New Britain herald., 1930-01-04
HOOVER CONSIDERS
 RESULTS OF DRIVE
Sees Gratifying Return From
 Appeal to Business Leaders

Washington, January f LPt-pras ldent Hoover contemplated today and found encouraging the results of his drive to boost construction end improvement work in an effort to absorb mploymcnt.
 Three ma jor lines Of American business cndeavors submitted d budget ot S4,700.000. 900 for 193V. This, with mary items still to be added, gave promise that the to- tai to be expended during the year would be larger than that for 1929.
 The largest amount was that Of public utilities and telephone coIn- panicS but the total Of public works continued 10 grow. with 19 states untouched in the survey and t5 others only partially covered, Sixteen states were complete.
 Public Utility Work
 The public utility and telephone groups fixed their estimate at $2,, l00.0O0,O00: public works, mclud- Ing those of the federal government,
 
 set total of S1.0o0, 0,0o0,0O0.
 Surveys for the states move 70. ward the White House daily and the president said he expected they would be completed by the middle Of this month.
 In addition 10 these, AIr. Hoov er pointed out that this total did not include industrial and factory i'm. provcments or building construc- ton. A special committee was set up at tte December conference Of the Chamber Of Commerce of the United states 10 make 8. survey Of the prospects in these fields.
 The effect of the drive, the chief executive was told by the steel com panies is beginning to show in their orders which already have grown to volume beyond their expectations.
 While the president was disclosing the results of the drive the Chamber of Commerce of the United States said in a statement that no loss of momentum had been shown in the business reports to the national busi- ness survey conference committee.
 Labor Issues Report
 The American Federation of Labor in it's monthly business survey said today that employment probably would be low for the first few months of the year. but would i'm prove later
 Looking ahead 10 l9So, it is ob- vious that fewer automobiles will be manufactured. probably from 700, 0O0 to 1.000,O0O less it said.
 There will. therefore, he less de- mand for steel, and steel production also will be lower. unless offset by increased structural demand, Certain factors point 10 a better year for building.'
 Tn building" it added. the rccCs- sion of the past few months has ap- parently been checked and for two months contracts awarded have not declined except seasonally. Owing to the small volume of contracts award ed this year. however, there is con- less work for building trades men now than at this time last year,
 Its survey said that the presidents had given industrial leaders a new sense of responsibility in which they had been called upon to act together in preserving busi- ncscs stability.
 Layoffs Hurt Nation
 "In earlier rccessions they have acted individually to protect their own interests and often curtailment and lay-otts have intensified deprcS- sion." it said.
 "One of the main factors in avert ing depression is maintenance Of wages and employment" it added. Never before have manufacturers been so generally willing to abandon wage reduction as a means of re- ducing expense. Their action lndl- cates a fuller realization on the part men and women play in the nations prosperity. Due no doubt largely to the buying of wage "arnr CTS. retail sales have held practically the same level in November and De-