Evening star., 1943-06-20

fEQILWS nOLe. On UtQe ana IN.
creastng scale, States and local gou-
ernments are planning against the
day Uhen tUar plants cease humn,ing,
setting up projects that pill need
only signal to be put into operation
and proutde jobs. To find out Just
,Ohat is being done, the Associated
Press surveyed the situation through
its bureaus all ouer the country. This
is the result
CHICAGO.-American states and
cities have on paper today the plans for
$3.50 ,s7o. .440 worth OF public works to be
undertaken after the war-a cushion
against unemployment.
The figure is conservative. Postwar
planning in the United States has barely
begun. Many communities have COM
pleted their programs, but more still are
working on them and even more haven't
started yet.
"A survey made by the Associated Press
shows there is hardly limit to the work
that can be done when war plants shut
down and the soldiers come home. With
typical American Imagination, the plans
bound into the blue-tree-l Lined avenues
OF beauty in Virginia, 81 900, 900 air
port for Waterloo, Iowa; a $1,000 900
State building at Montpelier, VT.
Programs completed contemplate the
expenditure Of more than $7l6 ,0o0, 900 on
highways. $139 ,000, 900 for new hospitals
and similar institutions, $l36, ,970, 900 for
schools, $50 900, 900 for recreation facni-
ties, s77o0o,oO0 on public buildings of all
descriptions, $41 ,000, 900 for sewerage sys-
TENS
Setting the pace for large cities, New
York has undertaken a gigantic $780,
900 900 program designed to kick the un-
employment problem out the window
during the first years Of peace. 1t plans
to invest $4,000 900 in SO new elemen-
tary and high schools alone.
s25,ooo,o 1000 for Plans.
In furnishing report to the Associat-
ed Press, Mayor Forello H. La Guardia
said: Il want to make it clear that the
public works program is only one
small factor of our postwar problems
There is great deal of misinformation
and misunderstanding as to what is nee
essary to start a postwar program. To
do so We must have detailed engineering
and architectural plans ready and not
just list Of desirable projects.
I'VE are spending over SIS, 900 900 for
detailed working plans. We will put
them on the shelf and when the war is
over We hope to get money from some
where or else we will have disastrous,
destructive, disorderly employment stu
alton"
Public officials in all sections OF the
country agree that locally undertaken
public works can be valuable contribu-
ton to prosperity, especially if they
are paced with the normal development
Of the community.
There are, however, few voices raised
against the idea. Gov. Robert o. Blood
Of New Hampshire holds that money now
available in State treasures should be
used to cut taxes instead Of being held
in reserve for postwar construction
South Dakota opposition was highlighted
by one critic of a $150,G00 dam project
near Sioux Falls. If God had wanted a
lake there" he solemnly said, He would
have put it there
$4,000 Man-Years of Work.
st. Louis has a compact, well-devel-
oped program which Charles A. Ellaby,
president OF the Board Of Public Service,
estimated would provide $4,000 man
years of work at cost of s110,990 900.
Reports from Ohio cities show they are
planning to spend at least S24o 600, 900 on
public works, with Ohio counties figuring
on an additional s22 2,266, ,00o Atlanta,
Ga, has s15,257 ,s34 program for bridges
and street Improvements, with detailed
plans completed.
BY the end of the war, Massachusetts
may have ready a $4,000 900 super
highway program. Public Works Com
missioner Herman A. Macdonald en-
visioned them following entirely new