GYPSUM  617


 * By R.. M. SANTMYERS



 During 1932 the gypsum industry experienced the greatest recession in tonnage
output since the beginning of the present century. Pro.. duction of crude
gypsum as reported by 53 operators totaled only 1,355,219 short tons (slightly
more than that reported in 1905 and a ecrease of 47 percent compared with
1931). This decline in output resulted from drastic curtailment in building
construction in 1932. The value of the building contracts awarded in 1932
declined 56 percent from those of the previous year and 79 percent from those
of the peak year 1926.' Activities in residential and nonresidential build-.
ing construction, the principal markets for gypsum plaster and tile, registered
49 percent and 60 percent less,, respectively, than in 1931. Since approximately
95 percent of the gypsum products produced is consumed in building construction,
either. directly or indirectly, any drop in construction work greatly affects
the gypsum industry. Research has been continued in the hope that new industrial
uses for gypsum wifi be discovered that will broaden the markets and provide
a more balanced outlet during periods of decline in construction. The recession
in building-construction activities was due primarily to difficulties in
financing new projects, although the fact that large numbers of people were
uncertain of continued employment played an important role in curtailing
the . construction of residential buildings.
 During the latter part of the summer there was a slight increase in light,
construction. Modernizing and repairs were reported to be about at the. 1930
level. Toward the end of the year civic organizations,, in conjunction with
city heads, architects, and ' others, stressed building repairs :a~id remodeling
as a means of relieving unemployment, and this improved prices of many gypsum
products. ' The requirements for these small repair jobs were inadequate,
however, to offset the tremendous tonnage losses affecting the larger outlets,
and it has been stated that during the year only about 17 ' to 20 percent
of the plant capacity of the ' United States was utilized. This estimate,
however, includes data on a fairly large number of plants that may be considered
obsolete when called upon to compete with those constructed during recent
years. ,
 In the absence of incentive for enlarging capacity most producers limited.
their efforts to retaining the' present markets for standard gypsum commodities,
and only a few. new products were reported. One company added three new products
to its wall-board line—a regular gypsum waIl board, covered on one
side with aluminum foil
' Survey of Current Business, U.S. Dept. of Commerce (monthly).