The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-17

Orders to speed TO immediate
completion the conversion, begun
last December, Of al Connecticut
WpA projects to war service have
been Issued by Administrator How
ard Staub 10 his stan throughout
the state, IL was announced today.
IN the already greatly extended
WPA war program, more new pro-
jects, such as the trolley rail- sell
wage now planned by 16 commune
tiles and the state highway depart
ment, are to be put into operation
at once TO absorb workers still on
non defense projects.
In communities where there are
no war projects, Or where II would
not be good economy TO transport
workers TO defense project sites, II
may be necessary TO suspend opera
ticnsS completely In order TO con-
serve materials needed elsewhere,
Mr.. staub said.
Farm Labor Shortage
Such suspension has already been
taking place In several instances 10
make workers available for assign
ment to private Jobs on farms in
the WPA's vigorous campaign to
help meet the farm labor shortage
and labor shortages in industry as
well. ~
Attention is being given also to
the need for women In industry and
business, Mr.. Staub having recently
transferred O woman worker to the
Division Of Training and Re-em-
ployment to assist In checking WPA
rolls for possible traIlees or others
available for direct placement.
A further step in utilizing the
services Of every worker to the best
advantage Is plan being adopted
to enlist relief workers who viii
volunteer to move to areas where
they can be employed on war pro-
jects.
Under orders issued by Mr.. staub
shortly after the nation went 10
war, conversion Of the Connecticut
WPA to war service has been going
forward steadily and should be vir-
tually complete with the close OF
the first quarter Of the year, he
said.
Still the largest item In this ex-
tended war program is the con-
tinued expansion Of airportS at
Hartford, New Haven, Danbury,
Wilimantic, Fort H. @. Wright, Gro
ton and Bridgeport, with new pro-
jects started or being processed for
nearly all these fields.
A new project in preparation for
Hartford's Brainard field would pro-
vide sfor O greatly enlarged loading
and unloading ramp, with stations"
for seven planes and automatic
turntables. Enlargement Of the
ramp at New Haven airport would
be possible under q project now be-
ing discussed.
At Willimantic, with the advent
Of warm weather, the tempo has
been stepped up on three-quar-
ter million dollar project for en-
larging the town Of Windham's field
which Is considered Of prime Inn
portance because Of Its strategic
location.
Danbury Airport
Contracts for materials and
equipment are being let Tor ibis JoD
and for the Danbury airport, where
activity has been similarly speeded
UP under a recently approved pro-
ject.
Work Is nearing completion on
the airport at Fort II. q. Wright on
Fishers Island, revetments to shell
ter planes are being constructed at
New Haven and Groton airports and
additional grading and drainage
work has been approved at Groton.
Operating at top speed are the
improvement programs at the U. 8.
Submarine Base and the Coast
Guards Fort Trumbull Training
station, while projects have been
approved for work requested at the
Army's Windsor Locks air base.
Busy with O redirection of~its enc
tire program, the WPA Service Die
vision Is carrying on o wide variety
| OF wartime work, including as.
sistance TO state and local defense
councils, public health activities and
recreation for military units and