Evening star., 1943-02-02
MA Report Shows
10000 Miles Of Road
$4,000 Homes Built
Bulk Of Construction
Devoted to MiIitory,
Defense Purposes

More than 10000 miles of high
way. % large Office buildings and
over 10000 new defense homes were
constructed by the Federal Works
Agency as a part Of the war effort
during the fiscal year 194l-42. ac-
oording to its annual report released
today.
Transportation and housing ia
cilities for servicemen and others
connected with war activities were
the principal objects of the agency
during the period, it was explained
The program Of work relief was
adapted to changing needs caused by
economic mobilization for war as
quickly as they appeared, and the
bulk Of work projects were devoted
to military purposes.
Construction of the dwelling units,
1t was pointed out in the report, was
completed before February "a, 1942,
the date the housing functions were.
transferred to the National Housing
Agency. At that time. 81, ,l99 homes
were occupied or ready 10 be occu-
pied, 81 ,478 were under construction
and 159,258 were assigned for con-
struction.
Two-Thirds Allocated.
The total number Of applications
for construction projects under the
war public works program by the
end Of the fiscal year was 4,468, of
which 1852, estimated to cost $751;
225,921, had been approved by the
President. OF the approved projects,
90 were completed, construction was
under way on 626, drawings had
been completed for 06l and the 9TH
ers were in various stages Of pre-
construction planning.
Thus in one year." the report
cited, "two-thirds of the program
authorized had been covered by pres
idential findings of need, and funds
had been allocated to specific prof.
ects. A little more than SIS 0O0, 900
remained uncommitted by the end
Of the fiscal year"
The Public Buildings Administra-
tion, part Of FWA, found it neces-
sary to put aside peacetime projects
asgregating more than 10000, 900.
It then concentrated on construction
Of - new war buildings to provide
accommodations for 5000 workers.
Corrected RsaA Deficiencies.
The 10,l76 miles Of highway OF
all CLASSES brought to completion |
during the year, according to the |
report, Was composed IA large part /
q cosrection Of critical deflciencies
On main highways Of 9reat impor-
lance In essential transport. At the
end 0f the year the organization had
supervised the planning Of more
than 900 access roads to key war
plants and military and naval estab-
lishments.
Completed highways consisted Of
1855 miles on the Federal-aid high
way system, 2.l16 miles Of secondary
[arm-to-market roads, $50 miles OF
construction In connection with
srade-crossing elimination, 81 miles
initiated In the emergency program
10 relieve unemployment and 26
miles Of access road for war pur-
poses. Besides, 237 erade crossings
were eliminated, ~ obsolete elimi-
nation structures were reconstruct
ed and $50 crossings were protected
by signals or other devices. Total
cost Of this work was 427s ST 900,
Of which $163,l84, 900, OF So per cent,
was paid with Federal funds,
Abandoned Rails Salvaged.
Among the activities of the WpA
was the salvage Of 1900 tons Of
rails. tn addition to $500 miles OF
abandoned track removed in CON.
nection with street Improvement
work prior to December, l94l. From
the latter part Of April to the end
Of June, this agency collected more
than 27.000 tons Of scrap metal and
1000 tons OF rubber.
OF nearly 10000 projects included
In the Federal portion Of Public
Works Administration prorrams
only 80, estimated to cost S63 900 600
remained uncompleted at the end
Of the fiscal year.