Evening star., 1947-12-28
Congress Seen
Granting District
50-Mi||ion Fund
City Would Get Looms
As Share of U. S. Aid
For Works Projects
By Nelson IA. Shepard

BY Nelson IA. ShePord
A S50,000000 yearly loan author
,ization from which the District
would draw its share of Federal aid
to continue the advance technical
planning of essential public works
was said yesterday to be due for
possible favorable congressional ac-
ton in 1948
A Federal Works Agency program
of this kind was cut off June 80
when the War Mobilization and Re-
conversion Act expired. Before it
ended, $334,550 in loans to the Dis
trict were approved for drawing up
plans for eight important municipal
projects. Without this help, off,
cials said a start might not have
been made for several years on
most of the projects, estimated to
cost more than sl3,000,000.
Capitol sources said the pending
loan bill, introduced by Senator
Green. Democrat, of Rhode Island,
and stalled since hearings in July.
would be considered by the full
Senate Public Works COMMITTEES
soon after Congress reconvenes. 1t
is claimed that the Budget Bureau
has no objection to renewing the
loans if the period is limited to Ave
years.
Federal Grants Barred.
Costing only a nominal sum for
administration, the program bars
Federal grants of money and is
restricted to loans which are repay
able to the Treasury. State and
municipal authorities, most of whom
are enthusiastic supporters, contend
the program has resulted in better
planned communities. Some 1000
projects were planned in the last
two years and officials estimated a
$50,000,OO0 loan program would
suffice to prepare plans for $780,
100000 worth of construction.
In the District the program was
said to have worked smoothly and
Three projects given
top priority have plans completed.
The others are in various stages OF
planning.
Since the s344,550 in approved
loans are obligations under the for
mer program, the Districts eight
projects would not suffer through
any failure of Congress to act in
l948 However. officials point out,
it would stop the flow of necessary
loans for planning future projects
so that these would be in a state
of readiness to start work when ap-
preparations are voted by Congress.
No Interest on Loans.
The District obtained checks for
one-half the amount of the loans
when applications for the eight
projects we're approved. The second
and final payment will be made as
soon as the plans and specifications
are completed and found satisfactory
by the FWA. The entire program
is under the administration of the
Bureau of Community Facilities.
the same agency that supervised
much construction in the District
under Lanham Act funds.
The Districts loans are repayable
without interest, it was said, when
contracts are let.
The projects for which plans have
been completed involve two addi-
tions to the sewage disposal plant
at Blue Flains and the proposed
new municipal garage and ware
house building at Sixth and D
streets SW.
The first addition to the sewage
plant, originally estimated to cost
1885 900, includes land and four
more sedimentation tanks. The sec
ond project provides for four addi-
tional sludge digesting tanks, esti-
mated to cost $750,00O.
No Garage Appropriation.
Appropriations were provided In
the current District fiscal act but
the bids on the two sewage projects
were considered so excessive that
approval was withheld. Additional
amounts were included in the 1949
estimates for this reason.
There has been no appropriation
for the municipal garage but the
fact that plans for an 100000 build
ing are completed, means con-
siderable saving in time The floor
space of the e-story building
is estimated at $4,000 square feet.
Included on the District program
is the proposed $1,412.000 improve
ment at the Bryant Street Pumping
Station, one of the two major pump
ing stations of the Washington
water supply system. The Bureau
of Community Facilities is advanc-
ing half of the cost of the planning.
the remainder coming from Water
Department appropriations.
Other Projects Planned.
Other public works projects
planned include:
Additions, Improvements and de-
velopment of rs Fairgrounds and
recrea ton centers at an estimated
cost of 81 ,657,700 The general work,
already we'll advanced on the part
of some of the individual projects,
includes grading, swimming and
wading pools. shelters. various
kinds of athletic fields and courts,
and lighting systems.
A $952,000 program for improv-
ing and constructing playground
facilities at six recreational areas
is broken down as follows:
S65,000 at the Palisades Center:
S280,000 at the Randall Center;
$280.000 at the Taft. $4,000 at the
Coolidge and 100000 at Fort Reno
Centers; and $4,000 at the Park
View Center.
The two remaining projects are
the proposed s6,400,000 West Admin
istration Building at Fifth and c
Streets NV. duplicating the exist
ing Municipal Center and $751;
OBS project for relocating the Ma
tional Training School for Girls on
Jolly Acres near Laurel. Maryland.
Bethesda Prizes Given
e. Tk.;e&oore N;e1lr,s