Evening star., 1935-11-17


articles analyzing the economic
and political effects, the probable
developments and early Snags OF
President RooSeuelt's $4,000, 900, 900
COB program.
CHICAGO November Is (N.A.N.A).
President Roosevelt's S4,000,000,00o
investment in jobs promises to un-
cover at least one gold mine" 1t
goes by the somewhat verbose and
prosaic title of rm-to-market-road
= program" But it seems certain to
return dividends, both economic and
political, more handsome than any
other among the $1,000 varieties of
good. bad and Indifferent projects"
now under way.
A huge sum, the exact amount OF
which is as yet undetermined. but
certainly running into hundreds OF
millions, is being poured into rural
areas to "pull the American farmer
out of the mud" A happier idea, from
the standpoint of both the farmer and
Administrator Hopkins w. P. A,
scarcely could be devised.
many jobs for comparatively few dol
lars. What is more, they give evi-
dence of full return on the money
invested. Thousands of farmers,
moved substantially nearer" their
markets, will profit and buy more in
dustrial products, and, with one eye
on their A. A. A. checks and the other
on the long-Sought hard road they
are likely to wed themselves to
, Roosevelt for 1886.
p. w. AS Rural Backbone.
Mr.. Hopkins roads promise to form
the backbone of rural w. P. A. in
nearly every State. Just how nearly
they dent the farm vote can be judged
by considering few figures that
shortly will be translated into facts in
pivotal Illinois.
The farm-to-market program in
this State contemplates allweather
surfacing of $500 miles of dirt roads.
On these roads are located more
than 24,700 farms, covering 1,227,000
acres. That many farmers, in Illinois
alone, will have President Roosevelt
to thank for modern transportation
system" that does not go knee deep in
mud every Spring.
= Now, a conservative valuation of
each of these farms is $50 an acre,
and an extensive survey conducted by
farm agencies, real estate operators
and real estate boards throughout Illi-
nois found that farm on hard"
road is worth about Is per cent more
than farm on a dirt road.
So State w. P. A. Administer Dun
ham went into an arithmetical huddle
with himself and emerged with the
conclusion that his farm -to-market
program would increase the value of
the States farms by more than So
100000.
Uncle Sam will spend only $780,
600 for this purpose in the State. Not
bad investment when it is consid-
cred that part of this $7,500,00O would
have to be paid out in dole if the
roads never had been built And then
1t is multiplied by two score States.
The situation is substantially the
same everywhere. In Kentucky. for
example, Administrator Goodman
plans to spend "a per cent of his w.
P. A. quota on roads. Kentucky Is
q full of stranded" citizens. Its west
ern coal-mining districts are "over-
manned" by 100000 workers In the
east, mountaineers on relief shoot
straight and eat plenty.
The one way to carry jobs to these
men, and drive them off relief if they
don't need it. is to make them work
by running roads up through them
thar hills" Kentucky will get ap-
proximately 1,4OO miles of roads from
W. P. A.
Transportation also is the key to
, Tennessee's w. P. A. State Admin
y istrator Berry has assigned rs per
cent of his funds to transportation"
roads, city streets and ,airports-and
most of this is on roads.
Illinois Work Delayed.
In drafting the rest of his Illinois
program, Administrator Dunham took
to heart the fable about the hare and
the tortoise. He proceeded with due
deliberation." He did not get excited
about headlines" set in Washington
AS a result, Illinois has dragged. 1t
Is unlikely that his quota of 164,700
men will be working December l. The
number will be nearer 100000.
I'VE are doing an orderly job," ex-
planned Charles E. Miner, Dunham's
executive assistant. Our projects will
be seasoned. We think rushing men
to work with undue speed is a USE
less gesture. What's the use of put
ting 100 men on job without super
visory personnel? 1t is better public
administration to proceed slowly"
With its usual fare for spectacular
y civic improvement. Chicago is max
ing good thing" out of w. P. A.
After a recent row, Dunham decided
to give the so-called Chicago Exposi-
ton authority $6,50000O to fix up
the Worlds Fair Grounds on the lake
front as park" The authority is
raising money privately to rebuild con-
cessions and draw visitors and dollars
to the loop.
Nowhere outside New York can be
found such singular selection Of
projects as those Dunham is slowly
seasoning" into action. Everything
from a vaudeville troupe to rat ex-
termination is on the list. A job
is available for an unemployed mas
ter of ceremonies" Jugglers, chorus
girls, and even chorus men Officially
known as choristers) apparently have
to eat. Anyhow, they're being paid
for free shows being put on for the
edification of the Chicago public.
In two respects. w. P. A. nationally
L.. v. l.
First, skilled labor-a vexatious prob
lem in many cities. including Detroit.
Shortage of skilled labor on relief is
universal, as is the prevailing wage"
row.
Shall w. P. A. cut hours so skilled
workers may earn their security wage
at union hourly rates? And, if so,
where to get enough "skills" so COM
mon laborers may continue working
a porroo1 number of hours Tn earn