The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-07-11
Non-Federal Projects

AuIlOSI ENTHUSIASTICALLY WILL eAAS
Presidents announcement Of the
NYA he made known that the way
was clear for construction on what
he said was the first group of nom
federal projects under the public
works section of the five billion dol
lar fund. He gave his approval to
SO projects, the total cost Of which
was figured at approximately TWEEN
ty-one million dollars.
Each of the loans made in this al
location of funds was based on q
grant of As percent of the cost of
the particular project by the COM
munity where the work is to be
done. The federal government loans
the other SIS per cent. In this way
the cost to the government in most
instances is expected to be held
| within the limitation of $1,143 per
man per year.
Some weeks ago the President fig
ured out that the cost of no project
in which the federal government put
money should exceed an amount
greater than $1,143 for every man
employed. This was designed to
spread employment. But the rule
thus far has been imperative be-
cause not single man has been put
to work under any of these projects.
In the meantime, numerous and
sundry other proposals for expend-
ing parts of the federal money have
either been thrown overheard or
heve been held in allegiance pending
further consideration. This is true
of gigantic housing program
worked out by Secretary Ickes. It
was planned then to spend $780,
100000 and when it was announced
a press statement was forthcoming
from the Public Works administra-
ton that hundreds of men would be
offered jobs within a month, SO far
bad the plans advanced.
Also, since April 8, nothing what
soever has been done toward elm
nation of dangerous railroad grade
crossings. I was told at the Inter-
state Commerce commission and
again at the bureau of public roads
that their plans were all ready to
proceed with reduction of these
highway traffic hazards and elm
mate potential death traps where
highways cross railroads. Some
thing has blocked the effort in this
direction, however, and as far as
present information goes actual
work on grade crossing elimination
will not be started for the next
several months.
Pet Scheme Runs Amuck
While the administration Is seek
ing to develop new projects to aid
unemployment and relieve destitu-
ton, one of its pet schemes appears
to be running amuck. I refer to the
effort to transplant 200 Middle
Western farm families to the Mat
anuska valley of Alaska. This col
onization project was carried on
with federal relief money and those
families which were uprooted were
taken to Alaska to find the end of
the rainbow. According to activity
around the Federal Relief admins
tration here it is made to appear
that the end Of the rainbow was, as
usual, some distance further ION.
Certainly 1t was not In the Mata-
nuska valley because a number of
the families already have deter
mined to quit and return to their
home communities in the states.
Members of congress who are ac-
quainted with Alaskan conditions
tell me that the Matanuska valley
is probably the most fertile spot in
continental United States. They
hold to the conviction that almost
any kind of food can be grown in
the soil of that valley. But these
men are under no illusions. They
know the hardships that confront
those settlers who were being
planted there by the federal govern
ment in the hope Of colonizing that
area. Few of them, the house men,
bers assure me, can live there very
long unless Uncle Sam is willing to
spend millions in providing at least
some of the modern convenienceS
of this day and age and supplying
in addition means of transportation
and communication. The word that
comes direct from MatanuSka COL
ony to the relief administration
shows in my opinion that the pro-
ject was conceived and executed
without any thought having been
given to the practical problems to
be met.