Evening star., 1942-04-29
3 War Worker
.DormitorySites
Selected
Arlington Farm Gets
Largest; Potomac
Park Field Second

loilS lOl iOSdIiOu Va bCAlkOi al
dormitories for war workers were
disclosed today as the House con-
sidered a special order of busi-
ness the defense housing appro-
priation bill for the District and
nearby counties.
Largest of the dormitories-to
provide for $500 to $500 war workers
is planned for Arlington Farm, va.
it was learned. A second, to &C.
commodate $500 to $500 persons is
slated for the old polo field in
Potomac Park and a third will be
erected for some 1000 workers near
the new airport property.
Convenient to the new Govern
ment workshop at Suitland Md, a
fourth dormitory will provide rooms
for 900 and a fifth of similar size
is to rise on the stadium site of
East Capitol street. A dormitory
for Negro women is planned at
Howard University and another Is
to 60 up In Benning near the Langs-
ton area-both together to provide
for about 1000.
An eighth will be built for about
$50 persons on District-owned prop
erty at Third street and Constitution
avenue, now used as a parking lot.
Authorization Cut.
The original authorization OF
$50, ,000, 900 carried in the Lanham
Act has been ct by the Appropria-
tions Committee to $40, 1000.
In reporting to the House today.
Chairman Cannon of the Appropria-
tions Committee pointed out that
the biggest cut is of $4,000 900 from
the $50, 1000 900 requested for hous-
ing. This $1S,000,000 was intended
to be used for 1000 family dwelling
units as a start to meet an esti-
mated need of 10000 such dwelling
units. This, the committee decided
not to approve. Testimony had
shown, Chairman Cannon said in
his report. that private enterprise
cannot finance homes for persons
with incomes below $4,000 at rents
which they can afford to pay and
If war workers in the lower income
brackets with families are to be
provided dwellings they will need
to be built with public funds. The
committee was not convinced, how
ever, that the need will exist for
these additional dwellings or that
priorities can be obtained for the
essential materials for permanent
structures.
Facilities Here Taxed.
Chairman Cannon said that the
Metropolitan area Of the District.
which includes the adjacent coun-
ties of Montgomery and Prince
Georges in Maryland and Arlington
and Fairfax In Virginia, has felt
the impact of the war program upon
it's housing, community facilities and
other municipal services perhaps
more heavily than any other COM
munity in the Nation.
He pointed out that the Appropria-
tions Committee was advised that
even If the $50, 1000 900 for housing
was approved 1t would fell short Of
indicated requirements by some
$40 O00, 900.
For the housing program the
Appropriations Committee approved
the requested amount, $4,000, 900.
for dormitories for $1,000 single
workers. 1t is the purpose to place
such dormitories, he said, wherever
possible within walking distance Of
the Federal buildings in which the
workers are employed to relieve the
strain on transportation facilities.
These dormitories are intended for
persons receiving 81 300 or less, with
preference given to new persons
coming in to the service and working
in that vicinity. All the dormitory
construction is to be temporary. The
appropriation is based on $500 units
providing for two persons to q room
and the rent is to be about $40 per
person or $40 per room.
The $4,000 900 authorized includes
all furniture and furnishings for
these dormitories.
Chairman Cannon, In his report,
urged that study be made regard
ing appropriate utilization and dis
tribution of the personnel tnat is al
ready employed" before additional
war workers are brought to the Cap
ital.
There is a general feeling that in
some instances personnel is being
recruited and brought to Washing
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