Evening star., 1941-10-09
Sweeping Action
Affects All Types
Of Construction
BY JAMES FREE,

In the most sweeping move
toward all-out defense yet taken
by the Government. the Supply
PrioritieS and ALLEGATIONS Board
today made a policy announce
ment stating that no new con-
struction projects using scarce
materials may be started during
the emergency unless they are
either necessary for direct ma
tional defense or essential to the
health and safety of the people.
The policy decree, which consti-
tutes an order to the o. P. M. Priori-
ties Division, covers all types of
construction-public projects, Fed
eral, State and local highways, rivers
and harbors Improvements, food
control and power projects, factories.
office buildings, apartment buildings
and all other commercial construc-
ton. 1t applies also to residential
buildings and construction of public
utilities plants.
Defense officials agreed that the
new policy constitutes a veto to
projects approved by Federal, State
and local authorities-including
Congress.
Two Questions to Be Posed.
In considering building projects In
the future, S. P. A. B, will apply two
tests:
L. Does this construction involve
the use of appreciable quantities of
critical material
II the answer to this question is
yes" then S. P. A. B. will study the
proposal, using this question as a
yardstick:
2. Is the construction directly
necessary for national defense, or
clearly essential for the health and
safety of tie civilian population"
If the answer to the second oues-
ton is no" priorities will be refused
Tor the critical materials involved.
Some Jobs May Be Finished.
In cases where construction has
been substantially completed. S. P.
A. B. asserted, efforts will be made
to get critical materials required
to finish the job.
Ihe new policy, it was asserted,
is based on the assumption that no
construction job which is not abso-
lutely necessary is entitled to
share OF the materials urgently
needed for defense.
II factories are obliged to close
because they cannot get these ma
terials," S. P. A. BIS announcement
continued, there would be neither
rhyme nor reason in permitting the
use OF these same materials to erect
public works, new factories, office
buildings or other structures unless
1t could be shown plainly that such
construction is vital to the Nation"
All Federal, State and local gov
ernment agencies were urged in S. P.
A. B.'s statement to refrain from is
suing permits or authorizing con-
structlcn work on which priorities
assistance would have to be denied
S. P. A. B. also suggested that build
ing codes in many cities recurring
use of excessive amounts of critical
materials "be suspended during the
emergency"
1926-27 Levels Reached.
A S. P. A. B. survey indicated total
construction during 1941 will prob
ably reach $1,000, 100000, not in
cluding about $1,000 900 900 for
maintenance, repair and remodeling.
This total is equal to the highest
levels reached in 1926 and 1927.
About $4,000 900 900 of the Sill
900 900 900 is being spent on defense
building, the S. P. A. B. survey
showed OF this, military construc-
ton takes $1,000, ,OO00 900; industrial
facilities, 7Oo0OO,O0O; defense
housing, 81 100000 900, and defense
highways, 5000, 0,000,0 900.
Non-defense construction for the
year totals $500, 900 900, according
to S. P. A. BIS studies, with a break
down as follows:
Residential construction, $780,
100000: industrial construction
$500 100000; public works, $780,
100000; commercial building, $780,.
100000; public buildings, $4000O0
600; privately financed utilities,
$700, 100000, and farm construction,
$500.00O 900.
The biggest critical material item
called for in this years program is
steel, with approximately 1890 900
tons of steel ingots or one-sixth of
the years total consumption, re-
quired. Nearly half of this is being
used for non-defense construction.
Other major critical materials in
volved are copper, brass, bronze,