Evening star., 1933-07-30
new PLANS SPEED |
Jobs ON HIGHWAYS
Leaders Studying 4 Projects
Involving Expenditures
Of s233, SOC, 600.
1y the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
New plans for accelerating work-giv-
ing highway expenditures were de-
veloped yesterday by the administra-
ton as public works chieftains began
the study Of the Upper Mississippi River
Channel. the. Grand Coulee Dam. the
Casper-Alcova reclamation plan and the
AIl-American Canal projects.
Tho frst three Of these big develop
ments, with cost estimates aggregating
above 5000 ,00O, 900, have the approval Of
President Roosevelt. The $33,500, 900
Canal plan for irrigating
the Imperial and Coachella Valleys IN
California Is receiving special attention
from Secretary Of Interior Ickes, public
works administrator.
Funds Are Ready.
Public roads ofIicials said national re-
covery highway projects would not be
delayed because Of any lack Of funds
on the part Of State highway depart
ments to make surveys or initial pay
ments to contractors. Thomas H.
Macdonald, chief Of the bureau, said:
"A procedure has been developed un-
der which q. State may receive an ad-
vance Of . part Of its apportionment
nection with the financing Of road prof.
ects. This decision will speed up work
on the roads and assure pay rolls for
the thousands Of unemployed to be
called back to work.
1T also appears that because OF nm1-
tations In State laws some States with
ample funds for State work may be un-
able to use such funds in connection
with surveys and plans for secondary
OK municipal projects.
WIN Handle Trust Funds.
ITO meet this situation the district
engineers Of the bureau have been di-
rected to make immediate arrangements
for the handling Of trust funds in all
States where they will be needed. Cen
orally, the custodian Of the funds will
be the State treasurer, who will keep ac-
counts and make reports"
Ickes said that in his consideration
of the upper Mississippi channel. the
Columbia Basin project and the Casper
Alcove reclamation development, the
Public Works Board probably would set
aside funds for q years work and not
Immediately allot full amounts to cover
the entire cost. Latest Army estimates
placed the cost of the 9-foot chan
mel In the Mississippi from the mouth
Of the Illinois River to Minneapolis
1t $l24, 900 900. The Grand Coulee Dam
on the Columbia Is figured at 63,000.-
900 and the Casper alcove plan at $22,.
7oo, 1000.
Gets Special Canal Report.
At Ickes' request, Dr. Elwood Mead,
reclamation commissioner. made . spe-
cial report on the proposed all-Ameri-
can canal. designed to carry waters Of
the Colorado River into California's r.
risated valleys without going through
Mexico Is does the present irrigation
canal.
This project long has been favored
BY the Reclamation Service which has
developed engineering plans and speci-
fications to the point where contracts
could be let within 80 days after the
money was allotted. Further. the ma
ture Of the work Is such that it could
be let In sections, offering employment
to large number Of workers out Of the
go per cent Of the cost which goes to
labor. The climate in the territory
would permit work to be pressed during
the Winter.
Present plans contemplate . dam
above the Laguna Dam on the Colo
RADIO with q 200-foot cut through the
sand hills to carry the water into I'm
perial Valley. This canal would be ap-
proximately 100 miles long.
There would be q branch canal also
approximately 100 miles long up to the
Coachella Valley.