The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-12-19
Editorial and Magazine Page of
Immediate Resumption of Public Improvement Work
Is Urged as Patriotism by War Industries Board

A LII RESTRICTIONS on the making of public
~ improvements have been removed with the
exception Of those implied by the confirm.
ance in authority of the Capital Issues Committee
which passes upon bond issues. The policy of this
comnittee is sure 10 be very liberal also. TO all in
tents and purposes, there is nothing of n legal ma
ture remaining TO obstruct the normal development
pc the country.
This change for the better mas been rapid be-
yond the most optimistic hopes. A month ago all
sorts Of restrictions were in force, not only eifcctu-
nlly stopping construction work but consuming
enormous amounts Of time and energy in the vain
effort to Get something done. Happily, those days
have passed.
According 10 the current number of "Mun:ci.
pal and County Engineering, " the construction in
dustry has suffered more from the war than any
other industry in the conntry. Ii says:
mo one acquainted with the facts will dispute
This statement. But If the construction industry
fell far and landed heavily il is in for II sensational
rebound. IL is now apparent. to every thinking per.
son that construction must absorb the labor and
materials released by the suspension of war in
dustries.
I'm the midst of the rejoicing at NE deliver
ance from the conditions imposed ON nOn-war con-
struction, IL began to appear that some cities that
had been restrained from making improvements
would persist in the do-nothing policy after the lift
ing of the restrictions, arguing that present labor
and material prices make TIE construction of public
works inadvisable. This attitude is not only falla-
cious. but decidedly unpatriotic.
Patriotism was the cause of stopping con-
s~truction, so let patriotism start construction going
again. City officials were quick enough 10 stop
work az the suggestion of the government; il is to
be hoped they will be equally responsive now that
Bernard Baruch, chairman Of the War Industries
Board, has said
With the returning peace and until normal
conditions prevail great obligations rest not
alone with the people, but with national, state
and municipal governments 10 go ahead with
improvements, even at sacrifices, in order to
make the adjustment as gradual as possible.
With this end in view, il would be of great
assistance il public work of oil kind that can
be done should be undertaken with the least
possible delay.
let us leave il TO the Peace Delegates to wind
mp the war ard turn all our thought to the resump-
ton of the normal life of the nation. Peace mas It's
slaekers no less than war. A city that does not now
push public work is a Stacker city il is failing in
the paramount patriotic duty Of the hour"
Unfortunately there are not a few cities that
find themselves, like Albuquerque finds itself today,
fully possessed of the Willingness ia 90 ahead with
public Improvement enterprises, hut sadly lacking
in the funds wherewith TO proceed, or in thc means
whence such funds can be had.
We are no Stacker city" We need a great
street paving campaign here; one which will mod
ernie the streets of this city. Practically the whole
population favors 1t but we lack the proper power
TO proceed. We need n number of vitally necessary
public improvements which cannot be obtained for
lack OF funds.