Evening star., 1940-06-02
Federal Works
(Continued From First Paee.l

NeW Oedl chpdIlSlOu III washington,
the Office would have the duty of
providing immediate rental space
for the thousands of Federal workers
who would be brought here. With
rentable Office space at a premium
now, one of the first needs to be
met here in the event of mobiliza-
ton would be additional authorize
tipns for public buildings. All such
activities come within the range of
the Public Works Agency.
AS an indication of what public
works expenditures have done for
military preparedness during the
seven years, officials said Federal
allotments had been made to the
Army and Navy totaling nearly
three-quarters of billion dollars.
Additional hundreds of millions
have been spent for nom Federal
construction such as airports, traf-
f1c highways, armories and hospi-
tails, much of which would be of
emergency service to the Nation in
the event of wartime mobilization.
Steps being taken now by Ad-
ministrator Carmody to make per-
sonnel and records available for
possible use, are part of the pat
tern for cooperation of all Federal
agencies with the national defense
program.
Quasi-NIilitary Jobs Put First.
Included in the directions was an
order giving priority to all F. w. A.
construction work now under way
or about to be undertaken that
would be of any possible military
use. Col. F. G.. Harrington, Army
trained commissioner Of the Work
Projects Administration, foresaw
such need several weeks ago. He
directed then, on his own initiative,
that priority be given to all work
involving military purposes.
According to an Associated Press
report, officials Of the F. w. A.
said the lists of persons and prof.
ects would be open to the public
through the Civil Service Commits
sion and through William H. Nc
Reynolds, secretary of the Presi-
dents Advisory Committee on Ma
tional Defense.
The Public Works Administration,
which employed 10000 trained per-
sonnel until recently, is now re-
duced to mere skelton form. It's
construction program is nearing
completion and funds on hand are
sufficient only to wind up the work.
AS a result, hundreds of its en-
gineers, architects, attorneys and
some 1000 more trained personnel
who include technicians have been
furloughed.
Most of these could render ef-
fective service in private industry.
Their names and records would
be made available to industrial
concerns which may have to make
preparations to expand overnight.
Thousands of skilled workers en-
ployed by the P. w. A. and listed
on the records Of other agencies
over a period Of years, officials
said yesterday, could be fitted into
the defense program. They en-
phasized the personnel rolls, how
ever, would be used solely for VOL
untary service of the individual or
In industrial expansion.
Available Buildings Listed.
Federal building officials have
listed every available building and
apartment house in Washington
that could be utilized for office space
I'VE have not forgotten the mis-
takes Of the World War period" one
of them said yesterday. mo official
order has been given to draw up an
emergency housing program, but in
anticipation of such an order we
have been studying the situation ir
Washington and have two plans ir
mind
These plans involve the removal
from Washington of such agencies
that could operate in the field with
out impairment to their efficiency
That would create vacancies ir
Government-owned and rented Of
fees which emergency workers could
utilize. It also was pointed out thai
study is being given to a new Fed.
eral building program for Wash.
ington.
The drawing up of a building pro.
gram would not be difficult in view
of the continuous studies that over.
crowding of Government building!
here has necessitated during tn,
past seven years.
Crowding at Al-Time High.
Some idea of the existing require
ments of Federal Office space in tn,
District may be obtained from tn
record figures as of May /, repre-
senting what is believed to be al
all-time high.
| A total of 4,303,245 net square fee
of Office space in every availabl
building is being rented now at
cost of So. .866, ,494 yearly. The amour
of Government-owned space unde
control of the departments is is,
393,780 net square feet. Exclude
from these figures are the Capito
Library of Congress, Government
Printing Office, Treasury and Burea
of Engraving and Printing, as well q
the Senate and House Once Build
ings.
Scattered Offices a Handicap.
The new Federal Once Building i
the Southwest section viii not b