Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-29
1880 PROJECTS
NOW UNDER WAY
IckeS Answers Critics With
Report P. W. A. Is
Filling Gap.

In the face Of criticism Of the delay
in getting the new $4,000, 900 900 work
relief program under way, q report
was made public today by Secretary
Ickes showing P w. A. was filling
the gap" in employment with more
than $500 projects under considera-
ton costing nearly sl,800,o00, 900.
These projects are being carried on
with funds appropriated prior to the
$4,000 O00, 900 with which the admin
istration says it plans to put $500 900
persons to work The men employed
on them will not be counted toward
the $500, 900 total, officials said.
There are other public works funds
in the $4,000. 900 900, and Ickes urged
States and communities today to rush
their applications for them.
Ickes' report was based on data
compiled in a national survey by the
P. w. A. Division Of Economics. 1t
revealed:
Thirty thousand two hundred and
thirty-eight projects, costing $685.
431 ,693, have been completed and are
in use.
Four thousand five hundred and
fourteen projects. costing sl,7S7, l87,-
One thousand four hundred and
twenty-six projects, costing 1921, 026,-
255, have received allotments and are
in various stages of progress prelimi-
nary to actual construction.
The projects under construction are
both Federal and non-Federal, OF the
type generally for which P. w. A.
State directors are now receiving ap-
plications for loans and grants OF So
per cent and As per cent, respectively,
or grants only of As per cent OF the
entire cost.
A sharp acceleration in new appI-
cations was reported by Administra-
tor Ickes, indicating President Roose-;
velt's recent statement defining p. W.
A. projects and projects of the Works
Progress Administration had clarified
the situation somewhat in the minds
of local ofiicials.
At present, Ickes reported, 2,130 ap-
plications amounting to $50l ia, 249
have been reported in the State ex-
aiming oflces. Approving reports
have accompanied 269 loan and grant
applications totaling S58,262, 1852 for
warded to the Washington office. The
number of applications is increasing
daily. it was claimed, indicating a de-
sire of State and local communities
to cooperate by sharing the costs Of
permanent public works improve
ments.
No report was given showing the
number Of men now actually work
ing at P. w. A. project sites. but
figures prior to July claimed an
expenditure of $3.50 100000 almost
entirely in wages, exclusive Of the
hundreds Of millions allotted from
the original P. w. A. fund to such
relief agencies as F. z. r. A., c. C. c.,
c. w. A. and others.
OF the billion and half in wages,
the major portion went to workers
given employment in producing the
vast orders of materials for construc-
ton projects. Wages totaling $485.-
100000 was paid to workers on the
sites.
Gov. Harry w. Nice of Maryland.
one of the many Republicans In and
out of Congress who are criticizing
delay of the works program, had
charged the administration with post
poning employment on q large scale
until the political campaign Is about
to start.
Ickes' announcement followed one
by Harry L. Hopkins, works. progress
administrator, concerning expenditure
of work-relief funds to provide aid
for students and teachers.
He said Summer schools win be
set up for 1900 needy teachers, who
viii conduct classes for adults dur
ing the coming year.