Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-11
DISTRICT PREPARES
/. TO RUSH PROJECTS
ON SHORT NOTICE
H. L. Robb Detailed Solely
to Speed Up Program
of Construction.
U. S. APPROPRIATIONS
TO ENABLE PROGRESS
Engineering Staff Concentrates
Upon Jobs in Anticipation of
Later Authorization.

Energetic preparation by the engineer
branches of the District government
under Engineer Commissioner John G.
Gotwals began to take form today as
reports from subordinates came to his
desk indicating the number and charac-
ter of engineering projects which could
be undertaken at short notice should
Congress see fit to ease the unemploy-
ment situation by making available ex-
ira appropriations for various construc-
ton jobs.
AT the same time, in an effort to
speed up building construction work,
Assistant Engineer Commissioner H. l..
Robb, who has charge Of the Munich
chase Committee was relieved of all of
his duties except those directly relating
to buying land and putting up build
ingS IN order to allow him to concen-
trate solely on these subjects.
Control over the Districts auto re-
pair shop, the District Building, the
Motor Transport Board and municipal
garage was switched to Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner Donald A. David
son temporarily.
Highway Projects Ready.
First of the reports to come in deal
ing with projects not in the appropria-
ton act or in estimates, but which could
be put under contract within four to
eight weeks, came from Capt Herbert
c.. Whitehurst, District highway en-
gineer. Capt. Whitehurst reported three
such projects; one, construction of a
grade crossing over the tracks of the
Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad at New
Hampshire avenue extended; two, re-
placement of the Chain. Bridge by a
hrfd0o hn v,4a
which support the present structure;
three, changing the grade and location
OF Fourteenth street from Water street
southwest to the Highway Bridge and
providing grade separation of all streets
intersecting park highway.
Capt. Whitehurst reported that It
would be impossible to undertake any
paving works during the Winter except
at the almost certain sacrifice of any
paving that might be done on account
OF the freezing weather conditions.
Similar reports have been ordered by
Maj. Gotwals from all of the District
engineer branches and he will organize
them so as to show at a glance the
character of work now in progress, work
appropriated for but not yet under con-
tract; work not, yet appropriated for but
included in the 1892 estimates and
which could be started promptly should
ran appropriation for them be enacted;
and lastly, work covered neither by the
appropriation act nor in the estimates,
but which could be started with mini
mum delay should appropriations acts
covering it be passed.
Report Ready for Hoover.
Mai. Gotwals said that this work was
similar to that being done by State
executives and others at the request of
Col. Arthur Woods, chairman of PreSi-
dent Hoover's emergency committee on
unemployment relief.
The report from the Water Depart
ment on lines laid down above is ex-
pected today and others later in the
week.
All persons seeking work were urged
today by Frederic A. Delano, chairman
of the District Unemployment Commit
tee, to enroll with clerks to be stationed
in all public schools Saturday morning
between 8 and IL o'clock.
The chairman announced permission
to use the school buildings in taking
the census had been granted by DR..
Charles F. Carusi president of the
Board of Education. The plan is for all
unemployed men and women to visit
the nearest school and supply clerks with
their names and types Of occupation de-
sired.
Disclosures of October Conditions.
Meanwhile a Labor Department sur
vey of conditions in October revealed q
majority of industrial establishments in
the District operated on fairly satisfac-
tory production schedules with their
usual forces employed in most in
stances"
The report added, however, that a
surplus of labor prevailed throughout
the month, including building trades
men, sales persons, white and colored
domestic help and unskilled workers.
1.-The volume of public utility work
under way the past 80 days" the bulle-
tin said, exceeded that of the previous
month, with prospects for a further
increase during November. The hotels
and stores expect to increase their
forces during the next few weeks In
preparation for the holiday trade.
1880 Street Program Soon Ready.
"The 1880 street improvement pro-
gram was nearing completion toward
the close of the month. Quite a num-
Der of the men that have been en-
ployed in this work will be retained
throughout the Winter on 5-day-week
basis,s instead of being released as in
the past Winter periods. Federal and
private building projects continued TO
offer employment to large numbers of
skilled and unskilled laborers."