Evening Star Newspaper, November 16, 1935, Page 23

REAL ESTATE. TREND T0 PRIVATE BUILDING SEEN Contractors Expect Deficit in Construction to Be Released. Believing the recent steady upward trend in private construction volume is the forerunner of a genuine re- vival of major proportions within the industry, the Associated General Con- tractors of America will hold their seventeenth annual convention Jan- uary 13, 14 and 15, at the Miami Biltmore Hotel, Miami, Fla., prepared to give accelerating force to this trend, Edward J. Harding, managing director of the association, has an- nounced. At the same time, he announced the formal nomination of William A. Klinger of Sioux City, Iowa, and Ed- ward P. Palmer of New York City, as president and vice president-at-large, respectively, to head the general con- tractors national association in 1936, succeeding President Nick F. Helmers of St. Paul and A. W. Merchant of Providence. Studies Verify Trend. M “Every recent statistical study makes it quite apparent,” Harding states, “that the volume trend in the field of private construction has defi- nitely headed upward, that it may be expected to continue its upward trend, and that the trend will be accelerated.” For the first time in more than four years, therefore, it is anticipated that the convention’s major attention will be turned to the encouragement and acceleration of this pronounced trend in private construction, rather than to the field of publicly financed work, upon which the industry has had to rely so heavily during the depression. ° Demand to Be Loosened. Harding estimates that there is an accumulated deficit of at least eighteen billion dollars in private construction over the period of the last five years, and that the recent upward trend may be viewed as a | seepage through that must soon break the dam which has pent up this demand. He attaches particular sig- nificance to the fact that industrial construction is setting the pace in this movement, and believes that | when the dam is broken the wheels of all Industry will again start turn- ing at a sustained rapid pace. Resi- dential construction, which now is showing a decided pick-up, may reach boom proportions when the dam is finally broken, Harding states. The new_ nominees to head the ! contractors’ association are outstand- | ing figures in the construction in- dustry. Klinger is president of the ‘Willlam A. Klinger Corp., prominent Midwestern building contracting frm, while Palmer is secretary-treasurer of Senior & Palmer, engineering con- tractors who have done extensive | work along the Atlantic Seaboard. Convention (Continued Prom First Page.) Washington financial affairs, was named second vice president of the league, and by the customary line of succession becomes president in 1937. Baltz was named to the office at the | final convention session today. He is secretary of the Perpetual Building Association in the Capital, one of the country's largest instutions of the kind, and also is vice chairman of the Board | of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Winston Salem, which covers the District of Columbia. Condemns Rate As Too Low. Interest rates on loans to home builders came in for a running fire of criticism throughout the three-day convention. At the very start a Com- mittee on Home Financing reported that “the Federal Housing Adminis- tration has been concentrating on a 5 per cent blanket rate,” and it con- tended that the rate was too low, and that “artificial fixing of commodity prices has been condemned as un- economic; fixing of credit prices is equally uneconomic.” The fire kept up unabated, although President Roosevelt, in a message to the convention, declared “We must have the courage to lower the costs of financing” to match American inge- nuity in home planning and con- struction, “It is economically impossible for private institutions engaged in the financing of homes to compete with the Federal Government in the field of housing,” the convention com- plained in a formal resolution. Such competition, plus an asserted tendency on the part of the Government “to attempt to dictate the standards and terms upon which private enter- prise shall operate,” it charged, has caused individuals to hold up building plans in the hope of even more favor- able Government terms, and so has retarded “the normal flow of mortgage money.” Told of “Money Enough.” There is money enough, if only those holding it can be weaned away from a desire for liquidity, Preston Delano, governor of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, told the conven- tion. He cited estimates that there are “$4,000,000,000 now being held- in demand or semi-demand vaults which properly belongs in the long-term mortgage field.” Asking that “a halt be called in Government activity in the housing and mortgage fleld,” the convention asked as well that the Home Owners’ Loan Corp. turn over to private en- terprise as soon as possible “its many %9,500 Completely reconditioned home on fine residential street in Woodley Park, just a few blocks from the Wardman Park Hotel, near transportation, stores and churches. Colonial front orch, 6 large rooms, tiled ath, double rear porches, modern_ kitchen with electric refrigeration, brick garage. thousands of non-distressed mort- gages.” Boom predictions came from many sources. Delano told the group, along with word that the Home Loan Bank system is here to stay, that “there are distinct signs that the Loan) bank system is at last begin- ning to work constructively rather than merely as a relief agency.” John H. Fahey, chairman of the Home Loan Bank Board, recounted “undeniable” evidences of recovery, and interest in “modern, truly satis- o (Home | factory housing developing rapidly to| an extent never known before.” Mor- ton Bodfish of Chicago, executive sec retary of the league, flatly declared “every fact points to a real estate boom of major proportions, particu- larly in residential property.” But he warned' that “we should not blind ourselves to the fact that the base has been laid for a colossal expan- sion of mortgage credits,” and added, “We are building toward another de- pression, which will seriously affect our form of Government, if not its perma- nency, unless we abolish all sorts of subsidies and preferential treatments, be they called tariffs, processing taxes on foodstuffs, 3'2 per cent interest on farm mortgages, or what have you. The tax system of the country, from start to finish, but particularly as it affects real estate, needs study and alteration in the interest of more stable and prosperous business condi- tions.” o Home (Continued From First Page.) BY LAWRENCE CROLIUS. If true Winter comfort is desired, one of the many humidifying devices now available for almost every size home—be it a large house or small ington Chapter of the American In- stitute of Architects; F. Eliot Mid- dleton, real estate broker and presi- dent of the Washington Real Estate Board; John Nolen, jr. city planner of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and Edwin H. Rosengarten, builder, member of the firm of Davis, Wick & Rosengarten. Outstanding structural features of the Upton street house include Stran steel construction of the first and second floors, which are re-enforced | with concrete; furred walls, and aluminum foil insulation of the ceil- ing of the second floor, and copper piping. There is a lavatory on the first floor and in the basement. The second floor contains three bed rooms, two baths and a small room which could be used either as a den or nursery. There is a large storage space in the attic, which space is ‘reserved in the basement for a club room to be finished off to suit the taste of the future owner. The kitchen is equipped with the latest style gas range, while the house is heated by a gas-burning furnace. Central Hall Entrance. Entrance to the home is made into a central hall, which opens on the left into a spacious living room. This living room is 23 feet 6 inches deep and 13 feet in width. It has a large fireplace, & door leading to a side porch, and windows on three sides. ‘The dining room to the right of the entrance hall is 15 feet by 12 feet 6 inches in size. The compact kitchen is directly in rear of the dining room. The latter room opens on another large porch which could be used for Summer dining. There is a small service porch attached to the main porch which connects directly with the kitchen. The master bed room is directly above the living room, and is 19 feet by 14 feet in size. This bed room has a connecting bath and ample closet space. The second bath is off the up- THROUGHOUT: WITH OLD FASHIONED EX 5470 THIRTIETH STREET N.W. 12,950 A aturdily built home pro- viding every modern con- venience—like a built dwelling n its indi- vidual features. Contains 6 rooms. 2 baths. spacious DIRECTIONS Drive ost Conn. ilitary Open and Lighted Today and Sunday Until 9 P.M. H.G.Smithy 811 15th St. Na. 5903 on homes. Bradley, Beall Tecreation room, real fire- places. two extra Iy etc. An exceptional valuel apartment—would bear inspection. Humidity—the moisture content of the air we breathe—is subject to a great deal of humor during the Sum- mer, when usually there is too much, but when cold weather comes it is completely overlooked by most every one. The reason it is overlooked is | probably because there is so little of it, but for just that reason, something should be done about moistening up | the parched atmosphere. In the first place, it will make a | | healthier environment, as it prevents the drying up of delicate membrances of the nose and throat, thereby pre- venting colds to e large extent. Saves Furniture. It will prevent the drying out of | furniture and woodwork, which causes legs to come off of chairs, cracks to occur in panels and decoration, and wide openings between the boards on floors. Most interesting of all to the home owner trying to cut down operating expenses is the fact that properly humidified air will help cut down fuel costs to a considerable extent. Instead of having to maintain a temperature | stairs hallway, and conveniently placed |in relation to both of the other bed rooms which are to the right of the hall. The back bed room is 11 feet 6 inches by 12 feet 6 inches in size, while the front room’s dimensions are |the same. The nursery or den opens | off of the front bed room. | It has been approximately a year since the first home in Westerleigh was occupied, and now there are 22 fam- ilies living there. The Miller firm has sold five other homes in the develop- ment, and are putting finishing touches to & number of others. The subdivision carries the same rigid re- strictions as are in effect in both Spring Valley and Wesley Heights. The home will be open daily in the 30 days’ exhibition period from 10 a.m. until 9 pm. HIBIT HOME custom= Winter Comfort Promoted and Heating Costs Cut by Humidifying Devices—Many Types Are Available. | scribe them all, but generally they are | air stream as it comes from the fan. | A more elaborate humidifier is located 10 AM.-9 P.M. Open Week Days 2 te 9 P.M. & Howard, Inc. atories, Exclusive Agents Insurance—Real Estate—Loans Southern Building NAtional 0271 Home Modernization of 72 to 78 degrees to be comfortable it is possible to set the thermostat at 68 and still feel much more com- fortable. The heating plant therefore shut off just that much sooner, resulting in lower fuel con- sumption. The devices that the home mod- ernizer may use to achieve these re- sults are so numerous that it would be impossible to even begin to de- quite simple in construction and oper- ate on somewhat the same principle, Central Cabinet Type. One machine is contained in a cabinet which replaces a conventional | radiator and is located in the cen- tral part of the house so that the humidified air may reach to all parts. It is particularly adapted to steam, hot water or vapor heating plants and operates by evaporating water, which is passed over heated coils. A fan gently circulates the newly- moistened air so that it is evenly distributed throughout the dwelling. An automatic humidity control oper- ates an electric valve so that the water supply is shut off when the | proper amount of humidification has been attained. - Another type works on the spray principle. A motor-driven atomizer sprays a fine mist directly into the in the basement and is attached to | the floor joists. A hole is cut in the | will | moictened air with forced circulation. floor and a register installed so that A NEW CENTER-HALL PLAN CORNER HOME OF DISTINCTION In eDahlia Terrace. 7101 8¢th Street N.W. (Cor. Dahlis St.) HEALTH HOME 'Open Today and Daily: Drive out Georgia Ave. to Dahlia St. and right 1 block to home. EUGENE H. PHIFER NOrth 5800 This distinguised Colonial is truly a real buy. 6 lovely rooms, 2 baths and first-floor lavatory. room, full depth of house. 10x20 porch on south. Slate roof. Full attic. Home has furred walls and 4-inch rock-wool insulation. Built-in garage. Superior construction throughout. landscaped lot with 75-ft. frontage « « - REASONABLY priced. A e s i S A — the air supply is brought into the unit, filtered, humidified and forced up into the house through the floor grille. Pay for Themselves. Owners of homes equipped with old- fashioned hot-air plants can very easily install a humidifying mechan- ism that will give very good results. An evaporating pan equipped with an | automatic float control will supply | sufficient moisture to take care of the | entire house using the present sys-| tem of ducts. These hot-air furnaces | may also be equipped with a spray- type unit which will supply filtered, Most of these devices are low in cost | and will pay for themselves many times over in increased comfort, as well as lowered heating costs. For further information concerning the products mentioned in this col- umn, call or write the Home Mod- ernization Editor, Evening Star Buildin, Modern 2-story brick hom Farage. completely sereened er-stripped. Furnished a for . GOSS REALTY CO 1405 Eye St. N.W. "NAtL 1353 J. S. Eston. Sales Dept. Spacious living Beautifully REAL ESTATE. B35 ENGLISH BUILDERS HOLD TO PAY SCALE Low Wages Responsible for Dif- ferent Costs—Labor Short- age Claimed. Building trades employers in Eng- land adhere to the union scale of wages, according to the current bulle- tin of the Building Trades Employers® Association of New York, which sug- gests that the wage scale abroad should be taken into consideration in any comparison of large housing proj- ects there and in this country. There is constant employment for all the English building trades, with even a shortage of labor, the bulletin de- clares. Taking the Manchester district as typical of all England, the bulletin notes that current wages are less than in 1920, being the lowest since that time. For an average 44-hour week English building mechanics are paid a limit of 50 cents an hour. Bricklayers and concrete workers get 38 cents an hour, joiners and carpenters receive 49 cents an hour and laborers 29 cents. While conceding that the cost of living for the working classes in Eng- land is less than in the United States, the bulletin declares that the differ~ ence is not as great as that between wages paid building workers here and in England. Building wages in some sections of this country average about four times the English, it was estie mated. e e | Take Pleasure 1. Attractive new dwelling at 605 Highland drive, Woodside Park. Md., sold to an unannounced investor by the Thomas E. Jarrell Co. Il was built by the Woodside Construction Co. 2. Lieut. Col. and Mrs. Leslie McDill bought this large dwelling, located at 3105 Cathedral avenue, from Maj. John C. Gotwals, former District Engineering Commissioner. Col. McDill is in charge of Bolling Field. The transaction was made through the office of Phillips & Canby, realtors. 3. New home at 1726 Hoban road, Colony Hill, which was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Potter from Boss & Phelps, builders, through the office of Frank S. Phillips. —Star Staff Photos. In Announcing the Appointment of Horace Browning Sales Manager A. S. GARDINER 1510 K St. N.W. NA. 0331 New Home to Be Erected for Sale on Highland Drive in Kenwood Comfortable living is one of the main objectives of most people. In Kenwood one may attain this end with 2 minimum of effort and at low cost. The present low prices of land in this attractive development makes it possible for those who desire the finer things of life to make their “home of dreams” a reality. The Kennedy-Chamberlin Development Company maintains a staff of experienced workers who do all maintenance work on your home at 2 minimum of cost. These men do all grass cutting, pruning of shrubs, window washing, car washing and all other necessary chores around a home. The Kenwood Golf and Country Club, of which every resident is a2 member, is prepared at all times to entertain you or help you entertain your friends. Catering services will be supplied from the Club at any time. Investigate Washington’s finest residential community. . ]@@JTChamBerlin Developmen{ Co Washington Office 2331 Cathedral Avenue Washington, D. C. CO. 7280 Kenwood Office Kennedy Drive and Chamberlin Ave. Kenwood, Md. WI. 4425 This New Group of Homes on Macomb Street in Wesley Heinhts Now Open for Inspection—deserves your attention! 3 and 4 Bed Rooms; 2 Baths Located in the garden spot of Washington—Miller- built homes in a Miller-controlled community! 13,950 +~ *15,500 2 Sold—Only 3 Left! Inspect at Once Open daily and Sunday—10 A.M. to 9 P.M. W. C. & A. N. Miller 1119 17th St. N.W. Dlstrict 4464 o