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Show nuit.nixfJ ON INCRKASK One of the most encouraging features fea-tures of the business outlook Is the resumption of building activity. Statistics Sta-tistics from the country at large show more building In progress than for years. Contracts awarded in 26 northeastern north-eastern states for April totaled more than a quarter of a billion dollars, the largest on record for an April, and an increase of 3 4 per cent over March. Tn some sections the Increase reached 11 per cent and all sections report gains over previous months. Residential construction leads all other building, as the nation is short over 1,500,000 homes as a result of retarded construction during the war. Slightly lower wage scales and cheaper cheap-er lumber have acted as a stimulant to building, but there must be still further readjustment in prices before be-fore there will be a real building boom. Building, in addition to affording employment to thousands of men In the building and allied trades, stimulates stim-ulates many other industries, makes business for railroads and augments the purchasing power of the country and demand for commodities. |