The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-08
Kansas Construction Would
Take Care OF Labor.
But Activity Must Be Revived
Early THIS Spring.
CONSTRUCTION WORK AHEAD
Lower Prices Mean More Build.
ing In This State.
Tight Money Has Been RespOn-
sibIe For Fewer Jobs.

The adoption OF a reasonable pro-
gram of good roads construction in
Kansas, would go far toward the solu-
/ ton of the unemployment problem
which may rear Is head in the state
| this winter. in the opinion of Harry
| Wright, secretary Of the Kansas Good
Roads association.
And immediate action by the legis-
! lature on the lines which have been
mapped out would mean that the
chance to put men to work on the
roads would come early enough in the
winter to be of greater value than
| later.
Thousands of men could be used to
advantage on -rading and the prepa-
ration OF earth roads during the win
| ter. altho concrete highways could
not be laid during freezing weather,
| Wright says.
The funds which are available from
the auto license fund. il they are to
be utilized for road work, would sup
ply enough money to keep thou
sands of men on good jobs during
the winter.
The scope ofy the employment pos
I sibilities is doubled by the fact that
under the federal aid scheme, for
every dollar the state puts up to be
| expended for good roads. the federal
government will put up another dol
lar
There are under consideration road
ties at the present time, and others
would rapidly materialiZe If the laws
were such that they could be pushed.
The constitutional amendment passed
at the last genueral election provided
for the activity of the state in road
building, and the probable amount of
unem pIoyment in the state during the
coming winter is regarded as an evil
dent and important reason for the I'M
mediate passage by the legislature of
a bill which will work out the pro-
gram which was in mind when the
amendment to the state constitution
was passed in November
More Building soon.
Il is possible that the building
trades will be able to care for more
unemployed men in the next few
months There is Il tremendous amount
of building and general constructlon
work which is being held up pending
the reduction in its costs. Labor ana
material for all construction work
have been very high-the highest IN
the history of the country.
Now the materials are coming down.
There has been a reduction of Is per
cent in the prices of lumber in the
last thirty days. There are thousands
Of men out OF employment at the
present time in the eastern part OF tne
country, and there are apt to be more,
some of this army Of unemployed
their numbers are increased from the
tanks of men who are now WORKING IN
This section of the country. but may
he laid off at any time, following the
lead of the east, the labor market VIII wiz
show a distinct surplus and wages Will
With labor and material on lower
reval there may be a revival OF the
building program of the country
which is at present far behind This
revival will likely result in the giving
of employment to large NUMBER OIL
men and be an additional factor TO-
ward reducing the unemployment
Contractors and construction men
DISAGREE es to whether there will be
action on the building program early
enough to do much good this winter
and for the most part believe that IT
will not. but there will be big year
of building ahead, when it does start,
they believe.
Money Is Tight
A third factor which has prevented
a lot of construction work from being
started after it had been planned,
was the financial stringency. Bond
ing companies which had agreed 70
furnish the cash for bonds, on in
stallments. to complete millions OF
dollars worth OF building, have, dur
ing the past few months, defaulted
on their payments. on account of the
financial conditions.
Whether the money market is get
ing easier or not. it is nevertheless a
fact that several of these companies
have been able to resume their in
stailment payments and thus have
made the money available to continue
the work.
Reports from the agricultural
agencies in the state Indicate that the
farmers will plant as many crops this
year as they did last. and when the
spring comes, there will be employ
ment for thousands of men on kan
sas farms. Labor was short last year.
and this year it looks as if many men
who in 1890 scorned a farm job
would be very glad to get one this year.