The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-11

NANCAAAk tAAS VSAAANNNANNt "Seth Projects Administration on e war footing, Administrator Howard Staub Is directing the entire ener- gies of that agency to defense work, in compliance with orders from Washington. he announced today.
 Not only will all other types of projects he subordinated to such 1ohs as the improvement of the states airports, but MT. Staub has already otfered--and proVided-the services of WPA workers and the use of office equipment to army and navy and other defense units,
 Temporary office buildings, fully equipped. are being supplied, and erected by WPA workers, for army use at the Bridgeport airport and at Fort II, c. Wright, Fishers Island, and clerical help and office equipment are being supplied for recruiting offices,
 Defense Work
 Non.defense projects throughout Connecticut will be terminated as rapidly as feasible so that all im- portant materials and man-power may be transferred to defense work.
 The 1000 workers in the state are to he so organized that they will be available for emergency service on short notice-yeoman service such as tho WPA has giv. on In all emergencies during its career,
 Subject to any change in plans may be required, the WPA's pro. gram for enlNrging and improv- Ing seven airportS In Connecticut, and work at military and naval bases Is to be pushed to comple. ton with all speed possible,
 Following are brief accounts of the status of WPA defense jobs now operating or awaiting Rp. proVal in the state:
 A project for extending the new. est of the four runways at Hart. ford's Brainard field, at an eStl. mated cost of $i45,00o, of which s66,o0o is Q CAA grant, has just been approved in Washington and work will Do started as soon as possible.
 The project calls for extension of the north-South runway. I50 feet wide, from 3,700 to 4400 feet in length, installing contact lights on the whole runway and enlarg. ing the concrete ramp in front of the administration building.
 For Bridgeport's municipal air. port h Sarattord CAA airport en- glneers have suggested an alternate plan to tho original proposal for 600.foot extensions on two Of the three 3,S00-foot runWays--a pro- posal which has been blocked by difficulties over land acquisition.
 Contact Lights
 Using only half Of the original $lao,000 CAA grant, the alternate suggestion would provide for con. tact lights on all runWays and Dor. der and obstruction lights around the field, aS well as permanent pavs Ing of taxi strips and large ramp area around the hangars.
 A new proposal is being readied of tre town of Windham airport, which will be the only major field in northeastern Connecticut. The CAA has made & grant of $le5,- 900 and the WPA has allowed $le5,- 900 more in non-labor funds for this Job, which will include de- velopment of two 4,000-foot landing strips and runways.
 Awaiting final approval in Wash- ington is new project for the ex- tension of the north-south runway att he New Haven municipal air. port from $500 to 4,000 feet. In- cludlng a CAA grant of 1000, to- tai cost of this work has been esti- mated ct $239,000.
 Since the War Department con- siders development of Clss fields Into Glass 3 airports as of vital importance, the WPA recent yset up $2S5,000 in non7labor funds for the Danbury airport and $l00,00O for the state-owned Trumbull field at Gronton, and new projects will probably be drawn up for these | fields soon.
 At the U. s. Submarine Base on the Groton shore of the Thames I and across the river at the U. s. | Coast Guard Academy and Fort Trumbull Training station, WPA crews are carrying on long-standing programs for improving buildings, roads and other facilities.
 Tn addition, WPA workers recently completed installation of a com cable at the U. s. army air base at Windsor Locks, and one project is in operation--in Nor walk for the improvement of trategic military highways.
 Defense Surveys
 In cooperation with the War De- 'artment. assistance has been given n geodetic survey work, various ther defense surveys have been made, band concerts given at mili- ary bases and recreational faciii- les provided for defense industry ynrknrs