Evening star., 1942-10-22
Big Projects
Face WPb's
Need Test
More Than 80 Million
In Capital Area
Construction Involved

at more than S39 900 900 In the Dis
trict and nearby Maryland and Vir-
glnla will be reviewed by the War
Production Board to determine to
what degree it Is essential to the
war effort, it was stated today, fol-
lowing the announcement by War
Production Chief Donald M. Nelson
that Government construction prof.
ects would be cut back drastically.
Oficials of the District Govern
ment and Federal agencies con-
cerned with the construction were
hopeful that Washington would not
lose any OF its wartime works prof.
ects, all of which were pronounced
essential. No word had been re-
ceived as to which projects, if any,
might be dropped, although WPB
was expected to send the Federal
Works Agency a list of jobs to be
eliminated throughout the Nation
The $3s,OOOOOO figure for this
area includes such projects as hos
pitfalls, schools, water and sewer i'm
provementS, expansion of recrea-
tional facilities, street work, dormi-
tories for war workers, and $10,000,-
600 in construction sponsored by the
Navy Department. 1t does not in
clude more than $100,000,000 in War
Department projects, most of which
are near completion.
$16,000,0 900 Schedule.
Mr.. Nelson said Federal construc-
ton programmed for next year
totaled about 0OO,00O,000. He
said these projects, together with
uncompleted work carried over from
this year, would absorb nearly a
fourth of the Nations total war
effort. This, he said, would con-
sumo too much in the way of man
power and materials needed for
more direct war work.
The production chief said projects
OF five Government agencies would
be cut back, and that military con-
struction Of the Army, Navy and
Maritime Commission would be re-
viewed with view toward curtail-
ment. He addressed letters to the
eight agencies informing them that
priority assistance would be revoked
for large part of their non military
construction. In addition to the serv-
ices, the agencies affected are De-
partments of Commerce. Interior,
Agriculture, the Federal Works
Agency and the Tennessee Valley
Authority.
A spokesman for WPB said no
construction held by WPB to be es-
sential to the war effort would be
halted. He added that because Of
nnanpower and materials shortages,
however, the determination OF es-
sentiality would be much more rigid
than it had been in the past.
Area Projects Totalled.
The FWA has approved for the
Washington area public works prof.
ects having a total valuation of sl9,-
017,128, only small portion of which
actually have been started. In addi-
tion the Public Roads Administration
and the District Highway Depart
ment have under way street and
road improvements totaling $3,l67,-
$50. Most of the street jobs are ap-
preaching completion.
FWA has approved dormitories Tor
Washington war workers valued at
S7,l43,000. The Public Buildings Ad-
ministration, subsidiary of FWA, is
charged with carrying out this work
and some of the jobs have been
started. While WPB stated that wal
housing would not be affected by the
cut back, the dormitories are con-
sidered FWA projects and there
fore subject to scrutiny of WPB.
The Navy Department stated il
had under construction in this area
projects valued at about $4,000, 900
An official refused to specify loca.
tions of the work. The War Depart.
ment has under construction the
Pantagon Building in Arlington
work at Fort Belvoir, an airport al
Camp Springs, Md, and a quarter.
master depot at Alexandria. All o.
this work will be subject to review
although it was considered highl.
unlikely any of the jobs would be
stopped.
FWA, the War and Navy Depart
nents stated that all of their pro
jects were considered badly needed
and essential to the war effort
WPB, however, stated that its opin
lon would prevail in any dispute owe
the essentially of project.
Hospitals Approved.
FWA has approved water sewe
and utility projects in the Caipta
area valued at $7,435,0l7; hospitals
infirmaries and health clinics valued
at $5,504,770; schools valued at ST.,
785,500: recreation and welfar'
projects valued at $2972,47l, ant
miscellaneous jobs, including fir
houses, grading work. etc. valued a
$1,3l9,370
Only one District government
building job was said to be actuall!
started. This is the Patterson
School Building at Nichols and At
lantic avenues Sc. for children o
workers at the Bellevue Naval Mag
azine. which was started Septembe
%. This Job, to cost $50 900, was re
ported 20 per cent completed. II
addition, work has been Starte'
In grading and improving sevel
Fairgrounds at I cost of s325,00
The Federal Works Agency ha
approved extension of Washington
hospital facilities amounting to ad
dition of LIT beds. The Distric
government was allotted $1,084 ,50|
g. .v,o,s;o,, of facilities at Gal