Evening star., 1939-09-20
Projects 10 Aid
Defense Emphasized
In ". P. A. Program
200. 900 Expected
To Be on Rolls by
Late Jonuory
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Works Projects Administra-
ton today began a three point pro-
gram to bolster national defense,
cushion effects of the European war
on American industry, and meet the
fall demand for work-relief.
Ofiicials instructed State w. p. A.
administrators to give special en-
phasis to projects Of particular de-
fense value. These include munich
pal airports, bridges and surfaced
highways, and local armories.
Washington headquarters started
q close study Of field reports to de-
termine where the volume Of relief
employment could be adjusted to
changing demands for private labor.
And budget offlcers started figur-
ing how, when and where the pay
roll could be expanded to care for
an enrolment which they said, is ex-
pected to approximate 100000 by
late January or February.
Authorities said that while nom
Federal projects were subject to
local control, they expected to stim-
ulate the national defense program
by exercising a choice when faced
with the question, for instance, of
authorizing public park or an air.
port.
Aids Airport Work.
Since 1885, they said, w. P. A. had
lent itself to construction, expansion
or improvement Of IS per cent Of all
the municipal airport work done in
the country. This covered 646 prof.
ects in Al States at an outlay of
about $154,261 ,255, toward which
local sponsors contributed So, 1885,
499.
They estimated that up to March
/, 1899, w. P. A. funds had been used
to build 1872 new armories and to re-
pair or improve 311 others.
Besides encouraging civil projects
which could be used for military
purposes, officials said w. P. A. had
$50 900, 900 for Federal works dur
ing the 1939-40 fiscal year. They
estimated most of it would be used
by the Army and Navy on projects
employing relief labor.
From 1885 through July 81, 1899,
they said, the Navy used $62, 1892, TIA
of w. P. A. funds, and the Army
$238, LOG ,665, chiefly on rivers and
harbors work, docks, yards and
barracks.
Howard o. Hunter, deputy w.
P. A. commissioner, said field re-
ports indicated records of present
and former employment of w. P. A..
enrollees and applicants would
greatly facilitate the release Of
workers needed by private indus
tries expanding as a result Of the
European war.
Program to Be Flexible.
At the same time, he said, there
was a suffcient reserve Of projects
to permit an immediate increase in
w. P. A. employment wherever the
impact Of foreign war on American
business might temporarily in
crease unemployment and need
among workers.
The long-range effect of the Euro
pean war, he said, probably would
be to provide more industrial and
agricultural jobs, and for that
reason w. p. A. would maintain a
highly flexible program. The best
barometer, other officials said, was
that about 100000 left w. P. A..
employment voluntarily each month
just before the current upswing in
steel and other heavy construction.
On the opposite side Of the pic
ture, they added. there were more
than 100000 persons either certi-
fled or eligible for w. P. A. en-
ployment as the fall and winter
months approached.
1t was entirely possible. they add
ed, that enrolment reached a 1899