The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-19
Billions Spent ByWPA
 In Battling Depression
Five Years of Planning, Spending to Relieve Economic
 Conditions Outlined By Administrator Ickes

pitals, bridges, water works, sewer systems, disposal plants, streets, lights, viaducts, tunnels, power plant and other types of similar useful public projects. Among the non-federal projects were loans to 32 railraods and to seven limited dividend housing corporations. The 10,474 non-federal projecs received loans amounting to $789, ,961 ,072 re- payable to the government with in- terest at 4 per cent and grants amounting to $852, ,321, 1894.
 The outlay of $1,642, ,282, ,466 on the non-federal side of the program will result in construction estimated to cost $2,777, AT ,543 when all of the projects are completed.
 Communities Aid
 This means as result of PWA allotments, cities, towns, counties and other public bodies have sup piled their own funds amounting to $1,135,189077, not including PWA loans of $578,583, ,181, to carry forward the public works program of useful public improvements.
 In addition to loans and grants for state, municipal and other simi- lar projects, PWA loaned $200,974,- 500 to railroads for rails, railing stock and other equipment, includ- ing completion of the identification of the Pennsylvania line between New York and Washington and the introduction of high-speed trains which have materially reduced running time between various points.
 PWA also loaned $10,403, ,391 to seven limited dividend housing pro- jects which marked the beginning of the governments interest in pub lie housing. Besides the limited div idend housing projects, PWA al- loted $136,669 759 for 51 slum- clearance and low-rent housing housing projects inaugurating the first federal program of its kind in American history.
 Billion In Wages
 Exclusive of federal housing projects, which were transferred to the United States housing author ity department of the interior, last November, there have been spent on PWA federal and non-federal pro- jects $3,733,042,868 of which more than $2,097 100000 went for mater ials and more than $1,187, ,000,0 ,000 gor construction site wages.
 Most of the sum spent for mater ials went into the pockets of work CTS engaged in the production and transportation of materials and sup plies in heavy industries.
 While WPA has made allotments for 1O,474 non-federal projects it has in it's files 14,883 projects for which no allotments have been made. Loans requested on these amount to more than $3,6OO,0OO,O00. Approxi- mately 28O0 projects have been ap- proved by the legal, finance and en- gineering divisioions of PWA. If al- lotments should be made for projects already approved by the examining divisions more than $1,000,000,000 in construction would result.
 Under the five separate non-fed- eral programs undertaken by PWA during the last five years, the pro- jects originated in every instance with the local community and in every case the major share of the cost was borne by the local cum- munity.
 Interest Collected
 As a result of the PWA policy of lending on good security. the government has received more than $35 100000 in interest collected on bonds and profits on bond sales. As of April 1. interest collected amount ed to $22, 2,54O, ,2O4.52 while the profit to the government from the sale O. bonds amounted to $12,858,566.11. The government paid on an average 2 3-8 per cent on borrowings while public bodies which borrowed from PWA paid per cent. PWA has sold more than $6O0,0OO,00O worth of bonds to the reconstruction finance corporation which, acting as agent for PWA, has sold more than $43O ,OOO O00 of these securities to the public.
 Allotments amouting to $1,560,- 896,251 have been made for 15,902 federal projects. These projects in- cluded naval construction, aviation, rivers and harbors. agricultural aids, conservation and other regular fed eral activities usually financed through regular appropriations.