Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-14
DC. Area Gets
$3.50 Million
In New BUILDING
$500 Million More
In Federal Projects
Expected Soon
BY WILLIAM A. MILLEN
Star STAFF Writer


Current construction totaling
$3.50 million and plans for an
additional $500 million in Fed
eral Government projects are
expected to improve materially
the unemployment situation in
this areas building trades.
The figures are "about the
same" as last years. according
to a spokesman for General
Services Administration, but he
warned that comparison can
not be too close because some
projects carry over from one
year to the next.
The overall picture in the
building industry, according to
q survey here, is one Of OPP
timism.
Quick Action Sought
Franklin G. Floete, General
Services Administrator. is push
ing for quicker action so that
contracts may be let without
delay, as soon as the necessary
funds become available. .
George L. S. Scharf. presi-
dent of the Master Builders
Association, the Washington
chapter Of the Associated Cen
eral Contractors Of America.
said:
Construction, both public
and private. in the Washington
area, now in progress may run
as high as $3.50 million.
Some of the newer private
projects are st. Johns College
High School, to be built at
Military road and Rock Greek
Park. estimated to cost around
50 million. and the new Labor
Cooperative Education and
Publishing Society at First and
D streets NV, which will be
a multimillion dollar Office
building.
Private Work OF
Most of the construction
here now is Government work,
such as the State Department,
starting work on clearing the
site at Chantilly. Va, for the
new airport, the Central Intel
ligence Agency and the new
Senate and House ONCE Build
ings. Private work is OF con-
Siderably.
But we have confidence in
the future. A great many
things remain to be done in
Washington. We feel business
is going to pick up just as soon
as people feel there is no need
to worry about progress. And
there is no need to fear, for we
are going ahead"
While there are some 1000
unionized building trades work.
ers out of work, officials are
optimistic.
John r. Holden, executive
secretary of the Washington
Building and Construction
Trades Council (AFL-CIO) 8.
said:
I'VE have the worst unem-
ployment situation that we
have had in the past l6 years
in the building industry. We
have 10000 construction work.
ers who are unionized. Unem-
ployed are is per cent of the
total. The unemployment is
not seasonal and not due to
the weather-it is strictly be-
cause the business is not there
now. All the building trades are
hard hit.
Improvement Seen
But things are getting bet
ter, but 1t will take three
months before we feel the eff
feet of new construction in the
building trades. so far as unem-
ployment is concerned. When
final construction plans are in
shape, the workers will again
be employed. We want to see
the new construction started
Just as soon as possible.
I'VE are optimistic"
Another index that things in
the construction industry are
improving was given by c. A.
Wharton, director of the Dis
trict Unemployment Compen-
sation Board. He said for the
week ending February %, his
business consisted of 43 per
cent for giving unemployment
compensation to workers en-
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