Evening star., 1940-07-11
W.P.A. Has Assigned
$500 10 Defense
Projects Here
Cost Of Dozen Major
Jobs Put at S., 500, 900;
Airport Work Is One

Airport Work Is One
A dozen major projects directly
related to the national defense pro-
gram were being speeded or ex-
panded today by assignment of some
$500 w. P. A. workers to them, in
transfers from other projects, ac-
cording to a summary released by
District w. P. A. Administrator Paul
Edwards.
The number assigned to hasten
completion of the new Washington
National Airport, improvements at
Boiling Field, the Naval Air Station,
the Navy Yard and other vital de-
fense projects constitutes roughly
one-third of the total District w.
P. A. roster.
The total cost of the projects to
which the extra $500 men have been
assigned, or are this week being
assigned, has been estimated at
some $5,50o,00o, including materials
and the hire Of the forces. Some of
the projects have been under way for
many MONTHS some are newly de-
veloped in keeping with the pre-
paredness moves.
Announcement of these programs
was made last night by Mr.. Edwards
after preliminary arrangements had
been made for the enrolment, be-
ginning next week, of some 500
w. P. A. workers in the vocational
training courses as part of the
national defense plan.
1887 on Airport Job.
Completion Of the new airport at
Gravelly Point is regarded as one of
the most urgent of the projects, it
was indicated in the fact that 1887
men recently have been assigned to
hasten that project. The w. P. A.
cost Of this project wa sannounced
as some 1885 900.
AT the new airport, the w. p. A.
workers have been employed to pre-
pare runways and the field generally
and to install facilities for Pan
American Airways' use in shipments
between North and South America
Two hundred w. P. A. workers
have been detailed to Boiling Field.
this being about Is per cent in
crease in the force there, to install
warming-up platforms for planes
and to improve runways and emer-
gency landing areas. This project
has cost of some $500 900.
AT the Naval Air Station, l25 w.
P. A, men are engaged in increasing
the size Of warming-up platforms,
increasing the length and otherwise
improving runWays and the mod
ernization of hangers and other
buildings. The cost of this project
has been stated at $660000.
Four New Projects.
Four new projects expected to be
started this week with the aid of the
w. P. A. are:
Camp Sims, D. c., of the District
National Guard, where 200 men
have been detailed to grade the drill
field, install gun sheds. a mess hall
and machine gun shop and to i'm
prove roads. walks and utilities.
Boiling Field, assignment of 400
additional men, to be detailed to
connect plane taxi strips with run
ways, additional warm-up platforms
and to improve buildings and
hangers.
Naval Air Station, assignment of
300 additional men to prepare warm
up platforms, roads and to rehabili-
tate hangers.
AT the Office of the adjutant gen.
eral Of the Army, assignment of q
workers to bring up to date files OF
the Army with the idea OF speeding
any necessary transfers of men.
The Office Of the District w. P. A.
administrator also revealed that Al
men had been detailed to the Marine
Inspection and Navigation Bureau
to investigate and bring to date the
records Of seamen,
IS Doing Map Work.
iSi'e5 -iA'C w. Z. n. WOIkeTS, IL
was announced, have been assigned
to compile data and to draft and re-
produce maps of various areas of
the United States which might be
valuable for national defense in any
emergency. This work is being done
at Fort Humphreys. Also, rs other
men have been assigned there to
erect some new structures. improve
old buildings and install sewer and
water facilities.
Nearly TOO men have been assigned
to the Navy Yard.
Some of these are engaged in as
sisting in the erection of additional
buildings, additional storage space
for ordnance and improvement Of
utilities, and others have been de-
tailed to work on a naval torpedo
station at Alexandria, Va, and
others to an ammunition depot at
the Naval Research Laboratory at
Bellevue. D. C.
A new project was to be started
today at Fort Myer, with the ash
signment Of So men to rehabilitate
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