Evening star., 1936-12-08

tions. I might say that the major
part Of the grade-crossing elimination
program has been carried forward by
the United States Bureau Of Public
Roads
Engineering structures, large and
small, have answered long-felt needs.
Among these are bridges, such as the
great Triborough in New York and
the Outer Link in Chicago: subways
and tunnels, wharves, piers and
docks. Nor should one overlook the
start that has been made in low-rent
housing. I rarely ever talk Of public
works without mentioning housing,
because slum clearance and low-rent
housing are an integral part Of our
program.
Ignoring the traditional laissez faire
policy Of permitting slums to exact
an ever-mounting toll In our cities,
P. w. A. launches the Nations first
serious attack on the Slums. In do
ing this it has been necessary to hack
our way through battling series of
obstacles, not the least Of which has
been the opposition Of those who
would continue to extract the last
sordid penny out of disreputable
properties that years ago ought to
have been razed as menaces to the
public health as well as to public
morals.
As Public Works administrator I do
not believe that I have been so close
to the forest that I have been unable
to see the trees. While It is true that
my contribution to this great building
program for the most part has been
concerned with the formulation of
policies and with administration. I
nevertheless on occasion have found
time to slip away from Washington
for a few hours to see for myself
many of the splendid things that
have been done by the architects and
engineers.
Saw Bridge Opened.
I witnessed the opening Of the
magnificent Thorough Bridge in
New York City. a project Of truly
gigantic proportions. Not far removed
is the site of the new East River We
hicular tunnel. which Is the largest
single non-Federal undertaking Of the
Public Works Administration.
Across the river on the New Jersey
side is the great new medical build
ing Of the Jersey City Medical Gen.
ter. When completed, this imposing
group of structures will be surpassed
in size only by Bellevue Hospital in
New York and the Cook County Hos
pital in Chicago, both Of which have
also been expanded under the hospital
improvement program Of the Public
Works Administration. P. w. A. has
helped to finance new hospital facili-
ties throughout the country at cost
of more than $150,0O0, 900.
Nor have I selected for my inspec-
tions only the largest bridges and tun-
nels, the biggest sewers and the most
spectacular Of the many thousands Of
public works. Less than a week ago
journeyed to Richmond, Va, to par
ticipate in corner stone laying cere-
monies of q fine dormitory building
on the campus of the 100-year old
Medical College Of Virginia. AS
have already indicated, the education
al projects Of p. w. A. literally dot
the land.
I invite my listeners to do what
myself have done. Go to visit these
P. w. A. projects. Examine them
carefully. See them for yourselves.
And II you do this am confident
that you will be satisfied that P. w. A.
has built enduring projects which will
be used and enjoyed for many years
to come. I am sure, too, that you
will 60 away feeling that the money
spent has been well invested. In re-
counting the reasons for the general
appreciation that has been accorded
the p. W. A. program, have men,
toned the absence of politics in the
administration Of the law. the fine
spirit Of cooperation on the part Of
the local subdivisions of Government