Evening star., 1938-07-07
B|LL|ON|N0RDERS
|SSEENBY |CKES
P.W. A. Program to Provide
14,225,000 Man.Months
of Labor, He Says.

Visualizing the maximum benefits to
labor and the heavy industries from
the 1888 P. w. A. program. Admins
traitor Ickes today measured the
pump-priming efforts in terms of A.
225,000 man-months of normal en-
ployment at prevailing wages and
$1,001 200, 900 worth of building mate
rial orders.
Allowing for funds that will be con-
tributed by States and local communi-
ties, it was forecast that the $685.
100000 P. w. A. program authorized
by Congress will produce contract
awards for $1,867 100000 worth of
construction. Pay rolls for employees
on the sites alone are expected to pro-
vide labor with $515, 100000 in wages,
most of which will soon get back into
circulation. A pay roll of even larger
proportions will go to the men en-
ployed behind the lines in producing
the ordered materials and transporta-
ton.
This was the first forecast that the
p. w. A. has made in its five-year
experience Of pump-priming and was
based on study made by the Labor
Departments Bureau of Labor Statis-
tics. Never before, in launching
public works program in the United
States or any other country, has such
yardstick of industrial, commercial
and purchasing power benefits been
available.
Thousand Projects Involved.
The study was made on the basis
OF the factors involved in more than
1000 projects included in former P.
w. A. programs. Approximately a
million actual pay rolls, time sheets,
contracts and material orders were
studied in making the finding.
1t is estimated that the 1898 allot-
ment fund will result in contracts for
non-Federal awards totaling $l,667,-
100000, strictly Federal contracts
making up the balanceSof the $l,867,-
100000 goal. On non-Federal sites
alone, workers will be paid S457 ZOO, 600
1n.wages
But the broadest aspects of the pro-
gram will be reflected behind the lines
IN the heavy industries the bolstering
of which the administration hopes
will produce the needed stimulus for
more substantial industrial recovery,
The Bureau of Labor Statistics esti-
mates the non-Federal projects will
create S893, 900 900 worth of orders for
raw materials and filling these orders.
1t is estimated the 1888 allotment fund
will result in contracts for non-Fed-
eral awards totaling $1,667,000, 900,
strictly Federal projects making up the
balance of the 81 ,867 100000 goal. On
nonFederal sites alone, workers will
be paid s457,0O0,00 in wages for
4,S69,000 man-months of employment.
But the broadest aspects of the pro-
gram will be reflected behind the lines
in the heavy industries. the stimula-
ton of which the New Deal hopes will
serve to bring about more substan-
tial industrial recovery.
Non-Federal Projects.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics esti-
mates the non-Federal projects will
create 1898 ,000, 900 worth of orders for
materials. Filling these orders should
4roduce 7,876,000 man-months Of in
dustrial employment in factories, mills,
mines and railroads. Thus the total
employment forecast is 12,745,OO0
man-months of work.
In turn, it was predicted, this en-
ployment will have a secondary stimu-
lating effect in increasing the con-
sumption of goods
The P. w. A. bill authorized up to
$200000,000 worth of Federal con-
struction. This phase of the program
will result in 100000 man-months of
direct site employment and $4,000
man-months of indirect employment.
In terms of wages. the forecast is S58,-
100000. to be paid at the sites. For
th>se same Federal projects, $108 .2O0,-
900 worth of materials will be ordered.
Creating extensive business for
American industry, the new program
may be counted upon to result in the
following major orders: 1921, 500, 900
for iron and steel products: $75,600,-
600 lumber and millwork, ST. 900, 900
in cement and concrete, s45, 400, 900
brick and tile, s33, 100000 heating ma
terials, s29,6oO,0 900 plumbing materials
and s464, 100000 for other materials.