Evening star., 1919-04-06
PICKING UP. ]:
DESPITE HIGH PRICES
Private Builders Freer in Letting Contracts
Than Government, Which Is
Under Handicaps.

for public buildings. for road con-
struction and for hospital construc-
tion under the public health service
in considerable quantities and the
government proposes to go ahead and
spend it. While it is too small to solve
serious unemployment problem. IL
it arose, still the government work
under existing appropriations will
give employment to many thousands
of men and will aid in bringing about
a readjustment to a peace basis all
along the line in construction work
The recent plans made through the
industrial board to stabilize and lower
prices of steel. lumber and other
building materials are expected to
have healthy effect upon the public
works in this country as well as upon
private construction. if the plans do
not miscarry because Of disagreement
between the various government
agencies.
One of the appropriation bills which
Congress did put through at the last
session was the rivers and harbors
bill. 1t carries in the neighborhood
of $38.000.00o. ito be Immediately
available" for the construction. re-
pair and preservation of the public
works specified in the act. The act
provides for some seventy-five new
projects, and about $40, 100000 is to be
devoted to these new projects. For
the further improvement of projects
already begun the act carries ap-
proximately $12.25o.ooo. and about
$6.ooo,oo0 for the further improve
ment and maintenance of other prof.
ects now under way. It also carries
for maintenance Of existing projects
about $3.500.o00. The sum of $780,
600 is provided for making surveys
for new projects.
Halted Non-War Work.
During the war it was the policy Of
the War Department which controls
the rivers and harbors work through
the chief OF engineers. to suspend
work upon all projects where it was
not vitality necessary. as in the case OF
the forty-foot channel at Charleston,
S. c.. which was needed because Of
the big dry dock the Navy was build
ing there, and where the work could
be suspended without the deteriora-
tion Of the projects. Consequently.
some $4,000. 900 of old appropriations
remain to be expended on these prof.
! ects. as in the case Of the Ohio river.
where there Is stiI1 available about
$4,000. .0eo for Improvement work.
| At the office Of the chief Of engf-
neers it was said that river and ha1-
! Dor work is now being resumed ~
speedily as possible. though the un-
settled condition Of labor and mate
rial costs has so far prevented a gen
eral order to go ahead with the prof.
ects in all parts Of the country. The
district supervisors are being allowed
to use their discretion with regard to
recommending contracts to some ex-
the various parts Of the country are
different with regard to labor and
materials.
When projects are submitted -
Congress for river and harbor i'm
provement they are accompanied with
estimates Of the cost Of the work.
The estimates of practically all Of
the deferred projects were made in
pre-war conditions. Realizing this
fact and that it would be impossible
to get the contracts let for such fg-
ures today in view OF the great In
creases in costs, Congress made pro-
vision in the act recently passed for
the increase in the cost Of construct.
ing the various projects. but limited
the increase to 40 per cent in the egtir
mated cost OF any project
Calls for Public Terminals
Another feature of the rivers and
harbors act which is calculated to
stimulate municipal public work de-
clares it to be the policy OF Congress
that water terminals are essential at
all cities and towns located upon nav
igable streams and that at least one
public terminal should be constructed,
owned and regulated and operated by
the municipality. With a view to
carrying out this policy the Secretary
of War is vested with the discretion
to withhold. unless the public inter-
est would seriously suffer, nnoneysap-
propriated in this act il in his opinion
no adequate water terminal facilities
exist adequate for traffic and open to
all on equal terms. or unless salts
factory assurances are received that
such facilities will be provided
An omnibus public buildings bf1l.
carrying about $40.0oo.000 and pro
viding for new buildings in scores Of
cities. was reported to the House by
the committee on public buildings
and grounds. That is as far a8 II
ever got. 1t was never considered
in the House. and Of course never
reached the Senate. There are.
therefore, no funds available for
public buildings. such al post Offices
customs houses. etc, except those
hitherto appropriated by Congress-
While the war was on. the then
Secretary OF the Treasury. Mr.. Nc
Adoo. issued an order battling all
p,,hlic hufldin1 which waa mot essen