The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-16
SPEND S3D5,369,464 ON
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

Despite the failure OF the last con-
gress to pass important appropriation
measures. the federal government is
getting under way n vast amount Of
building and construction work. The
department OF labor calls attention
to the fact that by the end OF the fiscal
year 1871 there will be available for
federal aid for state road building
more than $266o00ooo Congress
passed the appropriation for &9.050 GEO
for new hospitals ana improvements
TO old oues needed lay the public health
service and thus building activity is
being rushed ard viii be under way
by the end Of the year. Some Of these
projects viii be Under construction by
midsummer More than $4,000. 600
are involved in the maintenance and
construction work set out ia the rivers
and harbors appropriation bin passed
by The last congress.
The harbors and rivers Improvement
work takes in almost every section
of the country. much of il being
planned for the southeast, the Atlantic
coast and tn" Pacific states. More
along the Mississippi river approN-
mateiy So 100000 on the Ohio river,
and about $4,000 along the Missouri
river, This work, it IS understood, viii
so ahead regardless of current mate
rial and labor costs ANA should prove
an important factor in making BUSH
ness good In the hundreds of loead-
ties where such work is undertaken by
the government
The building program of The pub
lie health service. to meet. the require
ments of soldiers and sailors awaiting
Of their privileges under the war risk
service. calls for remodclinE and ad-
ditions 10 hospital propertie4, AT Camp
cody. y NJ. camp Hancock, Ga;
Camp Joseph r. Johnston. Fla, Camp
Beaureeard La; Camp logan. Tex:
Camp Fremont, CAL and the nitrate
plant at PerryViue Md. Tor these
necessary changes ana additions s75o,-
900 are available, The hospital pro-
ject in Cook county, a.. most Of which
is completed, carries an appropriation
OF SO 00o 00U
There is an appro priation Of ST.
torium at Dawson Springs I>N.. the
500 900 for the building OF a sana-
survey is being made and for the
site and hospital plant at Norfolk, Va.
sa0n 900 has been appropriated. An
appropriation of $3.50. 000 was made to
take care of the hospital project in
the District of Columbia and Sl90.-
coo were voted for improvements in
the marine hospital AT Stapleton,
StatenyIsand. \. Y.
For most of these projects plans
now are being prepared and II Is safe
to say work on all of them Will begin
within the year.
fat nf he ct n
appropriate money 10 take care of the
building program in the treasury de-
partment has held up about $50 pro-
jects for the most part postoffice
buildings Almost every state in the
union is represented in this list OF
deferred projects which involves the
expenditure. on present construction
prices, of more than $23,oo0,00o,
Many of these projects were con-
templated before the war and money
appropriated TO cover the construe-
prices. Estimates at that time show
ed these buildings would cost approxi-
mately sixteen and a half millions.
The present estimates are about six
rnillions more and before the work can
be undertaken congress must approp-
riate enough money to take care of
this increase in building costs. There
is mite doubt out tnat tne next con-
gress will take care of this.
The spending of s266, 900, 900 ap-
propriated for federal aid for road
building depends upon the several
states Some are Fastening to avail
Of this opportunity 10 enjoy federal
assistance in building state roads.
other states appear to he slow to take
advantage OF the opportunity How
ever. the money is. or will be avail
able and the federal government is
anxious that states make the most of
their opportunities during the current
year as road building win do much to
stimulate business and to provide buff
fer employment for labor until the in
dustrial transition from war to peace
has been effected