Evening star., 1941-05-30
By JAMES FREE,

Nearly three billion dollars nave
been allocated for expansion of this
country's industrial capacity during
the first year of the national defense
program, Office of Production Man.
agement officials said today.
Figures compiled by the o. P. M.
shows that there have been more
than 1.700 plant construction and
expansion projects provided for dur
ing the 12-month period, and that
many more of the factories have
been completed and already are in
operation. Most of these were
primary or subcontractors for vari-
Gus types Of armaments. steel alum
mum and other semi-fnished vital
defense materials.
The Government is committed
to expenditure Of upward of two
billion dollars for construction or eX-
pansion of 1862 factories, of which
the Army and Navy were principally
responsible for arranging about
three-fourth. Loans of the Recon-
struction Finance Corp. and the
Maritime Commissions Shipbuilding
program account for the remainder.
Private Capital At Work.
Private capital is credited with
744 million dollars in expenditures.
Plant owners obtained 1888 certifi-
Gates of necessity for factory ex-
pansion), and were permitted to
amortize their investment over
period of five years through allow
ances made on corporation income
and excess profit tax
Up to May l, British commitments
for Al projects involving plant ex-
pansions or building new plants
totaled 146 million dollars.
Major classifications, with the
amount of commitment by the
United States Government and
private industry, were:
Aircraft, engine, parts and acces-
sories Government, S490821. 900;
private, $95, ,444 900; total, $5S6,265
900.
Ships and ship repair-Govern-
ment, $467,519,O 900; private, slO,4l7,-
OUo, COpdi, OH ,oOOUUV.
Chemicals, including explosives
Government, $3O3,7O7 900; private,
$50 3,251 900; total, s35695S.
Ammunition, shells, bombs, etc
Government, 1882 ,425 900: private.
$38, 8,161 600; total, $4,000.
For Iron and Steel.
Iron and steel production-Gov-
eminent, s135, 900; private, sI44,-
I'll 900; total, $3.50, ,165 900.
Non-ferfous metals and products
Government, s67 7,937,OOO; private,
$l45 5,243, 900; total, $213,18O, 900.
Guns-Government, $184,864; pri-
vate, s22,038,000; total, s206,902 900.
Machinery, excluding electrical
Government, S44,220,OOO; private,
$101 SOS, 600; total, S145 1928, 900.
Other important public construc-
ton during the year included hous-
ing for the expanding Army and
housing for families of enlisted men
near camps and for families of de-
fense workers in many communities
suddenly overflown with new ar
rivals.
Up to May l, the Army had spent
an estimated $40 million dollars on
all troop housing, with 628 million
going for camps and cantonments
alone. Present plans call for COM
pletion of $1,000 buildings and bar
racks and nearly 100000 tent frames
by July l.
Up to two days ago, ALLEGATIONS
for total of 97,153 dwelling units
had been made in the emergency
program directed by Defense Hous-
ing Co-ordinator Charles F. Palmer.
More than 12,200 of these had been
completed. while contracts had been
let for nearly $4,000 units in 131
localities in As States and terri
tories. OF the total, 1885 were
assigned for civilian workers and
23,115 for families of enlisted men.