Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-04-17
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SPEND S305,369,464
 ON IMPROVEMENTS

Despite the failure of the last Con gross to pass important appropria- ton measures, the Federal Govern ment is getting under way vast amount of building and construction work. The Department of Labor calls attention to the fact that by the end of the fiscal year 1921 there will be available for Federal aid for State road building more than $266, O0O000. Congress passed the ap- prOpriaton for s9,050,000 for new hospitals and improvements to old ones needed by the Public Health Service and this building activity is being rushed and will be under way by the end of the year Some of these projects will be under con struction by midsummer. More than $30 1000 OO0 are involved in the main- tenance and construction work set in the rivers and harbors apprOpria- tion bill passed by the last Congress
 The harbors and rivers improve ment work takes in almost every section of the country, much of it being planned for the southeast, the Atlantic Coast and the Pacific States.
 
 spent along the Mississippi River, approximately s3,500,0(1. ion the Ohio River, and about $500,0OO along the Missouri River. This work, it is understood, will go ahead regardless of current material and labor costs and should prove an important fact or in making business good in the hundreds of localities where such work is undertaken by the Govern ment.
 The building program of the Public Health Service, to meet the require ments of soldiers and sailors avail ing of their privileges under the War Risk service, calls for remodeling an additions to hospital properties at amp Cody N Mex, Camp Hancock, Ga, Camp Joseph k, Johnston, Fla, Camp Beauregard, La., Camp Logan. Texas, Camp Frcemont,. Cal, and the nitrate plant at Perryville. Md. Tor fhese necessary changes and addi- tions $75O,O00 are available. The carries an appropriation of $3,O00,- 00O
 There is an appropriation of $1,- 5OO,0OO for the building Of a sana- torium at Dawson Springs. Ky, the survey is being made and for the site and hospitol plant at Norfolk. Virginia, $900,000 has be en approl priated. An appropriation of $550,- 0OO was made to take care of the hospital project in the District of Columbia and $19o. Do were voted for improvements i'll the Marine Hos- pital at Stapleton. Staten Island, \. Y.
 For most of these projects plans now are being prepared and it is safe to say work on all of them will be- gin within the year. < j. The failure of the last Congress to appropriate money to take care of the building program in the Treas ury Department has held up about 150 projects, for the most part post office 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 .000,000
 Many of these projects were con templated before the war and money appropriated to cover the construc7 tion costs on the then prevailing prices. Estimates at that time show ed these buildings would cost ap- proximately IF and one-half million about six millions more and before the work can be undertaken Congress must appropriate enough money to take care of this increase in building costs. There is little doubt but that the next Congress will take care of this.
 The spending of $266000,O ,O00 ap- propriated for Federal aid for road building depends upon several states. Some are hastening to avail of this opportunity to enjoy Federal as sistance in building State roads; other States appear to be slow to take advantage of the opportunity. However, the money is. or will be available and the Federal Govern ment is anxious that States make the most of their opportunities dur ing the current year as road huild- ing State roads; other States appear to De available aud the Federal Gov ernment is anxious that States make the most of their opportunities dur ing the current year as road guiding will do much to stimulate business and to provide buffer employment for labor until the industrial transi- ton from war to peace has been ef- fected