Evening star., 1946-03-30
Wyatt Sees Plan Aidinq All Construction
Expects Program to
Boost Non-Housinq
Work Above Normal
By Robert J. Lewis

A llttle-not1ced part OF Housing
Administrator Wilson w. Wyatts
veterans housing program is the
emphasis it places on nonhousing
construction.
In fact, Mr.. Wyatt says even
more nonresidential activity will be
possible as a result of his program
than without it.
While his words on this score
were largely drowned out, he made
clear this week he didn't intend to
force the nonhousing construction
industry into a straitjacket.
MIR. Wyatt figures that the volume
of repair. maintenance and essential
nonresidential construction for 1916
and 1947 would be 1900, 600 900
without the program to expand the
supply of building materials. With
the help of this spur to production,
on the other hand, he says the non-
housing volume would reach $23,-
OILS 100000. That would mean
gain of $815, 5,000, 900 in nonhousing
construction as a result of the pro-
gram over what it would be with
out it.
Looks to Over All Expansion.
THE necessary expansion of
home building can be accomplished
only through a great expansion in
total construction activity" he said.
1T cannot be accomplished through
the absolute reduction of competing
phases of construction. Even if it
could, we would not want to paralyze
our general economy while building
homes"
Why, then, did he have issued
this week an order limiting certain
nonhousing construction?
THE answer is plain" he says.
while the limitation order doesn't
have the effect of reducing the
absolute volume" of maintenance,
repair and nonresidential construc-
ton, lit does reduce them very sub
stantially in ratio to the total
amount Of construction.
For example, he explains that
while the limitation order would
allow maintenance, repair and non-
residential construction to gain by
$815, 900, 900 in the two-year period
or roughly 4 per cent-construction
OF homes would gain at the same
time by $4,l9O, ,0OO, 900, or about 65
per cent.
Standards Being Developed.
AS for what shall be considered
essential nonhousing construction
the present intention is to rely
heavily on community advice.
Clarence A. Woodruff, acting di-
rector of the Civilian Production
Administrations new Construction
Bureau, which will administer the
Limitation order, said today his Of
flee was now developing standards
on which approval or disapproval of
applications could be based.
They will be on a reasonably
broad basis so that they can be ap-
piled fleXibly, depending on the
community situation" he said.
In community with a large num-
ber OF servicemen out of employ
ment, and where the housing short
age was not acute, a set of hard
and-faSt rules holding down nom
housing construction might be in
he said.
Mr.. Woodruff pointed out that his
bureau is now carefully examining
lists OF nominations. for appoint
ment to II Area Construction Re-
view Committees to serve through
out the country. Such volunteer
screening" committees will advise on
essentially of commercial and in
dustrial projects.
Field Authority Limited.
With committee advice, managers
OF CPA district construction Offices
will have authority to approve or
dlsapprove projects costing up to
(See LEWIS, Page B-20