Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1938-05-05
Schools Largely
Benefited Through
P. w. A. In State
Regional Report Shows 1913
Educational Institutions
Helped By Funds

For nearly six months the Emerg-
ency Administration of Public Works
has been functioning on what is
known as the regional system. Region
Number 1, comprises the six New
England States with New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and
Maryland. The regional offices are To-
Gated in New York City, where Re-
gional Director, Col. M. E. Gilmore
and staff, handle the administrative
functions formerly performed by the
State officers for each State; this
force is handling the final 1870 Of the
entire program now being brought to
a close. A reduction in personnel was
the logical result of the Administra-
tons policy to fit supervisory ex-
penses to the amount of work in hand.
A review of the achievements of the
various public bodies within the limits
of this Region, with the aid of the
Public Works Administration reveals
the fact that eight hundred thirteen
schools, one hundred eleven hospitals,
and one hundred nine sewage disposal
plants stand out as the more import
ant items of the two thousand one
hundred fifty-two public works pro-
jects of this Region. To date these
projects have provided 308 million
man-hours of employment for labor
On the site of the various projects and
ITO million man-hours for indirect
labor in producing and transporting
the materials used.
The most striking revelation is that
Of the 1904, o29 1886 total outlay, one
quarter of this money was devoted to
the erection of schools and education
. al facilities, the largest single item
listed. The ratio of schools in Region
No. is true of the national program
as well; indicating the Importance the
nation places on education. AS Col
onel Gilmore pointed out in a recent
interview, "The greatest reward for
the construction efforts of the Public
Works Administration remains to be
reaped in the future when these
schools contribute their quota of fu-
ture citizens. Similarly it might be
} said of hospitals and for improve
/ ments in water supply and sanitation
that the. reward for the money spent
remains to be reaped not only in a
more wholesome environment in which
to live, but ultimately in a longer
span of life itself for the average
citizen.
Organized in the summer of 1888
to revive the construction industry.
: which had dropped from an liz bill
: lion dollar high in 1929 to a 21a bill
lion dollar low in 1882, this Agency
began to receive applications from
public bodies for economically and
socially necessary public works. To
stimulate interest and speed up the
program in the period of distress an
outright grant Of 300 of the cost of
!. construction was offered, later in
creased to $50.
To receive an allotment on a pro-
ject, the public body Estate, county,
a municipality, board of education, etc. }
was required to submit proof of the
economic and social necessity for the
project, accompanied by a financial
, statement giving evidence that the ap-
plicant could support its share of the
cost.
The requirements of the Admins
tration contained in the Construction
, Regulations were such as to assist the
applicant in obtaining the best results
, for the money spent. The minimum
restrictions imposed made for a more
> lorderly execution of the work and the
, accomplishment of a revival of en-
, lployment and the maintenance of ade-
J quate wages.
The following Montgomery County
schools were built with the aid of
P. w. A. funds:
Montgomery Blair Senior High
: School, Bethesda Chevy Chase SEN
Tor High School and Chevy Chase Ele-
mentary School.
Additional buildings on Montgom-
cry Blair and Bethesda Chevy Chase,
Rockville Elementary school and a
new building at Damascus, gymnas-
ium at Sandy Spring, New Junior
High School at Montgomery Hills and
auditorium at East Silver Spring
were also built.
A Story Of ThermOpylae
In that epic story Of Thermopylae,
where the little hand NJ Greeks