Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-17
MANY TO GET Jobs
ON 5 NEW SCHOOLS
$3.50, 900 Contracts Promise
Relief Here-8,000 Unem-
pIoyed in December.

Some additional employment Is to be
available in the District Of Columbia
when work on five new school struc-
lures is actually started, the Federal
director Of employment for the Capital
reported to the Labor Department yes
terday in the monthly survey Of en-
ployment conditions. Declaring that
there was considerable unemployment
apparent throughout December, the d.
rector said bids are to be asked during
January for erection Of five school
structures at total cost Of $780,000.
A large number of men and women
were employed in the various depart
ment stores. a number of the hotels and
in the postal service during the holiday
period. Welfare organizations Coop
Grating with civic committees and the
public employment service were busily
engaged during the month in placing
many of the unemployed in temporary
work While there was a large volume
OF both Federal and private building I'M
der way, offering employment to large
numbers of both skilled and unskilled
workers, 1t was not great enough to alb
sorb the available supply Of building
mechanics. Estimates of the unem-
ployed in washington, made recently,
placed the number at about 5000 per-
sons.
Activity Below Normal.
Manufacturing activity and employ
ment throughout Maryland continued
below normal during December, the
Federal director for that State re-
ported. While the major industries in
most of the centers were operating,
many curtailed production schedules
and forces, while a labor surplus pre-
vailed in most communities. Building
experienced the usual seasonal slacken-
ing and an oversupply OF building
craftsmen was apparent. State and
municipal authorities, however, are try
ing to increase the volume of construc-
ton work and building with as little
delay as possible. Little demand for
farm help was reported.
In Baltimore, the largest city OF the
State, industrial employment registered
further downward trend during De-
cember, with the labor surplus embrace
ing nearly all trades and including
many transient workers seeking en-
ployment. Many manufacturing estab-
lishments curtailed production sched-
uleS and several were closed, while
building was considerably below normal
and a surplus of building tradeSmen
prevailed.
Virginia Work Scarce.
Considerable unemployment was ap-
parent in Virginia during December,
with semi-skilled and unskilled workers
forming the largest number, although
there were many skilled craftsmen idle.
The majority of the industrial plants
of the State were in operation, al
though quite a number worked on
greatly curtailed schedules, with re-
duced forces in many instances. In
the shoe industry resumed
operations, after q suspension of two
weeks, affecting nearly 1000 workers,
while in Norfolk industrial employment
was maintained at fairly satisfactory
level.
A general surplus Of labor was ap-
parent in West Virginia, although prac-
tically all plants were In operation,
though some were operating on part
time schedules. Little building activity
was apparent throughout the State, al
though the outlook for building trades
men in Morgantown is brighter. Coal
mining in the Morgantown district
slackened In employment, while in Key
ser many railroad men and shop men
were out of work.