Evening star., 1938-08-19
HOUSING GROUP
MARKS SSl0,26D,0DO
Nine Cities to Receive Funds
as Contracts Are Delayed
by President.

The United States Housing Author
tty. which has been handicapped IN
the matter Of contract approvals by the
absence of President Roosevelt. today
earmarked an additional $l0,260.0O0
for low-rent housing In nine cities.
Seven of these, it was said, are par
ticipating in the program for the first
time.
Presidential approval of housing
contracts is required by law before
such contracts can be signed between
the q. S. H. A. and local authorities.
None has been signed since July is,
when the President approved small
batch at the time Of his departure for
the West.
Housing officials have accumulated
another batch of contracts in the
meanwhile and these are being held
up till Mr. Roosevelt returns from his
latest trip. 1t was expected that at
least 10 days would elapse before the
cities involved can be notified of the
Presidents anticipated action.
Total Reaches S517,0Si, ,000.
Today's earmarkings, which merely
signify the setting aside of funds for
anticipated housing, shot the total
earmarkings to $5l7,08l 900. This
leaves less than $500, ,O00, 900 of the
total funds available for the long
range housing program.
The seven newly participating cities
will eventually receive a total of S.
100000. which will be distributed as
follows: Gary. Ind, $4,000, 900; Pa
ducah. KY, 100000; Great Falls,
Mont. s675, 900; Bayonne, N. j., ST.
100000; Raleigh, NJ c., $1,000, 900;
Laredo, Tex. 100000, and Superior,
Wis. $675,000
In addition, $l,235,O00 was an
nounced as a new earmarking for
Youngstown, Ohio, which already has
received loan contract of S2,835, 900
for housing project now under con-
struction. Corpus Christi, Tex, re-
ceived an additional earmarking of
S575,000. to make a Sl,325 900 total
for housing projects
Contracts for loans to % cities ac-
count for sl54,528,0 900 of the total
Of S5l7.081 900 which has been COM
mitted to date. Work actually has
begun in most of these communities.
1S9 Authorities Set Up.
At present according to Acting Ad-
ministrator Leon H. Keyserling, lse
local housing authorities have been
set up in % States, the District OF
Columbia, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile, progress is being made
In connection with the $4,000 900
slum reclamation and low-rent hous-
ing program in the District. These
funds were earmarked more than
month ago, shortly before Administra-
tor Nathan Straus left on an inspec-
ton trip and vacation to Hawaii.
During the interim. John Ihlder,
executive officer of the local Alley
Dwelling Authority, departed for Mexi-
CO City as one of the American dele
gates to an international housing con-
ference.
No contract to start project in the
District will be signed until MIR. Ihlder's
return to Washington the first week in
September, according to Commissioner
Melvin Hazen, who is chairman of
the Alley Dwelling Authority. A group
OF architects appointed by Mr.. Ihlder
TO draw up plans for the local hous-
Ing projects has been steadily at work
and making rapid progress, it was
reported.
The first project to be undertaken
In the District, it was understood, will
be located on large unoccupied site
IN Anacostia acquired several years
ago by the Government.