Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-23
W.P.A. Defense
P| ans Stress
Roads, Airports
Take Precedence in
Projects to Cost
$7,27l,l00
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Joining the big parade for ma
tional defense, the Works Progress
Administration late yesterday dis
closed that its national defense pro-
gram would emphasize improvement
of strategic military roads and air
ports.
Howard o. Hunter, acting w. P. A.
administrator. said that roads and
airports would take precedence in
S7,271, 100 OF new defense projects
in ~ States and Puerto Rico which
have been authorized between Au-
gust 1 and August IA.
In Baltimore, meanwhile, Francis
H. Dryden, Maryland w. P. A. adj
ministrator. disclosed that nearly a
third of the w. P. AS labor and
money are being expended toward
that end in Maryland. He revealed
that approximately $500 workers
were engaged on defense projects
all marked immediate" and given
preference over all other ordinary
projects in the States.
Millions Spent Nearby.
Acting Administrator Hunter said
Sc. 545 900 had been expended in
Maryland and $3.50 900 in Virginia
from Federal and sponsors funds
on w. P. A. national defense prof.
ects through June 30. In addition.
expenditures contemplated in Vir-
GINA on projects approved August
to IA amounted to $65, 1903.
Mr.. Hunter told a press confer
ence that since 1885 w. P. A. has
authorized s455. 1892 900 of national
defense programs.
Included in the new work, he said,
will be the construction and i'm
provement Of access roads to mill
tary and naval reservations and
airports and of roads on such
reservations.
Another and new type of high
way work will be the widening of
shoulders, especially on major routes,
to permit the parking of Army con-
voys engaged in maneuvers without
obstructing usual traffic.
1T is also proposed that w. P. A.
improve routes paralleling main
highways to permit the simultaneous
movement of several columns of
troops and supplies. Projects for
the widening and Strengthening of
bridges and the elimination of other
distractions on roads of military
Importance will be stressed every
where"
d. CHEW York Highway.
Oficials said an Improved high
way between Washington, Baltimore
and New York may be on the roads
program.
Maryland Administrator Dryden
said the w. P. A. also is directing a
vocational program to teach workers
trades in industries vital to national
defense. Already. he said, a number
Of workers have advanced to the
point that they are ready for assign
ment to private jobs by the Mary
land State Employment Service.
Mr.. Dryden's report showed Is
projects under way at military or
naval reservations and 2 others
scheduled to start soon at Edgewood
Arsenal and Curtis Bay Ordnance
Depot.
Under construction projects were
listed as:
Camp Holabird - Reconstruction
and improvement of quarters. IA
cilities, utilities, roads and grounds
Curtis Bay Ordnance Depot-Re-
placement of WORKOUT railroad
tracks and switches, removal of old
docks, drainage of the industrial
area and improvement of powder
magazines and similar work.
Fort George Modernizing
the water system. sewage system and
heating and electrical facilities; i'm
provement of roads, rehabilitation
Of storage facilities and construction
OF post exchange.
Fort MISUNDERSTANDING and IA
cilities are being renovated.
At Work At Camp Richie.
Camp Ritchie-Facilities are being
improved and extended, including
ranges; the sanitary system, bar
ranges, the sanitary system, bar
racks and other buildings.
Pikesville Armory - Construction
of motor maintenance and equip
ment shops the installation of q
sprinkler system for fire protection
and the development of a motor
maintenance area.
Baltimore Municipal Airport
General work engaging / 900 men.
Construction of hangar at Balti-
more Airport for the 129th Observa-
ton Squadron of the Maryland Ma
tional Guard Is the latest defense
project to get under way. Workers
were assigned to the project this week
and the force will be increased as
the need arises.
A partial list Of defense projects
already completed by the w. p. A.
include the 5th Regiment Armory
in Baltimore, restoration OF ord
nance material at the Aberdeen
Proving Grounds, construction of an
incinerator at Fort McHenry, i'm
provements to Fort Hoyle and Fort
Howard, construction of the Indian
head Powder Factory road in Charles
County and rehabilitation work on
National Guard armories at Denton,
Laurel, Hyattsville, Centreville, Eas-