The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-13
CONSTRUCTION SOON
Be ORDER OF THE DAY
Manufacturers Record.)


Because the country did not In
staneousiy after the armistice jump
from war activities into an equal de-
gree of peace activity some people
have been discouraged and disposed
10 complain of the sloWness, rs they
view the matter. with which con-
struction work has been resumed,
The complaint is, we think unjusd
fled For four years this nation had
concentrated It's thought largely upon
war. Its vast business interests were
To a great extent centered upon war
even for two years before we entered
1t. and almost wholly upon war after
we became involved. The building of
roads, the construction of dwellings.
the establishment OF new enterprises,
the expansion OF railroads and kim
bred work had to be forgotten for the
-ine being. 1t was not possible as
soon as the armistice was signed for
business men to jump from the sus-
pended war activities into great peace
work II takes time to organize plans
for establishing new enterprises, for
tho architectural work for building
dwellings and other structures to be
done. 1t also takes long time ir
planning for new road work. because
securities must be issued and sold and
contracts let after legal advertising
Under such conditions 1t would have
been practically impossible for any
great activity to take place within
five or SIX months after the signing
of the armisticc.
Prior to the Arrntytice the manu-
facturers record had taken the ground
that when peace was declared there
would be an interregnum of some
months of dullness during which
people would be readjusting them
selves to peace conditions. but thai
following that there would come a
great burst of activity. We have had
several months OF comparative dull
ness. but during that time the though,
of the country has been turning
toward construction work and the
erection of dwellings and churches
ana schools and public buildings. Mil
lions of people have been discussing
1.-THE question OF highways and how tc
build the best roads in all parts OF
the land, but all of This work requires
time The fact that not much ha.
yet been put under contract is In nc
way whatever a reflection on the
energy OF the country, nor does II ir
any way indicate that we shall not
in the near future have n period OF
Astounding industrial activity.
We shall soon enter upon a road
building campaign far beyond any
thing that we would have thought pos,
able two years ago. General building
work will of necessity soon be re.
sumed on a large scale. Many new
enterprises witt be established. Tht
farmers. who have done well ffnan
cieiiy during the last few years. viii
be spending more money than evel
before for better homes. for modern
improvements in their dwellings, ant
even under government control there
must be a great amount OF railroad
expansion and an increase OF railroad
facilities
The time Is near at hand when there
viii be an abundance of work fol
every man In the country We shall
soon take up the slack. and In doina
so find great scarcity of labor. be
cause the volume of business will ak.
coed the supply Of men.
No one should for q moment be
discouraged because this activity Ia not
yet taking the utmost capacity Of thu
country. but. on the contrary every
body should be optimistic, with al
optimism bH4od on sound judgYa ont
and be getting ready TO take adran-
take Of that tide OF prosperity which
WIN soon be upon US.
II 10 well at this time, however, to
en- phasize to county and state Of
ftcials that they should move with the
utmost speed in preparing to put un-
dor construction every bit of public
work for which they have been plan
ming. whether II be the construction OF
municipal buildings. the improve
ment Of highways, the lettering ol
streets, the establishment OF water.
works, or sewerage systems, or the en-.
largement of existing plants. All Of
these things should go forward a.
quickly es possible. and the country
has a right to look to municipal and
state officials and to the federal gov
Iernment to take the lead in bringing
about this construction activity, mo-
only because this IL public work and
for the public welfare, but because
our municipal. state and national gov
ernmen,s should be the leadcrs In this
restoration of confidence and in do
ing the things which for the last four
years they have not been able to do
because war activities had TO supplan!
peace work.
The wagon tongue has never said