The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-08-10
HOOVER ASKS ROAD
 CONTRACTS BE GIVEN

(Continued from Page 1.) correctness of the conclusions that had been reached summoned a com mittee comprising representatives of the great engineering societies who have prepared for me the enclosed opinion.
 The conclusions of this inquiry are in a word that there would be ad- ditional economy in construction. if the contracts for the road were let in the fall instead of in the winter and spring; that contracts let at this time would enable considerable employ | ment over the winter in the manufac- ture of material and equipment and in the placing of material ready for construction early in the spring. It would enable contractors to give em- | ployment to some of their staffs through the winter instead of impos- | ing it at a higher rate upon the short summer construction season. It would relieve pressure on labor during the period of larger demand for agricu1- tural help and would, indeed, ex- pedite the completoin of road build ing.
 | The criticism that we are in a period of falling prices and possibly of railroad rates, and that contracts let this fall might be at higher figures than would prove necessary later in the season may be answered by mak- ing provisional contracts so that any such difference would accrue to the state This method has been partially adopted in a few states and you will of course, understand that my only desire is to offer a suggestion that by cooperative action might lead to some reduction of unemployment.
 l hope you will find the matter worthy of consideration and will be glad to ave you advise me of your views upon it.
 Yours faithfully,
 Herbert Hoover.
 Better Transportation Service. | In copy of the memorandum from the committee of the engineering so. c1et1es, enclosed with Secretary Hoover's letter it is set forth that the fall letting of contracts will give the contractors much longer working season It also means better trans, portation service, for with with the spring letting of contracts. the de mand for transportation of material: for road construction comes at 2 time when the peek demand comes ir number of other industries. By starting the construction a month ol two earlier in the spring, the peak de mand for construction transporta tion would come earlier and woulC utilize many cars which would other, wise be idle at the beginning of tht season.
 An earlier start on highway worI which follows from letting the con tracts in the fall instead of the winter or spring will also mean less fluctua ton in construction and will mean { better chance of the completion of thu highway programs, the two months
 added to the season increasing tn, working time approximately 25 pc
 cent.
 It is pointed out that under tn
 present system of letting contract
 construction gangs are assembled il the spring and let go in the fall, while , if contracts were let in the fall, som of these men could be carried over t giving the contractors a permanen
 skilled force which could be eXpande' into an efficient organization in a rusl
 season. Furthermore, interseasona
 work would mean that the basic in dustries which supply the material fo
 road construction would be better abl , to guage the demand for thei | products, and would tend to stabiliz l the labor market in these industrie ! and would bring down prices at tn same time-
 = In general, according to the memo f. randam, fall letting of contracts vii l be as follows:
 1.-Reduce present unemployment
 2.-Eiiminate seasonal wastes. , 3.-Tend to stabilize this branch 0
 the construction industry.