Evening star., 1943-07-10
RHA Seals Contracts
1otaIing $50 Million
In 5-Monih Period

Federal Public Housing Commits
sioner Herbert Emmerich stated to-
hay that $500 600 900 in contract
agreements with private companies
were consummated during the first
1--we months of this year for the
construction Of publicly financed
war housing projects.
! These are part of total Of more
Than 81 ,808 ,285 900 representing 1900
brine contracts for war housing en-
Tered into between the Government
And private contractors since July,
I940, Mr.. Emmerich said. The great
majority Of all publicly financed
var housing authorized by the Ma
tional Housing Agency is assigned
70 the FPHA for development.
| Contracts during this emergency
period have called for the construc-
tion of GOT 843 dwellings, comprising
family, dormitory and trailer ac-
sommodations for workers in war
Industry centers. Many hundreds
Of individual firms have received
General contracts and the number
of subcontractors participating in
such essential construction work
runs into the thousands. Moreover,
individuals and companies which
supply materials, equipment and
services for the builders and op-
Grafton of housing projects also
number in the thousands.
! Let on Competitive Basis.
, Federal war housing contracts are
let on competitive basis to respon-
sible private bidders. The growing
Interest of the private construction
industry in Federal war housing
contracts is emphasized by the
greatly increased number of bids
received on projects put under con-
tract during recent months, Mr..
Emmerich declared.
! Every contract award to con-
struction company means, in addi-
tion. a contract awarded to an
architect-engineer. or, II the pro-
gram warrants, separate contracts
for architectural and engineering
work. The construction of projects,
moreover, involves the employment
Qf large numbers of building trades
workers and both skilled and I'M
skilled laborers in related trades
and services. During the first three
months of 1943, alone, an average
of $4,000 construction and Salaried
workers were employed on the site
of FPHA war housing projects.
I'm addition to site development
and construction work, many other
aspects of the publicly financed
phase of the National Housing
kgency's war housing program in
volve participation by private indus
tries.
{ Furniture must be provided for
dormitories, trailers and light house,
Keeping apartments. AS of April,
d, 1943, private manufacturers un-
der contract to the Government
already had provided or were pro-
Wding essential furnishings for
approximately 100000 trailers and
dormitory accommodations.
Private Firms Supply Equipment.
Private firms supply all equip
ment required for war housing prof.
ects. Individual dwelling equipment
includes space heaters, plumbing
fixtures, wafer heaters, electric fix
lures, cooking ranges and many
other items. Added to this is the
auxiliary equipment necessary for
lounges, recreation rooms. lobbies,
child service rooms and health facil-
tiles. Cafeterias and cafeteria
kitchens require large quantities OF
furniture, china, glassware and fiat
ware. There are no less than 203
items alone on the FPHA procure
rnent list for cafeteria kitchen equip
ment.
The participation of private enter
prise in war housing is not limited
to construction or equipment, but
also includes many aspects of opera
uon. All Cafeterias or other restau-
rants in FPHA war housing projects
abe operated privately. The policy
If the F'PHA is that these facilities
should be run under specific contract
by qualified private operators. An
adequate surety bond is furnished
by the operator, who receives a lump
sum for his services.
Since many projects are located in
areas where commercial facilities are
Inadequate or noneXiStent, the
FPHA in such instances provides, or
SPONSORS, the provision of essential
retail stores. These are leased to
and operated by independent dealers
and chain store organizations.
i The result is that many of the
larger projects are virtually self
Sufficient communities.