Evening star., 1933-10-29
ALABAMA CHARGES
PUBLIC W0RKSFA|L
LOCAL PROJECTS
However, Progressing
Despite SloWness of Ad-
miniStration Aid.
BY J. F. ROTHERMEL.

Special Dispatch to The Star
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, October %
The Public Works Administration, both
national and in its State set-up, was
placed under fire this week in COM
plants that Alabama has failed thus
far to receive any money for local
projects.
Slowness in both filing applications
and in getting them acted upon was
charged in criticism voiced against the
administration. The present set-up in
Alabama was declared inadequate to
care for the applications already filed.
with applications on hand needing at
least six months for study with the
present staff and additional applica-
lions being received twice as fast as
they can be handled.
Only Five Projects Approved.
Although the Alabama Advisory Board
OF the P. w. A. was organized Septem-
Der l, and the P. w. A. was created
June II, only five projects have gone
to Washington approved by the Ala
bama board. Not one cent had been
granted this State for Ilocal public
works up to the first Of this week
The five projects cleared total only
81. 700 900, with So OO0, 900 of this being
Tor drainage projects in Birmingham
The complaints came from contract
ors, public officials and relief workers
1t is pointed out that of the total of
So SOC, 900 600 appropriated by Congress
for public works projects SIS per cent
has already been taken up with Fed
eral propositions and that all States
are failing to receive a fair share Of
the total
The Alabama board has on file 1872
applications in addition to the 5 ap-
proved and sent to Washington. An
average Of II applications are being
received each week. The 1877 appnca-
tions received ask for s17.575. .s2s4s In
June 10 Alabama projects from the
r. F. c.. These 10 plans called for
81 ,O45 ,2O5. This makes total of I58
projects and s19.O44 133.49 sought, with
out one cent being received
II the remaining sl,250, 100000 in the
public works fund we're divided among
capita, it is pointed out. Alabama would
receive about S26, 900 900.
But, while the public works program.
as FAR as local projects are concerned,
Is falling short in Alabama, the State
Is continuing to make progress in other
ways. The Birmingham industrial dis
the railroad business which the Govern
ment has agreed to finance
The Tennessee Coal. Iron & Railroad
Co, subsidiary of the United States
Steel Corporation, along with other
companies, has submitted a bid of
$37.75 ton on the 844 ,525 tons of steel
rails and the 245,22l tons of track
fastenings which are expected to be
bought soon under direction of Joseph
B. Eastman, Federal co-ordinator of
transportation. Under ordinary circum-
stances, it is pointed out, this com.
pany would receive IL or IS per cent
OF the total order
Business Revival Hoped.
The price reduction of s2.25 a ton
under the recent quotations was made
at the suggestion of President Roose-
welt in the hope that it would have
an effect on the revival Of business.
Ine quotation Of $37.75 is So a ton
under the 1929 prices, although East
man has expressed his conviction that
sSo ton would represent q fair profit
under present conditions. The new
price is the lowest quoted since 1915.