Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1906 — BEAT ALL RECORDS. [ARTICLE]

BEAT ALL RECORDS.

Greatest Building; Year In Ameri.

ca’> lllatory.

During 1905 permits were taken out hi 26 of the principal cities of the country for tije construction of buildings aggregating in cost $528,186,412, against $375,571,130 for 1964, a gain of $152,615,282, or 40 per cent, says the Conatruction News. This is a remarkable showing. Never before in the history of this country has anything like it ever been seen, yet, on the other hand, there is, in so far as one can discern, no reason why building in 1906 should not exceed the magnificent totals of 1905. All but four of these cities show substantial increases, not a •mall gain, but a good healthy advance in material development over 1904. For example, Chicago had a gain of 82 per cent; New York, 60; Philadelphia, 87; and St Louis —and this the year after the world's fair —a gain of 65 per cent. An interesting part of the record is the grbwth and development oT the ■mailer cities, such as Indianapolis, 78 per cent; Columbus, Ohio, 95; Louisville, 95; Denver, 58; Detroit, 57; Kansas City, 57; Washington, Gl; New Orleans, 68; Cincinnati, 52; St. Paul, 52; Cleveland, ‘ 48; Brooklyn, 44; Minneapolis, 82, and San Francisco, 31. Decreases, quite fortunately, number only sou 17; Seattle, 13; Pittsburg, 6, and Memphis, 3 per cent. It is pretty hard to account for this falh Ing off, other than that Pittsburg has shown unusual activity in former years; Memphis was affected by the yellow fever scare, while there seems no reason why Atlanta and Seattle should have fallen so far behind. Great as the figures are, they tell but part of the story. They only embrace 26 of tha principal cities. What about th« thousand and one cities, towns and villages scattered all over the country in which the era of prosperity has been equally responsive? Were it possible to obtain the figures, they would be much greater by many time* over than those cotatained in the foregoing. On the whole, the year was eminently satisfactory, and builders and material dealers look back upon It with the deepest gratitude and with a feeling of assurance that the soason upon which we are now entering will be equally prosperous.