Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-01
WAR OPERATIONS
DELAY D. c. WORK
Commissioners Hold Street
and Other Improvements
Less important.
GIVE THEIR ENGINEERS

NctE On majority. II not all. of the
street, water and sewerage improve
ments provided for in the new Dis
tr,ct appropriation act will be de-
la1ed weeks and probably months as
result of decision reached BY the
commissioners to employ the forces
or The engineer department on. some
OF the governments important, war
one ations now under way in the
capital
Where government war buildings
ars going up and 1t is necessary to
provide streets and establish water
ana sewer connections. the engineer
department Will give practically it's
entire attention to such work. letting
me improvements authorized in the
appropriation measure go over until
there Is time to provide them
Will Give ALI Help They Can.
The Commissioner hav. determined
that the District shall cooperate as
effectively as possible with the federal
ro.ernment in carrying out its war
~ narshons IN the capital, both in
.norlzed in federal government ap-
rroprlat1ons and III the conserving Of
Materials by DELAYING work on District
pseleets while the more important war
hesds are receiving attention
There are streets to be paved in
the zone Of war buildings west Of
l'th street and south Of Pennsv1-
ANA avenue and various improve
character to be D suppil.d N nenneq
non with the CARVING out of the
housing program and other building
actlNlhes. all Of which District emf
slneers and laborers must give atteH
IT the engineers camp at American
University. in order that additional
regiments NAV be accommodated viii
necessltate also the local government
eA'endlns water and sewer mains to
that part of the District.
Will DO D. G. Work Later.
When the government work i A,-
ished. BY which time til. labor short
age situation Is expected to be ma
ferlallF improved. street improvement
work in the District. AZ authorized bv
the appropriation act. will be taken
no It IS anticipated that suff1cient
tln1e VIII remain in which to provide
ma 1Hrltv of these improvements be-
fore the expiration of the fiscal wear
July l. next
While there Is to be an immediate
diversion Of District labor to govern
ment war work. this will not apply
to all irnrroveme nts for which naonAy
Is carried IN the new measure. For
example. Apr orrlaticn is made for
the CONSTRUCTION of sixty portable
school buildings. and this work IS to
re put through with all possible haste
acllitles Of the schools ALREADY are
nv.ArtaSed and. It had been hcped the
arprorfaa would be provided IN
time for the construction Of ma
1orlt'' If the rortahles before the
"tenlnf of the school season, Septenl-
eer 3 Bids we're called for in Tune,
when there appeared to be good pres
rect IF the appropriation bill beng
July l. IT is stated that the cost Of
laoor and materials has advanced to
su"h an extent SINCE then that it will
cost At least $500 more per building
to construct the rortabIes now than
if the7- had been built in June.
Figure on School Overflow.
School suthorities are unable to
give an accurate estimate Of how
large an attendance the schools will
open with, but if there should b. an
overflow. 3 Is expected, efforts viii
be made to care for it temporar1lv in
the old Central high and NJ Street
colored buildings. until the porta bles
have been provided
|. Passage Of the appropriation bill will
have the effect of preventing a ser,-
Gus shortage Of teachers in the lower
grades. II IS believed Increases in
salaries are provided for teachers in
the klnderE artens and frst second
third and fourth grades It is be-
heved that noanv If these teachers
Who have been working for the gov
eminent during the summer. would
have continued In such amplovment
rather than return to the schools at
inadequate salaries