Evening star., 1942-10-24
6. U. Hospital
Addition Made
Sure by WPB
Project Given High
Rating; Patterson
School Deferred

A nigh priority rat1ng Tor con-
struction of additions to George
town Hospital which will afford Isl
beds at that institution
a certainty today. At the
same time it was learned that the
War Production Board had listed
the new Patterson School in the
Southeast section as essential
project at this time and had recon-
mended work be halted there.
Commissioner Guy Mason said
last night that he had been given
assurances that the hospital project
would receive an AA-3 priority rat
ing. the highest given military
construction. A similar rating was
given the Gallinger Hospital expan-
sion program on Thursday.
The Patterson School job was the
only Washington area project in
cluded in Nation -wide list of more
than 200 public works projects which
WPB has informed the Federal
Works Agency should be deferred in
carrying out the initial phase of cur
tailment of non essential construc-
ton.
Dormitory, School Planned.
To be built in the Georgetown
project are nurses dormitory and
school and dormitory for internes.
1t Is then planned to convert pres
ent living quarters for nurses and
internes in the hospital into wards.
thus affording ISL more beds
Demolition of three old buildings
to make way for new construction is
expected to begin Monday, Commits
sioner Mason said.
Baird Snyder, Sd, acting adminis-
traitor of FWA, said WPB had sug-
gested that work be stopped on the
Patterson School, Nichols and At
lantic avenues Sc, which was being
erected for children of workers at
the Bellevue Naval Magazine. The
job was started September % and
is listed as 20 per cent complete.
Mr.. Snyder said he believed there
were several Washington road prof.
ects among those which probably
will be pruned, but check at Public
Roads Administration failed to re-
veal single road job to be stopped.
More Pruning May Come.
The list sent to FWA yesterday. It
was understood. included only prof.
ects for which WPB had issued pri-
GRITTY ratings A large number of
Washington war public works jobs
have not been sent to WPB for ap-
proval, so the Capitals program was
still considered far from safe from
the pruning knife, The entire FWA
program for the Metropolitan Area.
including the dormitories for war
workers, totals about $29 900 900.
WPB made clear that actual stop
orders had been issued for none of
the projects already submitted to
FWA in the first phase of the pro-
gram to review every construction
project either under way or planned
| by Federal, State and local govern
ments and private interests through
out the country. 1t was stated that
| WPB would not name individual
| jobs until the stop work orders were
issued. Officials refused to make
public the list sent FWA.
Hospitals Apparently Safe.
Washington's hospital expansion
and war worker dormitory programs
were considered safe Some fear was
expressed for one or two of the
utility expansion jobs, which consist
largely of additions to the water and
sewer systems
Mr.. Snyder said that of the more
than 200 jobs listed by WPB, 1T
were road building projects. He said
FWA already had decided to aban-
don about half of the jobs listed, al
though WPB did not know it, He
added that since March, FWA had
reviewed its entire national program
carefully and had eliminated prof.
ects designed to cost $102 soc, 900. All
OF the remaining projects. he said,
had been approved by either the
War or Navy Department.
WPB stated that while final ac-
ton had not been taken on the
projects listed with FWA, nearly all
probably would be stopped. 1t was
said other lists would be complied
as the construction review program
gains full speed.
The Commissioners yesterday ad-
vertised for bids for the first parts
OF the Gallinger Hospital expansion
program, for which WPB also is
sued the highest civilian preference
rating. A 150-bed maternity ward
and dormitories for nurses and in
ternes will be added at a cost OF
$536. 900. Bids for the work are to
be opened Wednesday. When an