The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-14
DETOUR SIGNS
ACROSS u. s.
AID RECOVERY
Ickes Tells How Public
Works Dollars Are Being
Made Into Jobs.
CONTINUED From Page One)

Work uOOeT The pIOsAdil 1AOHl al
over the country.
But the full force of the public
works effort will not be felt imme-
diately. It is working now, but il
is cumulative in effect.
Turn Dollars INTO Jobs
If the washington organization
rested now, which it will not, that
billion dollar seed planted so
swiftly would go right ahead sprout-
ing into jobs throughout the coun-
try.
Ordered by President Roosevelt to
serve as federal public works adj
ministrator, 1 have watched the adj
ministration struggle and succeed
in its efforts to get the program
working.
The start, without any organiza-
ton and a policy which had 10 be
built as we worked, I believe is the
most difficult period from which
we now are emerging.
Our decentralized state organiza-
ton for handling the program in
telligently on a low-cost basis with
slashed overhead now has been COM
pleted and is functioning. But
while we were building, we could
not hesitate, for ours was an en-
Urgency task for which there was
dire need.
Therefore, the public works adj
ministration drove on with imnle-
diate and continuous action, turn
ing dollars into jobs.
Period of Waiting Over
Available machinery was invoked.
The first heavy blow TO unemploy-
ment was taken at the earliest mo-
ment possible, when President
Roosevelt allotted S400, 900 for
road building.
The money was assigned immedi-
ately to the states They now have
qualified their roads projects with
the government through the United
State bureau of roads and the adj
vertising of contracts and other re-
quirements for protection of public
money has gone forward with MN
imum delay.
Workmeu called back from idle
ness through the public works adj
ministration actually are working
for honest pay on roads today.
Three hundred road projects Civ
ing employment to $1,000 men 20
1876 counties of nineteen states have
been approved by the government.
The period of waiting is over.
Throughout the country the detour
signs are blossoming-each indicat-
ing where real work for wages with
all its regenerative and beneficial
powers has supplanted unemploy-
ment.
Separate Good From Worthless
The navy shipping program has
started with the power of $3.50, OOO,-
600 behind it. Bids have been APP
proved and jobs will result not only
in shipyards. but throughout the
country where the materials for the
vessels are obtained.
In the same manner the delayed
effect of the many other allotments
from the public works fund will be-
come apparent.
Now, with the completion Of the
state organization, we are turning
to nonfederal projects and are in
position to separate the good from
the worthless projects. Many al
lotments will be made-and many
projects will fail to win indorse-
| ment.
Say No as Well as Yes
We are prepared to say mo" as
we'll as yes" No fund would be
large enough to finance all the
schemes laid before the public works
administration. Many are unsound
and approval would saddle an un-
bearable burden on the public.
There will be laments from in
terested parties who are disap-
pointed. If these were permitted
to change our policy, we would be-
tray a public trust.
We are in action and getting re-
suits. The public works program
] is well launched.