Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-01-17

WY ASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 13.-No less
wv than three billion dollars worth of
public building projects in the United
States were postponed as a result of the war;
according to an estimate made by the depart
ment of labor.
The Immediate resumption of this work,
and the initiation Of as much more necessary
construction work as the private and public
capital of the country can carry, are the only
measures that can avert an era of unemplOy-
ment and labor unrest, with all the injury to
business and financial conditions which in
evitably accompany such a condition, in the
opinion of labor department officials. 1t is
for this reason that the labor department has
created new division-that of public works
and construction development. This division
will cooperate with states cities and individ-
uals wishing to undertake constructive work
The seriousness of that problem can
scarcely be exaggerated, Soldiers are now
being discharged at the rate of about fifteen
thousand day, and many of them have no
work to turn to. The labor we'll has already
overlooked and only prompt action can avert
flood.
The administration is, at work on the pre-
liminary investigation for measure which
will provide for the reclamation of thousands
of square miles of swamp and cut-over land,
and the making of the reclaimed areas into
farms for soldiers. This work would give
employment to an army. But the measure is
not even formulated as yet, and when it
comes before congress, it will be months be-
fore it's passage. The present emergency
must be met by the state and city govern
ment and by private capital.
The work of this new division will be pri-
marly to bring capital and labor together so
as to obtain the best results. It will assist
the leaders in the building industry by giving
them expert advice and information relative
to the demand for building in all parts of the
country. 1t will aid labor by providing en-
ployment to large numbers of soldiers and
workmen discharged from war plants.
The advice given will be expert because
professional men have been called upon to
handle this work F. T. Miller, who is organ
izing the work, is a well-known publisher Of
industrial publications. The Investigations
and inquiries will be directed by a group of
economists and special investigators, supplied
by the department of labor and other govern
ment departments, or borrowed from uni
versities.
This group of economists and business men
will make a thorough survey of the country
and collect statistics in regard to price and
supply of building Materials the amount of
labor available and it's cost, the values OF
land, prevailing rents, the supply of capital,
and the amount of construction held up by
the war.
This data will be available for the use of
any community or builder in determining
whether it is advisable to undertake public Or
private construction in a given place.
The department of labor will also conduct
active campaign to encourage building
operations. 1t is expected that the building
industry will respond to this heartily, for
ever since the beginning of the European war
construction has decreased until now it is
practically at standstill. The increase in
rents is indicative of the shortage of houses.