Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-28
URGES j. s. TASKS |
Be GIVEN JOBLESS.
Secretary Work Suggests
Federal Projects Be Pushed
During Depressions.
Snceial DISPATCH TO The Star.

WEST BADEN. Ind, January 28.--
Official sponsorship of a means to eff
feet Federal economies and to foreStall
periods of unemployment was advanced
by Secretary Work III letter presented
at the ninth annual meeting of the As
ISOLATED General Contractors of Amer
lea, holding its final session here today,
The Secretary's communication. ad-
dressed to Gen. r. c. Marshall. jr..
| Washington. d. c., general manager of
the Contractors Association, supports
/ legislation now before Congress which
proposes consolidation of architectural.
construction and engineering activities
OF the National Government now scat
tered among % Federal agencies.
Urges Capitalization.
Capitalization of these activities
would be most advantageous. as l.
would enable the Federal Government
to do a large share of its construction
work in periods of approaching business
depression, which would serve as a
Stabilizing influence and at the same
time would permit the Government to
execute its work at lower cost and to
supply employment 10 large numbers OF
men who would otherwise be unem-
ployed," Secretary Work declared
More than 100000 workmen will re-
Ceive employment this year in the con-
struCtion industry. leading builders from
all parts of the country agreed yester-
day.
The forecast Of healthy employ
ment condition is based. it was eX-
planned. upon the contractors firm ex-
pectationS that construction operations
will maintain lively pace. rivaling the
record breaking activities of 1927.
The definite demand for modern
convenienceS in homes. Office buildings.
industrial structures and transportation
systems is the principal factor indi-
Getting a large volume of future con-
Struction work" Gen. Marshall de-
clared in submitting a formal report
He cited the constant increase of the
Nations population and the movement
from farms to citeis as places Of abode
as also influencing the volume of con-
Struction.
To Destroy Old Structures.
Tottering structures in the older sec
tons of many large cities will be de-
stroyed 10 make way for widened traffic
lanes and new buildings during the
coming year. it was predicted.
The marked stability OF construction
costs during 1927 also will have the
effect of inviting large investments in
new structures during the year." Gen.
Marshall continued.
Huge wastes were charged to the
presence of "fiy-by-night" contractors
in the industry by report bearing the
name of j. Charles Wilson, Pittsburgh,
chairman of the special committee.
Defaulted contracts. delayed operations
and poor workmanship were cited as
effects of awards of contracts by the
wholesale to incompetent and ineXperi-
enced builders
Responsibility for this condition was
placed largely upon the loose credit
system" under which irresponsible
bidders are able to secure equipment
material and surety bonds.
WEST BADEN. Ind, January o.
Saving of scores of lives and thousands
OF dollars was credited to efforts during
recent months 10 decrease the number
Of accidents in the construction indus
try A report submitted TO the annual
meeting of the Associated General Con-
tractors of America, in session here this
week outlined the results of the cur
rem: campaign TO safeguard human
flies who walk girders high above the
ground and human moles" who bur-
row into the earth as construction
workers
struction accidents in the United States
is S250.000 600" the report. submitted
by a special committee headed by w. r.
Austin. Detroit declares. ''Of this
total. approximately one-fifth represents
compensation payments. with the bal
ance being composed OF waste due 10
wreckage OF equipment and materials,
delay in operations and decreased ef-
ficiency OF workmen
Accident prevention in construction
has Jagged behind the safety campaigns
in other industries because of the pc
culiar hazards that confront the builder
The necessary handling of loose mate
rial Of great weight. the erection of
skeleton buildings on which workmen
must operate before openings can be
closed. the constant shiftings Of bases
OF operations and the great fluctuations
IN working personnel all offer problems
not met With In other industries"
Construction Of the railway from La
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