground. f two , finest—i 2540 Mass. Ave. and 1661 Crescent PL (Adjoining 2400 Sixteenth)