NEW FACTORY CONSTRUCTION DURING

THE YEAR ENDED JULY 1, 1905.

As has been chronicled in previous reports of this department, the bureau first began to secure data concerning the matter of new factory or mill construction in the year 1900.

The chapter of the report devoted to this subject seems to have met with public approval and its continuance from year to year has been deemed advisable.

It should be understood, in making comparisons, that the data herein contained covers the period from June 30, 1904, to July 1, 1905; and in this connection it should be stated, that from information at hand at the time this chapter of the report was completed, indications pointed to a very large increase in the amount of building operations for the succeeding period.

The tabulated statement of the material contained in this chapter is similar in form and detail as has been the custom in previous issues, thus enabling the reader to make accurate comparisons and correct deductions.

NUMBER OF BUILDINGS.

For purposes of comparison the number of separate buildings erected for manufacturing purposes during the past six years, including the current year, is here given.

During the period covered by the investigation, in the year 1900, two hundred and forty-five factory buildings were constructed by one hundred and seventy-three parties. During the same period in 1901 nine-two additions were erected by the eighty-seven establishments represented.

In the following year, that of 1902, one hundred and twentysix concerns constructed one hundred and fifty-eight separate buildings.

The year 1903 witnessed the construction of one hundred and eighty-five buildings which were erected by one hundred

and one different firms, individuals or corporations. In 1904 there were one hundred and forty-five new buildings erected or additions made to plants already existing; these were built by one hundred different establishments which made reports to the bureau. During the year last past, that of 1905; one hundred and eighty-eight structures were erected for manufacturing purposes by the one hundred and thirty-six firms, corporations and individuals represented. During the entire period of six years 1,013 separate buildings were erected or additions made by six hundred and thirty-six different concerns. Thus it is seen that, while the average number of new factories built during the six-year period was one hundred and sixtynine, the year 1905 witnessed the construction of one hundred and eighty-eight, or 11.2 per cent. more than the average number during the period named. In the number of establishments concerned in manufacturing construction the increase in 1905 over the average number for six years is marked, there having been one hundred and thirty-six concerns interested in new factory construction during the year 1905, while the average number for the six-year period was one hundred and six, an increase in 1905 of 28.3 per cent.

TOWNS BENEFITED.

The number of towns in which there were constructed new buildings for manufacturing purposes, or where there were additions made to plants already erected, during the period covered by this chapter was forty.

There being one hundred and sixty-eight incorporated towns within the state, the proportion of them which have been benfited by the increase in manufacturing enterprises is 23.8 per cent. of the whole number. This in comparison with thirtyeight towns or 22.6 per cent. of the whole number in 1904, forty towns or 23.8 per cent. of the whole number in 1903, forty-three towns or 25.6 per cent. of the whole number in 1902, thirty-six or 21.4 per cent. of the whole number in 1901, while in 1900 fifty-nine towns or 35.1 per cent. of the whole number in the state were benefited by the erection of factory buildings. The average number of towns benefited during the

six-year period was 25.4 per cent. of the whole number within the state, or 1.6 per cent. more than is shown by the figures

for 1905.

Bridgeport leads, as in 1904, in number of structures erected for manufacturing purposes during the 1905 period. The amount expended for this purpose, however, was not as great as was the case in the preceding year. There were twenty-five new buildings erected in Bridgeport in each of the two years here considered. The cost of the additions made in 1904 was reported to have been $462,325, while during the same period in 1905 the same number of additions cost but $168,530.

Waterbury follows with twenty-four new buildings to its credit, which cost $293,700. During the preceding year of 1904 there were twenty-three factory buildings erected in that town at a cost of $395,000.

The reports from New Haven show that during the year ending in 1905 there were seventeen factory buildings erected or additions made, the reported cost of which was $238,900, against seven buildings during the same period of 1904, which were erected at a cost of $68,500.

Hartford has thirteen structures credited as having been erected during the year last past, the reported cost of which was $40,250, while during the same period in 1904, Hartford was credited with having constructed eleven new factory buildings which cost $132,700.

There were eleven new buildings erected for manufacturing purposes in New Britain during the 1905 period, the reported cost of which was $62,550. The amount expended for the same purpose in the same town during the preceding year was $87,650, while the number of structures erected was reported to have been five only.

The amount of expenditures for New Factory Construction during the current year does not equal the sum expended in any of the six years with which comparisons are made.

The cost of new buildings constructed in Connecticut for manufacturing purposes during the year 1900 was given in

the report of this bureau for that year as having been $1,949,104; 1901, $2,121,740.58; 1902, $2,427,572.36; 1903, $2,367,213.93; 1904, $1,782,663, while the reports for the current year of 1905 show that but $1,701,730 had been expended for the purpose named. Making a comparison of the amount expended during 1905, with the figures for the same period in 1904, it is discovered that it was but 4.5 per cent. less, and 17.3 per cent. less than was the average amount expended during the six-year period 1900-1905.

The total amount expended for new factory or mill construction during the entire period included in this computation, as shown by the reports for the various years was $12,350,023.87. Of this sum 15.8 per cent. was expended during the year 1900; 17.2 per cent. in 1901; 19.7 per cent. in 1902; 19.2 per cent. in 1903; 14.4 per cent. in 1904, and 13.8 per cent. in 1905.

AVERAGE COST.

The average cost of the buildings constructed during the year 1905 was $9,051.76 against $12,294.23 in 1904, $12,839 in 1903, $15,364.38 in 1902, $23,062.39 in 1901 and $7.955-52 in 1900.

The average for the entire period of six years, 1900-1905 being $13,427.88. It must be remembered, however, in making comparisons, that many factory buildings were under contract and in process of construction at the time of the close of this report, the cost of which will appear in a succeeding issue.

REASONS FOR BUILDING.

As has been the experience of the bureau in preceding years, it has been difficult to ascertain with any degree of certainty the various causes for the construction of new factory buildings. It should be stated, however, that in a majority of cases previous confined quarters and a desire to increase facilities for a larger output were the prime factors in inducing the concerns to add to the size of plants.