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FINAL REPORT ON
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FINAL REPORT
ON
THE WPA PROGRAM
1935-43
For sale b, the Saperlntelldmt ofI>ocammu, U.S. Government Prindoa Office
Waahiqton 2,, D. C.
Price so cm
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DEP-1SIT D BY : HL
UNITED STATES OF AMEt<I~
~-1~--41
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Washington, D. C., December 18, 1946.
MY
DEAR GENERAL FLEMING:
Transmitted herewith is the Final Report on the Work Projects Administration covering the entire period of the
operation of its work relief program from July 1, 1935 through June 30, 1943. Publication of thh, report, which was
~pared during _!he period of liquidation of the program, has been postponed until now because of the war.
The WPA prograrnol'lginated under a condition of mass unemployment and misery of gigantic proportions. During
its operation it provided employment at one time or another for a total of about 8,500,000 different individuals. This
means that during the 8 years in which t,he program was in operation nearly one-fourth of all families in the United States
were dependent on WPA wages for their support. Peak WPA employment was reached in the fiscal year 1939 when it
averaged well over 3,000,000 persons; it declined to an average of 2,000,000 in fiscal, 1940, to 1,709,000 in 1941, and, as
war production got well under way, to 271,000 in fiscal 1943, the last year of operation of the program.
This report has been prepared with a view to making the record of WPA experience available to Government officials
and other interested individuals, and to presenting for future guidance the problems encountered during the existence of
the program aud the manner in which they were solved; Administrative officials and students of the unemployment
problem also will find here a succinct account of the background and creation of the WP A program, the process by which
needy workers were provided with employment, the types of project.':! operated, t.he resull.!! accomplished, and the administrative structure and functions of the organization.
During the years of the program's operation a great deal was said in commendation of the physical accomplishments,
the maintenance of work habits and skills, the training of workers in new fields, and the part the program played in the
earlier stages of the war effort. Conversely, a great deal was said in criticism of the methods of work, the lack of planning,
the alleged malingering of WP A workers and their refusal to accept private employment. Without attempting to distribute either praise or blame, thCs report attempts an objective study of the facts as they have heen found.
Among maJor constructfon accomphsfiments of the WPA were the buildin11: or improvinp; of 651,000 miles of roads,
the erection or improvement of 125,110 buildings of all kinds, the installation of 16,100 miles of water mains and distribution lines, the installation of 24,300 miles of sewerage facilities, and the construction and improvement of many airport
facilities, including landing fields, runways, and terminal buildings. The service projects covered a wide range, from the
serving of hot school lunches and the maintenance of child-health centers to the operation of recreation centers and literacy
classes. These service projects employed the abilities and training of otherwise jobless white-collar and professional
workers, and provided many needed and valued community services.
To thousands of the Nat.ion's towns and cities the WPA was important as a social and economic stabilizer in a period
of serious stress. Officials of State and local governments who were in close touch with local unemployment situations
welcomed the aid of the organization iif' providing work and wages for the needy jobless. Sponsors' contributions provided $2,837,713,000, or more than one-fifth of the total cost of WPA operated projects, of which the Federal share was
$10,136,743,000.
The unemployed of the Nation wanted work and wages; they did not want to loaf in idleness on a dole, and WPA
helped in some degree to maintain skills and work habits by cooperating with the communities in providing useful jobs
for them. Although the earnings of WPA workers varied according to skill and location, they ·averaged only $54.33 a
month over the 8-year period.
During the defense emergency and early in the war, WPA workers per·o med tasks of substantial military value
in the construction and improvement of airports, access roads, strategic highways, barracks, hospitals, mess halls, and
other facilities at military and naval establishments, and also in t.he proviRion of health, welfare, and other services.
The contribution of the WPA to the national defense and war programs was i·ell recognized by military and naval authorities. \\PA workers went in large numbers into private employment in war production plants where the skills they had
acquired on \\PA projects were utilized, as well as into the a,med services.
\\ithout entering upon an evaluation of the program, it seems generally agreed that WPA work projects marked
an advance over traditional poor-law methods of providing relief. Acceptance by the Federal Government of a portion
of the responsibility for assistance in the provision of work and wages in a time of mass unemployment must also be
accounted as a step forward.
It is believed that a great many persons who served in responsible administrative positions in the WPA will agree
with these conclusions:
1. Public work and relief should not be combined. Eligibility for relief should not be the test ·or public employment. Vvorkers on public projects should be paid the wages customary for such work. The unemployed who are able
.
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
and willing to work should not be compelled to suffer the humiliation of" going on relief" in order to secure jobs. Direct
relief should be reserved for th_. n edy unemployables.
2. :!?' <ieral, State, and local governments, in order to be able intelligently to meet changing conditions, should plan
their needed public works rmply and well in advance of the construction date; they should be prepared with plans and
finances to launch useful public Wl rk~ promptly to cushion large-scale employment fluctuations in the construction industry.
The lack of advance planning of State and local public works Wll-8 largely responsible for the delay in getting the heavy
construction program of the Public Works Administration under way in 1933. When the C\\' A, FERA, and WP A
were rushed into action in order to provide imperatively needed public employment, the same lack of advance planning
of public works 11\&de inevitable much of the confusion and waste which marked some of the early work relief activities
of the Federal Government. The subsequent increase in efficiency was largely made possible by an increase in the efficiency of State and local governments in making adequate preparations for public work to be performed in cooperation
with the WPA.
Thanks are due to many former WPA officials and to the representatives of sponsoring agencies for aid and guidance
in the preparation of this report; and special thanks are due to Edward A. Williams, director, Floyd Dell, Catharine
Lantz, and Simon Naidel, of the WPA Research staff, who have painstakingly gathered, analyzed, and edited the data
here presented.
Sincerely yours,
GEORGE H. FIELD.
Major General PHILIP B. FLEMJNo,
AbminiatTator, Fllleral ff-orb Agency.
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THI: WHITE
MT
Hous!,, December 4, 194!
Dl!IAB GENERAL FLEMING:
In my annual meBBage to the Congre11s 7 years ago I outlined the principles of a Federal work relief program. The
Work Projects Administration was established in May 1935 and it has followed these basic principles through the years.
This Government accepted the responsibility of providing useful employment for those who were able and willing to work
but who could find no opportunities in private industry.
Seven years ago I was convinced that providing useful work is superior to any and every kind of dole. Experience
has amply justified this policy.
By building airports, schools, highways, and parks; by making huge quantities of clothing for the unfortunate; by
serving millions of lunches to school children; by almost immeasurable kinds and quantities of service the Work Projects
Administration has reached a creative hand into every county in this Nation. It bas added to the national wealth, has
repaired the wastage of depreMion and has strenghtened the country to bear the burden of war. By employing 8,000,000
of Americans, with 30,000,000 of dependents, it has brought to these people renewed hope and courage. It has maintained and increased their working skills ; and it has enabled them once more to take their rightful places in public or
in private employment..
Every employable American should be employed at prevailing wages in war industries, on farms, or in other private
or public employment. The Work Projects Administration rolls have greatly decreased, through the tremendous increase
in private employment, assisted by the training and reemployment efforts of its own organization, to a point where a
national work relief program is no longer necessary. Certain groups of workers still remain on the rolls who may have
to be given assistance by the States and localities; others will be able to find work on farms or in industry at prevailing
retes of pay as private employment continues to increase. Some of the present certified war projects may have to be
taken over by other units of the Federal Works Agency or by other departments of the Federal Government. State or
local projects should be closed out by completing useful units of such projects or by arranging for the sponsors to carry
on the work.
With these considerations in mind, I agree that you should direct the prompt liquidation of the affairs of the Work
Projects Administration, thereby conserving a large amount of the funds appropriated to this organization. This will
necessitate closing out all project operations in many States by February 1, 1943, and in other States as soon thereafter
as feasible. By taking this action there will be no need to provide project funds for the Work Projects Administration
in the budget for the next fiscal year.
I am proud of the Work Projects Administration organization. It has displayed courage and determination in the
face of uninformed criticism. The knowledge and experience of this organization will be of great &BBistance in the consideration of a well-rounded public works program for the postwar.period.
With the satisfaction of a good job well done and with a high sense of integrity, the Work Projects Admini.~tration
h1111 asked for and earned an honorable discharge.
Sincerely yours,
F&ANKLIN
D.
RoosEVBLT.
Major General PHILIP B. FLEMING
Federal Works Administrator
Acting Commissioner of Work Projects
Washington, D. C.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Relief Prior to the WPA_______ ________ ____ ___ __ ___ ____ ___ _______ ___ __ __ ___ __ __ ___ ___ __ _
Paire
1
Organization and Administration of the WPA Program_____________________________________
Employment__________________________________________________________________________
15
7
Engineering and Qonstruction Projects___ _________ _______________________________________
47
Service Projects_______________________________________________________________________
59
The Safety Program___________________________________________________________________
71
Supply Methods and Property Administration_____________________________________________
77
The Work of the Division of Investigation________________________________________________
81
WPA Defense and War Activities________________________________________________________
84
WPA Training and Reemployment Activities ____________ -------------------------------Financial Summary____________________________________________________________________
90
94
Appendix A: Tables___________________________________________________________________
104
WPA___________________________________________________
143
Appendix B: Publications of the
LIST OF TEXT TABLES
1. Number of WPA Administrative Employees, Quarterly, September 1935-June 1943_ _ _ _ ____
2. Amount of WPA Funds Obligated for Administration of WPA, by ERA Act and by Major
Cl888ification, through June 30, 1943_______________________________________________
3. Schedule of Monthly Earnings of WPA Project Wage Employees, July 1, 1935-June 30, 1938__
4. Schedule of Monthly Ear.tings of WPA Project Wage Employees, September 1, 1939June 30, 1943____________________________________________________________________
5. Average Labor Cost per Worker on Projects Operated by WPA, Monthly, January 1937June 1943_______________________________________________________________________
6. Number of Man-Months and Hours of Employment, Amount of WPA Labor Expenditures,
and Average Hours and Average Labor Expenditures per Man-Month on Projects Operated
by WP A, by Fiscal Year, through June 30, 1943 ________________ _____________________
7. Number of Hours Worked, Amount of WPA Labor Expenditures, and Average Hourly
Earnings on Projects Operated by WP A, by Major Type of Project, Cumulative through
June 30, 1942____________________________________________________________________
8. Average Number of Persons Employed on WPA Projects, by Program, Monthly, August
1935-June 1943__________________________________________________________________
9. Number of Assignment11 to and Separations from Employment on WPA Projects, Monthly,
July 1938-December 1942 ______________________________ . __________________________
10. Average Number of Persons Employed on WPA Projects, by Agency, Selected Months,
June 1939-June 1942_____________________________________________________________
11. Percentage Distribution of Persons Employed on Projects Operated by WP A, by Major Type
of Project, Selected Periods, March 1936-December 1942 ______________________________
12. Number of Persons Employed on Projects Operated by WPA, by Type of Project, December
15, 1942________________________________________________________________________
13. WPA Man-Years of Employment, Cumulative through June 30, 1943, and Total Population
in March 1940, by State ________________________________________________ . _________
14. Percentage Distribution of Persons Employed on Projects Operated by WPA, by Size of
Community, Quarterly, March 1938-September 1942_____ ---------------------------15. Percentage Distribution of Persons Employed on Projects Operated by WPA, by Wage Class,
Selected Periods, June 1936-December 1942_________________________________________
16. Percentage Distribution of Persons Employed on Projects Operated by WP A, by Type of
Project and by Wage Class, December 27, 1939______________________________________
17. Percentage Distribution of Persons Employed on Projects Operated by WP A, by Type of
Project and by Wage Class, December 15, 1942________________ - - - - - - ______ - - - - - - - - - -
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23
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26
27
27
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34
35
36
36
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37
38
38
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VIII
LIST OF TEXT TABLES
18. Percentage Distribution of Workers Employ(,)d on Project8 Operated by WPA, in November
1937, by Assigned Occupation, and of Workers Eligible for WPA Employment in January
1936 and Workers Employed on Projects Operated by WPA in October 1940, by Usual
Occupation______________________________________________________________________
19. Percentage Distribution of the Experienced Labor Force in the United States in March 1940
and of WPA Workers in October 1940, by Usual Occupation__________________________
20. Number and Percentage Distribution of WPA Workers, by Duration of Employment and by
Sex, February 1939 ________ ,______________________________________________________
21. Percentage Distribution of WPA Workers, by Age Group, June 1936, November 1937, February 1939, April 1941, February 1942, and October 1942_____________________________
22. Percentage Distribution of the Population in the Labor Force in the United States and of
WPA Workers, by Age Group, February 1939 and October 1942_______________________
23. Median Age of Workers Employed on WPA Projects, by Race and by Sex, April 1941,
February 1942, and October 1942 _ .. ____ _________________________________ __ ___ _____
24. Number of Women Employed on Projects Operated by WPA, Quarterly, December 1935December 1942__________________________________________________________________
25. Percentage Distribution of WPA Workers, by Race and by Sex, February 1939, April 1941,
February 1942, and October 1942 _ _ ________ ___________ _________ _____________ _______
26. Percentage Distribution of All Families in 1940 and of Families of WPA Workers in February
1939, by Size of Family_______________ ____________ ___ ___ _____ ___ ______ _______ _____
27. Selected Hems of Physical Accomplishment on Certified War Construction Projects, Operat-0d
by WPA, July 1, 1940-June 30, 1943_______________________________________________
28. Average Number of Persons Employed on Certified WPA War Projecta, Monthly, July 1940June 1943----------------------------------------~-----------------------------29. Number of Persons Employed on Certified WP A War Projects, by Major Type of Project,
Selected Periods__________________________________ ___ ___ __ ___ ___ ______ ____ _____ __
30. Amount of WPA and Sponsors' Funds Expended on WPA Certified War Projects, by Major
Type of Pr(lject, July 1, 1940-March 31, 1943_______________ _________ _______________
31. Amount of WPA and Sponsors' Funds Expended on WPA Certified War Projects, by Major
Type of Project, July 1, 1942-l\larch 31, 1943__________________________________'______
32. Number of WP A Workers Receiving Training through the National Defense Vocational
Training Project, by Type of Course, August 18, 1942. ·-----------------------------33. Amount of WPA Funds Expended for Programs Operated by WPA and by Other Federal
Agencies, by Fiscal Year, through June 30, l!l43_____________________________________
34. Amount of WPA Funds Expended for Programs Operated by WPA and by Other Federal
Agencies, Monthly, July 1935-June 1943 _________ ----------------------------------35. Amount of WPA and Sponsors' Funds Expended on Projects Operated by WPA, by Fiscal
Year and by Source of Funds, through June 30, 1943_________________________________
36. Amount of WPA and Spo11suri-1' Funds Expended 011 Projects Operated by WPA, by Fiscal
Year, by Source of Funds, and·hy Objecl of Expenditure, through June 30, 1943_________
37. Amount. of WPA and Sponsors' Funds Expeuded and Average Expenditures per Man-Year
of Employment on Project.~ Operated by WPA, by Fiscal Year and by Object of Expenditure. throuii;h June 30, 1943 ___ ----------------------------------------------------
P ...
40
40
41
42
43
44
44
45
46
·86
88
88
89
89
91
99
99
101
102
102
LIST OF CHARTS
I.
2.
3.
4.
Employment on WPA Prujeets, through J1me 1943 ________________ --------------------A~signmcntll to Empluy11w11t 011 \VI' A Projt·cts, July 1938-December 1942_____ ____ ____ ____
Scparatious from Employment on WPA Pr:ijectt!, July 1938-Deccmber 1942__ - __________ __
PPrcentage Distribution of WPA \VorkPrs by Age Groups, October 1942, February 1942,
and February 193!! _... ____ ..... _. . _ ... _. _.. _____ .. _ ________________________ ___ __
5. WPA Expenditures, July 1935-June l!J43 ______ ._a_____________________________________
6. WPA and ~pommrs' Expenditures on Projects Opcrat-Od by WPA, by Fiscal Year and by
Source of Fund~, through June 30, 1943______________________________________________
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32
33
43
100
101
RELIEF PRIOR TO THE WPA
grC'nt imlu,:trinl depre!;;Sion that b1>gan late in 1929
the Unih•ll StatPS uuprPpnred to meet a major
rrl!Pf probh•111. Public relief to the dest itute was still being
admlnisterPd chietly under State poor laws whlch had been
framed to tuke care of the smaller relief needs of nu earlier
day. Economic collllitions bad changed greatly In the late
ni11et eP11 th und early twentieth centuries; the United
Stat1>s, formerly in the main an ngri<'nltural Nation, had
becoml' hkhl,v imlnstrializP<I, but thP 1111or luws had never
bE>en m0tlel'lllzc,l to lit tlwse changed conditions. Publlc
relit'( in mnny of th!' largPr cities hml come to be supplem e11kd exten:-i\'ely by organized private charity. But
111~lther public 1·elid' 1u1r prin1t<' charity was geared to
met>t the largP-1wa le dPstit11i i1111 which nrose from mass
UnC'n,ployrnent.
Iu the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries,
the 1:eriml when the state poor laws took form, the relief
problem In the United States was relatively small. It
ceutere1l nronrid the unl'mployables, sueh as the needy
n;.:ed, the erip11h' d, the insa11e, n11d orphans. Relatives
wPre eom,idt•n·d to lun-e the primary responsibility for
these u11Prnplo1yables; nud only where fumlly nssistance
could not be SL'<-'Urt.-d, and prirnte l'harity was unuvallable,
was 1·elit•f gin·n-generally by the local <'ommunlty
through the lm·al ponr111nster or o,·e1·st•<•r <•f the poor. In
ndditlon to the abtl\'e eo11tinul11g relief needs, there were
occai,;ional >-erious ne<•ds arisin;.: from the unemployment
C'aused by the ups and downs of the business c:ycle. Emplo,1ahlc 1wrs1111s ill need of aid during ,;neh periods were
likewi se thou;.: ht to be purely u local r esponsibility. In
short, nil Slntl' puo r laws ga\'C to the locnlity (the county,
eity, or tuw11) the duly of both administ e ring and paying
~~11•r rl-'lit•f .
''fia~ .=-:irly poor laws or the ,·arious Stntps were based
1111011 thl, J-:11;.:li:-h po,,r laws of the Elizabt•thun era, and
i11d11de1l 1111111 ,1· rl'pn•ssh·e frat11rt-'S whil'h were intended
to di,:1•1111r:1i.<' tlw ll('t'lly f1·0111 a1111lylng for 1mbllc relief
l'X1·•·11t in din• ••xlrPlllily.' 'l'he reciplentti of poor relief
\\'1•re 11:-<11:1lly n ·qnin·1I In tuke a "1111upe1··s unth." The reli1•f ;.,-r1111tl'd was kqll at lht> harest 111i11 i11111111. l\lm·e than
I his hll i'l' mini 11111111 of reli,·f, if givc11 to f he lllll'llli>lOyablc
gro111is, 111i;.d1t e11cu11ra"P rdutlvP~ lo shirk their proper
res11111,sihilil i,•s ; 111111, i r ;.:iven to 1•111ployuble J-1erso11s, wouhJ
fm:tt•r idlt•n<':<s, a1·1·,,rdi11g lo the vil'WS lwld nt that time.
, l·:trorts WL•rt• 111.uh• ill lllllllY ('\lllllllllllLI iPs to mitigate
lht• l!ars h11, ·ss of th,·><•• laws, to prol'ide more adP.quute
1·11n• for lhl-' 111•(-'( Jy, a11d tu give rnore up1iroprlate cure to
difft.-rcnt i,:1·oup~ of lll'l'dy perso11s. /Hl-'1)('11tetl attempts
w1•re maLlc thro11ghout the nineteenth l'Cntury, aud more
HE
Tfound
1
For 11n neeount of the development ot the Elnglleh poor laws,
•re 81,lnt'y nn<I Beatrice Webb, Enoli•h Local Government: Enoll•h
Poor Lau, History: Part I . The Old Poor Lou,, 1927; Bnol"'h
Po,w Lau, 111,1,,ry: Part II . The Lad Hun,lrcrf Year,., Vol II,
192!1 (I..011tlon : Loni:mnn~, Gr~Pn nnd Co., Ltd. ).
particularly in the early decades of the twentieth, to improve the c:nre afforded to those place«! In poorhouses.
The widesprend practice of kee[Jiug homPless children and
the needy ugl'd In thP. same institution with Insane and
feeble-minded per!<om1, nnd sometimes with vagrants, was
curbed. l\Iore and more the needy a ge«l, the homeless
children, and the l11sn11e am1 feeble-minded w1>re sent to
_
sPpnrate State Institutions.
The extensh'e de,·elopment of outdoor relief, or home
relief, which begun at the turn of the cen~ury, represented
another effort to gh"e suitable care to various groups _of
needy persons. Home relief, which becn111e n very important forru of public assistance in the eurly 1900's, was a
system under which certain needy persons were gi\•en relief In their own homes rather thnn Jwlug se11t to poorhouses. Home relief, howe,·er, was usunlly limited to small
donations of fornl, clothing, and fuel. Cnsh 1·elief w,1s seldom gl'l'ell, on the assumption that relief r ec ipiPnts were
i)!<:J)mfJt!tellt-ro .handle their own alTnlrs. 1
-:: '.rhe de\'elop111e11t of "cnfegn-rtc·aT• relief eonstltutes perhnps the grentPst break with the repr1•ssi\'e theories of
early poor relief. It Jwgan to be generally recognized in
the early lOOO's that certain groups of needy persons were
entitled to receive better care than was given under the
poor laws. As a 1·esult, special legislutlon, usually referred
to 11s categorical relief, mis pu,-.sed in a number of States.
Ry 10'29, 44 States had pussed ,·eterans' rPl!ef laws; 43
Stutes bad enacted lPglslation provldiug for nid to dependent children in their own homes; ::!2 Stutes bad laws
for a id to the bllnd; and 10 States ha«l laws for ns!"istnnce
to the net'dy nge1l .
,"'Although l'atl'gorlt-11 I reliC'f was 1111 i111pro\'l-'111Put over the
poor luws, the number of persons recph·ing nid (prior to
tht.- 11:1ss11gl' of the Sociul ~p1·11rity .-\l'l In lOafi) wm: small
und the relief gil·eu was oftt·n inadequtttP. Uenerally, the
State lt>gislation wus 1•nrnls1<ive; loc11llties «·ould udopt It
or not RR the)• d10,1p, lt'urth1•r111or(•, whilP the lPgi:,;lation
was St.ate_ legisl11tlo11, the rni,:ing of f11111ls w11s 11><111111~· 11
local 1"l-'11pousihlllty.
,....-'.rh111 publk r«'IIP( ~ystP111 (poor luw rell«•f uud l'ntegurit-111 lt>gislatlou) was :supplt.>lllPlltL'tl hy 01·,;1111izNI pril'llte churity. lu ><u11u• 11rP11>', p1·ivate l'hariti<'s 11Iayp(l nn
il11vurta11t 1·011:'; . i11 oflll'rs, tlwy WPl'P 1111 i11slg11ifk1111t
fnctor or 11onl-'x·1s1t•nt. AJiproxi111a11•t.1· f111·,·•··fo11rths of
ult 1·etltif 11ru,·ldl-'1I 111 J!l:.'9 was gi\·p11 h., · Kon•rn111P11t11I
11gClll'iCN.
In this 11e1·iml, 1111 to 1!1:.!!J, altlwugh :-0111!' >'llhslautial
improveuwuts lwd bet>11 11111dP in the wt•thods of furnishing
relief to unemplo)·nbles, little had beP.n done townrd de\'el011i11g any system of relil'f rnpable of dt>11ling with the
destitution arh<lng from unemplo)·meut. In most localltles,
the snme t)'IJP of relief wns gin•n to f'lllpl oynble persons
'SPe Jounnn f' . Cokorfl , Cash· Rf'lief (!'<~w l'nrk : Rt1 •8ell Sni:c
Foun<lntlon, IH36).
1
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}'IN AL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
as to those unable to work. Able-bodied men applying for
relief were often requirt>d tu work on II woodpile; but this
was chiefly II test of their willlngnt>ss to work.
Unemployment, lnl•rt-11slng rapidly und co11tinuou,.,1y utter the stOC'k market erush in tlw lotter port of 1929, Cl't>llll'II
a major relief pro!Jlt-lll. In .Jauuury 1!}30, almost 4,000,000
lll'rsons were u11e111ployetl; tlw numbn rose to a!Juut 7,000,000 by Decem!Jer of that year; untl this number wus
doubled by tbP early part of 1033. Although unemployment
1lecre1W1ed greatly after 1933, It nevertheless continued to
exist on a large scale, year ufter yt>11r, persisting until the
defense and war activities of the early 1040's reduced Joblessness to extremely slllall proportions.
During the perio!l of mu,-s unemploynwnt in the 1000
decade, it became nec1•ssary to Institute new relief
methods. At first, because relief had traditionally been a
local responsibility, local ugencies were called on to bear
alone the burdens of relief for the musses of destitute
unemployed workers and their families. Tht> regular
public and private agencies were unequal to the task, and
emergency local agencies, both public and private, were
set up throughout the country during 1930. The inability
of local governments to finance large-scale programs of
unemployment relief soon fon•t>tl State go,·ernments to
gh-e them aid. Emergency relief admlnistra tlons were
set up in four States in 1931, and in half the States by
the cloRe of 1932. But the StatPs found their fl1111ndal
rPsoul'Cl's insufflclt>nt for meeting these contlnnully inr·rensing rPlit>f nePcis. l<'edernl ai!I wns ineren1<i11gly
1lemanded.•
'.!'he first step tnkeu by the FPderal Govemnwnt wus the
:11,pointment by the Pr!•1<ident In the lattPr pnrt of 1!180 nf
the President's Emergency Committee for Employment.'
This committee sought to stimulate State und lucul relief
al"tivities and also State and lueal public eonstrnction; an<l
it urged citizens to "spruce up" their homes, and to "give
a J<'b." This committet"s work was taken over in August
Hl31 by the President',: Organization on Unemployment
Relief. This new committee continued to stress State and
local reemployment acth·itles, but pluced increasing emphasis on the devPlopmeut of State and local relief efforts. NeithPr of these committees was provided with any
Ft>dProl funds for unemployment relief uses.
In Murch 1932, n Congressional resolution authorizt>d
the Federal Farm Board to give tlw Amnican Retl Cross
-10,000,000 bushels of governnwnt-hPld surplus wlwat for
distribution to the dt>stitute. Slmllnr action in Jnly 1932
m11de available fur rPlief purposes -t!i,000,000 bushels of
wheat from the Grain Stabilization Corporation und r,OO,UUO bales of cotton from the Cotton Rtablliz11tion Corporation.
The most significant departure from the t rnditlonnl concept of local responsibility for rt>lh•f cn111e with the udoption of the Emergency RPliPf and Coustruction Ad of
1932, title I (section 1) of whkh mnrlt- ${00,000,000 (1f l<'edPl"Rl funds availnl>IP for repny11ble :Hlrntwes to Stall's 111111
• See Edward A. Williams, Fc,frral Aid for Rrlirf (NPW York:
Columbia University Pre,s, 1031l>, <'h. I.
• For an account of the activltlt>s of this Pommith>e. known as
the "Woods Commltte<>," see E. P. Hayes, Acti.-itlcs of tlte Pre81dent', Emergenc11 Cummittee for Employment 19!0~1981 (Privately printed, Rumford. Press, Concord, N. H., 1930).
ln<•al governments.' Applieutions for advances were to be
rnadp to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation; the
$HOO,UOO,COO wa,-; i11te11ded merely to serve ns a supplement
to State 1111d lol'al rPlief funds.
~ In appl~·lng for sudt 11dva1wes, n governor Ct'rtifled that
his State could not meet Its relief problem from its own resour<'es. Loenl governments in need of aid (•ould also obtain relief funds from the RFC by putting up their own
local bonds ns eollaternl.
- As of May :.'ll, l!l.'3H, wlwn the RFC ended its actlvitiPs
nuder title I of the E111erge1wy Relief and ConstruC'tlon
Aet, neurly all the StntPs 111u.l two ti,rritories (Hawaii
aud Puerto Rico) hnd rec•Plve!l adrn111•i,s. The distribution
of this $300,(XlO,OOO had helped to carry on relief programs in some of the mnst hurd-hit areas of the Notion.
Bnt by 1933 a grent nurny loc11l govPrnments were nearly,
if not actually, bankrupt, and but few States were able
to give substantinl aid to local relief activities. frhere
wus no longer any question of tbe neel'ssity of Federal aid
for unemployment relief. On l\fay 12, 19'J3, under legislation approved by Congress, the Federal Emergency ReJipf Administration wns created, and $.'i00,000,000 was
made an1ilable for grants to the Stutes for emprgency reliPf purposes.• By the PIHi of l!l33, Federul emergency reilPf grants WPre bPing made to all the States. The
PEHA was later given additional appropriations, and It
V 1·,mti11ued i11 ndin' operutlou until the Pnd of 1935.
v' The Fl<~RA wns the bl•gh111l11g of II form of p11rtnershlp
nrr1wi.:e111ent between the l<'Pdt>rnl Government arnl tlw
States and }O('U) go\·ernme11ts in meeting the unempl(1yment
rPIIPf problem, a partnPrship which wa,1 lalt>r to 1·ontlt111P
in somewhat differt>nt fo1·ms through the Civil Works
Administration and the ,vorks Progress Administration
peri0th,.
- Because the early partnership arrangemPnt achieved
through the J<'J,~HA throws eonshleroble light on the later
\VPA work piog1·n111. a disl'u,;sion of the alms nm! objecth·es of thP FER.\ and the manner in which it operuted
follows in some detail.
The FERA was a Federal _grant agency, operati11g
through the n111king of grants of funds to the States. The
governors of the various StatPs applied to the FERA for
rt>lief funds. Upon receipt, these Federal fumls becamp
State funds; they were turned over to the various Stute
PmergPnc•y rPlief nd111inistrations, whkh In turu nllm·nt.-cl
the money rpcelvPcl from the FERA, along with funds
raised hy the Stnte it,wlf, to the local publil' relief ugeneiPs.
Tlw lo,·al ugendPs spent these funds, toi;:ether with s111'!1
101·111 fnmls as had hl•Pn made 11YailablP, for rt>liPf 1111rpos,,,;.
The Htuf Ps nnd localities were not free, however, to
sp..11d FEHA fnnds iu any mnnner they snw fit. In llnP
with the pral'fke of other established Federal grant
11/.!PllciPs. thP FERA presl"ribed certuln Fel1Pr11I r1•gulntio11s
to which RtutP>' were required to conform on pPnolt~· of
• l'uhllc No. :rn2. 72,1 CongreH", approved July :!1, 11132. Ad,·11n,·"" WPre to 1... ur interPst at 3 per<'<'nt. It wns originally JotPndP,I thnt Stult' u,lvun,·,•H should l.te repaid by deductions from
futurr F,.,J,•rul roud grunts, I.tut this method of repayment was
RnbsPqtlt'n!ly can<"ell'd; n,lvnnces werP thus In effect converte1l
into Htral)!ht grouts. A1ln111ces made to local subdivisions were
not canceled.
• It'e<l,•rnl Emt>rgency Relief Act of 1933, Public No. 15. 73d
Con11ress.
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3
RELIEF PRIOR TO THE WPA
n>celvlng no fnrth1>r _grants. This was a safeguard against
misuse of relief funds. The FERA, however, also had
several positive alms which It sought to achieve by a
gradual Pstnbllshnwnt of hlghPr standards In thl' relief
practices of the eommunltles.
-Ont- of the lmportunt alms of the FERA was to see that
tht> rellt>f glwn to persons In uef'd was as adequate as postdblt'. How much were personi;i on rellt'f to receive? As
one of the conditions of its grants, the FERA promulgated
a geuerul formula which local rt>llef agencies were to use
in setting the amount of rellt>f for each cuse receiving relief
or work relief. The local relief ugency first estimated the
minimum monthly income upon which a family of a given
size could subsist in that locality, The total estimated
monthly inaome of the family was then subtracted from
this estimated monthly budget. The local rellef agenc~·
was to furnish the budgetary deficiency, the difference between minimum needs and income. The FERA ruled that
persous on work rellef must be given cash rather than payment in kind; cash was also urged for those receiving
direct relief but 110 mandatory rule was Issued on this
point.
...In practice, the amount of rellef· given to a family of a
certain size and composition varied consldernbl~· from
State to State and from couuty to county. ReliPf was reasonably adequate In some States; other StatPS were nnwilling or unable to adopt satisfactory standards. During the
pt'riod of F'ERA grunts, howevPr, the avPrage amount of
relief given monthly to ea<·h case for the eountry 11s II whole
i11crP11sf'd from $14.18 In !\lay 1938 to $28.18 In Jnnuary
1985.'
....-Otht•r 1''1•:RA l't'gulatlons were dPsigned to 11!,·ersify the
ri>llef programs In the various Stutes, !Ill that a snitable
kind of relief could be given to eac-h group of needy 1wrsons.
Among those on relief rolls were large numbers of workers
from the cities, destitute farmers, the agPII, mothers with
dependent children, youths, and other sp1•c:lal groups.
Each of the above broad groups was made ·up of widely
differing types of indl\•iduals whose needs varied greatly.
Jobless white collar workers, for example, presented a
different relief problem from that of unskilled workers.
In general, the FERA sought to establish u differentiation of the various relief groups and the development of
pr• grams to flt their special needs. For the employnble
persons on relief rolls, work programs were developed.
A lnrge-scule dlre<-t relief program was operated for those
who were unable to work or for whom public work eould
uot be provided. A rural rehabilitation 11rogra111 was
creatf'd to nRSist some of the rural dPstltute. In u<lditlont
1mch spt'('ial aetlvllit'!I as transient relief,. enwrgen,·y e<lu
cation, aml eollege student aid were inaugurated.
'file work progrums developed by Stntt'S und loculitles
und<'r the FERA were entirely different from lht> ohl
"work test" activities which had been eurrled on for 111an~·
years under the poor laws. It was not reasonable, in 11
period of mass unemploymPnt, to set the head of ·a nee,ly
family to cho{lping woml as a test of his wlllini,'tle><s to
work. The work relief projects set up in the FERA period
were intended to t·onserve the skills, work habits, nud
'See Enid Baird In collaboration with Hugh P. Brinton, Average Gl·neral Relief Bene/lt3, l»U-1938 (Washington, D. C. :
Works ProgreH Administration, 1840), p. 12.
moralP of thP able-bodied unemployed through work
sultf'd as far us possible to thPlr abilitlt>s and of rnlne to
their communities.
Public work proje<·ts h11d, of course, been put In operation by many State and local governments during 193!!
and In the P11rly months of 1933, befot·e the FERA was
created. Com!lder11bly more than 1,000,000 persons, on
the averugP, llnd bPeu t>mployed on such emergency· work
projPCts during the 6 months before the FERA got under
way. Some of the11e projPds, however, were closPr to
work tests than fo real work relief. Snfflcleut funds were
seldom available for 111ateri11ls for construction, and a good
dPal of the wm·k was of a maintenance character, suc-11 us
gave rise to the term "leaf-raking projects." :Moreover,
little attPmpt had been made to provide jobs In line with the
past experience of the relief workers. White collar work•
ers and skilled workers, along with unskilled labor, were
often placed on such hastily planned projects as sprucing
up parks and patching roads. Cash wages were seldom
paid; Instead, the workers on tbese projects were usually
given baskets of food or grocery orders, like unemployable persons on relief.
With substantial aid from F'ERA funds, State and local
work programs were gradually Improved during the period
from June through October 1938. Workers' wages were
still computell on a budgPtary deficiency basis, but prevailing hourly wage rates t·ume to be usell. Projects became more useful as more money was spent on materials
aml ns the work w11s more cnrPfully plannPd Rll(I supervisPd.
~ In
thP meantime, large-scale unemployment still cootimlPd. The small boom which m·1·11rrell In the snmmPr of
HJ88 was over by November, at which time the nnmber of
unemployed was 11,000,000. rt hnd bePn llopc'<I thut the
'
ronstrmtlon prol{rum operated under the coutract method
by the uewly erentPd Public Works Administration would
giw t·onsltlerublP emplo~•mPut during the winter of 1938:{4. The PW A, llowever, wns slow in getting under way,'
because of the luck of adequntP plans, legal dlfflcultles, and
other delays. It w11s therefore decided to supplement PW A
aml FERA activities by operating a lar~t>-seule Federal
force-ncC'ount program that would provide ust>ful work
during the winter of 1!}38-3<1, and wonld nt the sam1> time
nld buslm•:<s genPrnlly by u rapid inc1eni;e In purehai,lng
p11wer.
Tht> ngi>ncy erPate1l to •·arry out thes? purposes was the
1
FP<lt>ral Ch·il Works Administrutlou. Fnmillnrly know11
·, as the CW.\, the ugell("~' WIIS estnblishPrl Pllrly In Nm·t>m. her Hl3.1 to condUl't a ,;hnrt but ir11port11nt work program.
Tht> CW A WII:< in uct h•p opera t Ion until till' Pnd of !\larch
193-1, tlw Plllel'l(t'll<·y work program of thl' FI-:RA being
mPamvhilP lnrgt>ly <liseontinuP<I. The !<'ERA and thl'
CWA, although operute<I in lt11·ge part by the :<nme personuel, 111111 l~•opN'ntlng cios1>ly, wPre separate orgnnlzntions. '.rhroughout the existPnce of the Civil Works program, the FERA !'011tlnue<I to make grants to RtatPS for
dirPCt rellPf.
During the early weeks of the CWA, nearly all of the
CWA workers were transferees from the early FERA
work programs. At the peak of CWA employment, the
week e1111lng January 18, 1934, over 4,260,000 persons werP
at work. About half of these were taken froµi the relief
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
Few CW A workers received the top hourly rates ; for the
week ending January 11, 1934, for example, only about 4
percent of all CWA workers were earning $1.20 or more an
hour. About 80 p1>rcent wE>re earning less than 55 cents an
hour. 'l'oward the end of the c,vA, the zone rates were
dropped because in some localities they were found to be in
excess of prevailing rate>'. The new polky 1irovlded for
pre,·aillng hourly rHtes, with a minimum of 30 cents an
hour.
Fo1· the flri'!t 2 mouths of the progrum 1111 c,vA project
workeri<, with the l'Xel•ptlon of elerleal workl'rs, werp given
11 maximum em1>lfJy111,•nt of 8 hours a <lay, 30 hours a week,
1111d 130 hours II month. .-\xnnge wt>ekly earnings per
worker for u ,m11111it! Wf'l'k tlurlng this per•iod were about
$15. This s11111 was <·onsidt>rnhiy JargPr th1111 the weekly
n11101111t receivt><I b~· 11 reliE>f worker· muler tht> preceding
FERA program. Recnul!e of a i<hortuge of fnuds during
the latter pnrt of the c,v A [Jl"Oli(rnm, however, the hours
worked were 1-1h11rpl~· reduced; as u result, tire average
weekly earni11gl'.! of CWA workt-rs droll)wd to $11.32 for
the week en<ling Jummry 2ii.
'.fhe lnrg('St group of CWA projects consisted of work on
highways, roads, and streets. About 255,000 miles of road-.
way were repnire<I and constructed. The next largest
;;toup of proj('Cts was public buildings. Ahout 60,000 such
•.,t'mlldings, including 30,000 s<"hoolR, wPre impro"ed or newly
built. CWA wo1·kers also laid out and Improved athletic
fields and parks, bullt swimming pools, and developed other
recreational facilities. Unemployed white collar workers
performed useful work on projects requiring workers with
professional or clerical training; such projects Included the
providing of clerks and machine operators for work at
Weather Bureau stations, the surveying and relocating of
boundary lines, the plotting of streets, and the drafting of
charts, maps, and dlagramR.
,
As the Civil Works program drew to a close, a new work
program under the FERA, known as the emergency work
relief program, was placed In operation in April 1934. Thie
program, like the work program of the FERA prior to that
of the CWA, was operated through the grant method.
While the FERA could to some extent Influence the
emergency work programs In the various States, primary
control over· these programs remained In State and local
relief administrations.
In the first place, workers on the FERA emergency work
program secured employment through the soclal-senlce
division of their own local relief administration. This
division was everywhere the focal point of intake for all
relief programs, work or direct relief. It was this dlvtston
which Investigated need, determined the budgetary deficiency of the case, certified employable persons ( not more
than one In each family) to the local work division, managed direct relief, and reinvestigated from time to time the
need of all persons receiving direct or work reltef. In
brief, although Federal regulations were Issued from time
to time, the local social-service division really determined
eligibility for work relief, and also, by calculating the
budgetary deficiency, determined the total wages to be
paid.
The task of operating the various work projects was also
essentially in the bands of the work divisions of the various State and local emergency relief administrations, subject only to general Federal control. Projects had to come
within one of the broad major categories declared to be
eligible by the FERA, and work had to be carried on in
conformity with certain r('gulations Issued by the FERA.
But the actual planning, selection of projects for operation,
and supervision over the carrying out of projects were
vested In the States and localities.
AU projects were 1·equired to have a sponsor, which was
usually one of the regular agencies of the State or local
government, such as the State department of highways 01·
education, or the local city engineering department. Somt>
of the projects were sponsored by the State or local work
division or some other division of the State relief agency.
General responsibility tor the supervision of the project
was usually given to the sponsor an1l on occasion to the
work division. Plans drawn by a sponsor for a project, If
approved by the local relief agency, were sent to the State
agency for final approval.'
Work was provided under the emergency work relief
program for more than 1,000,000 persons In April 1934 and
a peak employment total of 2,500,000 was reached in
January 1935. The program remained in operation untll
the latter part of 1935, by which time the program ot the
• See Analysis of Oit>il Worh P1·ogram 8tatiRtlcs, Division ot
l'!totistlcs (Washington, D. C.: Works ProgreBS Administration,
.June 1939), pp. 30-81.
• Only a few 8tntlstlcal projects required FERA approval at
Washington, the Federal check being designed to avoid posalble
duplication and to ensure comparability of data.
rolls; the remainder were drawn from the ranks of the
unemployed who were not on relief. In accordance with
original plans, the CWA program was llquldated rapidlJ' In
the spring of 1984.
The Civil Works program, unlike that of the FERA, was
operated as a Federal program. CWA funds were not
turned over to the States; Instead, Federal offices of· the
CWA were set up In each State and locallty. CWA
workers were paid by Federal checks. Except for a few
projects sponsored by Federal agencies, the CWA State
offices passed upon all project applicatlon1<.
Nevertheless, the State and local governments played an
Important part in the operation of the CWA program.
Most of the projects operated under the program were
planned and sponsored by cities, towns, and counties, which
supplied part of the cost. The CWA expended a total of
about $0iil,6."i0,000. Of this total, the Federal Government
provided $860,403,000; State and local project sponsors
provided the remainder.'
In its wage policy the Clvll Works program differed
greatly from previous work programs. It did not set wages
according to the budgetary deficiency method which had
been used by the FERA. Instead, !<chedules of wage!!!, varyIng according to geographical zones, were set up. Minimum
weekly wages for clerical and other white collar workers
were set at $18, $15, and $12 for the northern, central, and
southern zones, re1<pectlvely. An hourly wage schedule,
based on the PWA zone system, was set up for skilled and
unskilled workers as follows:
Skilled ______________ _
Unskilled ____________ _
NORTHERN
CflNTRAL
SOUTHERN
$1. 20
$1.10
0.45
$1.00
0.40
0.50
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RELIEF PRIOR TO THE WPA
1
Worts Proaress Administration bad come into full
operation.
Civil Works program wage schedules were ~opped under the emergency work-relief program. Total earnings of
workers under the emergency work-rellef program were
based on the budgetary deficiency method (as with FERA
wages prlor to the CWA). During the period from April
1934 through the middle of 1935, earnings averaged about
$28 .p er month. The prevailing hourly wage rate policy of
the CWA was retained, and workers were employed the
number of hours necessary to earn wages sufflclent to
cover their budgetary deficiency.'"
The types of projects carried on under. the emergency
work-relief program were much the same as those operated
under the CWA. In all, there were completed about 240,000 projects, representing a total cost of nearly $1,300,·
000,000. In return for this expenditure, many types of
public improvements were secured. For example, 40,000
miles ot new road were constructed and over 200,000 miles
of road were repaired ; and 5,000 new public buildings were
constructed, Including firehouses, schools, armories, and
hospitals.
Throughout the entire period of existence of the FERA,
more than half the total cases ot the emergency relief
rolls received direct relief benefits. Persons receiving
direct relief lncludetl not only many unemployables but
a large number of employables for whom work . relief
could not be furnished. The proportion of work relief
clients to the total number of cases on emergency relief
rolls varied greatly from State to State. Shortage of
funds for materials, lack of skilled relief labor, Insufficient
supervlsory personnel, and fear of possible competition
with private Industry, were the most Important factors
mllltatlng against the provision of · work for all employables on relief .rolls. Direct relief was therefore an
essential part of the FIDRA program and was continued
under State programs after the cessation of FERA grants
at the close of 1935.
The FERA, during the period from May 1003 through
December 1985, accomplished Its Immediate purpose In
developing prog1·ame designed to meet the different needs
of the various claesee of persons on the relief rolls. In
addttlon to the work and direct rellef programs, it developed special p1•ograms for tanners, teachers, transients,
and youths.
One such undertaking, the rural rehabllltatlon program,
was established with the aim of putting certain destitute
farmers back on a self-sustaining basis. This was accompllehed by the extension of credit for working capital and
stock, by an adjustment of the farmer's debt, and sometimes by moving the farmer to better land. In emergency cases, direct aid in the form ot food, clothing, and
fuel, was given, pending more fundamental adjustment.
Such direct aid, which was not materially different from
the general emergency relief offered in rural areas, was
not repayable.
The ftret advances to farmers for "rehabllltation in
place" were made in April 1984. During June 1986, as
many ae 200,000 farm families received loans. At the
11
Tbe 30~t hourly minimum adopted by the CWA toward the
clON of ltll pro,nm wa■ carried over under the emergency work
~lief procram but wu abandoned In Nonmber 108'.
time of the transfer of rural rehabllltatlon activities to ·the
Resettlement Administration, July 1935, about 864,000
cases were under care; that ls, they had received loans
. which had not yet been fully repaid.
Another spedul activity In which the FERA participated
was the distribution of farm surpluses to persons on relief rolls through a program operated by the Federal
Surplus Relief Corporation. The program was designed
not only to help farmere by the removal from the market
of certain price-depressing crop surpluses, but also to assist
persons on relief rolls who received these farm products
through dletributio11 systems set up by the State emergency relief administrations. F'rom October 1933 through
October 1935 the FSRC distributed to States commodities
valued at $265,000,000. Among the surplus commodities
distributed were beef and veal, pork and sausage, mutton,
cereals of many kind!I, and fruits. lo November 1935 the
Corporation was given a new name, Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, and was placed under t11e direction
of the Department of Agriculture.11
The special neeus of another group, that of qualifted ."\
1
teuchers on relief rolls, prompted the creation of the
emergency education progran,1. Employment on this pro- .
gram reached a peak in March 1935 of more than 44,000V".
persons. The subjects taught varied considerably from
State to State, since e11d1 State department of education
was re!lponsible for drafting Its own program. Among
the major categories we1·e general adult education, literacy
classes, vocational education and rehabllltatlon, parent
education, workers' education, and nursery schools. The
emergency etlucation program was curtailed in the fall of ,
1935, at which time similar activities we1·e being developed"1
under the work program of the WPA.
Another special activity begun under the FERA late in\
1983 was the college 11tudent aid program. This program
was designed to give part-time l!mployment to college etu- :
dents who otherwise would not have been able to continue \
their education. Duri11g the winter of 1934-35, an average
uf more than 100,000 students were aided. In September
193;i this activity was placed under the directlou of the i
Nntlonal Youth Atlmiuisti·ation, _w hich was carried on!
under the general supervision of the WP A Administrator. High school as well as college students were made .
eligible far aid under the National Youth Administration)
program.
The FERA early recognized the need for some special
adion for transients. This group had long been regarded
by States and localities as an \mwelcome burden. The
seve1·e depression after 1929 had added to tbls feeling, for
some tt·an:sients were then accused of taking Jobs "properly" belonging to local residents. To encourage States to
care for transients, the FERA agreed to pay all expenses
11 Under a suppplemPntary system known as thP. "food stamp
plan," Introduced In the spring of 1939, low-Income fnm111es eligible for public assistance were given additional purchasing power
In the form of stamps, redeemable by the Government and acceptable In grocery stores In eichange for certain food products
olllclally designated as surplus. The plan was operated In every
State except West Virginia, and In nearly all cities of over 25,000
population. At the height of operations. ID May 1941, more than
3,968,000 persons participated. Food stamp plan operations were
terminated March 1, 194l!, after food surplU8f'8 had ceased to
exist.
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FINAL REPOHT ON THE WPA PRO(;RAl\I
of transient program>' in tho8e 8t11tes clruwing np HPlll'O\'Pcl
plnns for meeting thE> llroblPm. Trn111<iPnt 1·c>ntPrs 1md
ramps wPrP sN up in mnny 111·ens and work rPlipf 11rojt'c·t8
w1•re h18tltuted for nhlP-hOl}ied tram,ienls. An 11\"Pl"llge of
nhunst 300,000 tr1m!<iPnt persons rPCeived ni<!<i!<t:rnee durln.:
the wintPr of rnat-3.'i. When thP FERA wns di,;c•ontlnucd,
provision tot· transients was inl'luded in regular work i)l"ojert aeth·itiPS of the WPA.
Obligations 1unountlng to $101,!2:.!,000 wPre iu!"urrell for
nil typPs of trnn,;le11t relief !luring thP period from Januttry 1933 through DP1'1 mbn 193:i. Thi;, flirnre includes
nmonnts ex11e11decl from earmu rked FERA grm1t,; for the
cnrP of interst11te transients, 11ml PXpenditm·ps for intrustate transients which were met in purt from FERA
grunts for genernl relief nnd in part from other emergpncy
relief funds. Duri11g the Inst half of 1934 und thP first G
months of 1935, when trnnsient relief operations wer1• nt
their peak, totnl obligations, including th<r.-<e Incurred for
plnnt ·equipment, mnterluls, 111111 relief l'XtP11ded to cni<PS,
nYeruged almost $5,000,000 u month."
During the 3 ye1trs from J1111u11ry 19:{3 through December 1935, obll!!atlons totullng $4,lW,005,000 Wl'l'I' lncuned
from local, State, 1111d Fedt>ral fuml>l, inelmllng RFC funcls
uclv11nceli prior to the est11blish111ent of the FERA, for nil
general relief and speeinl p111er11:e11cy relief neti\·ltit>s in
the continental United Stutes."
Or tile total amount obligatPd during this period, thP
four spedul emer1-?e11ey reliPf programs togPther 11c,·01111tt>d
for u per<'t'nt, or a total of $20H,192,000. General rell1•f
extPnded to cuses, lnclndinlt direct relit>f ,mcl thP Parniug:<
nf Jll'l"SOns l'e<'l'l\"lllg work rPlief, ll!'COUntPcl for $3,211,807,00(), or 78 pert·Pul. E11rnl11gs of nonrPliPf per,-:,ms f)l'rforming skilled qnd supervisory work on emergPncy work
relief projects accountetl for $109,673,000, am! purchases
of materials, supplies, and equipment, $138,218,000: together they represented 6 percent of thP total oblli:mtlons.
The remaining $4:-)(),114,000, or 11 percpnt. n!'countPcl tor
mlscellaneons Pxpem:es of the Pmcrgpnc•y work rl'liPf pro11:mm sn<'h 11s rPntnl of equipment und tP11111 1111d tr,wk hlrt•,
ndministr11th-P costs, 11nd othPr 111iscPlh1neo11s items.
In 1935, changes of far-real'11i11g ,;ignifl1·1mt•e were made
In l<'ederal relief policies am! programs. A new Feder11I
work program was bPgnn in the summer of 1935 and, as the
year drew to a cloHe, the FEHA grunt progr1tm was diseontinued. In that s11111e ~-1•11r the Social Security Act wns
passed. The stopgnp J,'ERA had served its purpose; it hod
met the rPllef cri,<i,; of 1933 ancl it hod glvt>n the time nf'eessary to plan otht>r meusurl's. In appraising the 1:<'ERA, it
must lJe re111embPre<l that 111:{3 wus u erisis ,\"Put' 111 which
,-:pet>cl was of till' ntuwst importlllH"P. Fl'tlernl fnrnh; hud to
be 11mde 11v11iluhl<' illlllll'dhttl'l)· tu tit!' dt>stltnte u11e111ployetl.
The choie1• of thl' grunt methotl by Congn•,-:s in 1933, rut her
than a llll'thod gil·ing more l!,ederul control of opemtlott,;
and expenditures, Wll8 nntural t>nough In the light of pn~t
rPliPf history. ReliPf hod trnditlonally bePn II loeul re"For additional Information <"On,·nnlng tronslent rPlief. RPe
Hurry L. Hopkins, Svending to Sare (:Sew York: W. \V. Norton &
Compt111)·. Inc., 111311), pp. 1:rn~ 138.
"S<•e T. E. Whitln1r. Fi11"I Rtatixti1·al R1•1iort of the Federal
F,mPr/1en1·11 Relief .4tlmi11iRfr(lfio11 (\\"nshlngton. I>. C.: Work
l'roje<'IH A<lmin!Htrutlon. l!H:! I. Thi• rP[mrl gl\"eR eomplete stutlstkul data concerning all phase• o! FERA oper11tl,u1s.
11ponsibilH~·. There ,tere State and local emergency rellt>f
administrations In existence. It was ai;sumed that Federal
aid would be necessary for only a ~hort period, until the
crisis had passed. The grunt method appeared to be the
Hlmplest way for the Federal Government to gh-e swift
uid for a short 11eriod.
Not only did the FERA ''hold the line" for two years; It
experimPntl'cl with runny types of programs during the
period. Experience was gained that was to be of great
value In operutlng the work program of the WPA. The
Social Security Boord, the National Youth Administration,
till' Snrpln,; l\Inrketing Administration, and other agencies
owe much to experlnu•ntaJ pro1,,"l'nms conducted by the
l"ERA.
/ Thi' "onvil"t ion grew in 1933 nnd 1934, howe,·er, that the
\ relief problem wonld eontlnne on a large seale for an
I indefinite Jieriod.
It wus felt that new memmres should
/ he u111lert11ken whit-h would lnn>lve II further and more
\ flpl"ish-e dll'fe1•p11th1ti1111 of ee1·tuln elt-mt-nts of the relief
prohlPlll und pint·!' ~ome of the relief programs ou a more
per1111111ent bnsii<. The new dlt'ferentiution was to be
[
between e111J1loynb!Ps and unemployables.
l<'ERA gru11ts hnd been u><ed to take care of both the employables und the u11e111ployables on the State emergency
1·ellef rolls. In November 1004, for example, there were
ubout u,000,000 l'nses (families and single persons) on
pmergrncy rt>llt>f rolls. Investigations bad indicated that
there were employat,Ie persons In about 3,500,000 of these
!"llses. In the other 1,500,000 cn:<es there was no person
capable of self-sustaining effort.
In redrafting pl1tns for 193.'l, the Prt>siclent nnd the Con![rPss 11grPPcl tlmt the State!< 111111 lol'1tllties ~honld reassnwe
primar~· rPS!ll>mdbillty for the unemployable groups In
accordance with traditional concepts. Under the Social
Security Act, approYed in August 1935, Federal aid for unPmI>ioyabJPs wnR llmiterl to certain categories. Federal
grunts were madP aYuilahle. on a matching basis, to States
~tting np appt·owd pension s.,·stemH for the needy aged,
for mothers with depenclent children, and for the blind."
The matching proviso wus Intended to foster permanent
nrrangpments for the eare of these groups and to secure
wider State participation in the financing of the program.
Unem1>loyahles not falling within these categories were
left entirely In the t'are of States and localities.
With respect to the second large group of destitute persons, the need~· unemployed 1iert-<011s who were willing and
able to work, different responsibilities were Involved. As
indicated by the President, unemployment ts a national
problem and the Ji'Pderal Gm·ernment for flnunclal and
other reuson,: must tuke the IPud in llll'eting the dl'stitutlon arising from It.
Tht> Sol'iul SP<'nrity A!"t coutnined two high))· l111portnnt
insm·uncP prograrns de,-:igned to s11fpg1111rd the worker
ugainst future problems of destitution. The act made provision for a contributory old-age l11s11runce or annuity
system, uuder which su1>erannunted workers were to receiye beueftts. This ~ystem w11s creuted to take cm·e of
workers who might otherwise ba,·e to apply for public
assistance aftpr their working years were o,·er. For the
~hort-tt>rm mwmployed. thP act pro,·itled for tile
"Un<ln the FF,IL\ the Federal Government had _been. l!earlng
nhunt 70 percent of the COMt of all emergency relier.
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ORGANlZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE WPA PROGRAM
encouragement . of State s_rstems of unemplurment
r.ompensatlon.
The FERA bud shown the value of the work method mul
those who drew up the Federal relief pollcy In 1935 accepted the proposition that work rather than direct relit>f
should be the keystone of Federal policy with respect to
7
need~· employahlPs. In the hPliPf, howewr, that bette1· results <"0111<1 be achiP\"Pd hy replnc·ing tht> FERA 111111 utilizing
different methods, prnvh•ion was matle for a new type of
work p1·ogrnm 1111der the Emergpm•y Relief Appropriation
Act of 1!)35. A new works program, of which the Wl'A
was a part, was ereated i11 the :<prlng of W3G.
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
OF THE WPA PROGRAM
Works l'rngress Administration waR estuhlishecl by
TExeeutive
Order No. 7034, dute,I :\lay 6, 193:.. This
H•;
nction was talcen by the President ullt.le1· the authority of
the Emergency Relief App1·opriation Act of UJ3G, approved
Aprtl 8, 1935. Four years later, in the Presidt>nt's Reorganization Plun No. 1 (prepa1·ed pursuant to the Ueorgaulzatlon Act of 1009 nnd effective July 1, 19.39), !ht> Works
Progress Adml11istr11tion was h1corpuratPd iu the Fecleral
Workl! Agen<·y 11ml was remunetl the Wo1·k Projects Admlnlstrutlou. At that time the title of the head of the
WPA, Administrator of the Works l'rogress Administration, was changed to Commissioner of Work Proje<:ts.
As originally designed, t 111' WPA was to have two Important functions. First, it was to operntr II Natlon-whle
program of "small us2ful projeets" designed ro provldt>
employment for needy employable workers. Second, it
was to coordinate the activities of the "Works Program.''
The Works Program and the WPA
Playing a part In the Works Program were a large 1mmber of Fe<lt>ral agencies, groupl'<l togeth<>r under that title
by the President; among these agendes the Federal funds
appropriated by the ERA Act of 193:i were to be clistrlbuted
for the purpose of creating emergency public employment.
1\Iore than 40 Federnl agencies cooperated in the operation
of projects under the ·works Program. These Included
regular bureaus of the Fe<leml Government and previously
established emergency agencies, along with the new
n:,.:Pneies crPutl'ti with uuthority to operate work projects.
The latter group Included the WPA, which was made responsible for the "honest, efficient, speedy, and coordinated execution of the work relief program as u whole, and
for the exe<.·utiou of that program In sueh ma1111n us to
move from the relief rolls to work 011 such projectll or in
private employment the maximum number of pt>rsons in
the shortest time possible." To assist in administering the
program, Ex<>cutive Order No. 7034 c1·eated a Division of
Applications und Informatlou of the Nutionul Emerg<>uey
Councll, which was given the rPsponsibility for tlw preliminary screening of all project applications and their
proper routing for review. Copies of applirntlous were
sent to the Bureau of the Budget for re,·h•w, nnd 111 the
case of non-Wl'A projects they were theu sent to the
WPA for im•pstig11tio11 us to tll!' nrnilahility of relief labor
nt the locutiou of the project. Wl'A projects hud been
reviewed by the WPA lts<'lf with regard to this factor
prior to submission to the :'\utiouul Em<'rgt>ucy Councll.
l.<'rom the National Emergt>nc~· Council, project applkutious were sul.Jmltted to the Advisory Committee on AllotlllPnts, whieh wns the priul'ipul <·1111su1t,1ti\·p I.Jody used by
the President to determine 11llocatio11 of work 1·el1Pf 11pprop1·latlo11s. The bulk of 11Iiuc11tio11:; hnd bPen mnde by
October 1935, und henceforth applit:ntions as authorized
were submitted directly to the PresidPnt through the
Bureau of the Bu<lget.
Coordim1tlo11 of the \"Urious ncth·itlPs of the Works Program by one of its coustltuent 11gencle11, the WPA, wus
beset by ob\"lous difficulties. In practice, the WPA was
chiefly concerned with reviewing projects to see whether
they could be performed princlpnlly by relief labor and
with recommending project,: 1111 which nonlabor costs were
not excessi\"e.
It had been pro\"lded In ExPcutlve Order No. 7046, dated
~luy 20, 1935, that ut least 90 percent of 1111 persons working on nny Works Progmm project should be taken from
the puhlic relief rolls, "exct>pt with the specific nuthorizatlon of the Works Progress Administration." The WPA exempted several Fedeml agPncles from this requirement at
their urgent request, and t.emporurily relaxed that requlremPnt for work <lone unde1· contruct.'
~ v i s i o n of sufficient employment, rnther thun coor<linatlon, became the d1ief rpspousibllity of the WPA.
Before the year w,us out, the Wl'A was provhliug the \"USt
bulk of \Yorks Progrum ernployment be<.·uuse muny other
agencies bud found tiJt'lll,<Pl\"es unnhle to pro,·i1Jp 11111eh or
uny ernergl'lll'Y Plll!Jlo)'IIIPlll. Ju tilt' :J-year )lt'r!Otl e111li11g
June 30, HJ38, about tl1ree-fo11rths of 1111 Works l'rograrn
employment wus p1·ovidetl b~· the WPA, about one-eighth
l
1
Tlu~ 1wrt-e11tu:,:e of rP-ll(lf luhor .-mplor('d on t11.- \\'orki-1 Pro1-:ram wnH fnr thP. w('"ek P1t11ln~ Uf't'PlllhPr 2~. 1H35: \\'PA, 05.D:
CCC. R8.:i: nit olh<'r ngPriei,•s, 72.1: 1111,I tor thP WPPk ending Jun,,
:.?i, rn:rn: WP.\, 94.7: CCC. 87.a: nit otlu>r llll'l'lldPs, 52.4. In
Ji'phrnury 1n:n, a \\"J>_\ 11tlmlnl~trutin1 ortlt>r rnh,f'd to 0~ pPret'nt
th!' proportion ,,r workns who hn<l to hn,·e n <'PrtiflPtl rellPf stntus.
,,x,·Ppt for
pr,•,·lonslr eXPDl(ll<•tl. The ERA Aet of 1939
all other F••th•rnl nJ,:"f'nPlt•M opPrntin~ 11rojP<'tti1
financed by WPA funds employ not I•••• than 90 peref'nt relief
workers.
11gp111·i•••
rf'quirPtl thnt
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8
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA .PROGRAM
by the Civilian Con~1>n-atlon Corps, and the remaining
eighth by the Public Works Administration and all the
other. agencies combined. During the 3-year period the
WPA and the PW A divided between themselves the large
field of State and locnl public works construction, and the
WPA provided Nation-wide employment to nonconstruction workers on its service projects. The WPA continued
to report on Work,i Program employment through June
1038, at which date a direct ap1J1·oprlatlon was first made
for the WPA program. The term "Works Program" then
fell Into disuse; but the WPA and the other public works
agencies that were carried on with fUDds appropriated by
subsequent EHA acts (including the NYA through the fiscal year 1039) are sometimes referred to as the Federal
Works Program.
Intergovernmental Relationships
Under the WPA Program
The WPA did not make use of the grunt method in
operating its own program of work projects. In planning
the Intergovernmental relationships under the WPA program, use was made of the experience gained under the
grant system of the FERA. While the grant system had
worked well in other fields In the past, FERA experience
indicated that there were clifflcultles in using the grant
method in connection wth so complex a problem as the
operaton of 11 work program for the destitute unemployed.
The new WPA setup was designed specifically to avoid
the difficulties that had existed under the grant method.
The· essential feature of the grant system in the United
States has been the donation of funds raised by one level
CYf government to another level of government, usually
1111der certain conditions prei;cribed by tile grnntor with
r1>g11rd to the nsc of the funds. The FERA had followed
this grant-In-aid pattern in muklng Federal funds avnilnble to the States. As soon as 11 transfer of funds was
nuule by the FERA and recei11ted fo1· by the governor, title
to the funds passed to the State.
Although, technically, Federal fuuds bl>cnme State funds
when receiptl!d for by the governor, the FERA still had
the obligation of SL>eing that the funds were spent honestly,
thnt certain relief standards were maintalne1I, and that a
sonml work progr11111 wns carried out in all the States.
Under the FERA program, the States accepting Federal
relief grants agreed to conform to Federal regnlntlons In
regard to relief 11ractices. The FERA had Federnl field
representatives who 1·eportecl to Washington concerning
the effectiveness wil h which these 1·egulations were enforced; and the FERA's Dl\'ision of Investigation examined alleged dishonest. practice8. The Federal officials of
the FERA, moreover, through cooperative relationships,
exerted coni;i<lerahle l11tluence upon State and local rellPf agencies. Where such indirect control was unavailing, othe1· steps coulll be taken. In theory, at h•nst, further grants could be refused until com11liance was Slc'CUred.
However, refusal to ~rant further Federal funds to States,
wh1>11 they sl10wPd themselves unwlillng to comply with
F ederal re;.:ulatious accompa11ying gr1111ts, would have
inflicted graYe suffering on neerly peo11le. As n Just re~.lrt. the grant S)"Sh•rn, based ·on cooperative Intergovernmental n•lation><hi}.11'. could be discontinued in any State
n11d 11 Federal relief agency set up in its place. It was
in fact found necessary to Federalize rellef and work
relief In six Stntes during the FERA period; but this extreme action was token only as n last resort.
The abandonment _o f the grant-in-aid method foi:_the
_ne~w2 r~__progrnm of th~WPA~eant the s~ttlng up ·of
n system ?f direct Federal adminis_tration extending into
the States und their subdivisions. Under the grant systeru, it had proved Yery difficult to operate required work
programs in certain cities. This difficulty resulted from
the fact that in some States the governor or the legislature, and sometimes both, wished to hn\'e only direct
relief gi\·eu to the unen1plo)·Pd of the cities. It had become rlear that, if useful work programs were to be
operated In some cities, it would be necessn ry to establish
direct Federnl-municipnl relations, instead of dealing with
cltles through State governments.
Consequently, in order to effect a more ndl'quate safeb'llnrdlng of Fetlernl fnnlls, to raise the stanllnrd of public
work programs, and to foster the 1levelopment of public
work programs in nil munidpalitles where thc>y were
neelled and wunted, the WPA was set up as a Federal
program. All WPA oflkinls, from Washington down
through the State and district offices, were Federal employees. The project workers, too, were paid by the Federal Government through checks issued by the Treasii.ry
Department. l\Iaterials nnd e-quipment that were required for administrative use or that were supplil'd by the
WPA to assist in project operations were bought through
the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department.
Because of these Federal controls, the WPA is usually
refprred to as a Fednnl pro1,'Ta111. Use of this term, howPver, has tPnded to obscure the fnct that. the work progrnm of thti WPA wns nrt11all,r n 1·ooperative F'edernl-Stateloeal anungement. There wus more F!'deral co1Jtrol than
under the FERA progra111, but Stutes and localities still
continued to have very large responsibll1tles under the
WPA program. For example, the determination of the
ellgihlllty of applicants for employment on WPA projects
was designed to be the responsibility of State and local
welfare agencies.
: \
;.; {- i
i
,.
The WPA and State and Local Relief Agencies
} The liquldatiou of the FERA, which was effected as
.rapidly as was feasible after .July 1, 193fi, meant that the
F'ederal GovernmPnt ceased to donute relief funds to the
State emergency rPllef administrations. The State emergency rP!ief admiuistrat io11s arnl their local brandies remained intact in most States, operati11g ?,ith State and
Joeal relit•f fund;;;. 'l'hPse rell(•f agendPs wPre asked by the
FP!lernl Governm(•nt to cooperate with the WPA by certifying thosp relief dients who were 1•lil-!hl1> for WPA employme11t. The st:rndarcl!cl of eli:..:ihility were set by the
WPA, aud the fi1111J tlct1>1•minatio11 of ellgibilily was eventmrlly 11111,Je n Federal, instend of n local, 1·esponsibiiity.
Howevl'r , the local rl'lief ngt•ncies usually performed the
real screening procei;s, investigating a11d certifying the
need of llllllli<'ants and their suitability for WPA project
employment. ( i•'or fnrthPr information on eligibility, see
l)RgPS 1:-i to 18.)
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ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE WPA PROGRAM
9
proposal ,,.,. found acceptable, It was used as the basis of
a project appllcatlon, which was a formal request by the
State administrator for authority to spend l<'ederal funds
the Important responsibilities of local governmPnts under;
on the work described. The project appllcatlona were then
the program. Projects sponsored by State ngencles and by:
sent to the Washington office of the WPA, where they were
other Federal agencies were only a small part of the pro1
reviewed and approved or disapproved. Final approval
gram. The vast majority ot the projects were planned
was given by the President.
and Initiated by county, city, township, anti village govApproved or authorized projects were released tor operaernments and their various agencies.•
tion at suitable times by the State administrator In coAlthough suggestions tor local projects suitable for prooperation with the epooeore. Working drawings and deviding employment tor the needy unemployed might come
tailed job achedolee were frequently prepared by the
from civic organizations, private citizens, or WPA officials,
sponsors In the period between approval of projects In
as well as from local public officials, formal proposals for
Washington and the release of p_rojecta for operation by
the operation of WPA projecta bad to be made by a public
the State administrator. The release of projects for
agency legally empowered to sponsor the work proposetl.
operation, the temporary 808J)enalon of project operations,
A project proposal had to show the estimated cost of the
and the termination of projects, all depended on the numproposed work, and what part of the cost the sponsor wni,;
ber of needy unemployed persons In the community and on
prepared to bear; it also bad to show the amount and kinds
the amount of Federal funds appropriated to carry on the
of Jabor required. A proposal for a construction project
WPA program.•
had to be accompanied by preliminary engineering plane
To secure approval, the proposed project had to provide
and sketches. The sponsors of WPA projects bad to agree
employment for the needy unemployed persons available
to provide the engineering plans and apeclflcatlons because
lo the local community. Many projects were held in rethey were responsible for the architectural and engineering
serve until other projects In the community had been comfeaturee of 811ch projects. The sponsol'B of all projects
pleted or until enough qualified unemployed ·persona had
also agreed to complete the project or a useful unit of the
been cerWled to the WP A tor employment. The vast maproject if for any reason the project could not be completed
jority of persona certlfled tor employment on the WPA proby the WPA. The projects when completed belonged to
gram were unskilled workers, and lt became necessary for
the sponsora. No Federal fonds were provided for the
the sponsors In many cases to use their own funds to hire
purchaae of land, and the sponsors agreed to maintain and
the skilled workers required in carrying out the projects
operate the completed project at their own expense.
· needed 1n their community. This was especially true ot
AU proposals were forwarded by the sponsors to the
projects tor the construction of l!Chool buildings and other
State WPA oftlce. There they were reviewed to ascertain
public buildings, since this work required a high percentage
whether or not the ·w ork proposed was eligible under the
of skilled workers.
Federal law authorizing WPA aperatlona and whether or
Sponsors shared In the program by paying a portion of
not the proposal complled with WPA regulations. If a
the coet ot the project. No fixed minimum percentage was
set by the WPA for the individual sponsor's contribution;
'
,' • Blach of the JIRA acts specUled the types or projects for which ',
the ERA Act of 1939 contained a provision that sponsors'
/ appropriated funds ml1ht be used. Section 1 (b), ERA A.ct, flacal l
1
contributions within a given State must aggregate ~_pet.1 ea~_l!K3, contain• the tollowlug list or eligible project types :
rH1ihway 1, roads, and atreeta ; publlc buildings ; parka, and other
cent .ot the_coat. of all projects appr~"'~ after January 1, __
recreational tacUltlea, Including building■ therein ; public utili1940. Thia sponsor percentage was applied to a State as a
ties . electric tran■mlulon and dlatrlbutlon Jlne■ or ayatelllll to
whole rather than to Individual projects. Nonlabor costs,
IN!ff~ perlODB In rural areas, Including project• sp0neored b:, and
for which eponaors' oontrlbotlona were chiefly used, varied
for the beneftt of nonprofit and cooperative usoclatlons; sewer
greatly between different kinds of projects. Some local
11,tema, water suppl:,, and purlftcatlon 11atema; airports and
other trusportatlon tacllltles ; facllltiee for the training of pergovernments were financially less able than others to make
80uel In the operations and maintenance or air navigation and
aubstanUal contributions to project cost& In some cases,
landing area tacllltle1 ; ftood control ; drainage ; Irrigation, lncludstate governments assisted local governmental units by
lDg project, 11pon10red bJ nonprofit Irrigation associa tions organbed and operating for community benefit; water con11ervatlon;
providing State funds to augment local sponsors' contri1011 conaenatlon, Including projects sponsored b1 soil conservabutions. A spousor·s contribution might Include office
tion dlatrlcta and other bodies dul:, organized under state law for
spaee, suppll.es, materials, equipment, tools, skilled labor,
soil-erosion control and eoll conser-rn lion, preference being given
and tecbnlcal 811perviaion.
to projects which wlll contribute to the rehabllltatlon of lndlvldaall and an lncreaae la the national Income ; tore1tatlon, and
In aponsorlng WPA projects, State and local gonirnothter lmpronmenta or foreat areu, lncludln1 the eatabllshment
menta took Into consideration the fact that they had the
or IIN! lane■ ; lleh, same, and other wlldll!e con ■erntlon; eradicaresponslbillty tor financing their direct relief programs.
tion of lnoect, plant and fungu1 pe■t• ; the production of llme and
To the extent that WPA employment was provided In any
marl tor fertWstn1 ,on for dl1trlbutlon to rarmera under 1uch
condltlona u ma:, be determined by the 1pon1ora of ■uch project■
locality, there were fewer persons in need of direct relief.
under the proTlalon, or Mtate law; educational, prorea■lonal, cleriThis
was one of the incentil"es for the sponsoring of WPA
cal, cultural, recreational, production, and 1enlce project■, lnprojects by State and local governments.
cludlDI training for manual occupation, ln lndu1trle1 engaged ln
The chief lneentlve tor sponsorship, however, was the
production tor national-defense purpose,, for nursing and for domHtlc aenlce ; aid to self-help and cooperative aHoclatlona for
desire to secure useful public lmpro'\"ements and services
Sponsorship of WPA Prof eds
The planning and operation ot WPA projects Illustrates
the benefit of needJ person■; and mlscellaneoua projects ; not le•
~.i>00,000 ef the tunde made atallable 1n thll Act aball be
111t11 udualnl.7 tor the operatlon..at. d&J nurseries and nuraery
scboola for the children of amploJed mothen."
T2TH9-47--2
• See
pase■
48 to 49 tor a tuner treatment ot this subject with
respect to englneertnr and eonatruct1; .q. pr0Ject1.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
of various kinds. The need for construction projects was
readily recognized, and projects for the construction and
improvement of highwa~·s, roads, and streets, water supply
and sewerage systems, and public buildings of many kinds,
were widely in demand. (See pages 47 to 55.)
Service 1irojects were ordinarily sponsored by age.ncies
of local government, and those which were organized on
a state-wide basis had definite relations with local agencies
of government as cosponsors. Small but Important groups
of cultural projects concerned with music, art, and writing
were at first organized and sponsored as Federal projects
but were later operated under state and local sponsorship.
( See page 60.)
The WPA and Othe,r Federal Agencies
As has been indicated, a relatively small number of
projects, financed by WP A funds and employing need)'
unemployed persons In about the same proportion as on
WPA operated projects, were sponsored and operated by
other Federal agencies. Funds for the operation of such
projects under the Works Program were allocated by the
President under the authority of the ERA Acts of l!l3!'i,
1036, and 1!)37. The ERA Act of 1038 authorized the Works
Progress Administrator to allocate WPA funds to other
Federal departments or agencies for the operation of
projects similar to those prosecuted by the WP A. This
practice was continued by subsequent ERA acts. Employment on WPA financed projects was ordinarily considered
WPA employment, and the workers were paid In accordance with the WPA wage scale. Employment on these
projects was very small in relation to employment on
projects opernted by the WPA. (See page 33.) The work
on the various projects was of considerable lmportnnce,
however, in promoting conservation of natural resources,
protecting farms and forests from plant dise11se and Insect
pests, carrying on valuable research studies and extending
research facilities, improving the facilities and buildings of
the Army and the Navy, and currying on flood control
work.
In Its own operations the WPA made every effort to coordinate its project activities with the regional and national plans and standards of the various Federal bureaus
and agencies which regularly carried on work of such
kinds. Airport projects, fo1· example, were coordinated
with the plans and policies of the Ilureuu of Air Commerce
and the Civil Aeronautics Authority. Projects relate,! to
conservation, flood contl'OI, and prevention of stream pollution were subject to the approval of the appropriate
l<~ederal age11cies and bureaus. Plans for various kinds of
service projpcts were de,·eloped with the advice and guid11nce of the United States Office of Etlucatlon, the United
States Public Health Service, and other Federal agencies
and bureaus. Umler the authority of the ERA acts for
the fiscal years 1!)42 and 1943, the WPA allocated WPA
fnnds to other Federal agencies for administrath·e expenses incurred In the planning and review of WPA
projects.
Administration of the WPA
In carrying out its program, the WPA operated as an
independent agency of the Federal Government until July
TABLE
1.-NUMBER OF WPA ADMINISTRATIVE
EMPLOYFEs•
QUARTERLY, SEPTEMBER 1935-JUNE 1943
Total
Month
Number or
persons
Number
per 1,000
project
State and
district
office
employees
workers
Central ad·
ministration
and regional
and other
field
employees
193/i
Sept. 30 ...............
Dec. 31. ............ ..
31,234
53,354
83. 4
20.0
21l, 717
50,837
1. 517
2.517
/9.'tG
Mar.31.. •............
June 30 ...............
Sept. 30 ..............
Dec. 31. ............. .
36,203
35,354
35, 1149
33,985
12.2
15.5
14.5
15.1
33. 957
32.923
33,466
32. 047
2,246
2,431
2,IS.'3
1,938
Mar. 31.. ....•.......
June 30 ....•........ .
Sept. 30............. .
Dec. 31. ........... . . .
29,005
30,151
30, f>69
29,052
14.0
16.1
21.0
18.2
28.:m
27,944
28,122
1.1161
2,029
2.372
2, 182
1938
Mar.31.. .......... . ..
June30 ····--·······
Sept. 30.............
Dec. 31. ..............
30, «7
32. 110
35, 112
35, 2il
13.1
11. 7
11.2
11.5
1939
Mar. 31.. ............
June 30 ............ .
Sept. 30.............. .
Dec. 31. .............
33,634
31,49i
26,125
26,124
11.5
12. 9
15.8
12.8
31,448
29,416
2. IR6
24. 301
24,331
I, i93
1940
Mar. 31. ............
June 30 ..............
Sept. 30.............
Dec. 31. ..........
Tl,21!3
25. 859
23. 403
21, li2
12. 2
)6.5
II. 7
25. 484
24,008
21,720
19,489
1. 791
1.083
1,683
1941
Mar. 31.. .. _..........
June:JO
Sept. 30.. :::::::::::.:
Dec. 31. ... ·-·-·······
19,845
18,017
15,702
15, 4i9
11.6
l:J. 8
15. 3
14. 9
18,196
17, 23fo
14,192
13,924
l,C49
1.f,81
1,5i0
1,56.5
19-11
l\for. 31. ......•........
June 30 ................
Sept. 30.·-·············
Dec. 31._. ·-· ..... ·•-··
14,038
11,343
I. 920
14.6
16. 3
15.2
16.6
12,637
JO, 148
4, 52i
3, 3i0
1,401
I, 195
bl,3\l3
b 1,635
1943
Mar. 31. ...... ·-·······
June 30 .... ······-·····
2, 1162
28.5
16. 9
1, 6.19
253
/(}37
5,005
716
14.3
26,870
~8. 316
2.131
2,168
2,148
2,218
·29. 942
32. 964
33,053
2. 0SI
1.8?.4
I.SOIi
b
I, 123
b 463
• J>atR gin•n hf'rf' r.o not inf'lu·~p Jlt'rson:- rmploye,1 in !'-ttrplu:,. dotl:ing
WRn•holls(•s July 1038 throu1d1 Jtnw I93U; persons employp,l tlnrJng the
period Fehmary through :\lay 19.39 in connection with tho review or need
require<l hy Puhlie H,•snlution No. I, 7foth C'ong., Feh. 4, 19.19; and persons
emplo}wl during tlw period April through June 19-10 to IJ<'rmit reduction of
fmnual lea\·P. Numtwr of such p<'rsons ernploYNI wPrr: Sl•pt. 30, 1938-772;
Ike. 31, l\~"l8-!l92; !\far. 31. l9:!0-5,211; June 30, rn·i9-\l; Jum• 30, 194~"!6.
h Jnclwlf's centnll ndministration. fl('ld cmploYet•s rPf)rC'sentinJr the centra)
e.dmini~I mt ion, t1nd tlt•ld ftnauee offices. Regional offil'es were aholished
in August 1942, and field finance offiecs were set up in Septemb<,r 19-12.
1939, when It was Incorporated as a unit of the Federal
Works Agt>ney. Harry L. Hopkins was Administrator of
the WPA from July 1935 through December 23, 1938;
Colonel Francis C. Harrington was Commissioner of ,vork
Projects from December 24, 1938 through September 1940;
Howard 0. Hunter served as Acting Commissioner from
October 1040 through June 1941 and then as Commissioner
until April 15, 1942; Francis H. Dryden was Acting Commissioner from April 1.5, 1042 through July 1942; and
l\lajo1· General Philip B. Fleming was Acting Corumi;;i;ioner
and George H. Field was Deputy Commissioner through
June 1943.
From the beginning, the WPA functioned at four levels;
namely, (1) the central administration In Washington,
(2) the regional offices, (3) the Slate administrations, and
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ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE WPA PROGRAM
(4) the_district oftkes. WPA officials at ench ll'VPI were
under the direct authority of the administrative head of
each level. This basic organizntion was maintained to the
end of the program.
The special responsibilities at these administrative
levels were :
1. The central administration bad the responsibility for
the determination of WPA policies in accordance with law
and the regulation of all WPA activities in accordance with
these policies.•
2. The regional offices had the responsibility for the direction and coordination of the progmm In the States of
each region in accordance with policil'S nm! regulations
prescribed by the central administration.
3. The State administrations were ra•'h responsible fo1·
~be general administration of the WPA program wlthi11
the State, Including the St'Cut·ing of J<'P1leral approval uni!
funds for projeet operations uml the uuthorlzatiou of such
project operations in 11n·or1lance with local nee1ls.
4. The district l'ffict>s were responsible for the tlirt>ct
management of project operations and of related activities, including the processes of 1t1111lguing certified
workers to projects; timekeeping; scheduling the iuitiutlon, termination, and completion of projects; :md cooperation with local spo11sors in the timing nnd manngi>mPnt of
project operations.
At the peak of the WPA 1,rogram, l.!1 the full of 10:18,
nearly 36,000 persons were on the administrative statr In
the central, rrgionnl, State, and district ofticPs. For the
number of administrative employees at various periods
during the rxistence of the WPA program, S<'e tnble 1.
TABLE 2.-AM.OUNT OF WPA FUNDS OBLIGATED
FOR ADMINISTRATION OF WPA, BY ERA AcT,
AND BY MAJOR CLASSIFICATION (I
THROUGH JtrNE
30,
1943
Person&! scrvire•
ERAAclol-
Total
Amount
Total. ----··----1935
11136 ..------------------__________________
1937 ____________________
1938. ___________________
)039 ____________________
Fiscal year 1941. •••• __ .
Fiscal year 19-12. ···-- __
Fi,;caJ year 1943_ ..•. _. _
Percent
ol total
lunds
All
other
r.s. 450
$338. 706. 765
81.4
$77,571,685
68. 784, 40-I
65. 987, 134
62,465. 726
74, 102. 103
52,857.370
H. 282,439
34. 228,057
13, 5;1, 2li
52, 108. 73:l
54. ooo. 932
51, 751, 720
59. 420. 458
44, 141, 2;8
36,927, 5,1;.5
:.!M, 481,602
11,784,397
i5.9
81.8
82. 8
80. 2
83.6
83. 4
83.2
86.8
16. 58.5, 671
11. 986. 202
IO. 714.006
14,681,645
8, 716, W2
7. 354,854
5,746, ;195
I, 786,820
$416,
- - - - - - - - ~ - - - - ' - - - - - - ' - - ---·------
• Includes central administration and field officell.
Source: Based on report• of the U. 8. Treasury Department and the
Work Projects Administration.
Beginning with the ERA Act of 1939, the amount of WPA
funds to be nsPtl tor udministrntive purposes was limited
by Congress. The amount of WPA funds obligated for
administration is shown by ERA ucts in table 2. Additional information on WPA funds expended for administrative purposes is given on pages 99 to 100.
• See WP.-\ Ma1111al of Rul('B u11d Regulatlo"8, Vol. I, "Organlza•
tlon and Administration."
The Central Administration
The WPA was headed by the Co1111nissione1· of Work
Projects, who was assisted by a dPputy commissioner and
several assistant commissione1·s in cnrry!ng on the policy
making and regulatory function of the central administration. Each assistant commissioner was responsible tor
one or more of the divisions among which the functions of
the central administration we1·e distributed. The divisions, each usually headed by a dh'ector, were organized
into sections, which were coucerned with distinct but
related functions, each under a section chief.
'l'he com111i11sioner, deputy commissioner, and assistant
commissioners mnde use of the knowledge and experience
of the 1·egionul offices, state administrations, and district
offices, in establishing WPA policies within the limitations
of the various emergency relief appropriation acts under
which the i>rogmm operated.
The regulatory 1·esponsibilities of the centrul udministratlou were distributed among the assistant commisslonl'l"S nnd the vurious tlivisions und their sections.
The
number of ussistnnt commissioners und the number of
divisions varied from time to time 11s new functions we1·e
set up or as other functions were combined. The importunt divisions mal.!1tained in the central administration
in the course of the eight years of operation of the WPA
were: (1) E11gineering and Co11struction, (2) Service
ProjPcts, ( 3) Training and Reemployment, ( 4) Finance,
(!i) Emploympnt, (G) Mar111ge111ent or Administration, (7)
Statistics, (I-) Research, (9) Investlgntion, (10) Informn·
tlon, and ( l l ) Legal.
The Divh<io11 of E111Ci11e1•ri11g und Com1tructlon wus responsible for the regul11tio11 of constrndiou projects, for
the enginrpri11g revirw of applications for i.uch projecti;;,
nm! for thr rPcording nnd control of nil proji>ct 11pplic11tions submittPd to the WPA. It was also responsiblP for
thP regulation 11nd promotion of the WPA safpty progrnm
an<I for the 11<1111inistrntion of tlw i<1111ply fmll'tion, hoth
,rf which sene1I nll WPA opPrntinns.'
The Division of Serviee Projects wus rPsponsible for
the regulntiol1 of 1>rojects which provided employment for
women and for professional, technicnl, and clerical workers and which were designed to assist public agrncies in
maintaining community services. It was responsiblt! also
for the review of project applications for 1111 sen;ice projPcts: For mlditional Information on the responsibilities
of the Division of Ser\"ice Projects, see Sl·etion beginning
on page 59.
The Division of Tmlning and Reemployml'nt was es·
tablisheti !11 1041 after the WPA wus given legislativr unthority to nssi,,:t in the training of workers for employment in defrn,-;e in,lustries. It was responsible for the
plnnnlug 111111 regulntion of WPA traluin~ projects nnd
thP coordination of sud1 activltirs with those of other
FPtlernl agPndPS (leallng with the manpower problem.
The Divi:;inn of F'inauce was rlc'>'Jl"ll!.ible for the recording and rPporting of all tran~ael i<-11s inn•lving an obligation ngninst funds appropriated to the WPA; the proce!!Slng of documents for payment; the recordiug of all prop• For ad<lltlonnl lnformntlon on the ,nfety program,
to 70 nnd, on the supplr ru11ction, pp. 77 to 80.
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12
FINAL REPORT ON 1'HE WPA PROGRAM
erty owned by, or In the custody of, the WPA; and the
Regional Offices
regulation ot all fiscal tunctions of the organization.
The WPA. regional offices were established as a field
The Division ot Employment was rei:ponsible for the
organization operating between the central administration
regulation of employment activities, such as the eligibility,
011d the State administrations. The number of regions,
classification, assignment, nnd termination ot workers;
the States included In each region, and the location of the
the wages and hours of project and supervisory employees;
regional offices, varied during the period of the WPA proand the conduct of labor relations. For additional ingram. In 1039, nine reg Iona 1 offices were in operation.
formation on the responsibilities ot this Division, see
Each regloual office was headed by a regional director wbo
11riges 46 and 47.
was responsible directly to the Commissioner of Work
The Division of Management or Administration was rel'roject.s. The regional director, through his staff of responsible tor analyzing the organizational and operating
gional officers, directed and coordinated, rather than admethods of all parts of the administrati,e organization, In
ministered, the program within the States ot the region, in
ncldition to having the responslbilJty for procedures, peraccordance with law and with the policies, regulations, and
sonnel, administrative budgets, admlnlstrath·e property,
special Instructions prescribed by the Commissioner or unmicrofilming and disposition ot records, and office service
der his authority. The Divisions of Engineering and Confunctions.
struction, Service Projects, Trnl11ing and Reemployment,
The Division of Statistics was responsible tor the comFiunul'e, Employment, Management or Administration.
pilation, Interpretation, and publication of statistics conand Stntistlcs were nil represented at the regional level.
cerning \\'PA employment, expenditures, and nccomThe division heads of the regional staff were al!minI>lishments; and It was responsible tor the regulations
istrnt lvely responsible to the regional director for the funcconcerning the collection of these 11tntl..stics.
tions of their respective dl,lsions. Instructions concernAll of the above divisions functioned In the regional
ing the technical and prot(lsslonal procedures of each
offices and in the State administrations as well as in the
division were received trom the respective divisions In
<.-entral administration. All except the Divisions of Manthe central administration. The staff of the regional
11geruent and Statistics nlso functioned at the district level.
office wus rrspo11:-ible, among other things, for Interpreting
Several other divisions ( the Division of Research, the
or obtainl11g nuthoritatlve Interpretations of the policies,
Division ot Investigation, the Division of Intormation,
rules, regulatio11s, and instructions ot the central
and the Legal Division) were organized only at the cenadministration.
tral administrative level.
The regional office made recommendations to the central
The Division of Research was responsible tor the puradministration concerning changes and revisions of gensuance and publication of research studies concerning uneral policies or procedures, approval or disapproval of
employment and need, public works and services, and
project applications, monthly employment authorizations
other matters affecting the WPA. progr11m.
for States of the region, State budgets for project pay
The Division of Investigation was responsible for the
rolls, 11onlabor ex11enses, and admiulstratlve costs. It
Investigation of alleged dishonest practices in, or affecting,
represented the Commlsslo11er of Work Projects In conWPA. operations. The field staff of this Division funcferences with heads ot governmental subdivisions and
tioned through separate field offices covering the same
civic organizations In regard to employment problems,
states as the WPA regional offices.
project sponsorship, and WPA policies.
The Division of Informatio.n was responsible for the
'l'he regiounl office also called and conducted conft-rpreparation of Informational material concerning the WPA
ences of State administrative officials, approved the
for use in response to requests from newspapers, public
location or relocation of State and district offices, recomofficials, nnd citizens, and tor dissemination In reports,
mended to the Commissioner or to the assistant commispamphlets, articles, public speeches, and radio broadcasts.
~ioners the appointment of all State division heads,
It was responsible for the regulation of such activities at
nppro\·ed the appointment of district administrative
all other administrative levels, where informational activheads, and, where necessary, issued in~tructlons to the
ities were handled In the office of the administrative head
State adml11lstratlons supplementing the rules and reguof the regional, State, and district organizations.
lations of the central administration.
The Legal Dl,ision reudered opinions on legal mutters
arising in the administration of the \VPA, iucludiug the
State Administrations
legality of projects; prepared null reviewed from a legal
standpoint proposed rules nnd regulations; and detc1·With the exception of California and New York, the
mined the approprlute legal action In suits involving .,.. WPA State administrative Jurisdiction were coterminous
the WPA or Its officers or employel'S. The WPA. organiwith State boundaries. For administrative convenience,
zation did not maintain a legal division below the central
separate State administrations (so designated) were estabadministration. A field staff' was not nccl:!ssary because
1isl1ed for Northern California and Southern California,
the WPA was not authorized lo purchase or own land or to
and for New York City and New York State. WPA.
enter Into construction contracts, :rnd because the sponsors
activities In the District of Columbia, until late in the
of WPA projects were responsible fur the design, location,
program, were administered 1111Cler a separate "State admaintenance aud operation, urn! all legal mat teri. aff,·cting
ministration." The WPA as established in Puerto Rico
the projects they sponsored.
was 11lso tt•rmed n "State a<lmi11strntlon."
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ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE WPA PROGRAM
Ench State administration was headed by a State administrator who wae responsible to the Commissioner ot
Work Projects for the operation ot the WPA program
within the State under hie jurisdiction. The headquarters
ot the State administration was located in the State capital or in one of the larger cities of the State. In the
larger States, the State administrator was nssisted by a
deputy administrator. In all States, State directors ot
the divisions corresponding to the divisions In the central
administration assisted the State administrator in the
performance ot his funrtlons. The divisions organized at
the State level were those concerned with engineering and
construction, service projects, trninlng and reemployment,
finance, employment, management or administration, and
statistics. The divisions at the State level were organized in sections which corresponded functionally to
sections or divisions of the central administration.
The State Divisions ot Engineering and Construction,
Service Projects, and Training and Reemployment were
the operating divisions responsible for the organization
and administration ot projects In thE>ir respective fields.
The State Division of Finnn<'e was responsible for the
control ot WPA financinl activities within the State and
for the timekeeping, record keeping, and various reportIng and fiscal tunctiuns at the State administrative level.
The State Division ot Employment wns responsible tor
the organization and administration of employment activities. The Stnte Division ot Statistics was responsible for
the collection ot statistics derived from reports of nctlvlties of the various divisions and for their transmission to
the central administration. The State Division of :Management or Adminlstrntion was responsible tor procedures,
administrative budgets, administrative personnel, office
services, and other functions required by the State administrator. All informational activities nt the State
administrative level were carried on by the State administrator or by a smnll staff in his office.
Just as the Commissioner ot Work Projects was responsible for nll WPA activities generally, so was the State
administrator responsible for all WPA a<'tivities within
the State. But, while the Commi11sioner and his administrative staff were espedally responsible for the policies and
regulations of WPA activities, the State udmlnistrator and
his staff were especially responsible for the ir1ltintion, organization, and opt>ration of \'VPA projects.
At the bt·gi11ni11g of the program, the State ud111lnistrutlons had the difficult tnsk ot developing a large number
ot worthwhile projects in every community in order to
provide immediate employment for the needy unemployed
persons eertifled to the WPA by the State or local referral
agency. As the prog-ram progres~<•d, one of the chief rel'J)Onslhili ties of the State administrations was the development ot an ndequate reserve of worthwhile approved
projects that coul<l be put into 011eration from time to time
us the ~e!'d for them arose.
It was the State administrator who signed the project
applications that were ~ent to the central administration.
Each application was a request from a State or local governmental agency tor the Federal funds specifically re-
13
quired for labor and nonlabor costs in addition to sponsors'
funds needed in carrying on the project. Atter project
applications hnd been approved by the central administration in Washington and by the President, it was the State
administrator who, in agreement with the sponsor, in•
itlnted operations on each project by assigning supervisors
and workers to the project and authorizing the expenditure
of Federal tunds within the specified amounts of the
approved project authorization. In order to obtnin Federal
approval ot any State or local project, a vnriety ot conditions had to be met, including the securing ot an adequate
sponsor's contribution. The State administration was responsible for making sure that all conditions required by
law or by WPA regulations were properly met. The distribution ot WPA employment quotas within the State, the
apportionment among projects of the total Federal contributions to nonlabor costs, and the appointments of administrative and supervisory personnel within the State,
were other important responsibilities of the State administration. All ot these and other duties were performed
largely through the divisions In which th(l state adminlstrntlon was organized.
Distrid Offices ·
In most States, project operations were administered
from district offices. It wns at this level that the sponsors
of projects, the supervisors ot projects, the local governmental agencies involved in the WPA program, and the
general public were brought together. Each district office
was in the charge of a district manager and was organized
in divisions similar to those In the State administration.
The Divisions of Engineering and Constructon, Service
Projects, Training and Reemf)loyment, Finnnce, and Employment were all represented at the district level.
The district offices were located In the larger cities of
the State; the number of counties included in each district
was determined on the basis of geographical area, transportation facilities, and the distribution ot unemployment
within the State.
The district manager and his staff were the responsible
representatives of the Works Projects Administration
within the territory comprising the district. The actual
measure of administrative and technical authority delegnted to the district manager nnd to his divisional heads
was determined by the Stnte administrator with the npproval ot the regional office.
In the larger districts, certain administrative 01· general
project supervisors of the Division of Engineering and
Construction, the Division of Service Projects, and the
Division of Finance, opt•ra ted from subdistrict offices which
were often call<•d area otnces. In States with small WPA
employment, the State admil!islratipn performed the functions ot the district offices, and the administrative and
supervisory employees in the area offices reported directly
to the State administrations.
The district offices hncl the responsibility of performing
tile various adminlstrath·e functions that were finally invoh·ed in the planning and execution of projects and in the
e111ployn1Pnt of 1wP<ly mwmploy<'d persons on suC'h projects.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
'l'he policies of the WPA organization were curried Into
practical effect at the district level through the actual· ap11lic-ntlo11 of the rules und n•gulutlons framed by the central
nnd State admlnistraUons. At the district level, the varlons divisions were engaged In the review and approval of
<>t>rllflcatlous of needy workers, the assignment of workers
to projects, the manngement of project operations, the
general s11pervlslon of finance functions, and the carrying
on of day-to-day relationships with sponsors of projects,
agencies of local government, nnd private orgnul:r.atlon!!
concerned with civic or economic interl:'sts. These district
activities represented the flnnl application of ndmlulstrntlve decisions and technical instructions which resulted
in the provision of work for the needy unempll•Yed, and
the provision, through such work, of public works and
services for communities.
Profed Organization
The headquarters office of each project was the basic or
primary operating unit of the Work Projects Admlnilltratlon.• The project superintendent or supervisor was the
executive head of each project, and reported directly to
the district operating division under whose jm·lsdlctlon the
pl'OJcct was approved for operation. These operating
dh·islons were the Division of Engineering and Construction, the Division of Service Projects, ancl the Uivislon of
Training and Reemployment. The project s11perlnte11dE>nt
or supervisor was responsible for coordinating 011d supervising every phase of project actl'l"lty within E>stabllshed
WPA rules and regulations. In the actual prodm:tion of
work on the project, the project superintendent or superl'isor wns assisted by engineers, technlcluns, foremen, and
olhE>r subordinate supervisory employees. He wu!! assisted
in nil cnses by a finance officer or tlmekeepE>r who pertorml-'d the flnnnce functions on the projects in accordn11<·e with the te<:l111lcal procedures and instructions of the
Dil·lsion of Finan<·!'. In most coses the projet·t finonte offlt·er or timE'ket>per also ex1•cuted a II details In <·onne<:tlon
with the supply and the accountability of Federal pro1ll'l'ty. 011 larger projects, he was assisted by 11 proje<·t employment olfl<'er who carried out the detailed pru('ec.lures
11rl'scribetl by the ·O1vlsion of Employment.
The uctual Sl'ope of project organization nml the relotlornd1lp of the project to the sponsor's staff anti orgnnlzation were dE>terminE>d tor end1 llrOJt>Ct In accordunte with
the> nu111J.)er of E'mtlloyees working on the project, the techni,·al featnrE'S of the project, the time schedule for operotl1111s or completion of the project, nllll various olhE'r fnctor,<, The central administration deiPgl\ted nil responsibility for the org1111lzatlon and operation of projects to
the State n,lmlnlstrations. Although the State ndmlnistrntlons, In <·ooperatlon with the district control of the
ndunl conduct of project operations, the project orgnnlzntlon on large projects, and the generul rules, regulatlous,
nnd procedures ~overning project operations, the project
operations were reviewed by engineers, consultants, and
other aclmiulstratlve employees of the regional offices and
the central administration.
• Ree WPA Manual of Rulea and Regulatlona, vol. II, "Project
Plnonlni nml OperaUoo.''
'l'he need for delegating a large measure of re1:1ponsiblltty
to the State administrations and to the district offices was
recognized by the central adminlsh1ltlon from the beginning of the program . .Among the reasons for the delegation
of rE>sponslblllty was the fact that State and local laws, regulation><, nnd practices va_rled greatly. Moreover, employment varied widely on Individual projects, ranging from
ll'ss thnn 10 workers on smnll proJE'Cts to more than 20,000
persons on large projects.
The Lines of Administrative
Control and Supervision
At each IP,·E'l of administration, the offices were under
the direct uclrulnistratlve authority of the admlnlstratl'l"e
head at thut level. Two types of relationship existed between offices at different le'l"els of adwlnlstrntlon, the line
of administrative or direct authority and the line of
tl'Chnlcal Instruction and advice.
The lines of admlnlstrati'l"e authority prescribed by the
Corn missioner extended ( 1) from the Commisi-loner
through the assistant commissioners (a) to the central
administrative dh•lsions, (b) to the regional directors, and
(c) to the State administrators; (2) from the regional
directors (a) to the regional divisions and (b) to the
State administrators; (3) from the State administrators
(a) to the State divisions and the sections in the State
mlministrative offices and (b) to the district managers;
and ( 4) from the district operating dhisions to the
(lrOjE>ct superintendents or snper'l"isors.
The lines of technical instruction and advice prescribed
by the Commissioner extended (1) from the central ad111lnlstrntlve division to the corresponding regional and
8tate divisions and sections of the State administration;
(2) from the rE>glonnl office divisions to the corresponding
:,;tnte d1¥lslons and sections of the State administration;
1111(1 (:-l) from the district divisions to those In charge of
1•11rrt>spondl11g functions ut each project headquarters.
The Stnte administrator prescribed the lines of adminlsh·a ti ve authority from the State administration to the
,li><ll'ict offlci>s, from the district offices to the district
divh•lons, nnd from the district offices to project hendquort!'r,..,
Thi> te!.'lmicnl formR and proet>dures de,·eloped in the
ct"nl r11J udminlstratlou were, In part, mandatory proC'f"(hJrl-'>< for mie in State administrations and district offices
nnd, in part, recommended procedures for use at thE>se
IHl'h'I. The ll11e of technlcul uuthorlty was thus different
fr11111 the line of a<lminlstrati'l"e authority. The State dln•,·tur of e111ployment, for example, nlthongh ndmlnlstratil·e1y respon><ible to the Stute administrator, was at the
snme time lt-chnienlly responi<lble to the asslst11nt commlsl<ioner in charge- of the Dh·lslon of Employment in the
central admlnl~trntion.
The WPA Under the Federal
Works Agency
In the establishment of the Federal Works Agency, various Federal 11geucies concl'ruetl with public works and
services were grouped together. At the same time the
National Youth Administrotlou, which hud been administratively a part of the WPA, wus transferred to the adD1g1t1zed by
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EMPLOYMENT
ministration of the Federal Security Agency.' Grouped
under the FWA, according to Reorganization Plan No. 1,
were "those agencies of the Federal Government dealing
with public works not Incidental to the normal work of
other departments, and which administer Federal grants
or loans to State and local governments or other agencies
for the purposes of construction." The other administrations grouped within the Federal Works Agency were the
Public Works Administration, the United States Housing
Authority, the Public Roads Administration (formerly the
Bureau of Public Roads of the Department of Agriculture),
and the Public Buildings Administration. (The Public
Bulldings Administration was a combination of the Public
Buildings Branch of the Procurement Division of the
Treasury Department, and the Branch of Buildings Management of the National Park Service, so far as It was
concerned with publlc buildings operated for other departments or agencies.) Each of the constituent administrations of the Federal Works Agency was beaded by a
commissioner serving under the general direction of the
Federal Works Administrator.
.After the establishment of the Federal Works Agency,
all project applications of the Work Projects Administration were cleared through the F'ederal Works Agency
rather than through the Bureau of the Budget before being
submitted to the President for approval. The appoint• The National Youth Administration, created by Exe<'utlve
order on June 26, 19311, waa placed administratively within the
Works Progress Administration, where It remained until July 1,
1939. The NYA program Included the provision of part-time employment on work projects for unemployed youths between the
ages of 16 and 211 years who were not In regular, full-time attendan<.'8 at school : part-time employment and other student aid for
young people In B<'hools and colleges; job guldan<'e and pln<'ement, apprenticeship training, and other activities In behalf of
nt-edy young people. The work of the NYA Is not covered In the
present report, and NYA employment Is not Included In WPA
employment data. A complete report on the NYA bas been Issued
by the Federal Security Agency. See also statement In Report
on Pro(lf'e11 of the WP.A pro(lf'am, .Tune ao, 1938, pp. 117-67
ment and classification of administrative employees in the
central administration of the Work Projects Administration were also cleared with the Federal Works Agency.
The general orders, including wage schedules, and major
policy matters were approved by the Federal Works Administrator before being Issued by the Commissioner ofWork Projects.
. In July 1942, the President designated tbe Federal
Works Administrator as Acting Commissioner of the Work
Projects Administration, and he in turn delegated the
responsibility for the administration of the WPA to the
Deputy Commissioner of Work Projects.
Liquidation of the WPA
1
' On December 4, 1942, the President wrote to the Federal Works Administrator, agreeing with him that liquidation of WPA project operations should be effected as soon
as possible. ,
The WPA program had been considerably reduced after
the close of the fiscal year 1942. When the President wrote
on December 4, 1942, 5,000 WPA projects were in operation. By the middle of March 1943, all construction and
training projects had been closed out In more than half
of the States. (See page 58.) Normal project operations
were closed out in all States by April SO, and the WPA
ceased to exist officially on June 30, 1943. The Federal
Works Administrator, in the Second Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1948, approved July 12, 1943, was given authority
to set up within the Federal Works Agency a division for
· the liquidation of the WPA. This Division assisted in the '
disposition of WPA property, attended to the settlement of
claims, and performed similar necessary functions.
All necessary employment, pay roll, and other important
administrative records of the WPA have been placed on
approximately 135,000 reels of microfilm. These records
are under the direction of the operations officer of the
Federal Works Agency.
EMPLOYMENT
desiring employment on WPA projects made ap.
PEBB0Ns
plication for such work at approved local public welfare
agencies. Investigation was then made by these agencies
with respect to the applicant's need and employability,
Eligible applicants were certified and referred to the WPA
for employment.'
Eligibility
Need and employability were the two fudamental quallftcat!ons for WPA employment. But eligibility for WPA
1 WPA employment In this section means project employment,
which Includes foremen and other supervisory personnel but does
not Include the administrative staff of the WPA.
employment was limited by rules that changccl somewhat
from time to time. In addition to need and employability,
the main criteria affecting eligibility were: limitation of
employment to one person in a family; active registration
with the United States Employment Service; special restrictions imposed by Congress; relinquishment of Social
Security benefits; age limitations; residence requirements;
and the exclusion of persons currently serving sentence In
penal or correctional institutions.
The broad principles of eligibility were set forth by the
WPA in accordance with Federal legislation. WPA rules
and regulations concerning eligibility were interpreted and
applied hy State and local welfare agencies in the process
of certifying and referring persons to the WPA for t'lll·
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FINAL REPORT ON THII WPA PROGRAM
ployment.• There was a lack of UDiformlty in the local
Interpretation of these regulations. Doubtful cases were
reviewed and investigated by the employment division of
the WP.A, which might refuse to accept local certiflcatlons
ot ellglblllty, and whenever necessary made certlflcatlons
--ot Its own. In general, however, the certlflcatlons or referrals made by local welfare arencles were accepted by
the WPA..
Need
r:;;:;--;PA, at the outset ot Its operations in 1936, accepted as ellgible tor project employment all employable
persons In need who had been on State emergency relief
rolls in May of that year, and all those not on 8\lch rolls
whom the local relief agencies further certUled as eligible.
The number newly certified was so large that the total em~
ployment soon exceeded the 3,000,000 persons for whom
funds bad been provided; and the WP.A therefore ruled
In October 1935 that only persons certUled before November 1 would be eligible for employment durin1 the remainder of the flscal year. This limitation of ellglbillty
was maintained until July 1, 1006, at which time the new
appropriation act reopened intake for WP.A employment
and gave newly certified persons the same eligibility as
those whose need status dated further back.
Congress did not attempt to define need. A practical
method of measuring need, however, had been used by
many welfare agencies. Total family income and resources were measured against an estimated mlnlmum
budget for a family of a given size in the locality. If the '
total family resources fell more than 15 percent below the
minimum budget, then ( In the best current relief practice)
the family was entitled to public rellef. This budgetary
d1•ficie11cy principle bad been promulgated by the FERA.
After the dissolution of the FERA, however, the relief
standards of various States dropped sharply. · In many
communities, extreme destitution had to be shown before
ver~ons would be certilled either for direct relief or for
WPA omployme11t. In other communities there was a
more liberal lnterpretution of need. The WP.A wade an
pffnrt to secure an lmpro'l'ement in social welfare standards n11d pra<'tkes In backward areas, but at the close of
the WPA program the criteria by which need was locally
def Pnni11ed were st III far from uniform. ( See pages 18 to
19 011 certification.)
'fhe upplknnt for WPA employment was interviewed
1111d investigated by the local relief agency In orller to determine whether the extent of bis need was such as to
eutltle him to public relief. This was known aa the means
test.
The WPA reviewed the certlflcatlon of all project workers In the winter of 1936-37 to ascertain how many
persous uo longer in need were continuing to bold WP.A
jobs; nud, in some States, such reviews were made periodically by the state WPA or by the certifying ageney. Per2
F or dPtalled discussions ot WPA employment pollclea see
Donnld S. Hownrd, The lVP.4. and Federal Relief Policy (New
York: Ru ssell Snge Fonn,lntlon. l!l43) and Report of the Committ~e on J.oui:-Rnni:e Work an,I RPIIPf P olicies to the National
RPsou r cps I' lnnnl ng Honrd. Sec11rit11, Work , and Relief Policies,
78th Coni:rPs~, l st ~r•slon. H. Doc. 128, part 3, (W11 shlngton,
D. C.: U. S. Go,·e rnm~nt Prlntlnr Office, 1943).
sons found to be no longer in need were dlsmlsaed from
employment. In the ERA Act of 1989, Congrea directed
the WPA to investigate the neell of all WPA worken1
once every 6 months and to separate from the WPA rolls
any persons not found In need. 1 Subsequent acts required
such review only once In 12 months.
.Althourh WP.A project employment was Intended for
needy workers, exceptions were permitted. It was necessary, aa In the preceding FERA work relief program, to
make such exceptions in order to provide adequate supervision of projects and to obtain certain necessary ekllled
and professional workers not available trom the relief
rolls. By Executive order, in May 1005, it was directed
that "at least 00 percent of all persons working on wor'k
projects shall have been taken from the public rellet rolls,"
unless otherwise specifically authorized by the WPA. The
WPA in February 1937 _ruled that 95 percent of au WP.A
workers In each State must be those certUled as In need
of relief. Btate administrators were authorized to permit
the employment of noncertllled workers up to 10 percent
on any project, while maintaining the required State-wide
average of certUled workers. In the defense and war
period, exemption from this limitation was authorized b;y
the Commissioner of Work Projects to any extent found
necessary for the efficient prosecution of projects of importance to national defense. The proportion of noncerttfled workers was well under 5 percent of the total employment through most of the period of program operations. In the last year the average was about 5 or 6
percent.
Employability
Employablllty on WPA projects was chiefly a matter of
health and physical fitness for the kinds ot work available.•
At the beginning of the WPA program, workers were accepted as employable on the basis of their recent employment on FERA work relief projects; later, employability
waa determined by the local welfare agencies, 8Ubject to
WPA review. Increasing care was taken to a'l'old gi'l'ing
work to people not physically fit, and project workers
found unfit for manual labor were removed from the WPA
rolls unless they could be shifted to suitable work. The
relatively high accident rate whic_b bad marked the previous public work programs, particularly at the beginning
of the CW.A program in the winter of 1933-84, was evidence
of the need not only for a sound safety program but also
for a more careful determination of the employability of
workers assigned to public work projects. ( See page 71.)
Unemployed persons anxious tor work often concealed
• In the period from .July 1, 1939, throueh December 81, 19811,
the casea of 1,884,232 project worker■ were reviewed with reapect to need. Cancelatlons of eligibility were made in 86,201
cases, or 2.7 percent. Of these cancelatlons 21,392, or 1.6 percent,
were made because the persons were considered no longer In need.
The other cancela tione were chiefly In cases whert- the wortera
concerned could not be renched, many of them because they had
r ect- ntly quit their project jQbe for prlv11te employment without
formally notifying the WPA.
• The WPA did not accept either the nge standards or the e:rperlence stnndards of employnbllity set up In some branches of
privnte Industry, according to whi ch men who were over 40 or 4:1
years of :igc and young men without pre¥1ous " 'Ork experience
were "'unemp loynhle." Prh-ate Industry, und er the pressure of
wartime labor needs, bus to II lnrge ex tent relnxed Its standards
with regard to age II nd experience.
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EMPLOYMENT
facts about their physical condition and certifying agencies were frequently Influenced by the desire to remove
trom the local relief rolls as many famllles as possible.
The WPA, in accordance with an Executive order, ruled
at the outset that no person was eligible for WPA employment whose physical or niental condition was such as to
make bis employment dangerous to his own or others'
health or safety ; though physically handicapped persons
might be employed at work which they could perform
safely.
In most States, it there appeared reason to doubt a
worker's employablllty on grounds of physical or mental
health, he was required to obtain a doctor's statement.
Tbe facllltles afforded by cllnlcs and hospitals for free
examination were used whenever available; and In some
places, physicians were employed by the WPA to examine
all persons before they were assigned to project work.
These medical examinations were given to all workers
assigned to work camp projects where they were housed
lo barracks.
Sometimes, however, physical disabllltles were discovered only after a worker bad been assigned to a project.
In these Instances, the WPA employment division reviewed the case, dismissed the worker 1f he was found to
be unemployable, and entered the Information on its
records. If the same worker was, at a later time, again
referred by a local welfare agency to the WPA for employment, the WPA rejected him. In some instances It was
possible to assist the worker In securing free medical or
S11rgical treatment which would remove his disability and
make bis employment possible; the WPA cooperated with
local public welfare agencies toward this end. In some
other Instances it was possible to assign the worker to
another type of work which be was capable of performing.
In 1940 the WPA ruled that persons suffering from certain permanently handicapping disabilities were not eligible for employment unless their education, training, and sxperlence qualified them for special tasks with which those
disab111tles would not interfere. It was also ruled that
only after careful consideration was employment to be
given to persons known to be suffering from physical dis' abilities which required medical direction and supervision to assure continued employability.
Limitation of Employment
WPA employment was given to only one person In a
famlly. The Executive order establlsblng this rule permitted the WPA to grant exemptions but the WPA did not
use this authority to any slgnWcant extent. It was expected that the security wage payments made to WPA
workers would suffice to meet the needs of families of average size. Younger members of large famllles might be
given NYA or CCC employment; and in some States maintaining direct relief programs, supplementary direct relief
was given to large families.
It was ordinarily to the head of the family that WPA
E>mployment was gifen. In some communities during the
early years of the WPA program, there was a disposition
to p11ss ovt>r the head of the fa1111Iy In favor of a younger
and stronger 'l\'orker. This practice wns objected to, however, on tht' ground that It would tend to weaken the respomlblllty ll!l(l authority of the ramlly head and lnJtire
the family structure. Moreover, In many cases, the
younger member of the family could not be depended upon
to devote bis wages to the support of the family. In .
general, It became established as a principle that the family
head or normal wage earner of the family, If eligible,
should be the one certWed to the WPA for employment.
The certification of another member of the family was
accepted by the WPA If the family head was ill and
unable to work for a considerable time, or if be _b ad some
part-time employment, or If he did not possess the sklll
or ability required for projects on which there were rncancles. Some local agencies consistently refused to certify
any but family beads.
There was no formal exclusion of single or unattached
. persons from WPA employment, but heads of families were
very generally gh·en preference in assignments to projects.
Young unmarried adults who left a family group and set up
independent households were not ordinarily recognized as
separately eligible for WPA employment until 6 months
had elapsed.
Registration With the USES
It was required that all workers making application for
WPA employment be registered with the United States
Employment Service, and that WPA workers maintain active registration with the United States Employment Service, ID order that they might more readily find employment
In private Industry. There were areas In which for a
time this requirement could not be enforced because no
public employment offices existed. Itinerant service subsequently provided by the United States Employment
Service made possible a more general conformity to the
rule.
Congressional Restrictions
No requirement as to citizenship was made In the ERA
Act of 1935, but the act of 1936 provided that the WPA
should not knowingly employ any alien who was illegally
within the United States. The 1937 act restricted the
employment of aliens to those who, being legally In this
country, had made application for citizenship prior to the
enactment of this legislation. The employment of aliens
by the WP.A was entirely prohibited by the act approved
February 4, 1939, and all WP A workers were required
to make affidavit that they were <!ltlzens of the United
States. Subsequent legislation continued this provision.
The ERA Act of 1939 forbade employment on WPA
projects of any person who advocated, or was a member of
an organization that advocated, the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force or violence; and
the ERA act for the fiscal year 1941 forbade the employment of any Communist or any member of a Nazi Bund
organization. Subsequent legislation continued these provisions.
Relinquishment of Social Security Benefits
The concurrent operation of the Social Security program
raised questions as to the eligibility for WPA employment
of persons entitled to or receiving social security benefits of
any kind. The amount of these benefits was often so small
that they failed to provide for the minimum requirements
of the recipients. WPA employment policies and practices
varied In regard to the ellglblllty of such persons.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
Persons eligible for unemployment co111pensution benefits, as well. as those receiving such benefits, were nt ftrst
excluded from WPA employment. This policy wns touncl
to result In serious hardship, on account of the long waiting period and the Inadequacy ot the benefits, which were
often as low as $5 and sometimes us low as $1.r>O u week.
On the request ot state \VPA admlnlstratoris, exemptions
were granted from the previous ruling, so that workers
entitled only to very small unemployment benefits coultl
choose between such benefits and WPA t>mployment. In
1041 the policy was ·f urther modified; workers whose unemployment bl•nefits were not more than 75 percent ot the
unskilled "A" wage rate were permitted to choose between
such benefits and WPA em1>loyment. (For a discussion of
wage rates, see p. 23.) By this time the general employment situation was Improving rapidly, and the modified
policy was put Into effect only in those States in which the
inadequacy of unemployment compensation was most
marked.
It was also uncertain whether needy persons who were
entitled under the Social Security Act to old-age assistance, aid In behalf of dependent children, or aid to the
blind, should be excluded from WPA employment. During
the ftrst 3 years of the WPA program these questions were
decided by State and local certification agencies or hy Stute
WPA administrators. Persons included in the first two
groups, the aged and those with dependent children, were
very widely employed on WPA projeets; and there wao<
some employment or the blind on special projects. But In
the tall of 1938, when a shortage of funds made necessary
a sharp reduction of project employment, the central administration ruled that persons Plig-ibl<' tor old-age ass istance or aid In behalf of dependPt lt chlldrPn were to be
dismissed from \VPA employnwnt. Congre!ls overrulPII
this policy in Its joint resolution nppropriating addit101111l
funds, approved February 4, rn:m, by Jll'OYlding thut persons 65 years of age or older and womPn with depPndent
children were not to be harrPd from WPA emp1oyment .
This provision was not repeated In sub><Pqnent IPgislation.
Certifying agencies, thercaftrr, d<'Citlt•d In Pnc-11 casP
'l\'hether persons eligible tor or r<'ce!Yin~ old-ngP bPnC'fttf'
might relinquish them ternpornrily in order to be eliglbh•
tor WPA PmploymPnt; and the WPA ordinarily nc<'f'pted
the certifications of persons who had rPlinqnished such
benefits on the a,lvlce of the certifying agency. Blind persons, under the Y.;RA Act, fiscal year 1941, were grnntNI
Jl<' rmission to relinquish soclul security benpfits tPmpornrily In order to accept WPA employment.
Age Limitations
The minimum age requirement for employml'nt 011 WP.A
projects was originally set at Hi ~·l'nrs: In July 19:.\8 it wns
raised to 18 years. Althou;(h. ns noted above, there was
generally no maximum age limit In WPA employment,
public relief agencies in some States were unwilling to
certify persons more than 65 yenrs old who were entitlPd
to old-age ass istance under the Social Security program.
Residence Requirements
Previous residence In t,h e State or community for any
specific length of time wns not rC'quired by Federal law
iior by WPA rules as a condition of eligibility for WPA
employment. Various State and local laws, however, established long-term requirements of residence ( often 8
years) for recipients of direct relief. Many local public
welfare agencies were reluctant to certify "nonresidents"
for WPA employment, and a considerable number of them
refused to do so. The WPA generally agreed to the exclusion from employment of persons who had recently
moved Into the State or community tor the purpose of getting WPA Jobs; but It held that residence should be accepted as established after a year.
Exclusion of Persons In Penal Institutions
The prohlbiton (by Executive order) of the employment on WPA projects of persons currently serving sentenc·e in penal or correctional Institutions was in conformity with the general policy of the President and the
Congress, which sought to eliminate any competition of
prison labor with free labor.
Certification
Certification, as a process, dated back to the FERA
period, when the State emergency relief administrations
had conducted both a direct relief program and a work
relief program. The local social service dh·ision staffs
ot the State emergency relief adminlstratons investigate<l
the need of families, and at the same time ascertained
whkh, if any, members of the fnmily were employable.
Su<"h employable persons (not more than one from each
needy fnmlly) were then certified as being In need of employnwnt and were referred to the employment division
of the emergenC'y relief administration for assignment
to work projects. This certification covered both need
and employal>illty. The needy family re<'eived direct relief until the member certifif'd for work relief lrnd been
assigned to a project. Certification, direct relief, and
w~rk rellt!f were thus all administered by the same ag1·ncy,
which wns fi111mcPd in whole or In part with Ft)(leral fnnds.
When the WPA was set up in 1935, the State and local
relief or welfare agencies were asked to <"ertify and refer
nePdy Plllployable workers to the WPA fi:r employment,
on the ground that such ngencies were wPII acquninted
with locnl cunditions anti that this should be a State
and local rather than a F ederal res110nsiblllty.
State welfare agenciPs were, in some ln.:tnnces, aided
by the WPA, usually by the assign111e11t of II stafT of
workers to as.<iist the ngencies In th<>lr investigation and
referral of npplinmts. In the mnin this aid wns extended
only In those States and localities where tht! senlce
rendered by these agencies, though good In quality, was
slow nnd inudequnte bP<·nuse of a lark of sulficil!nt personnel. Usunlly this assistunce was given only until the
State legislatures <'ould meet and make atlt>quate provision for the performnnce of this service.
The WPA designated State or local welfare or rPllef
agencies as approved certifying agencies. In some communit ies, where there was no local certify ing ageucy or
where the WPA refused to accept certification from the
local welfare agency, the WPA operated for a time Its
own certifying agencies. WPA certltying agencies conducted investigations of the same kind as those carried
on by approved local agencies. For the most part, bow-
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EMPLOYMENT
ever, certification work was performed by the local welfare agencies.
At the outset of the WPA program, it had been intended that the decisions of the approved local certifying
agency should be final. In some states, In which tlw
processes of investigation and N•1tlflcation were ably carried on, the WPA continued to accept local certifications
without question. In other StatPS, !1owever, it was found
that persons not eligible for WPA employment were being
certified through carelessness, ball judgment, or dlsregar1l
of WPA rules. In such areas it was found necessary to
review many certifications and to reject those that were
unacceptable. The WPA, however, did not make a complete new investigation of all certified applicants; it
acted only for obvloUB reasons in Individual cases.
In an etrort to Improve certification practices, the WPA
in 1938 directed its State administrators to establish stanll·ards of eligibility for certification and to require compllance with these standards from the public-welfare
agencies acting as certifying agencies. This action was
not effective, and in 1939 the WPA assumed the responsibility for certification; the former certifying agencies were
then considered referral agencies. In some States, however, the referrals of welfare agencies were accepted as
being equivalent to certifications, and the term "certification" continued to be widely used in describing the referral
work of welfare agencies. WPA regulations in 1939 prescribed certain general standards to which public-welfare
agencies were required to conform in referring workers to
the WPA for employment. For the purpose of certification,
need was defined as existing wh11re the resources of n
family or an unattached individual were insufficient to
provide a reasonable subsistence compntible with decency
and health. The only requirements to he consltlered In
determining eligibility were to be those prescribed by Jaw
and WPA regulations.
It was frequently urgecl that the WPA assume tile entire
rei,-ponslbllity for determining the need of persons applying
for project employment. But in doing so the WPA might
have been regarded as trPspassing upon a traditional field
of local responsibility. A possible solution was offered
to Congress in 1940 by the Commissioner of Work Projects,
who proposed that the WPA be authorized to contribute
$5,000,000 to local relief agencies, thus meeting 11bo11t onethird of the expenses incurred by them In referrnl work.
This would have made it advantageous to the States nnd
localities to adopt referral procedures which the WPA
thought to be sound; hut thh1 plan wns not adnptt>tl by
the Congress.•
Emergency certifying nctivities were sometimes carried
on by the WPA. The most Important Instance of such
emergency certification occurred in 1038 in the industi·lal
centers of the Middle West, where unemployment wus
Increasing with alarming rapidity. In order to provide
needy workers with WPA jobs as rapidly as possible
during the critical period, the WPA set up Its own temporary certification offices In many mldwestern cities. In
Detroit, the process was popularly called "flrehoust> certifl. cation," because the firehouses were used as certification
• See Hearing~ Before lhe Committee on Appropriations, United
Slates Senate, 76th Congress, 3d session, H. J. Res. 544, pp. 67-70.
offices. The examination of the financial condition of the
applicants was brief because of the need for speedy action ;
the workers who were being laid off' in large numbers from
the automobile plants and other private industries were
quickly certified .as eligible for WPA employment. For
exam)Jle, In Michigan, where less than 60,000 persons were
employed on WPA projects at the beginning of January
1938, nearly 200,000 persons wt>rP employed by July of that
year. This, of course, was an extraordinary occasion, when
great baste was reqnlrt>d in expanding publ}c work to stem
a tidal wave of economic disaster. In these middle western
ureas, howe\'er, when private-employment recovered the
ground it bad lost in the rl'<'esslon, normal procedures of
certification and assignment we1·e resumed.
Normally, certifications were made by approved welfare
agencies and were aecepted or rejected by the WPA. When
the WPA rejected a certification, a notice of the rejection,
with the reasons for it, was sent to the certifying agency
and a copy was sent to the ap)Jlicant. Acceptance by the
WPA of the certification of an appllcant for WPA work
wns the beginning of another process, entirely within the
control of the WPA.
Conditions of Employment
When the certification of an applicant was accepted by
the district office of the Division of Employment of the
WPA, a notice of the acceptance was sent to both the certifying agency and the applicant. In a form letter accompanying this notice, the applicant was told that when
there was 811 opening for him Oil a project he would receive by mall a notice telling him where and when to
report for work. He was also urged to continue to make
every effort to obtain private employment. He was Instructed to notify the district office of the WPA 90 days
later if he were still in neecl of a WPA job and still
actively registpred with the United States Employment
Service.
Awaiting Assignment
The certified applicant's record was placed In the "awaiting assignment" file of the district office of the WPA
Division of Employment. The applicant was then classlflpd occupationally in preparation for assignment to
prnje<.-t work. However, the number of persons awaiting
assignment always Pxceecll'd the number of WPA jobs
11vail11ble, and the waiting pPriod might be long. If an
unassigned applicant at the Plltl of 90 days did not report
himst>lf ns still iu llt-'t'd anti looking for work, his name wus
taken from the uwuiting us:,;lgnment flies. There waR
thus a continuous elenrauee of the flies, which were kept
rPasonably up-to-du te as a list of needy job sepkers.
Occupational Classification
Before workers could be a:-signed to projects, it was
rwcessury to classify them occupationally. At the outset
of the WPA program, the system of classification of
workPrs used under the emergency work relief program
of the E'ERA wns accepted by the WPA. It was origin ally intended that the classification and the assignment
of newly certified workers be pPrformed by .the United
States Employment Service. At that time it was expecteu
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
that WPA workers would be drawn rapidly into private
employment, and that the United States Employment
Service would assist them In finding private jobs. However, the1·e were few private jobs to be found, and the
waiting rooms of the United State Employment Service_
offices were dally thronged with unemployed workers.
The managers of these ·offices regarded WPA work as
actual employment and WPA workers as actually employed; and their efforts were Increasingly concentrated
upon finding such jobs as they could tor workers who were
without work of any sort. Under the circumstances, it
was felt by WPA officials that the work of classlflcatlon
and assignment of persons certlfled tor WPA employment
could be more effectively performed by the WPA Itself,
and In July 1936 both of these activities were taken over
by the district employment omces of the WPA.
In the meantime, us the construction and service programs of the WPA developed and a wider variety of
projects was uuderstaken, it became apparent that a
more adequate classlflcation of WPA workers waa needed.
Project supervisors and foremen were discovering that
many project workers bad skills which would entitle them
to employment at higher rates of pay. Why bad these
skllls not been di~losed in interviews in rellet agencies
or In United States Employwent Service offices? Many
skilled, semiskllh>d, clerical, and professional and technical workers, when applying tor public work, had dei;cribed theru11e!l-es as unskilled laborers In the belief
that they would have a better chance tor employment
than If they s tated the ir actual skills. This belief was
based on the tact that early In the program the great majority of WPA jobs requh·ed only unskilled labor. Io this
Party period, when millions of workers were being put
to work as ru11idly ns possible, many workers were not
wssigned in such a way as to mnke the best use of their
work experience. But with the development of the program,• spPdal skills and ubllities were increasin,gly utilized. As the skills and abilities of work1.!rs were discov!'rt>d, they were re(.'Ordt>d on the workers' cards; ns soon
as possible the workers wl're given more suitable
Ui'S iJ.'lllllentS.
When the WPA took over the responsibility tor assignment, it was recognized that the employment division
l'taffs needt'd training in clasi<jflcatlon. At first there was
informal iu-serYice training 111 many of the States; a regional truinin~ program was Inter established for occuputioual d 11ssiflers, who in turn conducted training progra1u:; i11 tl1 e StatPs. At th e same time, effor.ts were made
to iu1pru,·e th e mt>thous of classification. A work history
turm to be filled in by the worke1· which would give full
occupntional <latu wns pr!'sently adopted for use throughout th e eountry. The information furnish ed by the
worker was supplemented to any needed extent by a personal interview, trade tests, and conferences with former
employers.
The data obtained from thPse sources served as a basis
for the occuputionul classifl<-atlon caru made out tor each
certified worker. On the cnnl there was listed both the
occupation in whiC'h th r appl icant was qualif!Pd for work
on WP.-\ projects and his u~nal occupation. The WPA
cln sslflcation and the u~11 •1J occupation were often different, since the WP A (·ouhi not provide some of the kinds
of employment existing in private Industry. It wu dUllcult to classify satisfactorily tor WPA jobs the workers
whose only prevloUB employment bad been In production
Industries or in occupations that could not be used on
public wort projects. Unless BUCb workers bad awBclent
education or poBSessed special sk1lls that could be used on
projects, they bad to be classified tor WPA work as
unskilled laborers.
Increased consideration was given to the physical condition ot the workers as reported In their work histories.
Persons suffering from certain physical dlsablllttes were
· not to be classified as manual laborers.
In the summer of 1940, when WPA workers were being
considered tor training tor work In war Industries, the
occupational classlflcatlon record was broadened to Include
information concerning these workers' aptitudes for
vocational training. (See page 91.)
Assignment
Workers listed In the awaiting assignment 4les, after
being classified occupationally, were assigned to suitable
wort whenever new projects were started, or project employment was expanded, or replacements were required."
Assignment was made by the i88Uanee of a slip-WP A
form 400,--wblch was malled to the applicant: It Instructed
him to report tor work at a certain place on a certain date,
and informed him as to the type of work he was to do and
the wage rate at which be would be paid.
Assignments were BUbject to certain preferences estab-llsbed by legislation. In the ERA Act of 19a"I', Congress
established veterans' preference In WPA employment.'
Further preferential arrangements were due to the fact
that WPA funds were never l!Ufflclent to employ all of the
persons certified tor employment. Questions arose as to
whose need was greatest. Some State welfare ofllclals
urged that priority In WPA assignments be given, first, to
families of the size (usually tour members) ·t hnt could be
entirely maintained by WP A wages and, second, to larger
tamllles tor whom supplementary direct relief would still
be required. Other welfare o111clals held that the workers
having the greatest need-those with the largest families-should be assigned first. In States where no funds, either
State or local, were provided tor direct relief to employable persons, sentiment was strong tor restricting WPA
employment to the wage-earning member of the lar:1er
tamlllea.
These demands were conflicting, and It was not until
1939 that Congress passed upon them. Preference 111
terms of relative need was established by Congress In the
ERA Act of 1939.' In accordance with this net, the WPA
set up two categories of ne«I-families or persons with
no income and tnrnilies or 1in:-1011s with iueome immffl.
• A special defense rPi:ister Ille was es tablished In 1940. When
a worker was cla1111illed In a defense occupation or was quallfted
tor vocntlonnl trninini: for defense indulltry empl oy ment, a ll(>eCllll
~ard wns wade out and vlaccd In the appropriate section of the
,Iefense regl•ter.
• In the snme ERA act, Congress gave citizens preference oTer
n liens who bad declared their Intentions of becoming citizens.
'J.'be employm ent of aliens by the WPA was, however, prohibited
hy Coni:ress in 1939.
• It wns also provided in the ERA Act of 1939 that veterans
were to be given preference when relative needs were the same.
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EMPLOYMENT
cient for mailltenance on a subsistence level. "No Income"
was interpreted to mean no regular Income significant in
size when compared with the need of the family or person.
For a time, single persons without dependents were placed
In a third category, but It was later decided that they
should be placed In one or the other of the first two
categories.•
The ERA Act, fiscal year 1941, added the requirement
that unmarried widows of veterans and wives of unemployable veterans be given the same preference as veterans. Thus far, the preference given to veterans and
their wives and unmarried widows was a preference over
other persons within the same category of relative need.
However, the ERA acts for the fiscal years 1942 and 1943
gave preference to such veterans and veterans' wives or
widows regardless of the relative needs of others.
Contlnuou1 Employment and the 11-Monlh Provision
During the first 4 years of the program, no attempt was
made to rotate project employment among the workers
certUl.ed to the WPA; on the contrary, as long as they
were unable to find private employment, the workers were
a881gned to new projects when those on which they were
wqrking were completed. Although many workers did
leave the program every month for private employment,
others were continuously employed by the WPA over considerable periods of time. This continuous employment
was objected to by those who felt that the workers awaiting assignment should have their turn at WPA work.
In 1989, accordingly, WPA practice regarding the reassignment of workers on projects was changed. When a
worker's services were no longer needed on the project,
or when the project was completed, bis reco1·d was returned to the file of certified workers awaiting assignment.· Then when additional workers were needed on
projects, ·or when new projects were placed in operation,
assignments were made from the total group of unassigned workers.
Congress, in the ERA Act of 1009, required that all relief workers, except veterans, who had been continuously employed on WPA projects for more than 18.months
were to be removed from employment. The term "continuously employed" was defined by the WPA as project
employment in which there was n!) Interruption in WPA
work and wages for as long as 14 consecutive calendar
days. The Individual earnings record of each worker was
used to determine the period of continuous employment.
The worker was ineligible for reemployment until the
expiration of 30 days following the date of his removal
and until his need had been redetermined by a publi"
welfare agency.
The act for the fiscal year 1941 continued the IS-month
provision. However, a provision in the act exempted not
only veterana but also the unmarried wldow11 of veterans
and the wives of unemployable veterans. Further modl1lcatlons were made In the 18-month provision ln the acts
• A. later modlllcatlon In the Instruction■ permitted the placement In the second category, subject to approval of the central
admlnl1tratlon, of all single persons, except veterans, who were
without dependents and without Income. Full justlllcatlon for
the requeat had to be submitted through the regional office, an,!
tha redellnltlon of relative need was to be applied on a Statew1d• buls to all such Blnile pereons within the etatie.
for the fiscal years 1042 and 1943; only when there were
needy employable persons with the same or similar qualifications who had been awaiting project employment for 3
months or longer, were workers to be dismissed who had
been employed for 18 months. Furthermore, workers dismissed were to be eligible for employment at the expiration
of 20 days after the date of their removal, if they were
recertified as in need and otherwise eligible. Blind persons were also exempted from the IS-month provision.
Terminations
A WPA worker's employment might be terminated for
any of a number of reasons. A large number of terminations were made bee:rnse of limited WPA funds, and many
others were ruade in conformity with the 18-month provision.'0 Other terminations were made because of Illness,
injury, inability to perform the required duties, habitual
nbsen<'e, or Improvement in financial status.
Refusal to accept private or other public employment;
when it was offered at prevailing wages and with reasonable working conditions, was also a cause for dismissal
from WPA employment. The WPA, In interpreting this
legal requirement (ERA Act of 1937 and subsequent acts),
assumed that it was not the intention of Congress to deprive these workers of WPA employment permanently.
Such workers were accordingly made ineligible for reemployment during the period In which they might have held
the private employment, if that period could be ascertained or reasonably estimated. Since the private employment aTallable to WPA workers was often of short
duration, It was ruled by the WPA that the period of
ineligibility for reemployment by the WPA was not to
extend beyond 90 days.
If the reason for terminating employment did not affect
a worker's eligibility or avallablllty, bis occupational record was returned to thP awaiting assignment file, and he
was again cousiclercd fo1• assignment when employment
011portunities arose. Reassignments were in general made
under the same regulations that governed the original assiimments; but persons who had left the program to take
11rirnte employment were entitled by law to immediate re11s1<i~nment if they had lust their private employment
through no fault of their own and If they were still In need.
Labor Relations
The WPA, as an agency of the l<'ederal Government employing labor on a large scale, was under the obligation of
maintaining fuil" conditions of employment. As the right
to strike has no legal existence in government employment,
it was all the more necessary for the WPA to establish
policies designed to protect the workers from unfair treatment and to provide facilities for the hearing and handling
of the complaints and grievances of the workers.
Labor relations In private industry are largely concerned
with wages, hours, aud conditions of employment. But
WPA wages, hours of work, and eligibility for employment
were, in the main, determined by Congress and not by the
•• Since persons with veterans' status hnd preference In retninlng WPA employment, persons without veterans· status were ,llsmlssed first when reductions were mafle In employment. The
distance of the worker's residence from projects was also con,ltlered In making reductions In em~
ment.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
WPA. 11 The WPA w11s coueerned chiefly with fairnei;s in
the enforcement of regulations by foremen and supervisors; this Involved the hearing of workers' complaints
11nd adjustment of their grievances.
The Division of Employment within the WPA wal! responsible for formulating policies and instituting method!!
in regard to: the enforcement of Federal laws and WPA
regulations designed to protect workers'. rights; the enforcement of the rights of the WPA as an employer: the
hearing of workers' comvlaints and the adjustment of
grievances.
The rights of project workers were formulated at the
outset by the WPA in a policy which forbade discri111inutlon on account of race, religion, political afflllatlous, or
union membership or activities. These 1·ights were subsequemly recognized In Uongressionnl legislation."
T-lierigfils of WPA workers thus ineludPcl the right to
Join 01· not to join labor orgunizatious uml the right of i;electiug representatives to meet with WPA officials for the
11m-pose of ndjustlng grlev1111et>s. No labor orgnnizuUou
was recognized by the WPA ns the sole reJJl"Psentative of
WPA workers. WPA offleiuls were fo1•bitlden to ·llii;criminnte against persons because of mt>111ber~hiJ1, or aeth·ity,
or nonmembership in a lnbor organization. The enforcement of these 1·lghts ulded in the enforcement of the other
rights of WPA workers, Inasmuch us the existence of an
organization encouraged indi\•idual workt>rs to u,;e it as a
vehicle for complaints against Injustice.
Only a wry small p1·oportlon of the WPA"s project workers belonged to regular labor organizations, nrul the Interests of WPA workers as such could not be represented
hy outside organizations. But in 193:; a11 or~nnizatio11
culled the ~Prs' Allium•p of Amerirn ww, i-et up hy
WPA workers and unemployed workers. !n 1939. aeconling to testi.muny before a House Subcommittel', It had more
than 260,000 members.a The Workers' Alliance sought to
publicize the need for more u!lequate WPA upprnpriatirrni-.
and It acted HR the rPprt>i-P11t11th·c of WPA workPrs
11
The speclllc wai;:r• HchP<luks. of coursP. were drawn up hy the
WPA, but within the broad prlncipleH Ialtl down by Congres".
Some detailed adju•tments of WPA wages nn,l hours were. nH hns
heen shown, left for a time to the dls.-retlon of State administrators. Organized labor unions (which hnd an Interest In the wages
pnlrl to members of unions who were ·working on WPA projects,
and n!RO In the effPct of WPA wni;,•s upon the wnge rntes of privntl' Industry) PX.-rtPd their inlluen.-e upon the ,leclslons of Stnte
1ulmlnlstrntors In thl• period, nnd later exerted their lnliuence
upon
Congreu,
,. '!'he ERA Act of 1036 mude it II ndsdenlf'nuor punishnhle hy a
llne or lmpri•omueut. or hoth. to 1!1•prlve or att,,mpt to deprl\·e
1111y 1wrsun of tll<' lwnefit• of tht> net hy "di••·rimlnutlon on nccom,t of rnc,•. relh:iou. or polilieul nllilintions.'" 'fl"' ERA Act of
1038 added "no memhr-rship in u lnbor or,:unization"' to the !let
of torhlrl,!Pn i:rom11!s of 1lis,•rimi11ntion. Thr• 1930 act 11111de It a
criminal o!fr>nse for nnynrw to rh•prh·e. or threnteu to deprive. nny
per~on of proj(•ct t.•mployment beenuse of rnee. crePd. or color or
hernuse of any po!iticnl ncti,·ity, support of. or opposition to any
1iolitkal pnrty in 1111y eh•ction.
,
13 These were dfatrihnted amoni:: 1.40!1 !'!rnrtere<l Jo.-nls In 6fl3
counti<'s In 46 States nnd in the District of Columbia. Inltlutlon
fees were not less than 15 cent• nurl not more than
nnrl lncluderl the llrst month"s ,lu<'s. The usual du,•s were 35 or 50 cents
n month; 1111,l only nhout II qunrtPr of the membership was able
to pa~· dues reirnlnrly. In N<'w York City ahout three-lltths of
the members were WP.\ work,•1·•. The lntlupnce of the organization was greatly diminishPd h~· th<' ehurge thnt It wns dominnted
by Communist party members.
,1
( whether members of the Alliance or not) In bringing
Individual complaints and grievances to the notice of the
WPA officials whose duty it was to deal with these matters.
As for the rights of the WPA as an employer, each
worker was held responsible for performing to the best
of his ability the work· to which he was asslgned.u He
was required to report for work promptly on each day
when he was scheduled to work, unless he could glve reai-:ons for not dolug so which were justlflable by WPA r ~
latlons. He was required to carry out all orders of foremen or supervisors whid1 were In the line of duty and
which did not expose him to unwarranted danger. · An:r
worker refusing to carry out orders was subject to
1,uspension.
The worker had the 1·ight to protest against any orders
or other trt>utment which he conslde1·ed unfair and to bring
his grienmce before the npprop1·l11te WPA ofliclals. A
11ro<·1•1lure wns established for the adjustment of grlevaru:es at the time thl'y originated or at a time convenient
to the workers and the project supervisor. If a mutually
satisfactory adjust111t>11t was not made at the project level,
the grievance could be submitted to the WPA oflclal ln
eharge of labo1· relations for the district. From his decision un appt>al could be made to the State office of the
Division of E111ploy111ent. I! the decision at the State level
wus not sntisfactory, the g1ievance could be appealed to
the as;,istant eorumlssloner In charge of the Division of
Employment in the ,·entrnl administration In Washington.
.\t uny ndmlulstratl\'e level the official authorized to ruakt>
dedsions In labor co111pl11lnts might hold a hearing if he .
deemed it advlsahlP.
Imli\'idnnl appeals, hm,·l'vt>r, were seldom <·arried very
fur. It wHs difficult f11r State and Washington officials. fur
remo,·ed from the project, to decide on the rnlidlty of
i<pecitlc grlevanceR. Whene,·er lurge reductions in WP..\
Pmploymt>nt were made, there were many complaints that
forPmPn nnd supenisors discriminated unfairly In the
sPiection of workers to hP dropfl('d from the pay rollia.
'.rhere were alsv cornplalnts by w111•kprs that their dassifkation had been unjustly loweretl. The labor relations'
S<'etlon of the Division of Employment In the central administration w11s not able to sit 11s a court to adjudicate 11
mnltlnde of iruli\'ldunl grlevanct>s; but It did Investigate
co111pl11lnts which, if trne, would Indicate thnt foremen
and su11ervisors were ignorant of, or Indifferent to, the
rt>quircme11ts of Fedt>rnl laws and WPA procedures. Complaints rt>nching tl1e centrul administration were brought.
to the 11tte11tion of Stale 11dmlnistrutors, and the labor
relations stuft of tl1t> central 11dml11istr11tion Investigated
the situation in loeulitit>s from which complnints were
freq11P11t. The result of this process, f1·om the point of
\'iew of individual complainauts, was not alwnys satisfactory. since the parth-ular complaint was not directly adjmlieuted by the hil{l1Pst WPA authority, except In unmistakable cast's. Tht> t>ffect of the process was rathPr to
rliminish the nnmht>r of new grievances by gradually
securing II fuller loeal adherence to WPA policies n11d
methods.
The method of st>ltling lnhor grie,·ances by conferences
14 A work<"r eouhl !Pi;itimatPly refuse an assignment ae onsultnhlP to hi" skll!, nhlllty. or strength; this prl'l"llei;c was, unrler
the <"ireumstauces. set.lorn <'Xer,·ise<l.
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EMPLOYMENT
requires considerable practice before it is accepted in good
faith on both sides. There .was a gradual but very real
Improvement in the local handling of complaints by this
method, and in the last years of the WPA program there
were few appeals at a level higher than the district.
Training and Advancement of Workers
The training of WPA workers for jobs la private industry or elsewhere in public employment Is discussed fully
in the section on training and reemployment beginning on
page 90.
Project workers were generally encouraged to leam new
skills, and those who did so were accordingly reclassified
and placed in higher grades with higher pay. Opportunities for advancement Included promotion to the position
of foreman or supervisor; such promotions were subject
to the approval of the district head of the operating
division concerned.
Wages and Hours
The history of WPA wages and hours fulls into five
phases of partial adjustment to differPnt forces in the
Nation's social-economic situation. These phasPs of adjustment were as follows:
1. The decision to abandon, in the new work relief
p1·ogram, the FERA budgetary deficiency mPthod of establishing wages, and to pay fixed monthly seeurity or
subsistence wages.
2. The decision to pay prevailing hourly ru tes ( while
continuing to limit individual earnings to the security
wage), by the device of assigning fewer working hours
per month to some. occupational groups.
3. The making of upward reYislons or adjustments of
the monthly wage schedule in order to meet rising costs
of living and to reduce wage differentials between the
several skills or geographic regions.
4. The abandonment of the policy of paying prevailing
hourly rates and the establishment of 11 !'ystem of uniform
hours per month.
5. The exemption of defense and war projects from a
fixed maximum of hours and earnings.
Adoption of the Security Wage
In the FERA work-relief program, the monthly earnings of each worker had been determined in nccordance
with the estimated minimum budgetary needs of tltl•
worker's famlly. (See page 3.) The ndrnntages of this
method were obvious, but they were the merits of a relief
program. Although WPA employment was to be restrietl•tl
almost entirely to workers taken from the relief rolls,
the program was to have as far as possil>lP tile eharacter of
a public work program. The budgetary 1leflcieney principle was abandoned at the outset, nud the principle of
predetermined security wages wns adopted instead. As
announced in advance by President Roose,·elt, security
wages were to be "larger than the umouut now recein!d
as a relief dole, but at the same timP not so large as to
encourage the rejection of opportunities for prirnte
employment."
A schedule of standard monthly WPA wng('S wns dn1w11
up in accordance with three facto1·s: ti('gree of skill, geographic region, and degree of urbanization. The wnge
schedule was so drawn up as to yield a general average
of about $50 a month for each worker.
With regard to skill, WPA workers ,,·ere classified in
four groups-unskilled, Intermediate, skilled, and professional and technical. The country as a whole was
divided Into four wage regions, according to the wage
levels customary In those regions. Counties were classified in five groups, according to the population of the
largest city in the county.
The following scbetlule shows the maximum monthly
wages originally assigned for the workers of each occupatlonnl group in each region.
TABLE 3.-SCHEDULE OF MONTHLY EARNINGS OF
WPA PROJE.CT
AGE EMPLOYEES
w
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
JULY 1, 1935-JUNE 30, 1938 •
Counties cla.ssilled according to the population of the largest
municlpallty
Wage class
Unskilled
I
Inwrmediate
Skllled
I
Profes- sional and
technical
Wage Region I
100,000 or more _________ ..
50,000 to 100,000 __________
$55
25,000 to 50,000. -------- .•
}000
25,000.
----------ewertothan
6,000
_________
48
62
«
40
Wage Region II
100,000 or more ___________
li0,000 to 100,000 __________
26,000 to 50,000. ----- .....
}000 to 25,000. --- .... -- -·
ewer than 5,000 __ .... _. _
$45
42
40
35
32
$8.5
$65
60
55
50
45
$58
M
50
«
38
75
70
63
55
$94
83
77
69
61
---
ml-1
66
60
52
«
73
66
67
48
Wage Region III
100,000 or more ______ . __ ..
50,000 to 100,000 _________ .
25,000 t~ 50,000 ..•. __ .....
~000 to 25,000 _________ , __
ewer than 5,000 ___ , .....
$35
33
211
24
21
$52
48
43
:16
30
$68
$75
62
68
62
53
42
;,6
48
38
--
Wage Region IV
100,000 or more __________ .
50,000 to 100,000 __________
2-5,000 to 50,000 ___________
5,000 to 2-5,000. ___________
Fewer than 5,000. ________
$30
27
2!i
22
19
$49
43
3!l
32
27
$68
58
50
42
3o
$75
64
55
46
39
Wago Region 1.-Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylrnnia, Rhode Island, Vermont, Illinois,
Indiana, parts of Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, parts of Missouri, Ohio,
\Visconsin, Arizona, California. Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, ~Iontana, Nebraska,
Nevada, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,
Washington. Wyoming.
Wage Region 11.-Kansas, parts of Missouri, Delaware, District of
Columbia, lllaryland, parts ol Texas, West Virginia.
Wage Rt•gion III.-Arkansas, parts of Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma,
parts of Texas, Virg-inia.
Wage !legion IV.-Alahama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee.
• Effective July 19311, all States comprising Wage Region IV were
transferred to Wage Region Ill.
It was recognized at the outset that any wage arrangements would need to be flexible, and provisions for modificntions were made In Executi\·e ~rder No. 7046, establishing
the schedule, and in subsequent amendments. Under these
prnvisions the wage regions might l>e rl'!l<>flnetl by the WPA
at any time; this would raise 01· lowe1· the wage payments
in Stutes shifted from 011c wngp l"l•gion to unothl•r. In view
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
of the fact that large cities set the standard of wages in
- small towns In their neighborhood, the WPA wage rate;;
applicable to a ·county containing a large city could be
extended to adjacent towns outside the county. If the
scheduled wages for any occupational group were found in
practice to be too high or too low, the WPA was authorized
to raise or lower these wages by not more than 10 percent.
In order to make possible the payment of wages in excess
of the standard wage schedule to project supervisory e1:1ployees, the WPA was authorized to exempt not more than
10 percent of all WPA workers from the limitations of
scheduled security wagcs. 11
A special wage policy was established for "unattached"
workers in camps. At first they were paid, In addition to
subsistence, at the monthly rates of $15 for unsk1Iled workers, $20 for Intermediate workers, and $25 for skilled workers. Later (when men with families were assigned to work
camps), they were paid In accordance with the standard
wage schedule but deductions were made for subsistence.
Hours of work were intended to be uniform for manual
workers, with exceptions permitting customary hours of
work for professional, educational, and clerical workers.
The WPA began by establishing a range of 120 hours to 140
hours a month, leaving the specific number to be determined
by the State administrators.
, The
Decl■lon
to Pay Pnvalllng Hourly Rates
The WPA, having established a range of working hours
from 120 to 140 a month, was immediately subjected to
pressure from organized labor and other groups." It was
pointed out that If skilled workers were required to work
140, or even 120, hours a month for security wages, their
hourly rates of pay would be below prevailing hourly rates;
and this might lead to a lowering of hourly rates In private
industry. It was urged that skilled workers be permitted
to earn their monthly security wages at prevalUng hourly
rates of pay, which would mean working a lesser number
of hours a month than were then required.
Accordingly, In September 1935, the lower limitation on
hours was abolished by the WPA, and State administrators were authorized to determine hours of work and, consequently the hourly rates of pay. In 1936, Congress gave
its approval to this policy by requiring that WPA workers
be paid at hourly rates not less than those paid locally for
work of a similar nature; and this provision was continued through August 1939.
The determination of prevailing rates was left by the
WPA to the State administrations, most of which defined
u 1n April 1937, the WPA authorized an exemption of 5 percent
of total project employment from security wage limitations,
while permitting exemptions up to 10 percent on any single
project ; and the total number of workers so exempted was well
under 5 percent In predefense years except for certain period■ In
the early stages of the program. The wage determination and
the basis for dlfl'nentlatlon of wage rates for project 1upervlsory
employees were henceforth at the discretion of WPA atate administrators, subject to the approval of the appropriate WPA regional directors; thus the wage schedule of project aupervl■ory
employees varied from State to State,
1
• A preliminary E,ecutlve order had established the maximum
hours of work on projects as 8 a day and 40 a week, giving the
WPA authority to d<>termlne hours of work within this maximum.
The WP A first set the hours of work at a maximum of 8 a day
and 70 in any semimonthly periods, except In emergencies Involving the public welfare, or the protection of work already done, or
In otller exceptional circumstances.
the prevailing rate as "the rate earned by a majority of
t•mployees in a given occupation In a given locality." The
rates established In labor agreements were frequently accepted as prevalUng, and the term became more or less
synonymous with "union rates" In localities In which labor
was well organized. The number of hours a carpenter
(for example) was to work a month was computed by dividing his fixed monthly security wage by the hourly rate
prevailing for his trade ; the quotient was the number of
hours to be worked a month. Since prevailing hourly
rates differed greatly for various skills, the range of
monthly hours was wide; skilled, semiskilled, and unskilled employees had markedly different working hours a
month on the same project.
Increases in Monthly Wage Payments
In July 1936, Wage Region IV was abolished, and the
States formerly In that wage region were included In Wage
Region III. This change resulted In a general increase in
wages for WPA workers in those Southern States formerly
belonging to Wage Region IV; to unskilled workers in
rural areas it meant an increase In standard monthly
wages of $2, from $19 to $21 a month. In July 1938, substantial upward revisions were made in the Qarnings
schedule covering Wage Region III. The wage increases,
which ranged from $3 to $7 a month In that region, benefited particularly the lowest-paid workers. The lowest
assigned wage In rural southern areas thus became $26 a
month.
The WPA wage rates applicable to the Southern States
were still, ln the opinion of many people, lower In comparison with those of the rest of the country than was
warranted by differences In the cost of living. In June
1939, Congress accepted this view and included in the appropriation act a provision that the monthly earnings
schedule should not be varied for workers of the same type
In different geographic areas to any greater extent than
would be justified by differences in the cost of living. The
act al~o provilled that the schedule to be fixed by the WPA
should not substantially affect the current national average labor cost per WPA worker.
A new schedule was accordingly adopted; and at the
same time a new arrangement of wage regions was established, and a new subgroup was added to the existing classification by skill. In the new classification of workers
there were two unskilled groups, designated as "A" and
"B." In the South, where unskilled workers In rural
areas formerly had a maximum monthly wage of $26, some
of these workers, now classified as unsklJled "B," had a
standnrd monthly wage of $31.20 a m.onth, and others,
classified as unsk1Iled "A," bad a wage of $35.10.
A previous rule, which had given to adjacent towns the
bl'nefit of the higher rates applicable to certain counties
containing large cities, was now broadened so as to apply
to 19 "large metropolitan areas" (as defined in the 1980
Census) the wage rates applicable to their metropolitan
centers.
The rendjustment of wages was made, In the main, by
raising wuges In the southern region. This could not be
done without slight decrea!'es of wages in other regions,
which were largely effected through the division of the
unskilled group into "A" and "B" grade8. ·
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EMPLOYMENT
TABLE 4.-SCHEDULE OF MONTHLY EARNINGS OF
WPA PROJECT
AGE EMPLOYEES
w
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
SEPT. 1, 1939-JUNE 30, 1943 •
Wage class
Countit•s <'ln.ssifleil e.r<"Ording- to the popn-
lation ol the largest
llnskilledll·nskilledl Tnter-1 Skilled
municipality
''A"
mediate
··u··
I
Proles•
c:ional and
technical
Wa~e Region I
100,000 or more b ••••••
25,000 to 100,000 •••.•••
5,000 to 25,000 ..• ______
$52. 00
48.10
42. 00
Fewer than 5,000 .•..•.
39.00
$57.20
62. 00
48. 10
42. 90
$68. 00
$89. 70
62.40
57.20
81.00
62.00
67.60
74. 10
$114. 00
84.50
76. 70
68.90
Wage Region II
100.0JO or more b ______
2.5,(XlO to 1111,tXJO -----.'i,000 to 2.'i,!XJO
Fewer than
5,ooo::::::
~52. 00
48.10
4fl. 80
44. 20
$57. 20
52.00
50. 70
49. 40
$68. 00
$89. ;o
62. -IO
RI. 10
59.80
81. 90
711.30
76. ill
$9-1. 00
84. 50
81. 00
78.00
Wa~e Rc~i<in III
100,fOO or more b
2.'i.t~IO to 100,()(IO _______
to 2!'),000
Fewer than
,';JOJ
5,000::::::
$,lfi. 80
42. 00
$.'ii i0
48. IO
Jr.. 40
40. 30
31. 20
35. JO
Ml.JO
57. 20
4R. 10
42. 00
$79. 30
74. II)
62. 40
$1\1.00
7.5. 40
65. 00
54.60
55. 90
W,we Re~ion 1.-MRinr, Kew Hampshire, Vermont, llfa.s.snc·htLS<•tts,
Rhode Tslan<i, C'onn<'clicut, ~ew York, New Jersey, Pennsrlvania. Dela·
ware. !\faryla.nd, Distriet of C'o)umhia, \\'est Virginia, Ohio, Indiana,
~Jichigsn, llli11ois, \Viseonsin, ).fissouri, Iowa, ~finnesota, Kansas, Ne~
bra.ska, :c;outh Dakota, North Dnkola.
Wal(e Re~ion II.-:.-.rontana, Wyoming, C'olorn'1o, New Mexiro, Arizona,
Ltah, ~evada, Idaho, \Y~1shington, Orr~on, Ca1ifornia.
\\'Bjle Region III.-Yirginia, Korth Carolina, Routh Carolina, O,•orltia,
FJorida, Ala ha.ma, l\1issi&i,Jpi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana,
Oklahoma, Texas.
• Effccti,·e Nov. I, 1941, project wa~e employees workin~ on projects
which Wt.•r(' not exrmi>ted from the standard hours of work wne granted a
supplenwntary allowance-$5.20 f"'r worker in the unsklllNl, internwiiate,
and skill,•d wage classes, and $3.90 per worker in the professional and technical class.
b The sche<lnle ol monthly earnings applieahle to counties in whieh the
populnlion ol the largest rnunieipality was 100,000 or more is applirahle to
the entire area indudt>d within tht• following nwtropoJitan districts, as such
districts w,•re ct,,finpd hy the 15th Census of the l'nit,•d States, 1930, and
suhsf.'quently rede!lm•d hy the 16th C'l'nsus ol the Cnitcd States, 1940:
Baltimore; B~ton; Bnffalu-~ial!ara; ChicnJ!o; Cineinnati; Clevrland· Detroit; Kansas City, Kansas; KanMs City, )flssourt; Los AngPfo~; ~'ifwaukee; :\-linneapolis-t--t. Paul· Kew York Citv-KortheiLstem New Jersey;
Phila<Mpl1ia; Pitlshur~h; Providence-Fall River-New Bedford; St. Louis
San Fraucil'CO-Oaklaml; Scranton-Wilkes-Barre; Washington, D,- C.
E1tabll1hment of Uniform Hour■ of Work
A very Important chaoge In the WPA policy on wages
and hours was made In 1939. The unequal hours worked
by ditrerent occupational groups had been seriously
hampering the efficiency of WPA project operations.
These unequal hours, as shown abo'l""e, were the result
of paying monthly security wages at prevailing hourly
ratlc's. In the interest of efficiency of operations, the Commissioner of Work Projects recommended to Congress in
the spring of 1939 that n uniform number of hours of
work be required of nil project workers. Since there was
no qt;estion of paying more than security wages, this
change necessarily meant abandoning the policy of paying wages at pre'l""aillng hourly rates. In accordance with
this recommendation, Congress included In the ERA Act
of 1939 the requirem!'nt that, subject to the discretion of
the Commissioner, 130 hours a month be worked by all
project employees, after August 31, 1939."
11 The 1930 act and subsequent acts gave the WPA discretionary authority to employ persons without dependents a lesser
number of hours for correspondingly less pay; but, except In up,
state New York, thls authority was not exercised.
T2TM8-4T----I
The "prevailing rate" policy of the WPA had been
strongly backed by the trnde unions. But, after that
policy was put Into effect, there was frequent complaint
that those WPA workers who had short working hours
were using their free time to perform skilled work In
competition with workers outside the WPA. For this
reason the members of skilled trade unions very generally
acquiesced in the 1939 change In the WPA policy on wages
and hours. The members of some unions, however, protested the change, In the WPA, the change did not atrect
the hours of the majority of project workers, since they
were unskilled and were already working 130 hours a
month. Nevertheless, some "sit-down" strikes of project
workers were sporadically organized In protest against the
new policy; in Minneapolis this demonstration was of
fairly large proportions.
The new policy, however, was soon generally accepted
both within the.WPA and In trade union opinion outside.
The existent prevailing rates in private Industry were
not lowered by the abandonment of the "prevailing rnte"
policy In the WPA; and the efflclenl'y of WPA project operations was greatly Increased hy the establishment of
uniform monthly hours of work for all occupational
groups.
WPA Houn and Wqes In the War Period
'.!.'here were further adjustments in the defense and war
period, when the WPA was occupied to an Increasing extent with projects certified by the Secretary of War or the
Secretary Qf the Navy as of military or naval Importance.
The appropriation act for the fiscal year 1941, and subsequent IE'gislatlon, authorized the WPA to exempt certified defense projects from the limitations on monthly earnings and hours of work. On exempted construction proj<>cts the workers were employed In most Instances on the
basis of -18 hours a week, but on exempted nonconstruction
projects the usual schedule was 40 hours a week. Only
on projects where speedy completion was of the utmost
Importance was the 48-hour schedule exceeded. Workers
on exempted projects were entitled to a corresponding
Increase In earnings."
The number of project wage workers exempted from
the standard limitation of hours vari,->d greatly from
month to month, but represented on the average 12 percent
of project employment for the year ending June 30, 1942,
nnd over 14 percent for the last 6 months of 19!2.'" The
peak In the number of exemptions was reached In midJune 1942, when nearly 138,000 project wage employees,
or 20 percent of all project employees, were scheduled to
11
The working eehedule on certified defense construction proJ•
ectH, beginning In March 1041, could be Increased to 48 hours a
week by State WPA adminlstratore, under the authority granted
to th<'m by the Comrnissloner. In Janunry 1942, the specific
limitation of 48 hours wns remoYed anrl the ,i.-terruination of
the working schedule In excees of standard hours was left to the
discretion of the State WPA administrators. This authority was
to he used, however, only when all other means ( such as the use
of multiple shifts, the employment of additional workPrs by the
project sponsors, or the use of additional equipment) were found
to be Inadequate,
1
• The term "project wnge employees" Is used here to <listlngulsh project employe~s. who were paid scheduled security wns:es,
from project supervisory employees, who were paid higher than
eecurl ty wages.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
work In excess of the standard 30 hours ·a week. The
great majority of exempted workers (nearly nine·tenths
of them In June 1942) were employed on airport and air•
way projects; building projects; hlghwayi road, and street
projects; vocational training projects; and other projects
of similar character.
. As an adjustment to a general Increase In the cost of
living, action was taken to supplement project wages in
the continental United States. Effective November 1,
1941, this supplement amounted to $5.20 a month, or 4
cents an hour, for the unskilled, Intermediate, and skilled
workers, and $3.00 a month, or 3 cents an hour, for the
professional and technical workers. The supplement did
not apply to the exempted workers who were working
more than 130 hours a month on defense projects; their
hourly wage rate was based on the standard wage sched·
ule in eftect prior to November 1, 1941.
TABLE 5.-AvERAGE LABOR CosT PER WoRKER
ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA•
MONTHLY, JANUARY 1937-JUNE 1943
Month
1937
January .....•.. $62. 99
February . .... . 411. 39
March ......•.. 61.63
Uirll .......... 64. 86
ay ......•.... 54. 16
June .. .... ... .. 60. 96
July .....•...•.
August ........
September •...•
October .•.....•
November .....
December•....•
56. IIO
53. 42
58.36
55. 79
63.60
58.16
1938
IQ
11140
11141
1942
$49.61
45. 99
65. 81
411. 49
52. 16
$48. 76
46.117
65. 61l
56.99
511.13
611. 40
$64. 49
60. 26
$66, 66
57. i3
64.114
$62. 63
46.38
611.117
63,611
55.61
58. 80
66.34
511.60
61.16
58. 33
62.41
67. 57
67.82
68.49
60.~
64,81
51.87
64.19
61.32
68. IIO
52. 42
59.44
63. 92
63.89
51.117
55.63
57. 72
60.12
64.01
67. 28
63.02
54. 71
67. 117
611.26
58. 77
60.82
65. 61
65.80
80.92 --··---70.68 -----·-67.00 -------67. 2'l
63. 76 -------68. 18 --------
11143
- - - --- --- --- --- --'64. 40
70.64
76. 07
75.511
66.67
37.14
--------
•Includes supervisory and project wagP employees.
Earnings of WPA Workers
A total of $8,£00,597,000 was paid In wages to workers
employed on projects operated by the WPA; this includes
wages paid to project supervisory employees as well as to
project wage employees. The totnl wage payments are
shown by fiscal years In table 6.
The total wage payments In dlfierent yeurs, primarily
determined by the average levels of employment In those
years, we1·e also affected by other factors which changed
from time to time-the schedule of working hom·s, the
standard wage schedule, the wage-class composition of
WPA employment and its geographic distribution.
Monthly earnings per project employee for the S-yeur
period averaged $54.33, as shown In table 6. The most
pronounced deviations from this 8-year average were in
the first fiscal year, when average monthly earnings were
$47.20, and In the last 3 fiscal years, when average monthly
earnings we1·e successively $;;6.22, $62.93, and $69.76.'"
The sharp rise In the Inst 2 years was clue chiefly to the
grunting of a supplementary allowance to project wage
'° The earnings of project supervisory employees, except as
otherwlMP epecltled, nre Included In average monthly earnings.
Although project supervisory employees received In general much
higher \\·ng!'s than other project workers, their numbers were
relltlnly so email as not to alfect appreciably the a,·erage
monthly earnings per worker.
employees, beginning November 1, 1941; it was also due
In part to the increase In the proportion of project wage
employees who were employed on defense and war projects
and were exempted from the standard limitation of hours,
and lo part to a slight rise In the proportional numbers
of project supervisory employees In the final yenr. 21
The average earnings of WPA workers varied consider.
ably by months, and tended to be lower In the winter than
in the summer. This was due chiefly to the fact that WPA
employment in agricultural areas rose In winter months;
It was the comparatively low monthly wages paid in these
agricultural areas that lowered the average in winter
months.
The monthly earnings of WP.A workers were in general
somewhat less than their scheduled monthly wages, because they often worked lees than the full number of
scheduled hours per month. These time lo8Se8 resulted
from a variety of causes, Including bad weather, shortages
of tools and mate.rials, difficulties lu dm·etalling particular
work operations, delays in the transfer of workers from
one project to another, and, also, sickness and voluntary
absences of workers. As far as possible, workers were
given an opportunity to make up un{e involuntarlly lost, up
to a maximum of 65 hours; but lll'0ject work did not always
ufford adequate opportunities f'lr making up lost time. The
actual monthly earnings per worker were on the average 6
percent less than the scheduled (full-time) wage during
the ftscal years 1940, 1941, and 1942.
The time loss during certain fiscal yeurs of the program
Is clearly appurent in the tabulation of average hours per
man-month worked 011 projects operated by the WPA given
In table 6.n
The adequncy of WPA wages for family support was ut
,·arlous times tested by comparlni; minimum subsistence
budgets for families of different sizes with WPA earnings.
These comparisons showed that WPA wages were safely
nbove the minimum subsistence standa1·d only for small
fumilles.
In some cities WP.A wages were supplemented by direct
relief In the case of large families where the WPA wage
was Insufficient to meer budgetary needs. But It was only
a very small proportion of WPA familiei;; that 1·el'ein-d nny
'direct relief. A larger number of WPA families henetlteu
to some extent from Federal surplus commodities dis•
trlbuted among the needy at the discretion of local relief
authorities. Supplementation of WPA earnings from both
these sources, though of l111po1·tance to Individual families, was neither extensive enough nor lnrge enough to
count slgnillcuntly us an additional resource to WPA
•
families in general.
Outside eurnlugs were mndt> p(•ssible for some \Vl'A
workers l11 the enrly years of the progrum, when tlw11e wus
21
'l'h1• hourly earning~ of PXPmpte<I em11loyees to whom the sup.
plement11ry allovrnn<'<' did not ap11ly were lower than those of
nonpxempted employees of the same wage class after November
I, 1041 ; but the former group's monthly ~arnlngs were generally
higher be<"ause of the greater number of hours worked per month.
For lnstanl'e, for tlw month of June 1942, the average full-time
wage per nonexempte1I emploreP was $61.90, and for the ex•
empled employee, $S5.20, a dltrerence of $23.30 In favor of th,:,
latter.
n A man -mo_n tb of employment Is full time employment of one
man rlurlng a calendar month.
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EMPLOYMENT
TABLE 6.-NU.MBER OF MAN-MONTHS AND HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT, AMOUNT OF WPA LABOR EXPENDITURES, AND AVERAGE HOURS AND AVERAGE LABOR EXPENDITURES PER MAN-MONTH ON PROJECTS
OPERATED BY WPA, BY FISCAL YEAR
THROUGH JUNE
Year ending June 30-
30, 1943
Average
hours per
man•month
Man•months• Hours worked
Total_-···.................................................................
111116 ...•••............••........................•.•.•.•.•••••••••..•..........•••
11137 .. •·••···· •.........•.....•...........•.......•.••••••••.•••••.•••.....••••.•
1938. ················································••··•·······················
19311.. ••••••••••.•.•................•••...•••••.•••••.•••••...••...••.....•.•....
1940 ...•.••••.•.•..•...........................•••..••.••••••••.•.•..••.•.•••••..
!Ml. ..•..................................•.........•...................•.•..••..
IM2 •..••.••••.••.•..••...........••...........•••.•.••••.••••••....•••••.•..••..
!Ma .•.•••••••••••••.••..•...•.••••••••••••••.••..••••••••••.•••••••••••••.••••••
WPA labor
expenditures
Average labor
expenditures
man~onth
1611, 482,272
18,805,492,000
113.6
$8,990,596.7611
$64.33
21,11911,6ll0
26,770,118
23,213,294
34,970,967
23,778,739
19, 1131, 162
11, li66, 652
3,251,690
2, 41i6, 138,000
2, 878, 756, 000
2. 423,767,000
3, 747,869,000
2,912,006, 000
2, 476, 664, 000
I, 4114, 013, 000
b 416,300,000
111. 6
107. 6
104.4
107.2
122. 5
124.3
129.2
128.0
1, 040, 400, 114
1,472,878, 159
1,231,590,282
1,881, 010, 586
1, 289, 469, 608
1, 120, 465, 964
727, 938, 698
226, 843, 348
47. 211
M.02
53.06
53. 79
54.23
56. 22
62.93
611. 76
1-----1------1-----1-------
• A man•month of employment is full•tlme employment of one man during a calendar month.
b Estimated.
Source: WPA expenditures based on U.S. Treasury and Work Projects Administration report.I.
a varying range of monthly hours for dlft'erent types of
workers. A study covering the quarter ending Septern·
her 30, 1008, shows that slightly more than one-fifth of all
WPA workers had eamings from outside jobs and that
the metllan outside earnings amounted to $10.4-l a month.
The opportunities for outside earnings were reduced to
negligible proportions by the establishment, in 1989, of a
uniform 130-hour month.
llourly wuge rates eute1· into u consideration of the ade•
qnacy of \VPA wages. During the first year of operations,
the average hourly wage per project employee was 42
cents. In the following year, us the prevailing wage
policy was put Into effect, the average rose to 51 cents,
and it stood at th11t len•I fm• 3 yPHrs. Afh•r tlw 11tnnd11rd
schedule of 130 hours a month was introdu~l. in September 1009, the average hourly wage dropped to 44 cents
for the fiscal year 1940, and It remained close to that
le,·el until the upward revision of the Wllgf' sche1l11le in
No,·ember 19-11 raiseu it to 49 cents fo1· the fiscal year 19-12.
The average hourly earnings of project workers from the
beginning of the WPA program through June 30, 1942, are
shown by type of project in table 7. In comparison, the
lowest hourly rule paid to common laborers in private In•
dustry was higher than the average scheduled hourly
earnings per WPA project wage employee in the same
month. The aYerage hourly entrance rate of pay of ndult
male common laborers In :...>o Industries in the United States
in July 19-10 was 51 cents. The average hourly entrance
rate was 50 t·euts fur the 16 manufacturing Industries 1mrveyed, 48 cents for the 3 public utility services, and 60
cents for the building construction industry.'"
The quPstlon of the adequuey of WI'A wages was to
1<omp extent obscm·ed hy thP low living standards for cer•
taln groups of workers in various parti;; of the <'ounfry.
n See "Entrnnrr Wni:r RRtrs nf Common Lnhorrr•, .July 1940,"
Monthly Labor Rrr~r,·, LIi, No. l 11941), 1-23.
TABLE 7.-NuMBER OF HouRs WoRKED, AMOUNT OF \VPA LABOR ExPENDITURES, AND AVERAGE
HOURLY EARNINGS ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECT
CUMULATIVE THROUGH JUNE
30, 1942 •
Hours worked
WPA labor
expenditures
Type of project
PeroN1t
Number
Total_ .................................................•..................................
Division of Engineering and Construction ................................................... .
18, 389, 192,000
~=~7io:~.17:~~;: : ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::=:::::: •
Highways, roads. and streets ...................................•..........................
Recreational racllities (excluding buildings) ..............•...................•..............
Santtatlon ...................................•.••••••.•.•..•..•.•...••••••••...••.....•.•..
Water and sewer systems and other utilities ..••.•.......•..................................
100.0
I========'====
13, 3.58, 826, 000
72. 7
'°·48
$8, 763, 753, 000
6,291,197,000
0.47
1-------•l----•1------
30g,888,000
I, 531,839,000
707, 613, 000
7,251,201,000
1, 343, MS, 000
443. 080, 000
1,711,646,000
2.0
8.3
3. II
39.6
7. 3
2.4
9.3
190, f,00, 000
869,033, 000
327, 605, 000
3, 148, 167,000
121. 262. ooo
172,677,000
855,853,000
15.2
8. 7
1, 586, 942, 000
629, 677,000
1
Division or Service Projects ....•........••.........................•........................... ======.====I======
23.11
2,216, 51g, 000
4,3111,211,000
I
=t': ~~~~I~~~~.".':~~>.·.~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::I======I
DlvWon of Training and Reemployment .................. . ..............................•...•.
117. g78, 000 I
2, 7115, 372,000
1,601,846,000
Olher b ..•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••.•••••••.••.•••••..•.•••••.•••••••••••••.•••
Average
hourly
earnings
536, 172, 000
0.6
47.675.000
7.11
208, 362, 000
I
0.50
-----
0.57
0.39
I
• Data on hours worked by type or project are not available lor the fiscal year ending June 30, 11143.
• Includes data on engineering survey, other oonstructlon, supply MJctlon, and public work reserve proJecta.
Source: WPA expenditures !>Med on U.S. Treasury Department and Work Projects Administration reports.
Digitized by
0.52
0. 57
0.46
0.43
0.5-1
0.39
0. 50
Google
0.411
0.39
28
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
A standard of living possible under a WPA wage might be
below a reasonable standard of living and yet be sufficient
to maintain the very low level to which certain groups
were accustomed. The various Increases In WPA wages,
as shown previously, benefited most of all the lowest•pald
group of workers, and narrowed somewhat the gap between their project earnings and those of the hlghest•paid
groups. Since the lowest.paid workers were vastly In the
majority In the WPA, the effect of the wage adjustments
was to impro\'e somewhat the level of llvlng of the lower
Income groups.
The WPA program had been started with the expecta•
tion that private Industry would soon be able to absorb the
large mass of unemployed workers, and that private wages
would soon afford them a higher level of living than could
be provided by WPA wages. The actual rate of absorp,
tlon of the unemployed by private Industry was slow, and
the general employment situation was not decisively
affected until defense and war production was well
under way.
Employment on WPA Projects
There was a wide variation not only from year to year,
but also from season to season, and even from month to
month, In the numbers of workers employed on WPA proJ•
ects. The level of employment during a fiscal year was of
course lim.lted by the amount of funds made avallable by
Congress for work relief. Congress had determined the
TABLE 8.-AVERAGE NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA PROJECTS, BY PROGRAM•
MONTHLY, AUGUST 1935-JUNll 1943
Month
Total
Projects
operated
byWPA
Projects
operated
bled!~
agencies b
1836
July ......................................................... ···•···••·••··•
August..........................
• 220,163
• 220,163 ...•.••••......
September.......................
October..........................
November.......................
D-ber.... .... ... ............
•• ·• ••••••••...
.•......••.•...
.............. .
.•.••••....•..•
t:~························
tl.1·.:
::::::::: :: :: ::::: :: ::::::
lune••••..••••••••••.•.....••...•
Jul:,••••••••••••••••.•••••.•••••.
August ......................... .
ief=~·::::::::::::::::::::::
November ...................... .
December ......•................
um
January .•••.•.•.......•.•......•
tt~~::::::::::::::::::::::::
u::····························
June .•...........•.............•.
July ••.•.•.••....•.••.••••••.•.••
August•..••...•••....••..•.•.. •.
September .•.....•.........•...•.
October ........................ .
November ...................... .
December ••••.......•..•••......
!f............................
Jul:, ........................ .... .
AullJSt ........................ ..
i,=~::::.::::::::::::::::::
November ...................... .
December .....•.•......•.•.......
1939
i~~SZ;;::::::::::::::::::::::::
March .......................... .
te::.·.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
June ........................... ..
l/139
Jul:, ............................ .
August ......................... .
September••..•••••••....•...•.•.
October ......................... .
November ...••••....••..••..•...
December....•.••....•.•.•.•...•.
374,316
705, 169
1,814,9118
2,667,100
2,879,733
3,019,098
2,900,316
2,626,367
2,396, 719
2,285,622
2,879,733
3,019,098
2,900,316
2,626,387
2,396,719
2,286,622
2,246,328
2,332,380
2,463,602
2,662,674
2,Ml,042
2,247,461
2,246,328
2,332,380
2,463,602
2, M2, 674
2,Ml,042
2,247,461
Jul:, •... ••·••••·•••· .•.••.•••••••
August ...••.••.•.•.•.•..••...•..
2,131,079
2,149,369
2,129,475
2,078,221
2,021,579
1,878,008
2,131,079
2,149,369
2,129,476
2,078,221
2,021,579
1,878,008
Januar:, ......................... .
February. - .................... .
March .......................... .
I, 631. 704
July ..•........•.........•.....•.
August .......................... .
Projects
operated
byWPA
Projects
operated
b:, other
Federal
agencies"'
2,282,087
1,970,688
1,720,996
1,877,439
I, llffO, 518
2,123,431
2,236,1131
I, 909, 8811
I, 6li6, 019
I, 804,063
1,882, 7M
2,046,889
2,218,314
2,309,218
2,310,639
2,144,040
1,766,632
2,142,688
2,234,695
2,236,369
2,064,462
1,896,642
1,669,672
1,666,479
I, 701,512
1,692,641
I, 766,489
1,799,382
1,869,694
1,610,711
1,647,164
1,636,824
1,711,751
1,746,083
1,808,696
1,800,345
I, 884,115
1, 763,2«
1,609,801
I, 488, 5911
1,410,930
1,841,318
1,836,995
I, 708,675
1,666,326
1,446,994
1,369,727
1,054,004
1,042,633
1,036,994
1,040, 28li
1,066,401
1,053,096
1,041,001
1, 031,3111
1,026,996
1,028, IOII
1,043, 7111
1,041,686
1,023,703
1,028,576
963,496
866,723
1,020,381
1,026,638
961,795
866,144
78t,486
6ll6, 307
3,322
1, ll38
I, 701
524,976
447,168
170
46, 1117
tlO, 802
64,977
73,376
77,784
77,1142
19.jl)
January ........•.•.....•.....•.••
tit~::::::::::::::::::::::::
u.1~: :::::::: ::: :::::::::::::::
June ..••.•......•................
September.•.•...•.........••.••.
October....•.•••.••...•••.••...••
November .•.•••......••.•.•.•...
December....•.••..•........•.••.
1,981,666
73,726
74,6211
76,180
711, 15811
86,o:H
811, IMIO
44, 7118
M.lHII
66,817
M.788
63, 21111
llO, 111111
19,'1
1,631,704
I, 610,894
1,466,977
1,462,605
I, 603,720
I, 696,676
u:~····························
June ...........•.................
I, 610,894
1,466,977
1,462,606
~~::i:.~::::::::::::.::::::::::
November ••.....•.•••••••.......
I, 003, 720
December .•.•••.••..............
1,696,676
49,0'n
47,120
44,569
43,476
U,606
41,203
13, II03
11,214
10, 11116
12, 17&
12,810
11, 40ll
19,41
l9S8
~':.::0~::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mlll'Ob .......... ............... .
Total
374,316
705, 169
1,814,9118
2,667, llKI
11158
lanuary ......................... .
Month
1,803,102
2,003,840
2,321,641
2,M0,464
2,640,246
2,743,026
1,803,102
2,003,840
2,321,641
2,M0,464
2,640,246
2,743,026
2,999,021
3,125, 2«
3,213, OOII
3,286,611
3,334,694
3, 161,0llO
2,914,121
3,040,237
3,123,568
3,195,567
3,241, 1157
3,069,341
January ......................... .
ttr:::::::::::::::::::::·:::
U:;1... ..........................
June .......•.....................
84,900
86,007
00,041
111,o«
92,637
111,739
Jul:,•••••....................•...
August. ..•....•.•...•...•.......
September .............•.....•.•.
October ......................... .
November ...................•...
December ......•.•.•...•.•.•.•.•.
786,007
697,701
625,146
447,267
401,060
381,295
363,006
336,934
400,968
381,248
362,977
331,931
19~$
3,021,596
2,006,664
3,009,110
2,792,362
2,645,550
2,678,041
2,931,401
2,007,356
2,920,066
2,679,046
2,509,875
2,438,432
00, 1114
89,198
89,044
113,316
135,675
139,609
Januar:, ......................... .
~!-%~:::::::::::::.:.::::::::
288,662
202,568
135,934
81,860
June .•••..•......•...•...•••.•.••
42,437
tt:r~= == ::: : ::::: ::: : =======: ::
45,981
288,662
202,568
136, 1134
81,860
45,981
42,437
• Data represent averages of week!:, employment counts made during the months.
b Financed by allocation of WP A funds.
• Average fpr Jut three weeks.
Digitized by
Google
1,6711
1,622
1,394
gg
1l'J
47
28
3
______ .. _______
-------- .........
---------··-··
----··---·-------·--·-----.........................
29
EMPLOYMENT
CHART 1
EMPLOYMENT ON WPA PROJECTS*
Through June 1943
MIWONS
MILLIONS
OF PERSONS
4
OF PERSONS
4
-- 3
2
---------i2
I----¾--!--
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
• Includes per-. employed on WPA projects operated by other Federal qenclN.
WPA 4148
amount of these funds on the basis of estimates of existing
employment conditions and of anticipated changes. At no
time were appropriations large enough to provitle WP.A
jobs for all eligible needy workers. ( See section beginning on page 94.) The central administration of the WPA,
in its allocation of funds, was obliged to provide not only
for regularly varying seasonal needs but also, as far as
possible, for abrupt changes in employment conditions and
for special emergencies caused by droughts, floods, and
other disasters.
The first period of \VPA opemtions, l"o11sidere<l in terms
of employment, was neces,iarily one of expansion. This
period of expansion extended from the beginning of the
program in July 1935 through Fehr11ary rna6. ln the latter month an average of 3,019,000 lll•rson,i luHI project Jobs.
The period from March 1936 throu~b Septen1ber 1937 wtts
one of Increasing private employment. Duri11g this period
the number of WPA workers gradunll)· 11iminished, except
in the drought areas of the West where hundreds of thousands of persons economically ruined by drought conditions
were provided with project jobs during the 111st 6 months
of1936." After a very slight seasonal ri~e in WPA employment in February 1937, the WPA rolls dlmini~hed contlnu"Public employment, chl,•fly on WPA projects, wnH given to
abo11t 300,000 needy persons hPtween June nn<I NO\'<'Dlher 19:lfl
hecauKe of ,trouirht ,•ondltlon•. By the end of that yenr n<'nrlr
all of these cnaes hnd bM>n trn nsfrrrPd to the Resetf!Pment A<lmlnlstratlon_ See Report on Progrr~3 of t11e Worh Program,
,lune 19S7, p. 4.
ally until September 1937, In which month.an average of,\ _
only 1,456,000 persons had project jobs.
·, -·
Unemployment resulting from the business recession reversed the downward trend of WPA employment late In
]!)37. As unemployment increased, WPA employment Increased, especially in the Industrial areas most severely
affected by unemployment. This expnnslon_ of __W_llA em-_
ployment continued until the late fall of 1938. Employment
-was also gi\•en to many tenant farmers anct' farm laborers
in the South during tl1e summer 1111!1 fall of 1!)38, and e111erge11ey employment was given to some persons in New Englaud nfter the disastrous hurricane In September of that
yenr. In November 11)38, WPA employment averagPtl
3.33."i,0OO persons.
'l'hat was the J>Pak of WPA employment. As private
e111J)lorme11t 1·01ulitions lm11roved, WPA e111ploy111e11t dimlni,ihe1I. Ju .June 1939, WPA emplo~·111pnt aYerngPd 2,578,fH)0
workers. Duri11g the next 3 months there wa~ 1111 unusually sharJ) clecli1w in WPA emJ)loyment as a result of
l{reatly reduced appropriations and of the Iegislntlve proYiRion requiring the removal from the rolls of persons who
had hPen employed on projects for 18 months or longer. In
September 19::!9, WPA emplo~•ment a,·eraged only 1,721,000
persons. Seasonal incrensf's in unemployment and nee<l
Increased WPA employment to 2,311,000 worke1·s in Mnr<'h
l!l40. but hy .Tnne 1940 It wns down to ahout 1,75fl,OOO.
In the fiscal yPar beginning with July 1940 private employment began to increase, pnrticnlarly in industries
engnged In defense productlonG WPA empJoymeot. 111.
Digitized by
oogte
30
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
though it followed the usual seasonal patteru of decrease
in summer and increase in winter, wns lower on the average
than in uny pre'l"lous fts<·nl year.
The nppropriatlon for the flscnl yenr beginn ing with
July 19-U rPQuirP(] an lmmedl11te and drastic reduction In
WPA employmrnt from an uyerage of 1,411,000 In June 1941
to 1,055,000 In the following month. There was llttle
c•lurnge In WPA employment In the 11Pxt O months, and the
monthly ayerages during this period were slightly above
1,000,000. Hy Mnrl'h 1942, us n rPRult of the rapid expension of wur Industries, WPA employ111e11t had begun to
decrease rapidly and continued to decrease until the close
of the program. 'fills reduction In WPA employment was
greatly aided by the training of WPA workers for placement In war Industries. (St-e pages 90 to 93.) In June
1942 the WPA provided project employment for .an average
of 698,000 persons; In December 1942, the month in which
official liquidation of the WPA program began, the average
was 337,000. During June 1043, the final month of WPA
operations, the a\'erage project Pmployment was about
42,000; but only about 2,000 persons were employed in the
continental United States, while more than 40,000 were
employed In Puerto Rico and the Virgin lslnnds.11 The
liquidation of WPA project employment was completed by
June SO, 1943. Employment on WPA projPCts in the 8
years of the program Is shown in chart 1. Table I of the
appendlJ: shows the number of persons employed by weeks,
from August 193.5 through June 19~3. and table II gi"es
Mate distrlhutlons, qunrtt>rly, from Sentember 19:lri through
June 1943.
During the E>ntlre period of WP.-\ operntions, 18,805,000,000 hours of work wt>re performE>d on projects operated by the WPA. These hourR of work correspond
roughly to 165,482,000 mn11-111onthR or Pmployment (nt au
nvernge of about 114 hours a 1nnn-montb) . The fiscal year
ending with June 1939 (the J)('Rk yt>ar of operations) arc-onnted for approximately one-fifth of the totnl hours
workP<l nlHl man-months of WPA employment. (See table
6.)
Relationship Between Unemployment
and WPA Employment
The WPA provided employment for only a ()ortion of
the total number of nne111ployl'd workers. As shown
nbove, the unemployed group inl.'luded many workers who
were not eligible for WPA employnwnt, some becnuSE> they
were the ref'lplents of unemployment compensation paylltf'nts, and olht>rs ber1111se the~• hnd been able to acl'm1111late snvings or were re<·ell'ing nssistanre from relatives
or frie111.ls. Moreo'l"er, the WPA did not provi1le employment for more thnn one member of a fnmlly group. There
were also, nt nil times, many persons eligible for WPA
employnu•nt who were not gil'en sul'II employment becnuse
11f it111dPQU:tt!' Wl'A funds; it bas been estimated by the
WP.\. thnt betwL'en the spring of 1938 and the early part
of l!Hl the number of certified eligible persons who were
"'The WPA eondurted a work relief program In Puerto Rico
and the Vlri:ln Islnn<ls from October 1039 through June 1943; a
spPeial work r<'IIPf progrnm was conduC'ted there by the Federal
Work~ AgPncy for fiH months after the WPA ceased operations
(July through Nonmber 1943).
not given WPA employment varied from ft00,000 to
1,300,000.11
It Is estimated that WPA employment was never more
than 40 percent of the total number of unemployed workers and, at times, ft was as low ns 18 percent. In 1936 the
average number of persons employed on WPA projects was
slightly more than one-third (34 percent) of all unemployed workers; nnd lo subsequent years the proportion
ranged between 22 percent and 28 percent."
Increases and decreases 111 WPA employment corresponded, on the whole, with Increases and decreases in
total unemployment but with less pronounced fluctuations
and with a certain time lag.
Some increases tn WPA employment, which were made
necessary by local emergency situations, occurred during
periods when unemployment in general was decreasing.
The Increase ln.WPA employment In the late summer and
early ran of 1006, which was necessary because of the great
increase or need In drought arens, was concurrent with
general decreases In unemployment during the same period. Again, the lncrense In WPA employment In the
,mmmer of 1938, which was due largely to the employment
by the WPA of needy southern tenant farmers, occurred
during a period when unemployment for the country as a
whole was decreasing. On the other hand, regardless of
general economic conditions, substantial reductions In
WPA project employment were sometimes made necessary because of smaller appropriations or certain legislati"e restrictions on WPA project employment.
Labor Tum-over on WPA Projects
About 8,ft00,000 different persons were at one time or
another - employed on WPA projects during the 8-year
period of the program. This total Is two nnd one-half
times as large as the peak WPA employment of 3,335,000
workers In No,·ember 1938, Indicating the extent to
which the WPA project workers were a constantly
changing group.
The WPA differed from prlmte industry In Its attitude
toward the problem of turn-over in employment. The nlm
of private industry Is to keep Its employees; lt was the
nim of the WPA to assist Its employees In securing prl\'ate
employment.
The seperntlons of WPA workers from project employmE>nt were either voluntary or administrative. Most
of the voluntnry sPparntlom1 occurred because the workers
hnd found pri\'ate E>mployment; other voluntary separations were made for various reasons, such as Illness,
Injury, or new sources of income... The greatest increases
H P11rt of the 1.:n1• IH'tween WPA <'IIIJ1lny11wnt And totol unem11loymeot was OIied hy the nt'tl\'ill<'N of other )lrogrnms which 11ro,·lded for more approprlnte typP• of nit! tor specific groups of the
unemployed . The CCC and the NY A pro,·lded employment tor
young people. Unemployment 1•nmp.. n,ntlon pnrments were pro\'hled (beginning In 1938) tor wnrk1•r11 dnrlng the tlrst few weeks
or their unemployment.
"These percentages are basPd on unPmployment l'ftllmatea prepared by the National In,lustrlal Coofer Pnce Bon rd and, beginning
with April 1940, by the Ilurenu of lh<' CPnSUR.
• WorkerB leaving proj<'ct .. 111,,lo~·nl<'nt for military service were
tlonH ; only a ,mall percentnge
Included among voluntary
of WPA workers were Inducted sln<"e at 11,1, time most WPA
workers were above the draft age or hnd depl'l11le11 ts.
""'"'rn
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EMPLOYMENT
In voluntary separations were in the periods of rapidly
rising private employment.
Administrative separations of workers from project employment were made chiefly for the purpose of adjusting
WPA employment to available funds. For instance, sep-
arations were often large in number In the last weeks of
the fiscal year because of the necessity for making adjustments to the appropriation for the next fiscal year.
Administrath-e separations were also made in order to
carry out legislative provisions. In the summer of 1989,
TABLE 9.-NmrnER OF AssrnNMENTS TO AND SEPARATIONS FROM EMPLOYMENT oN WPA PROJECTS•
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
MONTHLY, JULY 1938-DECEMBER 1942
Separations
Month
Assign•
ments
Separatlcn rate
(percent)b
Asslgruncn t
rate
1
V o l u n t a r y • ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - , (percent)b - - - - - - - 18-month
Other
Total
Voluntary
Total
provision d
Discharges and ~y-<>ffs
Total
1~8
311,568
308,952
276,846
327,086
164,774
117.056
163, Oft2
191,195
227,822
212,827
237,812
294,146
117,799
137,276
172. 581
157, 1186
146, 192
115,478
46,263
53,919
65,241
54,841
91,620
178,668
-------------------------------------------------------------------
45,263
53,1119
65,241
54,841
111,620
178,668
11.4
10. 7
9.0
10.5
5.1
3.1
s. 9
6. 6
7.4
6.8
7.4
9.3
4.3
4. 7
5.6
5.0
4.5
3. 7
110,301
239,754
177,477
114,938
130,592
1311, 574
215,876
180,183
246,314
340,427
275,424
225,004
103,322
94,707
133,527
123,582
115, 748
103,169
112,554
85,476
112. 787
216,845
159,676
122,735
-------------------------------------------------------------------
112,554
85,476
112. 787
216,845
159,676
122,735
3. 7
8.4
6.1
4.0
5.0
5.6
7.3
6.3
8. 6
11.11
10. 5
9.1
3.5
3.3
4.6
4.3
4.4
131, 1179
292,897
404,188
349,154
329, 4311
~.348
485,825
784,633
230,946
243,821
197,473
186,945
148,394
104,205
108,069
113,834
79,284
64,400
337,431
680,428
122,877
1211, 987.
118,189
121,545
171,074
611,733
86,364
63,820
55,925
ro, 726
166,357
68,695
36,513
66,167
62,264
70,819
5. 4
14. 6
23.0
20. 5
18.2
15. 7
19.8
311. 2
13.1
14. 3
10. 9
9.6
6.0
6. 2
6. 1
6. 7
4.4
3.3
June ...........•...........................
331,857
269, 789
205,803
166, 743
155,119
107,027
213,808
204,837
292,734
338,620
304,574
377,928
79,078
74,999
94,963
104,358
96,878
81,857.
134,730
129,838
197,771
234,262
207,696
2116, 071
49,602
48,220
43,817
39,021
17,180
8,601
85,128
81,618
153,954
195,241
190,516
287,470
15. 5
11. 5
8.9
7.6
7.6
5.6
10. 0
9.1
12. 7
15. 5
14. 9
19.8
3.3
4. I
4.8
4. 7
4. 3
July .•...•.....•..•..............•..........
August .........••.•...•......•.............
September .••................••.....•......
October ....•.•................•.......•..•. .
:-lovember.....................•••..........
December ..................•.............. .
252,684
194,679
229,588
240,791
202,t69
233,215
176, 753
207,973
186,780
191,827
166,420
166, 189
74,605
80,061
89,019
105,996
86,100
86,164
102. 148
127,912
97,761
85,831
80,320
80,025
9,617
25,223
17,671
10,4115
11,813
!2. 242
92. 531
102,689
80,090
75,336
68,507
67,783
15.9
11.6
13. 7
14.0
11.6
13.0
11. I
12. 4
11.2
11.1
9.5
9.2
4. 7
4.8
5.3
6.1
4.9
4.8
216,074
168,528
166,978
100. 947
188.146
136,340
199,374
220,464
334,883
306, 70ll
286,871
384,051
111,088
104,694
125, 104
139.821
138,303
119,389
88,286
115,770
209,779
1611, 888
148.568
264,662
17,350
40,440
74,352
76,586
55,813
40,815
70,936
75,330
135,427
90,302
112. 755
223,847
11. 7
9. 1
9.1
12. 1
12.3
9. 7
10.8
11.8
18.3
18.9
18.8
27.3
6.0
5.6
6.8
8.6
9.1
8.5
167,283
148,454
140,459
138,259
111,574
106,495
305,853
139, 703
145, 190
119,680
94,477
132. 603
100,070
89,436
98,350
80,594
54. 674
60,784
205,783
50,267
46,840
311,086
39,803
71, 8111
16,150
6,180
3,884
3,231
2,270
2,440
189,633
44,087
42. 956
35,855
37,533
611,379
14. 7
14. 7
13.8
13.8
11.0
10. 3
26.9
13. 9
14.3
11. 9
9.3
12. 8
8.8
8.9
9. 7
8.0
5.4
5.9
133,300
94,327
83,648
95,389
76, 746
52. 910
121,672
110,436
177,277
173,559
160,592
155,843
71,186
71,219
100,733
116,104
IOI, 650
81,618
50,486
39,217
76,544
57. 455
58,942
74,225
3,387
3,4:lll
3,334
2,630
1,254
1,020
47,099
35,797
73,210
54,825
57,688
73,:1()5
13.2
9.4
8.6
10. 7
9.5
7. 5
12.0
11.0
18.1
19.4
19.8
22. 0
7.0
7.1
10.3
13.0
12.6
176,864
101,376
79, 708
75, 732
58,260
58,172
66,713
56,604
61,217
60,429
47,367
40, 1164
110,151
44, 772
18,491
15,303
10,893
17,208
1,717
453
332
190
35
24
108,434
44,319
18,159
15, 113
10,858
17,184
6.6
9. 2
14. 7
14.6
8. 6
5.8
28.2
21.5
20.1
20.4
16. 7
18. 4
10.6
12.0
15. 4
16. 3
13.6
13. 0
Joly.••............•........................
t=ber................. ·················
October .•.•••.••..•••...•.•...........•.....
November ................................. .
1'-nber................................. .
1~9
Jannary····· ............................... .
~···································
E:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
JalJ ...•.•..................................
=~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·
NOYalllber ........... .....................·.
0-ber.................................. .
19~0
January •••. ···········•······ •..••••••.••..
February .•....•.•..••...••.................
March ....••........•.•.......•......•......
u:r:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.
19~1
January ..•.••.•. ······················•···.
February .••.......•........................
!\larch .......•..•.........•.................
~::1-......................................
June .........•..............................
July .......•............................... .
August_ .......•.......•....•...............
September .....•. ·······• ...........••......
October ........•.•.•.•...........•....•.....
November •..•.•.•••.•......................
December ..•••••.....•.••.....•... •········
19,ll
January •••••.•••.••••••••••.•••.•.••.••••• .
Pebruary .......................... ........ .
Mu-oh ................ ·············· ....... .
tri:-:1. .. ·············•················ ..... .
June ..•••• ••••• ••• ••· •••••••••••.•...•••.•..
Joly ..•..........•.........•...•............
AngnsL ••.•••.••..•.......•...•.•..•••.....
~ci:=rb~~:::: :: :: : : : ::: : : : :::::::::::::::::
November .•.•.•••.•.•.•••.•....•...•.......
December..•.•....•.•.....•.••...•..........
41,150
43,628
58,458
54,146
30,088
18,435
4.2
3. 7
Ii. 5
• Prior to January 1940, date do not Include nonreller employment. Data ror workers employed on WP A projects operated by other Federal apncles are
not Included In the figures shown for July and August 1938.
b Percent or total employment at beginning or month.
• Most or these separations were made for private employment; separations ror such reasons as active mWtary aervlce, new 90urces or Income, Illness, death,
etc., are also Included.
d Separated In accordance with sec. 16 (h) or the ERA Act or 1939, sec. 15 (b) or the ERA Actt.~scal year 1941, sec. 10 (bl or the ERA Act, ftscal year 1942,
111d sec. 9 (b) or the ERA Act, ftscal year 1943, requlrlnl separation alter 18 months or oontlnuoiu w PA employment.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
CHART 2
ASSIGNMENTS TO EMPLOYMENT ON WPA PROJECTS
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
July 1938 - December 1942
THOUSANDS
THOUSANDS
OF WORKERS
OF WORKERS
500
500
400 f - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - ---A-- - - i - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - -- - t - - - - - - - - - 400
TOTAL
,,.-- ASSIGNMENTS
- - - - -- ----i---- - - - - - - - - 300
I
1938
1939
SPparatlons wPre made on a large scale as a result of the
provision requiring the separation from project employnwnt of persons who had been continuously PmployPcl on
\\"l'A projects for 18 months. In subsequent months, such
tPrmiuations frll off sharply. ulthough tllPy still eontinued
to reprPsenl a subslanl ial portion of tlw total monthly
separations.
Yolnntnry Sl'f»lnttiuns repr(•sented a reasonably large
propurt ion of a 11 se1mra I ions during the pPrlod from July
19:{8 through DPeembe1· l!l42. 111 thl• flscul year 1939,
1·0Ju11tnr)· separations urnounted to 54 per1•t•ut of nil separations; In the fi.,:cnl year 1940, 30 percent; In the fiscal
year 1041, 45 percent; In the fiscal yenr 1942, :i6 percent;
lllHl i11 the first 6 months of the fiscal year 1943, 61 percent.
(Sl>e table 9.) These p1•oportions ,·nrled with changing
l'mployment <..'<mditions.
Aeeef<sions to prnject Pml)loyment were mude np of
initial assignmPnts and reassignments. It was the total
number of initial assignments thnt determined the number
of differe11t persons employed on the program during Its
8 yPrtrf< of O}ll'l'fition. Since peri;ions who hall left thP program to take prirnte employment were entitled by lnw to
immediate renssignnJPnt ff they had lost their jobs through
no fault of their own nnd if they were stlll In need, a large
1941
0
I
J A S O N O J F M A M J J
A S O N D
1942
portion of the reassignments was regularly made up of
workers who hnd left p1·oj;,et pmployment for St"asonnl or
other temporary private jobs. Many workers, therefore,
were reassigned more than onee during a year. \\'orkers
separated from \YPA project employment because they
hnd bPen continuously employed for 18 months were rensslg1wd In large numbers as soon us their }ll'rlods of ineligibility had eome to an end.
Data available indicate that initial ussignments were 44
perl'Pnt of nil aRsignnwnts in the flseal year 1939, 22 perc·Pnt in the fiseal year 1940, and 16 1wrcent In the fiscal
yPur 1941. Although ,qX'ciflc data are not available fur
the Inst 2 fiscal years of the program, there is reason to
l1e!ieve that the pereentage of new aRsig11me11ts wns low,
rartly hC>ean:;;e nf the small amount of fnnds avniluble for
opPrution and the restrietion of employment quotas and
partly because of expanding opportunities for private
Pmployment.
In the period July 1938 through December 1942, the
monthly rate of accession fluctuated between 3 percent and
23 percent... The rate of separation ranged from nearly 6
29 The rates of accession and separation are percentages of the
total employment at the beginning of the month.
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EMPLOYMENT
CHART 3
SEPARATIONS FROM EMPLOYMENT ON WPA PROJECTS
#"'
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
July 1938 - December 1942
THOUSANDS
OF WORKERS
THOUSANDS
OF WORKERS
800
I
800
I
L
600
400 1---- -
~
I
'
600
- - - - l - - - - - - - -- -__,_-------------1 400
pfj
,
--
_, '
0
;ii:i:f·i:=,r:-: ·,.: :
J A S O N O
1938
J
F M A M J J A S O N O J F M A M J J A S O N O J F M A M J J A S O N
1939
1940
p!'rrent to 39 percent in this period. Assignments were
made at the rate of 3 percent of employment at the beginning of the month of December 1938, shortly after WP.\
Pmployment had reaehed its peak. The highest rate of
assignment was in September 1939, when new workers reJJlaced those who were tfonn1ssed in accordance with th,~
lS-month provision. Similarly, the highest rate of separation was in August 1939. The lowest rate of l!eparatlon
oct11rred In July l!l38, just previous to the peak of Wl'A
Plllployruent. ( See table 9 and charts 2 and 3.)
The rate
tum-0ver varied betwt>en different group. . of
workers. In general, it was higher for younger than _for
o)()er workers, for men than for women, 1111<1 for unsklllPtl
than for skilled w<ll"kers. SPn!mnn I workers, espedally
those employed In agrll'ulture, showPd the highest turno'l"er rate of all groups. On the other hand, white collar
employees in the professional or semiprofessional grades
were the least mobile group until defense and war conditions created a need for their services in private Industry.
These dltrerences partly account tor the relatively high
rnte of tum-over on road projects and similar projects
employing a large proportion of unskilled labor, and tor
the relatively low turn-over rate on building projects and
White collar projects.
of
0
J
1941
Employment on WPA Projects Operated
by Other Federal Agencies
Comparatively few WPA jobs were provided on projects
operated by other ugencies of the Federal Government.
In June 1939, about 140,000 persons, or slightly more than
ii percent of all WPA workns, were employed on projects
operated by otll!'r Federal agencies. This was the largest
11umbPr Plll)lloyetl 011 such projects. 'l'he uverage for the
following year eiullug June 1940 wus 11bout 73,000 workers.
'l'he number of workers on projects operated by other Fe<li>ral 11gend!'8 was reduced sharply in July l!l40, when some
of these projects were transferred to the State programs
opernted directly by the WPA. Ry June 1!141, employmr11ton Federal agency projects hnd tlropped to 41,000, amt by
.June 19-12 only 11bout 1,400 were employed on these
projects.
Projects employi11g most of these WPA workers were
under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture,
the Department of the Interior, the Na\'y Department, and
the War Department. Within the Department of Agriculture most ot the jobs were provided by the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, the Forest Service, and
the Soll Conservation Service. Th~ atlonal ark ServDigitized by l_:iQQg
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34
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
Ice and the Fish and Wildlife Service provltl(>d most ot the
jobs tor WPA workers in the Department ot the Interior.
'!'he Navy Department's Bureau of Yards and Docks and
the Quartermastt>r Corps of the War Department provided
most ot thP WPA 11ro.f P1.·t jobs in their rPSpectlve groups.
( See table 10.)
Employment by Types of Projects
Construction projects In the 8 years of thi> WPA program provided the grea'ter pa1·t of WPA employmi>nt. In
the first 5 years, the predefen,;e period, construction
projects furnish~! between 75 and 80 percent of all WPA
TABLE 1O.-AVERAOE NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA PROJECTS, BY AGENCY•
SELECTED MONTHS, JUNE 1939-JUNE 1942
Agency
June 1939
Total .•....•....•.••.••••....................•........................................••.•...
2.~7!1.011
I
I. i.55, .\"!2
l=====I=====
Wor. Projects Admfnfstratlon ..•..•......................... . ....................•.....•...•.......
Other Federal agenrles .•..•.•••.•••.....•...•.......................•...................••..•.•......
Department of Agriculture ..••••..••..••.•......................•.................•.•.•...•......
June 1940
2. 438. 432
I, 669, 5i2
139, fi09
85, 96IJ
I
June 11141
June 19-12
I, 410. 9-'!0
697. 701
I, 369, 727
r.oo. :;07
41, 2().3
I, 394
l=====l=====:=====I=====
4i. 495
29, Rl2
15,135
gg
Agrlcultural Adjustment Admlnlstratlon........... ......... ..... .........•.•.•.... ......••.... ..
182
Agricultural Economics ............•.......•............•...•...•.....•.•.•••.•...•.•.•.•..• _ .......•......
308
216
AJO'icultural lltRrketlnll Servloo .•..••....••................•...... ·····-·······-·· .•.•.•••.......•..•.....
Dairy Industry ........................................................ ··-·······- .....•.•............•......••.
Entomolo~y and Plant Quarantine .....•...........................•...•••.............•.•.. _
14,022
9, ~99
12, 9-12
Forest Service ................•........••.•...................................... _.... . •. • . .
13,468
2.,2
Home Economics....... . . . . .. . ....•.. .• ...... ...... ..•.... ... ..... ...... .... ...•. ..•. .....
42.5
5.16
Satlonal Agricultural Rese,irch Center..... .................. ....•........•.......•.•.•.•..
909
Rural Electrification Administration.........................................................
243
209
Soll Conservation Servioo....... .............. ....... . ......•.......... ........•..........
18. 246
5.861
61
31
11
46
83
1------1------1·-----I-----
Dtopartment ol Commerce .•.•.......•...•...........•...•...... , ......•...•.•...•.......•.•......
121
Coast and Oeodetlc Rurvey .. _ ...............•.........•.•...................•... : ......... .
Bureau of ~•oreign •nd Domestic Commerce ................................................. .
Weather Bureau ..•••.•...•••.•...........................•.......•.................•........
46
ExAcutlve Offlce1ol the Presltlent: National Resources Planning Ronrrl •. .... .. ... .....•.. ... . . . .
Department ol the Interior................ .•.•......... •. ..•.•.•...•.•.•........ .......... . .. . .
2, 128
88
490
49 ........... .
· 403
39
87
75
=====l====-"'=11=====1=====
21, 21!8
13. 408
5. 855
92
2.5.52
JOO
646
3
30
4. 533
56
8. 78,>
179
Territories and Island Possession,............................... . . ...... . ...................
I. 68i
Department or Justice: Rure•u or Prisons ........................................ . ... _.......... _
Department of Labor: Lal>or Statistics........ . ..... . .... . ........................ . . ......... _
Llhrary of Congrcs.s ............................ . ............ . .......... . ......... .
Federal 8ecurity A~ency: Office or Education ............................................ .
80
93
51
Fis~ and W lldlire Rervlce .....•.• _..•...•........ .. . ...... ..... ..... .•.... .. .. .. .. . ... ......
3,273
lnoian Aff,iirs ......................•............ . ............. _. . ..... _.................. .
Oe"'ler!ll Lanrl Office• .....•.....•...•..................................................... _.
National Park Service ............••............................. _......................... _.
16,035
Reclamation ....•••...•................................... . ...... . ..• . .....................................
A l!\Ska Railroad ..... _ .... _.................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .
Alnska Road Commission ________________ ._._._. ___ . ________ _
Alaska-misrell-mcous ................................... .
Virgin Islands ............................................ _.
6,549
6,216
1,990
105
36
643
--·---·1------1------1---345
27
214
284
I, 361
1, 44tl
628 ........... .
222
I, 739
15 ·-· ......•..
2,178
392
70:!
123
:13u
237
19. 138
JO. 468
8,189
69
19,138
10,468
8,189
69
3,032
403
98 -···········
381
836
I. 815
153
9S ........••..
250
Veterans' Administration ........................... _.......................................... _
938
1,512
949
302
\Var Department ............................... . .......................................... _..
44, 8i7
27,500
10,170
21
I, 979
I, 1.50
26, 44r,
Department of the Navy ..................................•.....................................
Yards and Docks ...................................• . ..............................
Coast Guar,l • .......................... . ..... . ................................. . .
Department of the Tre&sury .•...•.. ...... .... . ...... .. . . . . . . . .. . ... . ... .. . . .. . ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coast Ouard •---•···········•·•·•·················-·············-······· .....•.... ..... ..
Internal He,·enue ........................... _................... . ......... . ......... _. . . __
Office or the Secretary (l>ivlshm of Ta, Hesanrc~).. .. .. •........ . ... .. . . . . . .. . .. . .. .•. . . . . .
Corps of Engineers ........................................................................ .
Quartermnstcr Corps ...................................................................... .
llfi
90
295
42
-----1------1------1-----
42. 898
• Data represent S\'PrBL!rs or weekly employment Pount.s made tluri11~ the month~.
b Public land inventory pro)el'ts operated by the N11tiorrnl Hesourt'<'S Planning Boar,l or the Executive Office of the President with 19-38 act funds were
continued with IU:19 act run·Js originally allocated to the National Hesour<-es Planning Board and subsequently transferred to the General Land Offioo or the
Department ol the lnterhr.
• The Coast Clusrd was transferred from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of the Navy as of Nov. 1, 1941.
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EMPLOYMENT
TABLE 11.-PERCENT.A.GE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY
MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECT
SELECTED PERIODS, MARCH 193~DECEMBER 1942
Type of project
March March
1936.
1937 •
M ar.
30
1938
Mar.
Mar.
Mar.
22,
193Y
'II,
IY40
26,
1941
June
25,
)~41
I
Sept.
24,
JY4)
l>ec.
Mar.
16,
11141
17,
1942
June
16,
1942
s,•pt.
16,
1942
Dec.
15,
1942
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , , - - - ---- - - - - - - - - - - - ---- ---- - - - ---- --- --- --Total. ................................ .
Divls1on or Engineering and Construction .. .
~~rclf!8gs~~~~~:::::::::::::::::::::
Conservation ....•........................
Engineering surveys ....•...•.............
Highways, roads, and streets.. . ......... .
Recreational facilities (excluding build•
logs) ....••...••...........•............
Sanitation ............................... .
Wawr and sewer systems and other
utilities ....•.•............•............
Other ....•••.............................
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
JIJO. 0
100.0
I. 5
8.2
6. 7
1.6
1.3
7.6
4. 8
1.0
8. 4
5. 5
3.9
0. 4
43.6
3.8
8.5
2. 7
0. 5
36.8
5. I
II. 7
2.2
0.5
35.5
JO. 6
I. 7
3.9
JOO. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
5.0
9. I
2.3
0.5
26.6
4. 7
9.6
I. 7
0.3
23.2
0.9
0.3
21.0
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------ - - - - - - - li4. Y
57. 9
54.0
43. 7
79.0
75. 4
80.5
79. 4
74.8
69. 7
118. 0
fi7. l
62.8
---- - - - - - - - - - - - - - · - - - - - ---- - ---- - - - --- - - - - (h)
(h)
37. 2
35. I
43.0
I. 4
8. I
4.11
0. 4
44.2
JO. 5
8.6
3. I
7.0
2. 4
6.3
1.6
3.11
3.6
8.4
2.8
9.0
2. 3
JO. 2
3. 5
10.8
0.11
10. I
0.9
JO. 6
1.3
11.2
1.2
o. 4
7.1
I.I
5. 4
2.6
3. 9
4. 7
0.5
34.0
"·
I.II7
0. 4
32. 6
11.3
2. 7
0.5
29.5
3.11
1.0
3.3
I. 2
2. 7
1.0
2. I
1.1
1.2
1.0
0. 7
I.I
9.0
1.0
8.8
I. 5
9.2
2. 7
9.5
2.9
7.2
4. I
6.8
5. 5
4.6
6. 4
H.
I
I.I
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- ---
35._
4 __
37._
6 _ _48.
24. _
6 __
19.5
20.1
24.5
71.3
28._
I __
28.4
30.6
32._
2 __
21.0
Division of Service Projects .................. _ _
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
_ 7
Public activities•........................
Research and records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
War services d.... ...•.••.....•.•...•.•...
Wellare ...•........................•.....
Other....................................
4.6
2. 6
.. .....
6.1
3. 5
4.8
2. 6
4.9
3. 2
5.8
3. 9
~=::,. . . . . . . . . . . . -•······1
13.0
0. 8
6.7
3. 9
7.4
4. 3
7.4
7.9
4. 6
4. 7
7.7
4. 8
8.5
1.2
2.6
4. 8 ......•...•••..•
13. 7
12. 7
22.1
22.7
33.4
...••.•. ..•..... ........ ..... ... ..•...•. ..•... •. •....... .••...•. . ... •... •.....•.
14.0
I. o
11.4
0. 7
11.2
0. 8
14.0
0. 8
16.1
0. 6
15.9
16.3
19.7
JS.I
o. 5 ......................•...................•.•...
1
1
1-
3· 4
3· 8 ~ - ; , ; - - ; . ;
3· 4
2- 8
Division of Training and Reemployml'nt.. ...
2. O
Other .. ··••· .•.......•...•..•.. ·····•··.··•·· • ... .. . . . .. . .... . .. . ... .
0. 5
o. 7
). 0
I. I
I. I
I. 1
I. 2
I. 2 ..........•.....
State supply sections .... _........•..................................... : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . .
I. 5
I. 4
• Dat& apply to the last hair ol the month.
Separate data are not available; Included In res,>arch and records.
• The child prowctlon program was carried on under wellare projects In fiscal year 1943 but lor eomparatlvc purpos,>s data lor this program are shown here
nuder public activities as lormerly reported.
d War services Include projects reported under public activities and res.•arch and reeords previous to fiscal year 1943.
b
employment ( table 11). This proportion lie<.'llned in the
defense und \lar years; ln September 1942, only 54 pereeut
of Wl'A employment was on eonstruction projects. In
December 1942, when liquidation began, the proportion
had dropped to about 44 percent.
Service projects provided between 20 to 2fi percent of
WPA employment in the first 5 years. The dt•crease in
the proportion of construction employment brought about
a corresponding Increase In the proportion of st>n·lce project employment, which In December 1942 hn1l risen to
nearly 49 percent.
Employment on training and reemplo~·nwnt projects,
which began In July 1940 am! was more than 1 percent of
all WPA employment in September of that year, rose to
7 percent In September 1942.
The relative lmportunc-e of various types of projects is
~hown in terms of hours of work in table 7. The measurement of project activities in terms of hours of work
rather than in terms of persons employed gives coustruc·
lion activities a somewhat greater emphasis."" The di1Te1·ence l11 principally due to the fact that exemptions from
the standard limitation of hours of work In the lust years
of the progrum were granted chlt>fty on c-onstruction
projects.
Wlthln the construction group, highway, road, end street
projects provided the largest amount of emplorment.
•Data for the number of hours worked on WPA projf'dH are
not available for the la1t fiscal year of the program.
Within the service group, welfare projects (lnclu<llng sewing, feeding, child welfare, and public health projects)
provided the largest amount of employment.
The relative magnitude of employment on the major
types of projects is shown in table 11, and by type of proJ('('t
in table 12. The specific work of these projects Is described in the various sections dealing with the major
project activities.
'l'he relative proportions of employment on the different
types of projects varied markedly In rural and in urbun
areas. In densely populated cities, thern was II dPm1111d
for projects providing new or lmprowd parks, pluygrounds,
and other recreational facilities. In rural 111111 se111irural
areas, road projects were greatly In demand. Some other
differences In the proportions of employment between urban und rural areas wpre due to the relative nmnbers of
certified workers with ('ertaln kinds of skills who were
11v111lable In these areas. A study conducted In l\Iarl'11
19-10, at 11 time when C'oustruction employment was 7fi
1M>rce11t of all WPA e111pioy111p11t, shows that the proportlo11
of employment on highway, road, and street projects wus
relatively smallest l11 the largest eommunlties, where It
accounted for only a little more than one.fourth of 1111 WPA
Pmployment, and wns relntlvely largest in the smallest
1•omn11111ities, where it al'counlt'<l for almost two-thirds of
1111 WPA employment.
After July 1940, an increasing share of WPA projP<•t
work was llirel'ted towurd defense and war objectives.
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36
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 12.-NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON
PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY TYPE OJ'
PROJECT
DEC. 15, 1942
Type of project
Number
Percent
TotaL ... ······--··--··· ··-· -··- ..•.•.. ... ....
338,424
100. 0
l====I===
Division of Engineering and Construction........... ,_ HS, 067
43. 7
___,___
~~:~~~i~~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Conservation ... _. __ • ____ . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . .
:::~
3, 121
Engineering surveys ..••. _.... . . . . . . . . . • • . . • . . . . .
HlghwaYB, road81.and streets....................
Recreational faclntles (excluding hulldings)......
Sanitation ...•......... -- ...•.... __ ....... .. . . . . .
Water and sewer systems and other utilities... . .
Other .. ·-·········-·······-···•····.............
893
71,180
2,418
3,842
16, 433
21,695
DlvWon of Service Projl'Cts. .. ... . ...... ... .........
~1
o. 9
0. 3
21.0
o. 7
I. 1
_ 4. 6
6. 4
l====I===
164, 7li0
48. 7
l====I===
___,___
War services•-··········-···•··················· ,_
42,784
12. 7
Clerical assistance...........................
Education...................................
Graphic services............ -·...............
Library ....... ····-·-·····-·-·-···········-·
Recreation .. ---···-···············-•·--·····
Fact•llndlng and records....................
Other.......................................
Ii, 826
6,742
3, 101
4,001
7,617
o. 9
I. 2
1. 7
1. 7
Geographic Distribution of
WPA Employment
Available evidence points to a fairly close correspond•
ence between the distribution of WPA employment by
States and a similar distribution of the population. A
State-by-State comparison between the proportion of total
man-years of employment provided by the WPA and the
proportion of total population according to the 1940 cen8UB,
Is shown in table 13. For a great majority of States, the
correspondence between those proportions ls striking, yet
some States show ·considerable disparities. There were
many reasons for these disparities. One such reason was
the requirement concerning sponsors' contributions, a reTABLE 13.-WPA MAN-YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT,
CUMULATIVE THROUGH JUNE 30, 1943, AND
TOTAL POPULATION IN MARCH 1940, BY STATE
2.3
State
11,566
3. 4
4,943
I. 5
l====I===
Health and welfare..............................
121,966
36. o
l====i===
Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13, 288 ,
3. 9
,____ ___
Health department assistance...........
Institutional services....................
N onprofesslonal workers training. . . . . . . .
Other...................................
3,004
5, 750
650
o. 9
t. 7
o. 2
3,884
1.1
l====I===
Feeding..................................... ._ i3, 808
21. 8
___ ,___
Housekeeping aids .................. ·-·.
Other...................................
10. 034
3. o
63, 774
18.8
l====I===
Child protection ................. ··-···-··..
8. 87i
2. 6
2. 5
o. I
1====11===
Clothing projects............................
25,020
7.4
w earing apparel and cloth articles. . . . . .
8,411
4f,6
1----11---
24, 292
7. 2
Other...................................
728
o. 2
l====I====
Other.......................................
973
o. 3
1~===11==-
Divlslon of Training and Reemployment .. .. . ......
21,012
6. 2
1----11---
Airport servicemen training b .••..••••••••••••••..•••......•
Auxiliary shop training. . .....................
647
0. 2
Household workers' training....................
230
0.1
ln•plant preemployment training................
684
o. 2
Vocational sch_ool training .........•............. ==1=9,=45=1= = ~_5_.7
1
1
State supply sections ............................•.
1.4
Total population •
Number
Number
Percent
Pettent
United States .•••.•
13,686,224
Alabama .•.••••••••••••••
Arizona •••• _•••••••••••••
Arkansas ••••••••••••••••
California..•. ···- .•.•••••
Colorado ..•.••••.•••.•••.
257,040
49,787
2211, 766
579,71K
148,612
1.9
0. 4
1. 7
4. 2
1.1.
2,832,861
4119, 261
1, 9411,387
6, ll07,387
1,123,296
Connecticut._ •••••••••••
Delaware.·-·····-·····-District of Columbia•.•••
Florida .. ·······-··-· .••.
Georgia .•.. ···-···---· .••
117,044
16, 4117
53,146
216,944
0. II
0.1
0.4
1.6
1.11
I, 709,242
266, 1506
663,091
1,897,414
3,123,723
1.3
0. 2
0.5
1. 4
2. 4
0.4
7.3
3.0
1.1
1.4
524,873
7,8117, 241
3,427,796
2,538,268
1,801,028
0.4
6.0
2. 8
1.11
1. 4
2.2
1.8
0.3
0.6
4.1
2,845,627
2,363,IB)
847,226
1,821,244
4,316,721
1.8
0.11
1.4
s.a
5, 2ll6, 106
2,792,300
2, 183, 7116
3, 7'W,6&1
559,466
4.0
2.1
1. 7
2.11
0. 4
1
1 - - - -1
---
Nursery schools.........................
Oth6r.. .... ... ........ ............ ......
WP A m&n•Years of
employment
Idaho ..•... ··-···········
Illinois ...• ····-········-·
Indiana .•.. ·····--··-····
Iowa ...••....•••. __ •. -· ••
Kansas.-·····-·-···-··-·
266,848
52,646
997,387
403,W'l
156,891
192,073
100.0
131, 669, 276
100.0
2. 2
0.4
1. 6
6. 2
0. 8
Kentucky ....••.••.•...•.
Louisiana ...... _..• ····-_
Maine ••.•.••......•..•••
Maryland ......•...•.•••.
Massachusetts ... ··--····
304,428
224,261
Michigan ....•.••..••.•••
Minnesota .•..•........••
Mlssisslfpf._·········--·
Mlssour .............•.•.
Montana ..............••
553,848
306,948
:ll5, 637
476,337
85,079
4.0
2. 2
1.6
3.6
0. 6
Nebraska ........ ····-· ..
Nevada .••....... ·--··· ..
New Hampshire .......•.
New Jersey .......•......
New Mexico ............•
1~333
11, 1181
46. 791
4116,375
65,418
1.1
0.1
0.3
3. 3
0.6
l,3l~,834
110,247
491,524
4, 160, 1611
S.11,818
1.0
0. l
0.4
8. 2
New York ...............
North Carolina.
North Dakota ... ::::::::
Ohio .....................
Oklahoma. -··-······· ·
Oregon ........•..........
Pennsyh·snia ............
Rhode Island ...........•
South Carolina.
South Dakota .... ::::::::
I, 366,886
85,5/17
937, 175
3:!7, 3&'I
10.0
I. 7
0.6
6. 8
2. 5
13,479,142
3,571,623
641,935
6,907,612
2,336,434
10.2
2. 7
0.5
5.3
1. 8
86,850
1, U!3,208
73, 7li0
:all, 618
95,082
0. 6
8. 6
0. 6
1.5
0. 7
l,08ll,IIS4
9,000,180
713,346
1,899,804
642,961
0.8
Tennessee ................
Texas ....................
Utah .......•.............
Vermont .................
Virginia ..................
232,005
529,986
62,174
27,369
149,286
1. 7
3.11
0.5
0.2
1, 1
WashlnJton .......•......
West Virginia ............
Wisconsin ...............
Wyoming .......•......••
186, 1173
246,033
330,460
1.,
1.8
2.4
0. 2
'3,826
78, 7111
663,923
2.2
0
• War servlc.,s inrlude 1>ro]el'ls reported w1der public activities and reS1•11rch ancl recorrts previous to f!sral year 194.1.
b llisrontinued RS of Dec. I, IIM2.
Projects certified at1 eissential by the Secretary of Wur 01·
the Sec1·etary of the Navy, which provided jobs for only
4 percent of the total WPA employment in July 1940, uc•
counted for 38 percent of all WPA employment in August
1942, and for 32 percent in December 1942. The increasing
importance of certified war projects is further apparent
from the fact that the proportion of total man-months
of employment provided by such projects was 10 percent
during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, as compared
with 22 percent in the fiscal year 1942, and 35 percent In
the fiscal year 1943.
The distribution of WPA employment by major type of
project, as of December 15, 1942, is shown by States In
appendix table III.
230,063
:al, 963
• Slztetfllll Cemiu of the United
2,915,841
6,414,824
0.4
7.5
0.5
1.4
0.5
2. 2
660,310
359,231
2,677,773
4. 9
0.4
0.3
2. 0
1,736,191
1,901,974
8,137,587
~.742
1.8
1. 4
2. 4
0. 2
statu: 11,ID, Population, vol. I, table
p.111,
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7,
•
37
BKPLOYMJDNT
qulrement which tended to reduce the volume of project
employment in the poorer communities. The need for WPA
project employment was not always proportionate to population because of the activities under other public aid prognuns especially adapted to certain areas. For instance,
the loan and grant activities of the Farm Security Administration in rural areas reduced correspondingly the need
for WPA employment In certain States. The WPA set its
employment quotas In accordance with the volume of existing need. Various emergencies arising In some areas required an expansion of operations which was necessarily
dll!proportlonate with the size of the population. Taking
all these factors Into consideration, the relationship between the distribution of WPA employment by State and
the distribution of the total population by State appears
closer than might have been expected.
There was also a striking relationship between the proportion of the WPA workers employed In urban centers
and the proportion of the total population In these centers.
In March 19!0, the counties containing cities of more than
100,000 population accounted for 38.1 percent of the WPA
employment and for 38.4 percent of the total population In
1940. The relationship was not always as close as that,
because of seasonal changes In WPA -employment.
TABLII 14.-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY
WPA, BY SIZE OF COMMUNITY
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
QUARTEBLT, MARCH 1938-SEPTEMBER 1942
Size or rommunity •
Total
Dale
100,000 U,000- 6,000-Number Percent or
more 100,000 U,000
2,/IC»6,000
Less
than
:.l,liOO
- - - - - ---IIISB
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
46. 1
45.6
44.5
43. 1
16. 2
15. 4
15. 7
15.1
21. 5
21.5
21. 7
22. 1
7. 3
7. l
7. 3
7. g
10. Y
10. 4
10. 8
11.8
2,912, 8511
2,435,930
l, 718,222
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
42. 4
42. 3
40.11
38.4
15. 0
15.8
16. 7
15. 4
22.6
22. 4
22. 0
23. 0
8. 0
7. g
8. 4
II. I
12. 1
11.8
13.0
14.1
Mar. 27• ••• • 2, :KM, 009
J1111e 311 . .... 1,670,915
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
38. I
40. I
40.0
37. 7
15. 1
15. 6
16. 5
15. 2
23. 6
23. 3
ZJ.3
Zl. 7
V. 2
8. 6
8. 6
11. 2
14. 0
12.4
12. 7
14.2
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
36. 4
36. 11
38.0
36. 4
16. 4
16. 8
17. 0
16. 8
25.6
25. 6
25. I
26. 6
9. 1
8. 6
8. 5
II. I
12. 6
12.1
11.4
12. 1
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
36. 5
39. 6
42. 2
17. 2
18. 0
18. ll
25. 5
25. 0
23. 6
8. g
7. 7
6. 6
II.II
9. 7
8.11
!.hr. ao... . . 2,442, 1115
JW1e31L . •• Z,806, 372
Sept. 21 •.• • • 3,124, 649
Dec. 28. · •· · 2,999,147
IIISI
!,far.2'.L . . .
June 21 •.. . •
Sept. 27••.• •
Dec. 27 . .. ••
2, OOII, 788
/~JI)
Sept. 211.. ••• 1,831, 936
Dec. 311 . ... • 1,801,782
""'
Mar.311 ....• 1,634,622
1ane26• •••• I, 2118, 174
11111 , 1132
Sept. "·····
Dec. 16••• • • 1,013,210
J84J
Mar.17.. •• •
Jane 16 . • .••
l!ept.16•••••
•Comma
11211,Y43
672, :185
380,435
groupings U1! based on a rle.ssiOra ti on of counties according
on of the largest munici palit y in each row1ty. Since March
eal.lon of counties h liS been b ased 011 tho IWO populatio n of the
lllllllldpultlee; prior to that time the 1930 population waa uaed.
lo Ule po
11111 the
WPA Employment by Wage Class
There were two categories ot WPA project workers:
project wage employees and project supervisory employees.
Project wage employees were, with few exceptions, those
who· had been certified to the WPA as In need, and all of
them were paid security wage rates In accordance with the
standard wage schedule. (See page 23.) Project supervisory employees were employed without any certl11.catlon
of need, and the monthly salary schedule applying to them
was determined In each state by the WPA s·t ate adminis•
trator, subject to approval of the central administration.
During the 5-year period preceding June 1942, the proportion of supervisory employees on projects operated by the
WPA was never more than 5 percent of projec't workers;
but In the 11.rst 2 years of the WPA program, and during
the final year of WPA operatlon11, the proportion was
somewhat higher.
Project wage employees were grouped In wage classes
according to skill, as unskilled, Intermediate (semi •
skilled), skilled, and professional and technical. Begin•
nlng In September 1939, the unskilled workers were subdivided Into two groups: unskilled "A" and unskilled "B."
The percent distribution of WPA project employees by
wage class Is shown for selected periods In table 15.
The unskilled "B" gro,ip of workers performed work of
a simple nature which required little education or trainIng and In which proficiency might be easily attained.
Their work was not hazardous and did not require heavy
physical labor. Seamstresses, janitors, and messengers
were Included In this group. The remainder of the unskilled workers were In the unskilled "A" group (chiefly
manual laborers); they were paid about 10 percent more
than unskilled "B" workers.
The Intermediate wage class Included operators of
power-driven equipment and tools requiring repetitive
manipulation, most operators of office machines, and helpers to skilled or professional and technical workers. The
i<kllled wage class Included such workers ns carpenters,
rooters, power•shovel operators, and 11heet•111etal workers.
The professional and technical wnge class Included arch!•
teds, engineers, registered nurses, writers, and others with
considerable training In recognlzro profe:a:sionnl end te<-h•
nlcal fields of work.
The unskilled worker11 were alwnys the largest group,
nnd they accounted tor between 54 percent and 7~ percent
of the WPA project workers. In general the proportion
of unskllled workers wns largei;t when total employment
was high and smnllest when employment was low. In the
last few yenrs of WPA operations, when project employ.
ment was being generally curtailed, the proportion of the
unskilled wage clas11 to total project employment decreased, while the pro11ortlon of ench of the other wage
classes Increased. The unskilled wage class constituted
71 percent of employnwnt on projects operated by the
WPA In December 1939 but only 58 percent l11 December
1942. In contrast, the lntermedlute wnge class coustltuted
14 percent of project employment in DL~ember 1939 and
17 percent In December 1942; the skilled wage class, 10
percent In December 1939 and 14 percent In December
1942; the professional and technical wage class, 8 percent
in December 1939 and 5 percent iu December 1942.
Digitized by
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38
•
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 15. -PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY
WAGE CLASS
SELECTED PERIODS, JUNE 1936-DECEMBER 1942
Project wage employees
Project
Period
Grand
Iola!
Inter•
mediate
Total
Total
1938
'June• . . . ... .... . . •. • ...... . . ..... .... .. . . . .
IOU.O
lffl
June• ... . . . ...•. . ..... . ..... . . . ....... .. . . .
100. 0
1938
June 211 .• •••••• ••••••••.......• •. .. . ..... •••
G2. 7
65. 0
65. 1
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
97.3
97. 3
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
96. 8
Group B
Group A
--------- --- -- --- ----------- -- -- --- --- ---------
l'Uper•
rrotes-
Unskllled •
!dona!
and
technical
Stilled
visory
em•
ployees
11. 0
12.3
4. 4
7.8
12. 7
13. 3
4.9
4.0
II.I
11. 7
12.1
10. 2
10. 7
11.5
3. 1
3.0
3. 2
2. 7
2.7
3.3
11.2
12. 9
9.6
10. 0
3. I
3. 5
2. 2
2. 5
3. 7
3. 2
72. 9
71. 9
1111.11
------ ---- -- ----- ---- -- ------- --- -- -- ---- ------- -- -------- ----- ----- --
911. 3
i0. I
65.8
71.0
-- -- -- --- --- ----- -- -------------- -- 9.-- 6-- ---- --- 61.4
96. 8
iO. 5
9. 8
fl().
7
12. 4
14. 2
13.5
13. 8
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
96. 9
911. 0
96. 1
96. 3
70. fl
6~. 7
63.6
66.5
9.8
8.6
~. 9
7.1
fl0.8
511. I
57. 7
59.4
14. I
lfl.9
16. 3
15. 3
9. 7
13.2
13.0
JI. fl
2.5
3. 2
3. 2
2. 9
3.1
4. 0
3. 9
95.9
95. 4
95. 4
95.5
65. 0
81.3
Df,o. UI.. •..•. •. • •. .• . •... .. • • . • . • •• . . . •....
100. U
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
7.1
6. 1
5. 5
ft. 2
~i.9
55. 2
53. 2
53. I
16.1
17. 3
18. 0
18. 0
11. 8
13. 5
14. 9
14. 3
3.0
3. 3
3.8
3.11
4. 1
4. 0
4. 6
4. 5
1941
Mar. 17 ••. . . .. . .. • . • •.••..... . ...... •.... . . .
1UDe 18 .. •. •. . ...•. ..... . . ••• .... ... .• •. •.. .
Sept . 15 •••••••• .• •• •• ••••.... .• ... . .. . ......
Det' \5 . ...... . ... . ... . .......... ... ... .. . . .
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
100. 0
95. 4
94. 9
114.0
94.0
60. 3
58.8
54. 3
6.3
5. 9
5. 8
9. 9
5-1.0
52. 9
48.5
47. 6
li.6
17. 3
18.2
li. 3
13. i
14. 7
IG. i
14. 4
3. 8
4. 1
4.8
4. 8
5. 1
11. 0
6. 0
~:JL::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
96. 7
1939
Mar. 22 ..... . . . . . . . ............... . ..... ... .
June 21 ...... .... ..... . .. . . ....... . .. .... .. .
Sept. 71. •·•· • •· · ····· · ··· ··· •· •····· ··· ·· ·· ·
Dec.71 •.•... •..... . . . •. • •. •. • •....•...••••. .
96.4
3. 2
3. 8
18¥)
Mar. 71 •. • •. • •••••• . ••.•• . .. . .•. ..• .• . . ... . •
Jwie:1111 .... . .. . .. . . . ..... . ... .. ... ....... .. .
Sept. 26 . .. . . . .... . . . ............ ...... . ... . .
Dec. 211 ........... .. ... .... .......... . ... . . .
3. 7
1941
Mar.211 .. .... .. . . . .... . . .... . ... ..... ...... .
1UDe 2S ••••..•••• ... •• •...• ·-· ............. .
Sept. 2' .. .. .. . •· . . .. .... .. . ......... . .. . ... .
58. 7
"9. 3
57.,5
4. 6
• In September 19311, as prescribed In General Order No. I, thP umkillcd wa1w class was dh-ldpd Into two groups: Group B, Including workers a.<sll!ned Job.<
of a routine, simple, nonhasardous nature ; and group A, Including ,.,orkr rs B&<igncd to type.• or wort normally done by construction and general laborcn, and
to routlnt clerical wort.
,
.
• Data are bued on pay rolls ending durin& the first hal! of the monlh.
TABLE 16.-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY
TYPE OF PROJECT AND BY
AGE CLASS
w
DEC.
27, 1939
Project wage emplflyees
Project
Un~killed
Orand
total
Total
1---.-----.-----1
Group
Group
Inwrme•
dlate
60. 7
13. 8
75.8
10. 3
57. 5
52.8
ill. 2
Profcs•
Sldlled
0
~h•
nlcal
80~
super•
vlsory
employees
Total
B
A
- - -- - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - -1· - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Total. .. .. .. .. . ...............•. .. ..... . . ....... . . ........ . • . .. .. .
Dlvlalon of Engineering and Comtructlon . .. . .. .... . ... . . ... . . . . ... .. . .
100.0
- 100.0
- - -95.-9 -
~~r:~.~~.~~~·s··::::::::::::::::::: :::::::: :::::: :::::::::::::
Conservation ... .• .... . .................... . .....•.•. . . . ...... .. . . . .
Engln-lng surveys .. . ...... .. .... . ..... ........ .. . . . • .. •.... . . . . . .
Highways, roadsil and streets . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .• . . . . . .
Recreational tac ltlea (e,cludlng hulldlnga) . . . . .. ......... .. ... . .. . .
Sanitation ••. . •••... . ............ ..... . ............. ...... . .. . .. . .. .
Water and sw- systems and o ther ulilltlea . . . . . . .. • ••.•• ••.• • •....•
Other . . ••• . . . .•.. .. .........•....... ... .. . •....... .. ..• .. •. •.•••• . ..
Dlvlalon of Service Projects ....... .. .. . •. .. ••. ..••..••......... .•. • . •• . .
Pnblle activities . .. . .... . .......... .. ... ...... . .. ...................
Reaearcb and records............. .. .. . ...... .. .... . . .. ... .. ... . .. . .
Wolrare. • .• . .•.. •. .. •........ . .. ...... ..•... . .... . .•. . •... • . •. ... . . .
Other . •• ••• • . . • •. •• • . •.......•. . .....•. ••. •. . . ..... . . • .. . . . •...• . . •.
State supply sections. . .. . ............. ... ... . . . . ........ . ... . . .... .. . .. .
116. 8
70. 5
-==
= 97. 0 - 76.
100. 0
7
100. 0
HVl. 0
100. 11
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
116. 2
97. 3
114.0
q7, 2
117. 0
116. 9
Iii. I
96.8
- li8. 3
,',3, 2
80. 0
21.4
82. 6
76. i
ii . 2
75.1
70. 4
9.ij
-0.9
- -0.8
0.4
0. 8
-
--~::-:~ = =
=
10.0
2. 5
3.2
4. 1
3. 8
2. 7
JI . 2
6.11
13. 4
I. 4
I. 4
0. 9
10. f,
11.Y
I.I
1.6
0. D
I. I
21 . 5
6. 5
1. 5
1. 6
- --- = = = - : :
1.0
3. 0
- - - - - - - - - --- - - 9. U
(I,-~
:al. g
I.I
~ .5
76. 0
70. 4
74. 5
69. 8
12. 5
14.8
9. 4
33. 4
8. 3
8. 7
12. 9
14. 2
II.II
8. I
16. g
15. 6
20. 9
30. I
51. O
15. 1
15.9
27. I
~3
4. 5
i.O
:ai. 6
23. o
0. 7
0.8
0.6
0.6
23. 7
26.8
7.0
:!II. Ii
5. 4
10. 5
- - - -- --- - - - - - - - - - =
=
=
38. 2
14. 2
100.0
116.A
52.4
24. 8
12. 6
7. 1
- - - - -- - - - - 100. 0
100. o
100. o
100.0
95. 5
116. 1
VI. ;
97. 7
16. R
18. 3
i6. 6
73. 2
100. o
611. 5
22. O
8. 7
I. 4
01. o
52.3
O. II .
21. 4 \
Digitized by
.
Google
fl. O
2. 8
3. 0
3. 1
2.9
3. 2
3. I
4. 5
3.11
2. 3
2.3
o. 9 ~
39
BMPLOYMENT
TABLE 17.-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY
TYPE OF PROJECT AND BY
AGE CLASS
w
DEC. 15, 1942
Project wage employees
Type or project
Total ......•••...........•.•......................................
Orand
total
Total
Total
Skilled
Inter•
mediate
Group Group
un"
•'A"
Project
super•
visory
em•
pJoyee8
Proles•
sional
and tech•
nical
100.01~1~-;;~-;;~--4-.8----6.-0
Division of Engineering and Construction .............................
100.0
Airportsandairways .........••...•...............................
Buildin~s ...... __ .......... _....•....................... _......... _
Conserrntlon . .....................................................
Engineering sun·eys.. .... .... ... ..... .... ...... ......... .... ... .. . .
Highways, roads, and streets
..... _......................... _....
Recreational facilitit>s (excluding buildings).........................
Samtat1011
. .. . . . . . . . . . .... ... . ........ .. .. .. ........... ...... ....
Watt•randsowersystcmsandotherutillties ........................
Other . . .... ......... ..... ..... ........ ..... .. ..... ....... ....... .. .
100.0
100. 0
JOtl. 0
100. 0
JOO. 0
JOO. 0
lli\'ision or Service Projects .. _..........•.... . .........................
Unskilled
93.91
92.9 1
93. 8
91. 7
91. 3
94. 6
93. 5
JOO. 0
100.0
JOO. 0
Joo.O
P!lblir arti\'lties b ... - ...• · - · . ·- •••••••••.•••••••••••• - • • • • • • . . . •• • • •
"ar sernees •. ---····-····-···-·-·-·············· ............•....
Welfare .............................................................
JOO. 0
JOO. 0
100.0
l>ivision of Train in!!' and Reemployment ...... _... ____ ... _.. _....... _..
State Supply Sections ......••••.••.••..•... _............................
IIJ0. 0
JOO. o
62.1
63.7
39. 8
51. 0
6. 4
70. 2
56. 3
0. I
0. I
0. 2
0. I
0. I
95. 2
63. 9
94.0
!12. I
59.5
61. 9
~- 5
93. 3
00.5,
18. 3
JO. 4
67.4
12. 8
I. 9
27.7
95. 21
42. 0
91. 9
22. 7
0. 8
0. 2
~,"rio.o
I
O.J
(•)
(•)
(•)
62.0
12.7
16.8
2.3
6.1
6.l.7
39. 7
50. 9
6. 2
70. I
56. 2
13.4
15. 2
17. 5
31. 2
I I. 0
12. 9
2.6
2. 6
I. 5
13. 8
I. 7
2. 6
7.1
6. 2
8. 3
8. 7
6. 4
6. 5
63. 9
,~9.5
61. 9
18.6
10. 4
13.2
36. 2
21. 7
39. 9
I I. 7
21. 7
16. 2
13.9
16. 4
12. 8
2. 3
4. 8
2.0
3. 4
6.0
7. g
~ 2 9 . 1 1 1 ~ 1 ~ ~1---.-.6
5. 51
8. 6
39.7
I
91. I
22. 5
I
24. 81
31. 2
:al.8
0. 91·
6. 6
27. 3
32. 6
5.9
I. 81
12. 0
:al. I
19. I
2.4
I
0. 61
0. 7
9. 5
6. 7
3.5
4. 8
58. 0
• Less than 0.05 pt>reent.
b The child vrot<'ction program was carried on under welf!lle projects In fiscal year 1943 but for comparative purposes data for this program ar<' shown here
under public activities as formerly rpporlt-d.
• Data for war services lnrlude !Jrojrrt.s rcpo111d under public activities and rrsearrh and ,words vrnious to llstal yrar 1~43.
There was II se11s011al vuriatiou iu thP compositiou of
the WP.A rolls with re:;pe<"t to wage dass. Tlw propor•
lion of uuskllled workers tt>nded to i11cre11se iu wi11ter
and to dPCrease in summer. This wns due partly to sea•
~•nal <·lmnges in the voh1111P of WI'.\ employment 1111d
partl) to thr more pr1,uo11111·Pd d1uradPr of the!<P <'h11nges
in rural as compared with urban areas.
Unskilled workers constituted bt>twee11 70 perceut and 83
pen·Pnt of emploJ·ment on highwar. road, and street projPl'IS <lnriug the three ~·ears ending De('ember 30, H)42.
Cnskilled workers employed on h11ildi1111: prnJC'<'ts <luring
rhe SRllll' pPrlod varied between -to pPreent and,,:{ pert·t>nt.
The 1wn·ent11ge dlstrihutio11 of \Yl'A Plllploymrnt by type
of projP<·t and hy wage class for l>eeP111hPr rna9 is shown
in table 16 and for DP1·ember 1942 in table 17.
Thr wage-class composition of the WPA rolls rHftered
<·onsiderably iu accordance with the sizP of 1·0111m1111itips,
The workers in rural areas rPquiring WPA employment
were more predominuntly uuskilll'd than those in urb1111
:u•pus; the tnJes of pro,ie<·ts favored in rnral arPa!-l werP
such as providt>d e11111loyrue11t for II very high pro11ort ion of
unskilled workprs.
Assigned Occupation and Usual
Occupation of WPA Workers
The1·e were obvious differences betwt>eu the usuul ocen•
Pntions of many WPA workers and the kincls of work to
whieh thry were assig11Ptl on projects. Farming, s.ulesr1111nshi1>, fn('tory machine operation, awl many service
01·eup11tlons (for example, barbPrs 1111(1 waiters) were
amon11: the usual 01·c·upations of workPrs that rlid not cor•
M;pond with the kinds of project work to whkh assign.
tnents were made.
The classitlcution of Wl'A workers by security wage
cl11ss throws but little light on the 0<·cupatlo11s to which
Wl'A workers wp1•e assigned. The only comprehensive
survey of WP.A workrrs hy assigned 0<·cupatlon was made
Parly in the 1wogr11111, i11 Nm·ember 1007." This survey,
using the standard socioeconomic· clnssifleation of occupa·
tions, shows in tletall the distribution of WPA workers
according to work actually performed on projects. Occu•
patlons in the un><killed workers category bulked large, as
would be expectP<l. laborers aceounting for ;ij percent of
totnl WPA assig11111enti,;, Remiskilled ot•c•upations accountl'd for 17 flt'ITPnt of ull a:,;sigmnPnts; :i percent werP
snni!o!killl'd workPrs in buildi11g anti construction OC,'CUJ)U·
tio11s, and 12 percent were in nonco11stn1ctio11 occupation:,;,
largely as seamstresses and textile workers. Skilled occu•
putions represented 8 [ll'rcPnt of totnl as!'lgnments, nearly
all of which were made in builtling and construction occu.
patious. or these latter assignments about two-thirds
wt>re assigmnP11h, to jobs as bri<-klayers and stonem,asons,
cu rpPntprs, and pa i11tP1-s. l'lerh-ul occupations repre•
sPUIPd 7 perceut of totnl 11ssig11111ents; professional and
tPt.·l111kal, 6 pereent; domestie and personal service, 2 per•
1·P11t; a11d projl'(•t ,rnpenision 11ml f01•p1111111shlp, 5 percent.
'1'111' dmislflc11tlon of projPd em11loyme11t by assig1wtl
o<••·upa tiou dops 11ot eorrrs11011tl to the classification by
wngP dnss. A sp11111strPss on a sewi11g project would in
the ubove oecup11tional suryey be in the category of semi•
skllled nonconstrul'tion workers, but her monthly wage
rate would place her In the unskilled wage class.
'l'he survPy of WP.A workl'rs by as,-;ignPd oceupation was
made at a time when total project employment was com•
31
See As•i1111r,l Orc11patlo11• of Perso11s E1nplo11ed on WPA
l'rojrrts. Nol'embcr 19J7 (WnNhln;::ton, D. C.: Works Progre 88
At.1111inlstrntion, February 1939).
Digitized by
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40
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
paratively low (slightly more than 1,500,000), and the
distribution of workers at that time may be taken as typl•
cal of all periods when total WPA employment was low.
The proportion of.assignments to jobs In the unskilled
category was much larger when WPA em11loyment was
high.
In table 18, this <listribution of project workers by as.
signed occupations in November 103i is compared with the
distribution by usual occupation of workers eligible for
employment In January 1936 and of workers employed on
October 30, 1940. Although the three groups represent
different perio<ls of time and vary in size, the comparison
serves to show the chit>f rnriations between the usual and
the assigned occupations of Wl'A workers. The percent•
age of assignments to unskilled projed jobs was nearly
three times as large as the percentage of the group for
TABLE 18.-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF
ORKERS EMPLOYED ON PROJECTS OPERATED
BY WPA IN NOVEMBER 1937, BY ASSIGNED
OccUPATION, AND OF \VoRKERS ELIGIBLE FOR
WPA EMPLOYMENT IN JANUARY 1936 AND
ORKERS EMPLOYED ON PROJECTS OPERATED
BY WPA IN OcTOBER 1940, BY UsuAL OccuPATION
w
w
Occupation group
Numbcr of persons.............
Usual occupation
;Assi)rn<'d
occupation 1----~---Xon•mber January
October
193i •
rn3G b
1940•
1,566,830
1,72.5,232
4,405,002
Percentage distribution
Total.. ........................ .
100.0
100.0
100.0
Professional and semiprofessional
workl'rS ............................
PropriPtors, n1anagC"rs, and officials
(except farm).......................
5. 7
2.4
4. 2
5. 2
2.0
1====:1====1=
Clerical and !IBll'S workers... . . . . . . . . .
7. O
7.3
CJcrfcal.... .. . ..... ....... .. . ... . .
Snles ......•......................
----·1-----1·-
7. O
4.2
3.1
====:,====I'=
8kllled workPrs ....•.... . ...........
7. 5
15. 8
Constn1ction _. _. ---·---- ________ _
~onconstruction ___ . _____ .. _____ _
i. 2
0.3
10. 7
5.1
St>mlskilled workers ............•.....
17. 5
25. 6
Construction ... __________ ... ____ _
Nonconstruction. _. __ .. __ . _______ .
5. 4
12. 1
6.9
18. 7
Service worktH·s __ .. ___ _______ _______ __
2. 2
Farm 0J)(•rator5 nnd mnna~(•rs __________________ _
Farm labon.. rsaml fort'mcn ______________________ _
Lahofl'rs <•••<>•Pt rarml...............
54.9
lll('XpcrienCt'd workers ... __ ... ___________________ _
1.8
9.6
(d)
(d)
which common labor is recorded as the usual occupation in
January 1936, and the percentages of assignments to
skilled and semiskilled occupations were smaller than the
percentages of the groups with corresponding usual occupations. Similar variations are noted In the usual occupations in Ol'tober 1940 and assigned occupations. The
percentnge of a~signments to service projects of domestic
and personal service workers was comparatively small ;
and farm work wns not represented, of <'OUrse, in assigned
oceupntions. Professional occ11pat1011s, on the other hantl,
were overrepresented among project assignments ns com•
pared with the proportion of professional workers among
usual occupations. Clerical projects pro\'icled jobs for
persons whose usual occupation was In the clerical or sales
group. Some worke1·s, in addition to their usual occupation, had a secomlary occupation, followt-'d as a hobby or
for recreation, to which they could be assigned in the
WPA. As a result, workers were often given an opportunity to perform work of greater complexity and responsibility than that performed in private employment.
Howe,·er, certain ocenpatlons which are of large impor•
tance in private employment were not represented in
WPA assignments. Workers with these occupational
backgrounds were on the WPA pay rolls In large numbers.
Unless these workers had some secondary occupation
which could ser,·e as a bnsis for assignment, they were
assigned as "unskilled." The large number of persons
classified by the WP.A as unskilled workers reflects not
only the large number of needy and jobless unskilled
workers but also, to a certain extent, the lack of suitable
project work for some occupational groups who were not
actually unskilled.
In table 19 a comparison Is made between the distrlbu•
tion by usual occupation of WPA workers and the corre•
spondlng distribution by usual occupation of the country's
TABLE 19.-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE
EXPERIENCED LABOR FORCE IN THE UNITED
STATES IN MARCH 1940 AND OF WPA WORKERS
IN OcTOBER 1940, BY UsuAL OccuPATION
19. 5
(d)
(d)
F. x(l<'rlen ced
labor foroo,
March
1040 •
Occupation group
26.1
(d)
(d)
Numb<>r or p<,rs<,ns ..••..•...•...•......••
8. 9
7. 7
6.8
7. i
19.6
3.9
8. .;
5. 2
Ii. 4
------------
• Data wrrl' ohtninrd from the WP A n•port, A,ai~n•d Occupation, of
Per~on8 Emµfoytd on H"P.1 Projed1, .:.VoremlJcr 1987, p. 10 ron•ri11g a complt•te count or num(•~_npJlf•ariu~ on pay rolls ending in NoYemlx•r 1937 l.n thr
cunr.irwntal United Statt•s nrnl Hawaii.
b Data W('fe ohtRinl',1 rrom th(• ""PA T(\port F.Jual Ocertpation& of H"orker,
EliqilJ/e for ·work• Program Emptovm,111 in the United 8tatn, .Tan11aru 1.5, /9.16,
p. 10. and n.re limitrd to "economic lwads" in the co11tim!11tal Unih•d Rtntrs.
c Data WPn• ohtained from the ""l'A mrmorandum Employment Eiprri•
enc, of Certified II ·orker, ¶/rd from 11"/'A Projat,, SrptrmlJer a11d Orto',"
191/), table 3. The pt_•rcentagf• tlistrihutiou is bas... ,l on a samplt\ survey conducted in 50 countit•s in Octobpr 1040, and the uumher or pl'rsons reprr~nts
total employment on projpcts operated by the WP A in tho Unit,•<! States
sud Tcrritorit•s ou Ot:t. 30, hMO.
d :-lot amilahlc.
52,022,158
WPA
workers,
October
1114() b
I, 725,232
Peroontage distribution
'fotal. .•••••....... -·-·· ...............•••.
100.0
l'rolessionsl and semlprofesslonul workers __ ...••
Prnprl,•tors, managers, and ollicials (inclwling
larm) ......••..... -................•.......•...
Clrrical. sales, and kindred workers .. _.···-·····
Crnltsmen, foremen nnd kindred workers .....•.
Operntivcs nn<l kinJi:ed workers ... -••··-········
SrrvlCl' workers ...............•.•.•••.....•.•.•.
Laborers (includln~ farm) .... -·· ••..............
Oceupation not reported •••.....•...........•.•.
6.8
4. 2
17. 4
16.0
11.3
18. I
12.0
16. 5
1.9
10. 3
100.0
D. 6
19. 5
26.1
7. i
22.6
----------··
• Does not Include 767,341 pt'rsons of the total lnbor force who were now
workers. Sixtu11th Cemiu of tM United S/au,: 1940, Population, vol. III,
part I, table v, p.10.
b See lootnote 0, table 18.
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EMPLOYKENT
experienced labor force.a Every major occupational
group in the experienced labor force was represented
among WPA workers. However, the occupational composition of WPA workers as a whole differed considerably
from that of the experienced labor ~rce. The percentage
of unsk!lled, semlskllled, and skilled labor among the
usual occupations or workers was much higher for WPA
workers than for the experienced labor force. On the
other hand, the percentages for professional, clerical, and
service workers were lower.
TABLE 2O.-NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRI-
The WPA Worker
Total ___ ___ __ __ ___ 2,886,217
100. 0 2,508.122 100. 0
---Less than 6 . .. .. _.. ____ _ 674,357 19. 9
611,216 20. 4
726,168 29. 0
6--11- - ---- -·· --- ·- ------ 82'2.672 28. 6
6!>4,232 22. 1
_
----____
_ - - --___
12--17 -_____
623, 423 21. 6
1s--2a
104,685
126,993
4. 1
4.4
128,494
6.6
6. 2
24---29_ - - -- - -- - -- - - -- - --- 168,742
73,464
3.2
92,359
2. 9
30-35_ - - - ---- .. · --. - . - - .
36 or more __ __ · ------ - -- 487,771 16. g 409,884 16.3
Median number or
months ____ ___---.-- --12.4 ---------- 12. 2
The employability of a particular Individual In private
industry depends on his ability to meet at any given time
the standards of age, and sklll, education, previous experience, and other qualifications, prevailing In the community where he seeks work. The WPA regarded as
employable anyone who could perform useful work on a
project without endangering his own or others' health
or safety. The hiring standards of private industry (because of the existence of a great pool of unemployed
workers) were considerably higher than the standards
applied by the WPA during most of the prewar period.
"l!.'mployabilily" is not a fixed or precise concept, however,
and standards of employability In private industry change
with changing conditions. With the rising demaml for
labor after 1940, the requirements of private employers
were relaxed untll they came to conform rather closely
to the WPA standard of employnblllty.
The fact that WPA employment remained high over a
period of years gave rise to the belief In some quarters
that WPA workers were for the most part unemployable or
unwilling to accept jobs In private Industry. This Impression was far from accurate; as has been shown elsewhere
In this report, there was always a tum-over, often huge in
l"olnme, In ~PA employment. (See page 30.) Nevertheless, It Is true that a considerable number of workers remained Jn WPA employment for long periods of time,
despite some fluctuations in business activity. It has been
estimated, on the basis of a special survey, that at least
866,000 persons, or 59 percent of those employed on WPA
projeets In September 1937, were still on the WPA pay
rolls 18 months later.• More than half of them (488,000
persons) had been on the WPA rolls continuously for at
least 18 months previous to September 1937 and bud remained there for at least another 18 mouths thereafter.
This group constitut·ed a third of all project employment In
September 1037, and about a sixth of all project employment 18 months later, In February 1939. (See table 20.)
The question of whether such Jong-term WPA workers
were employable ln private Industry under the conditions
then exi sting was answered pragmatically by the results
of the provision in the 1939 ERA Act which required the
dismissal from WPA employment of persons who had been
continuously employed on projects for 18 months or longer.
a The pe rlocls compnrecl In tllis tnble nre 7 months npart but
the comparison ls justlfletl by the fact that the occ upntlonal composition of the entire labor force changed ve ry slowly In the
prewar period •
., see Reporl on Progresa of the WP A. Program, Jvne 80, :t9/l9,
pp. 101-107.
BUTION OF WPA
w ORKERS,
BY DURATION OF
EMPLOYMENT AND BY SEX a
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
1939
FEBRUARY
Total
Months or continuous
employment
I
Women
Men
Per- Number Per- Number PerNumber cent
cent
oent
- - - -- - - - - -
----------
378,095
100. 0
6,1, 142
16. 7
96,414
611.191
22,308
30.248
18,005
77,887
2.~- 5
---------·
18. 3
6. 9
8.0
6.0
20. 6
14.6
• Percent.ago distributions were obtained from the &port on Pro(l1'to• of
the W PA Pro(l1'am, June SO, 19S9, table 42, p. IOI, and were applied to the
average num ber or certlfietl WP A workers 118 or February 1939.
Nearly 783,000 persons were dismissed from WPA employment ln July and .August 1939, In accordance with this
provision. A survey, covering more than 138,000 of these
dismissed workers, was subsequently made in 23 major
urban areas." Interviews with these workers showed that
only 8 percent of them had found private employment by
the end of September 1939, and only 13 percent by November 1939; and In February 1940, about 7 months later, the
number of those who had private Jobs was practically
unchanged. By this time nearly two-thirds of the total
number of dismissed workers had either been res·tored to
WPA employment (54 percent) or were dependent on
direct relief.
It Is apparent from this same survey that the age of the
WPA workers affected greatly their opportunities for prlrnte employment. Of the workers surveyed in February
1940, only one-tenth of those who were 45 years of age and
older had private Jobs, while nearly one-fifth of those who
were under 30 years of age had private Jobs. Tbe age
factor was an important determinant of employability for
most workers. Although older workers are not always the
first to be dismissed from employment In periods of dcclini ng busi11ess activity, they are generally dismissed In the
long run, und they are the ones least likely to be rehired.
The age of WPA workers, though one of the main determinants of their employability in private Industry, was
not the only determinant. The sex composition of the
group was of great Importance In this respect during the
prewar period; job opportunities were especlully limltetl
for women who la<'ked previous work experience. Negroes
on the WPA rolls had less than average chances for reemployment In private industry. Data concerning these and
other groups of WPA workers are given on pages 44 to 45.
The question of the employability of WPA workers,
however, was only partly concerned with their personal
characteristics. The question was also affected by general
economic conditions. During nearly the whole prewar pe,. See mlmeog1·apb release "Ell'ects of the 18-Months Provision
(section 16 (b)) of the 1039 Relief Act," dated June 20, 1940.
727649-41'--4
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42
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
rlod ot the WP A there were fewer Jobs than there were
workers, and the discrepancy between the number ot jobs
and the number of workers was always large. Every
WPA worker seeking private employment was In competition with other workers who were unemployed but not on
the WP A rolls. •
The labor market situation changed greatly after the
outbreak of the war. By June 30, 1942, WP A workers
numbered only 653,000. WPA workers were getting jobs
In the war Industries. But Jobs In war Industries were
not available everywhere, many WPA workers were
women with family responsibilities that made it difficult
for them to go elsewhere for Jobs, nod many workers of
both sexes were In the older age group. Workers remainIng on the WPA rolls at this time were those who were
still at some disadvantage In getting prlva·te jobs even In
a time of rapidly increasing private employment. Late In
1942 a survey (unpublished) of about 26i,OOO cert!Jled
project workers was conducted In order to judge what
their opportunities for private employment might be In
the Immediate future. These workers constituted 78 percent of the employment on projects operated by the WPA
on December 15, 1942. The survey was carried on by
WPA State administrators In consultation with the State
and local branches of the United States JDmployment
Service, and the conclusions to be drawn from It may be
taken as reasonably accurate for the country as a whole.
Slightly more than one-fifth (21 percent) of the workers
were found to be qualified for Immediate placement In war
Industries or agriculture; one-third (32 percent) were
found quallfted .for other prlYate employment; 11 little more
than one-fourth (27 percent) were found suitable fo_r
training tor jobs In war production Industries ; and the remaining one-fifth (20 perc-ent) were not considered likely
to obtain prl,·ate employment. !\lost of the persons In this
last group were disqualified by age or physlt-al handicap
for sustained hard work; the rest had famlly responslbilltles that would make It difficult for them to conform to
working schedules In private industry or to move to
another community where private work was obtainable.
Applying these proportions to the 280,000 certlfted workers
employed In the continental United States as of December
rn. 1942, It was estimated that 56,000 persons constituted
the "hard core" of project employment-the persons not
likely to obtain jobs in private Industry.•
In short, the "unemploynblllty·• of WPA workers In gener11l was always In the main a measure of the shortage of
private jobs. WPA workers In massive proportions demonstrated their employability by getting Jobs In private
Industry when Jobs 1>xlsted for them.
11 To determine to what extent tbe termination of tbe WPA
program resulted lo tbe Deed for public assistance, studies were
made b7 the Bureau of Public Aaslstance of tbe Social Securlt7
Board In 11e,·eral States and localities concerning tbe requests for
uslMtance receh·ed from workers wbo were 11epar11ted from tbe
WPA on or after December 1, 1942. It was found tbat all but a
anutll fraction of WP A workers found Jobe wh('n the projects
"'·ere terminated. The proportion of WPA workers who requested
public a ■alatance following la7-olr1 oa or after December 1, 1942,
\'arled from 1.4 percent In West Virginia to 9.8 percent In Idaho.
Workers requesting assistance Included a relatively large number
of older person ■ and women for whom emplo1ment opportunities
were not readily available. (See Bo~al 8ecvrlt11 Bulletl11, Vol, 7,
No. 1 (January 1944), pp. H-36. )
Age of WPA Workers
Although persons 18 years of age 1111d older were eligible
for WPA employment, very few young workers receivf'd
such employment. The uge composlt Ion of ,vPA workt-1~
as a group was greatly a1fected by the preference gl,•pn
to heads of families in assignments to project work. The
difficulties experienced by older persons in getting back
Into prh-ate employm.e nt resulted In a high proportion of
older persons being on the project rolls. Workers uged 45
:veers and older were never less than one-third of all WPA
~orkers, and In the closing year of the program they were
more than halt of all workers. During periods of Increasing unemployment and expanding WPA pay rolls, the
proportion ot younger workers In the program Increased
somewhat. As employment conditions Improved, It was
chiefly the younger wo1·ke1·s who left the projects for prl,·ate jobs and the older workers who remained.
The relation of the age distribution of WPA workers to
the volume of WPA employment Is indicated in table 21
and In chart 4. The m,edlan age of WPA workers was only
39.0 years lr1 June 1936, when project employment wul'
relatl\"ely high; In November 1!137, when WPA employ.
ment was at a low le\'el, the me<llan age was 42.4 years.
The expansion ot WPA employment caused by the businE'ss
recession reduced the median age to 39.4 years In February
1939. With the subsequent Improvement In general employment conditions and a rapid decline In WPA employment, the median age of project workers rose to 42.8 In
April 1941. In February 1942, the median age was 46.4
mars and more thou one-half of all project workers were
years or age or older. By October 1942, the median age
45
TABLE 21. -
PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF \VPA
BY AGE GROUP
\V ORKERS,
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
JUNE
NOVEMBER 1937, FEBRUARY 1939, APRIL
FEBRl' ARY 1942, AND OCTOBER 1942
1936,
' June Novem- Fchru- 1 April
A~e ,ronp (yeftrs)
!936 •
Toi.al.. .... . .....
100. 0
: ;•
1
~
1
,
100. 0 ~ ,
1941 •
JOO. 0
~
18-44-. . .. . . ·· ·· · · · ···· - ~ ~ - ~
1.6
1.6
1.3
3. 9
18- 19_ . .. .. - •.......
7. g
11.0
7. 8
10. 0
20-24- .. •••.• • •.••..
g
10.
8
13.
2$-211 __ ... .... ., __,_
10. 8
II. 7
12. 8
11.3
11.5
11.9
30-34 __···· · · · · ·- -··
6
12.
2
II.
2
12.
12. 7
3S-3Q _ - · . . .. ........
II. 7
13. 0
12. 7
~ ·--··- ·· " · ···· 12. 2
45 and o\'er ... ... .... .. .
1941,
Febru• Octob.-r
UK2 r
~! •
1
100. 0
100. 0
46.Q.... ~
1. 5
1.0
2. 8
5. 1
4. 6
7. 8
6. 4
9. 6
8. 2
10. 3
10. 9
12. 3
- - - - -- - - - --- - - - --66. 6
54. 0
44. 2
43. 3
36. 9
37. 6
--- - -- - - - --- - - - ---
61Hl4
over ..• _.....
and·-···--·······65
II.;
10. 2
i .6
5. I
3. 0
12. 6
II. 7
9. 6
6. 6
2. 9
10. 8
10. 3
8. 4
5. 8
1. 6
12. 9
11. 8
10. 0
7. 1
2. 4
14. 0
13. 4
12. D
9. 9
3. 8
13. I
15. 2
15. 7
1'. 9
7. 7
Median age (yrs.) . _....
39. 9
42. 4
39. 4
U.8
46. 4
61. 1
45--49 • • .•.. · -· ······
50-M • ... ·- ·· ·······
M-59 _ • ••.••••• .....
• Average wl't'kly employment of ccrtiftcd WPA workers employ,•d on
~;'.t~~illed and nonoertlfted WPA workers employed in 1'o..,.mber
w.rct
1 7
0
~ cover.< ~rtifted W p A workers employed In February 11139 ybose cenlft·
cations were continued In the re\'lew of need conducted at that time.
• Co\'ers certified WPA workers employed on Apr. 30, UK!.
• Covers certlfted WP A workers employed on Feb. 17, 19'2.
t co,•er, aertllled WP A workers employed on Oat. 27. 11M2.
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EMPLOYMENT
CHART 4
PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF WPA
WORKERS BY AGE GROUPS
October 1942, F•br-y 1942, and February 1959
PE!lCENT
35 ,- - -- -
--
I
. . .-
l
EJ,.,..,,, ""
- - -
30;....... -
PERCENT
- --- - - -
1
....
1942
El ,..,_,
I"
- ----730
•
----~r - - - - Irt: I")
I
The periods at which the age distribution of WPA
workers most_nearly approached that of the entire labor
force were periods In which WPA employment was large.
The median age of the country's entire labor force was 36
years In March 1940, and the median age of certified WPA
workers was 89.4 years In February 1930 (the nearest
date to March 1940 for which statistics are available).
At other periods the proportion of older WPA workers
became more marked. In October 1942, when the median
age of the country's entire labor force was 37.7 years, the
median age of the WPA group was 51.1 years. ( See
table 22.)
j 25
I
201------
*
1 5 ~--- -- - -- - ,,
- 15
TABLE 22 .-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE
POPULATION IN THE LABOR FORCE IN THE
UNITED STA.TES AND OF WPA WORKERS, BY
AGE GROUP
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
FEBBUABY
,o
1939
February 11139
10
;;.
Age croup (yean)
1i
1J:J
5
m
in
AND 0CTOBEB
Total
labor
force•
Numberorpenona ... . . 6:l, 7811,499 2,886, 217
:;
0
65and _,
wns ;il.1 yP111·s 1rnd two-third11 of nil proj!'<·t "'orkPrt1 were
45 y.-ars of age or older. An increuse nf 12 yeHrl! in thP
medisn age of WPA " ·01·kers was regist~·ecl In tl1e course
nf only 3½ years after FPbruary 1939.
The sharp decline in WPA PruploymPnt In the htst few
YeRl'8 of the prognuu hn·oh·ed recluctions In 11II uge groups.
The rate at which older workers left project emplo~·ment
rose somewhat after the entrance of the United States Into
the war, when age restrictions In private industry were
lifted. Young workers, however, continued to lenve the
WPA rolls at a much more rapid rate than older workers,
so that the relative proportion of older workers was increased. Between Februlll'y 1939 und February 1942, there
was a decrease of 67 percent In WPA ewplo~·meut; but In
the group aged 18 through 44 yeurs the decrease amounted
to 76 percent, and thnt h1 the group 45 years of age and
older amounted to only f>2 perc.!nt. In the period between
Jo'ebruury 1942 and October 1942 the further decllnes were:
fi6 percent In total e1111>loyment, 75 percent in the younger
group, 58 percent In the older group.
Throughout the program there was a small but varying
proportion of project workers 65 years of age or older.
This group grew in relative size after 1939. In February
1939, 1.6 percent of project workers were 65 years of age
or older; In October 1942 this age group constituted 7.7
percent of the WP A project employment.
WPA
workenb
1942
October UM2
Civllian
labor
force•
M, 000,000
WPA
worken•
3211,046
Peroentase distribution
100.0
Total . . -··· -- - --- -----14-19 ___ _____ _______ _________ _1----7.4
14. 6
:0--:14 ... _- . - . - - . -- -- . ----- --- 25.8
26----34 ---- - - -- ·· --- - - -- - --- --21. 1
35---4f ... - - - -- - •• - .. - - ... -- - --17.0
45----64 ......... . ........... . . .
10. 2
M-64 . .. ----- ... ......... ----4. 0
& and over ._ .. ..... _. . .. .. ..
Median IIKl' (yean) . . _____ __ _
-
36. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
• 1. 6
11.0
:16.6
23. 9
21.1
14. 2
1.6
~ .4
10.4
11.5
22.4
21.9
18. 1
• 0.6
2.8
11.0
19.1
28.3
30.6
10.11
4, 8
37. 7
7, 7
61.1
• Data refer to March 11140 as It ls the month nearest to February 1111311 for
which data on the civilian lah!>r roroo are available-. Si.ru•nlA em.ua of
IA< Unlud Stalu: 1940, Populatton, vol. 111,/t. 1, table 6, p. 19.
• Data rrom which pt,rcentagea wore derive cover 2,732,251 perl!l>ns whoso
names appt,ared on February 111311 pay rolls and who were ll'rtifled In the
review ror continued employment. Thllae percentages may be applied to
the total number or penona In tbla table which repreacnt the average wookly
employment counts made during the month or February 111311.
• Percent distribution based on data rrom "Labor Force Bulletin," Sept.
30, 11K3, LFB No. 4 (U. B. Department or Commerce) table 2, p. 9, and total
number la revllled estimate as of Feb. 1, 11144, rrom "The Labor Force,"
Feb. 22, 11144, Special Surveys: MRLF No. 20 (U. 8. Department or Com•
merce).
d Covers oertlfted W PA worken employed on Oct. Z7, 11142.
• Includes only oortlfted WP A workers 18 and Ill years or ace.
Men employed on WPA projects wfre on the average
olcle1· than women; and white workers were on the average
older thnn Ni>gro worke1·s. These dltferenet>s were found
In ead1 of tht> periods for which studies were ma1Je. For
example, In October 1942, when the rued Inn age of all WPA
workers was f>l.1 years, the median age of male workers
was 53.7 years and of female employees, 47.1 years. At
that time the median age of whtte workers was 52.0 years
and that of Negroes, 47.6 years. The oldest group was
that of white male workers, whose median age was 54.S
years. The youngest group was that of Negro female workers, whose median age was 40.9 years. (See table 23.)
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 23.-MEDIAN AoE OF WORKERS EMPLOYED ON WPA PROJECTS, BY RACE AND BY
SEX
TABLE 24.-NUMBER OF WOMEN EMPLOYED ON
PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA
QUARTERLY, DECEMBER 1935--DECEMBER
1942
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
APRIL 1941, FEBRUARY 1942, AND OCTOBER 1942
Race and sex
April
1941 •
Fehruary
1942
Octoher
b
46. 4
42.8
M11le.......................
42.9
47. 2
44.1
Female .......•...•.•.....•• ;____42
__
.o_l-----1--
All workers.....................
Wbite....................... •.•.....
~~".iie:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Neg~aie:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Female.. _........................
!1:i
42. 9
47. 0
47. 6
45. 1
IU42 •
51. l
63. 7
47. I
52.0
54.3
48. 7
Date
Number
1936
Dec. 24 .. ·•··-·············· .........•.•.. . . •····
330,732
12.1
1938
Mar.25 .••.. ·-······•······ ········-···•·•••···
JIIIle 24 ...... ···············-····················
Sept. 30 ••..... ····-·····························
Dec. 30 ....•...............••.. - ....•...... •·····
440,193
387,841
393,825
352. 963
15. 3
17.2
JIU
16.,
1997
256,369
Sept. 29 .•.•...•.. -··· ........ ··- .......•........
Dec. 29 ...... ···-·············-· ········-··-·-·· -- 284,005
16.8
18. 2
17.7
17.0
13. 7
13.3
13.1
13.5
Mar. 31. •.........••......•.... -····· ....... · ··
354,639
June 30....•••••.... _......•..... •······-···-····
323. 275
:::
~
38. O
44.3
38.9
47.6
51. 7
40.9
36. 5
36. 7
34. 4
40.3
41. l
35.3
42.4
44.8
39.0
1938
Mar. 30 ..•........••.•.. ·······-···· ···-···· •··
June 29 ........•••••...•..•.... ·-·········· •.•.•
Sept. 28 .............••..•.•... ·············-····
Dec. 28 ..•.•. ·-·· ..... ·············-···-····· ..•.
•Databased on number of certifted WPA workers employed on Apr. 30,
1
9!\:>ata based on number of certified WPA workers employed on Feb. 17,
1
9!2iJata based on number of certified WPA workers employed on Oct. 27,
JIIIle 28 ... •••············-···················•···
Other ........•....•.....•....... --····
Male.............................
Female.................. . ........
45. 7
1942.
'!'here were murked regional differences In the average
age of WPA workers. WPA workers in the South were
considerably younger on the average than in other sections
of the country. The proportion of WPA workers 45 years
of age and older was highest in the Pacific Coast States.
In October 1942, tor example, this group was 51 percent
of the WPA workers in Kentucky and 89 percent in
Washington.
Percent of
all workers
335.612
372,058
409,954
405,665
/[139
Mar. 29 ..•..•..... ··-··········· .. ··-· ....•.•...
Sept. 27_ .............. ··-···--········-· ......•.
Dec. 27 ..•...... . ····-······ .....•......•....•.•.
1940
Mar. 27 .......... ··-·· ·······-· .............. ···
JIIIle 26 ... •-·· · ····-·-·-··············-···.·······
s,•pt. 25. ······-·············-················· •.
Der..26 .. ••··-·············-············ · ········
1941
Mar. 26 ..................... -···••····-·········
June 2ii. .• ·--····· ·-·-·-····· ····-······- •...•.•.
s,•pt. 24. ·····-···-········· ..... ·····-··--··••·
Dcc.16......•....... ···-··········· · •-··· ·-····
1941
Mar. 17 .. ·-···· ........ -· ·-··· •···••·····•····
JIIIlC 16 ....•..... ······••·-••····-········••·••·
Sept. 15 .•••.................... ·-·-· ....•......
Dec. 15.. •··-·············· .....•........•..••••.
391,442
352,784
251,071
333,620
367,062
13.6
H.8
H.6
16.1
243,276
261,611
323,288
16.6
15.4
16.1
17. 7
312,128
254,814
201,212
230,184
18.8
19.2
19. 7
2'l.O
225,978
187,726
118,368
138,003
23.8
26.8
~-7
40.8
Women on the WPA Rolls
Up to the end of June 1940, women workers constituted
between 12 percent and 18 percent of the employment on
projects operated by the WPA. 'l'his wus less than the
proportion of women in the country's entire labor force,
which was 25 percent according to the 1940 census. As
prh·ate employment conditions improved in 1941 and subsequent years, both women and men in int'renslng number~
left the WPA rolls for private eruplo~·ment. Men, however, left the \VPA rolls at a more rapid mte than women,
11nd this increased the proportion of women in WPA em·
ployment. In June 1942 nearly 27 percent of all WPA
workers were women; In December 1942 ( the month when
WPA liquldatiou began), about 41 percent of all WPA
workers were women. ( See table 24.) In the previous
period, too, women workers ){'ft the WPA rolls at a slower
rute than men worlwrs. In the year ending with .June 1030,
for example, women left the \VPA rolls at the rate of from
:-1.2 percent to 9.2 percent of all women employed at the
hegi1111i11g of each month, while men left the rolls at a rate
varying from 6.3 percent to 12.fl percent.••
\Vomen, like men, were as,;igned as far as possible to
projed work suitable to their educational background and
work Pxperience. Many of the WPA women workers had
clerical job experience, but a much larger number were
.. S<'c Repo.-t <111 P.-0111-ess of the WPA Program, June 30, 1939,
p. 99.
experienced only in domestic work. During the week endIng April 2, 1938, 56 percent of all WPA women workers
were employed on sewing and other goods production
projects, 41 percent were emplo~·ed on various white collar
projects, and 3 percent were employed on construction and
miscellaneous projects. During the same week, women
constituted 87 percent of the employment on sewing proj•
ects, and 53 percent of the employment on white collar
project~. whill' rPpresentlng only 14 percent of total WPA
employment ...
WPA women workers ineluded many middle-aged and
some elderly ·women, although as a group they were
younger than the WPA men workers. To a greater extent
than men, WPA women workers lacked skills and private
job experience; and some of them had family responsibilities which limited their avallabillty for full•tlrue jobs
in domestic service. In areas where aid to dependent
children or general relief was unavallab!P or Inadequate,
WPA employiuent wus for runny needy women the only
available program of assistance. The difficulties encountered by WPA women workers in securing private jobs
are shown In a study (un1lublb;hed) made in May 1939 of
women on a WPA sewing project In Pittsburgh. Nearly
half of these women workers had been unemployed tor 6
11 see Report on Progress of the WPA Program, J1ine 30, 1938,
table 14, p. 37.
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EMPLOYMENT
yl•ars or more. Nearly all ot them had been continuously
employed on WPA projects since their first assignment,
and to many ot them their project jobs were their first
paid employment, or their first since marriage:
Women as well as men were trained for jobs in the war
industries through the vocational training program set up
by the WPA In July 1940. The women who remained In
WPA employment during the last year ot the program
were largely those considered too old to adapt themselves
to factory conditions and those in areas where wartime
jobs were scarce.
Negroes on the WPA Rolls
Negroes, even under warHme conditions, were at a disadvantage in obtaining private jobs In competition with
white workers. In the South, where the country's Negro
population Is heavily concentrated, the Negro's opportunities tor <'ducauo·n and training have been very limited
and his e<'onomic opportunities narrow In range. The
proportion ot WPA workers who were found qualified tor
training In the WPA vocational training program was
much smaller among Negro workers than among white
workers. These disadvantages were reflected in the
steadily growing proportion ot Negro workers on the WPA
rolls in the later years ot the program. The proportion
of Negrot:'s In WPA employment was 14 percent In February 1939, 16 percent in April 1941, and 20 percent in October 1942. In comparison, the proportion of nonwhite persons In the total labor force in March 1940 was 11 percent.18
TABLE 25.-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF WPA
\V ORKERS, BY RACE AND BY SEX
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY
1939,
Race and sex
All workers ....... .
Male····-·••···
Female ....... .
Whlte •... -···-··········
Me.le ...... ·-·········
Female.···-····-····
Negro ..... ···-·-···· .....
Male ...••..•.........
Female ............. .
Other ...•................
Male ................ .
Female ............. .
APRIL 1941, FEBRUARY
OCTOBER 1942
Febmary
19:19 •
April
IIJ-11
b
1942,
AND
Febmary
Octoher
1942 •
IU42 d
100.0
86.9
13.1
100.0
82.0
18.0
100.0
77. 2
22. 8
100.0
60. 5
39. 5
85.4
74. 4
11.0
14.2
12. 1
2.1
0.4
0.4
83.1
67. 9
15. 2
16. 3
13. 6
2. 7
0.6
0.5
0. I
81. 8
62. 3
IY.5
17. 6
14. 4
3.2
0.6
0.5
0.1
79. 7
47. 9
31.8
JU. 9
12. 4
7. 5
0.4
u. 2
u. 2
(•)
• Covers certified workers cmploy,•cl in Fnbruary 1930 whose certifications
were continued in the review of ncccl ronclneted at that time.
• Covers certiflecl WPA work,•rs employ,•d on Apr. 30, 1941.
• Covers oortlfied WPA work,•rs empluy<>cl on Feb. Ii, 11142.
• Covers certified WPA work,•rs employed on Oct. 27, 1942.
• Lesa than 0.06 percent.
Negro worket'S on the WPA rolls were a younger group
than white workers. The age differential between the
Ne.gro and white groups widened in the closing years of
the program. In April 1941, the median age ot Negro
• Sizteenth Ocn•u• of the United States: 19~0, Popul1111tlon,
vol. III, pnrt 1.
11roje<'t workers was 41.1 years, while that of white project
workers was 43.2 years. In October 1942, the age medians
were 47.6 years for Negro workers and 52.0 years tor white
workers. This widening age differential between the
Negro and white groups employed on WPA projects Is i.
further reflection of the greater difficulties experienced l>>
Negroes in getting private employment. As increasln,:
war protluction created new job opportunities in private
Industry, the younger workers among Negro as well 11a
among white project workers were iucreaslngly able to
leave the WPA rolls; but the proportion of younger workers leaving the WPA rolls was greater In the white tha11
in the Negro group.
The distribution of WPA workers by sex nnd race, tor
the months In which surveys were made concerning thes.,
characteristics, is shown in table 25. With the decline in
\VPA employment that began early In 1939, the proport-ior,
of women Increased among both white and Negro workers.
The rate of increase of women workers was somewhat le!ll'
for the Negro than for the white group; this was due to
the tact that male Negro workers left the WPA rolls at ..
slower rate than male white workers.
Farmers and Farm Workers on the WPA Rolls
The WPA provided employment for a considerable number ot fnrmers and tarm workers at all times. Increased
displacement of fnrm workers by mechanization and the
gro,...-th of part-time farming (with dependence on supplementary earnings), as well as occasional disasters, were
among the more ob,·ious cauia;es of n<'ecl in this group. It
was also necessary for the WPA to pro,·icle employmPnt
for seasonal tarm laborers, a group which was lntermit·tently dependent on public aid because earnings were in.
sufficient to last through the slack period. The proportion
of farmers and farm workers on the WPA rolls fluctuate!]
greatly, rising sharply during the wint<'r and tailing off
during the planting and hanesting seasons.
A program of aid to farmers in the drought areas of the
West, set up in July 1936, provided project employment for
IIJ))lroximately 300,000 pnsons. 30 A special program,
st11rtecl In August 1938, gave betwet•n·sPason project employment to southern farmers with extremely low in-·
romes; it operatPd in 11 StntPR, 1111<1 at its peak in Oelolwr
mul November 1938 it 1irovided n lil"ing for 200,IW>O farm
familiP,.., Projf•et work was :1lso gi\·pn ns a uw1111s of
11icling farm families whose Pligibility for aid undPr the
l'<•hnhilitation programs of other Hgl'IICiPs was !louhtful,
or whose nPf'fi was clearly of short <lurnlion. Persons
<'urrPntly receh·ing loans or suhsistPll('P gra11l:a< from the
l•'nrm Sec•111·ity Administration WPl'e in gPIH•rnl not pJigihlt·
for project employment, although the WPA pro\'iclecl R01111•
bPtween•SPason E>mployment for those in extreme riet~I.
In Octol>Pr Hl-lO, th<•rp were 146,000 farmers and aho11t
!l0,000 farm laborp1•s 011 the Wl'A rolls, u total of 236,000
p<'rsons, <'onstitnting 13.i per,·ent of total " 1 PA employment.."'
"' See footnote 24. p. 29.
• 0 Estimnt,•d on the bnsls of a enmple sur,·ey conducted In 1'10
('OlllltiPS in October 1940.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
The Families of WPA Workers
Families aggregating about one-fourth of the family
units in the United States were supported at one time or
another tbrougb project jobs provided by the WP.A. during
the 8 years of Its existence. The number of such families
( including one-person fam!lies) Is estimated at about
8,500,000, which Is the numbet· of different persons em•
ployed on WPA projects."
TABLE 26.-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF ALL
FAMILIES IN 1940 AND OF FAMILIES OF WPA
WORKERS IN FEBRUARY 1939, BY SIZE OF
FAMILY
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
Number of persons
in family
Families
in the
entire
population
1940 •
Families of WP A workers
February 19311 •
Total
Numberoffamllles. lll,087,440 •2,886.217
Male
beada
2,508,122
Female
beads
378,095
Percenta,i:e distribution
Total .... . . . ...... .
I.····················· ...
2.• •••• . •••..••••.•••.•••.
3 .•••• • •••••• •• ••••••• • ••.
4 .. ....... . . . . .. ......... .
6 .. • • ••• . . •• ••.••• ~ •••.•..
6 .• •.• •••. .• • •• .•• •. : •. •. •
7 . . ••••. .... .•.........•..
8 .• •• • .• • • •.•• ••••• •• ••• • •
g or more .. ... ... . ...... .
Median ..... . ....•.... ...
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0
10. 0
2.~. 6
22. 0
17. 6
10. 7
6.2
3.5
2. 0
2.4
10. 7
20. 7
g. I
19. 5
21. 7
Ii. 7
12. 3
8. 0
5.0
3.1
3.6
21.4
28. 5
20. 7
12. 9
7. 5
4. 2
2. 3
I. 2
1. 3
----- ----- ---- -- - -
3. 16
21.6
17. 1
II. 7
7. 4
4.6
2. 8
3. 4
3. 76
2.9.'l
3.88
• Sinetnth c,n,u, of Ill< United Stale,: 19.0, Population: types of famllles,
R;;!;,
on Progrm oflht WP.A. Program, Jun,30, 19$9, table 39, p. 102.
ta~~.!•
Oat& lrom which l)('rcentages were derived cover 2,732,251 p('rsons whose
names appened on February 1939 pay rolls and who wtrc cerillled in the
review for continued employment. 'l'hese percentages may be appilod to
the total number of person, in this table which represent the average weekly
em1>loyment counts made during the month nf February 193Q.
A statistical survey was made 111 February 1989 concern·
ing the size of families of WPA workers.'• The average
number of personR per Wl'A family In that month w1ts
3.76; the 11ve1·age number of persons pet· family unit in the
entire population In March 1940 was 3.15, aC<·ording to the
1940 Ct'IISU!t About 60 percent of nil Wl'A workPrs were
supporting from two to four pet"!SOIIS, i11clutll11g themselves.
Thll·ty pe1Te11t of WPA tamlllP.8 contained five or more
l)(!t'sons. In comparison, 2~ per('ent of the famlllt'S In the
Pntire population contained five or more persons. Thus,
large families were relatively more numerous among those
supported by WPA wages than In the population at larg~.
( See table 26. ) Single persons employed by the WPA were
slightly mo1·e than one-tenth of nil WPA workers. Single
men represented 9 percent of all male workers on WPA
projects and single women were 21 percent of all fE>mnle
n According to the 1940 census, there were npproxlmntely
35,087,000 families in the contlnentnl United States, Including
3,497,000 one-person families . If the cenyuM d t llnltlon of 11 fnmlly
unit Is ueed. WPA wnges supported at one time or another nbout
24 percent or all the fnmlly unit• In the country.
<> See Report on Progreu of the WPA. Program . ,ltme
table 39, p . 102.
.,o,
l9;l9,
project workers. In other words, single persons were rel&•
tively twice us numerous among women as among men
employed on Wl'A projects."
Organization of the WPA
Division of Employment
Various separate responsibilities In connection with
WPA employment were consolidated, In January 1936, in
the central administration, in the Dh•ision of Employment,
under the clh.-ection of an assistant administrator. The
functions of the Division were rllstrlbuted among various
sections.
The Intake and certl.flcatlon section formulated procedures regarding eligibility; advised the Division's regional
staffs regarding standards of nee<l and relations with cer. tlfying agencies; had te('hnical supervision of State WPA
intake and certification officials; secured relevant Information on the relief needs of the States; and maintained
liaison with Federal and private welfare agencies.
The assignment and wages section formulated. procedures regarding classification, assignment, reassignment,
and termlnat.lons; determinerl the sturnlard w1tge schedule
within legal provisions, and w11s rt>sponslble for adjustments of this schedule; mac le re<~mnnendatlons tor action
or the central administration regarding State employment
authorizations, exemption1-1 C'On~rning hours and ruteR of
1iay, and exemptions from nonrellt>f lhultntlons: nncl
m,alntained liaison with the PWA und other Federal agendes providing work, and with the United States Employment Service.
'!'he labor relations section formulated labor policies;
adjusted complaints DJ.ade by organizations and individuals; had technical supervision of regional and State labor
relations officials; and maintained liaison with organised
labor.
The section on racial relations advised the Division on
racial problems; Investigated l'omplnints charging racial
discriminations; prepared special Informational materlal;
eollected. und unnlyzed dnta coneernlng the employment
nE>t>lls of Negroes and their employment on WPA projects;
and m11h1t1tlned liaison with Negro organizations. In 1942
thii. work was placed in the lubor relations section.
In 1!1~911 st>ction for labor nppt>uls nod review wns St't up
to r·a1Ty on work fornwrly flt'rformed by the Lnhnr Policies
Bourd of the Wl'A, ancl the nssl;;tant cornrnlsslnner ln
eharge of l'tnploynwnt was gh·t>n tlw final rt>sponslbllity
for deddlug upfll'IIIS. In l!J42 this St'dlon wns llbollshed
lllld Its flllll tlons were ('IIITlecl Oil by II STJE'Clnl ton1mltant.
The Sl)('<·inl t>mployment problemt.< iwctlon Investigated
reports of shortages of labor in printtE' industry and dealt
with other relationships between prh-nte industry and the
Wl'A. '!'his section was abolished In 19m), and Its functions were performed for a time by an executh·e assistant
within the Division.
A section on occupatlonnl classification was set up In
HMO, with the purpose or improving prO<'P<lure In this
0
.., The number ot workers per family le pnb11ps e,•en more lmportnnt as a determinant ot need tor puhlk aid thnn the size of
the family. 'l'be economic opportunities ot a fnmily frequently
depend on the number of workers it contnins. since the chance
that some member of the fnmlly wJII obtnln a job le Increased
with the number quallfylnir tor em11loymPnt. Only fragmentary
data on tbe number or workers per WPA family are available.
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47
ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
field. The duties of the section also Included giving assistance in the finding and selection of qualified workers
for the defense industries. In 1942 this work was put Into
the assignment and wages section.
A training section, set up in 19-10, was i11 1941 placed In
the newly formed Division of Training and Reemployment.
In each regional office the Dil·ision of Employment
maintained a staff headed by a d1ief regional supervisor
of employment, with one or more regional supervisors
under his direction. These, like the regional representatives of the other divisions, were administratively under
the authority of the regional director.
The functions of the regional employment officials were
to intermediate between the central administration and
the State and distrkt offices; to give information and
advice; to secure adherence to WPA policies and standards; to report to till' c-Pntral administration on employment needs; to make rPeommendatlons to the central administration r{'gardlng wage rates and exemptions; to
make recom.mendatiorn; to the State administrator on the
selection of local welfare agencies as certifying or referral
agencies; and to maintain liaison with the regional staffs
of other Federal agencies.
In the StatPs, the Division of Employment ordinarily
comprised three sections: executive, intake and certifications, and assignment and labor relations. The head of
the Division was responsible administratively to the State
administrator, but in matters of techniques or method
was under thP supervision of the Division of Employment
in the central administration, and of the regional employment stnfl' us representatives of the central administration. Each State Division of Employment established
standards and methods of work for the district Divisions
of Employment; recommended State and district division
administrative budgets to the State administrator; and
appro,·ed State and district division personnel.
Each district Division of Employment had the duty of
carrying into pfl'ect the regulations and methods established by the State division. It handled classifications,
assignments, terminations, complaints and Investigations;
carried on job and foremanship training; and made
recommendations to the State division regarding wage
rates and exemptions. Although Its actions were subject
to instruction, appeal, and overruling, it was necessarily
responsible for a multitude of daily decisions, most of
which went unchallenged and were thus final.
ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
BY far the largC'st amount of WPA employment, 75 percent or more until the spring of 1940, was provided
through construl'tion projects of a wide ,·ariety of types.
This work was under the direction of the Division of Engineering and Construction in the central administration
in Washington and In the State administrations.
The projects us a whole had to be such as would pro,·ide employment to !urge numbers of unskilled workers.
However, they ulso im·olverl work rPqt1iri11g the use of the
skills and nbilities of a relatively smnller number of
skilled and semiskilled workers.
The 1,killed workers certified to the WPA for employment included curpenteni, bricklayers, stone mnsons, mechanics, painters, plumbers, anti others whose skills were
readily usable on construC'tion projects; but they also included railroad trainmen, cigar makers, and others whose
skills were not usable. The semiskilled workers Included
truck drivers and others who could perform their accustomed work, and factory workers who had to he assigned
to different work. Many skills and abilities were within
the range of work which the WPA could legally and usefully perform; but workers with skills and abilities outside that range were obliged to adapt themsel\·ps to other
kinds of work.
The types of engineering and construction projects operated were of a wide variety. Tlwy lnclmled the con~tructlon or Improvement of highways and streets, public
buildings, airports and airways, recreational facilitlPs,
public utilities, and facilities for the conservation of natural resources. The projects selected for operation were
such as would gh·e useful work to the unemployed at a
given time and place, and such as the <;ommunitles were
willing to sponsor. All projeds selected for operation had
to meet the legul requirements set up for WPA projects.
It was on highway, road, and street projects that the
Divisio11 of Engi11eerl11g and Construction provided about
half of its entire employment. On other groups of projects, the proportions of employment varied considerably
through the 8 years of WPA operations. 'l'hree groups of
projects together accounted for about a third of the Division's employment; these werP the projects for water and.
sewer systems and other public utilities, projects for parks
and other recreational facilities ( excluding buildings),
and projects for public buildings. The remainder of the
Division's employment was distributed among conservation, sunitation, and airport and airway projects.'
Public buildings projects provided a high percentage of
employment for skilled workers; about 30 percent of the
person!! emplo~·l'd on these projects were skilled workers.
On other construction _projects, such as highway, road,
and street projects, the percentage of skilled workers
employed was as low as 8 percent.
Unskilled WPA workers were employed to the largest
extent on highway, road, and street projects, where thPy
1 See pp. 34 to 36 for distribution of employment by types of
projects.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
represented wore than 75 percent ot the employmen t on
this type ot project. On all other constructio n projects,
with the exception ot public buildings, unskllled workers
generally accounted tor about 60 to 70 percent of the
employmen t on each project. Unskilled workers on projects for the constructio n of public buildings represented
generally less than 50 percent ot the employmen t on these
projects.
In the main, the workers employed on constructio n
projects were chiefly unskilled laborers and semiskilled
factory workers, many of whom were "too old" by the industrial standards then prevailing, and others too young
to have acquired work experience. In the early lOOO's,
many loclll officials had doubted whether any but the simplest pick and shovel jobs could be trusted to these workers. The WPA, however, assumed the responsibili ty tor
training the workers In the use of unfamiliar 'tools. This
training on the job was directed by experienced construction engineers and key foremen. Under their direction,
the workers learned their project jobs and developed pride
In the results of their work. The developmen t of an
efficient labor force was hastened by the admnceme nt of
workers who showed special aptitudes; this system ot promotion extended up through the skilled grades to project
foremanshlp .
·
The maintenanc e of an efficient labor force was ot course
hampered by the large turn-over resulting from the return
of project workers to private Jobs and their replacemen t
by other needy workers. MoreoYer, the labor trained by
the WPA In one community could not be trani1ferred to
another beyond a distance reasonably con'l"enlent tor dally
trans11ortatlon. 1
Good supervision wai1 highly Important to efficient proje('t operationi1. WPA foremen were often hired from outside the pr 1.iject. But many foremen left the WPA program
for jobs In prirnte Industry, and the WPA had to be prepan>d to n•plare them. Project workers who showed special qnalification/:1 for toremenshi p were put In charge of
work cn•ws and were as far as possible trained on the job
to bN·orne forpml'n. Special training course's for pernons
linhli11g positions ns foremen and supervisors were condnctt'rl umlPr the direction of the WPA State administrations. This s11ecial trnlnl11g w11s needed evPn by foremen
ancl !lUJJ<>n·isors experienced In private industry, for the
11mnagP111t-11t of project work anti workr?rs neees,mrily dlffpn•d in some rn:J)('cts from lhP methods use1l In l);ivate
l11cl11stry.
Tiu• ('1mft>re11ce method wus genernll~· used in tire WPA's
trai11ing eo1iri-Ps. At these conferences procedures were
:11,alyZPd 111111 ex1iluinet1 In detull. ProbJl•ms of supply,
rt'lations with spo11sors, Job plnnnlng nnd job housekeeping,
uurl opnntimral 1111d personnel difficnlties were thoroughly
tliseuss1•1I. The rPsponse of inex[)erlencC'd foremen to trninl11g wns Pnthu~instlc, and remarkably good rPsults were
11chieverl.
A gPnernl account hns been given, In an earlier section,
'An exception to thle rule was made for work In plncee remote
from u IRhor supply, 11s In nntlonnl pnrks nn1! forests. on military
rrsrr..-ntlonR, and on large outlying dnms and reeen-olre and long
water supply lines; In such plnC1'e tPmpor,u•y work cnmpe were
"•tn hllshed.
ot the developmen t of project proposals and appllcatlou s,
the processes of review and approml, and the Initiation of
projects. ( See p. 9.) To this general account some particular statements may be added with respect to constractlon projects.
The Planning of Construdion Proiects
Although the planning ot projects was definitely the
1<ponsor's responsibili ty, WPA officials often suggested eligible projects. These officials had information as to the
numbers and kinds of workers available, and also had considerable acquaintanc e with local needs for public construction. Project proposals were often prepared cooperatively by the responsible local officials and the WPA district
engineer. The WPA aided many sponsot'S in the formulation of plans for projects which would be eligible under
the WPA program. When unsuitable project plans w~re
proposed, as for example by small communitie s which bad
no regular engineering department s, these plans were not
rejected, but were returned with suggestions for revisions.
At many stages In the process of engineering review,
there were opportuniti es to delny approval for the purpose
of securing Improvemen ts In technical design or specifications. But speed was ot importance , especially In the early
days of the program, and the temptation to lmpro'\"e on the
sponsors' plans wall, as a matter of policy, resisted. Whereever possible, designs and specificatio ns were left to the
Judgment of the sponsor. Changes were suggested, however, when the designs or-epeclflca tions did not meet reasonable engineering standards 01· were midnly restrictive
or whPn the nmouot ot skilled lnbor required hy the original
plans was In excess of that which would probnbly be nvaUnble from the relief rolls.
Final plnns for many engineering proj~ts were subj~t
to the appr0Y11l of established Federul age11des or state or
munieipnl bodies. For example, nil proposerl river front
Improvemen ts to na'l"ignble streams were pa;.:sed upon by
the npproprinte Unltl'd States Engineer Office ( of the Corps
of E111:inl'ers), ns w<>ll as by the pnrk nnthorlty h:wing
jurisrliction in the area. Water supply ancl sewernge proposals were passed upon either by n slnte agency or by the
UriitP<l Stutes Public Health Service. Plans for dnws had
to be nppro'l"ed by the United States Engineer Office. ProJeC'ts for airport work were passed upon by the Civil AeronautiC's Administra tion;· for conservatio n work, by the
l111itetl Slates Di>partment of Agricnlture ; nn<l for work
011 Federal-aid ronds, by the Pnblie Honds Administra tion.
As the ability of the WPA labor force to undertake
specialized construction work lncrensed, and ns the engineering department s of large cities became more fn111iliar
with the cnpnclty of the WPA, special al!rnnee planning
of lmportnntm nnldpnl works was undertaken with a view
to securing WPA nf:sistnnC'e on them. In 1<ome Instances,
public works requiring more than 1 year to construct were
divided i11to scctious wl!ich woul(I be financed, built, nod
u!led yenr by year UJ1til the entire pro.lC'Ct wns completed.
This metl1od of S<'<'nring "'l'A nssistm1<'e was e~)ll'cially
lwlpful in 1mtting into effect the plans nrgetl by the United
States Pnhlie Health Service for the elimination of stream
]Jol1111 ion. l\Jany cities, nnrler court orrler~ to 1lesist from
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ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
the practice ·of discharging raw sewage into streums, hut
lucking funds for the construction of sewage-treatment
plants, were able to carry on this work with the assistance
of serial WPA projects.
The WPA encouraged the preparation of plans for various projects for which there might be no immediate need
but which. woultl be of great future benefit to the communities and the Nation. Among these were: The improvement of water fronts, ~ncluding the rehabilitation of
publicly owned docks and wharves; the cooperative use of
public and private riparian rights in the interest both of
municipal beauty and of transportation convenience; the
reclamation of blighted city a1·eas by the construction of
wide boulevards and the construction of small parks and
playgrounds in places left vacant after demolition of slum
housing; and the construction of bypass streets to relieve
transportation in congested commercial and inilnstrlal
areas.
Few local governments had long-range programs for
municipal improvements. The dPpres!'ion and the coming
into existence of unprecedented kinds of Federal aid created a new situation in the field of local public works. On
the one hand, it was impossible without Federal aid for
local governments generally to carry on adequate programs of public works construction. On the other hand,
with Federal aid it became possible for some local governments to carry forward some kinds of public works con°
struction more rapidly than before. At the same time,
their traditional activities were broadened so as to include
work never previously performed. The continued existence of the \VPA over a period of 8 years gave a new emphasis to the local programming of public works. Such
local programs made WPA cooperation with local governments easier, and resulted in a. more effective and economical use of WPA labor.
The WPA itself, however, had no long-term program.
Appropriations were made to the WPA only for the period
of a fl.seal year, and there was no assurance of an appropriation for the yea1· fo1iowing. In addition, sinee any
WPA worker had to accept private employment if It was
offered at pre,·ailing wages, there was no assurance that
labor with the requisite skills woul1l continue to be available to the WPA for the completion of its projects. The
temporary character of the WP A progra III thus constituted
a irerious obstacle to its use as an aid in rounding out the
long-range plans of local governments. But there can be
no doubt that the WPA program, despite its limitations,
contributed to the adnt11eP111ent of the practke of long.
range programming of loeal public works.
When a constrmtion JJro.iect was authorized for operation by the State administrator, a project superintendent
was selected. He had to be cornpetPnt for the work in
hand, acceptable to the sponsor, and, if possible, a local
man. In some instances, the project superintPnclent was
an employee of the sponsor, acceptable to the WPA. Arrangements were then made for the employment of whatever other project supervisory personnel was necessary,
and a project headquarters was established. There wns
then usually requisitioned from the supply section an office
~hanty, a tool shed, offi<-r suppllPs and forms, certain speci-
tied tools and equipment, and construction materials, and
IIP11vy equipment was requisitioned as required.
Requisitions for labor were prepared and sent to the
Division of Employment, listing the number and kinds of
skilled workers and the number of helpers and common
laborers that would be required and stating at what time
and place the workers would be expected to report. 'rhe
Division of Employment sent notices to report for work to
those persons who were available for employment and possessed the skills required.
If sufficient labor were not Immediately obtainable
within reasonable distances from the project site, the
project superintendent was notified, and other arrangements were made. The sponsor might then furnish this
labor either from his own forces or from the open labor
market; or the sponsor might provide transportation to
WPA workers from remote places. When the latter arrangement was impracticable, transportation might be
provided by the WPA.
The control of project operations was then carried on
as a rPgular process by the State WPA through Its district,
area, and project organizations. Current project reports
on the progress of work were reviewed and kept on file
in the State office of the Division of Engineering and Construction; such reports were ordinarily requested by the
central administration only for specific reasons-usually
to secure information when complaints were made that
projects were operating behind schedule or in an otherwise unsatisfactory way. Special rPports were sometimes
required by the central administration In regard to projects on which difficulties were encountered or expected.
Monlhly progress reports on all projects certified as important for national defense were transmitted to the central administration; this reporting was at the request of
the military and na,·al services, who needed the information to facllltate the scheduling of other related activities.
In the absence of other planned projects, there was a
tendency on the part of both the WPA and the sponsoring
agency to put too many workers on a given project. To
mC'et this situation, the WPA sought to help the sponsors
in developing advance plans for projects by which the
desired amount of employment could he properly provided. With long-range programming of work projects,
many of the undesirable ns)l<'ets of PlllC'rgency puhlic employment were eliminated.
Puhlic employment had to be provided even more extensively In winter than at other spasons, since unemployment was greatPst in winter. It was necessary for the
WPA to break with eustom and earry on In winter some
kinds of construction work that are ordinarily performed
at other sensnns In which wP11tl1er conditions are more
favorable. Project activities in winter were, however,
tPmporarily suspended during periods of extreme cold or
~torms, and the workprs wne permittPd to make up the
time lost.
Sponsors were often unwilling or mrnhle to go to the
exppnse of providing the proper equipment for proje<'t
operations; they preferred to ha,e the work clone with
\vhatever equipmPnt they had on hand, even though It
was insnflkient or outmodf'd. On many constru<'tion proj-
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
ects, the lilck of adequate or first-rate equipment was, to a
considerable extent, offset by ingenious methods of design
nnd operation. The WPA's contribution of $G l)('r munmonth to the uonlubor cost of projects w11s ordinarily applied to material <"Osts. In States, however, where the
types of projects opernted were such as llwolved small
matt>rial costs, tlwse nonlubor funds were av11ilable for
the rental or purchase of equipment by the WPA. EquiJ)ment was rented ex<"ept where rentnls were unreasonably
high. Some State administrations purchased trucks and
various Items of minor equipment, and others purchas(>d
heavy equipment for use in road and airport construction.
In the defense and war period, when projects were mechanized as far as possible, both the WPA and the sponsors
rented or purchased whatever heavy equipment was neces1mry and available. One of the advantages of Federal
ownership of equipment was that it could be transferred
from one project to another. There were, however, difficulties arising from the r('(1uirements of maintenance,
especially for heavy equipment (especially when It was
operated by inPxperlenced hands) and to a lesser degree
for trucks and other minor equipment. The \VPA met
these difficulties to some extent by issuing Instructions
for the prop1>r USP 11ml car(> of the equipment, and by
having It checked frequently In the fl.eld by traveling Inspectors; but tht>re was often S(•rious clrlay In obt11ini11g
rt>pair ports, wht>11 the t'f)Uipuwnt was usl'tl In plart>R
r(>motp from repair shops.
Types of Engineering and
Construction Proiects
WP.A Pngineering 1111d construction work c11n be conVl'llit>ntly grouped ai- nmnicipnl 11nd engineering projects,
nlrport and uirway projects, 1mblic buildings projects, highway and road projects, consenation projects, and engineerIng surveys projects.
Municipal Engineering Projects
The construction work of the munic-ip11l depart llll'llts of
public works wns n nuturnl fieltl for Wl'A opernti<J11>1, 11s
it had been for prpvious enwrgeney work progrnms. l\lunicipul officiuls usually hat! <!!'finite itll'HS nbout tlll' construetion work that should be perfor111Ptl to lllPCt exp:mdlng public nePdr,;. Because of finarwiul li111itations, such
work h11d ht'(~n slighted in thP PHl"i)" 19:io·s. Wl'A us,-;istanre encourngt>d a rapid dt>velo1m1l'11t of 11la11s for muni<•ipal engineering projpcts of nil kill(!s.
l\funicipal Pnginel'ring project:- im·lmh-,1 <·onst ruetion and
rPpair work on strePts, nlleys, 11111! sidPwnlks, watt>r sup}Jly
i,aystems and purification plants, ,-:pwer s~·stPn1s !Ill(! sPwage
disposal plants, parks 1111d recrPational fn<'ilitiPs, and mii-eellaneous municipal imprn,·t>111P11ts ( not irl("!uding public
buildings); they nlso lnclmlPd thP rl'lllOVal of nbandon{'{I
streetcar rail.
WPA construction work on urb1111 streets and alleys in
the early years of the WPA program wns necessary in
many localities because of the neglect of this type of work
by municipal governments in the early 1930's. Io the later
years of the WPA progrnm, the construetion and Improvement of urbnn streets was in the interest of widening
certain streets to relieve congested traffic areas. In the
8 years of oper11tlon of the WPA program, more than
07,000 miles of urb1111 streets Wlc're constructed, of which
about 30,000 miles were high-tnie surface (concrete, blt11mh10us, or other hard surface mn terl11ls).
The constl"uctlon and Improvement of city streets usually
included the laying of sidewalks arnl curbs; the Improvement of park ureas Included the building of paths and
walks. During the 8 years of the WP A progrnm about
24,000 miles of sidewalks and paths were newly constructed
and 7,000 miles were Improved. About 25,000 miles of curb
were laid and 3,000 miles were Improved.
The construction of parks nnd recrention11l facilities furnished a reudy use for WPA lubor. The operation of such
projects afforded the e11siei;t method of setting the unernplo~·ed to work, especially in the abSPnce of other definite
plans. There wns an early tendency to overbuild, which
was corrected Inter by requiring the approv11I of the National Park Service for p11rk Improvement plans in all
localities in which there was no city park commi1-<slon with
authority to determine the sultahlllty of the site, th<>
adequacy of the plnns, and the reasonablent>ss of the Improvement in relation to t>xlstlng park faciliti«>s. In most
of the large citiPs, however, extensive 11nd excellent park
improvt>ment projects were operated under the sponsori,;hip of experiem·ed park boards. In the 8 years of the
11rogrnm, WPA workns built or improve<! more than 8,000
parks. l\fost of this work was on Improvements to existing
parks.
Grading, lnnrlscuping, the constniction of smnll structurt>s, 11n<I the development of playgrounds could be carried
on for the most J)nrt with the unskilled and semiskilled
labor that was available from the relief rolls. The early
projeC'ts were ordinarily confined to lnndscapi ng, tree
plantir1g, 1111<1 road construction; later, park work wns
gPnerally broadened to lncltule the construction of i-wimming pools, stadiums, and other recreational facilities.
Lnrg-p pnrk improvement projerts could be OJW1·atl'cl in
units, nrnl Pmploynwnt on these pro.JPcts was thns readily
1H)just11ble to Jocnl current unemployment. Definite pl11nning was required in this field in order to nvoi<i "m11kt>work" projects.
During th!' whole pPriod of the program, WP.-\ workt>rs
!milt or improved neurly 3,300 stadiums, grandstands, and
hlt>nl"lwr:<, ahout !i,COO uthletic fll•lds, and thousands of
l111ndhall, l10n,11>shoe. 111al tennis courts. Otl1er outdoor
rP<·n•atlo11al fa<'ilitit>s vro,·idt>d wt>rl' icP skating areas, ski
trnils 1111(1 jumps, bnndslwlls 1111<! outdoor tht>nters, am!
golf •·oursPK. Play,:rouncls <'onstrueted or improved b:v
WPA workPrs totaled nearly 12,800. l\fore than 8,200 ~f
these were puhlie-srhool plnygrom1ds on which improvemP11ts were made.
Munieipnl e11ginPt>ri11g projects included construction of
SPWPl"llg-P >'rste111s nml water nnd sewa,:e-trPatment plants.
'l'ht>>1P prujl,ets were wPII suitPd in l'Vl'ry respect for prosecution by the WPA; they were the bnckbone of the winterwork program.
In the 8 ypars of the WPA program, WPA workers constructed 01· impro,·t>d np:uly 500 water-treatment plants
built or impro,·ed about 1,800 pumping stations, Installed
or reriaired more than 19,700 miles of water mains.and dis-
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ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
tribntlon lines, and made more than 880,000 consumer connection.e. In the Improvement of the water supply of rural
and urban communities, WPA workers t.lug nenrly 4,000
water wells, mnde improvements to about 2,000, and bullt
or improTed 3,700 storage tanks and reseryolrs. 'l'hrough
projects of this type, water was piped to areas previously
dependent upon private wells and cisterns, purified water
was provided for other communities where It hnd been
lacking, and the water supply was increased in outlying
nrban areas In which there was a grent Influx of war
workers.
In the 8 years .of the WPA progmm, more than 1,500
sewage-treatment plants were built or impro\"ed, and 200
incinerator plants were constructed or were IDJ).de usable.
More than 24,000 mili>s of storm and sanitary se,,,ers were
laid and · improvements were made to about 8,000 miles ;
and 639,000 sewernge service connections were Installed or
repaired. Manholes and catch basins totaling more than
815,000 were constructed and 423,000 were Improved; more
thlin 2,309,000 sunltary pri\"les were newly built and nearly
40;000 were renovated. 'fhe construction of sewage-disposal plants In some lnstarwes permitted the redamatlon
of strt>ams and lakes for sport and retrentlon purpoSl's.
Munlti))lll projects whlc-h were <·onsidered huportant for
,lefense and war purpoi<t>R are 1li1<e11!'..qt>d In thi> Ae<·tlon beginning on page 84.
Airport and Airway Projects
These projects were concerned with the development of
new airports and the improvement and enlargement of
existing airports. 'l'his work included the construction
and Improvement of hangars and othe1· 11lrport buildings;
the construction and reconstrnction of runways; the Installation or drainage systems and lighting systems; clearing, exca,·ntlng, 1111<1 gruding work; and airway marking
work.
At the beginning of the program, airport work wus in
the eategory or "reservoir projects" upon which ·1arge
numbers of workers could be put to work quil"kly and from
which they could be withdrawn, in accordance with the
current unemployment situatic_m. Airport projl'l•ts could
l'lllploy large numbers of workers, because of the large
amount of grading, drainage, pnving, 1111<] olhPr grnunil
lmpro\'ements which these project11 hH'lude<I.
Pn1ject up1,lkatlom; were s·11b111ittt-'tl by spon,;ors for 11II
khuls of airport work, ranging from simple field im11rovemt-nts to the highest types of nirport <'Onstrnction. 'l'ltt>
appli<-atlonl', nt first, did not ge11Prnlly Include <'arefully
prepared 11ml fully det11lled estimates of costs; and cent ml
111Jrnlnl11tratlon re\"iew of these applications wus 111 tlr"t not
Mtrlngent. It soon became apparent thnt the work performt'd at some !!ltt>S wns ll1-11ch·i-l; 1111d It wus thought
11e<-e!!l!ary to subject 11ll WPA ai1110rt work to Ill(' rl'quiretn!'nts of an airport program of natlonul scope.
Acrordlngly, In .July 1936, an airports and alrwnys section was set up In the Division of Engineering nnd Construction. Procedures were adopted whic·h requln•d full
use of the Information 11val111ble from the Bureau of Air
Commerce (renamed the Ch·il Aeronautics Administration) of the Department of Conuuerre. 'l'his ag-Ptl<"y mnde
11 technical revlPw of all WPA airport projects. The WPA
then conducted a more stringent engineering re,·lew of airport projects, making use of the standard pJnne of the
CAA, Including dt'!<lgn!'I and speriflcatlons for drainage and
pll\'lng, and the C.-\.-\ crlterlu for the selection of ulrport
sites. The airports and nlrways section In the central administration maintained liaison with the CAA, and transmitted to the Htate administrations, by means of procedures, the information and lnstructlo]! necessary for full
rompllunce with CAA standards and the g~neral roordlnatlon of WPA airport work.
At all times the WPA carried on airport projects sponsored by the War Department and the Navy Department.
These projN"ts were subject, not to CAA requirement!!,
but to the requirements of the sponsoring department.
The WPA airport program, when definitely organized,
had two phases of activity, that which preceded and that
which followed the declaration of a national defense
emerg!'ncy. In the enrlier phase of activities, civil airport
projl-'C'ts were subjected to the same general requirements
1111<1 policies as all other WPA work. Large projects were
usually planned for gradual c·o11structlon, and progress
wns governed by the need of partlcul11r facilities to meet
the demands of eonunPrcial a\'iation, the availability of
WPA labor 1iossesslng the requisite skills, and the ability
of s1xmsors to finance the lornl community's share of the
(•osts. There wns much use of band labor 011 these projects, and the unit costs were higher than they wonld hnn•
been If heavy equipment hnd been ui,;ed to t!ie utmost.
In the second phase of the airport program, the WPA
was called upon to conduct au accelerated program of airport construction and improvement in strategic area.&
throughout the country. This work Is discussed in the
l'le<'tion on WPA war actlvltle& beginning on page 84.
During the earlier, or civil pha11e, 111O11t of the public
airport construction and improvement throughout the Nation was !lone with, and was made po!<Slble by, WPA labor.
In the later or deft.>nse phase, whi>n largp expenditures
were made on airport work by the Army, the Navy, and
the C.-\A, the WPA was still ri>spomllble for lllU<'h of the
work on many of thP uirports construC'tl•d or impro,·ed for
t!Pfense and wur pnrpol!les. In the 8 yen rs of the progrnm,
Wl'A workers l'Oll!!lru!"tetl 350 new lundlng fli>l<l!I and Improved or enlurged nearly twice that 1111111b1>r. They eonstru!'t,•d und lmpro,·et1 a.925.000 Jlneat· ft'f•t of r1111Wll)'S,
1,129,000 1i1w11r ft'Pt of taxi stri11.<1, nncl mnny squnre yards
of aprons 111111 turning clrde!I. Nearly 1,:.•oo airport buildings were newly constructe<I and 2,800 were l't't'oni<tnl<'tP<l
or improved.
Public Buildings Projects
These projl'l·h1 lndmled the co11strnc-tion mul h1111ro,·e111e11t of Stall•, 1·O1mty, and city governmPnlul bUll<ling,,;,
.-dm·11tlo1111I und n><·reutlonnl buildings, city und eounty
hoi,;pitnl!I, J1P1111I l11stltutiom,, nnd buildings at military
1111d narnl estubllshmentll; they also included demolition
work i11 connec·tion with housing projects.
'l'lw work of construction and impro\"ement of building!!
at militnry und n11,·11I establishments wns cnrrll'i.1 on 1111
through the tiPrlod of the WPA program. Many of the
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
lmil!Ji11gs 11t these locations were in a run-down condition
which in some instances amounted to dilapidation. The
War and Navy Departments had scanty funds for nPw
construction or even repairs. The Army, the Navy, the
Marine Corps, the Const Guard, the Marithne Commission, and public institutions maintaining facilities for
training reserve officers thC'refore sponsored WPA projPets for the pnrpose of expantling their housing and trainIng facilities. Prompt, extensive, and continuous construction, reconstrt1ctlon, rehabilitation, repair, and Improvement work was done at almost every regular army
post and naval establishment in the country.
In the early months of the WPA program, building projects in general wPre limited to repair work, painting, and
the improvement of grouuds. The WPA did not appl'Ove
projects involving onlin11ry mnintPnance work. However,
bl'cau.<ie of the similarity of the opPrations, It was sometimes difficult to make a distinction between routine and
repetitive maintenance projects on the one hand, and actual
rf'<'onstruction and renovation projects on the other.
More new building construction projc<'fs were undertaken as the WPA program developed. School buildings,
city halls, community hulldlngs, nnd flrPhouse!l, oftPn very
old, were replaced by modern construetion. This type of
work required full cooperation from the sponsor and careful planning. The requirement fm• skillPtl labor sufficient
for completion of this type of work was much higher than
on many other kinds of projPCts. Assurnnt:'t' was accordingly required that the necps.-.ary skilled lnbor, if it were
not available from the relief rolls, would be employed by
the sponsor to finish the work.
Sometimes a specific part of bulldlng construction, such
as the plumbing and electrical work, wM; urulertaken by
contract by the. sponsor. It wns found that the employment of skilled labor by the sponsor nt union wnges would
rupet the objections sometimes made by org:rnizPd I11hor
in regard to WPA construction projects.
As the progrnm proceeded, monolithic concrete eunstructlon came into much greater use on WPA construetion
projects, and In some States it genernlly prevailed In the
design of bulltlings. This type of construction reqnirPd
the least amount of highly skilled labor. It was also
desirable from the standpoint of the s1J<1nsor, hP<'anse tht>
total project costs nnd the amount nP,·essary ns the s1,ousor's contribution were lower for this thnn for otlwr types
of building construction.
The totnl number of puhlle huill!ings constrn<"tl'd in thl'
8 years of the WPA progrnm wns 1wnrly 40,000, nnd improvements were made on more than 8li.0:to existing
structures. Educational, recreational, and hospital bull,Jlngs represPnt less than half the total nnmhn of puhlit•
buildings coustrncted 111111 impro,·ed. More than ri.!1O0
school buildings Wl'l'e constructPd; a total of more than
:!,170 additions were made to l'xisting school huiltlings;
111111 31,000 srhool huildings were r!'novnted or moderuizP<I.
Library faeilities werP e:sqmnded through the constnwtion
or lmpro,·emPnt of more than 1,000 Jihrary buildings.
For recreatio11al uses. WPA workers coustruPted more
than 9.300 nnditoriums, gymnasiums, and otlwr re.-rpatlonal buildings, and marl<' lmpro,·emPnts to more than
5,800 existing buildings. WPA workers built more than
226 hospitals, made additions to 156 existing hospitals,
and improved or renovated 2,170. Through these projects,
hospital facllitles were for the first time made available
to outlying areas, and additional hospital facilltles were
provided for urban communities. A number of the hospitals bunt by WPA workers were for the care of groups
of persons with special needs, Including the victims of
infantile paralysis or other crippling diseases.
The other buildings constructed or Improved Included
H,400 office and administrative buildings, more than 7,000
dormitories, 6,000 storage buildings, 900 armories, 2,700
firehouses, 760 bulldings at penal Institutions, and other
buildings of varying sizes and serving a variety of purposes. A special Federal project was conducted for the
p1·eservatlon and rehabilitation of historic buildings and
sites. Old missions, forts, Go,·ernment buildings, and residPnces of historic Interest or of architectural value located
In various parts of the country were preserved by this
project.
A special fPnture of the building-construction program
wns the armory construction work carried out on a nationwide scale. It was found that In many localities a bullding
could combi11e all the features of an armory with those of a
community meeting place or recreation center; and a combination armory and community center was very widely
adopted In local plans .. More than 400 of these buildings
were constructed, varying In cost from a few thousand to
several hundred thousand dollars, and about 500 old armories were reconstructed or renovated to meet modern
mllltary needs.
Throughout the whole WPA building construction program thPrl' wne notable devPlopments in certain architectural fpatures, and dPflnite economiPs were effected by
the use of particular mutniuls.
The WPA followed the newer tendencies toward simplification in architectural style. Simplicity of design was
be:<t suited to the limited skills usually available for WPA
work. The WPA urgP<l upon sponsors the elimination of
ornate architectural features, Intricate structural designs,
untl elaborate trim. Types of design were suggested which
would not require highly skilled and speclallzed workers,
where these were not available from the relief rolls. In
ortler to employ the maxi11111111 amount of WPA labor, RpOIIMtll'S were eneournged to 11~<• metho1ls wltid1 would rPQnlrt>
thP least equipment consistent with efficiency.
The result was the construction of many thous11111ls of
1111hlic buildings of simple and plPnsing appearance and
~ou11cl architectuml design, with savings both in original
l'Oi-<t anti lt1 future m11intP111mcf!. Although :<ome of thl'
hulltlings erP<'tPd by WPA h1hor are atlmittetlly not of goml
architPCtural design, In the n111ln the WPA has had an
i11fl1wnce. recognized as good. upon public architectural
a-<t1111durds.
RPi11foreed concrete wns used very exte11sively In new
r-011!<1 ruction work, in designs which fitted the local archltPCtural traditions (as for examplP, in our originally Spanish southwestern communitleia;). When other structural
matnials were used, thpy were generally native to the
region, e:u,il~· necesslblP, nnd not expensive. All kinds ot
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materiala were carefully salvaged In WPA demolition operations and were used in new construction with considerable savings to the community.
ways and roads, more than 1,000 new tunnels· were built.
Of these, 26 were for vehicular trafllc, 198 for pedestrians,
and 800 others were railway tunnels, !fewer tunnels, or
Highway and Road Projeds
cattle underpasses. For other .road appurtenances completed in connection with highway and road construction
projects, see appendix table XVI.
These projects Included work on highways, roads,
bridges, culverts, and gutters; roadside drainage; and
roadside landscaping.
Road projects were wore numerous than any other kind
of WPA projects. These projects were greatly needed, and
could be put In operation with a minimum of preliminary
engineering work. Most of the work could be readlly performed by nearly any able-bodied worker.
A very great proportion of this work was on rural roads
and highways. Many were farm-to-market roads ( ordlnarlly surfaced with gravel or crushed stone or left unsurfaced), whleb Increased the farmers' opportunities to
market their goods and made It possible for the Inhabitants
of rnral areas to take advantage of cultural and educational opportunities In neighboring cities.
·
The character of the work differed greatly In different
areas. In remote or 1lnanclally poor areas the road bullding officials often lacked the engineering skill requisite for
designing high-type road construction or Improvements. A
project In such areas might mel"ely cnll for the addition of
a gravel surface to a rural road, perhaps with some work
on drainage and the clearance of the roaclside right-of-way.
As the program developed, however, the WPA Increasingly required compliance with minimum standards of road
ronstruction, Including the width of the right-of-way, sight
distance, the degree of horizontal and vertical curves, the
size of drainage openings, the character of construction,
and the specifications for surfacing materials. The use of
native materials was encouraged, especially when sponsors'
funds were meager.
A.bout 572,000 miles of rural roads were constructed or
Improved in the 8-year period of the WPA program. Of
this mileage, nearly 57,000 miles were concrete, bituminous, or macadam paved roads, which were largely prlmaryhfghways linking urban areas.
In many States a great pal"t of the secondary road
system was modernized. The projects Included some spectacular examples · of heavy construction of iuodern mountain highways. Quarries were sometimes operated by the
WPA In order to conserve nonlabor funds for use in ·t he
construction work proper.
Bridges and viaducts, culverts, guardrails and gunrdwalla, and gutters were usually constructed or Improved
In connection with work being done on highways and
roads. In the 8-year period, 1935-43, the WPA constructed 78,000 new bridges and viaducts and Improved
more than 46,000 others. Almost two-thirds of1:hese struct11res, 81,000, were of wood. In the later years of the
program, timber and masonry were often used In bridge
ronstructlon In order to conserve critical materials.
Many of the bridges were small, replacing structures
that were dllapldated or Inadequate, or taking the place
ot fords; and many were two-lane bridges built to replace
one-lane bridges.
In connection with the construction and repair of high-
Conservation · Profects
The WPA's conse1·vatlon projects were concerned with
water conservation, mine sealing, and erosion control.
Water conservation projects, although suitable for WPA
labor, provided extensive employment in only a few States.
In the drought of 1934 the rural Middle West sutr~red
severely from lack of water. When the water supplies of
whole States dwindled to the vanishing point, farmers became Interested In a program of building dams In small
streams, thus creating lakes or ponds In which rainfall
would be Impounded near the place of i_ts occurrence, with
channel storage near the headwaters o_f the larger dralnuge areas-a program of water control for periods of both
tlood and drought. 'l'he work ot constructing low dams of
logs or stones In small streams and larger dams at suitable locations was begun In 1934 under the FERA program. This type of work was done In many States, and
most thoroughly In Ka11sas.
The WPA continued this conservation program, which
extended Into nearly all States. The smaller dams were
generally constructed on private property; and, before the
work was undertaken, an easement was secured from the
private owner which permitted perpetual public access to
the bocly of water thus created at public cost. The larger
dams, where It was practicable to create lakes of considerable extent, were ol"dinarlly built on public property. On
all such Impounded waters the public had recreational
privileges such as boating, swimming, and fishing. Fish
and other aqua·uc life was sustained, and generally tlw
level of the ground ~ater table was lifted.
The small dams were at first designed by local sponsors
and were constructed by the WPA without detailed rePxnmlnatlon of the plans. A few of the dams failed, and
111100 Inspection the designs of some others were found to
he Inadequate. Arrangements we1·e then wade to have an
det1ig11s checked by the ap11ropriatl-' United States Engineer Offices, which also superl"lsed some of the more
Important construction.
For the most part, these 1<mall dams are still in place
and are giving sutlsfal"tlon. There may be Justitlcatlon,
however, for the ,·iew that In some localities this work
was overdone, with the result that some pouds bec11me
ernporatlng pools which robbed downstream areas of
needed water.
Some of the larger ,lams were of concrete 1t11d others
were of earth, Including rock-fill co11structlon. M1iny public lakes were so createtl In middle western nnd western
States.
Mine sealing, another conservation uctivlty, wns curried
on extensively In several States. Throughout the bituminous coal regions, mnuy mines had bel-'n abandoned after
it became unprofitable to work them. From thei;e abanlloned mines there w11s n co11stant drnlnnge of watt•r
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
which had a high content of sulfut·ic al'itl . This acid
drainage, pouring Into adjacent streums ilnti flowing on
Into rivers, amounted to millions of gallons. Flsh were
killed In these polluted streams, vegetation nearby wus
destroyed , and the water was wade unfit. for custonrnry
uses. The acid corroded metallic surfuccs, including parts
of river locks, dams, wnter-fro ut stmctures , water supply
systems, and ships' bottoms. The losses ch1e to this form
of stream pollution were lmm,ense. Under the FERA,
projects had been undertake n tor preventing such stream
pollution by sealing the mine openings. This program was
continued and extended by the WPA.
The sealing was done in such II way ns to prevent the
entrance of alr Into the mineR while iwrmittlug drainage
of undergrou nd water out of the wines, for without free
entrance of air Into the mines the formation of sulfurk
acid cannot occm·. All mine openings through whid1 oxygen might enter, such as !!hafts 1111tl nir cour,-;es, were
sealed with concrete or other lmpen-lou s material.
Within a short tlm.e the perceutugP of sulfuric ucld to be
found In the drainage from thP mi11Ps wus greatly reduced.
The largest soft coal prod11rlr1g aren In the country ls
located in the upper Ohio Rivl't' Rm1ln. In this ur<'a, especially In West Vlrglnht, l'euni;~•lva nla, Ohio, and eastPr11
Kentucky, mine sealing pro,·icled work for large numbers
of unemploy ed miners. In Ohio and Pennsylva nia more
than 187,000 ttbandoned mine openings were sealed. ■lml
lar work was also curried on In l\larylancl uncl Alnbama.
It Is estimated that between 40 am! 50 percent of the
acid pollution of streams has been eliminated us n result of
this work. Amendm.ent by rnrlous States of their present
mining Jaws so as to require the proper i;euling of nll
abandone d mines, would make pt.>r11111.11Pnt the Improvements resulting from the work dnue n11dc•r thP WPA
program.
Erosion control was another of the Important types of
conservat ion work performed by WPA workers. A beginning had been made In n general prog,nuu of i;ioil <'onservatlon, which Included erosion control on ugri<'ultur al l11nds
by means of contour plowing, terracing, strip farming, and
the constructi on of check dams In gullit>i-. The \VPA gave
valuable assistance to this work; the nmount of work pt.>rformed, however, wns small in proportion to the amount
,
required for effective results in soll conservatl on.
The WPA applied a plan for erosion control In some
natural drainage districts by (•ontrollln g the run-ol? In
small streams through the constrm·ti on of small darns and
diversion work. The plan was 1mt in prnctice to some <'Xtent in Nebraska. Control works were Installed which
would regulate the tlow In thnes of ftoocl, 1111d which would
at all times Impound water snpplles for snutll towns nnd
farms.
Through ,VPA projects for the conservat ion of forests,
about 177,000,000 trees were planted In publicly owned forests throughou t the country. To protect forests from destruction by fires, WPA workers C'onstru<'ted or lmproved
more than 7.000 miles of firebreaks , and built or renovated
forest ranger stntions and fire look-out towers. Other coo~en·ution activities l11clude1l projects for the destructio n of
11oxious weeds and fo1· the protection of trees and crops
from destructiv e im;ects and tree and plant diseases.
,vl'A workers lrnilt or t•ulargc•d nearly 300 fish hatch-
,iries end recomlitlonp<l about 160 others. Depleted oy11ter
bedi,; were planted with more than 8,000,000 bushels of
oysters. The protection of birds and other ll1ldllfe was
furthered by the e,mstructl on and placement of shelter
houses, feeding stations, and 81lnctuari es.
Engineering Survey Projeds
These projects included geodetic ~ontrol sm·wys, boundury surveys, surveys of undergrou nd structures , and
riparian, stream, and hydrograp hic surveys.
In the early years of the WPA program there was extensi\·e unemploy ment among ch·II engineers end at the
sume time there wnt< 11 wldespren d neefl for surveying and
mopping work. Mnny plennlng and constructi on projects
required the kind •or accurate informutio n wllii·h only engineering surveys nn<l maps can provlde. WP.A projecti,i
dt•sigued to furnish such informatio n were i;ipon:~orl'd by
many age1wie>1 ot State and municipal governments
throughou t the country.
Projt>c·ts of this type submitted b)· local communit ies
wne often hused upon outmoded stnudn1·ds. EtTorts were
made by ti1e WPA to secure the use of standurd scales for
maps Instead of the odd scales often propoi-pd by sponsors
lo conformit y with former obsolete local mnJJS.
The kPy workers on these projects were those with profes,;lonnl nnd tedmk-al qunllficnti ons. Other i;roject workers who hacl no technical training but who were eager to
leurn were gi\·en training on the job: these workers rend
tethuical books, attended night schools, mastered the job.
ancl were promoted. Hundreds of such workers (a large
number on projects with a small aggregu!e employme nt I
later sPrured supenlsor y 1iositio11s with agenl'IP.S c11rrylni:
011 i-urh work. This projl'<.·t. trnining of unskilled pers1•1111el wus p1u·ticul11rl~· rPqulrPcl on projerts for thp execution of precision control sun-eys and thP prep11ratlon of
c<•rtaln large-scnle maps.
In the operatlon of these WPA projeds, new methods of
operation were de,·i sPd nnrl i;iupplenwntur)· et1uipmPnt was
develoiwd. TheSC' IJwhtdPd sig1111l ,le,·icps a11d lights. tnrgPts for use In obRPrYntions, 11nd tape supports and l1>nsion
de,·iePs tor usP in preC'islon mPnsurt>ments. There wen•
lll!lO de,·Ploped IIPW mathemu tkal tables for slmpllf)'ln i:
computati ons, _determini ng the recording costs, and listing
final results.
Thousa11ds of maps and hundrPds of final reports of sur,·ey clntn, published or on file with the 11poosorlng ugen<'iPS.
huve been used by munlcipnl itles for both immedlntP and
long-range plan11lng of pnhllc works; lll"r have 11Jreudy
resulted in the eliminatio n ot' many bottlPnec-ks In construction 1·equired for wnr purposPs, :incl they 1·t11H.;t.itnte
a foundntlo n for future surveys. On some t)·pes of survey
and map projects appropria te mnlntPnnnCI' nnd revisions
wl11 be required in order to contlmw to get full ,·nlue out
of the work already done.
Disaster Emergency Activities
The ,vPA was of extraordin ary mine in lllf'Ptiug dlsnster emergencl e!.. Its organiz11tio11 and methods made
possilJle the qnil'k ni-semhlinir of m1·11 und materials ; it
hut! at its l'ommnncl ndequn!I• 1;111ien-ii.:io11. ample und
suitablf' equipmen t, aud transporta tion faciliti<'S: ancl it
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ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PRO,JECTS
hud the authority to supplement all these In meeting
emergency situations.
The WPA wus given special authority for mePting such
enwrgency situations. EmPrgeney projects wrrp <'arriPd
011 without somr of 'the r~traiuts put on 1wr111al projeet
operations. Official disaster emergeuey 11rojeets calling
for various amounts of total expenditures were a1iproved
in ad,·ance for ench of the States. These emergency projrers were released for operation by the central administration In Washington after telegraphic requests had been
made and justified by State 1ulministrnto1·s. The general
1~•licy of the WPA with regard to these emergency activitit.>S was designed to make possible speedy activities, unhampered by technicalities or retl tape. Emergency proje<1s we1·e exempted from the 25-per<'eut re<1niremeut of
sponsors.
The projects were set up in :uhunce to pro¥ide for
lll'('e~sar)· emergeu<'y work when dnnger to life or grave
risk of property wus brought about by flood, thuw, stor11i,
tornado, hurrlcune, earthquake, drought, or similar cause.
During the tlefense and war period thPse bhmket projects
alw pro,·ided for a11y emergt>lll')' uetion which might be
made 11l'cess11ry by u stute of war, a11d whid1 was re<111ested
by militury or naval authorities; a11d for activities to
fal'liltnte normal community activities in case these hnd
l...en disrupted by local enemy nction or sabotage.
The principal types of disaster e11wrgency work Included
furnishing personnel and such equlprnent us wns needed;
t·onsttuctlon of dykes and strengthening of levees; evacuation of persons and property from zones of danger; temporury reestablishment of water, sewer, gas, and electric
services; temporary emergency repairs to bridges and
streets; operations inl'ident to clPnning up after disaster,
for reasons of health; and employment of labor for ~hipment of foodstuffs, betiding, und clothing to affected areus.
.-\II of these operations were limited to the meeting of
needs arising from disaster. Restoration and repair work
was limited to public property, or, if perforn1Pd on private
property, it had to be only Huch us was reqnirPd for the
protection of public health and safety.
In all dlsn~ter emergeneies, !urge and smnll, during' the
exlstenee of the WPA, It was mmnlly the first organization
to be on the scene with equipment, tools, and men. In
many instances during the widespread Mississippi-Ohio
flood, WPA engineering or other officials took Immediate
and decisive action with the co11sent of the local <'ivil authorities. For example, 11 WPA e11gi1wer in 011e town whiC'h
was partly ubove the flood level 11cco11111Iished the removal
of all persons In the lower part of the town to safety before
their homes were flooded. In unother town, where the
railway station ( mistakenly considered to be safe from
Hood-waters) was thronged with the towns11eo1ile, the WPA
en~ineer ordered freight truins to be b:wked into the station and directed the Joadi11g of tile people into the curs.
Ily the time all were aboard, the w11ter was so high abo'l'e
the tracks that the trai11s WPre barely able to pull out, and
Within a few hours the railway station was submerged
under about 6 feet of water.
The damage from hurriea11e nnd floods in NPw England
in 1()38 rulght ha'l"e been mu<·h greater but for the preventi\'e measures taken when flood dangeri-; became imminent
a11d for the flood-control work of previous years. In some
sections of New England, WPA and State officials were
makiug preparations for combating flood dangers before
the hurrlea11e struck. Some arens were able to withstand
the flood waters bPCaui,e of flornl control work done through
Wl'A projects after the flood of 1036. A detailed report of
the work of the WPA in the New England hurricane and
lloods of SeptPmbn 1!)38 is given in the R,,port on Progress
of tlie WPA Program, Jtme 30, 1939.
The Division of Engineering
and Construction
The desig11utio11, Di\"ision of Engi11eeri11g and Construction, was 11ot udopted oflkialb· as stuudard throughout the
Work Projects Administration until SPptt>mher 1942. Prior
to thut date the e11gineering staff of the central administrntion was eaile<l the Division of E11gl11eering, while the
corresponding stuff In euch region n11d State was generally
terme<I the Division of Opemtions. In this report the
11ewer designation, Division of Engl11ePring and Constn1ctio11, which Is more aeeurutely dPserlptive of the fields
covered, Is uniformly used.
At the outset,. in l!l3G, the ~utional Emergcn(•y Council
was designed to have fl1rnl re,·iew of applications for projel'ts under nil tlw agencies ill the \Vorks Program, incltitling the WPA. The WPA at this early stage was making
ui,e of the engint>ers who were nttached to the central
admlnistrutiou und regional stuffs of the FERA, and these
enginet>rs were gradually transfened to the WPA. The
enginet>rs of the centml admlnlstrutlon for a short time
made 11rPliml11ary examinations of nil Works Program appli<•ations, 11ml lutn tonk o,·pr tlw function ot engineering
re,·iew and upprnvui of projeeti,, for operation by the Wl'A.
By the lute summer of 193:;, when the WPA was undergoing rapid expausion, it had become evident that various
interpretations were being given by state administrators to
Federal laws. Ext>('Utive orders, and the regulations ot the
WPA central administration governing the operation of
WPA projects. More uniformity in this respect was requirt•d for the proppr expenditure of WPA funds. At the
req1wst of the "'PA Administrator, thP l'rE'!,itlent asked
the War Department to furnish a consultant and staff
from Its Corps of"Engineers to make a study in the fleld ot
the 01·igin and development of 11rojects, the contributions
of the sponsors, and the Pxisti11g control of Federal funds.
As a result of that study, 1111d with the purpose of effecting
u better control over Wl'A expenditures in the field, the
consultant, Col. Frnnl'is C. Hurrington of the Corps of
Engineers, was, on Septt>mber 30, 198fi, 1wpointed an Assistant Administrator and the Chief Eughwer of the Wl'A.
lie orguuizetl the Dh·ision of E11gh1et>1·ing and Construction in tl1e c·entral administration. The members of his
i,;taff of army engineers wtc>re tPmporurily made WPA regional enginl'l'rS. Tlw enginel'rs who hud sPn-ed in the
FERA progrum, many of whom had also served in the
CWA program, were largely lneorporated Into the new
WPA I>l\·lsio11 of Engint>Priug 1111d Ct•w•truction or Into
\Vl'A regional org1111izatlous.
Tht> DiYi,dori of Engineering 111111 Construction thus set
up in the eeutral udmlnistration (Dece111ber 1, 1935) was
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
given a large measure of responsibility. It wns necessary,
in order to mert the durnging nePds of the unemployment
situation, that each state atlministration accumulate a
large pool of approved projects which could be drawn upon
for operation at any time. The WPA eugineering stuff, in
its efforts to facilitate review nnd approval of projects, formally took over the functions of review and approval. OhJectionable features In project applications were thus discovered. before operations were begun, and approval was
denied to ill-considered proposals. However, it was possible in many instances to secure the revision of inappropriate pl"Oject applications so as to make them suitable for
approval.· Suggestions from the central administration
for revisions were communicated to stute administrators,
directly or through the regional engineering staff, for
transmission to sponsors. l\Iany small communities whieh
lacked experience in the programming of future public
works were especially willing to be advised in this rl'spe<•t.
The Division of Engineering und Construction In the central administration was thus In a position to influenee
WPA project planning in behalf of usefulness nnd suitability.
The assistant administrator (later assistant commissioner) in charge of engineering and cqnstruction was
also, ordinarily, the chief engineer of the WPA. This assi.rtant commissioner was in charge not only of the Division of Engineering am! Construction, but al,-o of the
Division of Project Control, the Supply Section, and the
Public Works Reserve.'
The four main functions of the Division of Engineering
and Construction in the central admi11istratlon were: the
formulation and trnnsmission of standard policies and
proced.ures ln regard to the eligibility and operation of
engineering and construction projects and the work of the
Supply Section; the review of applications for engineering
and construction projects; the continuous securing of information on the progress of operations in the States, nnd
of the problems and difficulties arising there; and the
transmission of instruction, information, and advice for
the guidance and control of project operationA In the
States. The officials of the Division in the centrul arlmlnistratlon kept in touch with operations In the States
through direct commuuication, chiefly by mail, telephone,
and telegraph, but sometimes by visits to· offices and projects in-. the yarious Sta!t•s, and through the regional engineers in the regional offices.•
The Division of EnginPering and Construction in the
central administrution was lwnded by a chief engineer and
• The Division of Project Control served as a clearing house for
projects of every kind. The Supply Section was responsible for
Wl'A activities pertaining to the procurement and custody of
materials. supplies. tools, and equipment for all WPA projects
(see account beginning on p. 7i). The Public Work Reserve
project, which operated In the Inst years of the program. _was
concerned with securing prospectuses of projects of all krnds
planned by F<>dcral, state, and local RJ:Pncies for poHtwar operation, and, with making a selective preliminary study of the propost>d projects. These activities, though extending outside the
construction field. were Intimately assoc-late<l with the work of
the Di,lsion of Engineering and Construction, bPing admlnlst<,retl with the aid of the chief engineer and assist11nt chief
PllJ.dneer.
• See the account of regional engineers later In this SPction,
un<l the account of regional functions on p. 12.
an assistant chief engineer, and included enginPerlng review and sC'rviee sections. The chief engineer was responsible for the fu11mulatlon and transmission of policies and
1)l"ocedures and had technical superv,ision over a staff of
regional engineers. The assistant chief engineer directed
the work of the engineering review sections and was chairman of a planning conunlttee on which the various sections in the central administration were represented.
The engineering reyiew sections were severally concemed. with projects for municipal engineering, airports
and airways, public buildings, highways and roads, consen·ation, and engineering surveys. The various engineering 1•eyiew sections examined project applications to
nscertain whether thl'y complied with the rules and polides of the WPA and with the requirements of good euglnPPring, and recommended the approval or disapproval of
projects. These sections also effected clearance of appllctttions with other Federal agencies where that was neces-
sary.
The service sections were concerned with a variety of
functions. The executive and administrative section,
among other duties, issued general instructions, proce1lures, nnd statements in regard to policy, engineering
J)ractiees, eligibility requirements, and project operation.
The project ap[llicatlons section made a first examination
of applications for engineering and construction projects,
und made finul recommendations on small projects, passiug others on to the various engineering review sections.
A defense coordination sPction (set up 111 January· HHl)
dealt with defense certification, priorities, Increase in
nonlabor funds, and kindred matters. It secured, reviewed, and transmitted to the War and Navy Depart111ents and to the Civil Aeronautics .Administration
monthly prngress reports 011 defense projects and maintained close relation with those agencies, so as to expedite
defense projects. A speeinl construction section was set
np in July 1M2 for the purpose of making studies of particular projects with a view to the improvement of WPA
opt•rntions. However, this section was not able to achieve
ii~ potential usefulness in the brief period before liquidation. For the wor_k of the safety section, see pages 71
to 76.
'l'he central administration, in its relation with engi11Peri11g and construetion operations in the tield, exercised
thrPe kinds of authority. 'l'he first was exerted through
the formulation of policies and procedures bast>d on FedPrnl Jaws gowrning WP.A activities, and was snpporte,1 by
the authority of the Commissioner of Work Projects. The
second kind of authority was exerted throngh the review
a11d ll!J!Jroval or disapproval of projects, in accordance
with F'etleral law, WPA policiPs, und ia;ouud engineering
Nlundards. The third kinu of authority wns exerted
through information 1111d advice.
It was at all timPs the polic-y of the DiYi:,;ion in the central allmiuistration to cultin1te in Stnte WPA officials a
N1"11se of th\'ir own responi-ihility iu carQ·ing on the operations of the program. Prujed,; whiC"h had been approvpd
hv the cl·ntral administration wPre to be carried. on acc;,rtling to the best judgment of the state administrations.
There were, of eourse, st11nd11rds and policies set for the
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ENGINEERING AND CONl::iTRUCTION PROJECTS
state administrations; departures from these policies were
noted and practices were brought back Into line.
However, the authority of the central administration In
regard to engineering and construction projects was extended into the field very largely by means of Information
and advice, as well ns by Instruction. This process was
eftected in part through the liaison activities of regional
engineers.
The regional organization of the WPA In general has
been described elsewhere In this report (p. 12). In each
regional office the Division of Engineering and Construction was represented by a chief regional engineer and his
stair. Each chief regional engineer, while administratively responsible to the regional director, was with respect
to technical matters a representative of the chief engineer
of the WPA In the central office. He sent reports to the
chief engineer, and kept in touch with the Division in the
central administration by reporting In person on matters
of importance. Such direct personal relations with the
ceutral administration strengthened his authority in his
region as an Interpreter of the policies of the WPA.
The chief regional engineer usually assigned the members of his staff of regional engineers to one or more
States. The number of States varied In accordance with
the number of projects In operation, the transportation
facilities, the area to be covered, and the number of engineers available.
A regional engineer carried into his portion of the field
such detailed Interpretations of policy as might be required
there. He also passed on to the central administration,
through the chief regional engineer, information desil"ed
In regard to a wide variety of conditions In the field, especially concerning project operations, eligibility of particular projects, Inspections, and the relationship with
sponsors. His work included the Inspection of projects
in operation and the review In the field of many proposals
for projects. It was also his duty to assist at the State
and local levels with the coordination of WPA work with
the work and plans of other agencies. He had adrninistratil·e responsibilities, which included review of the state
administrative budgets of the Division, review of the
state personnel of the Division with regard to fitness, and
the making of recommendations to the regional office or
central administration on appointments to positions for
which regional or central administration approval was
required.
The continual emphasis placed by the central a<lministratfon on high professional standards In sponsors' plans
and supervision was carried effectively Into the field by the
regional engineers, with the result that sponsors Increasingly employed engineers and architects In the planning
and supervision of projects. One of the causes of delay
in WPA work, the submission of improperly prepared and
inadequate project applications, was removed to a considerable extent by tile sponsors' Increased use of profes•
slonal aid in making out sueh applications.
Regional engineers rxercised supen·ision over the WP A's
safety program In the States, and the analysis of State
accident and safety reports were among their regular
duties. Regional engineers in some instances guve direct
orders for the elimination of unsafe conditions, or for the
temvorary closing of projects where such conditions
existed.
The regional engineer's authority In regard to project
operations in the States was ordinarily exerted through information and advice given to the State administrator and
State engineer. The regional engineer, however, acting as
a representative of the regional director, who was in turn
a representative of the Commissioner, could give direct
orders If a situation required them.
The regional engineers took on added responslbllltles In
the defense period. Speed being imperative on defense
projects, the use of power equipment was greatly increased. The constant advice of regional engineers was
required in the process of adapting WPA project practices
to the changing requirements of the defense and war period. In this kiter period, the chief regional engineers
were given an important supervisory function with respect
to the allocation and control of special nonlabor funds
regionally allotted for any necessary additional equipment
or materials required for use on certified national defense
projects.
The regional offices, reduced to three by congressional
legislation for the fiscal year 1943, were discontinued entirely In August 1942. The eoordinating functions of the
regional offices were then transferred to the central administration. The field activities formerly carried on by
regional engineers were thereafter carried on by field engineers and assistant field engineers who were attached to
the central administration and were aclmlnistrntlvely
responsible to the chief engineer. They were assigned to
areas corresponding to the seven Federal Works Agency
regions, and their headquarters were In the FWA regional
offices.
·
Although the authority of the WPA State administrations was gradually narrowed In practice by regional office
control of some aspects of WPA work, and by establishment of detailed procedure to which the State organizations were required to conform, the State administrations
nevertheless continued to exercise broad powers of many
kinds, and the WPA program rested essentially on local
enterprise, local judgment, and local Integrity.
A State director of the Division of Engineering and Construction in each State and his assistant and staff formed
an executive section. Also under his direction were the
sections on planning and control, construction, and safety.
The planning and control section reviewed project applications and transmitted them to the central administration
In Washington; received ap)Jroved projects from the central administration and controlled their release for operation; reviewed periodical and other progress and
Inspection reports on projects, as transmitted through the
district directors; and called for reports on particular
projects from the construction engineers.
The construction section was responsible for the operation of projects. The chief construction engineer and his
staff of construction engineers made field Inspections, prepared reports of Inspection, and, whenever It was necessary, took administrative action In regard to the proper
operation of projects. It was their duty to ensure that
established standards of construction, safety, and reporting were maintained. In general, they transmitted direct
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orders in regard to project operations, through the district
director or area supervisor where that was possible.
A construction engineer might be put in charge of organizing a large or ditlicult project which would later be
turned over to a project superintendent. The staff'. ot construction engineers ordinarily comprised se\'eral specialists in dilierent lines of construction work, such as road
work, airport work, building construction, and municipal
engineering; and each member of the stulI was responsible
for the inspection of projects and the solving of project
problems within his special field.
In most Stutes, WPA work was administered in districts
within the States, and the supervision of projects was handled from these district offices.
The district organization of the Division of Engineering
and Construction corresponded in many 1·espects to that of
the State -office.• As a rule, the safety and application
control functions we1·e not represented at the district level.
Working out of the district offices were area engineers,
sometimes known as area supervisors. 'J.'heir functions
were those of supervision of the project superintendents
within a given area, or they served as the supe1·intendent
of two or more projects. The project superintendent directed all activities on the project under his supervision ;
he was responsible tor maintaining satisfactory relations
with the sponsor's representative; he could recommend
and request changes in plans, specifications, and work
schedules; and he was required to maintain safe standards
of operation. He was responsible to the area engineer
(or, in some instances, to the district or State director) of
the Division of Engineering and Construction.
The project superintendent and his stall' of foremen,
timekeepers, clerks, and other necessary personnel were
responsible for planning anu making reports of project
work, and for other activities connected with project operation as safety, provisions of supplies, financial control,
timekeeping and compensation, cost accounting, Inventory
control, and employment. Those persons responsible for
timekeeping and employment activities were technically
responsible to the divisions concerned with finance and
employment.
Liquidation Problems
The liquidation of the WPA, though it was in Itself a
major undertaking, was an e\'ent which had been anticipated and for which preparations had been made. Projects
• Since Stnte ori:uni•atlon• vnrietl, this account 1'1oes not fit
all States preclsely. Not only was the district JeyeJ of ori:nnizatlon nbs,•nt In some States, but the titles of offices yaric<l antl
dutlt.~s ust:-1ig:11pd to certain otticinls, U8 t-thown ubovt', \VPre borne
by other•; newrtlu•h•sH. thP fuu,·tlon~
described nbove existed In all Stntes.
a1ul fundlonnl rPlutlonshlps
were not ordiuarily approvP<'l which would require constrnct ion work over a-period extending beyond the currP11t
fiscal year; and projects-were approve,! m,ly when the
spousor formally ai;reed to complete any units sturte,l h)'
the Wl'A hut left incomplete by the WPA for any reaso11.
The liquidation did not bring about many situations
which could not be dealt with in an orderly way within the
period permitted for liquidation. This is not to say, however, that the cessation of WPA aid did not result in disnppointments :md embarrassments to various sponsors.
'J.'he decision to liquidate the WPA program in the different Stutes at various dates, ranging from January 1,
1043 to l\Iay 1, 1943, was made because of the numbers
of workers still on relief in certain areas and because of
the degree of complt>tion of war nnd other important projects in some areas. In all States the sponsors' interests
were protected as far as possible. On 1rnwy 11rojects where
materials hau already been delivered and were being incorporateu into the pwject, additional labor was drawn from
other projects, and exemptions were granted as to hours of
wo1·k iu order to ensure the complt>tion of usable uuits.
Where it was impos~ible to complete the job or useful
units of it before the d11te of WPA withdrawal, project
materials purchased with Federal funds were left on the
project site, provided the sponsor gave assurance that the
work would be carried on and the materials utilizeu on tlw
job within a reasonable time.
Nevertheless there wert> instances, reluti\·ely few in nuwber, where neither the ,vPA nor the sponsor could carry
the project to complt>tlon without interruption. The sponsors of so111e proJe<·ts, sul'h as sewer or water s~·stems, hml
linanC't>d their antieip:ttetl portion of thP cost by meuns of
re\'e11ue bonus. Until the 11roject coulu be brought to such
11 i;tage of completion that appropriate rC'venue would I,,.•
sPcureu, no funds woulll Ul' an1ilahle to meet the iuterest or
amortization requirement of the uel.Jt. This ph1eed these
con1rnunities in a particularly embarrnssiug situation.
Where the need for the public facility was caused by
expansion due to national defense activities, the sponsor
was eligible to appl~· for f1111ds undn the La1_1h11w Act. 111
;;ud1 eases the WPA nillt>d the sponsor in tlw preparation
and exJ)!'ditiug of 1111 applieatiou to the Federal Work~
Agency for Lanham Act nssistance. Ju some cases no
further Federal aid was available and the completion of
the u111lcrtakings was postponed until some other means of
nddltionnl financing coultl he worked out. The special wartime program for collecting scrap materials had to be
liquidated witlwut auy 1iro,·isio11 being rn:ule fur the con·
timmnce of this 11!-Pful work. ln general, the postpone111e11t of coni,;trul'tion rpsnltin;!' from the liqui<lation of the
WPA was a part of the general curtuilmeut of public and
prin1te construdinn programs that was made ueel~s:<ar~· hy
the war.
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SERVICE PROJECTS
r EitICAL, technical, and prufrssiunnl workers of both
nud unskilled and semiskilled women workers
were two large groups of needy unemployed wo1·kers that
constituted a special problem in the organization and administration or work relief. These workers were widely
unemployed and In need; they, as much as auy other workers, were entitled to public employment; but work suitable
to them was not easy to provide on an adequate settle.
Constmctlon projt'cls, by which work was provided for
manual workers, furni!d1ed prnctlcully 110 suituhlt> l'lltployment for women or for professional and techni<-al workPrs.
Early lu the deJ)ression years of the 1030'!'1, 81"wi11g rooms
were frequently set up under locul work rt>lit>f prngrums
in order to provide work for needy women, but ;;eldom wns
any effort nmde to provide suitable work for ted111ieally
trained or p1·ofeflsio11al workers of either sex. Ill m1111y
localities, women teaehers, nurses, librarians, or typists
were put to work In sewing rooms; and mule office workers, salt>smen, reporters, technil'luns, or mu1:<icln11s were
a$sig11f'd to road im1irovement or other co11strul'tio11 work.
In a few large cities, however, trained nonmnnual workers
of both sexes were as far as possible assig11ed to suituble
work In libraries, hospitals, and other public or nonprofit
institutions. These latter projects became the models
upon which, In the summer of 1933, the FERA begnn to
promote the devplopmt>nt of extt•11sin~ Stnte prograrus of
sprvice projects. 'l'his type of ueti\"il.\• w11,- ,:rPall~· 4'X·
pauded under the Civil Works Adminh;truti1111 i11 the wiutn of 1933-34, and it wns eontlnued and dt>wlopc1I hy thr
FERA In 1934 1111d l!J35. It was tlw11 rt>or,:1111izf'il arul
further df'\·elopt'd by the WPA.
WPA service projects provided about u11e-fourth of all
Wl'A employment 1luri11g the first 5 ~~ yt>nrs of 01Kiratio11;
th!' proportion incrensed duri11g 19-ll 1111<1 10-12 1111<1 was
rwarly one-half of all WPA employment i11 De1.-cmber
1!!42.' Sen·lce projects were highly Important us a means
or meeting specific kinds of employment need, a11d they
had a further Importance ns a means by which local governments were aided in providi11g nmny kinds of public
services.
Projects were reclassifle1l nl rnriou,; t i111Ps for mlministrative purposes, and in the la,;t y,•ar of I hp )lrogram were
narrowed down to essentinl war 11rojt',·t~. The gPnernl
S(1ll.1C of WI'A sen·ice pi-ojeds wus as follows:
1. Public uctivitles projeds. '1'lu•se hwlndecl Pducntional servict-'S (adult education and nnrsi>ry schools);
recreational and library 1wrvlees; museum assistance;
and music, art, writing. and (until 1939) theater projects.
2. Research and records projects. These included social
and economic sun·eys and studies; research nssistnnce in •
Cst>xes
1
Data on WPA employment by major type of project are given
on Pl>. 34 to 36.
Stute universities and other publicly snpportecl institutions of higher education; public records projects; and a
historical records survey.
3. Welfare projects. These Included sewing and other
goods production; feeding projects (gardening and canning, school lunches, commodity distribution); public
health and hospital work; and housekeeping aide projects.
Welfare projects accounted for the largest part of nll
service employment, and It was on these projects that unskilled and semiskilled women workers were chiefly employed. Re~nrch and records projects fumished must of
the employment given to unemployed office workers and
sulespeople. Professional and technical workers were employed on public activities projects ancl in suitable worli
on othe1· prnjects.
Classiftcation and Assignment
Special problems in cl11sslflcatlon and ussignment nn>se
in regard to se,·eral groups of professional and techukal
workers employed on public aetivities 1n·ojects. It was
not a sim1)le matter to determine the professional qualiticutlons of musicians, artists, writers, or 11ctors.2 The
method adopted was that of huving committees or boards
(composed of persons recognized ns experts In the various
art fields who sc>rved by i11vitation) mnke II preliminary
derisio11 m1 the prof<'ssioual 111111lificntio11s of workt'rs who
,·luirned musir, urt, writiug, or al'ling ui,1 tlwir prof1?o;si1111!<."
After thii< sr•rt>eniug, further judgment " ·us exPrrisPcl by
project i<u1x•n-isors. The music a11d art 11wJPc•I!- pnn-ided
u11portunity, moreoYer, for the Pxen·is,• of rn rio11s de1.:r1'<'"'
of ability. A musicinn u1111hle to <Jnalify for c111wt•rt
work mi1d1t he 1•111ploy1•d in teaching mn::<ic ; and un arti,-;t
who wus judged lnekiug in original crcatini aloility might.
be fonud fully capublc of making the careful drawings required In the Index of American Design.
Professional qualifications, however, were not requirPd
on nil public actiYities projects. LibrnQ· extension work
was not conft11Pd to persons previou:;ly truiued in library
schools, nor wns adult educ11tion11l work limited to pprso11s
having u tPaclll'r's certificnte; training or rt>traiuing, both
1111 the proj1•d nnd in special courses of study, wns re1111irt'll i11 a11y c•11se for sucee<sfnl pr·ojw:t rPSults.
Training on Service Projects
Service workers were trui1wd in their duties on the projret, and <K·ensionally by !<pecial courses. Some training
1 The actors' union proposecl a rPstrktion of project Nnployment to Its own unemployt>!I members. but the WP A rt•fused
to adopt this 11olit·y.
1 Music project audition bonrds were often pnld p er diem for
their services.
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was necessary tor every type of project work. On some
welfare projects; familiar domestic skills, such as cooking
and housekeeping, were disciplined and put to special uses.
On survey and research projects, the skills ot office workers
were often developed along new lines; the technical work
to be done was divided into small and specl.ftc operations
and was performed under expert supervision.
Through the training given to workers on certain of Its
public activities projects, the WPA. was Instrumental in
establishing professional standards tor certain kinds ot
public work. Public recreational work was a new profession, just opening up, and Its professional standards
were actually developed In large part by the WPA's farreaching recreation program; from 1935 to 1942 the WPA
conducted a major part of all public recreational activities
throughout the country. Nursery school work had bePn
carried on to only a limited extent In this country before
the WPA. entered the fleld, and the standards In this fleld
were established in many communities through the work of
WPA nursery schools. Adult educational methods were
greatly influenced by the work done on WPA projects.
Sponsorship and Guidance
Service projects were sponsored chiefly by city, town,
and county school boards; health departments; planning
boards; housing commissions; and tax commissions. They
were sponsored also by various departments of State governments, by State universities, and by Federal ageneies,
departments and bureaus.
The WPA Itself for a time sponsored various service
projects; among these were a national research project
(devoted largely to a study of reemployment opportunities
and recent changes In industrial techniques), a Nationwide survey of historical records, and the music, art, writing, and theater projects.'
Aside from formal sponsorship, the service projects were
at all times carried on with the advice and technical guidance of recognized public and private authorities in the
various fields of work undertaken, Including officials representing departments of the Federal Government. Advice
and technical guidance were given to the WPA's health
projects by the United States Public Health Service and to
Its education projects by the United States Office of Education. In addition, local service projects very generally
had guidance and practical help from unofficial advisory
committees and civic organizations acting ns cos11011~ors.
Demonstration Policy
The WPA adopted, In regard to its projects, what was
called a demonstration policy. This policy can be best
explained by an example. The WPA In effect, said to the
citizens when It set up a nursery school project: Your
local sponsoring agency believes that this community will
approve of expending tax funds on nursery schools If
people once see nursery schools in operation. As a demonstration of the public usefulness of nursery schools, we will
assist the community in establishing and conducting this
• See p. 65 on the prohl!Jltlon of theater projects.
project. But the WPA aid cannot be promised beyond the
present fl.seal year, and such aid will end entirely when
large-scale unemployment ends. In the meantime. the
community will have a chance to decide whether It wishes
to have public nursery schools; If so, it should increase its
contributions every year and be prepared to take over the
work entirely when WPA aid is withdrawn.
The demonstration policy was formulated in the peacetime period, when there were tair prospects for a general
expansion of regular community services. During this
period, there was a great increase locally in regular public
health services, a substantial Increase in regular library
services in rural areas, and a considerable Increase in
regular public recreational services, as a result of the
demonstration activities of the WPA service program; and
these increases in regular public services were largeJy
maintained through the war period.
Wartime conditions, however, dictated a general concentration by the WPA on services directly useful to the war
program. As the WPA program drew to a close, service
project activities of special wartime value were taken over
by war agencies or by local communities. A large number
of project workers, especially on research and records
projects, were given regular employment by the sponsors
before or at the time of WPA liquidation.
Types of Service Proiects
There follows a brief account of the chief kinda of work
performed on the various service projects, with particular
reference to the community needs to which the projects
ministered. Some data on accomplishments are given here.
For additional data see appendix table XVI.
Public Activities
These activities included the work of the education, library, recreation, museum, music, art, writing, and theater
projects.
Adult Education
The need in this country for educational opportunities
for adults has long bPen recognized. Many people have
had to leave school early in life to earn a living. In some
rural areas the schools have been too few and too remote
from the homes of many of the children whom they were
supposed to serve; and In some parts of the country there
have not been enough schools for Negroes. Large numbers
of elderly people, both immigrant and native, have never
gone to school at all ; many Immigrants, unable to read
and write the language of this country, have been unable
to obtain citizenship; and vocational training opportunities for adults have been inadequate. Adult educat1011 of
various kinds has been offered by private educational in11titutions, but in only a few places has Lt been a part of the
public school system. It was to meet the needs of people
unable to pay for these services, and to provide work relief for unemployed teachers, that adult education projects
were organized in 1933 under the FERA and were carried
on by the WPA. There were no fees, and the classes were
held in public buildings. The books were provided by the
sponsors; sometimes these were regular textbooks or ll-
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brary volumes, but in some localities, as other methods of
adult Instruction were developed, new textbooks were
specially prepared for project use.
The chief kinds of adult education projects were: literacy and citizenship classes; vocational training; parent
and homemaking education ; workers' education ; general
adult education; correspondence courses; and education
In avocational and leisure-time actlvltles.
In literacy classes, adults were taught to read and write
the Euglish language, and to use it in writing letters, rending newspapers, keeping accounts, and ln other activities
of dally life. Literacy classes were often combined with
cltlr.enshlp classes In which speclflc instruction was given
tor the purpose of preparing Immigrants for American
citlr.enship. Classes were also conducted for newly arrived refugees from Europe who were well educated In
their native languages but who were in need of Instruction
in the English language and In American history. In the
defense period, citizenship became Increasingly Important
to large numbel's of Immigrants who had hitherto neglected to secure it. A Nation-wide project for citizenship
education, sponsored by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, was conducted during the last 2 fiscal years
of the WPA program. Attendance In literacy and naturalization classes in a I-month period in the years 1940,
1941, and 1942 ranged from 293,000 in IMO to 99,000 in
1942. Literacy services, in the defense and war period,
were extended to selectees who were disqualified for entrance Into the armed forces because of their lnabillty to
read or write.
Vocational training was given to persons over 16 years
of age who were on relief or were unemployed and unable
to pay for such services. The courses of study, which varied In different loc111ities, were mainly devoted to fields of
work in which employment was Increasing or appeared
likely to Increase In the near future. Certain kinds of
work In the a'l'iation Industry and automobile mechanics,
welding, blueprint reading, trade millinery, beauty culture,
and other subjects were taught. Unemployed workers (In
a number of States) were given vocational guidance.
Parent and homemaking education classes ga'l'e Instruction In home hygiene, the buying and preparation of food,
home mnnageruent, child care and guidance, and the maintenance of good family relationshlps. The parents who
attended these classes were from relief and low-income
families. Classes of tills kind, first conducted by such
establlshed private agencies as the parent-teacher associations, parent education councils, and settlement groups,
were provided by the WPA In imlustt·lnl, rurnl, and minIng areas where such services had heretofore been lacking
or Inadequate.
Workers' education coursi>s dealt largely with current
industrial, agricultural, and social problems, and free discussion was an Important part of the teaching method.
In response to the r('(Juest of many members of labor
unions, Instruction was also given in the methods of conducting meetings, In public spt>aking, and in writing. In
l~t these activities were reorganized as a workers' service program. In cooperation with commlttet>s of workers,
the service progrum supplied teachers and discussion leaders for Interested groups, secured Informative books and
PlllllphJets for such groups, set up Information centers,
and cooperated with social agencies and with mana~
men't and labor organizations In helping workers to learn
about their own Industry. Some of the activities of the
program were taken over by labor unions durlns the later
years of the WPA program. The workers' service program was of special interest from an educational point
of 'l'lew, as It constituted a distinct branch of adult education, using methods of instruction for which a wider
appllcation might well be found In the future.
General adult education dealt with academic courses,
Intended for persons above the elementary school levei
who were Interested In Intellectual self-Improvement.
The subjects taught Included biology, chemistry, economics, English literature, foreign languages and literature
mathematics, psychology, public speaking, and parliamentary procedure; they included, In fact, all the academic subjects for which there was a sufficient demand
and for which qualified teachers were available. Usually,
progressive methods of teaching were used, by which the
subjects taught were related to the lives of the students.
Remarkably good programs were developed in several
States.
Correspondence courses were conducted In a number of
States for the benefit of workers remo't e from, or unable
to attend, school. The courses of study were prepared
under the supervision of State universities or Stal:e de'partments of education; some were noncredit courses,
while others provided high school or college credi'ts.
Courses In avocational and leisure-time activities included music, art, handicraft, dramatics, pageantry,
appreciation of literature, creative writing, nature study,
popular science, and physical education. In areas where
these subjects were not Included In regular school courses,
the volume of attendance and the seriousness with which
the classes regarded these studies Is said to have been "a
revelation to school authorities."
Other adult education activities Included special senIces for the benefit of Negroes. Special educational servkes were also provided for the benefit of persons In State
Industrial schools, reformatories, and penitentiaries.
Education in public affairs was C\'.>Dducted through lectures and forums. Consumers' education, which was orlgina\ly Included In homemaking and other courses, in the
Inst months of the program became one of the four remaining adult• education activities; the others were nRturallzatton classes, literacy classes for deferred eelectees,
nnd Spanish classes.tor members of the armed forces.
The adult education program as a whole showed umnlstakably thnt large numbers of tbe ndnlt populuHon are
eager for education and that they can be successfully
tuught. Wbat constitutes a suitable and successful method of teaching adults was also demonstrated lo the best
WPA practice to the satisfaction of educational authorities. The program is credited with having produced a
valuable and l11Rtlng effect upon American educatlonnl
practice.
Nursery Schools
Many young children from low-Income famllles were
cared for In WPA nursery schools. The children were
given a dally health Inspection andG&-1\1 necessa •i medical
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St>rvices, in nddition to well-bnlanced meals, play, and rest,
in an environment conducive to normal development. The
WPA rmrsC'ry school projPcts gnve employment to unemployPd tenchers, nurses, nutritionists, clerical workers,
cooks, 1111d janitors. The nursery school program had the
be1wfit of expert guidance from public educational agencies, which were seriously Interested in developing this
kind of educational work and In establishing in practice
)lig~ standards of management and methods.
1
These· nursery schools everywhere demonstratt>d their
value as 1111 efficient and beneficial mode of child care nnd
caused widt>spread hopes that nursery schools could be incorporatl'd gerwrally into tl1e public school systpm for the
benefit of nil children. A special usefulness was found for
them in the war period, and the program was expanded in
the fiscal year 1942 so as to Include the chll1lren of workIng mothers, of men in the arm!'d forees, and of workers
rngnged in war production, whPther or not they were in
low-income groups. In the ERA act for the fiscal year
1943, Congress directed that $6,000,000 of WPA funds be
earmark!'d for the operation of nursery schools. Attendunce in the WPA nursery schools In a 1-month period In
1937 was 40,000, ln 1940 in a 2-week period It was 38,000,
nnd in 1942 In a I-month period it wns nbout 35.0'.lO. When
the ,vPA program was liquidated, WPA nursPry 1<chools
In defense production areas were usually continu!'d by local
governments with assistance from Lanham Act funds.
Library Services
Library sPrvil'es were increased under the WPA program
b~· Pxtendi11g- these services Into rnral and other areas in
whil'h no public services of thi8 kind existed and by providing workers to assist large urhun libraries in routine cleri•·al work, catnloging, lndPxing. and bibliographical work.
In the 3-month period ('nding June 30, 1942, WPA workers
operated uhout 1,700 libraries nnd gave assistnm·e to nearly
-l,lOO librariPS.
'fhese project!'!, which were for the most part operated on
a State-wide basis, were spommred by library authorities
and snpPrVi8C'd by profpssionnl librarians or by sPmiprofPssionnl workPrs witq library training and experiPllCI'. The
rnrul li!Jrnry extension projects were importunt. as a 111e1m8
of improving lihrnry sPrvices In rural nrPas. SpPcial tmeks
or trailers, enlle,I bookmohile8, Wl'l"e oftt'n used In tht> 1listrilmtion of books ancl magazines in rural arPns. The
books cireulatr<l through lihrary extn1sion• projects were
ohtnint'd <'HiPfly from public um! prlvnte collections. but
the WPA provided from its nonlabor project funds a limited
nnmher of 1ww books whil'h w('re circulated in one area
n fter anotlwr. The new books SUJ)Jlli!'d by the WPA were
of special mine in arousing a spirit of local responsibility
with regard to library sPrvices. Volunteer citizens' groups
(,·allt><l CitizP11,.· Library Associntions) were organizt>cl in
all rural urPas in which dPmonstrntion projects wne oJ)C'rntrd, and nl'tive pfforts wPre made to Pstablish 1wrumuent
Jmhlic lihrnriPS. I<'urnwrs' wivC'S were strong snpportrrs of
this movPnreut; in many arens their deman<l8 and those of
citizens' committees led to a partial or increased taxsupport of the library services. Several hundred rural
library units started by the WPA eontinned to operate ns
rrgular servief'S after the liquidation of the WPA.
The most ambitious of the hibliogrnphical projects <'onducted under library sponsorship was the Bib/.iography of
Air Raid Pr<'ca11tio1111 1111d Ciril lkf<'n,~P, published in six
volum!'R in 1941-42 under the sponsorship of the Library
of Congress. Its c·hief ,-onrees wPre forPign periodicals nntl
journals, including those from the enPniy countries.
Old and damaged books in public libraries and the libraries of public imHitntions were extensively repairf'f.1 and
sometimes rebound by WPA workers. Where pages wt-re
missing, typewritten copies were lnsP1·ted. In the earlier
years of the WP A program, school textbooks were also
reno,·ated, as a kind of salvage job, In communities that
were unnble to purchase new tt-xtbooks. Out of a number
of identical volumes in which various pages were missing,
a smaller number of complete volumes was made up; torn
or tlefaced pnges were repaired or cleaned. As the finan<'ial condition of local governments improved and they
bei:ame better ab!(' to pay for book repairs or new books,
renovntion projects were largely suspended. No renovation of school textbooks was done in the last 4 years of the
,vPA program, and renovntion of library books was limited to work that woultl not ortlinarily he turnf'f.l over to
private coueernA. During the 8 ~•pars of the WPA progrnm, more than 94,700,000 books were rt>paired or renovated by WPA workers.
Recreation Prolech
WPA recreation projects provhl!'d leadership and instruction In recreational activities of many kinds, supplementing the existing public servi<'es of local communities.
The aim of this work was the year-round operation of n
var-ied and well-balanced recreation program, inclndi111t
soeiul, cultural, and physical activitie><, for adults as wPll
as young people. Social and cultural forms of recreation
included group dancing, iruloor games, musical activltiPS,
photography, sketehing. amateur dramatics, puppet ,:hows,
arts-and-crafts work, wildlift! clubs, and cliscussion group~.
The programs varied in 111·1·ordanee with loeal needs and
intPrests. l'lay centers for preschool ehildren were eon•
dudPd in many 1·01111111mities and neighborhoods. A few
;:1--ial projPcts provided therapeutic recreation in State
hospitals, as~•lnms, nnd other public institutions. A ~ntinn-wicle WPA re<'r<'ntlnn projpct was !'onduct!'d In tht'
cli>fPn;;e 1111<1 war lll'riod for· the benefit of servicrmPn in
1·11m11s nnd adjaeNrt communities.
It WIIS largPly thro11gh Wl'A rt'<"rPation projf'dS that
tl1e many new public rt>crt>ntional facilities constructed
throughout the country by WPA workers wrrp brought
into full use. The program was designed to provitle re<'reationul opportunities for the general public.
An Important part in the organizution and r,mduct of
,vPA r1>crP11tio11 prnjPl'ls was takt>11 b~· Joe-al advisory com·
rnittees, 1·0111posPcl of rppresi>ntativPs of Pdueatio11al i11stitntlo11s, priYate nnd public soeial agenf'ies, d111rc·l1i>s, labor
1111ions, hnsiJJPSS l"OIICt'rns, nncl other inlPl"l'StPd groups.
'l'hPse Inca) advisory eom111ittt>es survcy!'d conununity
rP1·n•11tio11al nt'Pds, S('<·urecl the use of various recreational
f11cllit ies, helped to arouse the pulilic Interest, assisted In
the pln1111ir1g of programs, and in gPnl'ra! workL'<l to lntec
grate projeet ndivltlt>s with lor1g-tPr111 comm11nlty plans
for recreation.
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SERVICE PROJECTS
lllUMUm Projects
WP:\ workers nssistetl museums in the making of dio-
ruotlels, maps, lantern slhles, nnd other visual-aid
devlt't'ia for t>xtcnsion work in public schools. These
workers also usiai;;tetl museums in the renrraugem.ent nml
1uo<h'rnlzation of exhibits, and in the crention of nccurate
miniature representation of scenes Illustrating ( for exumple) the use of garments, dwelling~ antl implements by
aborigines or prehistoric peoples. WI' A derical workers
assisted In the clnssifying and Indexing of nrt, archacologi,111, nntl historlcnl materials.
ramas,
Federal Protect No. t
Fetleral Project No. 1 was a' lsingle Natlon-witle project
which, with WPA sponsorship, providetl a central ndministrntion for music, art, writers', and thE>atn project~and
the historical recortls surwy. It was rerognizE'tl thnt local
rommunit!PS might not. hP willing to rx1w11<l public funrhi
on kintls of public servic-e for which t;,here was I it tie precedent in this co1111try, but It was believed that. with Federal
support such projects would demonstrate their social usefulne;;s.
Although locul s1ionsors' fund s were not required, locul
cooperation was esse11t inl to the success of these pl'ojects.
For example, music projects required orgnnizetl support
for public perfomi:wees; art projects retJUired opportunities for decorating buildings; writing projects required
some Information and guiclnnce from State or local authorities; nod tbeatt>r projt>cts rNJnin><I so111e degree of integration with local public school, park and recreation
programs.
In the administratio11 of these projects there were two
main phases of effort. First of all, It wos nec<'ssary to
find out how muny workers with the re<1ulred p1·ofesslonal
al.Jilities were eligible for WPA E>lllployment; eligible applic·a111s llnd to be classifil'd with rl-'spect to their professio11al
abflities, assigned to certain kinds of project work, antl
orgnnizetl under competent super,·islon. The second stage,
for niany projc('ls, involn•d the furth e r trniniug of projrct
work1.•r;;; this was a period in which adminis trati ve efforts
c·ould be lncrE>asingly co11t•pnfrated on the achievement of a
hi~h proff'ss io11al quality in the rei-ult of projpct work.
Project~ In these SI)('<'ial fleltls of work had been pioneered
lo ;;urne extent under the CWA nnu FEUA programs, 11ml
the WP.\ was able to build 011 fountlntious already established. This was esricciully true in the work of the music
rirojects ; there the Wl'A rapidly uchien•d hi gh 11rofesslonal
<1unlity. Art projects 1111<1 also b~ n previously operated,
though not so widt•l.,· as mu:<ic projn·ts. The writing
projects, howe,·er, were newly organized by the WPA for
work, on fl Nntion-witle s<'llle, of a specific kind previously
performetl by the FERA In only one State. The theater
11rojects were newly organized by the WPA 011 an elaborate
!<Cale not previously undertaken in work reli ef history.
The writing and thoater projects had to solve organizational problems which had been largPly solved for the nrt
and music projects. [.fhcse four proJe<its had a purpose
common to all WPA 11rojects, that of provltling public work
for needy unemploye<l workers. They were tJps igned, like
other WPA projects, to conserve skills und to bE>neflt locnl
t'Ommunltles through the exercise of these skills. Certain
branches or the art and music projects had the character
ot Instruction rather than production; they were tleslgned
to give people throughout the country an opportunity to
enjoy these arts through attendance at Cfasses and at
exhibitions or .educational performances. 1
There were, however, objections in Congress to the practice of operating projects under WPA sponsorship without
requiring local contributions. Consequently, In the ERA
Act of 1930 pro,•iding appropriations for the WPA for the
following fiscal year, Congress forbade the spending of
l<'ederal funds tor the operation of theater projects and
dlrectf'd that no funds be spent after August 31, 1939, for
the operation of any project sponsored solely by the WPA.
,'eongresslonnl discussslon of Federnl Project No. 1 was
largely cot11:erned with the supposed domination ot the arts
prnjects in Xew York City by Cpmmunlst Influences, as
charged at Congressional hearlngi,'/ The action of Congress
apparE>ntly Involved no repudiation of the policy of pro,·ltling suitable employment tor workers ln the arts.
Artt>r Fetleral Project No. 1 wns closed out, the· work
of musk, art, writers', and historical records projects w11s
continued in most States through State-wide projects under
the Rponsorship of Stute agencies. The work of the music,
art, writers', and theater projects is tlescrlbetl separately
below.
Music Prolecfs
The nctlvltles of the music projects Involved the giving
of publle performances by mnny kinds of musical units.
These- musical units Included symphony orchestras, small
ort'11estral ensembles, string- quartets. chamber music ensembles, nnd operutic antl light opera concert ensembles;
grand operu, light opera, and, chamber opera companies;
,·oeal e11se1ubles and ,·ocnl soloists; and dance orchestras,
hmuls, und thE>ntf'r orchestrmi. Other branches of music
project work includl'd the tenchlng of music, the copying
of music, and the maintenance of music llbrariE>s.
Hince music proje<"ls had been vE>ry widely organieed
u11dcr the l<'BRA, the music proje<.•ts of the WPA got under
way quickly. Within a remarkably short time WPA symphony orchestras, in many large and In some smaller cities,
hnd establi;;hed themseh·es in the r<>gnrtl of music lovers
and critics: Tours by the orchestras t·a1·rted these muslt'nl
services to many other communities. Some of the WPA orellt'strus also ga,·e rntlio programs. Atlmlssion fees charged
ut WPA concerts nnrl operas wt>re u;;E>d In s1111110rt of the
projf'<•t.
• The chlf't symphony orchestrns opnnted by th,. Federal
l\Iush• l'rojcct ot the WPA or by the WPA music program In the
J)<'rlod between 10:l!'i nod 1943 were : Ma11s11chusett11--St11te
S)·mphony (Boston). Commomn11llh Symphony (Boston), Sprlngllehl Symphony; Connecllcut-Hnrtford Symphony, BrldgPport
Symphony; Rhode Islancl-Rhode I,lnnd WPA S)·mphony (l'ro'l"ld cn ce ) ; New York-Syracuse S)·mphony, Ilulfnlo Symphony, New
York City J,'pclcrnl. Brooklyn Sy1111,hony; rennsylrnnla-Phlladclphlu F edt•rnt. Plttsuuri:h Federal ; West \'lrginiu-Huntlngton
Sy1111,hony; Mi<-hlgan-WPA Symphony (Detroit) ; llllnolHIlllnols Symphony (Chicago) ; Wiscon s in-Wisconsin Symphony
(l\mwnukee) : l\tlnnesota-Mlnnf'100l11 Wl'A Symphony; UtabUtnb State Symphony (Snit Lake City); Cntltornln-Los Angeles
Federal, Northe rn Cnllfornla WPA Symphony (San Fr11ndsco) ;
Orci:on-l'ortlnnd l' bllhnrmonlc; Oklnhomn---Oklahomn City
Symphony.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
It was one of the alms of the WPA music program to
provide a hearing for the music of American composers and
composers who had lived in the United States. Within the
first year, more than 1,500 compositions (not Including
dance music or popular songs) by 540 American composers _
hud been performed. by WPA orchestras. An Index of
American composers and compositions was undertaken,
but not completed, and the card flies were deposited In the
music division of the Library of Congress.
For several years a composers' forum laboratory was
conducted In Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and a few
other large cities. This consisted of the performance of a
program of works by one or more contemporary musicians,
preferably young musicians In need of a publlc bearing,
who afterward took the platform, explained their musical
purposes and views, and replied to questions by the audience. A Jorge number of new musical compositions were
performed for the first time on these occasions.
During the period of Federal sponsorship, the music
projects had loeal cooperating sponsors, such as boards of
education and other public agencies; social, fraternal, and
civic organizations; musical associations; and the local
groups of the National Federation of Music Clubs. The
American Federation of Musicians was helpful to the projects In many ways; In several Instances It supplied a musician to a WPA orchestra at Its own expense when one
of the kind required was not available from the relief rolls.
The Federation bad a special Interest In sucii orchestras,
lnnsmuch as they provided employment for many older
musiciam1 among_Its members.
WPA dance orchestras and bands gave performances In
connection with civic activities, Including local celebrations
nud fcstln1ls, and at community centers and other public
institutions. Theater orchestras were Jent to the Federal
theater projects. In the later years of the program, at the
request of military and naval authorities, WP A orchestras gave performances for members of the armed forces.
\VPA mus icians ser,ed as music teachers, coached and
qire<"ted class groups and cho1·11sPs, and acted as lecturers
and demonstrators. Music teachers organized and condu cted classes for persons Interested In music ns an nvocntion nnd for puhlic schools that did not. provide regular
music instruction for their pnpils. Asgistnnce was given
to psychiatric experiments In music thnapy In a number
of mental hospitals.
Music copying, which wns first done to meet the needs
of " ' PA orchest rus, wus Inter e::qm ndPd In several cities
in order to create music llhrnries, which were then plocl•d
In uniYersity and public libraries.
It wns expected that WPA orchestras would be taken
m·t•r ns permnnent community orchestras In a con!!lderahle
number of cities: this might welI hn,e occurred if the WPA
had bef'o liquidated under peacetime conditions. Three of
the WPA orchC'strus, however, did develop Into regular
community institutions-the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestru in 1!)39, and the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra and
the Utah 8tnte Symphony Orchestra In 19-12.
Although th ere had never been any doubt of the deep
and wide interPst In music In this country, the WPA music
11rojects reveni <>d that more of our people enjoyed good
mu~lc than liad heen realized. These projects stimulate1I
th<' demand for the teaching of mus ic In rural public
schools and encouraged the hope that regular community
orchestras would be establlshed in the postwar period.
Art Prolectt
The WPA art projects Included creative work in the
graphic and plastic arts, handicraft work, making an Index of American Design, poster work, teaching lo tbe
creative arts and In handicraft work, nod the preparation
of art exhibits for use lo educational work.
Creative work on the WPA art projects was chiefly
devoted to the production of oil paintings, water colors,
etchings, nnd sculpture; mosaics and stained glass windows were produced on some projects. These original art
works were used widely In the decoration of schools, libraries, and other public buihllngs; some works of sculpture were placed In public parks. Works of art produced
on these WPA projects were circulated In publlc e:J:blbltlons and in portfolios among schools, colleges, and libraries. Mural paintings were ruade especially for certain
publlc buildings. The work IQ sculpture ranged from the
heroic to the miniature, from portrait busts lo monuments,
and from pnnels carved In mahoga11y- to bronze placques.
Original etchings, lithographs, and womlcuts were printed
In large numbers for decornti,e nnd educational uses.
These creative art projects, when first set up under WPA
sponsorship, were placed under only one restriction as to
subject matter: It must be American, whether naturalistic,
s)·mbollc, legendary, or historical. Tu II great extent. especially in mural paintings, the subject matter was of local
historical or lmlustrlal interest. Some of the art works
produced on these projects were recognized by critics as
having great distinction.
The hantlleraft work performed on the WP.-\ art projects Included the designing and waki11g of t:qiestrles, curtains, rugs, ceramics, Ironwork, and furn iture. '.fhese
protluctions were usually deisigned for use in the decoration of particular public buildings.
1
The Index of American Design wns 'a seri es of portfolios of faithful draw ings. In color, illustrating the rise
and development of th e decorative a11d applied arts in this
country, from earliest colonial times to the end of the
nineteenth ce11tury. I Through edueatio11al Institutions,
these drawings were matle nn1ll:ible to students, artists,
and Industrial tlesigners.
Posters made on the WPA art projeds were for the use
of various public agencies In hen Ith and safety campaigns
and In other clYic programs.
Teaching In the fine arts and In the handicrafts was
done by artists employed on the WPA art projects. The
classes were conducted In community centers anti settlement houses and sometimes In hospitals and other public
Institutions. 'l;he handil'ruft teaching inclu1)('d work ln
print making, metal crafts, pottery, puppet mnking, weaving, and costume design.
Civic art centers and galleriPs were ~et up by art projects and exhibitions of fine arts and handicrafts were circulated among the different centers. Free public lectures
nod classes In art appreciation were aJgo held at these
centers. This work was Intended especially for those
regions which lacked public art institutions.
The art projects, It is generally agreed, preserved and
encouraged the talents of many artists, created ,nluable
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SERVICE PROJEm'S
art works for public enjoyment, and demonslil'8ted the existence of a wide public interest In art. The accomplishments on these projects are dlfflcult to measure, but data
on publlc partlclpatlon given In appendix table XVI indicate the Interest shown in these activities. Under the WPA
art program, schools, hospitals, and other public buildings
were decorated with more than 2,500 murals. Workers
on the art projects produced nearly 18,800 pieces of sculpture, 108,000 easel works, and 11,300 fine print designs. In
addition, nearly 22,000 plates were made for the Index of
American Design.
Writers' Protects
In the FERA period, It had been found difficult to devise
suitable work for needy unemployed writers, until the plan
of having them produce a guide book was tried out in
Connecticut. The Connecticut guide book proved so successful that the plan was expanded to national proportions
by the WPA. ,~Workers with experience in reporting, editing, magazine writing, and research were assigned to the
work of producing an American guide book in each State.I
Historical societies, local chambers of commerce, automobile clubs, women's clubs, and businessmen's clubs became
cooperating sponsors of writers' projects. Since unemployed professional writers were congregated chiefly in
metropolitan areas, the services of unemployed teachers,
clergymen, and others were drawn upon for the work In
some outlying areas. A manual of instruction sent out
from the Washington office outlined the geographic, historic, cultural, sociological, recreational, Industrial, and
commercial information to be assembled. Some of the
guides had to be revised or completed In Washington by
experienced writers drawn from New York City and other
centers, who were paid for their work on a nonrelief basis.
The result, however, was a series of State and local guide
and tour books, most of which were published by leading
American publishing houses, receiving highly favorable
critical attention and having a wide sale. The American
guide series was the first of Its kind in this country, and
so monumental a work could hardly have been produced
except with financial assistance from the Federal Government. Jn addition to the guide books, the writers' projects
producea popular accounts of the historical background of
various localities, compilations of local folklore, books on
the American Negro, elementary science readers for children, and various other types of books and pamphlets.
Theater Projects
Only by organizing complete theatrical productions could
the WPA provide suitable work for needy unemployed
actors, stagehands, designers, light technicians, and other
workers of the theatrical profession. The projects were
most active In New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago,
where theatrical unemployment was chiefly concentratecl,
but they were also organized in many other cities throughout the country. A small entrance fee was ordinarily
charged at dramatic productions; the money taken In was
need In defraying some of the non labor costs of the projects.
In New York and several other cities, the Federal theater
productions very quickly achieved a high reputation with
critics and the theater-going public. This was due ln part
to the development on the New York City projects of a new
theatrical technique in the Living Newspaper, which combined newsreel, radio, and drama forms to produce exciting presentations of important problems of contemporary
interest and social significance in "Triple-A Plowed Under,"
'"Injunction Granted," "Power," "One-Third of a Nation,"
and other productions of the kind. The range of dramatic
activities, however, was wide, including plays by Shakespeare, Marlowe, Ibsen, Shaw, and many modern playwrights. \A dramatization of Sinclair Lewis' anti-Fascist
novel, "It Can't Happen Here," was presented simultaneously on 21 stages in 18 cities in 1936. Another notable
production was "Prologue to Glory," which was based on
the early years of Lincoln's career: Many Federal theater
productions ranked as box-office successes.
Other productions of the Federal theater Included
marionette shows, circuses, musical comedies, light operas,
Negro theater productions, and foreign language productions.
In 1939, the Federal theater projects were partk!ularly
subjected to Congressional criticism because they were
comparatively expensive, because they sometimes dealt
with controversial themes (as in the Living Newspaper
productions), and because of an alleged domination ot
such projects in New York City by Communists. The operation of theater projects with Federal funds afte1· August 31, 1930, was specifically forbidden by Congress.
Some unemployed actors were subsequently provided with
WPA employment on public recreation projects.
,
When the Federal theater projects were first set up, It
was hoped that they might lend to the establishment of
municipal theaters in a number of cities, and even of a
nationally endowed theater; these hopes were evidently
premature. The Federal theater productions, however,
made important contributions to American theatrical history; they were marked, at their best, by vitality, freshness, and boldness.
Research and Records
The research projects operated by the WPA can be
divided into two groups: social and economic surveys and
studies and research assistance projects.• The records
projects comprised public administrative records projects
and the historical records sm·vey.
Social and Economic Surveys and StudlH
Survey projects were organized to a~sist various agencies of local, State, and Federal Government in collecting
data essential to their work; these projects were approved
on the advice of a committee of research specialists. For
example, a complete Inventory of housing facllitles In 04
cities was made under the teeltnical direction of the Bu• A three-volume Indez of Research Projects wne published In
1938-39. The first and third volumes were published b;r the
WPA; the second volume wns published In collttborntlon with
the National Resources Committee and StntP planning agencies.
The three volumes listed l'i,137 research. etntlstknl. and survey
projects conducted or nl<le<l by the CWA, the FERA, nnd the
WPA, and the final reports mn<le on the work ot these projects.
(Severn! hundred entries referred to material for which no final
report had been made at the time.) The WPA Inter published
In eight Issues a Blblfograpl,y of Resca,·ch Profec/8, continuing
the liatlng of reports mn<le on the work of such projects through
June 30. 1943; about l'i,300 reports were ll~ted, Including 1,800
publlcntlons of the historical records survey.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
reau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce; this Inventory
was later expanded through local WPA surwys until it
rovered more than 200 cities. A national health survey,
curried on under the direction of the United States Public
Health Service and employing 5,000 workers, secured data
on the health conditions and medical care in 775,000 families. A series of detailed studies wus made of the displacement of workers by machines in different trades. A
complete inventory of business enterprises was made for
the Census Bureau. City planning was aided by many
surveys, such as the important land use survey made in
Chicago. Analyses of industrial accidents and diseases
supplied the factual basis for more equitable compensation procedures and made possible more effective measures
of prevention. The sponsors of these WPA projects were
obliged to publish the findings of the surveys; supervisors
employed by the WPA were sometimes given charge of the
preparation of such reports.
WPA surwys and studies were of assistance in practically every kind of activity carried on by the agencies of
local government. The origin of such surveys In local
needs Is sbown In the following brief account of the development of a juvenile delinquency study, which also Illustrates
the procedure followed In regard to WPA research projects
In general:
For purposes of illustration, let us say that Dr. Smith ls
the director of the dt>1mrtment of public safety in a large
city where all dvic efforts to combat an increasing rate of
juvenile crimes are handicapped by lack of systematic
knowledge of the local situation. The existence of organized gangs, the lack of recreational facilitiPs and of vocational e«lucatlon, the prevalenee of physical and mentul
di1wase--all th!'se matters have an important b!'aring on
juvenile delinquency, but Dr. Smith has no stuff to help
him collect such information. In the hope of St>curing the
a~sistance of a WPA survey project, he prepares detailed
plans for a city-wide study of juvenile delinquency. These
he may show first of all to the professor of criminology at
the local univprsity, who may make helpful suggestions
and ahm point out that several of his graduate students
with training In the field can be ma(le available to assist
in the work of the project.
Dr. Smith, with the approval of the mnyor, submits a
specific proposal to thtc> dire<•tor of the local WPA office.
'.fhe director consults his flies and finds that the proposed
1iroject can be manned with trainPd workPrs from t11e relief
rolls. And Dr. Smith's departnwnt offers to pay for tl1e
sl'rvlces of a psychiatrist ancl a physi('ian, furnish office
i,pnce, equipment, lllHI supplies. The department also
ngrees to prepare, publish, nnd distrihntP copies of a report on the fl11dings of the study.
The proposal then goPs to the State WPA hPadquarters,
where it Is tc>xaminPd by a trai1wcl resParch worker who
satisflps himself that the plun is sou11d, that it does not dnplieate existing studies, that the proposed project supervisor is adequatPly trained, and thnt the estimated costs
ure reasonable. '.l'he proposal ls then transmitted for
approval In Washington, where it is reviewed in detail . . . . and then referred-in this particular case--to
11 specialist in the U. S. f'hildreu's Bureau.'
'Corrington Gill, "Research as a Part of the Work Relief
Program,"' Dynamic Amcrira, !\fay 1939, pp. 26 77.
Research, &tatlstlcal, and survey projects were not only
cleared with various interested Federal agencies, but were
also reviewed by the CPntral Statistical Board (later by
the.Division of Statistical Stafulnrds in the Bureau of the
Budget) In order to avoid duplication and to make certuin
that comparable d11ta were being seeured from the vnrlous
Rtates.
Research A11lstance Projeds
These projects provided professional, technical, clerical,
and, on oceasion, manual workers to assist In scientific and
technological research and experimentation in tax-supported universities and colleges. Research in uninm;iti(>,;
has been greatly hampered by the lack of assistants to do
the routine work Involved in experimental research. Unemployed workers with varying amounts of professional or
technical training, assigned to resPard1 assistance projects,
performed functions ranging from routine laboratory tasks
to highly technical and scholarly research. Nearly every
State university in the country received such assistance.
The projects were under the Immediate direction of faculty
members.
At New York University, for example, project workers
assisted in a highly technical study In the flt>hl of sJ)PCtroscopic work. At the University of California, they assisted
in a study of the ch!'mlstry of endocrine sPeretlons and In
many experimental studies in anatomy and animal physiology. The reports on research projects were prepared by
the supervisors furnished by thtc> sponsorfl, not hy WPA
employees.
Public Records Projects
In the field of public administration, WPA projeet workers assisted State and local governments In the installatit1n
of modern assessment systPms, the revision of land rp1•ords, the indexing of clet>ds and mortgagt>S, the transfer of
property tux nceounts from nlphabetkal listings In imlivldual ledger cards, and in the Inventorying of publicly
owned personal property and the establishment of pPrpetual controls. Assistance hy projpct workPrs was also
given in the mapping of public utility fucililit>S, the classifying of fingerprint files, the codifying of municipal ordinances, the eonductlng of tratllc sunPys, and in sP!ecting
the safest routes for school children. "'I'A workers gaw
assistance in the making of generul suneys (lealing with
governmental organization and operation.
Standardization of asspssment practkes requires the a~semhly, usually on a suitably designPd record card, nf
complete information regarding the land and struetur<'s
ineluded in eueh ownership. Important as this record
procedure Is in achieving equitable taxation, its advantages were enjoyed hy only a few large communities until
Wl'A asslstnnce became arnilahle. Now many of thP
~mailer communities have set theit· tax nwchanisms in
ordPr by this mP1rns; in some Stntes t hP work was d<lll(' on
11 State-wide basis.
Many communities hnd previously het•n without nmt"'
1lelineating county, town, villngP, 111HI :-ehool (listric-t llnPS ~
and, because of the inadequaey or total laek of propPrty
Identification maps, assessors had been unnhle to make
~ure that all taxable proverties were included on the tax
rolls and charged to the 11roppr ownprs. ,vith WP A as~i;;t:mee, nnd by nPrial photogrnphy and inspection of deed
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SERVICE PROJECTS.
m:ords, the bountlarles of local governmental units were
brought up to date, with inclividunl pa.reels of land-for tl1e
first time 11ccurotely locatPd, dPscribe(l, 11ml measured.
In many communities the indcxPs to deeds um! mortgages were almost unusable ai,; a result of WPar and tear,
1111d tbe complexities of entry methods made them unintelligible except to title Pxperts. Reorganization of these
Pntries, usually with th!' ehunge from an alphuhPtieal to a
geographical urrangement, resulted in n great saving of
time.
Through the survey work earriecl on by WPA derienl
workers, city truffle dPpartments were enabled to select. the
most suitable arterlnl streets, to designate ureas for offstreet parking, to time traffic signals so as to facilitate
1·ehicle flow, to determine the most hazardous intPrsPctions, to map the safest routes for school children to follow, and to prepare plans for the removal of traffic
obstructions. As in the field of land records, these accomplishments gave an impetus to further planning for traffic
requirements.
The research programs of local government commissions, of tax commissions, nncl ot universities, were often
greatly strengthened by the as,;istunee given by WPA clerical workers; the findings of such agenciPs, expedited hy
WPA assistance, frequently resulted in legislation requiring the local reporting of governmental receipts and expPndltures, the installation of budgPtury eontrols. and Ute
establishment of methods of accounting for publidy owned
property.
Clerical assistance in current record keeping was given
only to hospitals, clinics, health departments, and In the
latPr years of the WPA program, to defense nnd war agendPS. A Nation-wide project, certified hy the Seeretary of
War, provided clerical assistance to governme11tal ageneies
that were overburdened with work relnte<l to <lPfense activitit>R. A;; a part of this work, WPA workers gave us.
sistanee to registr11r:;; of vital statistics in order to speed
the handling of requests eonrernlng the birth records Qf
d!'!ense lndui<try workers.
Historical Records Survey
'fhe work of this projeet consisted of locating. arranging, and cataloging historical records; of preparing and
1111blis!Jing Inventories ot these records for the use of historlral and other students; and of transcribing, photogra(lhing, or otherwise preserving records of special historical vnlm! that WPl'P in dangn of lo:-s or destruction.•
1
Work of a similnr nnture wns don<>, for n time, in order to
preserve a permnn<'nt nnd nccnrnte recorcl of early Amerlcnn
buildings and ships. The Historic American Buildini-:s S11rv1•y,
~tarted under the CWA proi:ram, was ,·ontlnnPcl hy th,• WPA
under the sponsorship of the Depart111<'11I of the, I11tc,rior. with
the technical assistance of the Nntlonnl Park Sen•ic·P, mul with
the guidance of the Lihrnry of Coni:ress nnd the Amcrkan Institute of Architects. This work eonsisted of mukini: photoi:rnphs,
rneasurements, and stanclnrd nrchitecturnl ,lrnwings of buildini-:s
of historic Importance for trnnsmission to the Fine Arts Division
or the Library of Congr,•ss. The Historic AmPrlcan Jl[arlne Snrmade measured drawings of early American v<'ssels from
,,riginal plans, models, and remains, supplementing theHe with
Photographs and historical material. This record of the develop•
ment of American marine architecture was deposited with the
National Museum (Smithsonian Institution). Both of these surveys were terminated June 30, 19:!7, as nationnl projP<•tR, but In
some Instances the work was continued under local sponsorship.
••y
These records were d1iefly the archives ot State, county,
city, and town governments; but they also inrludecl church
archives and other manuscript mnterials and early American imprints (books and newspapers). 'With tl1is program there was combined a survey of Federal archives in
the States whil'h, at first, had been conducted us a separate program. The historkul records survey, which was
operuted in every county, was conducted under the guidance of the American Historical Assodatlon, the Joint
Committee on Materials for Research, and the officials o!
the Library of Congress awl the National Archives. More
than a thousand volumes of inventories of Federal, State,
c·oimty, city, town, and church archives were published.
As II result of the interest evoked by this survey, many
States and communities provided new fncilitiPs for the
<'are ot historical records.
Welfare Projects
\Velfare projects provided employment for most of the
WPA women workers and expanded greatly the welfare
services of communities throughout the country. The
chief activities were those of the sewing and other goods
projects, the school lunch projeFts, the gardening and canning projects, the housekeeping aide projects, the surplus
commodity distribution projects, the public health projects, and the ltoia;pital aide projeets.
Sewing Projects
'l'l1Pse projects, in the 8 yc>ars of the WPA program,
produced about 382,800,000 garments tor men, women,
boys, girl!', and infants. There were also produced nearly
117,800,000 household articles and hospital and Institutional gowns and articles. 'l'he articles produced on these
projects were distributed by the loeal sponsoring agencies
to needy people and public institutions. The WPA was
nlso responia;ible for mnny thousands of garments distributPd to families made destitute by floods in the South and
Middle West and in the New England hurricane area.
At first, garments were cut by hand scissors Ull(l sewed
Pitlter by domestic treadle machines or by hand. The
work wns Inter centralized and mechanized to a grc>at extent. Within ead1 State the work was oi·gnnizcd as a
State-wide project umlPr the direction of a State supprvisor. The opernting costs of the local units were studied;
nnd as relief needs diminished, the more costly units werc>
closl'd out and their workPrs were transferred to othPr
welfare projects. Cutting-room operations were centralized in eaeh State, and power cutters were used. A central
pnttern and design service was set up in each State, with
Pxelurnge privilegPs between St11tes. Production was speeializPd, 1111d selPcted types of garments were made In ea<'h
sewing room. Power sewing machines replaced the donwstic treudle rnnchines, and hand sewing was reduced to
n minimum. Distribution of goods made on the projects
wns correspondingly State-wide.
As operatlo11s were improved, the standards ot the Statewide sewing projects closely approximated those of private industry. Other goods production was similarly
mechanized and standardized and various types of minor
goods production were gradually eliminated. In the defense aud war period, the War Depnrtment assigned to
the WPA sewing projects the work of reclamation of army
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
clothing and equipage. In some areas, the WPA supplemented the ·reclamation work of established army facilities; In other areas, the WPA performed the whole reclamation job. Articles of dothing, Including shoes, and
tents, blankets, knapsacks, web belting, canteen covers
and the like, were made usable, thereby saving many millions of dollars. In addition, articles of furniture, draperies, light fixtures, and other articles were made for use
In military and naval establishments.
A remarkable success was achieved In the training of unskilled women (many of whom were unused to electrical
appliances) In the operation of power sewing machines.
These women attained sufficient proficiency to make them
acceptable in private industry, and many went Into factory
jobs early In the defense period. WPA power-sewing equipment was made available for transfer as the need for it
diminished on projects and Increased in private war production.
Other Goods Prolects
Cotton purchased by the Federal Government to relieve
the cotton surplus was, for a time, made Into mattresses
for distribution to needy families. There were projects for
copying books In Braille and for restoring damaged or
missing pages of Braille books; most of the workers on
these projects were themselves blind. A project for making
artificial legs for needy persons was operated in one locality
by workers who themselves wore one, or sometimes two,
artificial legs. Furniture designed especially for children
was made on some projects for use in WPA nursery schools.
Production projects were specifically authorized In all
the acts of Congress appropriating funds for the WPA.
Goods production was carried on only when it was requisite
in providing useful public work for some needy group.
The goods so produced were turned over to State and local
government agencies for free distribution to persons \lnder
public care or to tax-free Institutions, or they were used
on other WPA projects. Precautions were taken against
the entrance of such goods into the commerciul market by
stamping them as made by the WPA and "not for sale."
Mattress-making projects, howeYer, were closed out by the
WPA In def!.'rence to the objections of prlrnte mnnufacturlng Interests.
School Lunch Prolects
1'he provisions of lunches for undernourished school cbilclren was begun by parent-teacher associations In some
localities early in the Hl30's. This activity was undertaken
by the FERA ancl the CW A aucl was continued and expaneled by the WPA. It became one of the WPA's most
popular programs. The lunches were prepared under the
general supervision of dietetic experts. In many communities these noon lur1clws were servecl free of charge; in
others, a charge was made to parents who were able to
pay, and lunch tickets were provlcled free of charge to
needy parents for their children's use. In a number of
cities the sponsor provided these lunches for children In
pnrochial schools as well as public schools. In New York
City, thPse school Iunclws were prepared In a great central
kitf'IH•n and were delivered hy a truck system on schedule
time and still hot, throughout all the five boroughs. In
some States there was a summer feeding program for chlldren of needy famllles ; lunches were served In churches
and parks In localities where schools were not open in the
summer. In the 8 years of the WPA program, more than
1,237,000,000 lunches were prepared and served by WP.A.
workers to school children. In the 6 months ending December 31, 1942, about 18,000 schools participated in the
school lunch program, and more than 79,000,000 lunches
were served.
As the program expanded, It enllsted the cooperation of
a large number of Federal, State, and local agencies and
organizations. The hot lunches, which in many localities
hud consisted only of a bowl of soup and a slice of bread.
became more generally well-balanced, well-cooked, and
well-served meals. Cod-liver oil and supplementary midmorning milk or fruit were often given to extremely malnourished children. In some areas the school lunch program was extended to high-school students.
The standards of these WPA school-lunch services were,
In general, at least equal to relevant professional standards, and in some respects they were above the standards
prevailing In many communities. One of the valuable contributions of the program to community welfare was the
estabUshment, in rural areas, of efficient methods of operation of school lunch rooms and the development of high
standards of sanitation In regard to the supply and handling of food and water. The Importance of proper nutrition for chllclren and Its value in promoting progress in
their school work were demonstrated so clearly and widely
that the provision of school lunches may become a permanent service In public schools.
Gardening and Canning Projeds
Projects of this kind had been operated by the OW.A.
and FERA, chiefly to provide food for distribution to needy
people in their homes. Under the WPA the work was
broadened to Include the production of foocl for use In
feeding needy school chilcl1·en and needy persons In public
Institutions. This was finally termed the food preservation and production progrnm and was Integrated with the
school lunch program in most States.
As this program developed, lncreasecl emphasis was
placed on methocls of organization and on equipment, and
the effectiveness of the work was increased by new and
improved operating techniques. Small scattered gardens
were replaced In many Instances by consolidated units
whieh made possible more adequate supervision and better
equipment. The same was true of canning units. Greater
attention was given to tlie selection of the foods to be
produced as well as to the total amotmts. Where cllmaUc
conrlitions permitted, the time of planting was so spaced
that a continuous supply of fresh vegetables was available
throughout the year. Although canning largely took prececlen<"e over other methods of food preservation, the processes of storing, freezing, drying, ancl brining were utilized
effectively In many Instances. Under the WPA program,
nearly 85,000,000 quarts of food were canned, ancl about
11,450,000 pounds of food were preserved through the cb7·
ing process.
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SERVICE PROJECTS
"-'rNpl119 Al• Proleds
These projects furnished assistance In housekeeping, care
of children, and elementary care of the sick in the homes
of needy families In times of illness or other emergency.
Work of this kind had been performed earlier on FERA
projects. The services that the projects undertook were
1111ch as had been given In the past by relatives or friends,
or in some instances by public and private welfare agencies.
Under depression conditions, however, families were frequently unable to help each other, welfare agencies were
overburdened, and many needy homes were left without
help in emergencies. It was to these homes that the first
housekeeping aides gave assistance.
All the program developed, the work of the housekeeping
aides became a supplementary service integrated with the
work of established health and welfare agencies. The
services of the housekeeping aides not only provided assistance in emergency situations, but also helped to establish the social principle that services can be extended to
needy people in their homes in a more satisfactory and
economical manner than through institutional care. Recognition of this increaSed the demands for the services of
WPA housekeeping aides. Increased emphasis was placed
on continuous In-service training of the aides in order to
improve their skills and to give them a better understandIng of the problems they met In the homes to which they
were assigned. Through June 30, 1943, women employed on
housekeeping aide projects had made more than 32,000,000
visits Into homes where the homemaker was ill or where
some other emergency existed.
Surplus Commodity Distribution Projecb
Surplus supplles of food, clothing, and other commodities donated or purchased by Federal, State, or other
agencies were transported, warehoused, and distributed
through the assistance of WPA projects to needy persons,
public institutions, or other WPA projects. At first, such
Hllpplles were often distributed to relief clients at the central depot where they were stored; but many people lived a
long distance from the central depot, and so a delivery
system, using WPA workers, was set up in many localities.
This method of distribution of foods was later supplanted
to a great extent by the food stamp plan, In which regular
grocel'J stores were used In the distribution of surplus food
supplies to the needy (see footnote 11, p. 5).
The sponsors were respon.<1ible for the technical supervision of these projects and for the medical examination
of workers assigned to this work. State and local sanitary and health regulations were strictly followed, and
safety inspections of buildings and trucks were made
regularly.
PublJc Health Projecb
The publlc health activities of the WPA were extensive,
varied, and of great Importance to communities. Assistance was given to health departments, hospitals and in•
stltutlons, clinics, and school medical bureaus. Nonprofessional workers were trained as helpers In hospitals and
Institutions. Health services were provided in communities which lacked them. Medical and puhllc health research was assisted.
In general, WP.A. assistance made possible the provision
of more adequate public health and hospital services. The
previous Inadequacy of such services had been due to the
very llmlted number of persons employed in these fields of
public work. The WPA met this need by providing workers at Federal cost. Trained professional personnel (doctors, dentists, nurses, chemists, and technical workers)
were assigned from the WPA rolls to projects sponsored by
health agencies. The number of such professional and
technical workers on the WPA rolls, though at first strikingly large as a Nation-wide total, was small in most communlties, and It decreased year by year. Nevertheless,
·there was an increase in the amount of assistance given to
local public health services through WPA projects. This
increase was due to the use of carefully selected WPA
workers trained on the job to carry on the nonprofessional
tasks that constituted a large part of the work of health
agencies. These routine tasks had formerly been performed by the doctors, nurses, and other professional personnel. With this kind of assistance, health agencies were
e11abled to undertake additional kinds of health services
which could not have been given without such aid.
It had been recognized that more extensive measures
should be taken to protect and improve the health of children, and WPA assistance made it possible to carry out
such work on a larger scale than had previously been possible. In thousands of schools the children were given
dental examinations and tests of hearing and vision to
determine whether corrective measures were required;
subsequent remedial treatments were usually undertaken,
in part at public expense and with WPA assistance.
School children were given various tests, such as the
Schick test for susceptibility to diphtheria; and immunizations against diphtheria, typhoid feve1·, whooping cough,
and other infectious diseases were widely administered in
schools and clinics. In some communities, there• were
projects concerned with discovering cardiac conditions In
children which would be dangerous if not given early
treatment; and one hospital, which was devoted to the
ti·catment of such cardiac conditions, was operated entirely as a WPA project. There were clinics In which prenatal care was given to expectant mothers, and there were
other clinics where mothers were taught how to keep their
babies in good health. Health work was carried to homes
in regions where it was difficult for needy families to come
to clinics. Many of the newly expanded public health
services of this period were devoted to children of all ages,
and these extensive activities were made possible by WPA
assistance. In the month of January 1942, more than 1,100
health and custodial Institutions, clinics, and other health
agencies were given assistance by WPA workers. In this
same period, WPA workers administered nearly 73,000
tests and immunizations.
The WPA took an active part in providing public health
services in rural areas where these services had been entirely lacking. These services were sometimes brought in
mobile cllnlcs to farm homes; In some rural areas the WPA
operated mobile dental clinics, stafft'd with a dentist,
nurse, and clerk, that went in trailers from school to
school. In rural counties where there was no budgetary
provision for public health services, WPA health projects
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FlNAL l!l!:l'OHT ON THE Wl'A l'ROGRAI\I
were operated for demonstration purpoi;es and were withdrawn aftel'. a time if no regular public health servie,'('S
were established. This demons tration po!i(·y resulted iu
the establishment of rt>gulnr services in a very large numher of such counties.
The need of more decisive measures fot• lhe control of
,·enereal di!wnse was widely rC'Cog11ized, nnd the WPA was
able to gi¥e \'Ulunble assistance to the work of public clinics
In this field, especially in Chicago. If the work of the
clinics wns to be effectivt>, there h11d to be amplt> and accurate records end persistent follow -up activities such as
would ensure the mntinuetion of trentment until n cure
was definitely nchieved. Workers were assigned by the
WPA to kee1> these records nnd co11duct these follow-up
activities.
, In three important fields of public· health work (remedial
and protective work with chilliren, the estnhlishme11t of
primary public health services iu rurnl areas in which they
had been lacking, nnd the demon~trntiou of et'fecti\'e measures for the control of veni>rl'nl 1list>nsl'), great ndvanccs
were mude that would not. have heen possible without
WPA assistenc.~. The State and local directors of WPA
health projects were active in enlisting the cooperntion of
the medical profession 1111d in helping to integrate public
health servlct>s of town, county, nnd State with the activities of civic groups, educnt.lonal nut11orities, and the work
of the United States Public Health Sen·ice. 'fhe method
of amplifying henlth services by the use of nonprofessional
workers lms remained In use wherever it was Introduced.
These projects provided temporary employment for rnnny
workers and aided in the permanent employment. of a large
number of them hy local puhllc henlth agencies and
hospitals.
Hospital Aldo Projects
Hospital ulde activities, carried on under the WPA
public he111th program, were begun in 1U30 and were Inter
expanded in nn effort to meet. the prospective needs of the
l\'ntion in wnr1ime. The hospital aides ga,·e no11profession11l sen-icl's in tnx-suppol'terl institutions ns lahornt.or_y
ai<ll-,,_, clerks, kikhl'II worker", maids, arnl Wlll'd hel1K•rs.
Thl'Y took 01·er many routine servi<-es, thus freeing t.he
regular hospital w.o rkers to give professionnl cnre to a
larger number of 1mtients. Hospital authorities, convinced of the great usefulness of this work, offered regular
employment to subsidiary hospitnl workers who were
1rained iu cer1ain non proft>ss lonal duti es. The WPA th en
ins tituted a training pl'ogram fur such subsidiary hospi1al
workers. ( See p. 93. ) This 11rogram did not r eac h the
lal'ge dime11sion::1 ex1iected, mniuly becanse of the iucrensiug u,·uilnbility of llight•r paid jobs in the war industries.
NParly all of I he wo1m•n trni11ed on the program, however,
"'"<'llrt>d rl'glllar ho:;l'ilal or otht'r employment.
Other Welfare Proloch
Othel' welfare projects i11clmled shoe-repairing work,
mntron service for schools, the cleaning and renon1ting oC
buildings, to~·-lemling librm·ies, nnd legal 11id projects.
Through th e latter, free legal ach-ice was givt>n by luwrt•rs
to l'elief clients and to other persons who could 1101 afford
to pay for such s1.• n·i!'1•s; ndviC(' wns gh·cn 011 :it 1admie11t
:ind garni,,.luuent, the rights of landlord nnd tt>nant, civil
rights, and othel' !(•gal mntters exclusive of trinl work.
Organization of the Divison
of Service Proiects
Service projects of all kinds wel'e brough·t together in
one 1Hlmi11i!-'I rath-e division in 1H39. Previously these
prnJt•ets had been administered in se,\·eral separate divisions. D11rl11g the first O months of the WPA program,
tht>re wns n Division of Women's Actlvltl t>s (sewing and
other goods projects aud health and welfnre projects) ; a
Division of Projects and Planning ( music, 11rt, writing.
theater, historical records, research, stetlstlc11l, survey,
nnd public r('cords projects) ; 11 Division of Education
Projects ; nml n Division of Recreation Projects. These
cnme to ht> nd1uinistPred together in the Stutes before belni:
united i11 tf1t' eentrni nt.lmi11istr11tio11. During 1936 a Division of Wn111p11's nml Professional Proj1'<·ls wns set up in
the Sta ti's ti> atl111l11iste1· all senic(' prnjects; 11 division
with 1hl' sa me narnt' wns set up in tlJP central administrut ion in Ja1111nry U):J7, but ed11catio11, recrention, and rescn r<'lt untl snl'vey projects remained outside its ndminlstruth·e j11risdietion until F ebruary 1939. In 1941 the
Di\·lslon was renamed the Division of Community Service
Pwgra111s, 111111 i11 1942 it wns renarued the Division of
Ser'l'lce Projec·1s.
The names allfi arrungements of the programs and S('C·
tinns into which the service projects were grouped for
11d111ini,;tr11tlt111 werP ch1111g<'tl from time to time. The account which is gh•p11 here of the adminlstrntive form of
the Dh·i sio u follows, In J)art, the schematic 01·der used
ah,we in prnjt>et l1Psl'ri11tion; this order Is based upon ad111i11i s trutin, lllT!tni(Plllf'll1S in pffed for ll ('IIUSidernbll'
period.
In the rent l'lll 11dministrntio11, the direct.or of the Dh·ision of Ser\'ice Projects, who wus also au assistant com ·
111issio11Pr, wnF- gerwrnlly rPS~•onsible for the work of the
Vi\'isifln . This prn;ition was nlwa~·s held hJ· a woma11.
The dirl'dor had an ad111i11istrntive assistant, who 111111dlf'(i ma1tPrs p,•rtainiug to tt':ffPI, stnti,,.tk:,;, spt•cial rl'·
ports, n11d corn•spcmdPnce a11d flies. ThPn' wns a proj1-ct
re ,·iew section whieh passed upon aJJplicntious for ,;erviee
1nojects nnd a procedures section which assisted in the
for111ulatio11 und bsuauce of the procedures goveruing the
setting ur, und 01wratio11 of servicf' 1irojects. 'l'here were
three s ubdivis ions chargl'd rl'8JJPet i1·ely with central ad111i11istrnti\'e guida11ce of public activities projects, reSf'arcli uud l't'l'ords 1m,jt'l't:<. and welfare lll'Ojt'<·ts; each
of tlwse snh1livi:;io11s co11111ri:;t'd "'edio11s <levntecl to particulnr typt•s of ncfivi1it',.., 118 previously out.lined in this
st>Ction. The directors of these three subdivi::;ions or progrn111s hall lt)<.·hnieal 8UJtt•n·isio11 ove1· 11w th1·1'(' t~'J)l's of
prujt.>cls in operutio11 in the States. a11d they ruaintained
eon tact with projn·t opernt ious t !trough corres1)011dem·e
with the rl'gional offices, through vis its of merubers of
their stuffs to the field, and through reports from regional
supervisors.
in E>ad1 rP1,:.ional offke of the \VP.\ , there wns u chief
rei;io11nl supPniso1· of st!rvice projt'(_·ts who was responsible
to the WPA r<'gio11al director. U11clel' each of these chief
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'l'HE SAFETY PROGRAM
regional supervisors of service projects were tb1·ee r1>gional
~111ien·isors, who had technical authority over the conduct,
in the States, ot the thr1>e programs or subdivisions of
S{'n·ic:e projects.
The central administration was also related to the fiehl
through thi: director ot service projects, who, as nssistant
l~Hnmissioner in charge of service 1irojects, represented the
Commissioner of Wqrk Projects and dealt directly with the
State administrators.
In each State, there was a Division ot Sen·icc Projects
under a State director who was responsible to the State administrator. The Division in each State contained a project planning and service section and three sections devoted
to the three broad p1•ograms of service projects. The same
general pattern was usually repeated in the district offices.
The inost important <;hange in these administrative arrangements occurred In the central administration early in
H~l. At this timP, the review section was abolished, nnd
Its functions were distributed among the three subdivisions
concerned respectively with public activities, rescnreh and
records, and welfare projects. This action was taken in
order to give the tlu·ee program directors immediate control of the review of appllcntions fC:-1· their respeetive tY11Ps
of projects.
The central administration, at nil times, exerci,;ed a
large control over project operations in the field with
respect to the achievement and maintPnnnce of technicnl
~tan!lar<ls. Administrative authority was in other r<'s1iects
dl-centralized, and responsibility rested upon the Stute ndministrators under whose authority the State directors of
Hervice projects planned and aclminlstered the State programs. These programs varied considerably from State to
State and from community to community. In some States,
c·ertain types ot projects WPre widely operated, others were
ne¥er fully developed, and some were never unclertaken.
These dUfereuces in loc4I service programs were due
chiefly to the various kinds of workers who were unemployed and in need in the different localities; but they also
varied In accordance with the extent to which public services were organized an!I public needs were recognized in
the different localities. It was easie1· to build upon foundations already existing; but the Division was able to introduce new kinds of community services Into many localities
and to demonstrate their usefulness in practice.
In its operations, the Division owed much to publicspirited officials and private citizens who were interested
not only in p1·oviding work for the needy unemployed but
also in securing certain !lefinite community benefits through
the work of the projects of vurious kinds. An important
part of the admiuistrative activity of the Division in the
field consisted In the establishment and maintenance of
fully cooperutirn relations, both in work and in planning,
with the local sponsors and with cooperating civic groups.
F'rom the local point of view, these service projects when
sucee"sfully operutt>cl were their projP<·ts; 1111!1 if world
m·ents had permitted a normal develo}Jllll'llt of community
interest, it appears probable thnt many of the l!erdce activities of the WPA would have become regular community
services. 'I'lmt wus the end toward which they were
administered; and, though that go11I wns very seldom actually reached, It was established in many communities a;; a
practicable prospeC't for futnrP a<'hievemPut.•
• l<'inal revorts of the a(hninlHtrutl\"e operation aud accompllshmeuts of the child care, feeding, clothing, health, library, educ-ntlon, workers' servic(', research nnd rt>curtl8, music, and urt
projects have been deposl!Pd with the Library of Congress awl
the Federal Works Agency llbrnn· ; the report concerning library
projects ha• also bf'rll deposited with the American Library Asso•
<"iution, and that c·onc(~rnin~ music projects, with the EnMtmau
School of Musi<', Dartmouth C'olh•ge. nnd the Notional Ar,·hiveM.
THE SAFETY PROGRAM
TIIE WPA
safety program was basPtl upon experience
gained in the applieation of snfPly nwasurps in the Civil
Works Administration program nnd the Federal EmergPncy Relief Administrnt l,m work relief program. That
t•arlier experien<'e must first he shown as the biwkgronncl
of later efforts.
Safety Measures in the CWA Program
Work rellef, first orgnnized in a diversified manner and
on an extremely large Sl"ale nuder the CWA in the fall
of 1933, was entirely unprecedented as a field for safety
r-trorts. Immediate action hatl bec>n requirPd for the relief
of unemployment, nn<I the C\VA qukkly assigned 4 mill!on workers to thousands of work projects throughout the
l'.nited States. The proJPets werf> for the most part c-011•tru<'tion uncl im·oln'<I tlw us(• of many hand tool,;. Be-
cause of hasty planning and organization, mnny of the
foremen employed 011 the early jobs were inexperienced or
were assigned to work with which they were unfamiliar.
The CWA at flr:<t rPlil•tl on the appli1·11tin11 of State aml
local snfPty laws and rt'gulations for thP 11r11t~tio11 of the
workPrs fro111 :u·elth•ntH. It soon bn·a1111• p1·idPnt tl1at sueh
local controls 1·011111 not be dPl)('ll<h•d 11J1011, for 125 workers
were fatnlly i11jured in the first month of the progrnm, and
this number was far too grent.
In addition to the normal hazards involve,! in the great
variety of operations c-omlucted, the lnck of recent work
experience nnd the poor physic-al condition ot many of the
project workers created a special need for strong safety
c-ontrol. Long periods of unemplorment had served to dull
safe work habits and to reduce skills to a point where a
eertn in amount of retraining w1ts nel'Pssn ry to flt C\V A
workers for their assignmP11ts. l\ -1my of the rme111ployed
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were or middle age, and many were weakened by prolonged
umlernourishment. It wus not possible to de,·elop projects suitable tor every type of skill, nud many workers
were assigned to k inds of work which they had never before performed.
Moreover, most municipalities during tbe depression had
reduced to n miuimum the personnel employed in Inspection and othe r safety services. Some of the equipment secured for project work wns not In good condition; many
enrly proji>cts locked ade<1unte medmnicnl equipment, lnclutllng sometimes even a sufflc-lency of hnnd tools flt for
use. If accidents were to be prevented, it was necessary
that supervisors be fully informed regarding the ellmina•
tlon of hazards, and that all reasonable precautions be
taken to see that no worker was assigned to a task which
was beyond his ability to perform without Injury to himself or to others.
It devoh·ed upon the Federal Go,ernment, therefore, to
provide a work ern-lronment In which those who found It
necessary to ask for public employment would not be exposed unnecessarily to accident or health hazards while
performing their jobs. This obligation to safeguard the
wage earner against the hnznrds of his employment had
already been widely accepted by industrial management In
the United Stiites.
The experience of prirnt.e Industry had demonstrated
that safety was synonymous with efficiency. Few accl•
dents occurred when operations were conducted In accordance with sound engineering prln<:lples and when supervisors and wo1·kmen were trained to ohserve safe practices
In nil phases of work. Satisfactory performance could
not be expected If workers were constantly and needlessly
exposed to accident or health hazards, nor could management (private or public) be rellc¥ed of responsiblllty when
such conditions were allowed to exist.
In December 1933, prompted by these consiclerutlons, the
Civil Works Administrator ohtnined from the National
Safety Council, on a loan hasls. the ser,·ices of a proml·
nen t safety director, and hnmcdintely lss ned n bulletin to
all State administrators stressing the Importance of safety
activities and recommemling the organization of a safety
program with a sufety director nm! the necessary number
of Inspectors In each State to promote greater interest In
the pre,cntion of accidents, Person nel trained In industrial and insurance safety methods and experts from the
ranks of ,nrlous snfety organizations and public safety
bureaus were called into scn·ice to estahlish a Nation-wide
accident preventio11 1wo~ram 111 the shortest possible time.
Most of thPse safety e11gincers were lent to the Governm<'nt without cost or with part of their sularies paid by the
companies from which they were obtnined. During this
formative period as~istance was sought from and was
will i11giy giren by such agencies ns the United Stntes Burenn of l\lines, the Nntional Bureau of Stnnclnrds, the
United Stntes Public Henlth Ser. ice, and ,arious State
(lppartme11ts of hl'nlth and imlu!.trinl safety. In spite of
vnrions diffieullif's. pro,·isional snfi>ty organizations were
operating in nearly nil States by the middle of January
1!13-1, aml 2 weeks later the program was functioning
throughout the country.
Another reason tor promoting organized safety effort in·
the work relief program was the fact that the costs of accidents were to be paid from funds appropriated to relleT'e
unemployment. Provisions of the various emergency relief
appropriation acts extended disability and death compensation benefits under the act of February 15, 1934, as
amended, to all persons recel,lng security \\'ages who
sustained traumatic Injuries as the result of accidents
while In the performance of duty on work projects.
Amounts certified by the United Sqi.tes Employees' Compensation Commission were set aside out of each appropriation to cover these payments. It was a matter of
economy, therefore, to promote safety, and to apply all
practicable measures for . the pre,·ention of accidents, In
order that the funds Intended for work relief wages might
be conserved.
The safety organization adopted by the CWA. Included a
nutional director of safety on the central administrative
staff In Washington, a director of safety In euch State, a
safety Inspector In each district, and job safety Inspectors
011 nil large or hazardous projects that required full-tlme
safety Inspection. Bulletins and Instructions on safe practices were issued for th\ guidance of supervisors and foremen, and representatives of the safety division made frequent Inspections of all projects to Insure compliance with
applicable regulations. Protective equipment was provided tor workers engaged In hazardous tasks, first-aid
training courses were conducted through the cooperation
of the American Red Cross, and adequate first-aid facilities
were maintained on 1111 jobs for the care of the Injured. An
educational campaign was conducted In each State to promote Interest In safety, and workers were encouraged to
cooperate In correcting conditions that were producing
accidents on projects.
As a result of these measures, the CWA. ended Its operations In April 1934, with cumulative fatal and disabling
Injury frequency rates much lower than those for the first
month of the program. From November 1933 through
March 1934, there were 375 fatal injuries and 48,000 disabling injuries, with a frequency rate of 0.31 and 40.25,
respectively, In more than 1 billion man-hours worked.
Safety ~easures In the FERA Program
As the CWA program drew to a close In April 1934, work
relief projects were carried forward by the work divisions
of the State emergency relief administrations. Safety efforts were continued and to some degree expanded under
the FERA, though under certain difficulties. The Civil
Works program had been federally operated, and It had
been possible to exercise considerable Federal control over
the safety organizations of the 48 State Civil Works Admtnistrntions. The work relief program of the FERA,
which followed, howe.er, was not n Federal program. Federal funds were made nrnlloble to the States, and each
State conducted Its own operations-subject, however, to
general Federal supervision. State safety directors bad to
be approved by the FERA, and bulletins relath·e to the
prevention of accidents were Issued from Washington.
But workers Injured on State FERA projects were not
entitled to Federal compensation benefits; and It was all
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THE SAFETY PROGRAM
the more imperative that a sound safety program be conducted In each State.
The CWA program had served as a training school IJl
developing many persons who later, with the benefit of
knowledge gained in subsequent work relief programs, became outstanding in the safety field. The safety organization that had been developed by the CW A was therefore
kept almost intact. Workers had become· more accustomed to their work relief jobs, and considerable progress
was made in training supervisors and foremen to foresee
and eliminate hazards before accidents could occur. Under these conditions it was expected that the frequency
of Injuries would more nearly correspond to the rates
experienced by private Industry.
The progress of accident prevention was retarded, howe,er, by the special conditions of the FERA program, .
which required staggered hours of work to meet the relief
budget allowances for each famlly. For example, a laborer with the same number of dependents as a bricklayer might be allotted the same budgetary deficiency, but,
because of the difference in wage rates, the laborer would
be obliged to work about twice as many hours as the bricklayer to earn as much money. A skilled worker with few
dependents would be permitted to work only a email number of hours. Thus three or four different men would
often be required to fill one job during a month of operations. Not only did this make personal safety instruction more complicated, but it was difficult to supervise
and maintain the Interest of workers who had not been
able to keep in touch with all phases of the job. The accident frequency rates were only slightly lower than they
had been in the CW A period. For the period April 1934
through June 1935 the frequency rate for fatal injuries
was 0.25, or 266 fatal injuries for more than one billion
hours worked. Disabling injuries In this period totaled
43,320 with a frequency rate of 40.00.
The WPA Safety Program
It was clear that safety would have to be more closely
related to operating functions if safety records were to be
greatly improved. When work projects, as set up under
the WPA, again came under the direct control of Federal
authorities in 1935, the status of the safety organization
and the techniques of the safety program were critically
examined with a view to developing more effective methods of accident control.
Executive Order No. 7046, prescribing rules and regulations relating to wages, hours of work, and conditions
of employment under the ERA Act of 1035, provided in
part as follows:
(a) No person under the age of sixteen (16) years, and
no one whose age or physical condition Is such as to make
his employment dangerous to his health or safety, or to
the health and safety of others may be employed on any
work project. This paragraph shall not be construed to
operate against the employment of physically handicapped
persons, otherwise employable, where such persons may
be safely assigned to work which they can ably per-
form. • • •
(f) All works projects slrnll be conducted in accordance
with safe working conditions, and every effort shall be
made for the prevention of accidents.
This clear statement of pollcy, emphasizing the importance of safety as a function of supervision, served to
strengthen all accident prevention activities, and full admlnlstrati,·e support was thus enlisted In an intensive
campaign to reduce the costly toll of accidents in the new
work program.
The WPA safety organization differed in many respects
from its predecessors in the CW A and FERA programs.
Instead of being a separate administrative division, it was
placed within a division which bad related functions. At
the beginning of the program it was placed in the Division
of Labor Management, but later in 1935 it was transferred and established as a staft section of the Division of
Engineering and Construction in Washington and in the
states.
The Safety Section in the central administration included one principal safety engineer who acted as the
director of safety and as a technical adviser to the chief
engineer, one senior safety engineer who acted as the
assistant director of safety, one associate statistician, and
such clerical personnel as was required to process the
large volume of reports received from the field. Four
field safety representatives on the central administrative
staff' were assigned to coordinate accident prevention
activities of the various State Work Projects Administrations and to assist the chief regional engineers in
promoting safety. The need tor this field statr was
determined largely by the volume of project employment,
and its services were discontinued in 1940.
The Safety Section of the Division of Engineering and
Construction in each State was headed by a State safety
consultant, who served In the capacity of a technical
assistant to the director of that Division and as a technical
adviser to the State administrator and other officers of
the State administration on all matters pertaining to
safety. Safety representatives In each State Safety
Section had the duty of coordinating and promoting
accident prevention activities in all districts; 'and fulltime safety Inspectors were assigned to large or hazardous
projects as before. All supervisory employees were held
strictly responsible for the safe conduct of work under
their supervision, and engineers included safety in their
regular reports of inspection. Under this plan of organization, the safety function was performed as an integral
part of operations and on the same line of authority.
Regulations relating to safe practices were established
for all types of projects, and compliance with these standards was mandatory. In the preparation of safety
Instructions, the Safety Section utilized the results of
past experience as contained in codes complied by recognized authorities In the accident prevention field. The
task, however, was not entirely the easy one of borrowing,
for It was often necessary to draft entirely new instructions to meet conditions unknown In prirnte industry and
consequently not provided for in existing codes. Special
precautionary measures were necessary for city workers
assigned to projects requiring them to work and live in
rugged mountain or other remote areas; for workers
handling highly combustible and explosive chemicals to
eradicate noxious weeds; for those using arsenic solutions
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FINAL REPORT ON 1.'HE WPA PROGRAM
on grasshopper or Mormon cricket control projects ; and
tor many other unusual types of activities.
Specifications tor protective equipment; proper methods
of handling materials; care and operation of trucks;
shoring and bracing of excavations; operation of quarries
and pits; explosives and blasting; tree trimming and
felllng; steel and concrete erection; building demolition;
use of hoists and derricks ; safe loads for ropes and
chains; steam boilers and mechanical equipment; scaffolds, platforms, and ladders; fire protection: and the
proper use of hand tools-these are only a few of the
subjects covered by safe practice rules developed tor the
protection of workers on WPA construction projects.
Similar instructions were Issued In connection with sewing
projects, canning projects, vocational training shops, and
welfare and recreational activities conducted by other
divisions of the central administration. No conflict was
experienced when State or municipal laws differed somewhat from Federal safety provisions, as the more detailed
and comprehensive provision was always followed.
Project proposals were reviewed for safety and health
provisions in the States before they were approved, and
sponsors were fully informed regarding safety requirements. In some instances, WPA projects were conducted
under the direct supervision of superintendents employed
by the sponsors, who were in no way relieved of responsibility for maintaining safe working conditions and for
preventing accidents and Injuries to workers. Safety
appliances and protective equipment, such as goggles,
dust reRplrators, gas masks, life belts and lines, safety
hats, toe and shin guards, and many other devices, were
provided and used wherever necessary to safeguard
workers. The use of such equipment not only reduced
the number of acclc:lents, but mac:le possible an Increased
production per man-hour of work.
Regulations required that all operating projects be inspected frequently by qualified personnel, and that Immediate steps be taken to correct c:langerous conditions and
unsafe practices which might result in Injuries to workers.
All trucks and mechanical equipment used on projects were
periodically Inspected to Insure their safe operntlon. From
early in 1938, safety and mechanical Inspections of all
trucks and mechanical equipment were performed by equipment inspectors of the general service unit of the Supply
Section. Bullc:lings occupied by WPA employees, or used
by them In connection with project activities, were inspected for accident and health hazards before WPA occupancy and monthly thereafter. Particular attention
was given in these building inspectrons to such features as
11llow11ble floor loads, 1llumi11ation 111111 ventilation. 1-:mitary toilet facllities, numhPr and local ion of exits, and fire
protection. Regular fire drills were co11ducted in all sewing rooms 1111d other Indoor projects, in order to insure
the snfe evncuntion of buildings In case of emergency.
Fire pre,·ention called for continuous and elaborate
efforts. Mnny of the bulc:lings used as WPA workrooms
01111 offices had not been designed for such use!'!, and sponsors were often unahle or unwilling to mnke 1mch 111terntions or repairs as woultl afford pro~r protection. In the
early dnys of the WPA the Jack of adeq1111te fire exits
( 8\ well as of ac:lequate snnitary facilities and lighting)
m some workrooms was a serious problem; Inter the
Inspection of such buildings was rigidly enforced, and in
all leases there was a clause assuring conformity to safety
J;t!quh"ements.
Another safety effort that was carried on under mau~·
difficulties was that of insuring proper water supplies. On
isolated projects there was a tendency to get water from
the nearest rather than the snfest source; and people accustomed to drinking water taken from rivers, irrigation
ditches, and surface wells or untested wells, had to be educated In modern precautions. The need for using sanitary
containers in transporting and storing water was more generally understood, and large milk cans or barrels were used.
The most difficult part of the whole process was in persuading workers to use individual drinking cups instead
of a common dipper 01· tin cup. A dust-proof sanitary
w11te1· container was developed which also served as a
portable drinking fountain, and its use on projects was
promoted with some success.
Every accident occurring on II WPA projt-'(•(, or i111·olvi11g
WPA employees during worki11g hours or while en route
to or from work, was reported by the project foremuu,
reg111·dless of .whether or not anyone was injure<l or of
the nature or severity of the injuries sustained.
When it wns dete1·mined by experience that an immediate
nnaylsis of all 11ccidents, including thosP. resulting only in
first-aid and no-lost-time injuries, was valuable in accident prevention wm·k, an entirely new recorc:ling system
was developed, which was known as the Safety Inspection
and Accident Co11trol Record. Visible index record cards
covering a fiscal yenr were set up in a flexible ledger for
every project, and tl1ro11gh the use of a code system, color
scheme, and colored tabs, current information on the
causes of accidents by project, types of work nnd location, and foreman In charge of work was always available. A space wns provided to indicate the dates during
the )·ear on whkh projects were Inspected by safety
representatives 11nd any recommendations mnde for the
correction of urnmfe conditio11s. Colored tabs revealed
the projel'ts needing attention. This assisted both operating and safety person11el to plan Inspection itineraries.
All accident reports were analyzed and classified, and
tabulated data ou accident causes with recommendations
for their eliminntion were submitted promptly to responsi!Jle authorities In charge of the work. A complete
i11\'estig11tion of each serious accident was conducted by
the local accident control board, in order to determine the
cause of the accl•lent and the correctil'e measures requirPd
to prevent a 1·ecurrence. These investigations revealed
many u1111s1wl hazards and the recommendntions of the
accic:lent control boards were fully utilized in developing
new metho<ls of aecidf>nt control. In adltlon to this ace!•
dent lnformntion, monthly reports of project inspections
nnrl of other nctil'ities of the State Safety Sections were
forwarded to the central administrntlon for review to
determine the adequacy of snfety personnel and program
facilities.
There were many troublesome problems outside the
sphere of ordinary occupational accidents with which the
safety program hnd . to be concerned. Owing to the
amount of work done in brush and undergrowth, there was
always considerable exposure to poisonous vegetation.
During the CWA program,G D}any workers had suffered
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THE SAFETY PROGRAM
in!t>etions from this source; under the FERA, the Influence
.,f the hazard had been gradually reducPd ; and, in the
program, only a very small percentage of all injuries
In some areas thnt
were badly Infested, the danger was entirely eliminated
hy spraying the growth with Diesel oil or saline solution
ahead of the working crews.
Bites by venomous snakes and poisonous insects repre~~nted another hazard. A few of the items Indicating the
extent to which measures had to be adopted to guard the
health of project workers are protection against frostbite,
S1JI1Stroke, and heat exhaustion ; protection for i;nen working in water; watchfulness against <011tagious diseases;
pro\"ision of pure drinking water and sanitary toilet facilities; mosquito control; and rPgulations governing the
•Jperation of work camps. The udvice an<I assistance of
State and local hPalth nuthorities were fully utilized in
rhe promotion of health 111ul snnitution mPnsurPs thro11~huut the program.
Constnnt attention was ;.:iven to the protection of workl•r-s who we1·e handicapped by some physical disabllity 01·
disease. In addition to the care exercised by placement
officers of the Division of Employment, all WPA foremen
were instructed to watch their workers closely and to
assign workers only to tasks that were suited to their age
and physical condition. Supervisors also were required to
refer back to the assignment oflice any worker who was
obYiously physically unfit for the project to which he was
as.signed. (Seep. 17.)
A. serious problem arose in connection with accidents
that occurred while workers were en route to or from
projects. The United States Employees' Compensation
Commission, in Special Bulletin W. P. No. 24, dated July
13, 1007, ruled that all persons receiving security wages
would be considered in the perforrrnmce of duty whilP
.:,,ing to or returning from the place of employment nnt!
would be entitled to cornpPnsation benefits. Thereafter, 110
•ti~tinction was made by the Commission between an inJllry sustained on a project during working hours and an
injury sustained while following the most direct route to
or from .work. This ruling of the Compensation Commission greatly increased the normal compensation costs to the
Federal Government by extending benefits in the case of
workers who were killed or injuret! as the rP,mlt of exposure to ot1'-project hazards over which the WPA could
exercise little if any control. E,·ery effort wus made to
reduce this dung-er by requiri11g spousors to furnish atleqnate and safe tr1111sport11tlon for workers ussig-necl to
remote projects where commo11 carrier facilities at reaso1111ble fares were not available, 1111<1 i11 1111111y i11stnnees such
transportation was provided by the WPA and d1argPd to
the eost of projects. Reg11r1l11•;;s of tlw;,:e precautiou;,:,
more tlian 1,000 workers were killed in accidents which
occurred while they were en route to or from tlleir work
locations, and this experience accounted for a large percentage of all death claims approved by the Commission
during the WPA program.
Among the difliculties encountered in the attempt to proYide safe transportation for workers was the laxity in the
lO<?al enforcement of motor-vehicle Jaws. WPA safety
••l'forts, however, effPcted i11 the 1011g run a 1wrm11m•11t
change in the attitude of many sponsors and local officials
WPA
was attributable to such exposure.
0
who had previously been unwilling to cooperate in the
Pnforcement of transportation safety regulations .
Work camps presented some special safety problems.
•rhese camps were administered well or badly in accordance with the degree to which their particular administrative staffs understood the needs and hazards of such
camps; thus, while some camps were substandard, many
others could be described as ideal. The smaller camps
were more dlfflcult to operate than the larger ones. In
well-administered camps, the persons selected for employment were given a physical examination to determine
whether they were free frpm communicable disease and
able to endure the rigors of camp life. In order to
prevent needless travel, the examinations were conducted
near the worker's place of residence. Approved transportation wns furnished; strict health and sanitary measures were adopted; and agreements were negot.iated with
State and local welfare organizations to handle emergency cases of illness. Docto1·s paid by the sponsor or the
Federal Government mude regular visits to the camp inflnuary to treat minor Illnesses. Laundry facilitieR,
sl:wwer baths, and recreation were provided for the workers. 'l'he camp superintendent, under the direction of the
project superintendent, was responsible for establishing
rules for the operation of the camps.
Work done for the WPA by private contractors um.let·
rental contraets on a productlpn basis, though never widespread, amounted in some States to a considerable pa1-t of
the program; and the WPA's safety regulations were mude
applicable to all such contract work. Safety bulletin!'
relative to the kinds of work being done were supplied
to the l'ontructor, and regular safety inspections were
mad.- of contru('t operationi<. The inspections showed the
need for these services. Contractors were at first indlne<I to resent these efforts; but they gr11rlually acceptl'rl
:ind thPn wPl<'omed WPA safety work .
The WPA safety program reached all projeetR and aclivities by means of an intensive and continuous educational campaign which was intended to stimulate interest
in accident prevention at each level of supervision and
among the project workers themselves. Conferences and
meetings were held to Instruct supervisors and foremen
in safe methods and safety procedures, and workers were
taught safe practices by their f.oremen on the jobs. Appropriate safety posters were prepared and distributed for
display 011 all work proje<"ts, and a Nation-wide safety
l"Ontest was conducted to stimulate and measure lmprove111ents In accident trends.
Immediate first-aid care of injured workers is essential
to any safety program. Such care prevents minor wounds
from developing into serious cases and reduces the compemmtion costs. In order to qualify WPA foremen and
workers for this service, a first-aid tmining program was
conducted in each State. It ls estimated that with the
help of the American Red Cross and the United States
Bureau of l\Unes, more than half a million project employees had been taught the prineiples and methods of
proper first-aid since the beginning of work activities In
1933.
The results of these accident prevention activities are
reflected in the injury experience of the WPA. From the
b!'ginning of the WPA in the summer of 1035, throwi:h
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
December 31, 1942, an average of approximately 2 million
persons worked nearly 19 billlon man-hours on more than
300,000 projects throughout the United States. During
this period, accident fatalities occurred on projects at the
rate of one death to 9 mllllon man-hours of exposure, and
the frequency rate of injuries causing dlsablllty of one
day or more was less than 20 per million man-hours
worked.
Since a large percentage of the man-hour exposure In the
WPA program was accumulated on engineering and construction projects, It is reasonable to compare WPA Injury
experience with that of the private construction industry.
However, it ls recognized that many private construction
operations are subject to some hazards not experienced
on the usual WPA project. Production pressure on projects operated for profit Is likely to be higher than on work
relief projects. Moreover, some of the more hazardous
kinds of construction and more highly mechanized jobs
were not considered suitable for work rellef employment.
The cumulative disabling injury frequency rate on WPA
construction projects for the 3 years ending December 31,
1942, was 25.31 per million man-hours worked. The annual frequency rates of approved lost-time Injuries sustained by employers of a representative group of large
construction companies, as reported by the National Safety
Council, show a rate of 30.42 for 1936. In 1937 the rate
had dropped to 21.96 but increased in each of the followIng years and by 1940 had reached a point of 33.47. In
1941 It dropped to 27.11. These rates include both compensable and noncompensable injuries. that involve any
disabllity beyond the date of accident.
Two other important factors are to be considered when
comparing WPA injury experience with that of private
industry. Workers in industry are usually more carefully
selected, so as to relate their current employment to their
past work experience, and this tends to reduce accidents.
Moreover, private industry generally employs only fully
able-bodied workmen, who are less prone to accidents.
Many injuries were sustained on WPA projects which
might have been prevented had similar employment stand- ·
11rds been required. Yet, when appropriate allowances are
made, the accident record established by the WPA in all
types of construction work compares favorably with the
experience of private contractors and of other governmental agencies engaged in similar operations.
As might be expected, work relief safety statistics Indicate the great improvement In the accident prevention
work of the WPA as compared with that of the CWA.
On the earlier work program, with a hurriedly organized
safety program, there was one fatal Injury to each 3,200,000 man-hours of exposure, and disabling injuries occurred
at the rate of 40.25 per mllllon man-hours worked. Based
on this expectancy, over 3,800 lives were saved and more
than 350,000 disabling injuries were pre,·ented by the
additional training and safety measures initiated for the
protection of workers on WPA projects.
Largely as the result of effective safety work, the frequency of accidents was reduced in the first year of the
WPA program to a point which permitted the recession
of a huge portion of the funds made available to the
United States Employees' Compensation Commission for
anticipated costs of accidents. 'l'he total disbursements
made by the Commission through December 31, 1942, in
payment of claims arising from personnl injuries sustained by WPA workers on p1·ojects and while en route to
or from projects, amounted to less than '37,000,000.
This represents a cost of approximately 50 cents for each
$100 of WPA wage payments. 1
The WPA safety program has been the subject of much
favorable romment by the Nation·s press and by safety
authorities generally. The WPA held full membership
In the National Safety Council and was eommended by
that organization for its leadership in the accident prevention field.
In addition to the reduction of injury frequency rates,
any evaluation of the benefits derived from the WPA safety
program must take into account its effect on the morale
of the millions of workers to whom the measures adopted
for their protection represented tangible evidence of the
Government's interest in their health and well-being.
Through the drh·e that was made to prevent accidents on
projects, these workers became safety-minded in the truest
sense of the word. As they took their places In private
industry, they carried with tl1em a k11owledge of safe
practices and an acceptance of person11l responsibility
which has contributed helpfully to the Nation's war effort.
The vast amount of experienee in the application of
safety measures gained during nearly 10 years in the
operation of successive work relief programs-each Involving many different kinds of work and employing millions of workers-wlll no doubt be of value in any future
public works programs, should the necessity for such pro-grams arise.
1 Additional statistics on the WPA safety program are available
In the F,nal Report of the Division of Engineering and Oondrvotion (mimeographed), No. 118077),
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SUPPLY METHODS AND
PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION
President Issued Executive Order No. 7034,
W datedthe.May
6, 1935, in which he established the WPA,
HEN
he also placed the responsibility for the purchase ot all
materials, supplies, and equipment tor the entire Works
Program, Including the WPA, In the Procurement Dlvil'lon
of the Treasury Department. This arrangement went into
effect at the beginning of the WPA operations and was
continued throughout the existence of the program.
Materials, supplies, and equipment of many kinds were
required in the operation of WPA projects. Most of the
materials and equipment needed were furnished by the
sponsors of projects as part of the contribution which they
were required to make to project costs. WP.A. funds, however, were used to cover a part of the nonlabor costs of
projects, including the purchase of materials and supplies
and the rental or purchase of equipment.
Through
October 31, 1042, a total of $3,439,312,000 was spent for
nonlabor purposes from WPA II nd sponsors' funds for
projects operated by the WPA. About 67 percent, or
$2,311,856,000, was from sponsors' funds, and 33 percent, or
$1,127,456,000, was from WPA funds. (See appendix
table IX.) The WPA did not furnish any equipment that
the sponsor was able to furnish; and the WPA purchased
heavy equipment only when It could not be rPnted on
satisfactory terms.
Although the actual purchasing or rental of mnterials,
supplies, and equipment was handled for the WP.A. by the
Procurement Division of the Treasury Department, the
WPA was responsible for deciding what property should
be purchased or rented, for preparing specifications and
requisitions for such property, and for Its custody, warehousing, trans(er, and disposition. At the beginning. of
the program it was necessary for the WPA to develop
various methods for the administration of these functions.
A centralized supply section was established under the
authority of legislative provisions Included ln the EmPrgency Relief Appropriation Act of 1937.
In conducting the l"ast construetion program on a forceaccount basis, It was desirable to have a revolving fund for
the centralized purchase and distribution of materials.
supplies, and equipment. The President, in Executive
Or<ln No. 7151, dated August 21, 1035, had established
such a revolving fund, through an allotmPnt to the Secretary of the Treasury from appropriations under the ERA
Act of 1935. The accounting arrangements proposed by
the Treasury were, however, disapproved by the Comptroller General In a decision ( A-6.5773. OctohPr 4, 1935)
Which foun<l such accounting methods not in aecordnn<'e
With the Jaw. A mPthod of 11ecmmting whieh woulrl ha,·e
been possible under the Comptroller's decision was so
complicated that It would have hampered the actual use
of a revolving fund ; property owned by one project could
be made available for use by another project only by a
process of transfer with an exchange of funds which
involved a great amount of detailed bookkeeping. This
process was so cumbersome and expensive as to be
impracticable and It was not put into effect. The actual
use of revolving funds for this purpose by the WPA. was
delayed until the President, in the ERA A.ct of 1937, was
authorised to prescribe rules and regulations for the
establishment of these funds.
In the meantime, supplies and.equipment were acquired
as needed by individual projects through requisitions submitted directly to the Procurement Divis)on of the Treasury Department. The WPA also had at its disposal a large
amount of supplies and equipment left over from the work
reliPf operations of the FERA. In those Stutes ln which
the work rellef program of the FERA was federally administered, the property purchased for project operations
( and not incorporated Into projects) belonged, of course,
to the Federal Go,·ernment. Other property of the same
kind, such as trucks, tools, and other equipment, had been
purchased by the Federal Government for use in the CWA
program; this had subsequently been granted by the
FERA to the various State emergency relief administrations and therefore became State-owned property. Other
such property had been purchased by the various State
emergency rellef administrations with Federal funds
granted to them by the FERA, but its ownership was
Yested in the State governments. Thus in legal fact most
of this property belonged to the States. But, after the
work relief aetlvltles of the State emergeney rellef administrations were supplanted by the WPA program in 1935,
the States hnd no immediate use of their own for this property, and they turned it over to the WPA as part of the
State and local contribution for use in WPA projeet operations.
From the beginning of the WPA progrulll in 1935 until
the passage of the ERA Act of 1937, the WPA had no centralized method of acquiring tools, equipment, or supplil"S,
nor was centrallzed warehousing and repair of SU<'h property practicable under the limitations established by law
for administrative expenst>S. Individual projects requisitioned, received, stored, and rPpalred such property and
used what was mn<le available by the State work rellPf
organizations. Pending legisl11tion for the operation of
supply w11rehouses, there was set up a srstem of im·entory
control with respect to property ownPd hy the WPA
71
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FINAL I!EPOHT ON THE WPA PHOGHAM
through its individual projel.'tB. 'l'his system, lllodifled to
conform to later developments.in property acquisition and
use, b~urue a permanent feature of the WPA supply systl-'m. The problem of maintaining adequate Inventory controls In the WPA was exceedingly difficult. WPA expenditures 011 tools and materials were not only limited to a
certain proportion of project costs, but were limited to
funds made available In the current ftscal. year, so that
it was necessury to account for these expendltm·es by
fiscal years. Moreover, some kinds of property purchased
by the WPA (such as building materials) were Incorporated In projects which when completed became the property of the sponsors. Other kinds of property purchased
by the WPA (such as tools) wore out and become unfit for
further use. WPA records had to account for i.' :.td1 item
satisfactorily, show where it was and what part of the
organi.zatlon was responsible for Its custody or indicate
what had become of it. In order to relieve the orgnnization of further responsibility for lost or unserviceable
property, a survey procedure was established, based on that
used by the United States Anny; this Involved formal reporting of loss or damage of iten1s of \VPA property, and
final determination by a responsible admlniRtrath·e official
of questions of negligence and restitution.
In the absence of any centralized revolving fund for the
purchase, rental, warehousing, and distribution of property, the WPA organization In Southern California and
in other State administrations experimented with centralized warPhouslng and repair, utilizing the funds of
large State-wide projects for this purpose, an!I charging
other proJect8 for services rendered to them. This was
n modification of the "tool account" of the Corps of
Engineers of the War Department, which was found to
he more nearly suited to WPA requirements than any
romparable arrangements In other Federal agencies.
This arrangemPnt was the basis of the accounting method
set up In 1937 by the WPA in collaboration with the
Bureau of Accounts of the Treasury Department.
The ERA Act of 1037 authorized tbe President to establish special funds In the nature of revolvin_g funds for use
In the purchase, repair, distribution or rental of materials,
supplies, equipment, and tools. Regulations governing
operations under this revolving fund were developed in
ag1·eement with tbe Bureau of the Budget, the Bureau of
Accounts of the Treasury, and, where necessury, with the
Procurement Division of the Treasury. This came to be
known as tbe supply fund.
Through lnvl'ntory accounts In the supply fund, the WPA
was In a pos ition legally to receive, own, and handle
property turned over from the States or acquired from Its
own Individual projects. A special "donated property received" account was established for this purpose. Projects were reimbursed for the value of property transferred
to the supply fund Inventory, If It bad been originally purchased with funds of the current appropriation act. If
1iurchasecl with funds of a previous act, the property
was "donated" to the supply fun<l Inventory account.
Tbe supply fund was a Nation-wide account, but It was
hnnd!Pd through a system of State authorizations, an
arrani:ement consistent with local management of inventories by the Individual State administrations. All
property was owned in the national supply fund account.
which permitted the movement of property between State
administrations w~n necessitated by changing condition;.
of unemployment.
'l'he establishment of this legislative authorization and
the development of rules un!l regulations for the administration of supply functions resulted in putting Into general
use the tools, materials anrl equipment, warehouses, and
repair shops hitherto left unused after {he termination of
Individual projects. This prevented a duplicate purchase
or rental of property or equlpm1!nt where the same item
could be made to serve more than one Individual pr_oject.
A. supply section, which consisted of a general service
unit and a dir<>Ct service unit, was organized in each State
administration. The general service unit performed the
control functions of the supply section, which included the
preparation of requisitions and other documents; the
operation of warehouses and other depos itories for the
storage of property owned within the supply fund Inventory account; the maintenance of a centralized service
for transporting property to and from warebouseR and
projects; the maintenance of inventory re,.-ords and the
keeping of detailed accounts for the supply fund. The total
monthly general service expense was prorated to projects
In accordance with a group classification In which the
customary ui"e of the services was given a fixed rating
from O to 100 percent. The cost of performing these general supply services during the operation of the program
In all Stutes averagPd about 75 cents a month for each
worker employed on operating projects. The cost ot
these general supply RPrvicPS was lower per worker in
States with a large employment and higher In Stat('s with
n small employment, because a minimum of basic facilltles,
equipment, and personnel wns needed to operate warehousPs, rpgnrdless of scope.
All Implements or tools and construction nnd antomoth·e
equipment for general use of operutlng projPcts were owned
within the supply fund account. Thus they could be
movPd to nny location where needed and used on a "cost of
ownership" basis, without an exchange of funds for full
value, as would be necessary If the equipment ,.-as owned
by Individual operating projects and transferred where
needed. Reparate direct service actlvitleii were operated
uncler the Supply Se<-tion in each State administration,
one for the handling of Implements and the other for
equipment. The type of projects operated by the WP.\
required a stock of Implements or tools with a vnlue of approximately $fl per worker. The handling of these Implements was one of the largest actlvlUes of the Supply Section. It lnrnln•d maintaining a stock of tools In workable
condition, takln~ them hack and forth between warehouses
and projects, and keeping accurate records. The cost of
this direct service activity, inclucllng the cost of normnl
depreciation, repairs, Improvements, and replacement of
implements by purchose, was covered by a monthly charge
which averaged 10 cents a month for each worker employed.
Constn1ctlon and automotiYe equipment owned by thl'
Rupply fund account and maintained by the direct se"lce
account was made available to operating projects on a
rental basis. The rental rates charged were determined in
accordance with a stondardized "rPntnl rate formula,"
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79
SUPPLY METHODS AND PROPERTY ADMINIS'l'RATION
which Included depreciation, cost of repairs, and management overhead, with no profit. All equipment rental rates
were related to equipment without ,operators. The wages
of t>quipment ••perators were paid for by the project using
the equipment. The average annual cost of the maintenance of construction and automotive equipment was 15
percent of the capital Investment, anc.J the average cost
of supervlsl.on and overhead In hnn Hing such equipment
amounted to 2 percent of the capital investment.
A materials and supplies account was maintained sepurately under the Supply Section, and all materials and
supplies were made avnilnble to projects through direct
sales at cost price. Only basic commodities of general use
in the program were purchased nt the expense of the
supply fund account; most such purchases were made
directly against the accounts of Individual projects, the
materials being delivered by the venrlors directly to the
projt,ct. The State administrations used their own judgment In determining which of the latter methods should
he used in furnishing materials and supplies to operating
projects.
In each State administration, requests from project
superintendents and supervisors for materials or supplies
were judged as to their prop1·iety, checked ns to the avnila•
bllity of project funds for payment, and approved or disapproved by a designated administrative offlcinl of the
operating division. Approved requisitions were forwarded
to the general service unit .of the Supply Section, which
was then responsible for effecting the delivery of property.
The requisitions were first checked ngainst wurehom;e
stocks, and the Items nvnilable there were tmnsferred
and delivered to the projPct. Only it1>111s not nvailnble in
the warehouses of the Supply Section, or in surplus stocks
available on ,otller projects, were formally requisitioned for
purchase through the ProcurPment Division of tlle
Treasury.
In order to meet the demands of projects promptly, a
reasonable stock of property commonly In request was
maintainf'd in warehouses. These warehouse stocks were
acquired partly by purchase through the Procurement
Di'fision of the Treasury nnd partly by donation or pnrehase of property no lo11ger nee<IPd l)y projPcts. The
requirements of State-wide or other large projPcts for
basic commodities were made known in advance to the
Supply Section, and so far as was practicable these
items were requisitioned for purchase in bulk and were
ehargec:l to the operating units when deliveries were made.
!\lost requisitions for purchase, however, were charged to
the accounts of the projects making the requests, and the
materials were delivered directly to the projects.
An inspection unit was maintained within the Supply
Section of each State administration. This unit was responsible for the prompt inspection and acceptance or
rejection of all property acquired by purchase nnd the
prompt rendition of reports to the Procurement Division of
the Treasury Department on property accepted or rejected.
Project superintendents or supervisors executed receiving
reports, and when qualified, passed upon the quality of the
property for conformance with purchase contract specifications. Trained personnel of the Supply Section inspection unit performed this function when necessary.
Appropriate reports were made and forwarded promptly
to the Procurement Division of the Treasury, where
payment to the vendors wns made within the discount
dates. Payment was made only after such formal certification of inspection and acceptance. The WPA notified
the Procurement Division of the Treasury whenever
vendors repeatedly delivered materials that did not meet
specifications, and such vendors were excluded by the
Procurement Division from further bidding on Government business.
Until late In the program there was a dual control of
the operation of the supply fund, through a supply manager
In each State Division of Engineering and Construction
and a property accountant in each Stnte Division of
Finance. While this control provided checks and balances,
the difficulties of coordination of such a program led to
the establishment of a separate Division of Supply. The
experiences In operating the program proved that even
though the Procurement Division of the Treasury had
the responsibility for the purchasing and rental of materials, supplies, and equipment, the WPA had many responslbllltles which ultimately justified the establishment of
a separate administrative Division of Supply responsible
for the controlllng of all supply functions except the
actual purchasing or renting.
In the central administration, after a brief period of
dual control, a single Supply Section was established
under the direct supervision of the assistant eommlssloner
in charge of the Division of Engineering and Construction.
A field staff of traveling examiners operated between the
central administration, the regional offices, and the state
administrations. In August 1942 a separate Division of
Supply was established In the central administration
under a director who was responsible to the Deputy
Commissioner. The responsibilities of the Supply Section
in the central administration, and later of the Division of
Supply, were concerneu in general with the determination
of policies and regulations and the maintenance of a
central control of the expenditures for the purchase of
new construction equipment and machinery. The State .
administrations desiring to purchase construction machinery and equipment were required to submit requisitions to
the central administration with complete detailed justifications for the purchase of such equipment In lieu of the
normal procedure of renting equipment needed in the
operation of projects. Only the Commissioner of Work
Projects or his designated representatives (the chief
engineer and the director of the Division of Supply) were
empowered to decide that such equipment should be
purchased Instead of rented. The ERA Act of 1930 and
subsequent appropriation nets prohibited the purchase of
heavy construction equipment In any case ln which such
equipment could be rented nt prices found reasonable by
the Commissioner.
The Procurpnwnt Division of the Treasury in lts cooperative 11rr11ngf'ments with the WPA, established State
procurement offices having jurisdiction coterminous with
those of State WPA offices. On receipt of WPA requisitions, the procurement offices Issued invitations to bid,
received bids on specified dates, and awarded contracts
or purchnse orders to the lowest bidders. When the items
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAl{
requisitioned were dellvered, they were Inspected and accepted or rejected by WPA inspection officials, who certified acceptance or rejection on a procurement form; and
this form was used by the procurement offices as the basis
for issuing vouchers for payments to vendors. Thus the
WPA had no direct relationship with the vendors, except
in receiving the Items purchased or rented.
The awarding of purchase orders and contracts only
after advertisement for competitive bids resulted in many
delays In the acquirement of supplies and materials by
the WPA. 1 Purchase orders, moreover, were sometimes
Issued to low bidding vendors remote from project operations, and the long-distance transportation resulted in
further delays which were so costly to the WPA that they
wiped out any savings realized from lower prices In remote markets. It appeared that the system of supply
required revision In the Interests of efficiency and economy,
and plans were made for such a revision. However, the
WPA program was liquidated before these plans could
be put Into eff'ect. The new plan called for the transfer
of certain procurement activities to the WPA, and the
use of the services of the Procurement Division of the
Treasury whenever needed, especially for items requiring
centralized purchase In distant markets.
The Procurement Division of the Treasury was responsible also for the disposition of the surplus property of
the WPA, by allocation to other Federal agencies, or by
sale or destruction. The procedure was slow; the interval
of time between the formal declaration of WPA surpluses
to the Procurement Division of the Treasury and the ultimate disposition of the property was seldom less than
6 months and was frequently as long as a year. In
normal times these delays were of no great Importance,
except that they Involved heavy storage charges which had
to be paid by the WPA. Under war conditions, such delays
could not be justified. The WPA was In possession of
much surplus property that was greatly needed by other
Federal aglc'ncles for war work, and It developed a method
of disposal suited to these conditions. Surplus WPA property was turned over to the custody of the Army, the
Navy, and other Federal war agencies on the basis of
memorandum receipts, the property being subject to return to the WPA upon reasonable notice. The property
was then de<'lared surplus to the Procurement Division
of the Treasury, and this declaration was accompanied
by the signed memorandum receipts, together with a
request that the formal transfer of the property be authorized. Prior to November 16, 1942, the value of property which had been declared surplus by the WPA and
for which memorandum receipts were delivered to the
Procurement Division of the Treasury totaled $4,181,568.
More definite arrangements for the disposal of all Federal property were made In the fall of 1942. The Presi1
All ERA acts exempted purchases In the amount of Iese than
$:!00 from the statutory provision (sec. 8709 Revised Statutes, 41
U. S. C. 5) requiring that governmental purchases be made only
after Advertising for competitive hide. The Treasury, however,
advertised for competitive bids for purchases In even these exempted amounts, except In emergency cases.
dent's Executive Order No. 9235, dated August 81, 1942,
plaeed upon the Bureau of the Budget the responsibility
for the disposition of all Federal surplus property, and
upon the Procurement Division of the Treasury the responsibility for the warehousing, rehabilitation, and physical
distribution of such surplus property. The liquidation of
the WPA created a large surplus which the Procurement
Division of the Treasury was not prepared to handle. By
arrangement with the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Bureau of the Budget, WPA warehouses, custodial personnel, and supply funds, as well as WPA property, were
made available to the supervision of the Procurement Division of the Treasury until June 30, 1943, for the purpose
of liquidating WPA property.
Within 30 days after the scheduled closing dates for
projects in the States, all remaining WPA property had been declared surplus and was transferred, with necessary
custodial personnel, to the supervision of the Procurement
Dh·ision of the Treasury. On the basis of appraised
values, it is estimated that there will be deposited to wlscellaneous receipts of the Treasury approximately $19,180,000. This amount distributed by major categories
Includes: property (equipment and supplies) of engineering and construction projects, $8,847,000; property of
service and training projects, $6,058,000; and administrative property, $4,275,000. In addition to the amount mentioned above ($19,180,000), property valued at approximately '4,053,000 was transferred directly to the constituent administrations of the Federal Works Agency. This
amount will likewise be transferred to miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury.
A good deal of training of personnel from the administrative down to the project storekeeper l!c'vel was necessary before efficiency was attained in the administering of
WPA property. Property consciousnes~ had to b? Instilled
In the minds of all employees having Fedt>ral property In
their custody. Loose practices had to be overcome; and,
on the other hand, excessive paper work had to be avoided.
A system was developed by which all property wns economically handled and properly accountPd for; and in any
location, at any time, It was deflnit!ily known what property was owned by or was in the custody of the \VPA, and
where and in whose custody the property was. The current
value of the Inventory was always known and a matter of
record. Every item of WPA property bad been fully
accounted for when the WPA was liquidated.
Wide recognition throughout the Federal Government
was gained by the procedures used by the WPA In regulating the handling of property. the operation of its supply
fund account, the survey procedure fnr dealing with Jost
or damaged property, and its system of inventory controls and records. Some of the procedures were original
with the WPA and others were refinements of proeedures
used by other agPnciPS. Many Federal agenciPS took o,•er
these procedur,,s and methods as de,·eloped by the WPA
and used them for comparable purposes of their own.'
• A more comprehensive report on WP A supply methods and
property administration Is avallnble In the'llbrary of the Federal
Works Aeency In Washington, D. C.
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THE WORK OF THE DIVISION OF
INVESTIGATION
spring of 1938, arrangements were 1lrst
W made infortheFederal
grants to States to assist in a proHICN,
eram of relief and work relief, no special provision was
made for investlgatlng charges of fraud and other criminal irregularities in the expenditure of funds. During the
CWA period, however, and again in the following FERA
period, investigation of complaints was carried on by
small staffs of examiners, inspectors, or other officials of
the Federal, regional, or State organizations. At that
time, investigators from the l<'ederal Bureau of Investigation or the investigating unit of the Public Works Administration were called in to handle serious cases. When
misuse of relief funds was established by these investigations, there was some uncertainty as to whether or not
State courts had jurisdiction lo criminal cases relating
to funds granted by the Federal Government to the States.
In October 1934 a Division of Special Inquiry was set
up in the Washington office of the FERA. This was the
first step toward coordinating investigative activities under a centralized control. During the period of the FERA,
Federal relief funds were held to be State funds after they
bad been granted to the Governors. The Division of Special Inquiry investigated serious complaints through a
small group of investigators working out of Washington
and obtained Information which was brought to the attention of the State Governors or attorney generals. It was
sometimes difficu1t to secure any State action in regard to
the irregularities uncovered by investigation. The only
Federal power to secure enforcement of pr-0per standards
in the administration of funds granted by the FERA was
the power to withhold further relief grants, and in some
States it was necessary to set up a federally controlled
and operated program.
The Division of_ Special Inquiry of the FERA operated
for a little more than 6 months. Early in 1935, the
Division was carried over into the newly organized WPA,
where It was given duties of wider scope under the title of
the Division of Investigation. In the WPA program the
funds provided by the Federal Government remained under
Federal control, and there could be no doubt of the responsibility of the Federal Government for their proper
expenditure. In the Executive order establishing the
WPA, this agency was specifically empowered to "establish
and operate a division of progress Investigation, and to coordinate the pertinent work of existing investigative agencies of the Government, so as to Insure the honest execution of the work relief program."
Fundlons
The Division of Investigation was a central administrative unit B-Olely responsible for investigating complaints of
fraud and other criminal Irregularities In connection with
WPA activities; the WPA Issued 11 regulation prohibiting
the employees of the various State administrative offices
from conducting such investigations. The director of the
Division was responsible directly to the Commissioner of
Work Projects, and the field officials were responsible
to the director in the central administration.
The functions of the Division covered the investigation
of all complaints alleging fraud or loss to the Government
or violations of Federal statutes as they applied to the expenditure of Federal funds. More specifically, these functions included the handling of complaints alleging that
funds were being diverted to other than public benefit; that
false statements had been made In obtaining allocations or
benefits from Federal funds; that pay rolls for personal
services were being padded; that false compensation
·claims had been flied by WPA employees; that fraud
existed in competitive bidding on Government contracts;
. that vendors to the Government were not delivering goods
or materials in accordance with their e-0ntracts; that forgery had been committed in work assignments, time reports,
or other official documents; and complaints of extortion,
kick-backs, theft, embezzlement, bribery. and collection
of Illegal fees. The Division later investigated violations
of the Hatch Act (Public Law 252, 76th Cong., as amended)
and violations of sections of ERA acts relating to political
activities. It also investigated questions of fact arising
under ERA acts prohibiting the WPA from giving employment to aliens or members of certain groups designated as
subversive.
The Division also conducted, at the request of the Commissioner, special Investigations thnt were not confined to
matters of a criminal or fraudulent character. C-Omplainta
of matters involving questions of administrative policy
were, in general, handled by other departments, but the
fact-finding reports of the Investigating unit were often
helpful In determining WPA policy and procedure. For
example, as a result of cases Investigated by the Division,
new restrictions were placed In 1938 on WPA projects e-0ncerned with the extension or lmpro,·ement of streets and
utilities In relatively undevelol){'d urban areas. The WPA
became more strict In Its stnndards of eliglblllty for projects of this type In order to protect Its funds from misuse.
Investlgntlon of other complaints revealed that certain
vublic fflcilitles. after being constructed by WPA under
proper sponsorship, revertc-d to or were transferred to private organizations, in contravention of the original and
legally proper purpose of the projects. This was sometimes
done by subterfuge; private organizations would arrange
to have a municipality sponsor the erection of a building
and after its completion the building would be handed over
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l:<'INAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
by the municipality to the prlvate organization. These
facts were brought to the attention of the Congress by
the Commissioner, and at his request the following provision was incorporated Into the ERA act for the fiscal
·year 1941:
When It is found that as a result of bad faith, fraud, or
misrepresentation on the part of the sponsor, any land,
building, structure, faclllty, or other project, or any part
thereof, upon which funds appropriated In this joint
resolution have been expended, is used, transferred, or
disposed of without retention and control for public usP,
the sponsor of the project and the person or organization
to which the land, building, structure, facility, or project
has been sold, lensed, or given, shall be liable, jointly and
severally, upon demand of the Commissioner or bis duly
authorized representative, to pay over to the United States
an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds expended on such land, building, structure, faclllty, or
project.
Special Instructions were then Issued by the WPA to the
various State administrators, pointing out that they would
be held personally responsible for the careful scrutiny of
project applications to assure conformity with this
regulation.
The Division of Investigation was obliged to restrict Its
activities to cases in which definite charges had been
made;. it undertook no sample Investigations or general
Inquiries with the purpose of bringing unreported irregularities to light. A constant source of Investigative
complaints was the project workers themselves. Most
WPA workers were quick to resent the misuse of work
relief funds and although many of their complaints were
fancied, many were factual. Other complaints came from
Members of Congress, from State and city officials, from
other Investigative ag-encles of the Government, from
private citizens, and from officials of the Work Projects
Administration. The Dlvi!tion, moreover, received Intelligent anonymous letters as well as signed complaints; and
although the investigation of such anonymous complaints
was difficult, the Divi~ion gave them every consideration.
Complaints of thefts of property in the custody of the
Work Projects Administration were ordinarily referred to
local law-enforcement authorities, unless the complaint
definitely indicated the persons responsible or Involved
employees of the WPA, or unless the Federal property
alleged to be stolen was in excess of $HIO. The Division of
Investigation was not equipped for routine police work
and attempts to do that kind of work would have involved
expenses incommensurate with the results.
The Procurement Division of the Treasury Department
was responsible for the rental and procurement of equipment and supplies used on WPA projects and paid tor
from Federal funds, hut complaints of irregularities in
procurement were ordinarily investigatccl by the Division
of Investigation of the WPA. Some of these cases Involved
considerable amounts of money, particularly in the rental
of heavy equipment at high hourly or daily rates, or In
contracts calling for the delivery of large amounts of such
materials as cement, crushed stone, or fill. During the
last 2 years of WPA operations, the Division of Investigation bad signal success in the hall(lling of cases Involving
conspiracies to defraud the Federal Government In the
sale of such commodities as paving materials or crushed
stone. These conspiracies consisted of lllegal agreements
by firms and Individuals designed to create a monopoly In
the sale of a commodity of this type to the Government,
and thus, by eliminating competition and raising the price
above a fair and normal level, to defraud the Government.
Combines of this nature, particularly in the New York
City area, were exposed through investigation and were
prosecuted In Federal court.
Certain legislation enacted by Congress created new Investigative duties requiring new techniques. The joint
resolution by Congress mnking additional appropriations
for work relief for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1989,
provided that "no alien shall be given employment or
continued In employment on any work project" of the
WPA. This provision also required the signing of affidavits as to United States citizenship, such affidavits to be
considered prima facie evidence of citizenship. Complaints based on this legislation were given prior review
by the Division of Employment in order to determine In
each case whether the execution of a false affidavit as to
citizenship was willful or the result of misunderstanding
or ignorance. Cases appearing to involve willful falsehood were turned over to the Division of Investigation;
and cases in which the charge was substantiated by Investigation were referred to the Office of the Attorney
General and to the Immigration and Naturalization
Service.
The ERA net for the fiscal year 1041, approved June 26,
1940, prohibited the employment on the work relief program of Communists, members of Nazi bund organizations, 01· members of any group which advocated the
overthrow of the United States Government by violence
or force. The provision was specifically as follows:
No alien, no Communist, and n.o member of any Nazi
bund organizntion shall be given employment or continued
in employment on any work project prosecuted under the
uppropriatlons contained In this joint re~ilutlon and no
part of the money appropriatt>d in this joint resolution
shall be available to pay any person who has not made or
who does not make affidavit as to United States citizenship
and to the effect that he Is not a Communist and not a member of any Nnzi bund organization, such affidavit to be
consirlered prima facie evidence of such citizenship, and
that he is not a Communist, and not a member of any Nazi
bund organization.
This provision, which was continued in the ERA acts for the
fiscal years 1942 and 1943, required the extension of the
Division's activities into a new and difficult field. On the
one hand, many persons were Ingenious In concealing
their connection with subversive groups; and, on the other
hand, this legi,:lation gnve rise to many malicious and
unfounded complaints. SubsPquent to July 1, 1940, the
Division lnve~tigatP1! and rPported 2,616 cases arising un·
der this legii<lation; and 414 WPA employees who werp
found t.o have made false affidavits were either dismissed
or prohibited from obtaining further WPA employment.
When the evidence wns considered strong enough to warrant criminal prosecution, the case was referred to the
office of the Attorney General.
The Division provided liaison between the WPA and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Investigative
unit of the Civil Service Commission, and the intelligence
services of the Army and the Navy.
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THE WORK 01" THE DIVISION 01'' INVESTIGATION
During its existence, the Division investigated and reThe complaints were
adminlstrntively found to be substantiated In 8,811 of
these cases; 2,215 cases were referred t.o the Attorney
General; and administrative action in the form of dismissals, demotions, suspension~, reprimands, and debarments was taken In other cases against 4,496 persons. In
still other cases, In whi<'11 administrative 11diQn would
have been taken, the persons Involved had left WPA employment prior to, 1>r during, the investigation, and this
fact was noted on their employment records.
On November 9, 1942, the Division ceused to exist as n
part of the WPA organizntion. Its personnel was consolidated with that of the Division of Investigation of the
Federal Works Agency; and this latter organization provided investigative service for the WPA during its final
months of existence.
ported on a total of 17,352 cases.
Organization
The central administration of the Division of Investigation in Washington was composed of a director, an assistant director, a staff of reviewers, and clerical assistants
who handled the volume of reports from the field and maintained the extensive flies developed in Investigative work.
The Director and his assistant were the operating hearls
of the Division. The reviewers we're attorneys whose duty
it was to examine all investigative reports with regard to
their ll"gnl correctness and the completen<'ss of the Investigations and to prepare referrals of these reports for the
proper authorities; they also handled the reports received
from the field offices. The central administrative staff
was not large and at no time exceeded 18 persons nil told.
The field work of the Division was conducte<I through
field offices, each with n field agent in charge, I\ staff of
!!pecial field agents, and the necessary office persomwl.
During the early yPars of the Division of Investigation, its
field organlzatlon had offices in 15 cities: Boston, New
York City, Harrisburg, Washington, D. C., Atlanta, New
Orleans, Nashville, Detroit, Chicago, St. Paul, Kansas
City, Dallas, Denver, Portland, and San Francisco. In
1938 the areas of Investigative work were changed f'O as
to conform geographically with the regional orgnnlzation
oftheWPA.
The Division of Investigation also used r~ident !l!;.:>nts
in the various field office territories throughout the country.
Resident agents wnP SJ)<'<'inl field agents of the Division
strategically located in major cities throughout the Nation; they were responsible for investi.~ative problt•111s
within their localiti<'s, undPr the direction of the fiPltl
offices. This system proved highly pffrcth P; the lnYPstigator was immediately available, he was ahl<' to maintain
constant contact with phases of the work program In his
locality, nnll travel nn<I per diem PXpenses for the Gov-
ernment were eliminated. When particularly difficult
cases arose in the territory of a resident agent, he was
assisted by other agents assigned from the field office with
which he was connected.
The geographic distribution of field offices, broadened as
it was by the services of resident agents who nc-ted as outposts ot the field (tflkes, was particularly effl>et.lve in that
it created a convenient liaison between the Division of
Investigation and the State and district offices of the
WPA. The field ofllct>s were not respcmsihle to the regional
11irPCtors or representatln!S, but they worked closely with
the regional offices and were of great assistance to these
administrative units.
The personnel of the Division in each field office was
composed principally of the special field agents who performed the actual Investigative work, together with a staff
of administrative officials and the personnel required for
filing, clerical, and secretarial work. The number. of
agents In the field reached a top average of 73 men during
the height of the work program in 1936 and 1937, and
during the other years of operation averaged about 60 men.
Of the members of the Division of Investigation, some
had formerly been agents of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, others had formerly been employed by
other Federal investigative services, and still others were
mPn with professional or business training; about 85 percent of the agents had training in varying degrees as
lawyers, Ul.'Countants, or engineers. The rest of the investigative staff was composed of young men, usually, who
had a background indicating promise In this line of work
and the necessary qualities of alertness and intelligence.
These latter were employed, in eff'ect, as apprentlceR,
working with older nnd more experienced agents until they
had developed the skill necessary to operate Individually
on their own assignments; some of them came to be
among the Di vision's most capable investigators. Investigate work is primarily a young man's field. It requires mobility, long hours, enthusiasm, and inquisitiveness. The avem~e age of Investigators in the Division of
Investigation was between 28 and 35 years.
A law degree was not regarded as essential in this work;
but more than half of the Division personnel had either
completed law school, were members of a State or Federal
bar, or had attended law school. Legal training was recognized as valuable In this work; but so, too, was accounting or engineering training.
The effectiveness of the work of the Division was due
not only to the individual capacities of its members, hut
also to the fact that centralized control and standard techniques could be achieved in a I<'edernl program; and also
to the fact that the Commissioner of Work Projects, tlw
State administrators, and other administrative offlclnls
appreciated the value of the Division in helping to secure
an honest execution of the work program.
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WPA DEFENSE AND WAR ACTIVITIES
of the .work done by the Work Projects AdM uoa
ministration In peacetime years was later recognized
as being of military value to the Nation. This work included the construction and Improvement of civil airports,
the reconditioning of bulldlngs and utilities at ml1itary und
naval establishments, and the improvement of highways
and roads.'
In June 1940, when national defense work was greatly
accelerated, the WPA began to Increase its work on projects
contributing to national defense. In the war period, beginning In December 1941, the WPA directed Its etrorts
as far as possible to projects of value to the Nation's wur
program.
Provisions Facilitating WPA
Defense and War Work
Congress facilitated the participation of the WPA in
the national defense and war programs through provisions
made In the ERA Acts for the fiscal years 1941, 1042,
and 1943, and in Public Resolution No. 9, Seventy-seventh
Congress, approved March 1, 1941. Projects certified by
the Secretary of War or the Secretary of the Navy as Important for military or naval purposes were exempted from
certain statutory limitations. On certified projects It became permissible for the WPA to do construction work on
buildings costing more than $100,000 In Federal funds.
Certified projects were excluded from the application of the
requirement that one-fourth of the total cost of non-Federal
projects In any State which were approved after January 1,
1940, must be provided from sponsors' funds. The Commissioner of Work Projects was empowered to exempt certified
projects from the standard limitations on hours of work
and schedule of ':Ilonthly earnings. The Commissioner
was also empowered to authorize supplementary WPA
-expenditures on the nonlabor costs of certified projects
In excess of the standard limitation.' Funds for nonlabor
rosts of certified projects in excess of the usual limitations
were provided In the ERA Acts for fiscal years Hl41, 1942,
and 1943.
These exemptions were not granted hy the Commissioner
on all certified projects, but only on those where It was
necessary to facilitate or expedite project operations. The
standard limitation on WPA hours of work was 130 a
month, and the standard schedule of WPA wages was paid
for this work-month; Pxemption from these limitations
made It possible for WPA workers to put In more hours
of work a month on certified defense or war projects. Sup1 See section on engineering and construction project& beginning
on p. 47; and for accomplishments on these projects, sPe appendix
tahle XVI.
• The stnndar<l limitation wnR an a.-Prage of $6 per worker per
month In any State.
plementary expenditures or nonlabor costs made It po881ble
to rent or purchase the heavy equipment needed for U:•
pedltlng the work on such projects.
Certified defense and war projects were given priority
in operation over all other WPA projects. State WPA
offices were directed by the Commissioner to start work on
such projects as soon as possible after approval and to
complete operations as soon as available resources would
permit. Priorities on critical materials required on cert!•
fled projects were grnnted at the discretion of the War
Production Board.
The Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy
listed the following specific categories of projects as
eligible for certification as of Importance for defense and
war purposes:
-Projects sponsored by the War and Navy Departments
or their duly authorized officers.
--construction and Improvement work on landing field
facilities at airports, and projects for the improvement of
airways.
-Projects for the construction or improvPment of roads,
streets, bridges, and highways forming a part of the national strategic highway network or providing access to
military or naval establishments or Industrial establishments or Industrial plauts engaged in war work.
-Projects for the construction 01· improvement of Reserve Officer Training Corps or National Guard facilities
(exclusive of buildings requiring more than $100,000 in
WPA funds).
-Projects for navnl training facilities.
-The constru<"tion, improvement, and operation of public facilities and utilities in locations where needs had substantially expanded as a result of defense and war
activities.
-Public henlth projects, approved by the United States
Public Health ServicP, for work In the vicinity of m111tary
ancl naval estnbllshmeuts or In ari>11s where work was b1•lng
performed for the \Var or Navy Departments.
-Projects sponsored by the Federal Communications
Commission for work In connection with radio monitoring
stations.
-J<;ngineerlug survE>ys nnd sl•rvices for projects propost-<I
1111der any of the above clltegories.
A few other projects, including salvage projects, also receh·ecl certification as of Importance for military or naval
)llll'pOSC'S.
Activities and Accomplishments on
WPA Defense and War Proiects
Not nil projects that contrihutPd to the dPfense and
war programs were certified by the War or Navy DepartmPnfs. On mnny defPnsf> or war projects, exemptions
from standard project procedures were not necessary for
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WPA DIIFENBE AND WAR ACTIVITIES
successful operation. Nor were such projects always of
direct usefulness to the War or Navy Departments. Many
WPA projects were designed to meet the defense efl'.orts
of agencies other than the military serviceR or to provide
facllltles for communities greatly handicapped by the influx· of large numbers of workers to defense and war industries. The project accomplishments discussed here,
however, and the data on employment and expenditures
given later in this section, refer to certified defense or
war projects only. (The WPA program for the training
of wprkers for employment In war Industries Is described
In the section beginning on p. 90.)
Airports
From July 1, 1940, through June 30, 1043, 215 airports
were constructed and 160 reconditioned through certified
projects. More than 480 airports were constructed and
470 Improved during the entire period of WPA operations,
and about 900 miles of runways were built-more than
half of this mileage was constructed after July 1, 1940,
through certified projects. More than half of all the airport buildings constructed in the 8-year. period were constructed on certified projects.
WPA workers, In the development of air bases for use
of the armed forces, cleared and graded land for landing
areas; dug utility and open drainage ditches ; installed
miles of drainage pipe and storm and sanitary sewers
and water mains ; and erected wire fences. They constructed landing strips, runways, taxi strips, aprons, and
turning circles; built hangars, administration and terminal bulldings, and mahttenance shops; and set up airway
beacons and light standards. In addition, the preparation of bases for lighter-than-air craft and seaplanes for
the Navy air se"ices included driving foundation piling
for retaining walls, and building cofl'.er dams and ramps.
In the period prior to July 1, 1940, the local sponsors had
been required to contribute a certain proportion of the
total project costs of WPA airport work. In the defense
and war period, when the WPA was called upon to operate
an accelerated program of airport construction and Improvement In strategic areas through the country, CongrPss
provided that the Civil Aeronautics Authority could u~e
funds to supplement sponsors' contributions.
In this
period, heavy equipment was used more extensively than
It had been before; this equipment was rented, and the
rental contracts frequently included the se"lces of skilled
operators. All civil airport plans were reviewed by the
CAA, and a certificate of air navigation facility necessity
was a prerequisite to project operation. A large part of
this program comprised the further development of existIng airports; however, many new airports were constructed
In their entirety by the WPA. On December 31, 1942,
there were 202 WPA airport projects In operation.
Access Roads, Strategic Highways, and
Other Transportation Facllltfes
The WPA took an active part In the work of constructing
and improving transportation facilities in order to meet
the needs of the Nation's defense and war pr.ograms.
Roads providing access to military reservations and to war
production plants In outlying areas were constructed or
Improved. Highways were extended, and connecting
roads between highways were constructed 1n order to
shorten routes to essential areas. Some city streets were
widened to care for increased traffic loads and to eliminate
bottlenecks. WPA workers also made improvements to
water transportatl.on facllltles and to publicly owned
railroad lines within, or giving access to, military and
naval rese"ations. No separate data on mileage are
available with respect to certified projects for the construction or Improvement of transportation facilities.
However, on December 15, 1942, certified projects accounted
for about 36 percent of WPA employment on highway,
road, and street projects.
Facilities at Military· and Naval Establishments
The work done by the WPA at military and navel establishments In the defense and war periods was of the
same kinds that had been performed by the WPA in the
earlier years of the program. The Importance of the
earlier work was emphasized in an article In the Ann11
and N<Wfl Register, May 16, 1942, which said: "In the
years 1935 t.o 1939, when regular appropriations for the
armed forces were so meager, it was the WPA worker
who saved many army posts and naval stations from literal
obsolescence."
The certified projects which were operated .at military
and naval establishments throughout the country, In the
defense and war periods, were for the construction and
Improvement of facilities of many kinds. These included
buildings, such as hospitals, barracks, and mess halls ;
utll!ty plants; and training faclllties, such as firing zones,
target ranges, and parachute landing fields. In the period
from July 1, 1940, through June 30, 1943, WPA workers
constructed about 3,100 buildings ( other than utility plants
or buildings at alrp.orts) and reconditioned more than
11,000 others. Among the new buildings constructed were
480 barracks, 500 mess halls, 850 storage buildings, 200
garages, and 80 admlni~trative buildings. More than 90
hospitals and infirmaries were construdcd and improvements were made to about 320 others. Among other
buildings reconditioned were 2,850 officers' residences, 2,520
harracks, 1,320 storage buildings, and 1,130 mess halls.
This work Is illustrated by the WPA project for the
improvement and extension of facilities at a northwestern
mllltary reservation which was carried on during the fiscal
years 1041, 1942, and 1943. WPA workers constructed
mess halb1, guardhouses, barracks, latrines, gurnges, warehouses, tent floors and frames, range housel!, and observation posts. Facllities for sewage collection and disposal
and for water suppiy and distribution, In addition to storm
sewers, lnctnerators, and central heating and lighting
systems, were Improved and extended. Ot11er construction
work Included gun emplacements; combat training areas;
machine gun, artillery, tank, and small-arms ranges; trails
and service roads; sidewalks and curbs; nnrl recreational
areas. At the airport on the reservation, Improvements
were made to the landing field, hangars, aprons, and other
facilities. After the war, these facilities may be used for
training and storage purposes by the National Guard.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAI\I
TABLE 27. -SELECTED ITEMS OF PHYSICAL AccoMPLISHMENT ON CERTIFIED
AR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OPERATED BY WP A
w
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
JULY 1, 1940-JUNE 30, 1943
Item
Unit or measurement
New con,
struction
Adell•
tions
Reconstruction
or Improvement
- - - - - - - - - ----~------1---- - - - - Buildings (other than utility
plants and airport huild•
lngs).
Number ..... .
Admlnlstrati,·e . __ ......... do ........ .
Hospitals lllld Infirmaries ..... do ....... __
Garages ................ _ ..... do ....... .
Storage_ .................... do ....... .
Armories _____ .---------· ____ du ______ _
Equipment maintcnant-e .... do ...... .
shops.
OtliC<'rs' reslden<X'S ......... do ....... .
Barracks_ ..................... do ....... .
Dining halls, mess halls, .... do ........ .
etc.
Barns and stables ............ do ...... .
Other .................. _...... do ........ .
2,716
6.1
45
187
308
102
31
77
408
16
48
24
42
20
11,369
315
321
:li7
1,324
156
7
174
12
470
10
2,852
2, 52:l
4:18
15-1
I, 134
2:1
972
3
72
2,107
86
--- - 99- - - 7
75
----Electric power plants_ ........ do __ ...... .
IS
2
6
Utility plants .................... do ........ .
Incinerator plants_ ........... _do ........ .
Heating plants ................ do ........ .
Pumping stations _.... _ ..... do ........ .
Sewage treatment plants ..... _do ....... .
Water treatment plants.. . ... _do_ . _..... .
FACILITIES AT AIRPORTS AND
LAKDIXO AREAS
Landing fields.·············- ..... do ........ .
Arca In acres ..
21
6
41
18
7
IO
2
1
I
24
19
4
I
3
76
9,276
161
43,681
------ --141
37,229
Runways .............. _.. .. Lcn~th In feet 2,578,000 •. . .....
&418, 000
Hlgh•type surface ............ do ...... 2, H6,111l ........
Low•type surfa,·o ............. do......... 432, lXIO •• ..• .. .
• :1sr..ooo
• 62,000
Airport buildings ............ Number ..... .
623
80
Administrative. __ ._ .......... do ....•....
Hangars .....•........•....... do ........ .
Other ......•....... ·-·· ....... do_
49
39
5:15
6
6
91
68
1,526
Seaplane ramps and landing .... _do_ ....... .
plat.forms.
Landing areas floodlighted ......•. do ........ .
Boundary li~hts. ·······-···· Number or
U~ht standards.
24
8,309
1,660
43
S
1,321
• Includes surraciog.
Accompllshnw11ts on certified war projects included the
construction or improvement of about 180 utility plants-electric power, Incinerator, beating, watn and sewage
treatment plants, and pumping stations. This work was
performed on military or naval reservations where additional faeilities were 11eeded to care for the greatly
enlnrge<l pPrsormel, or at newly el'tnbllshed training
centers. \Vatf:'r syste!lls were constructed in some areas
to care for incrmsecl demands on the water supply due to
the establishmPnt of war production plants. One such
project In Illinois included the construction of about 6
miles of large water mains, two meter vaults, one rlve1·
crossing and tu1111el, two railroad crossings and tunnels,
and several highway tunnels to bring the water from u
city supply to a suburban aren.
WPA workers performed a ·considerable amount of work
i11 connection with malaria control around military and
naval centers and war production areas. This work
involved the draining of swamps and ponds, the clearing
out of underbrush which impeded drainage, and, as a
temporary measure, the spreading of larvlclde.
Another certified project provided for the conducting of
an engineering survey at a New England arsenal to
establish the position and elevation for all existing structures above and below the ground In the arsenal. Among
the structures were many buildings, pits, and tanks~ and
miles of tunnels, pipes, conduits, roads, and walks. All
types of fixtures and containers pertaining to oil, steam,
water, gas, sewers, and drains were sketched, numbered,
and recorded.
Othe1· types of eonstruction work performed by WPA
workers fo1· the use of the armed forces included the
building of antitank, small•arms, machine gun, a1·tillery,
and horn bing rangl'fl; gun emplacements; lookout stations;
uml d1·ill fields. Sandbag revetments, barbed-wire fences,
and alarm systems were built for the protection of military
establishlllents and war production plants.
Salvage Activities
WPA workers made u survey of automlbile "graveyards"'
In cooperation with the War Production Board and the
Department of Agriculture. Auto salvage inspectors aided
in keeping the scrnp moving from these centers to points
designated by the WPB.
Under the spo11sorship of the WPB, the WPA participated in the Nut ion.wide collection of scrap and rubber
materials from agricultural and urban sources. Since
WPA funds could not be used for the purchase of scrap,
funds for this purpose were ndvanced by the Metals
Resen·e Company of the Reconstruction Finance Corpora•
tion. The Office of Price Admlnistrntion set the ceiling
p1·ices for the purchase of metal and rubber scrap. and the
collected scrap wns sold through the Procurement Dlvisio11
of the T1·easury Department. In the period from April 21,
1942, through March 2, 1943, WPA workers collected from
agricultural and urban sources more than 376,000 tons of
scrap metal and 10,000 tons of rubber. A special unit of
this project at Fort Sn<'lllng, l\Iinn., was responsible for
stockpiling, sorting, Inspecting, nnd reshipping to reprocessing plants, tirPs, tullP", a11d mio,;cellaneous salvaged
rnbber. By Novem!Jer 2fi, HH2, about fi6,000 tons of this
scrap rubbPr had been stockpiled on !H acres of land In
117 piles. In con11ection with this work, Wl'A workers
constructed cartwnys, inspection facilities, autl observation
towers and lnstallf:'<1 l'!el'lric lighting arnl wate1· lines for
tire protection.
As of April 30, lll-14, vrocl'eds from the sale of scrap
metal and rubber totaled about $2,872,000. Of this amount,
$672,700 wns avnilable for transfer to miseellaneous re·
ceipts of the Treasury.
In the Nation·wide program of remornl of abandoned
streetcar rail, the WPA collecte,l 148,000 tons Of rail.
Pre,·iously the WPA had removed many miles of car and
railroad trnek i11 comwction with street Improvement
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WPA DEFENSE AND WAR ACTIVITIES
projects. The removal of rail had been generally discontinued, however, because of difficulties relating to the
acquisition of title. Under the defense and war programs,
arrangements were made by which the Metals Reserve
Company acquired title to the rail on behalf of the
WPB. The salvage work was done chiefly by unskilled
workers whose age prohibited their employment in war
Industries. Mobile units were used In some areas where
few workers were available fl'Om the relief rolls. The
job was- best done by using rallway repair tools and acetylene cutting torches. Machines were also devised by which
the rail could be pulled up through the pavement at a
rapid rate; but more pavement repairs were made
necessary by this method, and the rail was twisted and
damaged. Since good rail could be used for war purposes
other than scrap, the slower method was preferable. The
net proceeds to the WPA from the sale of rails for which
the Metals Reserve Company acquired title amounted
to $186,250.
Service Activities
WPA service activities were Increasingly com:eutmted
on projects that contributed to defense and war purposes,
and late in the fiscal year 1942 they were reorganized as
war services and defense health and welfare servicet1.
This program included recreational and educational uctlvltles for military personnel and industrial workers;
citizenship classes for aliens and literacy classes fo1· deferred selectees; record and fact-finding assistance; library and reading service to the military and Fedeml
agencies and to defense councils. Health and welfare iwrvices were extended through nursery school, sewing.
school lunch, housekeeping aide, and other welfare activities. Under this reorganization of service activities, all
available employment was used either for the continuation
of services considered essential to the basic neE>ds of human
life or for direct war services.
WPA education, recreation, and art projects were used
increasingly after 1940 in meeting the needs that existed
for these types of services at military establishments and
among members of the armed forces and Industrial war
workers. Classes in Spanish were first developed for officers of the Army Air Forces and were later extended to
members of other of the armed forces. Literacy classes
were conducted for men who had been deferred from service In the armed forces because of illiteracy; with elementary training In the "three R's," these men could pass
the mental tests of the armed sen-it-es. Thousands of
aliens In this country prepared for American citizenship in
WPA classes set up for this purpose. Li!Jrury services,
Which had been extemled to military centers and defense
and war production areas, were limited In the fiscal year
1943 to libraries conducting war Information centers.
WPA recreational workers were employed on a Nationwide recreation project to extend these services to military
centers and to defense and war production areas, previous
to the fiscal year 1943. 'l'he acth·ities on this project
varied according to the needs of particular groups. In
general, WPA workers inaugurated programs of recreation
at army posts and encampments and served as leaders nt
recrentional centers for members of the nrmcd forces on
leave. Organized entertainment and facilities for individual hobbies and Interests were offered at these centers.
A number of the WPA recreational workers were later employed In the centers of the United Service Organizations.
Through music projects, choral groups and ba.nds were
organized at army camps. WPA musicians gave concerts
at the military camps, and they entertained war Industry
workers during their lunch period.
During the fiscal year 1943, WPA art project work was
confined to the making of posters, maps, models, and other
visual aids for the use of the military forces and defense
councils. WPA workers on art projects had previously
performed a variety of services for the Army and the Navy
and other w!lr agencies. For use in training members of
the armed forces, they made working models of bridges,
ah-ports, guns, bombs, and tanks; various kinds of maps;
and diagrammatic <:harts of alrpluu~ motors. Posters
were made for use in enlisting public interest in war-bond
sales, in air-raid precautions, and In the combating of dis~ - WPA workers on art projects decorated recreation
centers at military establishments, and they made articles
of interior decoration for use at military and naval establishments and at recreation cente1·s. The talents of
these worke1·s were used in experiments in camouflage for
the concealment of military and Industrial installations.
WPA workers employed on research and record projects
gave clerical assistance at military estnblishments; in vital
statistics offices, they were engaged in aiding war workers
to locate their birth records. Other WPA workers collected essential weather statistics and tabulated vast numbers of observations for use in making climatic and
weather information available to the armed fo1·ces.
Health and welfare services were provided for war Industry workers and members of the armed forces through
WPA projects. WPA workers served In centers established for the treatment and control of venereal diseases;
and as nonprofessional workers, thE>y assisted State and
local health departments. The nursery school program
was expanded under the child protection program and its
services were made available to tht!'"young children of
employed motl!ers, of men In the ltl'med forces, and of
Industrial workers. Women empl'!Jl'ed on some of the
sewing projects not only mended and reclaimed army
clothing and equipment at the request of the Army, but
also prepared draperies, curtains, and other furnishings
for recreation centers and military esta!Jlishments.
Training Activities
WPA work In Itself helped to prese1·ve the work habits
and skills of workers before the war, and facilitated their
shift into war industries when they were needed. Special
training for employment In the war Industries was given to
more than 330,000 WPA workers through a Nation-wide vo-.
catlonal training project sponsored hy the War Production
Board and cosponsored by the l'nited StatE>s Office of
Education. (These and other wartime training activities
are described in detail in the section beginning on p. 99.)
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
Employment on Certified Defense
TABLE 29.-NUMBER OF PPRSONS EMPLOYED ON
CERTIFIED WPA
AR PROJECTS, •BY MA~OR
TYPE OF PROJECT
w
and War Proiects
The monthly average employment on certified defense
projects rose steadily from about 72,000 persons In July
1940 to about 239,000 in June 1941, increasing from about
4 percent of total project employment to 17 percent. There
was a considerable decline lo total WPA employment during this period; and, as far as possible, reductions in WPA
employment were made on nondefense types of work.
In the course of the following fiscal year ( 1942), defense
projects became war projects, nnd at the same time there
were great reductions in total WPA employment. As
total WPA employment decreased, employment on certified
projects increased In relative Importance. The monthly
average of employment on certified projects for July 1941
was 222,000, or 21 percent of total project employment.
Although this average employment was less than that of
the previous month, it was a larger proportl.on of total
project employment. Throughout the fiscal year 1942
there was a considerable fluctuation In the numbers employed on war projects and In war project employment
as a percentage of total employment. 'l'he monthly averTABLE 28.-AVERAGE NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON CERTIFIED WPA
AR PROJECTS
w
MONTHLY, JULY 194~JUNE 1943
Month
Total
Projects
0l)l'ratcd
by WPA
Projects
operated
by other
Federal
agencies•
19.0
1uly ....••... ·-······-····--······
August .. ·-·-··· ..•... __ ._._.···-September.•.••........ - --·······October.-·········-········ ..... .
November••......... •··--·-·-···December ..••....•...••.. _____ .. _
71,610
108. 410
123. 494
145, 205
163.{;()7
li8, 2'l5
53, 43G
82,&'iO
95, 8-12
Iii, i40
137,052
152, .'i39
188.440
204,304
212,596
16.1, i85
180,Klfl
100,394
20i, 610
219,606
221, 113
2-1,655
23,468
22,202
a>, 122
18,210
17, i21
221, 753
218, 46<i
215,409
214, 704
208,m7
2().5, 444
200,970
6,254
3, i62
2,593
I, 9i3
1,395
1,053
18,174
25,560
27,652
27, 46.5
26,M5
25,686
19,11
1anusry _·······--··--······. -···Februsry .....•.......... ·-· _. _.. _
March .•••••••••.•.... _•..•...•••.
Aprll .•.•..• ·-·······-····-······May •..•....•.........•.. _._······
1une·--················-·······-·July .. _••••........ -........ _. ... August. ..• ·----·····-···········Septembcr... _·--·········· ...... .
October.··········-·-········_ .. .
November••....•...•...•.........
December.·-···········•···•·-··-
202,943
199,020
200, 785
1Q+I
1snuary. ················---·· _·- _
1''ebrunry .................... _... .
March .•••................ _..... .
Aprll ............... •-····-······May .•........................... _
lune .. _•.•..... _....... _......... _
2rn,8M
219, 3i5
211,801
201. :isg
205, 21G
204,048
212. 9112
218,826
211,487
2tli, OIH
204,017
203, 768
8f,3
181,997
167, 746
14,i, 8-18
IZl,~12
115, 282
106,562
181,894
145,8(}1
123,798
115,282
106,662
103
49
44
96,836
96,8.Jfl
64,207
48, :164
33, 8i9
2t\, 733
64,207
48,364
33, 8i9
26, 733
25,688
25,688
1uly_ ....•.. _.. ·-················Au1n1st ..........•... __ .... __ .....
September ___________________ . __ ._
October._······-·- .............. _
Nowmber .......... ••·····-····-Dcccmbcr_ ···········-····· ..... _
19,13
January _________________ . _______ .
F!'bnrnry._ .. __ ....... _... . -· _... .
March ..... -........... ----···-···
April_···--···········-·-· · ·--···
:.tay ...... ·-····-···-······ · -····June_ ... __ ........... -..... _._ ... .
227, 732
237,816
238,834
• Flnanoed by alloestlon or WP .A funds.
19i, f>2/i
199, i32
l67,fi97
5-19
314
298
2\19
280
14
- --- . - -- - - --- .
--------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SELECTED PERIODS
Type or project
Total. •.......... ·----·----·-··Division or Engineering and Con•
structlon ....•...•••. ·- •..•.•••••••.
Airports snd airways.............
Buildings_··- ...... ···········-·-·
Conservation ................. ___ .
En~ineering survcys_······-······
Highways, roads. and streets_....
Recreational facilities (excluding
bnlldings) .. ···-·· .... ···-···--·
Sanitation .. _............. ······-·
Water and sewer systems and
other utilities ........ ·-······-·
Other ... ·····••··•·······-·-··-·Division or Service Projects ..•.• ·-···Pul,llcactlvitillS_ ............• _...
June 25,
June 16,
Dec. 15,
1941
1942
1942
2-'l9. 988
205, 2-15
198,632
141,493
68,607
67,294
33,625
31.964
1,248
8,637
58,423
1,356
1,211
1. 638
1====11===
40,843
38,'16
9,453
293
162
:M,340
169
2117
2,356
3,814
2,911
16,535
6,207
I, 7114
159
24,384
10,445
~. 988
==-==l====I,====
4,446
25, i35
19,019
1----~-----+---18
JO, 2.51 ·----------·
~~",;;r~f~ !'.'~~~::::::::::::: ......~:~~. ··---·~~~'.~. ·------8. M9
Wellare ... _....... -········-······
Other .•.. ·-···················-··
l Ji vision or Training and Reemploy.
meat_······················------··
47
5,505
10,470
86 ·····-······ ----········
36,910
38,017
a>, 782
• War services Include projects reported In public sctlvitles and research
and records previous to fiscal year 1~.
age employment for June 1942 was 204,000, or 29 percent
of total project employment. In the fiscal year 1943,
employment on certified projects was a very large percentage of the relatively small total project employment;
In December 1942, as official llquldatii:>n of the WPA pro•
gram began, the percentage was 32.
The largest part of certified project employment was on
construction projects. On June 25, 1941, 83 percent of
total certified project employment WHS on construction
projects; 15 percent, on training projects; and 2 percent
on service projects. The emphasis was shifted somewhat
in the next year and on June 16, 1942, 69 percent of total
certified project employment was on construction projects;
19 percent, on training projects; and 12 percent, on service
projects. The emphasis continued to shift and on Decem·
her 15, 1942, 63 percent of total certified project employ•
ment was on construction projects; 19 percent, on training
projects; and 18 percent, on service projects.
Within the construction group of certified projects, on
June 25, 1941, the largest number of WPA workers, 28
percent, was employed in the construction and reconditioning of airports and airways. More than 24 percent of the
workers on certified projects were employed in the construction and Improvement of buildings at military estab·
lishments, and 17 percent of total certified project workers
were employed on highway and street construction and
Improvement projects. In the following year, on June 16,
Hl42, ab.out 19 percent of total certified war project workers
were employed on highway and street construction projects; 16 percent, on airport and airway projects; and 16
percent, on buildings projects. By December 15, 1942, the
emphasis had shifted and 23 percent of total certified war
project workers were employed on highway and street
projects, and 9 percent and 8 percent on bullding and air·
port projects, respectively.
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WPA DEFENSE AND WAR ACTIVITIES
TABLE 31.-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS'
FUNDS EXPENDED ON WPA CERTIFIED
AR
PROJECTS, BY MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECT
Expenditures on Certified Defense
and War Proiects
w
For the period extending from July 1, 1940 through
March 31, 1943, WPA exwndltures on certified defense and
war projects of all types amounted to '489,463,000. Sponsors' expenditures on these projects amounted tD $150,044,000 or about 23 percent of the total cost of certified
projects.•
TABLE 30. -AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS'
FUNDS EXPENDED ON WPA CERTIFIED
AR
PROJECTS, BY MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECT
w
JULY
1, 194~MAR. 31, 1943
Type of prolect
Total
-
WPA
funds
Sponsors'
funds
Total. •. ______________________ $639,507, 3113 $489, 463, 371 $1110, o«, 022
Division of Engineering and Constructlon _________________________ 528. M6. 876. . 397. 711, 689
A~rts
airways ___________
B
dingsand
_______________________
Comervatlon ___________________
Engineering surveys ____________
Highways, roads, and streets ___
Recreation~! facilities (excludIng buildings) ________________
Sanitation ______________________
Water
sewer
systems and
other and
utllltles
_________________
Other ___________________________
130, 835, 187
188. 845, 008
127, 015, 521
6,757, 710
4,182,740
113,898,034
145, 085, 585
92,585, 710
3,971,295
3,582, 184
116,150, 104
43,759,423
34,429,811
2. 786,415
469,878
5,837,612
283,186
4. 686,912
186.~
I, 150, 700
34, 1311,823
47. 400,550
25,667,514
36,699,199
8,472, SOIi
10,701,351
Division of Service Projects _____ . ___
36,240,238
30,117,205
6,123,033
Public activities _______________
Research and records __________ :
3,919.211
13. 110, IJ77
13,390.810
5,820, 140
3,262,905
12,017.214
10,362.459
4. 474. 627
656,306
I, 092, 863
3,028, 35]
1,345,513
74, 7:.J, 279
61,634,477
13,085,802
War servloos
•-----------------Welfare
_________________________
Division
of ________________________
Training and Reemploymeut.
.
JuLY 1, 1942-MAR. 31, 1943
Total
Type of pl'9ject
WPA
fonds
Sponsors'
funds
Tota) ________________________ . $134, 783, 144 $105,487, 083
Division
or__________________________
Engineering and Con•
stroctlon
101,558,339
$29,296,061
76,255,696
25,302,613
Alrf!<?rtB and airways ___________
Buildlngs _______________________
Conservation ___________________
Engineering surveys ____________
Hlghwafos, roads, and streets __ .
Rccreat onal facilities (e.xcludIng buildings) ________________
Sanitation ______________________
Water and sewer systems and
other utllltles _________________
Other ... ________________________
28,015,707
18,826, 716
747,531
824,015
29,212,581
22, 124, 187
12,670,788
647, 787
736,400
21,445, 740
5,891, 5:KI
6,155,928
99,744
87,615
7,766,841
127,772
2,009,559
72,866
1,451,362
54,906
558,197
4,218,293
17,576,165
2, 754, 713
H,351, 853
1,463,580
3,224,312
Division of Service Projects. ________
17,186,688
13, 1113, 270
3,993,418
Public activities•-------------War
servloos
•-·---------------Welfare
_________________________
3,264
13,390,810
3,792,614
2,198
10,362,459
2,828,613
1,066
3,028,351
964,001
Division
of Training
and ReemploymenL
_______________________
16,038,117
16,038,117
------------
600,556
28. 747,930
• War services Include projects reported In public activities and research
and records previous to fiscal yoar 1943.
Construction projects which were certified as defense
and war projects accounted for 83 percent of total expenditures for certified projects. The largest portion, $188,845,000, or 30 percent of the total expended, was spent
for airport and airway projects. About 20 percent, or
$127,016,000, was spent for the construction and improve• Data for certified war projects by mujor type of project are
avnllable only through March 81, 1948.
• For purposes or comparison with previous years, data on chlld protection
programs are shown here under public activitlos projects as formerly reported
rather than under welfare as reported during fiscal year 1943,
• War services Include projects reported in public activities and reseacch
and records previous to fl.seal year 1943.
ment of buildings at military and navul establishments,
armories, and other buildings for the use of war agencies.
The construction and Improvement of highways and streets
through certified projects accounted for 18 percent of
total expenditures for certified war projects, or $113,898,000.
The installation of and flnprovements to water and
sewer systems serving defense and war purposes represented 5 percent of total expenditures for certified war
projects, or $34,140,000. All other construction projects
accounted for 10 percent of the total funds expended on
certified projects.
Expenditures for the training of WPA workers for employment in war industries amounted t 1 $74,720,000, or
12 percent of total WPA and sponso1·s' funds expen1lt>d on
certified war projects.
·
Service activities certified as important for defense and
war purposes represented 5 percent of the total expend!•
tures for certified war projects, or $86,240,000.
fflH&-47--T
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WPA TRAINING AND REEMPLOYMENT
ACTIVITIES
IT was always the policy of the Wl'A to assist its wo1·kers
to return to employment in private industry. As a step
in this direction, it was required that nil WPA workers be
continunlly registered with their local employment offices
so that they might secure auy available jobs for which they
were qualified.' To help workers maintain their occupational skllls, the WP.\ assi~ned them as far as possible to
projects where they could use their skills. When such
assignments were not possible, workers were frequently
assigned to projects which would enable them to learn
new skills.
Training Program for WPA Foremen
Although it was uecp,;sary to employ numbers of noncertified workers as supervisors and fo1·emen, certified
\VPA worke1·s were frequently promoted to sueh supervisory jobs. In order to improve the quality of WPA foremanship in general, the WP.\ imitltuted in 1937 a training
program for supervisors and fore111P11. It was open to nil
supervisors and foremen on WPA construction projects,
and attendance was voluntary. The courses of study
were intended to familiarize the fore111en with all 1·elevant
details of the work program and to inc-reuse their efficiency
in hundlin;.;- the workers in their charge. Instruction was
gil·en in the maintenance of discipline, the i-:ivi11g of orders,
the planning of project work, and the currying out of
safety measures. Courses were ad!letl in l!l39 wliit'h dealt
with the semitechnical phases of construction, including
measurement nnd q111111tities, soils, road i-urfa<"in;.:, scaffolding nm.I ri;::i-:ing, and the i11ter111·ptation of drnwir1gs.
More than 46,000 WPA foremen had successfully completed foremanship trulnin;.: by rn:m, and It was t>Stimated_
that 19,000 were continuing with the gemitel'hnical couri,es.
Household Workers' Training
The \VPA, in order to help unemployed persons in securing private employment, also provillt><l training In housPhold work. This training program was establishl.'tl in
February rn:16. In the followiui.: year it was reorganized
as a housPhold service demonstration project which provided not only training but also employment ill• WPA demonstration centers. 'l'he EHA Act of 1938 s11t•t•ific11lly
authorizetl u project for training in domestic servi<"e which
was carried on us a service project until January 1942,
when it wns put untlPr the dire<.·tion of the trnini11g
llivisfon.
Household workt>rs· trai11i11g projects offeretl Instruction
in a variety of householtl task,-, such as the p1·eparation and
scrvi11g of nwals 1111d seasonal house cleaning. Some of
1
See p. 21 for WP.\ rei:ulntions requiring acceptance of avallahle jobs in private Industry.
the projects included elementary training in child care
and, where possible, ti-ninees spent some time in local WPA
nursery schools. Training on these projects usually la~ted
12 weeks, and supervision was given by experienced home
economists.
This training was available to persons registered with
local public employment offices or other approved agencies,
to young persons employed on the out-of-school work pro•
gram of the NYA, and to persons certified for but not yet
assigned to WPA employment. !\lost of the WPA trainees
were paid half of the lowest locul rate for unskilled workers. When the household workers' training projects were
placed under the training division of the WPA, only persons certified for WPA employment were accepted for
training, and all trainees we~e paid the full unskilled "B"
wage rate.
Household workers' training projects were operated in
86 states. Through the assistance of locul advisory committees composed of representatives of local workers·
organizations and leaders in the community, the training
centers were provided with necessary furnishings antl
equipment, train~ were recruitPd, and standards were
adopted as a basis for the subsequent employment of the
trainees. In the period from July 1, 1935, through March
31, 1942, about 22,000 persons completed the WPA household workers' training course, and nearly 17,000 were
placed In private jobs.
Vocational Training Under the
Adult Education Program
Vocational trnining under the adult education program
was conducted in close cooperation with state departments
of education and local school districts; the program provided empioyment for many unemployed teachers.
Through these classes vocational training in many fields
was provided for large numbers of hoth employed antl
unemployed persons. Some attended classes in order to
attain greater skill in their usuul occupation, and others,
to learn new skills that would enable them to obtain different employment. None of the enrollees rect>ived compensation from the WPA for attending classes.
Classes were held in commerchtl subjects sud1 us business English and arithmetic, accounting, bookkeeping,
stenography, typing, 1111d the use of office machinPs. Other
classes dealt with curpe11try a11d woodworking and llllk
ehanical subjects sueh as tool making, welding, radio 1rud
telegraphy, mechanicul drafting, and electrical work.
Training for Defense and War Work
With the expa11sion of the national defense p,_.ograrn in
1940, the WPA e11lurged its activities In the field of voca·
tional training. In response to the demands for skilled and
00
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WPA TRAINING AND REEMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES
semiskilled workers with occupational skills needed in
defense Industries, the WPA initiated a new training program under which workers were assigned to vocational
training schools for training in manual occupations. This
training program was further enlarged by the setting up
of a program of In-plant preemployment training, nnd later
hy a program of training in auxiliary shops. Other projects were set up for the training of airport se1·,·icemen and
of nonprofessional workers for hospitals nnd institutions.
Vocational Training School Projeds
Authorization for initiating a program for training WP.\
workers in manual occupations tl€eded in defense lndustriE>S was gh·en in the Second Deficiency Appropriation Act,
1940, approved June 27, 1940. Accordingly, the WPA set
up a Nation-wide voeutional training project which was
sponsored by the Ad\"lsory Commission to the Council of
Xatioual Defense, and eosponsored by the United 8tates
Office of Education.• Under this project, refresher and
preemployment courses were oft'ered for occupations needed
in defense and war industries. All persons taking these
courses, including WPA workers, were registered with
public employment offices. In the period from July 1,
1940 through December 15, 1942, more than 330,000 WPA
workers received training on the vocational training school
projects, includi11g the more than 19,000 then receiving
training.
TABLE 32.-NUMBER OF WPA WORKERS RECEIVING TRAINING THROUGH THE N A'l"IONAL DEFENSE VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROJECT, BY
TYPE OF COURSE
Auo. 18, 1942
Course
TotaJ. __________ . ____ . _____________________ _
!~~tT::~t~!iooi_:::::
:: :::::::::::::::: :: ::::::::
Construction ______ . ______ . _____ . ______ . __________ .
Drafting .. _. _____ - ---- ----- .. - . - . -- . --- . --- . ----- Electrical
servloos __________ . ________ . ____________ _
Forge __ ---·------------------------·--- · _________ _
Foundry ___________________ - . __ --- -- - ---- - - . --- - --
~~~~8i!~&ig:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Radio ae"Jces _____ _______________________ . _______ _
Riveting_. _______________________________________ _
Sheet metal ______________________________________ _
~~~r.i.::._~~~-~~~~~!-~~~~~~-~:::::::::::::::::
Woodworking __________________________ . ___ . . ____ _
Numher
PC"rcent.
• 29, 499-
100.0
893
3.0
9.0
I. 7
I. 4
2,6SR
MO
421
i9:i
WS
9f>fi
13. 2.'>li
193
573
256
3,812
i72
0. 7
1.9
0.9
12. 9
f,2!j
2.6
11. ~
2.1
368
1.3
3. 301
Other _______ ·----- ___ --·- __________________ . _____ _
2. 7
o. 4
3.2
45.0
• Does not Include nontraln('('S employed on the project or airport service-
men, In-plant preemployment, and auxiliary shop trainees.
Before making assignments to this trninlng projl.'d, the
WPA reviewed the qualifications of all WPA workers and
those eligible persous nwaiting us>'ignment to WPA jobs.
Interviewers and classifiers were speeiull~· trained f01· this
purpose. Records were checked to ascertain whnt persons
would qualify for training or for immediate defense industry employment on the basis of their past employment
and WPA employment reeords, aptitudes, 1111d adaptability.
These persons were then interviewed for the 1mrpose of
• The War Prolluctlon Hour(] Inter Rssumell the sponsorship
formerly held by the A,h'lijory Commls•lon to the Council of
:Satlonal Defense.
obtaining more information as to- their occupational experience and skills, health, hobbies, and interest in further
ti·aining. The avocational interests of such workers in
woodworking, model building, and the building and repair
of radio and other electrical equipment often disclosed potential skills needed In defense industries. Aptitude tests
were used In some localities in determining what type of
training should be given.
A defense rPglster containing this information was maintained In each district WPA office as a guide In the seJection of wo1·kers for training or for specific jobs. The
registers were limited to occupations designated by the
Office of Production Management (later the War Production Board) as essential to Industries engaged In production for national defense.
The WPA selected all Its trainees and paid them a security wage during the training period. The U. S. Office
of Education, through Its State and local offices, was responsible for the selection of instructors and the payment
of their salaries, the cost of supplies and maintenance, and
the actual instruction of trainees. State and local advisory committees under the direction of the U. S. Office
of Education determined the methods and types of training
that should be given und the numbers and kinds of workers to be trained.
The com·ses of study given by the local vocational schools
were designed to relieve existing or anticipated shortages
of workers In various branches of defense and war Industries-as, for example, In aircraft, ship, or steel production, or in the manufacture of tanks, guns, or ammunit.lon.
Nearly half of the WPA trainees enrolled as of August
18, 1942, were learning various machine shop operations.
About one-fourth of them were learning the welding and
sheet-metnlwork which wns r('(}uired In the production of
11ircr11ft, ships. tank!!, trucks, and othe1· meehanized equipment. More than one-sixth of the trainees were enrolled
In classes in preparation for work in servicing automobiles,
airplanes, radios, and electrical equipment. Still others
were being taught woodworking, patternmnking, drafting,
or the techniqueR of Rhlp and hont building nnd repair.
_ 'fhe vocatio1111I training schools varied in details of procedure, but in general they operated at hou1·s when the
work shops were not in use by regular school programs
and when instructors were available. Classes were often
scheduled from early evening till early morning. In
many instances the training-center facilities were in use
24 hours a day nnd 7 duys a week. Training periods extended from 4 to 12 weeks; but trainees were permitted
to lea,·e at nny time jobs became avuilable if they felt
sufficiently protieient to begin work. Workers enrolled In
refresher eom·ses frequently found that a period of 2
weeks of training was sufficient to bring back their old
skills. Forty hours of training a week were authorized,
and where exemption from this limitation was requested,
WPA trainees were permitted 48 hours.
When locnl training faeilities were not available, the
WPA provided for the transportation of its trainees to
training centers. When daily commutation was impracticable, trainees lived in the area of the training center
during the traini11g period; and, in cases where this Imposed a hardship 011 the trainee's family, a subsistenee allowance was puid.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
In-Plant Preemployment Training
Late in the fl.seal year 1941 the WPA instituted a program of in-plant preemployment training. This program
greatly facilitated the placement of WPA workers ln
industrial jobs by giving workers training for a particular
j.ob in a particular plant. Workers, carefully selected
by the WPA, were assigned to industrial plants engaged
in production for national defense. There, under the
supervision of the plant management, they worked at
tasjs comparable to those at which they would be employed in the-plant if they proved acceptable. The maximum training period was 160 hours. The WPA paid these
trainees the learners' wages In eft'ect at the plant. As
rapidly as they demonstrated their capabilities tor assuming responsibility for their jobs, they were transferred
to the plant pay rolls at regular wage rutes. Few WPA
workers were disqualified after beginning in-plant training, and the percentnge of plncements was very high.
Among the plants in which these trainees were employed
were those manufacturing machine tools, dies, parachutes,
foundry and brass products, and Diesel engines. No inplant training arrangements were made without prior
agreement with the local unions concerned.
Auxiliary Shop Training
The auxiliary shop-training program was innugurnted
to provide trnining for workers displaced by the warindustry-c,onversion program and to lncrense training
facilities for qualified persons certified to or awniting
assignment to WPA training projects. Under this program idle shops and equipment were utilized for training
workers for employment in war-production industries.
In areas where there were large numbers of WPA workers awaiting training and vocational schools could not
provide facilities, auxiliary shops were lensed by the
WPA for training-purposes after they hnd been approved
as suitable by vocational training authorities. Provision
wns made for the return of the shops to the lessors when
war oontracts were secured, and, in that event, for the
retention of WPA trainees where that was possible.
The auxiliary shop training program was operatetl as a part of the total vocational training progrum. However,
WPA trainees were given priority in assignment in the
use of these facilities.
Women Train for Defense and War Work
The rnpicl expansion of war industrii>:,; and the i:-rowing
demands of the armed forces for manpower were responsible not only for incrensed employment opportunitic•s for
women but also for a demnnd for their services in fields of
work previously closed to them. Many women working on
WPA projects were by aptitude, previous work experience,
und WPA project e::1.--perienee, qualified for certain types of
industrial jobs, such as nssemhly work. In order to hasten
the plat'ement of such women workers in Industrial dPfrnse
jobs, many were shiftecl by the WPA from service projects
into training projects. Women who had been emplored on
sewing projects were taught to operate small bendi ma-
chines. Others were trained us light aircraft riveters;
welders; latlie, drill press, and milling machine operators;
tool grinders; solderers ; molders ; machine tool inspectors.
Some were instructecl In electrical assembly, motor testing
and repair, and blueprint reading. On Augnst 18, 1942,
more than 8,200 women were employed on WPA training
projects. These included about 600 on In-plant preemployment training projects, and 300 In auxiliary shop training.
Training Physically Handicapped Persons
The Increasing demands for manpower in war lndustrie::-:
created opportunities for the training and employment of
physically handicapped persons. Those persons who were
considerecl qualified for training were certified and assi!,'llecl to WPA training projects, where they learned various I.finds of bench work and machine operations. Blind
persons were trained as sbeet-metnlworkers under this
special program and were placed in employment. Manv
other physically humllcapped persons receiving trainin~
under this program were later employed in motor, rubber,
and airplane industrial plants.
Airport Servicemen Training
In the fall of 1!)40 a Nation-wide project was establlshed
tor the training of WPA workers as airport servicemen.
This project was sponsorecl by the Advisory Commission to
the Council of National Defense (later by the War Produc•
tion Board), and cosponsored by the Civil Aeronautics Administration nnd the U. S. Office of Educntlon.
The CAA was responsible for the selection and approval
of the airports used as training sites. Airports were selectecl on the basis of their location and the willingness of
the airport management to provide the equipment and facilities necessary for instruction. Agreements were made
by the CAA with the airports which specified the conditions under which instruction would be given, and CAA
rPp1·esentatives mnde periodic inspections to determinP
whether or not these conditions were being complied with.
The U. S. Office of Ertncntion was rN,ponsible for the
!!fJlection and training of instructors, for the outlining
of courses of study, and for the supervision of the teaching.
The WPA was responsible for the ndmlnistration of thP
project; the as~lgnment and compensation of instructors;
aml thP selection, assignment nncl compensation of trainees.
Candidates for training as airport servicemen were certified WPA workers qunlifil•d hy their Interest, good health,
education, experience, and work habits. Only men between
the ages of 18 and 35 were eligible. Training was given to
groups of from 10 to 15 men for a period of 90 days. Instruction was given in the mnintenance of airports and
hangar care, und In the servicing of airplanes and all airport equipment. Some trainees were schoolecl as llnesmen
and as apprentice aircraft and engine mechanics.
Training classes for airport servicemen projects were
operated In 46 States, and a total of considerably more
than 2,000 WPA trainees receivecl training under the progrnm. The program was officially closed on December 1.
1942.
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WPA TRAINING AND REEMPLOYMENT ACTfVITIEB
Training for Nonprofessional
Work in Hospitals
A program for the training of nonprofessional personnel
aerve in hospitals and other Institutions was set up late
In the fiscal year 1941 nod was operated under the WPA
service activities. This training was begun In response to
requests from various Federal agencies, hospital superlndendents, and health officials, and was n part of the
national defense training program. It was designed to
train WPA workers to serve as ward helpers, orderlies,
and other assistants In the giving of elementary care to
the sick, under professional supervlsl~n. (Previous WPA
activities In this field had made WPA workers available
to some institutions under WPA Institutional service
projects.)
Trainees on these projects were required to be between
the ages of 22 and 55, ·to have completed 8 years o,t
schooling, to be In good physical condition nnd uble to perform manual tasks, and to have good standards of physical
hygiene. The training period extended from 3 to 6 months;
about a fourth of the training time was devoted to classroom lectures and demonstrations and the rest of the time
was devoted to pTactlcal experience in routine nonprofessional services under professional supervision. Instruction was given in personal hygiene and work relntlonehlps, ward housekeeping, the care of Institutional kitchens, the preparation and serving of food, nonprofessional sickroom procedure and first aid, the care of
convalescent children, and the care of the aged and of
chronic invalids.
In addition to providing teaching and supervisory pereonnel, the hospitals and sponsors were responsible for
supplying space, equipment, and other facllltles necessary
for the operation of the project. The WPA selected and
assigned trainees nnd paid their wages, pro¥1ded necessary clerical assistance, gave general supervision to the
project, and made referrals of workers to prirnte
employment.
to
Placement Adivities of the WPA
A vigorous progrnm was conducted for the placement of
WPA trainees and other WPA workers In wnr production
Industries, agriculture, 01· other pul.Jlic or private employment. AU WPA workers were required to maintain active
registration with the United States Employment Service,
which was the preferred chnnnel of plucement.
.
Representatives of the Chi! Service Commlssluu were
informed of the locution of 1:1chools and the courses being
gh-en, the number of WPA trainees enrolled, and the approximate date of completion of training. They were
given access to the WPA occupational flies; and workers
who might qualify for Jobs In navy yards, ordnance plants,
or other Government establishments were assembled for
Interview. Trainees and other \VPA workers were kept
Informed of jobs available under Clvll Service examinations.
Through the cooperation of the Railroad Retirement
Bonrd, many WPA workers were hired on railroad track
jobs. All agencies and employers were given the opportunity to Interview workers on project sites. In agricultural arens, special programs facllltated the placement ot
quallflecl work<'rS In farm Jobs. WPA representatives in
these areas worked In cooperation with the United States
Employment Ser\'ice, farm committees, and State and local
war boards under the United States Department of Agriculture responsible for the mobilization of farm labor.
Previous employers of WPA workers were Interviewed by
WPA reemployment representatives, and frequently the
workers returned to their former Jobs.
A survey was made of WPA employment rolls In the
continental United States in October 1942 to ascertain bow
many WPA workers were qualified for private employment
or for training for Jobs. It was found that 53 percent of
the workers were qualified for immediate placement in the
war Industries, in agriculture, or in other private or public
employment. About 'J:T percent of the workers were found
to be quallfled for employment In war Industries after
receiving training. The remaining 20 percent were found
to be eligible for employment by private employers only
under more liberal hiring standards than then ext.steel, or to
he unavailable for prl¥ate employment.•
The Division of Training
and Jleemployment
A Division of Training and Reemployment was established by the WPA on July 1, 1041, superseding a training
section which had been set up In the WPA Division of Employment In 1940. The new division wns organized in the
central administration in Washington, in the regional
offices, and in the State administrntl\'e offices. The central administration organi~tlon, which· consisted of a
director (who was an assistant commissioner) and hls
11taff, gave direction, teclmical Instruction, and advice on
the application of executh·e policies and regulations to tbe
field organization through the chief regional supervisors
of training and reemployment and the State directors of
trnlr1i11g nod reemployment.
1 The results of this ijUrvey prompt<'d the
Deputy CummlHslouer
to reques t nuthorlty to liquldnte the WP.-\ program In an order!,
mn1111er by dosing projects entl. relen s ing worko,rs to the expand Ing war Industries and other private 11 c•tlvltieg_
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FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of ·1935 apTpropriated
to the President funds, to be administered at
HE
his discretion, for the operation of a work relief program.
Executive Order No. 7034, establishing the Works Progress
Administration, directed the Commissioner of Accounts of
the Treasury Department to perform the accounting and
disbursing work in connection with the funds appropriated
for a work relief program. It was no t until the fiscal year
1939 that appropriations for carrying on a work reliPf program were made dlreC'tly to the WP A.
Administration of WPA Finance Activities
The Treasury Department, through the Division of Dlsbursements, continued to hnve the responsibll1ty for the
disbursement of all Federal work relief funds throughout
the period of the WPA program. Until January 1, 1942,
the Treasury Department had tbe legal responsibility of
11ccountlng for funds appropriated fo1· the work relief program. The fiscal functions of tht> Trensury Department In
connection with WPA funds and thl' fun ctions of the Division of Finance of the WPA were worked out in <'ooperati\"e arrangements which changed In <'t>rtuln ways as
time went on. At the beginning of the WPA program, the
Treasury Department maintained detailed nccounts, but an
.i ncreasing amount of necountlng work waR taken over by
the WPA, and in the fbwul year 1042 all accounting was
transferred to the WPA. Although the accounting services of the Treasury DC'pnrtment were of the highest value
to the WPA at the beginning of the program, accounting
responsibility might well have been \'Pste<l In the W~A
much earlier than was actually done.
At the outset of the WPA program, the Trensury Department established State necounting offices in which it
was Intended to inalntaln all WPA ll("<"<•Unts. These offices
were expected to furnish the WPA Rtate ndmi11istrntions
with all necessary opt>rating information a nd to comluet
the examination of all vouchers for propriety nrHI legnlity
prior to their payment by the Rtatt> dishursi11g offict>S of the
Treasury. The oply reco1·d mtthort:rA'd at that tlmP to be
maintained within the Division of l<'lnunce of the WPA
was a "project register," C'Slnblislwd primarily for i::tatlstical purposes. It wns soon fonud, how(•ver. lhnt th<'
Treasury reports could not be kPpt sufficiently current to
serve as a basis for WPA administrative IH'tion; for I\
while practically nil of the f1111ctio11s of th e Stnte n<'Counts
offices of the Treasury were dnpli<'ated in one woy or
another In the WPA Stnte 111Jr11i11istrnt1011:;:. The Treasury
Departm!'ut wns as anxious to eliminate this dupllcution
as wus the WPA Division of Ftnanee, and, after a period
of experimentation, the Treasury cnme to rel y on the Division of Finnn('I' of the ,vrA for the mainte11nnce of the
WPA detailed accounts, especially when upproprlutlon11
were made directly to the WPA.
Budget and Fund Control
Although funds lfppropriated under the emergency relief appropriation acts were to be used primarily for pn.ying the wages of needy u11employed workers, the control
of the financing of the WPA program in each State was established at the outSPt through control over approval of
work projects.
Each project approved by the President, according to the
arrangement in eft'ect at that time, Involved an Individual
alJOC'atlon of fund!! t~co,·er the WPA share of the rost of
operating the project. Under this arrangement, many
WPA State adrulnistratlom~, more active than others In
submitting qnalified projects, received a disproportionate
shnre of the available funds. When the President
approved n project and when the Treasury Department,
the Bureau of the Budget, and the Comptroller General
bull examined the project for compllnnce with the law,
funds for the project were allocated to the WPA State
administration. This method of financing the program
11ot on!)" hindered the WPA In making nn equitable allocation of funds among the States but made It Impossible to
build up a resen·oir of ap11rov<"d projects. Furthermore,
the arrangement made it impossible for the central administration to exercise budgetary financial controls over the
operation of the WPA progrnm In the various State
admlnistrntlons. Consl'(lnentl)·, lute in 1935 and early In
1!)36, the practice of nllocuting funds to Individual projects
\VII!! discontinued.
Thereafter, · Presidential llpprovnl of projects carried
with It merely an authorization to expend avuihtble funds
on the project approved lln(I llid not allocate Federal
funds for the prosecution of l-lpPCific projects. ·Funds were
then allocated to ench State administration month by
month, In acrordant'e with the \"olume of employmi>nt
authorizations nnd tht> 1111101111t of nonlnhor funds required
for the operation of proje<'ts. Thi' funds thus allocated
Puch 111011th were urnilablt> to the State administrations
for nSP on uny nppro\"ed projed which lhe Stllte Admlnistrntlon, in coo1icmtion with the spom;urs, decided to put lo
operation to meet the locnl 11ne11111loyme11t conditions.
BP~innlng with the fiSCtll year 1939, Federal funds for
carrying on the program were appropriated directly to the
WPA in a specified amount 11lus the balance of unobUgated
funds from prior fiscal yenrl-l. These appropriations were
apportioned over the fnll tisenl ye111· nncl ordinarily constl·
tuted the total amount nvailable during the fiscal yenr.
Sufllcient stntistlcnl nnd operating information was by
this time rea(lily obtninuhle, so that the allocation and
9'
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FINANCIAL SUMMARY
budgeting of funds became a simpler process. Monthly
expenditures in each State were determined by the number
of workers which each State administration was authorized to employ in any 1 month. ( See p. 13.) Federal
funds were used to pay the wages of certified relief
workers and some of the supervisory personnel ; they were
also used to pay a limited amount of nonlabor costs of
projects.
The State administrators, on or about the 20th of each
month, were advised of their monthly labor budget for the
succeeding month. This budget was determined by multiplying the employment authorization by the average cost
of employing one worker for one month. The man-month
labor cost was estimated by dividing the average monthly
pay roll for project workers for the past 3 months in a
given State by the average monthly employment durTng
the same period. By using this method, it was possible
to estimate the current labor costs on WPA projects
within any one State and for the entire country.
In addition to the monthly budget for labo1· expenditures, the central administration allocated each month
to each State funds for nonlabo1· costs. At the beginning
of each fiscal year, budgets for nonlabor costs were made
up 3 months in advance in order to enable the States to
do some advance plnnnlng and scheduling of project
operations. Under this plan of budgeting, a fairly even
and adequate flow of materials to project sites was assured
for some months ahead. However, because all npproprlatlons and legislative authorizations were made on an
emergency basis from year to year, it was not possible
near the end of a fiscal year to make any specific or
detailed plans for project operations until Congress
appropriated funds for the program for the next fiscal
year, which was never done until late in June.
The WPA State administrations thus could make their
plans for project operations only on u month-to-month
basis, and they were authorized to make firm commitments only within a particular fiscal year. Within these
limitations, however, the State administrations, In cooperation with the sppnsors, were able to select from a
large reser~olr of approved projects the particular projects
or units of projects that were most urgently needed to
provide employment for needy unemployed workers. This
de<'entrallzed method enabled the State administration to
aet quickly In selecting for operation the projects that were
required to meet employment needs in specific communities.
1''unds to cover State WPA progrum budgets were authorized under separate expenditure accounts. Each
expenditure symbol identified a type of activity being
prosecuted In each State. Separate expenditure accounts
were also established for the transactions of tbe supplr
fund and for administrative expenses. The monthly budget for administrative expenses was distinct from that for
project operations. Arrangements were made by which
the State administrations could secure immediate transfer
among the expenditure limitation accounts when project
activities were changed during the month.
The control of budgets and funds for project operations
and for administrative expenses In each State was bused
on specific mandatory procedures and regulations issued
by the central administration. There were limitations and,
sometimes, subllmitatlons on project operations. The
limitations were those concerning scope and cost set
forth in the authorizations of incllvidual projects approved
by the President. Subllmltatlons might be required
when a project was large in scope (such as a city-wide
project for the improvement of streets, sidewalks, curbs,
and gutters) and when It was not possible· to place all
units of the project Into operation at the same time. The
WPA State administration selected the unit of work to be
prosecuted at any one time and established a maxlml.lll'.!
amount of money that could be expended on that portion
of the project. This amount was known as a subllmitatlon
and was based on the over-all estimate of the project at
the time It was submitt~d for approval. This subllmltatlon constituted a subsidiary work project account, and.
all obligations incurred relating to such work projects were
posted against the limitation approved by the State administrator. Such work project ledger accounts wer"'
merely subsidiary ledgers to control the limitations imposed by the State administrator. The subsidiary work
project ledgers were controlled by an expenditure symbol
ledger and by a budget ledger. The expenditure limitation
ledger controlled the amount of obligations whlcb could
be Incurred against a particular expenditure limitation
account and showed at all times the funds which remained
unobllgated. Obligations for all expenditure limitation
accounts were posted to the budget ledger and the
status of the over-all budget could be determined at any
time.
It was necessary that any proposed obligations against
a project be recorded before the obligation was Incurred.
A requisition for the purchase of materials or for the
rental of equipment was encumbered prior to the taking
of any action by the Procurement Division of the Treasury
in making obligations against Federal funds. Advance encumbrances for labor Included the estimated pay roll for
one-half a month or for 2 weeks in advance.
It was nece;:sary to maintain accounts showing not only
the Federal expenditures but also the sponsors' commitments toward projects. An account was therefore main. talned for each project showing the amount that the
sponsor was pledged to contribute and the value of
materials and services received from the sponsor against
his pledge. In those cases where the sponsors' contribution was made in cash, a separate cash ledger was maintained. All sponsors' cash was deposited with a disbursing
office of the Treasury, and all purehases or other transactions thereunder were handled in the same manner as
those concerned with the expenditure of Federal funds.
A monthly report showing the amount of sponsors' participation in the WPA program was submitted by each
State administration to the central administration. These
reports were also made to the regional offices, and Indicated the extent of the sponsors' participation In the WPA
program month by month. Because the sponsors' participation usually Involved the furnishing of equipment and
technical servtces and the purchasing of materials, the
major portion of a 8ponsor's contribution was ordinarily
not reflected in these accounts until the later stages of
project operations. When th~ ERA Act of 1939 required
sponsors' contributions to average not less than 25 percent
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
of project costs in each state, sponor control records were
established In each state to ensure conformity with this
legal limitation.
The Division of Finance of the central administration
prescribed mandatory finance reports, which were prepared
by the State Divisions of Finance and were the foundation
upon which the financial control of the WPA program depended. The reports were prepared on a monthly basis
reflecting the current and cumulative budgets and funds
i:ecelved; tbe encumbrances, obligations, and expenditures;
and the respective balances available at the end of each
m.onth. These financial reports, together with statistical
Information on employment furnished by the Division of
Statistics, were used by the central administration in
controlling tbe operations of the WPA program. The
States were also required to submit reports showing the
status of each expenditure symbol or classification applicable to the two ERA nets immediately preceding the
appropriation under the current ERA act. These reports
enabled the State admlnl!!tratlons, the regional offlces, and
the central ndmlnlstrntlon to determine whether or not
prior obligations were being liquidated, and they Indicated
the amount of unoblignted balances of funds remaining
from prior appropriation accounts (which were always
available to supplement the current appropriation for a
given fiscal year).
Financial and statistical reports were summarized from
time to time to meet the needs of the administrative officials at all levels and to assist them In planning the future
operation of the program.
Proiect Timekeeping
About 89 percent of all Federal funds expen<led for
projects operated by the WPA was for the payment of
wages of project worker!!. Timekeeping, the preparation
of pay roll!I, and the dlstrlbutLon of pay checks to the
project workers were of extreme Importance. At the
beginning of the program, WPA workers with clerical
experience wf're given training In project tlmekeepi11g.
i\lan<latory proce<lurel'I, Instructions an<l regulatlonl'I aff'e<·tlng tlmekeepl11g, preparation of pay rolls, and distribution
of pay checks, were formulated by the central administration and were sent through the regional offices to the State
ucl111inlstrntlons, tlw distrii•t offices, Hnd the 11rojf.'C't
timekeeper;,.
The provh1lo11s of the varlou!i ERA acts und the rPgula1i.om! of the WPA limited the hours of work for ea<'h
project worker to 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, and 130
hours a month, or 120 hours for n 4-wet>k fiscal perlo<l
( f'XCC'pt on certified war projects). Furthermore, provl!<ion was made for project workers to make up lost time
wlwn weather conditions and other drcumst11nces required
tPmporary suspension ot project.a. It was thus necessary
for the Division of Finance In eac>II 8tute to maintain
m·,·urate individual enrnings rt>eords for each project
worker. In tbe early years of the program, the maintenance of these records was complicated by the payment of
pren1iling hourly wage rotes.
The project timekeeper was a very Important employee
of the WPA. The W{'f'kly employment <'otmt, which wns
made by the project timekeeper, constituted the basis for
the most essential statistical Information on the current
operations of the program. In addition to maintaining a
time record for each project worker, the project timekeeper
was required to keep a time record of equipment rented
with Federal funds and of equipment contributed by sponsors. He was also required to secure Invoices from equipment contractors for submission with proper receiving
reports to the Procurement Division of the 'l'reasul')' Department. Property damage reports were prepared by the
project timekeeper. He administered the oaths required
by various ERA acts.
The project timekeeper also represented the United
States Employees' Compensation Commission on each
project and reported every Injury, no matter how slight,
to the district or State finance office. It was the responsibility of the timekeeper to secure medical reports from
the doctors who treated WPA workers; these medical reports were submitted to tbe State finance division for referral to the Commission.
In most States the project timekeeper prepared all of the
reports and requisitions sent trom the project headquarters
to the district or State administrative office. These Included requisitions for labor and materials, materials receipts and Inspection reports, reports on the installation
of materials, reports on the issuance of tools, cost reports,
and reports of Inventories. The project timekeeper also
maintained the records of project progress, and performed
other and similar office work.
The project timekeepers were under the administrative
supervision of the project superintendent, but they received
their technical supervision from representatives of the
Division of Finance. The area timekeepers or area finance
officers working out of the district or State administration
offices were responsible for daily c:ontnct with each project
timekeeper. The llrC'n tlmekPepers supervised the work of
the project timekeepers to make sure that the basic rules,
regulations, and l11strnctio11s were compiled with In every
way. Considerable supervision was required to ensure
that the project tlmek!'E'pers did their work in accordance
with the instructions Issued by the cPntral admlnistratiou
and to ensure that these technical lnstrn<:tlons were not
c>hanged by the projec>t superintendent. Most superintendents soon recognized that it was to their advantage to
have highly qualified project timekeepers on their projects.
When tbe timekeepers were well trained and able to carry
out the many lmportunt duties nl;signed to thPm, a project
,n1perintende11t could deYote his time to the administrative
t•ontrol of the entire project.
Although the responsibility tor the assignment of project
timekeepers was vested In the DIYlsion of Employment,
theil' appointment was subject to the n11prornl of the Division of Finance. The Division of Finance established
training courses and thereby provided a pool from which
c111aliflPd timekeepers were selected. The succPss of this
trnining program and the experience gained by the timekPepers ot the WPA were recognized hy private Industry.
When the defense and war eff'orts resnlted in the expansion
of prlyate Industry, WPA timekeC'pers were constantly in
demand.
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J'INANCIAL SUMMARY
Preparation of Vouchers
ID each State administration, the Division of Finance lnclnded a voucher section which was responsible for the
preparation of pay rolls, travel and transportation vouchers, eqnlpment rental vouchers, and miscellaneous vouchers. Tbe procurement Division of the Treasury prepared
the vouchers for all equipment, materials, and other Items
pnrchased with Federal funds on requisitions submitted
by tbe WPA. The WPA Division of Finance maintained
lbe accounts and received copies of the paid vouchers
from the -Procurement Division.
At the beginning of the program, the rental of trucks
was handled by the WPA Division of Finance on what
1rere called "owner-operated"' equipment rental pay rolls.
In 1938. however, this practice was changed and all equipment was secured by competitive bide through the Procorement Division of the Treasury, which thPn prepared
rbe vouchers on the basis of the time reports and receiving
reports submitted by the WPA Division of Finance.
Travel and transportation vouchers were bandied In
very much the same manner as In other Federal agencies.
By far the largest volume of work In the voucher section
was the examination of time reports and the processing
of pay rolls. The time reports, which were the basis for
lbe preparation of pay rolls and the payment of w11gt>s
to workers, were audited before the pny rolls were typed,
and this made it unnecPSsnry to audit the pay rolls.
The authority for placing a worker on a project pay roll
came from the assignment document Issued by the WPA
Division of Employment. This document was signed by
the project employee when he reported for work. Coples
of all other employment documents, such as transfers.
terminations, and suspensions, were given to the project
timekeeper and to the voucher section bf the Division of
Finance, and they became the basis for auditing each
time report.
Tbe voucher section maintained an active Individual
earnings record card for each project employee. These
cards were malntnlned in numerical order of Identification numbers and constituted an audited list of persons
employed on the WPA program. After computations 1111d
signatures on the time reports had been checked for each
person employE'Cl, the report was posted to the indl\'ldual
earnings record cards; 1111d, at the same time, the assignment, wage class Rnd rote, and the "make-up time" brought
forward from the previous period, were verified by the
l)O!!ter to ensure that purnlngs were helng helct within the
Prescribed maximum. A ch~:k was also mude to ensUrt'
that no other payment h111l heen recorded for the snrnt>
Period; 1f the time report showed a transfer to anotht>r
Project, this was checkctl to preclude overlapping.
Another check of inclivilhml earnings records wus made
•benever the projP.Ct hod been inS'(X'Ct!'d during the payroll period by the nrPa finance officer. His report wa11
checked with the time report for tlm t do IP. Th~e spot
cbecu kept the project timekeeper from being careless
In the recording of time worked; as a ~ult, very little
Ply roll padding was encountered.
The examination of time reports and the preparation of
Pl7 rolls constituted a major Job for the Division of Finan~ and Improvements were constantly being made to
reduce the administrative costs of this work. After some
experimentation In staggering pay rolls In accordance
with different time periods, It was decided to place all
pay rolls on a biweekly basis. This arrangement resulted
In an even flow of work In the Dlvlslon of Finance, and
1t snbstnntlally reduced the cost of preparing pay rolls.
The postlng of time reports to indi\'ldual earnings cards
constituted a tremendous volume of work, and various
cards and methods of doing this work were tried out. The
filing .of these cards, formerly handled on an Individual
project basis, was eventually changed to a system lo
which the cards were placed in a State-wide numerical
file by number, with a county prefiL This arrangement
serve..1 the purpose of a county-wide file, without sacriftclng
the protection agaimit duplication afforded by the Statewide sequence.
Various mechanical methods were used In the larger
Statea In preparing pny rolls, and In some States machines
were used by which postings to the individual earnings
cards were made nt the same time that pay rolls were
typed. Near the end of the program, the techniques developed In the various state WPA finance offices became
so efficient that it was possible to consolid:ite the pay-roll
preparation for groups of states Into well-located field
finance offices. Many of the methods de\'eloped by the
WPA Division of Finance ha\'e been adopted by other
agencies of the Federal Government.
At flrst, the pay checks for project workers were handled
by paymasters of the disbursing offices of the Treasury or
of the WPA district finance offices, who brought the pay
checks to the project sites. This method of disbursing
checks proved to be expensive and unsatisfactory. When
workers had been transferred from one project to another,
thelr pny checks often came to the former project site.
Many projects were operated in two shifts, and both shifts
were paid olr at the same time, enusing an interruption in
the work of the shift on dut~·. In 1037, as a result of
experience ·gained In several States, it was decided to
mall pay checks from the disbursing offices of the Treasury
directly to the homes of the project workers. Checks were
addressed to post-office boxes or general delivery only
when the local postmasters certltlt-d that no delivery
service was available to the home address. The disbursing
oflices of the Treasury, in cooperation with the United
States Secret Service, undertook a progmm of instruction
to merchants, hankers, and others who were asked to cash
WPA pay C'hecks, and, through proper ldentiflcatlon of
each WPA worker, the necessary safeguards we1·e establb,hed. The malling of pay checks resulted In reducing
udmlnlstratlve costs and nt the same time assured prompt
receipt of pay checks by the proj!'<'t workers.
Workmen's Compensation
Projl't'l workers who suffered traumatic lnjurll'S In the
pt>rfo1•mnn<'t' of their <lutit>S were eligihlt- for certain compensnlion ben!'fits. 'l'hese benPflts were a1lminlstered by
the United States Employees' Com1iensatlon Commission,
under procedures which were similar to those appl icable
to other Federal agencies exeept in one important particular. Becnuse WPA workens rt>celv~l only 11 subsistence
wage Rnd could m•t nff11rd to wait for t~lmpens11tion to
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
ized the WPA to pay t11e compensation benefits for the
first 30 days, after which payments were made by the
Commission.
In each State WPA Division of Finance, a compensation
officer, appointed by the State administrator subject to the
approval of the United States Employees' Compensation
Commission, served under the State director of finance.
These compensation officers were assisted by WPA employees in each district and hy the project timekeepers. It
was soon found that the project timekeepers co~ld be
trained to handle compensation matters; and eventually
all of the necessary field work and paper work Involved
in compensation matters was handled by the project
timekeepers. Under this arrnngement, the State compensation officer and his small stair concentrated their
efl'orts on larger compensation cases and on maintaining
the necessary liaison with the Commission.
Appropriations for WPA Activities
WPA activities were financed primarily from Federal
funds appropriated by Congress, but a large share of the
('Osts was met by the State and local agencies that sponsored WP A projects. Federal funds for the WPA program
were made available by Congress In the various ERA acts.'
Funds for work re1ief purposes made available through
the ERA Acts of 1035, 1936, and 1937 were appropriated
directly to the President, who in turn allocated funds to
the WPA. Beginning with the ERA Act of 1938, Congress
appropriated funds directly to the WPA for the operation
of its program.
The amount of funds made available for WPA activities
was based primarily on the probable need for employment
in the fiscal year ahead. It was necessary for Congress to
make deficiency appropriations during s~veral fiscal years
in order that more WPA employment might be provided
than had originally been anticipated.
The amount of funds made available through the ERA
acts to the WPA In Its 8 years of operations varied considerably from year to year. (See Appendix table V.)
The largest amount available fi,r any fiscal year was
$2,220,00i,OOO for tne fiscal year ending June 30, 1939.
The smallest amount available, $345,730,000 was for the
fiscal year 1943, the last year of the WP A program. Of
this appropriation, there remained a surplus, as of June
30, 1943, amounting to $104,801,000, resulting from the
liquidation of the WPA program in the latter half of the
fiscal year 1943. This amount, together with $1,401,000
rPmaining from the funds available for the fiscal year 1942,
made a total of $106,202,000 (as of June 30, 1943) to be
1
Major acts under which the WPA operated and received allo<'a•
ot fun its or approprln tlons were : '.rhe ERA Act of 1935,
approved April 8, 1935; the ERA Act ot 1936, June 22, 1936; the
ERA Act ot 1937, June 29, 1937; the ERA Act of 1938, June 21,
1938; the ERA Act ot 1930, June 30, 1939; the ERA Act, fiscal
year 1941, June 26, 1940; the ERA Act, fiscal year 1042, July 1,
1941; and the ERA Act, fiscal year 1943, July 2, 1942.
Five deficiency appropriations were made In the following acts:
The First Deficiency Appropriation Act, fiscal yenr 1937, approved
February 9, 1937; Public Resolution No. 80, 75th Cong., March 2,
1938; Public Resolution No. 1, 76th Cong., February 4, 1939;
Pnhllc Resoluth111 No. 10, 76th Cong., April 13, 1939; and the
Urgent Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1941 (Public Law 9, 77th
Cong.), Murch 1, 1941.
ti one
transferred to the surplus fund of the Treasury. In
addition, it Is estimated that more than $23,233,000 covering the sale of equipment, supplies, and other property will
be paid into miscellaneous recPipts of the Treasury.• ( See
p. 80.)
Funds were made available through the ERA acts (beginning with the ERA Act of 1938) to other Federal agencies for administrative expenses Incurred by these agencies
in connection with work relief programs. Among these
agencies were the General Accounting Office, the Treasury
Department, the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of
the Budget, the United States Employees' Compensation
Commission, and others.
Allocation of WPA Funds
Funds made available to the WPA were allocated by the
Commissioner for CPrtain purposes. These included the
operation of WPA projects, the administration of ·the
WPA program, the operation of WPA projects by other
Federal agencies, and the settlement of property damage
claims. In making these allocations, the Commissioner
was restricted by statutory limitations In the expenditure
of WPA funds for specific purposes.
The ERA Acts of 1937 and 1988 specified that not' more
than ri percPnt of the total amount allocated or appropriated to the WPA could be used for administrative purposes.
The ERA Act of 1939 was the first of the various ERA
acts to specify the actual amount that might be used for
WPA administrative expenses. Limits were placed on
categories within administrative expenditures, such as
salaries, communication service, travel, and printing and
binding. The actual amount allowed for administration
varied with the size of the appropriation, but averaged
about 4 percent o( the total appropriation. The allocation
of WPA funds to other Federal agencies for the operation
of projects similar to those operated by the WP.\ was first
authorized by the ERA Act of 1938; specified amounts for
allocation for this purpose were designated in this and
subsequent acts. The ERA acts for fiscal years 1942 anll
1943 provided for the allocation of funds to other Federal
agencies for the planning and review of WPA projP<'ts.
Expenditures of WPA Funds
Total WPA expenditures for the 8-year period were
$10,750,501,000. Of this amount, $10,568,797,000 was expemled for programs operated by the WPA and $181,705,000, for programs operated by other Federal agencie11.
About 96 percent, or $10,136,743,000, of the expenditures
for programs operated by the WPA, was used for project
operations and $416,084,000, for administration. The
small amount remaining, $15,969,000, was expended on
miscellaneous activities, including pnrchasf's of surplus
clothing, aid to self-help and cooperative as,;odations,
tornacl.o relief, and settlement of property damage claims.
( See table 33.)
• As ot June 30, 1944, the unobllguted balance remaining under
funds appropriated to the WPA was $106,856,000. This amount,
plus $202,000 tor unliqulrlnte!l ohllgntlons, ERA Act, fiscal year
1942, nnd the $23,238,000 In estimated returns from sale of
property, would make $130,291,000 available tor transfer to the
•11rpiu• tund and miscellaneous receipts ot the Treasury.
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FINANCIAL SUMMARY
TABLE 33.-AMOUNT OF WPA FUNDS EXPENDED FOR PROGRAMS OPERATED BY WPA AND BY OTHER
FEDERAL AGENCIES, BY FISCAL YEAR
a
THROUGH JUNE 30, 1943
Programs operat<-d by WP A
Year ending June 30-
Grand total
Total
Amount
Percent
Total._ _____________ .. __________ . • $10,750,500,969 • $10,568,796,592
1936. -·-··----···--·----·-·--·--------1~37 __ ···-· -- ------- ---·-- ..• -- -- . ----1\1.18_ -·--··---····-·----··--··---··---·
l!<JII._ •••• ·-·-··-··-----·-·----·-·--···
1\)4()_. ·-·- •• ·--------- ·-- -----·- -· ·-··.
1941._ .. ·----··-··----·--·--·---·-···-·
1942. -···-·-·-------··---· ·--·------·-·
11/43_ -··--··-·-··----·------------·---·
1, 21i8. 130. 249
1,818. 130,501
I, 42i, 374,309
• 2,230. 749, 1193
• 1, 520. JOf., 078
• I, 326,110,531
• 887, 6-17, 532
• 282, 251. ii6
1,258,130,249
1,818,130,501
1,427,374,309
• 2. 157,200,362
• I, 461,700.340
• I, 284, 780, 435
• 879,247.501
• 282, 142, 895
Administration
Project operations
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
100. 0 $10,136, i43, 2113
95.9
$416,084, 232
4.1
$181,704,377
I, 193,567,378
I, 751,286,222
I, 363,566,376
2, 0H7, 971. 970
1,408,571,637
1,239, I i8. 494
844,498,229
268, 102, 1187
94.9
96.3
95. 5
95.9
116. 4
96. 5
96.0
95.0
64,562,871
66,SH,279
63, 807, 933
73,401,072
53,171,371
<IS, 574,658
34,717,439
14,004,609
5.1
3. 7
4. 5
3. 4
3. 6
3. 5
3.9
6.0
73,549,631
511,315. 738
41,330.0116
8,400.031
108,881
100.0
100.0
100.0
1000
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
• Includes NYA administrative expenses Incurred prior to July 19'J9 but does not include funds for other NYA activities or WPA funds transfL-rred under
the ERA Acts of 1935 end 1936 lor land utilization and rural rehnbilitation programs administen'<l by the Farm s,•curity Administration.
• Includt•s work projects and administrative expPnditures ol WI' A funds allocated under sec. 3 of the ERA Act ol 1938, sec. ti ol the ERA Act ol 1939, sec. 10
of the ERA Act, fl.seal
1941, and sec. 6 of the ERA Act, fiscal year 1942.
• Includes a total o $15,9(;9,067 expended on miscellanoous activities, including purchases ol surplus clothing, aid to sell-t.rlp and rooperative assoclatirns,
tornado relief, and settlt>ment of property damage claims. The distribution of this total by fiscal year is as follows: 193\f--$15,827,:!20; 1940-~$47,332; 1941-$27,283;
year
I IK2-$3 I ,b33; 1943--$35,299.
Source: Based on reports of the U.S. Treasury Department and the Work Proj,•rts .~dminlstratlon.
Thf' trend in WPA expe1Hlitures followed roughly thnt
of project employment, since the volume of project employment was the principal determinant of the amount of expenditures. Some deviations, howe,·er, were Inevitable
because the level of expenditures was also influenced by
the average earnings of projf'ct employel's and hy the nonlu bor costs.
WPA expenditure figures from month to month varied
more than did those of WPA emplo~·ment. This was due
in part to technical factors In pay roll nccounting and purc-hl1si11g pr()(-edures. Average ligurt>s, sn<'h as the threemonth moving avernge slum'l1 in chart !'i, tend to minimize
the effect of tht>se tech11icnl factors 111ul thus provide a
more satb1f1t<·tory mP:unu·e of change !11 WPA expendltureia.
WPA exp!'nditur!'s vnrit>d greatly from year to yt>nr.
By fur t~e largest total annunl l'Xpencllture for the programs operated dlrectry hy th!' WPA was ineurred during
the flsral year t>ndlng June 30, 19:ID. Thnt year alone accounted for more thau $2,1;;7,200,000. The last 4 yt>11rs
of the WPA program were mark!'(] hy a eontinuous dt>l'llne
in annual expendih1rl'R. During the flsc-ul year 19--!3, wht>n
the WPA program was bl'i11g liquidated, expenditures
lllllOUUted to only $282,143,000.
The annual adminlstratlvt> !'xpenrlltures of thP ,vPA
fluet1111tt>d bPtween 3.4 1wrc-e11t and !'i.l perceut of total
mmunl expenditttrPS _for programs operntt>d by tilt> ,vPA.
Ill the first yeur nnd in the final year of thP WPA pr'Ogram, su<·h aclmlnistrativP exppnrllttu·t>s were, rPSJJPCtlvt>ly,
TABLE 34.-AMOUNT OF WPA FUNDS EXPENDED FOR PROGRAMS OPERATED BY WPA AND BY OTHER
FEDERAL AGENCIES a
J\Jo:o.THLY, Jn.Y 1935-Jl'.NE 1943
Un I housandsJ
163.1)74
IIWJ.017
141,:!50
128, Oi9
1,5>\, I 41;
1:17. 214
1:11.353
141.555
1-12. 007
1,52, 632
lfill,699
157,077
151,504
158,\1()2
17-1.298
160,Sm
177,793
112, 7iG
W,.'>44
97. f;(),5
00, 575
95,672
107,085
167..'\44
1118. 174
2111,53:l
204, 743
192,607
214, 794
lfl4. 7791
I ,).,,,00.1
"' r:~~
IH48i
Ii-I, 180
July ...... -.-·---··-- · __ -·-···-·-··-·····--·
August._·-. -- -- .. ---·- ..... - . ---· -- - -· .. · · •
i~~t!~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
November _____ ----.·--- ... ·--·· -- . -- ---·--·
Decembe,-__ ··----------·---···-·-··---···---
162
5,812
16. 960
ar,. 210
58,HHI
134,296
J02.(i.17
IOS. 258
14:), 984
1940
1941
1942
1943
$1,440, (188
$1,135,217
$618,408
$69,452
181,427
1.~.&18
203. IS:l
169. 937
167,211
170, 7'J9
121.060
l:.!IJ, 431
141,M,5
13-1. 77,r,
1:!0, ,572
IU\,671
IW,9,57
106, i'7M
112. \148
I JO, 553
liK\,M8
99,093
i8.(IUI
69. 870
Ii!<, 71!6
62, 7Utl
57,581
22.1116
18.:!2,5
12. 93ti
8,:Jl!.I
4,504
2.:!87
141. 716
Ill. 6-13
118,402
to:l,891
IW,307
108. 407
114,284
90,359
77,576
52,237
38,455
33, 166
32,106
• 28,541
d 28,296
-----------·
--------------------------------------------------------
J:l7, 074
HK,.~
116,016
118,565
133,301
77, 7.12
81,000
76. 620
78,133
611. 563
b
b
b
b
• For programs Included, see lcotnotes to tahle 33.
• Data for other Federal a~encirs not nvailnble.
• Data for other Fed,•ral a~endes cover perlo:I July-:-l'ovemher 1942.
• Programs operated by other F,'<lernl agcncil's discontinued as of Dec. 31, 1942.
Source: B88ed on reports of the U.S. Treasury Department and the Work Projects Administration.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
CHART
5
WPA EXPENDITURES•
July 1935 - June 1943
MILLIONS
MILLIONS
OF DOLLAIIS
OF DOLLARS
250
290
200 1 - - - - + - - /
- - + - - - - ; - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - 1 - - _ . 200
3•MONTH
MOVING AVERAGE
I
50
>------il--+---------1--
1935
*
1936
1937
lncludN WPA funds allocated 1D
1938
other Federal qenclea
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
from July 1938 1D date.
5.1 percent and fi.O percent. The somewhat higher average
in these two years was due to the relatively large administrative personnel necessary in the organization of the
WPA program In 1935 and In the liquidation of the program in 1943. At the peak of the WPA program, administrative expenses amounted to only 3.4 percent of the total
expenditures for programs operated by the WPA.
Sponsors' Contributions
lt'rom the h1>ginnlng of the WPA program, State and
IO<'al government agencies (·ontributed toward the operation of its project aetivities. The rontrlbutlon of sponsors
in the first year of the WPA p1·ogram wns only 10 percent
of total projl'<'l costs, in the fifth yenr of the program It
was 26 percent, und in the last 3 yeurs of the program
it was between 30 and 31 percent annually.
The contribution of sponRors to the emit of non-Federal
projects was made subject to statutory control through the
NRA Act of 1937. This and subsequent acts required the
sponsor to 11gree lr1 writing to finan('e sm·h part of the
entire cost of the project as was not to be financed from
Federal funds. The ERA Act of 1939 and subsequent
net!! required that for non-I<'ederal projects approved after
Janua·ry 1, 1940, the sponsors' share of the entire cost of
all such projeds should al"erage at least 25 percent for
each State. Projects certified as Important for military or
naval purposes were exempted (EilA act, thical year 1941)
from this requirement. During the period from July 1.
1940 through March 31, 1943, sponsors furnished about 23
percent of the total cost of certified projects.
Although for the cowitry as a whole, sponsors' contrlbations amounted to 22 percent of total project costs during
the 8 years of the WPA program, there was considerable variation In the degree of sponsors' participation
from State to State. Sponsors' contributions, as related to
total funds expended fo1• projects operated by the WPA,
rnnged from 16 percent in Pennsylvania to 32 percent In
Nevada. In large industrial States, such as New York,
Pennsylrnnla, 11nd Massachusetts, sponsors' contributions
were below the national average. This Is partly explained
by the heavy commitments Incurred by State and local government agendes In these States in providing for their
!urge programs of gener11l relief. (See appendix table
XII.)
WPA and Sponsors' Expenditures on
Projects Operated by the WPA
The total of WPA and sponsors' expenditures for .projects operated by the WPA from July 1985 through June
1943 was $12,974,457,000. The WPA supplied $10,136,743.·
000 and sponsors, $2,837,713,000. (See table 35.)
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FINANCIAL SUMMARY
CHART Cl
WPA AND SPONSORS' EXPENDITURES ON PROJECTS
OPERATED BY WPA, BY FISCAL YEAR
AND BY SOURCE OF FUNDS
Throup June 30, 1943
MIUIOIISOI-.....,.
-
-
co;;====~SCIOE1======·5-~~==..-__!_'"i'.sao..,.___
_!,2.000~_ __:2.500~~-~3.000
_.,,_
....... 30. , ...
__
.,.,,,.,.
!~- ~ WPA f'UNDII
Obieds of Expenditure
The WPA project funds were UBed to pay the wages
of certHled relief workers and of some of the supervisory
personnel and for a small portl,pn of nonlabor costs. Spon·
aors' funds were used to pay for the bulk of the nonlabor
costs of projects and the salaries of some of the super.
visory personnel, engineers, operators of heavy equipment,
and other key personnel not available among persons certified for WPA employment. ·
Nearly 89 percent of WPA project expenditures,
$8,990,597,000, was used for wages of project workers; 11
percent, or $1,146,147,000, was expended for the purchase
of materials, suppltes, and equipment; rent of equipment;
and other nonlabor costs. Only 17 percent of sponsors'
funds, $481,608,000, was spent for labor; 83 percent, or
$2,356,106,000, was used for the purchase of materials, supplies, and equipment ; rent of equipment ; and other non•
labor costs.
TABLE 35.-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS'
FUNDS EXPENDED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY
WPA, BY FISCAL EAR AND BY SOURCE OF
FUNDS
y
THROUGH JUNE
30, 1943
Sponsors' funds
Year ending
1one30-
Total funds
--·
WPAfunds
Total •••••••• S12, 974, 4116, 687 SIO, 136, 743, 293
1936••••••••.•••
11137•••••.••••••
11138•.•.•....•••
11138••••••.••.••
UNO ••••••••••••
!IN!••••••••••••
19'2.. .•••..••...
1913••••..•.•.••
Perecnt
Amount
I, 326, 457, 262
2,051,890,076
1, 7311, 173,997
2, 1561, 911,030
I, 902,929,067
I, 787,148,267
1, 226, 648, 254
~.298, 734
I, 193, M7, 378
I, 751,286,222
I, 363, 566,376
2,067, 971, 970
1, 408, 671,637
1,239,178.494
844, 498, 229
268, 102, 987
or total
funds
fl, 837,713,394
21.9
132, 889, 884
300,603,854
371,607,621
493, 939, 060
494,367,430
547,969,773
381,100,025
115,196, 747
10.0
14. 7
21.4
19.3
26. 0
30. 7
31.1
30.1
Soarce: WPA apendlturee bued OD U. 8. ~ Department and
WPA report,; ~ • apeudf&unlll based on WP£ reports.
Of the total labor costs ($9,472,204,000),
about 95 percent was paid from WP.A
. funds and 5 percent from sponsors' funds.
On the other hand, of the total nonlabor
costs ($3,502,252,000), the WPA paid 88
percent and the sponsors, 67 percent.
Types of Projeds
The proportion of expenditures incurred
for dlft.'erent types of projects varied from
year to year, In accordance with changes
In employment and the relative need for
such projects. The largest part of program expenditures was always devoted to
construction projects. For the period ex•
tending from July 1935 through March
1943, construction projects accounted for
more than three.fourths (77 percent) of
total WPA and sponsors' expenditures on
projects operated by the WPA, service
projects accounted for about 23 percent,
- ....
and training and reemployment projects
accounted for less than 1 percent (appendix
table X) .1 All major types of projects were usually included in the work program of the Individual States.
There were considerable dilferences, however, in the rela•
tive Importance of various types of projects In the
ditferent States. ( See appendix table XIV.)
The most Important of the types of projects ln terms of
expenditu~s, were highway, road, and street projects. Jnx.
penditures on these projects ($4,903,767,000) accounted
for about one-half of the expenditures on construction
projects and for nearly two•fifths of the expenditures on
all projects during the 8 years of the WPA program. Next
ln Importance ln terms of expenditures were welfare
projects. Expenditures on these projects ($1,438,674,000)
accounted for about one-half of the expenditures on all
service projects and for more than one-tenth of total
project expenditures.
The relative Importance of project types In terms of
expenditures changed from time to time; In some Instances
these changes were quite pronounced. The proportion of
expenditures incurred on construction projects declined in
the last few years of the program, while the proportion of
service projects Increased. Construction projects averaged
nearly 79 percent of total project expenditures during the
first 5 years of the program and 72 percent of project
expenditures for the last 8 years. Certain types of construction projects, however, increased In relative Importance after the defense program began in July 1940.
Airport and airway projects, which accounted for only 2
percent of total expenditures in the first 5 years, accounted
for 6 percent of project expenditures In the last 8 years.
The proportion of expenditures Incurred for service projects was 21 percent In the first 5 years and about 26
percent In the last 8 years. Vocational training projects,
• A breakdown of expenditures by type of project Is aTallable
only through March 1943. The S:.year period of the WPA program referred to In this section Includes Jnly 19811 through March
31, 1948. As most projects were closed out by that time the
difference In the data for the entire year would be slight.
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102
FINAL.REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 36.-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY
FISCAL y EAR, BY SOURCE OF FUNDS, AND BY OBJECT OF EXPENDITURE
THROt:GH JUNE
30, 1943
·wPA!unds
Sponsors' funds
Labor
Y,•ar ending Jurl(• 30-
Total
TotaL ___ ... _.............. _.......•........... $12,974,456,687 $JO, 136, 743. 29.1
I. 326. 457,262
2,051 ;890, 076
I. i3.5. 173, 997
2, 561,911,030
1,002,929,067
I. 787,148.267
I. 225, &18, 25-1
383, 2118, 734
Total
P('TCPUt
or total
WPA
funds
Amount
19:!6 .....•..... ··• ............•....................
1937. ··············· ........... ··· · ··· · ···· · · · ······· 1938............
···-•·--·················•19:19 ........................ ···•··
1940 ......... . ................. .. .. . .. . ... . ........ .
1941. ................................ . . ... ...... ... .
1942............ ..
··•• ........ . .. .
1943 .............................................. .
Nonlabor
Total funds
I, 193, 567,a78
I, 751. 286,222
I. 363, 566, 37fi
2, Olli, 971, 970
I. 408,571.637
I. Zl9, 178, 494
844,498,220
268, 102, 987
Amount
Percent
or totnl
sponsors'
funds
$8,990,596, 759
88. 7
$2, 837, 713, 394
$2, 356, I 05, 776
83.0
l. 040, 400, 114
I, 472,878, 150
I, Zll, 500, 282
87. 2
84. I
00.3
91.0
91.5
00. 4
86.2
84. 6
132, 889, 884
300. 603,854
371. 607,621
493,939,060
494,357,430
5-17, 960, 773
381. 150,025
115, 195, 747
104. 456. 878
246,222, li65
306, f,82. 033
417,318,024
414. 843, 889
456,213,001
317,079,580
92,389.806
82.5
84.5
83.11
83.3
83. 4
80.2
1,881,010,586
I. 289, 469, 608
1, 1~, 465,964
727, 938. 698
226, 843, 348
78.6
81.11
Sourcl': WPA 1•,1~.-nditures based on U.S. Treasury Department and WPA reports; sponsors• expenditures based on WPA reports.
Inaugurated in July 11)40, accounted for nearly 5 percent
of total project expenditures In the fiscal year 1943.
The proportion of project expenditures used for wages
was dependent to a eom;iderable extent on the type of work
performed. Labor expenditures for service projects were
relatively higher than those for construction projects
because the latte1· required a relatively heavier outlay for
materials, supplies, and equipment. For the 8-year period
of the WPA program, labor costs constituted T& percent of
total project expenditures; for construction projects the
proportion was 70 percent and for service projects it wus
83 percent. (See appe111llx tahle X.)
The extent of sponsor participation was dependent i11 a
large measure on the type of work performed. Sponsors
contributed 22 percent of the total project expenditures
du1·lng the period of the WPA program. The sponsors·
share for constmctlon projects was about 24 percent, but
their share for sen·lce projects was only 16 percent, and
for training projects, 17 percent. Howewr, some types of
projects showed considerable de'l'iations from these
proportions.
The ~ation's defense and war program greatly influenced
the nature of WPA operations after July 1940. Expenditures for projects ee1•tified as important for military and
uurnl purposes amounted to $f':i39,507,000. (St>e p. SH.)
Average Project Costs )er Man-Year
of Employment
Projeets operuted by the WP A provided appi-oxhnately
13,790,000 man-years of ep1ployment at a total cost of
$12,974,4ii7,000, or at 1111 average of $941 per ,man-year.'
Of this nvrrnge 11111n-yPar cost, $687 went for wages nn<l
$:!iH. for nonlahor c-rn;I><. A11111wl a,·eruge man•yeur Posts
rose markedly after 11)-10. The average for the last year
of the WPA program (~·ear ending June 30, 1943) wni:;
$1,41:'i. almost donhle that for the first ~·ear ( $72-1 l. ( See
table ::!7.)
The ~harp ri,-.e in the average project costs per man-year
dnri111,: the later years of the WPA program was due to
• A man•)'f'nr of emplornwnt Is (lefined as employment of a
workc•r during
11
full year.
TABLE 37.-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED AND AVERAGE EXPENDITURES PER
MAN-YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY FISCAL YEAR AND BY OBJECT
OF EXPENDITURE
THROUGH JUNE
Man-years
or
employment
Year ending June 30--
30, 1943
·--------~onlahor
13, iOO, 189 $12,974, 45f\ 687
$9, 472, ~4, 3i7
$3, 502, 252, 310
$940.85
$6.56. 88
$253. 97
I, :J26, 457, 262
2,051,890.076
1, i35, I 73. 1197
2,561,911,030
1, ~2, 929,067
I, 787, 148, 267
I, 225, &18, 254
383, 298, 734
I, Ofi8, 83.1, 120
I, 527,259,448
257,624, 142
524, 630, 628
4:18. 658, 127
604, 2i0, 408
533, \145. 918
5i4, 925,531
434, b39, 111
133, 649, 445
723. 53
919. 78
896. 99
8i9.10
960. 32
583.01
684.61
670. 23
6il. i5
690. 86
729. 85
8~. 75
921.30
140. 52
235. 17
226. 76
~7.35
1,833.304
2,730,843
I, 934,441
2,914,247
I, 981,562
I, 660,930
rn:16 ................ . ........ . ........ . . ·- ·· ..•..••.....
1937 ....... . . . ....................... . ....... . ......... .
1938 .. ······ .. ······ ................................ -.
IY39 ....... . ........ . ............. . ............... ·---·
Hl40 ..................... . ..... . . ..... . ..... ....... .
IH◄ I
................ ... ................ .
11142 ·········· ..
·····--•··--···· .
1943 ·······--············· ......................... .
Total
Labor
Total
____
Total. .................... -- ... -..... -• ......... . ,
Avera~• expenditures
per man.year
·wp A and sponsors' funds exp<'!ldcd
963,888
270,974
I, 2116, 515. 870
I, 957, 6.11, 622
1,368, 98:J, 149
1, 212, 22?, 736
i91, I09, 143
249, &19, 289
1, 07[} 99
1, 2il. fii
I, 414. 52
Source: WPA expenditures based on U.S. Treasury Department and WPA reports; sponsors' expenditures based o}--~A reports.
.
Digitized by
Labor
u0081e
Nonlabor
2611. 46
346.14
450. 82
4113.22
103
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
several causes, chief of which were the increase In the average project earnings as a result of upward revisions in the
wage schedule, the proportionately larger earnings of
workers on certified war projects, and the decline in
the proportion of unskilled workers employed on projects.
In addition, nonlabor costs rose conspicuously in the final
years of the WPA program, especially after July 1940.
There was a net rise of 250 percent In the average
nonlabor costs per man-year between the fi1•st and the
last years of the program as compared with a rise of only
58 percent in the average earnings fo1· the same period.
The increase In the average nonlabor costs resulted chiefly
from the relaxation on certified construction projects of
ordina1·y limitations applying to nonlabor costs.
Organization of the WPA
Division of Finance
WPA fiscal functions in the centrnl administration were
handled by the Division of Finance. The director of the
Division reported to the assistant commissioner in charge
of the Divisions of Finance, Statistics, and Research. The
functions of the Division of Finance were distributed
among various sections.
The Accounts Section maintained detailed accounts for
the central administration and gave technical direction to
the maintenance of detailed accounts in the State Divisions
of Finance.
The Voucher or Examination Section formulated p1·ocedures regarding t,he examination of vouchers and wnR
responsible for clearing claims with the General AccountIng Office.
The Food Control Section was responsible for controlling, within prescribed limitations and by type of work and
individual project, the status of budgets, funds authorized,
encumbrances, obligations, and expenditures. It also
controlled the allocation of funds to other Federal agencies.·
The Property Accounting Section formulated procedures
and issued instructions concerning the detalled methods of
accounting for all types of property.
The Compensation Section formulated procedures regarding eligibility for, and payment of, compensation to
injured workers, and maintained liaison with the United
States Employees' Compensation Commission.
The assistant director of the Division in the central
administraion, in addition to othef duties, maintained
technical supervision over the regional examiners workIng out of the regional offices.
In each regional office the Division of Finance maintained
a small staff of regional examiners, headed by a chief
regional examiner. This staff was administratively under
the authority of the regional director.
·
'fhe functions of the regional examiner were to intermediate between the central administration and the State
and district offices; to give information nnd advice; to
secure adherence to WPA policies and standards; · to report to the ceutrnl administration on fiscal matters; to
make recommendations to the central administration regarding funds needed to operate the program; and to
maintain liaison with the regional staffs of other Federal
agencies.
In the States, the Division of Finance ordinarily comprised six sections: executive, accounts, voucher, field
examination, property accounting, and compensation.
The State director of the Division was responsible administratively to the State admi,nistrator, but in matters
of techniques and method was under the supervision of
the Division of Finance In the central administration, and
of the regional examiners as representatives of the central
111hninistration. Each State Division of F'inan~ established standards and detailed methods of performing
the finance work within the State, made recommendations
to the State adminlstrato1· on administrative and project
budgets, and approved the appointment of personnel within the Division.
Each district Division of Finance had the duty of carryIng 'into effect the reb'lllations nnd methods established
by the Stnte division. It bandied timekeeping, compensation, and property accounting; carried on training for
timekeepers; and made recommendations to the State division regarding fiscal methods. The district finance officer
and the area finance officers working under him, although
subject to Instruction, appeal, and overruling, were nC<'essarlly responsible for u mnltltnde of dally decisions, most
of which went unchalleuged and were thus final.
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APPENDIX A: TABLES
LIST OF TABLES
Pue
I.
II.
Ill.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
xv.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
Explanatory Notes---·-·--------------·--------------------------------·----··
Number of Persons Employed on WPA Projects, Weekly, August 1935-June 1943_.__
Average Number of Persons Employed on WPA Projects, by State, Quarterly, September
1935-June 1943_. _____ --·- __ --· ________________________________________ ·_ ____ _
Number of Persons Employed on WP A Projects, by State and by Major Type of Project,
December 15, 1942 ________________________________ • -· _________ • ______ .. ·- .. __
Hours and Earnings of Persons Employed on Projects Operated by WP A, by State and
by Fiscal Year, through June 30, 1942----·---·-·----------------------------·--.
Status of Funds Made Available to WPA under the Various ERA Acts, as of June 30,
1943----------------··-·--·--·----------· ---------·--------------------·--Amount of WPA Funds Allocated, Obligated, and Expended, by Operating Agency,
through June 30, 1943 ____ .. ·- ______________ .. _... _______ . _. __ . __ ·- ___ . ________
Amount of WP A Funds Expended for Programs Operated by WP A and by Other Federal
Agencies, by Operating Agency and by Fiscal Year, through June 30, 1943________
Amount of WP A Funds Expended for Programs Operated by WP A and by Other Federal
Agencies, by State and by Fiscal Year, through June 30, 1943-----··------·---Amount of WP A and Sponsors' Funds Expended for N onlabor Purposes on Projects
Operated by WP A, by Type of Purchase or Rental and bY. Source of Funds, Cumulative
through October 31, 1942 ____ .. __ .. __ . ___ . _______________________ . _____ -· _·-- _
Amount of WP A and Sponsors' Funds Expended on Projects Operated by WP A, by
Type of Project, by Source of Funds, and by Object of Expenditure, Cumulative
through March 31, 1943----·-------------·-----·--·-------------------------·
Amount of WPA and Sponsors' Funds Expended on Projects Operated by WPA, by
Type of Project, by Source of Funds, and by Object of Expenditure, July 1, 1942March 31, 1943 ___ • _________________________________ . ____________ __________ _ _
Amount of WPA and Sponsors' Funds Expended on Projects Operated by WPA, by
St.ate, by Source of Funds, and by Object of Expenditure, Cumulative through June
30, 1943 __ ·-·--·--·----·----·---------··-·-·-·---·--··---···--·············Amount of WPA and Sponsors' Funds Expended on Projects Operated by WPA, by
State, by Source of Funds, and by Object of Expenditure, Year Ending June 30, 1943.Amount of WP A and Sponsors' Funds Expended on Construction Projects Operated by
WPA, by State and by l\lajor Type of Project, Cumulative through March 31, 1943.
Amount of ·wpA and Sponsors' Funds Expended on Projects Operated by WP A, by
State and by Major Type of Project, July 1, 1942-March 31, 1943 •........... ·-···
Physical Accomplishments and Public Participation on Projects Operated by WP A,
Cumulative through June 30, 1943.... _.. __ . _........ __ . _...... __ .. . . .. .. . . . . . .
Selected Activities on WPA Service Programs, by State, Selected Periods.·-···--·····
Selected Items of Physical Accomplishment on Construction Projects Operated by
WPA, by State, Cumulative through June 30, 1943 .. ·-···-·····-··-···---·---··-
104
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105
106
110
113
ll5
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
128
131
134
135
EXPLANATORY NOTES
WPA statistics presented in this report relate to activi•
ties conducted under the program from Its initiation In the
s11mmer of 1935 through June 30, 1943. The figures cover
activities on all WPA projects financed in whole or in part
, with WPA funds. Most of these projects have been opera•
led by the WPA Itself, but in the period beginning with
July 1988 a few have been operated by other Federal
agencies with funds appropriated to the WPA and
allocated to these agencies. Unless otherwise spectfled,
all statistics presented in this report cover the continental
United States and the Territories of Alaska, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Many of the tabulations relate to fiscal years (July 1 through June 30).
Employment Statistics
WPA employment data shown in the first two tables of
the appendix relate to persons employed on all WPA
projects. Tables III and IV relate to employment on
projects operated by the WPA itself. None of the figures
shown in these tables include administrative employees or
workers paid by project SpOnsors.
Monthly WPA employment figures ha,·e been used In
· both the appendix and the text tables, except for certain
distributions that were reported only for selected weeks.
The monthly statistics are averages of the numbers em•
ployed on a given day of each week. The basic weekly
figures are summarized for the United States and terr!•
torles In table I of the appendix.
Financial Statistics
Tables V, VI, VII, and VIII are based on reports of the
Department of the Treasury and the Work Projects Ad·
ministration and relate to Federal funds allocated or
appropriated to the WPA under the ERA Acts or 1935,
1936, 1937, 1038, 1939, and fiscal years 1941, 1942, and 1943.
The data cover project operations and administrative expenses of WPA (Including administrative expenses of the
NYA prior to July 1939); other Federal agency project
operations and administrative expenses financed with
allocations of WPA funds; the purchase of surplus cloth•
Ing for needy persons and aid to self-help and cooperative
associations under the ERA Act of 1938; tornado relief
under the ERA Act of 1039 ; and the settlement of property
damage claims under the ERA Acts of 1939 and flscnl
years 1941, 1942, and 1943. Some or the terms used in
these tables are defined in the following paragraphs:
1. "Allocations" represent amounts directly appropriated to the agency or ordered transferred to it, warrants
for whit·h have been Issued by the Treasury.
2. "Obligatlons," as used In this report, represent actual
or contingent llabilltles Incurred against allocated funds.
The figures are cumulative, and represent paid, as well as
unpaid, obligations. Requisitions for materials, supplies,
and equipment are set up as obligations. Items such as
pay rolls, rents, nnd travel expenses, which are certain
to become due In a short period, are obligated one period
In advance.•
3. "Expenditures" represent checks Issued In payment
of pay rolls and other certified vouchers.
Neither obligations nor expenditures necessarily provide a wholly accurate measure of operations at any
given time since obligations In part reflect future operations, and expenditures lag behind current operations
because of the time consumed ln making actual payments.
Tables IX to XV, dealing with expenditures of WPA
and sponsors' funlffl on projects operated by WPA, are
based on data compiled from WPA project ledgers main•
tained by the WPA divisions of finance in the several
States.
Prolect Accomplishment Statistics
Tables XVI, XVII, and XVIII relate to the number of
physical units of work that were completed on projects
operated by WPA from the beginning of the program
through June 1943. The figures shown for rertaln activities 011 service programs, however, refer to the extent of
public participation during specific periods. The data
presented are limited to selected Items of accomplishment.
1
Thia definition of "obligations'' does not correspond with that
used under the revised accounting procedure e«ectlve wltb fiscal
year 1042. Under the new procedure, tbe definition given above
applies to "encumbrances," and the term "ohllgatlons" covers only
those tranAactlons which legally reserve an appropriation for ex•
pendlture. For example, the obligations recorded for labor costs
in the fiscal year_ 1942 Include only earnings for completed pay
periods plus accrued earnings for lncompleted pay periods ; In
general, those recorded for nonlabor costs Include only WPA
requisitions for which pnrchase orders, bills of lading, or atmllar
documents have been Issued.
105
'12784~7~
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TABLE !.-NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON
I
Month
I
Date
,..• .,
I operated
by WPA
Year ~ndln~
June 30, lll37
J uly . . ... --- --··_ ................... .... .......
Juty . . .... -··-··-·········· · ··-·· · ··········-··
Jul y ..• ---···----···············-· · -··-·····-··
July . ···-· ··- · -· -· - ··--· ---··- - ··········· ·· ···
Average_ ..•......••..••..•.•.••••...•.. •
A111rnst. •.. --·-··· ·-·· .....•....... • . ••••• .....
Au~'list ... -·····-· -·· - - ..... -·· ··· - - - • · - - • •• · • · ·
August. ____ •.. ..... • •..••••....••••••••••• •....
Allll11~t .••• •• ----------------- --------- - --- -- - --
August ................. . ·····-· · ••••••••• --· ·· Average·-·-················ · ··· ·· ····••·
3 ............
7 ····--·--· ··
187. 00~
14
219,781
21
252,739
28
Average.-··-··········· ····· · ····· ·· · · ··
0
co·
;:;:
N.
(D
Q.
O'
'<
()
0
0
00
,.....
(v
Novemher ... ... --·-········ ····· · · · ·······-···
N ovem ber ·······•-················· · ···-·····
NovemhN ... .....•.. _.•••.. ...• ••••• •• •••• • •..
N ovembcr .. ......•.•••..•• .. .. ..•• ••• •• ••• _•..
November ·········--···-··········· ··· ·· - ·····
Average .•.••.•••••• ··-······ ••••••• ·- • ••
Dl'remher _.• . •••... .. ....... . . . - .• · ··· ·· ···- -Dtiecmh<>r .. ··········· · ········· ··· ·····---··Dt>re mh<>r . _. _. . •. ..• ... ... . · · ··-· ···· · • • ••• ...
I)('.,..mher .. .• •.• .••.. . ..•....... .. •••••••.....
D ecem ber ._ •.. ..••.... ·- ····-· -··· ·-···-··-··-
Average ..•.•.•.. • •••••••••••• ••• ••• •• ••• _
5
12
19
26
--- ----- ------------ ------------- -- b 220, 16.1 --------
Average ·-··-··············· ········ · ·· -· ------ -Octohl-r .... . . .....•. _.. ..•. . .• ... •• ••••••.•.•..
Octoher .. ... .. . .•.• · - · ·· .••..•••• . •••• •• • ••.. . .
Octoh<,r. ---· · .. .•.....•.• •••••• • • .• • ••• • ••.....
Ortoher .......•. - .....•.•.•.••..•.• • •. •• •.•....
October .. ·-··-·······-··--·-······· ····· ·· ·· ··
1
8
---- -- -----1-~
·--- ------ -22
·------ ----29
---- --- ---- ---- -- -- -------- -- -- ---- ---10
17
24
31
4
September ..... -· ••..••.•...... .. ..•••• ••• • •. __
II
!,ept,-mher •.....•.•..•• . •.... _. .. .. •• .••• •. _. . _
18
Rrpf.em her .... ··-·-·.·· -·· •.• ••• .•• .• •••• • ••. ·25
~pts,mher •.•. .. -····- · ··-• ·•··--- - · -· ···- - · · ·S<'ptembor ·-· ·-···········-···· ·· ··· · ·· ·· · · ·-·- -- ------
2
II
16
23
30
------ -6
13
20
27
------------·- 4
11
18
26
299.543
3-14, 118
397,593
456,013
-----------374, 3111
2
9
16
23
30
------ -·
506, 100
594, 427
661 . 096
77,294
1186, 837
--------
705, 169
--- -----
1, 2f>4, 855
1,623, 6116
1,925,325
2,445, llM
----- - - - - - -
7
14
21
28
4
11
18
25
- ------ --
1,814,958
2, 563,996
2. 6(,0, 116
2. 704. 677
2,740,070
--- --- -- -------- --- -
--------
Year e ndlnR
June 30, 1938
operated
by WPA
Date
2, 6117, 190
I
-- --- --2
g
UI
23
30
·-------
2. 240,085
2. 232,917
2. 240. 223
2. 249,357
2. 264. 056
2. 245, 328
2,279,612
2, 322, 5\lt
2. 350. 750
2.376, 565
operated
by WPA
2,405, 098
2. 426,237
2,446, 721
2.481, 616
2,508,441
2, 4.53, 111n
2. 525. 411
2,645. 625
2,558,052
2,581,208
2,/lfl,7,301
2,585, 107
2,649,077
2,'82,681
----·------2,551,0f2
2,389,202
2,288. $5
2, 214, 917
2, 192. 40P
2, 152, 212
2. 247,461
Date
FlPro;."
Total
operated
by WPA
ProJccu
operawd
by othur
Federal
Yell!' ending June 30, llHO
Date
Total
Projects
operated
byWPA
agencies•
ProJrcts
opersted
by otiier
Federal
....
agenciPS •
1939
1938
), 711,585
1, 1152,2&1
1,592, 12!1
1. 568,817
6
13
20
'J:1
2,007, 489
2. !JS.1, 167
3, 022. 103
3.053,327
2. 853.129
2,898, 597
2, 037. ll'l tl
2.1Mi6, 832
84,300
8-1, 570
84, 177
86,495
4
l, 538,217
l, 524, 167
1,501.356
1,479,836
3
10
17
24
31
3,076,588
3,101, 3-1-1
3,123,988
3, 153.113
3.171.184
2,992,876
3, 016. n5
3,038.875
3,0f,6, ~5
3,085, 762
83,712
84,569
8,5, 113
86,218
85, 422
3.125, 244
3. 040, 237
85,007
28
3, 197, 4,59
3,210,312
3,218,684
3,228,082
3,108,921
3,121,091
3, l'J:7, 757
3,136,505
88,538
89,221
00,B'J:1
111,577
1, 450, 667
1,457, 029
I, 466. 925
1,475,800
5
12
19
26
3, 233. 002
3, 266. 075
3. :JOO. 328
3,346, 107
3. 144. 433
3, 17-~. 259
3,208,951
3,253,623
89. 499
90, 816
91, 377
92. 484
1,487,007
1,498,628
1,509,505
1,519, 740
2
9
16
3. 311.1, 841
3,358, 52,5
3,34-5,(l-12
3,31 8. 91!3
3,286, 592
3,271,398
3,266.550
3,252,555
3,225.625
3,193,658
92,44.1
91,975
92,477
113,35A
92,934
3, 334,594
3, 241,957
92,637
3,240. 6n
S, 185. ~21
3, 123. 91'.i!
3, 093,855
3. 1-48, 437
3,003.927
3. 032. 759
3,002,241
92, 240
91 , 894
91 , 209
91,614
3. 161, 080
3. 069, 341
91,739
26
2,388,080
2. 2811, 702
2,250.3118
2. 200, 195
2, 3.5!1, 170
2.U8,6 11
2,197,226
2. 143,662
li6. 533
2
9
16
23
30
2,082.3fi6
2, 053.552
1,977.300
1,897.896
1,842,230
2,025,246
l, 994, 736
1,916,525
1, 8..14. 747
1, 7i8, 175
57,120
58,816
60,871
6.1, 149
64,055
"Cl
1,970,688
I. 009, 8811
60,802
ij
27
1,662,447
1,695, 794
1,735, 580
1,790,164
1,603,275
1, 6.13. 095
1,667,836
1, 7111, 873
59,172
62,699
67. 744
70,291
4
11
18
25
1, 834. 192
1, 875, 1110
1,898. 671
1,901,702
1,764, 361
1.802, 225
), 823, 729
1,825,007
69. 1!31
72, 965
74. Ot2
75,765
I
1, 901. 147
1,929. 219
I, 960,806
1, fl87, 202
2,024,214
1,824, 113
1,851,244
I, 883,825
1,909,236
1,945,352
77, 034
77,975
76,1181
Tl, 966
78,862
5
12
19
29,001
41.01ll
5.1,H2
·-- ---- - -- ---- -- ---- -------- ------------ ------ ----- - ----------- - -------- ----- •· ----- --- -- ------ - --- --- -----2,236,920
45,167
84. 000 -------- 2. 282. 087
-- ---- -- 1,6.11,201 -- ------ 2,999,021 - 2,914, 121
II
IR
25
--- ----1
8
16
22
211
------· ·
6
13
20
27
------------ ----- --2,552,574
I
7
H
21
28
------------ -- ------ ---------- -2, 332,380
0
0)
Year ending June 30, 1939
1007
1006
1935
lnh· ....... -- ---------- ------··-· -········· .... .
I
I I __, I I _.,. I
Date
.....
PROlECTB
AuousT 1935--JUNE 1943
WEEXLT,
Yrar rndlnR
June 30, 1936
WPA
), 510. 894
1,466,361
1. 458,830
1,455, 170
1,451, 112
1. 448,411
1, 455. 977
------ -7
H
21
24
--------- ---
--- --- --
1,503, 720
1
8
15
22
211
1, 5.17, 558
1,557,689
l.~.244
I, R29, 271
I. 670,620
------··
1,598,676
6
13
20
-- ------ ---------- -- ----- ------- -- ---- --- --- ------- - --------- --- ------ ---- -1, 656, 019
00, 041 ··-----· 1, 720. 996
-------- 3,213,609 3, 123,5611
··-- ----- --- ------·· --- ------- -- ---- -- -- --- - ---- -- ---- -111, 044
-- -- ---- 1,462. 605 ---- ---- 3. 286,611 3. 195,567
3
10
17
--------
23
30
------ -7
14
21
28
8
-------6
13
20
27
------- - ------------ --- -- ------- --- ------- -- --------
--------
--------
~
~
0
0
z
"3
------------ Illl'9
64, 977
-- --- --- ----- --- ---- ----- ----- -- ---------- -·
73, 376
-------- 1,877,439 1,804,063
15
22
29
..,...
z
1,960,618
l,!m,764
Tl, 784
2,075, 387
2,122, 821
2, 143,670
2,161,847
1,996, 894
2,0f4. 5UI
2,006, 171
2, 075,ffl
78. 4113
78. 305
2,123,431
2,04S, 889
77,342
77, 4W
73, 870
----- ------- ---- ---- ---- ------------
~
:
'O
=
0
Q
~
I(
't
-1937
11136
Montb
1anuary. ........ ............................ ..
2
2,782.252
1~698
13(I 12,
2, 124,3'11
20
2, 129, 2.'iO
27
2, 138. 059
1938
--
1,711,932
1. 767, 701
1. 832, 148
I, 900,625
5
12
19
36
11139
-
1~0
2,
89, 9351
2, 1179,
939, 91171
574
90,
Ult
2, 9IO, 907
90, IM
2,895,125 .....•90.4115.
3, 029,
069, 765.
932
11• 1 3,
18
3, 001, 062
25
2. 985, 820
!E§~~·:·:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~m~~l 1~1···········r······, ____,___,;____,__
I
m
Average.
-----··•···-- ---
F,•hnmry ......... ...... . ..................... . ,
F ebruary.... ............. ...... ....... .... ....
Fehrullry ..... ............ .... ................ .
February..... ........... ......... .............
2,879, 733
5
12
19
26
2,988.373
3. 017, 649
3.034.617
3,035,852
Average.......... .. .. . .................... ... .. ..
3,019,098
March.. ............ ... ....... .. ...... .........
4
3,025.428
llfarch .. .... ... ... . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . . ... .. . .
II
2. 991, 121
March..................................... ....
18
2,953,074
March.. . ................. ... ..................
25
2,871,637
March ........ . .......... .................. ... .. ... .............. .
Average.
-----• --------
April.
April.
April. ...... .. ....... . .......•........ ..........
A.p,11.. •••• ••••••••.••••••••••••••.•••••••••••..
April . . ..
-2,149,369
148, 478
1931
10312,
2, 139,
17
2. 133, 953
24
31
June.................... ... ....................
Juoe. .......•...............•..........••••..••
10
17
24
lune ....•.•••••....•......•............••••..•. •••.....
2,319,913
2,293,625
2,273,052
2,255,898
2. 114,800
2,110,949
-2. 129,475
2, 285, 622
2
2. 166, 705
2. 2-13, 865
2,356, 877
2. 394,843
2,445, 415
g
16
2S
30
2, 098, 359
2. 08.5, 329
2. 070, 151
2, 059, 044
16
23
30
1,980,236
1, 9-15, 796
1. 866,617
1,821,151
1. n6. 239
1,878,008
I
8
15
22
29
2,321,&-II
2,504,483
2,531,392
2, &-14, 08,',
2,581,897
6
13
20
27
51
12
19
26
90, 194
2. 876,649
2. 875, 724
2,922.029
2,955,022
89,553
90,262
88,630
88,345
2,006,554
2. 907,356
89, 1118
3. 032, 247
3,009,253
3.0!4, 58.S
3,008,994
2. 980. 472
2. 048, 175
2. 927, 115
2. 926, 730
2. 915, 588
2,882, 722
84. 072
82,138
87,S.S5
93.406
97, 750
3.009, 110
2. 920,066
89,044
2, 905, 791
2, 760, 735
2, 752, 282
2, 750, 639
2,801.613
2,649,886
2, 6-'l5. 369
2,629. 314
104.178
110,849
116,913
121,325
II•
18
25
1
2,606,
719
2.
625, 74-4
2, 650, 298
2. 678, 223
3
10
17
24
31
2,640, 246
I
8
15
22
29
2. 965.
006, 986
202
2.
3,0IO, 659
3, 043, 367
...
2. M0,464
2,021,579
2
9
2. 931. 401
I
- 2, 003, 84-0
2,078,221
-1--1-
A verage......... .. . . . . . . . ............... . ... ....
23
---------- --------
2. 626, 367
3,021, MIS
81
15
22
16
=-==
71
14
21
28
Average .•............................... 1. ....... 1 2,396, 7111
3
2
g
-----1---t
I
May.. ..... ........... ..... ....................
6
2,454,215
5
2,046,751
May..................... . . .. . ..... ........... .
13
2,418.458
12
2. 023, 316
llfay .................... ..... . .... ........... ..
20
2,374,461
19
2,016,979
,May.. . . . ......................................
27
2,339. 740
26
I, 009, 269
May .•........................................ ........................................
June... . ................ .. .....................
June . ................. .. .......................
1,803.102
2,693,375
2, 711. 762
2, 731l. 014
2. 767,044
2. 806. 931
2. 743, 025
7
14
21
28
---- ------- 2. 679,046
113,316
2,736,329
2. 660,236
2,622.590
2. 608,920
2. 599,673
2. 610,082
2. 527,958
2, 48.5,.360
2,468,073
2,467,901
126,247
132,278
137. 230
140. 847
141,772
2,645.550
2. 509. 875
2,593,349
2. 589. 723
2. 577,675
2,651,418
2, 4.49, 189
2. 445. 545
2. 438,255
2. 420, 741
2. s1s. 041
7
14.
21
28
2,159.939
2. 11111, 563
2,222,006
2. 244,452
2. 265,609
-
I 2.
438, 432
--135, 675
--144.160
14.4, 178
139,420
1ao,6n
-------6
13
20
27
73,253
2. 216,3H
2. 142,588
73, 726
2. 287, 7VI
2,306,048
2. 318,940
2. 324,089
2,212, 789
2,231, 139
2,244,540
2,249,912
74,00\I
74,400
74,177
2. 309,218
2,234,595
2,323.491
2,318,914
2. 311. 525
2. 288,227
2,248,890
2,244.323
2. 235. 992
2,212,233
-------- ------------------ 2,310,539
3
10
17
24
--------
.
74,623
74,601
74,li9I
75,533
75,994
-------- ------------
75,180
2. 127,384
2. 082, 546
2. 0.17, 282
2,010.598
77,056
79,35.5
80,459
81,483
2. 064, 452
711.588
l"l
2, 05!1. 045
2,008, 540
1,970,257
1,944, 945
I, 925,539
t,9n,473
1,924.388
1,885,683
1,857,813
1,837,853
81,572
84,162
84,574
87,132
87,686
...,t:,
>
2,204,440
2. 161 , 901
2. 117,741
2. 092, 081
-------- ------- --- --
>
"d
~
z
ii<
I, 981,666
1, 8116, 642
85,024
>-3
5
12
19
26
1, 8S7, 906
I, 785,270
I. 714,327
1,664,626
1, no. 289
1,696,620
I, 628. 137
1. 583,242
87,617
88,650
86,100
81,384
l"l
rr;
--------
1,765,532
1,6611, 572
SS,960
------- -------- --- -- ---- --
1311, 609
75,008
2. 235,359
------ -- --- ----------- ---- - 2,144.040
I
8
15
22
29
74,362
74,394
73,103
73,517
2,085,577
2.115, UHi
2,148,903
2,170, 1135
2,192,356
I
2. 792. 362
-------- ----------
1=-:=I
17
24
31
------ --
~
312, 14-4,i
10
2, 160, ;261
17
2,147,
24
2. 145. 562
2,960,315
1 12,761,155
8
2. 678,021
15
2,617,453
22
2.570,315
29
2, 504, 892
Average... . .............. . .............. . . . . . . . .
=I
2. 131,079
3
10
I
~
t"
------- -------------
See footnotes at end of table.
0
co·
;=.
Nm
0.
CT
'<
0
0
~,.......
(v
0
'I
"'"'
TABLE !.-NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA PROJEcTs-Concluded
WEEKLY,
AUGUST
•
Year ending lune 80, 1942
Year ending lune 30, 1941
Month
Date
Projects
Projects
operated
Total
operated
by other
byWPA
Date
Projects
Total
Federal
agencies•
!ii[t:?ItHt/?::~~~:::::: : : ~~~~~~~~~lt /l /
Average............. .. ... ... . ... . . .............. . ......... ..... •• •
1,655,479
Average............................ ..... ...................... . ...
Scptem her......................................................
&,ptem bcr.... .. . . . . . .. . . .. ... . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . .. ....
Reptember.. ..........•••••. ... ..• • •.•• •• ••• •.•...• .•.........•.
4
11
18
1,701,612
I, 703, 748
25
Septem her......................................................
September •..............•...••..•••••••••••.•••.•.•.......•............••
Average......................... . . . . . ...................
October .................•..........•.••..•••..•..•.......•...•..
October ....... ...• ....... . .... ..••.• ..•... . ....•...... . •.•......
October ..... ......... •........ .••..•..• •••... ..• .. . .... . .•......
October . ............•...............••••............••.• · .....•.
October ............................•.• • ••. .•••...........•...••.
co·
;=;:
N.
(D
CT
()
0
~,.....
I
1,642,796
1,635,984
44, 768
62,716
M,169
55,182
65,323
2
9
16
1. 647.164
M,348
I, 1\31, 328
1, 6.'l.1. 195
I, 647,970
65. 302
56,092
56,079
55,778
1,779,261
65,480
55,121
M,920
54, 139
M,029
1,766,489
I. 711. 751
M,738
211, 746. 704
1,762,672
1, 76-~. 1112
9
16
23
30
I, n6.&H
-1 ==1=-5.3,
= 1 = = =1
455
I, 730. 0241
5.3, 474
~~~:::::~: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: lg l: ~~: ~ 1,732,132
I, 806,811
20
November_ ... ····-·····-······ ···· .... ·························~~;:~~~ .••••••.••.•.•. ·•••••••••••••••·••••••·••••••••••••••• .•.•• Z1• •• I, 821,630.
,Average................................................... . .......
23
30
-------6
13
20
'rt
---- ---3
10
17
24
3821
1,054,904
I, 041, 001
13,903
1,041,218
1,041,682
I, 042, 451
1,044, 781
1,028,806
1,030, 5.~9
1,031,787
1,034,004
12,412
II, 093
10, 6f,4
10,687
I, 75.3. 651
1, 768, 525
53,160
53,105
'
-----------
---- --- ---------
1,025.630
1, 027, 924
J,031.82!1
I, 034, 720
1,040,285
1,028.109
12,176
I. 050. 340
1,060. 236
1, 0.'>8. 4IO
I, 060. 616
I, 038, 020
I, 043, 494
1,0-1.5, 721
I, 047, 922
12, 314
12. 742
12,689
12,694
29
·---- --5
12
18
25
50, 991)
(v
10, 734
10,800
11, rn2
11,232
I, 037, 5!l7
1,040. 0,32
I, 044, 140
I, 047, 454
.A 'ftl'8&'8. -···. ··•······················· ••....•••.•..••••.• J .......• 1 1, 859, ~ I I, 808. 596
-------
11,214
1,032,298
I, 026, 508
1,023,392
1,021, 787
8
15
22
---- --------
ro.
1,031,319
l, 043, o.32
I, o.37, 368
1, O.'l4, 554
1,033,019
10,998
I, ~21. 705
I, 828,024
--------1------------1----
1,042,/i.13
11,761
II, 967
12,108
12,311
12,734
l,8:'2.m4
I, 87~. 395
I, 803, 720
---- ------------
I. 020, 440
51,592
51,455
50. 579
311
26
16,895
13,610
13, '00
12,873
12. 863
1,025, 996
I, 780. 931
18
1, 151, 171
I, 015, 819
I, 003, 374
I, 011, 911
1,022, 732
I, o:l2. 201
4 , l, 832..~23
I. 855, 175
II
Decemher ..• . ....•.•.•..•..•••.•.•.•. .. ..•••••.. ......••.... ···December ..•.. ...... . .... ....•.. . •.. . •. ·· -· ··· -···· ···· ..•...•..
Deremher ......••...•......•.•.•...•.•.•..•.••......••.......•..
December ...
Date
Total
Projects
Projects
operated
by other
operated
byWPA
Fedenl
agencies•
1942
l,o.36,fl94
5.1.299 I --------
December .......•••.•• ··-·· •....•••••••.•••. · ••·••- ······· •••.•
Federal
1
I, 748,083 I
I, 799 .
by other
l, 168,066
1, ()2g, 4.29
1,016,Mt
1,024. 784
I, 035, 695
-------- ------------ -------- -----------
1,69 1, 224
I, 707. 551
I, 713, 242
1,721.505
1,725. 232
Q_
'<
I, 610, 711
38,834
41,901
46,021
47,642
49,440
-------- ----------- - -------65,817 ---- ---1,6311,824
1. 692,641
1=1===11==~1=
---
Avera&9 ...........•.•..•..••••.•.•.. _..................... ........
0
668, 8991
1,
729
I, 5n,
l, 613,434
1,642,089
1, 1151,406
1===1===1=
I, 690, 104
I, 631,802
1, 687. 420
I, 6.~. 202
Projects
operated
1941
=
1====11===1
809
1,654,070
~: ~:: ~ 1,6/15,
!~r.::~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 11
!~rut:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: .....~...{: ~ir: :~.
operated
byWPA
Year ending Iune 30, 1943
!lillnckos•
1940
tl07. 733
311,
630
1,619,
10
1, 6.59, 456
17
1, 689, 731
:U
1, ;oo, 846
31
0
00
1935-JUNE 1943
2
9
16
23
30
--------
-----------
7
14
21
28
560,371
560, 1156
538,603
511,483
490,126
538,421
511,312
400,014
216
182
171
111
-------- ------------ ------------ -----------170
-------- 525, 146 1124, 976
4
11
18
25
466,470
452,939
441,316
428,344
◄66,:IQ
•
452,842
441,220
428,250
107
fT1
96
94
-------- ------------ ------------ -----------99
-------- 447,267 447,168
I
8
415,763
405,900
16
399, 1119
22
394,139
29
-------=
6
13
20
27
390, 300
415,650
405. 794
399,059
394,050
390,238
103
106
100
119
62
401,050
400,958
92
385,810
382. 073
379, 757
377,Ml
3&5, 746
882, 021
379,723
3TT,505
64
372.710
366,002
358, 717
354,693
372,681
36.i. 973
358,688
aM,570
52
34
36
---·---- ------------ ------------ -----------·
47
-------- 381,295 381. 24!1
3
10
17
:u
21l
29
29
23
------------ -------- ------------ ------------ ------------
I, 056, 401
I, 043, 791
12,610
J,()fl2,R10
I, 059. 682
I, 0.55, 070
l,Olfl. 241
l,1>11,073
I, 0,50, ,138
I, 047, 706
12,372
I.0H. IM
1.0.15, 238
I, 030, S9t
I, 053, 00.5
1,041,6861
ll, 117A
11, 51n
11.003
10, 179
II, 409
----. -·I
8
I~
22
29
----· -- -
363.005
362, 9TT
351,151
344,957
351, 1 ◄8
344, 91;4
3.1!!. 427
328.834
3.'l!!, 42◄
•
28
3
321, 3911
328,831
321 ,296
3
3
3
3
336, 1134
336,931
3
....
"-1
z
>
t<
~
'ti
0
~
0
z
8
Ill
~
~
'ti
>
i
~
1942
1941
Montb
lanuarY--------·-·-···------ -- · -• - -- - - -- -- --- --- · · -- · · · · · · ·· --January _______ _
January _______ _
January _______ _
January _______ _
Fehruary _
February_
F,,bruary.
February_
Average ____ _
211,
880, 400
8
l, 886, 1142
2521
l,8Y5,386
l,8Y5,I~
1, S.'!O, 208
I, 8.17, 544
1, 8-14, \128
I, 847,009
J,846,!J02
50,
49,398
48.822
48,377
48,287
1,800,345
I, 841. 318
49,027
511, 8Y2, 24.1
12
I, 8!12,f,32
19
1,&~4, lli~J
26
1, 8()6, 885
1,8-14,51,5
1, S45. 377
1,837,566
1. 820. 453
47,658
47,255
47,133
46.132
15
Tl
:Ill
1, 8~3, 750
6
13
20
27
1,023, 703
3
10
17
24
1,031, 702
1,032,211
1,027,822
1,022,569
--I, 028, 576
3
1,006,421
f~S4, 472
91;(),856
942,8%
92'2, 832
51 · 1. so,;. ,'>82
12
J. 7t.tJ, WI5
19
26
JO
17
24
31
4,835
3,488
2,533
2,432
------------ ----------1,020,381
1,029.613
1. 0:10, 134
1. 021;, (KIS
1,020,804
5
12
10
26
---3,322
2,()80
2,077
1,819
1,765
A ..-erage ___ - ------ ---- -- - · --- -· · · - -- 2
ll
16
23
30
1, Oil-!, 677
982. 718
H5!J, 147
941,225
921,208
1,753.244
l, 708, 675
44,569
1,002, 3'J;j
1, f.34, 016
1, fi06, 75!J
1, ,585, 587
1, 560, 248
1,618, 748
1,590,616
I, 562,681
1,541,889
1, 517,6!12
43,645
43,400
44,078
43,698
42,556
---
I, 60:1,801
1,566,325
Average ___ . - -- ---------·-· ---- - -- - - ---- · -- ---- · ------ --· _, · · · - · ·
=1==·==1
\fay _________________________ -------, , l. 5l!l, 185
l,477,2f,3
~lay
1,454,438
14
I. ~Yf>, 64Y
:\fay
21
1,474,200
I. 432, 726
'.\lay
28
I. 464,362
1. 423. 550
--------
=
I
-7
14
21
28
43,476
41,!1221
42,211
41,474
40,812
5
12
19
26
963,496
--892,673
877,618
857, 125
83!J, 475
901. ns
1, 701
876,02'J
855. 528
837, \136
1, 58\1
1, ,'iS9
1, 5!17
1,530
===
8!11,084
------------------- - ----866,723
865,144
--817,548
795,554
775,510
755,413
816,027
7!14,m4
773, \J8!
753, 8Y7
2
\]
16
23
I, 488, 5119
June.
JUill'.
I
1, 4-11, !136
1, 42.3, 371
1,410,051
l, 368,363
1,410,930
41,005
I. 4(Kl, 885
41,051
41,043
42,116
40,001
1,382,328
I, 307,935
I, 327, 762
June.
Average ___________________________________________________ J___ -----1
l, 446, 994
I
I, 369,727
41,203
2
786.007
735,704
717, 791
700, 744
681,580
652,689
9
16
23
30
697,701
696,307
2
9
16
22'2, 148
210,8n
195, i58
181, 4Ul
23
30
6
13
20
27
I, 579
--
25
784,485
- - --- I, 522
- - ····----
734, li!6
716. 310
61l!!,344
680,222
651,465
l, 508
1,481
1,400
1,358
1,224
1
8
15
22
29
-1,394
156,!?!JO
145,823
136, ,580
127,167
113,811
--- ---135, !,34
--------
1,521
1,520
I, 529
1,516
- - - , - - - --,-----,----,---,----- - - - -
June.
Jurw ___ .
1, 74-t
1,754
1, i()tJ
1,670
1,624
1----1-- ---,---
---1----1
:~rim=::::::::::::=::::::::::::::::::::==---------===::::::::::==
1,012,565
1,016,274
1,022,7\13
1,0211,891
---- ---- --47,120
I, 026, r,18
1,836.995
I. 038 -------202,508
===1===1===1--1----1-----1---1--1--~~--1===1===
l, 7f,0, 431
45,151
•14, 549
l, irn,346
44, f,OY
l, OYl,Otii
1, 7:15, 676
l, 603. 85ti
43, Y65
1,707,821
March _________________ . ________________________ . _______________ , ____ -- -•-·. --- --- - --•-- --- -- - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - -
ig~:l::::::::::::::::::::: _:_: :::::: :: :: :: .----------.-- --------
1,017,400
1,0lQ, 762
I, 025, 326
1,032,323
--------
= - - 1 -- - - - -
1.884. 115
March ___ .----···- ______________ . __________ . __________ . ________ .
'.\tareh_. ___ .. ____________________ . __ _
'.\larch. ___________________ . ___ .. ________________ . ___ ._. ___ . ____ .
March _________________________________________________________ _
11143
I
I
4
11
18
--------
\!6, 979
88,181
77,065
65,215 I
tl/>,~15
1------- - --
>
',:I
81,860
81,860
l"!1
47, 782
46,239
44. 924
44,979
47, 71!2
46,239
44,924
44,979
45,981
45, ll81
44,296
42,894
42,100
40, 717
42.177
44,296
42,894
42,100
40,717
42,177
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------·
----------··
------------
42,437
42,437
------------
',:I
zI;:,
...
~
>
8
~
f;;
C1J
• Financed by allocation of WP_\ funds.
• A ,·erage ror 3 weeks.
0
ca·
""
Nm
0.
-5!
C;
0
a
~
(v
~
110
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 11.-AVERAGE NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA PROJECTS, BY STATE•
QUARTERLY, SEPTEMBER 1935-JUNE 1943
11135
1936
1937
State
September December
March
June
September December
March
June
September December
Total __ ___ __.. .·-··· · -----
374,316
2. 667,190
2, ll60. 316
2. 285,622
2, 453.602
2. 247,461
2. 129,475
I, 878. 008
1,455,977
l , 696,876
Alabama. -··- · - ·- - ---·- ·- · --·--
26,066
48,330
10.872
40. 808
121. 453
37,907
-t2. 254
12. 143
37. 876
147,601
41,207
32. 926
9. 529
30,340
1] 5, 446
28,596
31,211
9,248
31,600
106,374
28, 730
30,382
8,347
32, 480
105. 939
21,837
27, 093
8. 271
26.816
105. 349
75, 161
23,405
7,832
24,665
102, 078
20,070
18. 251
6. 376
18,521
69, 714
15. 237
23, 1131
6.890
20,693
71,885
18,458
16,113
Arl,ona .. -·-·-··· ····· · --··· . . .
Arkansas . . .. •...........•......
CaliCornla . ..• -. . . •. .. .•••••••..
Colorado .. •. ••...•.... •.•..•.. .
----- 13,
------55 1
-- --- ----287
---
Connecticut . .... .••••.. . ••.• -•.
Delaware .• . ·-·- · ··· · ····· ··· · ·
District or Columbia .•• •. ••. . . •
Florida-···· -····· · · ··· ·· -······
Georgia_.. . .. . . ·· · ··· ··· ··-·· . .
995
251
3,603
13, 461
16,527
25,722
2. 605
6,696
35, 019
53. 724
27, 594
3, 207
9. 028
34,096
49, 170
23. 466
2,415
7. 713
27.301
34. 469
20,409
2. 048
7,167
26, 001
36.615
18, 268
2, 174
6,934
25, 958
33,602
18, 373
2, 111
6. 546
23. 952
30,904
17,615
1. 954
6.524
25,369
25. 447
13,261
I. 659
6,528
23,290
21,000
Idaho . . .... . . . .... --···· : ····· ·
Ullnols _.............. . ... . . •.••
Indiana. ·-- · · ··· ···· ·· ··· · · ·· · ·
Iowa· -· ··· ·· ···· · · ··· · · · ··-··· ·
Kansas . . . . . ... •... ..•. ••. ••.•..
117
6,011
44,350
9, 688
164. 626
79,542
23,680
41,366
13. 080
201, 056
85. 687
34,633
46,489
6,589
167. 451
69. 358
19,860
32,402
5. 948
166. 806
68. 009
27. 206
46, 352
6,711
169, 476
65. 899
22. 683
41. 784
7,794
148. 415
65,242
24. 619
37,309
4,842
135, 607
20, 166
32, 402
4 078
104, 83S
41,400
16, 19 1
24,476
69. 200
49. 256
9, 793
17, 636
116, 187
64,959
54,164
10. 359
19, 336
120, 579
46. 688
36, 105
7,916
14 , 911
107,023
54,044
34,691
7, 548
13, 689
98, 078
51.969
32, 012
7,561
12, 868
99,791
48,526
32,800
7, 462
13,038
91.050
43,472
27,762
3, 017
10, 977
82,353
35, 677
21, 856
2, 328
8, 649
61.125
38. 736
8,848
4,424
250
642
88, 772
56.612
31,385
82, 008
13,566
97,979
62,376
30. 457
91. 750
19, 726
76,418
46, 222
26, 713
67,351
10.691
77,004
61,709
28, 916
93. 193
19, 843
f,7, 955
47, 088
25,496
71,923
12,888
63,311
•o.,,
..
S2 l :l/l
38, 572
20,303
67, 331
0, 643
42 9!R
.,... o
45 MIi
"°,Oll
15. 984
49, 031
10,641
111, 2116
60,392
13. 147
313
23,516
2, 778
9. 706
04.612
11 , 130
16, 245
2, 282
7,571
81, 520
7,006
24 , 468
I. 725
9,259
78, 674
0, 84 8
22. 172
2. Olli
001
76. 422
8, 648
22. 639
383
19, 477
2. 325
7,026
89. 600
10,898
2, 286
7, 616
74, 332
8,696
19. 769
I, 635
6,1 51
69,617
8,373
16, 526
I, 191
4, -lOO
56,290
6, -l21
19,6(3
1,6116
5,630
67,606
6, 272
157,062
546
48
27, 972
8, 287
378,098
37,530
12,544
174 , 252
85,600
368,871
42, 121
12, 19 1
186, 831
80, 994
309, 248
8,620
153, 891
54,045
299,548
29, 219
43, 756
148. 843
74, 705
287, 646
28,403
19. 625
135, 939
66. 929
262,264
25. 377
16, 976
125, 132
52. 900
246, 114
23, 177
11. 987
104. 046
50. 646
193, 028
18,882
8.994
83,259
37, 900
189,397
21. 735
12. 71'19
91. 307
156
9,208
512
2, 062
18. 814
218,146
16. 212
31,439
14,500
20, 809
284. 618
15. 236
33, 293
14, 376
H ,899
234 . 014
II. 268
24 . 987
9,565
13. 455
249,060
10 . .S:!7
25. 088
40, 460
14 ,00 1
229, s;5
10, 805
24. 2 12
23, 785
16, 083
21 5, 933
11. 303
22, 479
19,565
13, 376
183,5 13
II. 550
20. 274
la, 883
9, 203
149,021
8, 861
15, 771
10, 420
3,558
I. 312
352
2. 395
771
45,585
73, 752
14. 635
4, 769
39, 672
49. 842
112, 200
13, 290
6,673
3 . 330
36, 306
80,975
10,368
4,617
2(), 832
34. 997
77, 498
9 541
4,062
25, 272
31. 303
77. 269
8, 969
3, 4f>8
24, 720
28, 762
79, 238
. 317
4, 036
23,023
24, 143
71 ,559
7,463
3, 04
19,200
18, 691
44 . 247
6, 450
1, 89
16. 452
415
2, 193
4, 433
I. 228
30, 379
50, 689
60. 056
4,764
46, 3-12
66, 009
64, 108
5, 219
26, 228
43. 700
49, 59-1
2, 765
20, 794
42, 670
63, 453
4,070
27, 0-1
42, 175
53. 069
3, 598
3 1, 374
36,985
51. 089
2,938
26,949
33. 082
42, 405
2, 370
19, 640
27, 057
33,698
1, 723
Kentucky ..... ... . .. ... . . .•.. . .
Louisiana .. ... .. ... . ... . . .. .. ..
Maine._ · · · ··· · ·· ······· · ·-· ·· ·
-----------531
4,784
303
--- -- -- -- 21
---
Maryland •. ... ..... . •. ..... . .. . .., ____ _______
Massachusetts._ . .•...... . .....
Michigan .. ... ..••••• . .......•.
Minnesota .. -·· · · ·· -··· ..... . ..
~l:o~f~~=:::::::::::::~
::::::
Montana .... . ... . .. ... . .. •. . . ..
Nebraska . _ . ......... . .. . .. ....
evado . ... .• • •·· ·· · · · · · ·· · ---·
New Bampshire. __·· · · · · -· · ·· ·
New Jersey _· ·· · ··· ··-·· · -- -· · ·
New Mexico . ... . . ·-· · ··· · · · · · ·
New York . • ·-· · · · ··· ·· · · · · · · · ·
North Corolinn _. • _. __ __ ·· ·- · ··
orth Dakota ... . .• . . •..... ....
Ohio .. . •. ..... ·-·· · · ·· · ·· · ·· · ·Oklahoma.- . . · ·· ·-· · · ····· ·· · ·
Oregon . ...... .. . . . .... . .. . ... ..
Pennsylvonia_. _. . .. .... . . .. . . .
Rhode Island · - ··· · ··· · ·· -· -· · ·
South Carolina_.. . .. . ..... . . .. .
South Dakota· --·· · ········· · · ·
T ennessee_•. ... ...... . .. . __. __.
Texas . ·-······· · · ··- · ····· ·····
Utah ._ ..• .•..... . .......... ... .
Vermont ._--········· ·· --··· .. .
v1r,1n1a . •. .• . .. •......• . . __ ·- · ·
Washington __.. · -·- ... .. . .. __ ..
West Virginia . . ·-- ······ · ··-·· Wisconsin . ........ . .. .. . . . ___ __
Wyomtng __· ····· ·· ·· · · · · ···-··
-------- --- -
-----------844
6,316
-- -- --- --- --
30. 428-
-s.
22. 160
81 , 306
II. 643
65. 333
• Data represent averages or weekly employment counts made during the months.
Digitized by
Google
1.1136
6, 810
24, 011
24,272
6. 113D
107, 8811
ff. 620
18. 177
26,649
23.635
4. 231
11,625
67, 632
43,661
12,032
1611, 107
ll .873
18, 720
15,MO
21,129
52. 892
7.'()20
3,071
17,904
20,862
28. 716
37, 4-08
2, 364
111
APPENDIX A: TABLES
TABLE II.-AvERAGE NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA PROJECTS, BY STATE
•-Continued
QUARTERLY, SBIPTEMBER 1935-JUNE 1943
1938
State
.MIIZ'Ch
J'une
19311
September b
December b
March
b
J'une
b
· 1940
Beptember b
December b
March
b
June
b
September b
December b
~
Total ••• __ ·····--··--··· 2,321,Ml 2,743,025
Alabama ______________________
34,660
45,242
Arizona_______________________
~.609' 3,161,080
3,009,110 "2,577,902 1,720,996 2,123,431 2,310,539 1,755,532 1,692,641
1,8511, f94
60,843
13,221
49, 2112
1111, 364
36,702
63,296
11,479
62,569
120,887
33,022
69,190
11,000
53,206
122,608
32,266
61,361
8,621
46,119
109,069
26,984
37,947
5,382
32,235
74,235
17,990
li0,900
6,868
42,995
90,020
24,0111
61,624
8,668
44,791
96,614
29,013
34,523
6,740
26,941
76,571
.17,234
34,202
6,623
27,379
78,733
16, 1161
39,403
6,317
36,369
81,708
111,738
80, 1192
8,360
31,532
90,819
26,938
11,987
36,941
95,003
28,115
21,324
2,887
7,724
30,423
37,423
24,883
3,558
8,457
36,038
47,187
3,000
13,697
53,694
111,272
80,688
4,047
13,851
53,680
67,203
26,763
3,629
13,186
liO, 982
66,703
26,000
3,468
12,919
45,387
67,367
18,141
2,136
9,211
34,729
39,667
19,026
2,515
10,821
37,716
47,707
20,266
2,776
12,032
43,757
49,936
16,724
2,736
10, 7119
25,379
36,388
16,446
2,728
10,717
26,750
36,768
14,648
2,698
10,667
34,636
41,995
11,298
181,938
82,905
28,974
35,455
9,319
222,168
94,003
33,737
34, TI7
11,536
254,672
99,880
34,369
38,406
11,687
246, 738
91,738
31,995
37,126
12,543
232,768
90,828
30,316
35,210
10,730
201,590
78,360
27,079
30,116
7,955
131,791
48,654
18,709
18,068
10,387
160,098
61,166
23,917
26,716
11, 9711
180,965
64,726
26,611
28,486
7,237
136,737
47,345
19,093
20,374
7,068
113,630
43,840
19,154
20,170
8,632
124,886
46,323
24,543
26,318
47,637
31,161
7,466
11,852
116, 781
62,606
33,112
8,169
12,943
108,882
72,824
411,665
11,825
18,510
128,3TI
68, li63
54,736
10, 1186
19,933
128,786
64,632
49,044
10,269
19,062
127,800
67,913
43,343
8,264
17,818
106,164
36,632
29,979
5,847
12,047
72,937
46,008
36,197
7,438
14,796
86,609
49,683
36,024
ll,927
16,099
102,481
34,463
24,783
6,246
15,220
65,910
36,036
26,lll
6,707
14,070
llll, 618
40,1811
28,103
7,048
12,856
80,446
-4H20
182 411
ooa
UJ,o>U/
28,939
80,573
17,833
36,074
100,710
20,606
1114..870
tl!S,840
41,986
112,767
24,558
Nebraska
________
---------- -- ..
Nevada
_____
. __ . _____________
N
NewMexlco __________________
28,424
2,648
7,915
77,371
ll,362
29,043
2,184
8,643
91,140
10,620
N'ewYork ____________________
, 'orth Carolina _____ • _______ ..
N
!1:orth Dakota ________________
bio __________________________
0 ltlahoma
____________________
0
regon ________________________
0
p ennsylvania. ______ . ---·- --- _
R bode Island. ________________
8outh Carolina. ______________
So uth Dakota _________________
201,668
30,M5
Arkansas._____________________
--- ----- -- ---------California
Colorado______________________
Connecticut-. __________ . _____
Delaware_. ________ .-··-····-.
District or Columbia ___ • __ • __ .
Florida __ . ____________________
Georgia ____________ -·-··· ___ ..
Idaho __________________ ------.
Dlinols______________________ ..
lndlana_______________________
Iowa ________________________ ..
Kansas .• ---- --- ---------- .. - .
Kentucky _____________________
Louisiana. _________ .------ ___ .
Malne. _______________________
Maryland _____________________
Massacbwetts _______ . ________
Michigan_--·····-··---------.
Minnesota ___________________
Mtsstsstpl. .. ________________
Mlssour ---------------------Montana_ - ______ ---··· -------
N:: J!~~~::::::::::::::
____________________ .
T ennessee
exas _________________________
T tab __________________________
u
Vermont ____________________ ..
V lrglnla _________ --- -- .• --- - -..
v;'asblngton. _______________ -- -
West Virginia. ________________
Wisconsin ____________________
Wyoming _____________________
Alaska. _________
. - -. - ----- ---Hawaii
______________________
Puerto Rico. ______________ • -- Virgin Islands. _______________
-~~ ~060
rnr
29,605
59,442
10,244
88,095
46,174
43,924
77,618
13,175
89,150
49, 752
41,014
88,885
14,894
67,lM
35,674
25,768
64,411
8,736
M,201
36,466
25,036
66,832
8,225
67,118
43,588
33,806
62,630
10,111
30,549
2,503
9,998
93,297
12,801
26,298
1,951
8,536
82,940
11,966
18,815
1,265
5,861
66,143
9,822
27,124
1,799
6,873
70,128
12,446
30,137
2,-Jl9
8,905
76, 7/ill
13,988
20,196
1,470
6,234
58,611
9,024
20,416
1,496
6,093
68,666
ll,121
23,610
1,728
6,912
62,765
10,829
251,191
57,004
15,593
266,796
71,609
245,740
50,439
14,659
247,741
66,999
210,344
43,879
13,832
204,508
66,970
131,847
32,984
8,253
123,717
40,025
154,321
42,098
13,637
140,163
48,031
168,602
51, ;96
14,409
148,626
62,048
145,146
37,466
9,598
118, 1194
37,843
142,471
37,985
9,516
104,931
35,746
138,990
43,887
11,694
105,715
40,381
18,364
276,163
17,144
48,059
15,534
19,672
268,173
16,899
46,671
16,767
19,083
244,402
15,460
li0,583
16,464
17,100
189,728
15,108
43,581
15,428
10,571
124,143
10,285
30,761
10,731
15,176
147,270
12,252
39,627
15,159
15,574
146,444
13,914
46,292
15,319
12,668
158,605
10,052
28,668
9,463
11,549
154,195
10,967
27,204
9,491
12,299
141,957
11,477
32,156
12,241
34,766
81,059
10,314
6,059
23,894
48,088
95,086
15,011
6,722
31,076
67,909
112,984
15,028
8,642
32,196
63,374
Ill, 813
14,590
6,592
31,283
44,988
98,892
11,984
6,289
28,923
30,079
70,343
8,194
3,670
19,874
38,846
92,806
11, 5.11
4,400
25,434
44,160
106,056
12,489
5,525
28,210
3.1,600
73,246
8,702
3,833
26,259
32,171
73, S.'16
7,766
3,505
25,046
36,598
89, 3!13
10,192
4,090
24,425
44,865
46,411
72,726
4,207
56,357
52,985
83,585
4,700
63,910
51,502
80,789
4,739
49,300
48, 765
75,087
4,906
38,484
40,961
63,821
3,820
23,031
28,451
44,014
2,811
27,801
32,929
51,8-47
3,587
33,018
55, 759
4,345
23,557
30,011
38,713
2,f,77
22,287
29,687
38,898
2,492
23,877
30,421
44, 118
2,806
378
3,124
80
3,170
46
1,345
423
2,754
l, 730
488
754
2,333
4,018
1,361
460
I, 776
13,215
1,283
241
1,672
17,356
1,760
35
1,498
17,608
726
93
1,358
30,31&
I, 701
46,364
103,654
lll, 768
31,089
2,608
9,946
108,170
H,309
29,032
2,672
11,543
104,570
11,862
185,104
68,478
226,337
36,833
13,320
245, 775
65,169
248,846
49,989
15,524
282,885
74,040
16,393
209,310
12,521
29,069
17,463
16,282
262,365
14,85.1
34,755
15,739
30,363
74,880
9,808
6,021
22,488
44,170
39,513
61,716
4,435
14,909
...JR
,1
-~m40,360
85,639
17,693
48,690
110,662
20,11511
------------------2,512
1,601
---------- ----------
---------891
---------1,615
3,989
311
120
l, 755
11,088
I, 278
as,.m
• Data represent aver&1?es of weekly employment counts made during the months.
~ Includes persons employed on WP A projects operated by other Federal agencies.
• E:i;cludea 139 persons employed on projects operated by other Federal agencies reported as "und istrlbuted by state."
Digitized by
Google
112
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE U.-AvERAGE NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA PROJECTS, BY STATE
•-Concluded
QUARTERLY, SEPTEMBER 1935-JUNE 1943
1941
I
1942
State
1943
June b
I, 763,244
1,410,930
1,036, 9D4
1,063, OIM
063, 4116
6117, 701
401, Oo50
338,934
135,934
42,437
36,792
6,1172
33,189
75, IOU
:al,489
32,037
5,608
29,757
56,867
16,939
24,917
4,139
21,738
42,564
11,269
24,047
3,905
22,292
40,602
12, 159
21,127
3,562
18,692
37,033
11, 4117
15,216
2,215
14, 1197
:al, 286
8, 5118
l, 232
8,378
10, 73J
2,035
8,474
851
7,756
7,23)
J, 7•1
5,053
169
3,861
78
11,170
2,554
9,790
31,048
37,547
6,921
1,11611
7,900
26,372
30,061
4,301
23,260
4,762
:>1,676
24,430
3,675
l,ll0
2,902
19,511
21,934
2,498
800
2,182
16,579
16,376
1,439
1,288
4,739
:al. 7116
a.1, 992
2111
10,SM
342
724
8, 764
10,243
9,860
l:al, 957
42,967
23,663
26,800
6,444
95,519
34,067
18,830
:al, 280
4,776
66,827
22,987
15,363
15, 1136
6,184
67,356
22,687
15,028
15, 1193
5,946
61,913
lll, 6112
14,579
14,563
2,423
48,426
15,973
9,326
8,738
1,392
27,491
8, 1193
4,551
4,228
1,:/llll
lll, 117
5,269
3. 328
2,866
16
II
5,930
350
161
36, lll7
8, 1311
10.873
i0,69li
211, 148
28,736
4,602
8,172
57,142
26,308
:al, 723
3,284
5,261
311, 1182
26, lll3
22, i26
3,108
5, Of\7
36, li05
22,681
:al, 128
2,662
4,557
34,621
18, 761
14,978
1,508
3,445
28,253
10,541
7,644
687
1,839
17,974
8,811
6,278
659
1,523
13,162
4,006
2,342
9
307
5,417
63, 1136
45,383
35,279
57,0U7
10,831
48,838
36,941
28,483
51,871
8,415
33,118
27,5119
:al, 564
36,740
5,722
33,265
28, 742
:al, 632
36,168
7,183
34,132
26, 117
li,248
14,872
8,762
8,592
14,105
2,374
10, 194
5,624
9,5:al
11,243
2, 2211
2,343
23,806
1,680
5,884
54,216
JI, 002
:al, 176
I, 231
4, 83)
42. 471
10,066
15,326
13,212
848
3,080
26,217
7,846
6,189
485
2,344
21,490
5,605
3,604
291
1,237
12,082
3,116
l, 1111
216
3,657
27,706
7,765
14, JIii
975
3,516
12'1, 310
41. 788
12. 794
00. 113
41,018
101,019
30,302
9,918
l:(),6i0
32, 109
S2. 366
23,924
3,266
52,506
r,, 701
83,0Si
78,435
21,527
6,813
46,164
24. 477
62,035
13,604
3,651
31, 1199
19, 0611
40,280
8,416
925
18,928
11,070
II, 9118
9, Oll6
93,018
6,038
26,801
9, i64
5,960
i0, 226
3,971
:al,1128
4,646
61.&'12
I, 873
411,655
2. 543
14,513
3,216
286
80
29,443
1,323
7,953
1,263
24,460
919
8, JOO
5,700
5,852
68,062
4,156
22,370
6, ii9
685
121,740
9,215
30,582
12,6119
9,652
192
3,137
42
'l'e1as __________________________
Vtab ____________ _______________
Vermont. ______ ______ .. ________
Virginia _______
29,449
73,850
8,426
2. 662
17, 3i8
24,181
55,662
6. 519
2. 064
12,233
24,055
61,571
6,157
I, 974
12,500
20,663
54,255
6. 254
I, 842
JO, 811
16,894
41,031
2,560
8,465
22, 225
I, 247
1195
538
7,253
3. 942
8, :al7
16,248
976
482
3,286
4,376
3,726
57
----- -----·-----
32,842
· 93,365
10, 1177
3,929
:al, 005
14
196
-----------14
Washington-----------------··
W ,•st Virginia_ . -------- -- ----Wisconsin -------------------Wyoming. --------------------
22,097
32. 212
41,297
2. 882
16,366
JO, i02
211,850
30. 297
2. 242
22. 118
JO, 857
24. 218
22. 608
1,690
:al,981
20,034
1,688
3, 9511
15,915
9,503
1,634
9,062
4,972
303
1,336
11,524
3,307
322
3, 3118
151
11
37
42
Ala.•ku ····--···-··-----------HawalL
------------------
170
1,243
32,478
I, 728
15
1,031
32,585
1,463
Total _____________________
Alabama ______________________
Arlwna ________________________
Arkansas _______________________
California _________ . _______ •• ___
Colorado __________________ • ____
Connecticut ____________________
Delaware _______________________
District or Columbia ___________
Florida_________________________
Georgia _____________________ . __
Idaho. _______________ -------· __
llllnoll ____________ • ____________
Indtana _______ • __ - _____________
Iowa _______________________ •.••
KB118118 _________________________
Kentucky _________ • ____________
Louisiana ______________________
Maine __________________________
Maryland _________ . ___________ .
Massachusetts _________________
Michl~----------------------Minnesota ______________________
---------------- __
Mlss~pl._
Mlsso
----------------------Montana
________ . ______________
Nebraska ______________________
Nevada ________________________
New Hampshire ______________
New Jer.iey. _. _________________
New Melxco __ --·-·-·------ ·-New York _____________________
North Carollun ________________
North Dakota _________________
Ohio _______________ ____________
Oklahoma
·-------·-----------
Oregon-----------------------Pennsylvania __ . _______________
Rhode Island. ------- · --------South Carolina -------------South Dakota __ --------------
Tenne.'ISOO . ________ .. __________
Puerto Ric-u
---·· --- -----Virgin Islan~s:
··------·····
ao, 968
.
Septemberb December b
1195
22. 639
1,508
June b
26,854
18, Oll6
33, 23)
7,118
28,007
7,563
24,133
6,095
50,246
27. 885
- ----486- - --------1·
28,136
8i3
March•
3,580
18,291
7,181
II, 795
------ ------4 -----
28,767
915
29,421
9115
Septemberb December b
a. 944
15,157
24,777
3,874
636
-5
26, 75a
933
440
1,243
10, 3)6
984
896
11,033
2, 43li
29,984
8,058
974
12,483
3,806
968
384
March b
JUDe.
March b
II
41
24
14
1196
lllO
81
36
JOO ---------1311
86
4,262
54
4,818
115
24
II
371
49
9
55
52
------------15
130
62
26
1196
4, 7711
2,171
124
60
89
86
2
5
6
71
18
9
38
4,254
40
3
182
l50
9,768
3,462
3li
1,450
I&~
6
74
38
---
IOU
-----------20
6
61)
6V
10
16
I
·--·--------4 ------------4 ----------7· -----------18,3)5
566
36,552
872
41,433
1,068
• Data represent a.-~.rages or weekly employment counts made dur!nJ! the months.
• Jndudes persons employed on WPA projects operated bf other FeaeraJ agenol&
Digitized by
Google
all, 11611
817
113
APPENDIX A: TABLES
TABLE III.-NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA PROJECTS, BY STATE AND MAJOR
TYPE OF PROJECT
DEC.
15, 1942
Projects operated by WPA
Division or Engineering and Construction
State
All
All
projects
WPA
operated
projects byWPA
Airports
Total
Total ..•..•.............
Alabama ..................... Artsona...................... .
338,424
148,067
8,825
20,660
8,511
847
7,791
7,283
1,745
4,685
364
4,013
994
78
439
39
38
364
23
626
513
197
104
3,666
3,648
I/ill
32
1,027
:i«
a-ir1a ...................... .
JO, 294
1,027
344
752
, 8,824
10,294
Idaho.......... -- ... -- .... --. -
1,201
20,244
5,35.1
3,351
2,851
1,201
20,244
5,353
3,351
2,851
432
9,275
2,593
1,378
889
8,791
6,277
5,105
2,976
230
1,548
13,092
8,791
6,277
684
I, 548
13,092
Michigan. ___________ ....... ..
Minnesota. __ -- -- -- .... -- .... .
Mississippi . __ .... __ .. ____ .. .
11,1:fssourl -- - • -- -- -- -- -- . -- -- ..
Montana .............. ------ .
10,136
5,687
9,663
11,327
10,136
5,687
9,663
11,327
2,266
Nebraska._ ... __ . __ . _______ .. .
DUnols ...................... -·
llldiana .... -- .. -- -- -...... -- ..
Iowa.................. __ ..... .
Kanaa. ··--·· --·--- -·----- .. .
Kentucky .................... .
Louisiana ... _. ___________ .... _
Maine .•.......•....... -- .... .
Maryland ..... -·-·-·-----··-Massacbu.setts .. __ ....... ____ .
Engl•
neerlng
surveys
3,121
7fi2
8,824
684
m
26
17
l,!i.'14
170
64
404
72
23
240
03
and
Recreatlonal
facilities
(excluding
build·
lngs)
Water and
sysBani• sewer
temsand
tatlon other
utUI•
ties
Other
893
71, 180
2,418
3,842
15,433
21,695
/ill
28
52
2, 989
204
3,175
380
16
33
39
557
39
63
181
195
59
/i8
34 ·---··---- ..........
38
13
96 .......... -·-·-----·
814
459 ........
126
830
776
252
251
763
23
42
144
2........ 24.
25
633
17
8
4
14
17
174
4,065
248
980
77
122
345
2,266
29
159
236
306
792
33
69
42
130
45
57
1,898
22.5
941
11,105
2,481
392
49
321
5,856
1,065
70
1;9
Nevada .•.. __ .......... --- ... .
New Hampshire. __ --·----- __ _
New Jersey ... _.. ____________ _
New Mexico .. ____ ... __ ..... __
1,898
. 225
941
11, 105
2,481
35
16.1
4/iO
216
30
20
1,213
345
12
192
161
27
New York. __ ................ .
North Carolina .............. .
North Dakota .............. ..
Ohio .......... -··--·--·---- ___
Oklahoma .......... _. ...... _._
29,981
8,086
988
12,488
4,0/ill
29,IJRO
12,707
3,288
284
5.025
1,019
48i
47~
82
40
198
67
36
Oregon ....... _____ .. ____ ... __ .
Pennsylvania ...... __ ........ .
Rhode Island ..... __ .. __ .... ..
South Carolina .... ____ ...... .
South Dakota ............. .
284
284
69
13,4i0
32
24,571
914
8,199
8,086
988
12,488
4,055
24,571
914
R, 199
5,4.'lR
275
81
II
209
636
5,197
618
134
666
15
119
18
960
960
126
~. 208
3,9(',f,
16,340
1,013
489
3,322
8,208
16,340
1,013
489
3,322
204
I, 187
24
35
Washington ............... ..
West Virginia....... __ ..... ..
Wisconsin.---·----·· ........ .
Wyoming .................... -
1,321
9,636
3,291
405
1,321
9,6.16
3,291
40.5
105
4,515
706
55
101
345
19
11
Hawau ...................... .
Puerto Rico ............. . .. . .
Virgin Islands. . . . . . • . . . • . .. .
36,4n
m
4
55
22........
39
UI
45 ········-···
24 ••..........•.•••••.
65
857 .::: .•••• :::
67
98
2,000
8
44
666
275
23()
J~
67
4,269
940
338 ·-·-····
5
36
12
1,930
351
52 ....... .
180
87
273
203
2,5i8
321
1, 16.1
I, i47
32
225
66
75
21
42
268
254
70
435
65
39
-----------169
2
232
lllO
889
61
691
84
--------
25 ........ jjj" ····220
2,209
307
3,077
I, 684
38
3,036
285
176
2
7,852
21
I, 145
138
867
396
628
39
701
~2
487
1,285
1,4118
671
IS
38i ....... zi .......... .
2
5
19 ......... .
7~
36
303 ........
127
54
8
3
473
3
6i6
5
3
20
14
~
.
2,891 ..... .
2,001
14.1
33
8
2, 11114
285
19
615
385
1,047
I/ill
827
9
20
),90\I
29
295
----------··
500
73
2U
5.16
58
I
94
12
66
297
52
176 ............ ........ ............
II
8 ----···- ------·-·--· ••••••••
6
1,981
100
529
78
241
15
34
64
169
14
19~
32
258
3, 72.,
11
3,418
118
1,376
1 ·····-··-·
162
267
1,404
3,8.15
1,494
4,110
5,254
8S5
f,6
17
602 .......... ·-··---·-·
24.1
146
14
..........
258
60
Tennessee ................... ..
Texas ........ _.. ___ ....... _.. .
Utah ................. _.. . _... .
Vermont ......... -- .. -- .. - -- ..
Virginia ............... -- ... -·-
High•
ways,
roads,
streets
8,511
Oomiectlcut ..••..............
Delaware ................ _.. _.
District or Columbia .... _. ___ _
J"Jorlda ... --- ....... -- ---- ---.
lngs
338,427
Colorado........•.............
California.............. --···-·
airways
Conser•
vatlon
- - - - - - ----1----1·--- - - - - - - - - - · l - - - - - l - - - · l - - - - + - 847
7,791
7,283
1,747
Arlcanlu. -........... -...... -
and
Build·
826 .......... .
51
25
30
2
n
91
875
II
2IIO
1,014
.'iS
128
283
...... ............
3
67
64
232
\ 320
185
26
102
363
13 ............ ···----· ................... .
3, 0!<2
4
854
Digitized by
Google
114
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE III.-NuMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA PROJECTS, BY STATE AND MAJOR
TYPE OF PROJECT-Concluded
DECEIIBlllR
15, 1942
Projects operated by WP A-Concluded
Division of Service Projects
State
Public
activities
Total
War
services
Division of
Training
&nd Reem•
ployment
Welfare
Projects
operated
iotber
ecleral
agencies•
State
supfolY
sect ODS
4, 6115
UM,_
7SO
42,784
113,089
21,012
3
Total .......•.....•.. r······················••····, _ _ _
_ ,_ _ _8,8n
_ _ 1.-----1------1-----1-----1----Alabama .••.....................................•......
122 -------------3,076
252
IHl7
1,857
628
Arizona .•...........•.............................•....
183
399
92
124
34
so
3, 211()
Arkansas .............................................. .
2,370
110 -------------135
786
378
California ..•....•...•..................................
2,699
5,895
I, 193
2,003
247
147 -------------617
Colorado .............................................. .
1,555
119
819
32
80
2
--------------
Coruiectlout.....•...•.....•..•.........................
Delaware .....••.....•.•.•.•.•..........................
District ol Columbia .••..•.•...........................
Florida ........••.•••..•................................
Georgia ......•.........................................
4, 767
6,421
Idaho ...•...............•..............................
Illinois ................................................ .
Indiana ............................................... .
Iowa ....................... . ..... . .................... .
Kansas ................................................ .
Kentucky ......................... . ....... . ........... .
Loulalana .......•..••..................................
Maine ................................................. .
Maryl&nd ........•.....................................
Massachusetts .......... . ............................. .
Mlchlg&n .................... _........................ .
Minnesota ..•..........................................
1
Mi:i~f_P,
:::::::::::::::::: : :::: : ::::::::::::'.::::::::
Montana ....••.•.......................................
Nebl'IISka .... ......................................... .
Nevada ............................................... .
New Hampshire ....................................... .
New Iersey ............................................ .
New Mexico ............. . . . .......................... .
717
8,762
1, ll81
1,749
1,864
52
472
86
102
52
3,330
777
395
557
4,960
1,118
1,252
1,255
3, 211()
2,~
149
73
23
220
292
675
908
62
160
2, 717
5,009
3,227
5,131
5,189
1,316
273
1,291
165
492
4.873
1,268
53
694
7, 71l9
Oregon ..........••...••.•..........................•.•.
Pennsylvania ..........•...............................
Rhode lsl&nd .......................................... .
South Carolina.................................•.......
South Dall:ota ...•.......•..............................
147
8, 782
557
4,202
7811
Tennessee ............................................. .
Texas ................................................. .
Utah .........••........................................
3,734
9,903
725
274
l,llTT
~::~~ia::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wisconsin ............................................. .
1,174
4,433
1,870
341
Hawaii ............................•....................
Puerto Rico.................................. . . ..... .
Virgin lsl&nds ..•................................
4
12,873
1
7
100
282
126
316
14,428
4,447
Wyoming ......................... . ............... . ... .
271
356
171
22
187
835
1,424
543 ...
New York ............................................. .
North Carolina ....... _............ _.................. .
North Dakota .......... __ .......... _.......... . ....... .
Ohio ............••.••..................................
Oklahoma ................ . ........................... .
Vermont. ............................................. .
Virginia ............................................... .
47
68
489
140
680
6,024
2.027
689
•
283
so
a --------------------------5
18
4
3, 641l
--------------
109
99
·--------------------------
25
1, 88CI
680
185
77
27
321
-------------·
--------------
2,466
257
1,872
363
314
38ll
131l
59
4,790
1,142
1,451
1,064
1,241
1,427
376
3.285
2,043
3,745
3,523
869
1,138
428
ll
82
46
2,156
127
810
134
416
2,575
1,059
449
247
85
466
154
6,131
842
125
1,637
217
7,848
3,358
470
3,921
1,656
2,324
M
231
67
153
32
3.071
141
51l8
172
60
5,'480
349
3,451
5o6
47
2,007
21
195
38
21
312
178
1,471
141
60
484
3,361
7,933
521
182
1,328
397
1,159
35
3
117
Ill
63
32
165
174
211
92
389
660
617
10
491
:Ml
46
611
3,562
1,161
269
32
197
63
3
120
145
239
71
22
30
142
58
lll5
41l9
-------------169
83
88
4,681
577
99
3ll
21
6
3ll
811
1
42
8511
363
757
12
168
-------------llll
231
117
2SO
10
1,240
ll27
562
6
-------------
no --------------------------59 - ------------127 ------------53 ------------47 -------------11 -------------ll -------------145 -------------31 -------------154
521
101
14
lll9
82
78
77
10
81
12
8
41
---------------------------------------12, 06ll
639
826
372
586 -------------- -----------·-·
-------------4
Financed by allocation ol WP A lunds.
Digitized by
-------------------------·------------------------·---------------------------------------
Google
-------------------------------·-----------------·---------------------------------·-------------------------------
---------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------
----------------------------------------
115
APPENDIX A: TABLES
TABLE IV.-HouRs AND EARNINGS OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY STATE
AND BY FISCAL YEAR
THROUGH JUNE
Total
30, 1942 •
Year ending June 30, 11136
Year ending June 30, 1937
Year ending June 30, 1938
State
Hours
Total .. ____________ 18, 3~9, 192, 436
Earnings
Hours
Earnings
Hours
Earnings
Hours
Earnings
$8,755,374,215
2, 456, 138, 076
SI. 054, 918, 025
2,878,756,117
$1,457,460,978
2,423,756,987
SI, 238,927, 731
Alabama ................
Arizona .. ···-···-·······
Arkansas .. ·--····-···-·California ... -··-· .......
Colorado ........... - ....
351,527,273
64,625,475
311,309,061
765,301,621
195, 518, 207
115,748,280
32,735, 751
95,943,973
441,187,462
00,343, 411
44,821,287
10,555,225
38,782,799
109,851,215
33,476,834
10,589, 737
3,896,025
8,270,328
56,822,254
13,762,378
37,544, 1()8
10,127,443
37,881,227
135, 222, 084
32,139,724
12,on,8n
5,520. 740
11,196,683
81,427,634
16,300,780
37,157,072
8,366,954
31,693,786
100,103,870
25,480,849
11,429,679
4,770,239
9,483,808
62,609,8113
13,448,604
Connect.icut .....•... ··-·
Delaware ................
District of Columbia ....
Florlda ..••.••• ·-········
Georgia ..........••......
161, 598, 701
23,036,668
74,0H, 758
304,186,134
358, 043, 595
91,184,696
10,347,278
37, 771, ll'J9
109, 704, 772
ll8,055,062
22. 5!16, 724
2,883,927
8, f>-16, 899
32,000,518
43, IH,024
12,445,909
I, 097, 461
3,244,519
8,164,067
11,354,412
25,211,693
2,982,455
9,456,886
33,603,035
42,845,234
15,161,025
1,321,641
4,557,572
11,352,501
13,812, 174
24,504,591
3,179,300
8,781,299
36,917,588
"i.4,454,503
1,395,892
4,318,984
12,468,568
12,136,894
Idaho ....•....••.••......
Illinois ....•.•..•••. ···-.
Indiana .•...•..•.•....•.
Iowa ....................
KaDS8S ............ _.....
71,204,582
1, 323, 204, 527
537,223, 701
209, 548, 840
259, 86S, 856
32, 3!0, 299
654, 898, 242
256, 862, 873
94,898, 48U
102, 813, 6'1S
P, 782,400
15\t, 699, 4,>7
!Ki,811\, 471
24, f\:l7, 976
36, 1:163, 439
3,503,409
6-~. 443,283
35,419,941
9,486,315
11,459,480
8,393,008
200, 106, 183
83,322,106
30,840,492
3,942,188
102,767,558
43,349,780
14,369,451
9,276,202
179, 139, 735
75,480,492
28,467,180
52,158,671
20, 1211, 172
38,301,606
Kentucky.·············Louisiana ..... ··-· .......
Maine ...................
'.\faryland .. ··--·········
Massachusetts ...••.•.••.
413, 896, 208
301,052, 807
64,789,832
114,310,686
741, 227, 423
133,579, 172
113,123,571
26,675, 737
4~. 789,047
433,497,681
47,500, 0.11
40,453,058
8, 25t, 701
17,189,940
86,5S5, 726
10,593, ~10
12,896, ilSO
3,212,947
6,300,321
48,638,624
63,530,520
43,238,634
10,235,094
19,123,943
122,442,301
17,986,363
16,182,375
4,210,037
8,136,007
78,747,027
Michigan ....... ·-····-··
Minnesota ..... ···-···-··
M issLss~pl. •••.•••••••• _
Mlssou ········--a·····
Montana ...... ·-·-····-·
742, 046, 699
411, 34-1, 087
268, 198, 2S5
631,790,306
00,095, 297
375, 803, 722
214, 655, 736
85,112,547
269, 424, 614
57,311,700
85,480, 1114
55,257,217
26,404,785
72,129, 112
36,670, 7117
25,6'.l6,696
6,015,586
25,713,279
89,2UI, 136
64,366, 191
30,669,097
101,798,141
9,122,103
5,455, 182
14,125,533
45,006,810
34,237,749
9,749,396
41,741,301
9,420,605
10.1, 703, 1n
52,082,943
27,467,883
83,195,432
13,747,365
Nebra!lka ········-······
Nevad!l ........•••••.•..
New llamps.1ire ...••••..
New Jersey ..............
New Mexico .... •-·-·····
211,525,491
13, 774, fl37
64,420,035
636, HiO, 122
94,706,649
89,273,343
7,611,227
28,851,504
346, 9 I6, 529
39,839,853
18,262.865
I, 697. 820
7,437, 782
82,041,823
IO, 686,869
6,819,319
883,590
2,770,746
40,814,377
3,707,224
31,580,935
2,047,822
10,332,344
105, 2.>6,422
12,260,910
12,563,014
I, 285, 728
4,839,5%
62,6.'!0, 351
li,009,852
32,657,997
1,818,433
New York.
North Carolina .........
North Dakota.....•.....
Ohio .......•............
Oklahoma ....••..•.•.•..
I, 815,922,319
30~. 851, 611~
108, 5 I 2, :J.16
I, 240,935, ~9
415,271,001
1,149,424, 80.1
98,447, 02'2
47,206, 4~2
64!1, 2011, O><!i
HO, 714, 5~
347,823, 4/\8
32,862, 205
10, 22\i, ,;:12
164, 58,\, 229
216,314, 120
7,595,045
3,793,682
76,713,315
14,829, 158
370, 451, 367
34,520, 786
27,274,695
181,321,374
62,717,656
251, 794, 70P
9,806,006
12,040,976
97,656,804
21,973,608
254, 31'~. 825
33,179,347
14,516,535
173, 976, 528
176, 550, 072
52,700,179
17,942,074
Oregon.-·----····-······
Penn~ylvania ____________
6.1, 442, 168
861,018,057
53. 777,562
94, 5~5. 714
52,166,091
!ff, 20.,. 823
23:l, 24\1, 219
Rhode Island .... ·- ......
South Carolina ..........
South Dakota ...........
117, RAA, O!lP
1, 594,407, 054
100, 090, 9:l5
296, 429, 003
131, 58~. :Z:l8
12, 2'J3, 132
7, 33.1, 355
116, 172, 112
6,019,090
6,344,495
4,158,879
18,0.16,005
30-1, 149,25~
14, 718, 163
34,712,534
37, O's5, 195
10,537,440
173, 136, 287
7,770,819
9,691,352
13,833,202
16,429 071
:Z:!6, 292, 313
15,621,300
a., 412,372
19,100,832
137, 873, 497
8,295,191
8,709,261
8,033,812
Tennessee ....•..........
Texas .......•............
Vtah ......••.. ·-········
Vermont .....• ✓•
Virginia ....... ····-····
3.12, 313,576
6~0. 40-l, 859
81,885,407
39,:JZ,, 979
212,067,296
98, 180,8.'16
230, 297, :l~ll
42,337,297
15, 9,6, 248
66,012, 2'21
42, 300, 4,>5
S:l, 40~, 761
12,688,592
,>, 5o;J, 323
32,459,675
9,396,3118
20,048, 734
5,118,409
I, 789,384
7,834,620
46,009,917
85, 064, 918
9, 761, 796
5,184,562
34,270,904
11, 005,0.10
27,473,059
5,731,402
2,125,848
9,571,878
37, 181!, 226
72,107,520
9,!Kl9, 103
4,972,949
28,419,859
9,381,562
23,279,601
5,281, 765
Washington._ ...........
West Virginia ...........
Wisco:isin .••.•... _......
Wyoming ......•........
241, f'45, 574
300. 93IJ, 488
40S, (J.10, 812
~. 726,091
132, 176, 484
1:i2, 443, HS
29,506,242
3.~. \!6.1, lrJI
4i, 4S2, 72'2
5,323,314
13,956,434
14,888,372
26, 5.17, 820
I, 005, 937
34,412,868
46, 20~, 44/l
61,417, WS
4,261, 92-1
20, 3n2, 199
21,215, 9:H
37,407,267
2,190,141
37,297,368
36,530,097
52,411,986
3,664,833
21, "45,082
17,484.165
32,005,lm
1, !iOO, 600
Alaska ..... ··-··········
Hawaii ...•..............
Purrt. "'ico ........ - ....
13,587
20,463, f'40
90,279, l()(l
1,642,804
2,857
6,109,951
2,309
2,144,171
10,730
8,668
••••••••
Virgin ,.'.>I ,nds. __________
226, 276, 2fi4
13,076,506
IO. 977
i, f}"'V<, 247
19,200,215
375,251
64,02'•,•~
14, hH5. :JS.t
~•. :mt' S()f,
-------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
41,143,742
4,320,548
92,982,867
39,836,318
13,566,806
15,234,726
65,552,667
16,539,632
34,737,031
7,570,016
13,452, 719
15,060,491
98,841,778
8,498,931
93,871,951
II, 4Sl, 669
2,994,622
6,067,046
64,303,104
65,231,822
31,050, 799
8,465,800
36,085,328
9,388,990
13,328,455
1,185, 163
3,989,952
55,017,820
4,507,140
9,281,684
6,908,825
98,184,030
9,468,771
2,027,794
8,018,583
4,134,584
1,580, 'Zi7
------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
• Data not available arter this date.
Digitized by
L:.oogle
116
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE IV.-HOURS AND EARNINGS OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY STATE
AND BY FISCAL YEAR-Concluded
THROUGH JUNE
Year ending June 30, 1939
30, 1942 •
Year ending June 30, 1940
Year ending June 30, 1941
Year ending June 30, 1942
State
Hours
Earnings
Hours
Earnings
Hours
Earnings
Hours
Earnlnga
Total ... . ..........
3,747,868, 967
$1,876,810,114
2,912,005, 127
$1,286,318, 966
2,476, 6M, 470
SI, 119,767,819
I, 494,012, 6112
$721, 170,682
Alabama .........••....•
Arizona ..................
Ark1111888 ................
Callfomla ...............
Colorado •••.............
81,361,062
11,420,602
69,627,404
126,384,086
31,673,863
24,493,592
6,553,621
19,935,504
83,076,843
18,155,509
63,332,866
9,227,911
56,228,664
122, 900, 709
30,508,393
22,181,190
4,405,585
18,685,340
63,375,729
13,834,217
52,408,041
8,832,703
47,176,786
109,759,062
20,035,425
4,386,087
16,679,299
58, 67.. 235
12,665, 168
34,902,837
6,094,637
30,018,396
61,030,595
Ui, 791,098
1.. g{(j, 780
3,203,554
II, 793,0ll
Connecticut .........••..
Delaware ................
District or Columbia •..•
Florida .......•..........
Georgia ..................
37,863,804
4,758,629
15,101,744
69,848,396
84,493,250
21,755,407
2,095,639
8. 224,419
Zl, 957,637
25,145,977
26,723,159
3,557,011
12, «o, 738
52,934,314
62,223,937
13,911,639
1,617,998
6,005,304
20,197,488
21,885,947
18,686,253
3,802,966
13,021,951
44,832,859
51,729,631
9,942,944
8,032,567
I, 797,952
7,016,075
18,491,331
19,757,415
1,872,380
6,565,241
34,049,424
32,463,777
Idaho ....................
Illinois ••................
Indiana ...........•......
Iowa ....................
Kansas ................. -
12,226,316
288, 733, 839
112,731,301
38,931,620
43,906,775
5,819,477
163, 276, 128
58, 79', 166
18,726,478
18,202,673
13,152,723
Zll, 283, 621
84,712,176
34,009,443
34,327,220
6,800,646
107,105,056
36,671,422
14,634,029
13,979,801
10,916,932
169, 794, 466
61,291,939
31,670,706
32,899,774
5,067,365
81,219,921
27,025,756
13,900,662
13,919,039
94,447,226
49, 103,4211
32,8119,217
20, 9111, 523
21, 01, an
13, ?M,480
Kentucky ...............
Loulalana ................
Maine ...................
Maryland ...............
Massachusetts...........
90,441,040
64,883,069
13,529,238
21,086, 781
148,469,242
31,274,983
22,863,139
6,389,139
8,870,040
94,621,622
64,314,096
47,098, 126
10,561,937
18,211,551
124,427, 2Tl
22,192,816
17,732,492
4,388,710
8,022,253
63,582,361
64,470,518
40,375,138
9,669,718
16, Ill, 649
103, 395, 329
19,579,094
16,407,270
4, 18li, 521
37,997,336
30,267,761
62,550,608
7,526,331
67,066,820
IS, 412,474
13,588,896
2,294, 781
3,843,D>
Michigan_ ..............
Minnesota ...............
~=f.~~::::::::::::::
Montana ................
192, 368, 682
76,964,669
59,728,092
131, 433, 616
18,288,720
107,418,839
46,082,340
17,309,519
67,852,2&1
13,163,097
128,479,495
64,482,325
51,370,403
108,862, 612
16,631,294
00,363,236
29,907,472
16,586,908
45,704,139
7,700,457
93,624,081
69,020,489
44,270,612
84,201,491
411, tn,334
39, 1611, 253
28,287,513
00, 169, 902
26, 1136, 178
2), 094, 3311
11,278,673
H,soo,m
45,176,040
27,616,341
15,707,666
37,738,709
7,067,256
9,583,liOS
24,589,604
6,066, 113
Nebraska ................
Nevada ..................
New HamJ)llblre.........
NewJeney ..............
New Mexico, ............
41,776,949
2,~7,449
14,063,742
130, 223, 9118
17,157,498
17,670,317
1,419,428
6,496,011
73,560,989
6,816,135
35,723,361
2,358,100
10,383.676
99,908,215
16,625,239
15,238,707
1,058,132
4,476,207
49,946,634
7,212,662
32,140,974
2,282,584
8,589,109
83,102,788
15,000,632
14,230,106
1,077,417
3,806,542
41,910,198
6,876,814
19,382,410
1,362,379
ll,623,427
6,114,461
41,774,925
11,493,932
23,036,26()
6,710,026
New York ...............
North Carolina ..........
North Dakota ...........
Ohio.....................
Oklahoma................
300, 712, 973
64,164,272
16,684,648
311,680, 766
84,466,799
205,267,140
18,959,618
7,969,646
179,475, 9118
30,317,347
226, 222, 140
511,915,575
16,310,522
195,948,on
62,782,001
123,366,581
lll,M9,H6
6,000,170
92,971,643
21,667,997
196, 605, 237
64,~5, 795
15,760,835
143,210,448
51,780,000
106, 616, 191
19,746,959
6,463,493
68,149,481
19,103,929
119,848,519
33,013,718
7,738,469
70,213,467
36,708,682
Oregon ..................
Pennsylvania ............
Rhode Island ............
South Carolina ..........
South Dakota ...........
21,197,241
321, 701,UJ
24,049,679
67,173,068
20,256,258
12,295,126
. 186,665,087
12,985,584
18,622,093
8,673,271
19,922, 1186
211,404, 956
17,141,265
52,751,704
18,259,715
9,975,294
102, 274, 031
8,367,553
18,626, 767
7,116,357
17,328,882
193,055,258
13,983,538
46,000,922
15,676,388
8,973,275
94,613,376
7,064,714
18,788,730
6,288,731
8,747,981
95,564,639
6,881,006
32,486,697
8,966,718
..858,907
61, 283, IMl7
3,284,611
13,803,016
4, 061,8311
Tennessee ...............
Texas ........... . ........
Utah ....................
Vermont ...•............
Virginia .................
72,602,644
128, OZl, 135
13,476, 762
9,971,061
39,972,641
18,932, 186
41,201,619
7,940,738
4,031,852
12,031,760
53,859,307
118,603,109
14,414,475
5, 725,472
30,994,240
18, 272, 006
41,720,227
6,836,082
2,376,088
10,847,508
48,362,479
112, 10,200
13,861,084
5,245,828
29,221,064
17,616,445
42,341,730
6,789,996
2,284,043
10,796,912
31,990,648
81,060,216
8,683,605
2,725,784
16,729,023
12, 716, 740
34,232,416
WashinJt<!n- ...........
West V1rglnla ...........
...
Wlscomin .....
Wyoming ..... .. -----
63,070,589
63,588,160
83, 000, 691
4,978,758
31,S&l, 789
25,052,075
51,745,611
2,412,519
39,360,828
48,294,643
73,070,964
4,641, 735
19,271,172
19,725,231
33,683,123
1,979,064
31,789,313
44,848,099
59,5~.338
3,604,749
16,012,645
18, 738, 000
28, Zl5,033
1,664,463
16,208,366
32,497,060
30,636,603
2,290,779
.
Alaska ........ --- · ----- - ---... - ------··•
-- - -5,0.'!3,355
1,823; 5.13
2,564,167
..
Hawaii
-···
5,823,917
Puerto Rico.: .
·---.. ------42,838
Virgin Islands ...........
- ... - - -
.. -----------1,081,428
1,144,651
15,081
26,447,456
7,499,660
7,457,036
4,979,128
35,201,874
8,276,755
3,513,31Je
1,020, 1195
3,904,Zl6
15,073,180
13,962,243
3,81l6,686
10,164, 71l8
9,891,747
31,06',:kll
701, 7611
2,471,560
69,618,990
13,608,504
3,629,790
36,057,906
1.. 879,807
4,639,905
1,341,239
6,910, ll80
8,842,163
1.. 739,171
Ill, 762,463
1,123,742
--------·-------- ----·---------------------------------··2,230,589
908,766
390,994
162,072
3..1, 743,649
15,671
6, 1118,035
6,477
:',(), 711,&IO
I, 584,296
• Data not available after this date.
Source: Work Projects Administration.
Digitized by
Google
11, 197,6511
353.~
TABLE V.-STATUS OF FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO
As
OF JUNE
WPA
UNDER THE VARIOUS
ERA
ACTS
30, 1943
ERA Act of-
ERA Act, fiscal year-
Description
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
Allocations and speclllc appropriations:
Net amount allocated by the President
Specltlc appropriations •....••..............••................ .. ....
Deficiency appropriations . ..• .•••......•.. . .. .•....... .. ... ...... ·· i - - - - - - l- - - - - - J - - - - - - l - - - - - - l - - - - - - 1
$],~:~:~ L!'.~~::~~·.~.I sm:~:l:l
Total funds allocatod or approprlatod to WP A..•..•... .•.•...... 1======I
Reappropriat-Od balances rrom prior ERA acts ..... . ....... . ..... . ....
Extension of Federal construction project funds from prior acts : •
1~3
11142
lllil
1
I I, 350, 660, 000
-- - -· __ . II=====
$280,000,000
$875,000,000 I
1- - - - - 280, 000, 000
875, 000, 000
2, 250, ooo, ooo
I
I, 477,000,000
;Jl,4UU,-t:l'f
I
J:2, 00:'>, U3:>
22, rn7, 218
22,178,662
60,847, 63~
4,008,038
5,342, 618
I, 2-11, 606
10, 439, 554
3,009,100
4,650,951
231,64!1
-· ·--
~Si'e~ ~~~ ~~~l~~~~~.~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
936,320
345, 730, 227
325
1,514,849,393
910, 627,
I. 379. 431. 632
==i=====
= == l=====i===
0 l~=~==ll=====ll== = = =l==
7-55-.-06Total funds amilable to WPA ......•......•.••••.•• ... .... . .....
Deduct:
Transfer of WP A runds to regular appropriations or otbor Federal
79,000
45,600
18,000,000
14, 690
agencies by logislatlvc requirements ................... ....... _.. .
Transfer of WPA ru nds to other Federnl agencies by legislative
I , 299, 495
requirements .. .. .. .. .... . ...... ... ....•. ...•............ .. .. .. ..
33,945, 784
26, 1w, 823
20,762,920 I
T ransfer of unobligatod balances to subsequent ERA acts .•.......
Extension of Federal construction project funds to subsequent
ERA acts:
2, 645,188
6. ns, 660
Work Projects Administration •..........•..•••.... .•...•...•..
1,082,853
I, 170,2 14
Other Federal agencies .. . ............ ...•.•.... ..• .•......••..
Ill , 949
Transrer of WP A funds to surplus rw,d or the Treasury .....•...•..
62, 4.88
Transfer of WPA fun ds to the emergency relief liquidation fund '· · i -- - - - - l- - - - - - l - - - - - - l -- - - - - 1
24,532,440
61,303, 102
T otal deductions ..•••.........•. ••... ...........
1-1,-356-,
Netfunds available to WP A .. . .
Obligations incurred against WPA fund s by:
Work Projects Administration •.. . . ..
0
co·
;=;:
N
(D
a.
CT
'<
()
0
~,.....
(v
2,220,007,322
I
I , 490, 316, 0-14
2, 140, 394,575
I
I, 433,865,810
:·····:r··:···········:··········~··_ ··:···:·:::·:::·::r····::·:··-:··1·····:::·:·:··:]
'ti
tzl
z
....t:I
~
>
>-3
ti
Projects operated by WP A ... . .
Adminlstratlvo expenses• ..... . ........ ........... ...... ... .
Land utliiiat1on and rural rehabilitation programs
Purchase or surplus clothing ........• ..................... . ....
Aid to solf•help and cooperative associations ...
Tornado relief in Minnesota ..... .. ....... .......••..•••••.• ...
34, 717
a2, roo
Settlement of property damage claims 1. •... ........ . ..........
861
6, 904,
-499
-l -- - -71,
-Other :Federal agenclcs .••..• - .....••..•.•....•. ...•• •.............. _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - - - - - l- - - - - - l - - - -- - l - -1
1
1
47,842
210
o. 021.
23,657
277. 591
.!=====
~d~~vte~~~co~~vi;1~:~~~~~i~~'.1_'~'.~~~.~~~~\ ··· : ··
~Fa~fb~
>
'ti
- ·· .
i
I,
I
800, 176, 2671
239,864,353
Total obligations incurred against WPA funds ...•.....••••.. l=====l=====l: =====!======1======1=====1=====1=
Unobli~ated balance or WPA funds available ror transfer to :
1.~.000
Federal Works Agency for liquidation of WPA ... •. ....... .. •.••.•
104,800,874
I, 401,578 I
Surplus fund of the Treasury . •. •. . ···· ················ ······· ····· l- - - - - - - 1i- - - - - - l, - - - - - - l- - - - - - l- - - - - -l - - - - - - l -- - - - - 1
105,865,874
I, 401,578 I
Total funds to be transferred •••....•...•.•.••••.• ••..•... . .......
• Funds appropriated under t he ERA Acta or 1935 tbrougb 1937 were llllocated by the Pn!llident to various agencies. Tbe net llllocatlons uclude allocations to tbo WPA for NY A student aid and proJ•
ects. Also OJ:cluded are amonnts tramferred to subsequent acta and to surplus fnnd.
• The tint provision for the extension or Federal construction project unobllgated balanoea to the mooeedln& ftacal year was incorl)Omted In tbe ERA Act or I~.
• The emerpncy relief liquidation fund was establbbed as of Dec. 31, UM!, to provide fnnda under tbe Jurladfotlon of the Treuury for peyment of claims anlnst !allied emergency relief appropriations
certified for payment by tbe General Acoountlng Office. Tbls fund was Initially financed In tbe amonnt of $1,S00,000 out or tbe unexpended balances of the ERA Acts of 1935 through 1938 which bad previously been covered Into the surplus fund of tbe Treasury.
d Includes NYA admlnJatratlve expemes Incurred prior to 1uly 193g,
• Those programs were administered by the Farm Security Adminbtratlon out of fnnds allotted (but not transferred) by the WP A.
1 Property damage clalma prior to ll8cal year UMO were included In administrative expenses.
Source: Based on reports of the U. 8. Treasury Department and the Work Projects Admlnlstratlon.
........
'1
118
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE VI.-AMOUNT OF "\VPA FUNDS ALLOCATED, OBLIGATED, AND EXPENDED, BY OPERATING AGENCY.
THROUGH JUNE
30, 1943
Total, all acts
ERA Act, II.seal year 1943
.,gency
Allocations
0 bligations b
Expenditures•
TotaL -·--- -··- ·- __ --------· .. -· ........ __ . ___ . ____ . • $IO, !!1">3, 788, 5!121 • $to, 75-1, 179,018
Work Projects Administration ________ ....... ___ .. ·--·....
10, !i81, 168, 46!_!~572, 131,:l52
Other Federal agencies'··•·-············-····-··---·-·--·
182,fi20, 131 j--182,·0i7,6(\G
1
Department ol Agriculture .. _______________ ...... ·--· . ===56=.=.;=r,'2~_=s~73=!~~·-;;:;,1, 100·
Agr!culturnl Arljustmcnt Administration . . ......
Agricultural Cht•mistry and EngiIJl'l'ring. ··-·· ... .
Agricultural Economics..........................
Agricultural Marketing Service...................
Dairy In,iustry..... ... . .. .. ... . ......... .. . . . ... .
Entomology and Plant Quarantine................
Fon•st Service ..... ·-··-········-···-········--····
Home Economics······••·•••··--··------·---···National A~ricultural Research Cent,•r............
Rural Ell'ctrifimtion Administration..............
Soil Conscrvtltion Service-·-··•-·-·······•· · ······
Undistributed .. ·····--···-.--·- ... ··- ... -·_ ... -··
290, &57
3,898
20.5,844
211, 25-1
3.1, \lf.:J
Ill. 2.14, 444
18, 1~7. IO(l
882,377
I, 1114.:!24
362,219
200, 8.~7
3, 8Y8
205,844
I
Allocations
d
Obligations
Expenditnres
• $10. 750, 3.~9. 619
$340,827, 134
$Zl6. 005, 322
$23.3, 458, H9
10,568, ;34, 451
340,802,007
235,981, li65
23.3, 438, 138
23,657
20,611
1,625
I. 625
25,127
====
5H, 700, 900
I, 625
181,f>.55. 198
200,857
3,898
205, 8H
211,2.H
33,963
19, 2.11, 381
18, 18ti, 61:1
211,254
3.1, \l63
19, 2.14, 432
18,186,673
882,377
882,377
I, 194,324
I, 194,324
362,219
362,219
H, 457,428
H,45S,80S
H,457,517
I, 097, 742
I, 625
1, 62J
l,62S
I, 697, 779
I, 697, 742
1=====1=====1°=====1=====1====,I====
587,333
Department ol Commerce .........•.. ·-······.........
709, 763
590,682
1-------11-------1
81. 730
Coast and OeodeticSurvey .......•...... -····-···
82.006
82,006
342, 7;,()
Forci~ and Domestic Commeroo ....•.•... __ ·---·
46-1, 90-I
345, ~2:1
162, ~-5.1
Weather Bnreau ..•.••.•• ·-·-··-···---···-·······.
102,853
162. 853
1=======11=======
Exe('lltive Office ol the President: Notional Resources
Planning Board ..... -·-------·•-··-·-·····-···-·····
13. 149
13,149
13,149
1======1======1°======1=====1=====1=====
Department ol the Interior .. -··-······-··---··-·--····
24. 000, 701
23,699,775
23,692,880
13,089
II, 714
II, 679
1-------11-------1-------1------11------1----Fish and WIMllle Servlee .• _... ---···-·-··-·······
3,678. 50.5
3,450, 8.57
3,449.964
5,800
5,742
6. 735
lntlian .,ffairs ·····•·······-·····-····-··-·-·--·
92.0:!5
91.849
91.848
10.5, 7fi2
10.'i, 737
105,737
Gcnrrnl Lnn<I Office ...... _········--······ · ·······
7,289
5,972
5,944
National Park S,•n·iee .. --········-···············
18,021,01>3
J7,949,fi70
17,1146,021!
Rrcl11mation ......................... _...........
29, Z:l.5
29, 2.1.5
29, 2:l-5
Territories and Island Possessions......... .. ......
I, 74:!. 002
I, 742, ;129
I. 739. V69
Alaska Railroarl. ········•···•···•······--·-··
Alaska Roa<! Commission ................... -.
Alaska-miscellaneous........................
Virgin Islands ..... ·-····-···· •· · ··--·········
Undistributed .. -····· ....... ···-··...............
2-12. 762
232,762
232. 762
2.306
2,29\l
2.29\l
309. 399
307,833
307, 8.33
I. 199,435
1,100,43.5
l, 197,075
330, 109
330,098
3.30. 098
·======l=======l====='=
Department of Justice._··········-·-·--· ..... ··-····
55. 439
55. 439
55. 430
Atl.orney General's Office ........ _._..............
Bureau of Prisons.·-••·•·········-·•·-·······-··-·
3,465
3.465
3,46.5
51,974
51,974
61,974
======
Department of Lahor: Labor Statistics.·-·····-·····
4,694,307
4,667, 752
4, 6f,5, 2-10
Library of Congress ....... _.................. _._ ...... ====4=20=·=4=96=l·====420=,4=96=,=l=====4=20=·=4=96=I=·•=·=·=--=·=·=--=·=·•=·•I=·=·=·•=·=·-=·=··=·=I=·=·=·•=·=·=·•=·=··=·=··
Department of the Navy·--·--·-···--·.··-····-·......
36,571,500
36,671,415
36,564,479
i------ll------l------1-----1-----l·---Coast Guards•· .. -···•···•-·•·-•····---··........
5.'l.~. fl02
5.18, 5.~9
538,589
Yards and Docks.·····-·-··-····---···········...
36, O:J2. 898
36,032,826
36,025,890
= = = = = = l 0 = = = = = = l = = = = = =0 1=====1•=====!=====
8,350
8,350
5,339
Federal Security Agency .. ·····-······----·-··-····-·.
I, 451,281
I, 448,098
I, 445,087
1-------,1-------1-------1·-----·1-----·1----om('(> or Erlumtion ... ·--··· ....... ····-···--····.
1, 2.54, 37,5
1,251.314
1. 251. 314
8, 350
5, 3311
8,350
Public Health Sen-ice .... ··•·••-····-·-····-·-····
196,00C,
196, 78-1
193,773
1=====1=====1
Department of th,• Treasury: Office or the Secretary h
2. !'<.19, 232
2, R:m, 05-1
2,839.054
Veterans' Administration._._··-·-·····-·····--·-·--·.
2,544, 6.12
2, .54·1, 5:!5
2, .544, 418
l=====l=====l======l=====l====I====
War Department.---····--···-··-·················--·
52, 5-18. 8>!6
52, -128, ~'119
52,058,861
l-------l-------l·-------1------1
Corps ol Enginrrrs .. ·-·---·-··--·-··--·····-··--·.
2. 344, 49\l
2, 2:18, 82-1
2, 2.'l.~. ~23
Quartermaster Corps·····•--······---··-····-····.
.50, :.l0-1. 387
50, 180. 47fi
49,820,038
======!=======
Federal
Agency: Public Buildings Adminis• _
tru.tionWorks
____________________________________________
7,872
7,872
7,872
............. ·1········-·--·· .·-··-···-···-
• Covers runds appropriaterl by tho ERA Acls ol 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, and fiscal years 1941, 1942, and 1943, and by deficiency appropriations listed in
·
footnote I, p. 98.
b Exclurles unliQuirlated obligations under appropriations which have lapsed for expenditure purposes, funds for the liquidation of which were transferred
to the rmerg,,ncy relier liquirlation fund provided for in Public Law 353, 77th Cong.; ERA Act, fiscal ypar 1943; and Publ!c Law 140, 78th Cong,
• ExJl(•nditures for the 1943 fisral yenr as n•ported here rlo not include approver! vouchers which were chargeable against appropriations avallablo In the
1943 II.seal year. PaymPnt for such ill-ms were made by the Treasury Department from the emergency liquidation fund.
d Does not inrludc 1938, l9:l9, and fiscal years 1941 and 1942act funds which continued to be available for obli~atlon on Federal constrncUon projects throngb
provisions of th,• fiscal year 1943 HCL Also exclll<lPs funds available upon transfer to the ERA Act, fiscal yPar 1943.
• Excludes land utilization and rural rehabilitation programs administered by the Farm Security Administration under funds allotted (but not trans·
!erred) hy the WPA under the ERA Acts ol 19'.lo and 1936: Allotments, $27,853,6-17; obligations and ex1)(>n<liturcs, $27,786,390,
r Allocations of WPA funds to these other Federal agencies were matlc under tho ERA Acts of 1938, 1939, and II.seal years 1941, 1942, and 1043 and the Jasl
three of the deflcimry appropriations cil"d in footnote A.
• The Coast Guard was lransf,,rred from the Department ol the Treasury to the Department ol the Navy as ol Nov. I, 1941.
k For the use of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Division of Tax Research.
Source: Based on reports ol the U.S. Treasury Department and the Work Projects Administration.
Digitized by
Google
119
APPENIX A: TABLES
TABLE VII.-AMOUNT OF WPA FUNDS EXPENDED FOR PROGRAMS OPERATED BY WPA AND BY OTHER
FEDERAL AGENCIES, BY OPERATING AGENCY AND BY FISCAL YEAR
THROUGH JUNIII
yoors 1936--0
TotaL-------······ ....•. ........... .. ..... .. . . • $10,750,389,649
Other Federal agencies 4.......... .••...•••... .•......
Department of Agriculture........................
Year ending June 30 ._
Total, fiscal
Agency
Work Projects Administration •.•....... -.............
30, 1943
1939
1940
$2,230,749,993
1941
SI, 326,110,531
$1,520,106,078
1943 b
1942
$887, 647, 532
$282, 140, 456
l======l,======l=======l======,l=====I,=
1======1,======!=======l======,1=====1,=
10,568,734,451
2,157,200,362
I, 461. 790,340
I, 284, 780, 435
879,247, 501
282,080, 754
181,655,198
73,549,631
58,315, 738
41,330,096
8,400,031
59,702
56,760,000
24,003,792
17,931,893
11,200,026
3,625,921
9,268
200,857
3,898
110,Rll
3,898
106,329
70,923
2,711{ ~- - - ---- ----
104, rn2
175,605
32,256
4,413,984
4,443, 187
147,383
175, 753
7,573
1,280,665
438,645
4,195
367
618
-6
1,707 ·-·--·········
2, 026, 352
206
I, 232, 205
6, 805
3,679 ······-·--····
1,056 ··•· -·-··-····
Agricultural Adjustment Administration.....
,\grlcultw·sl Chemistry and Engineering......
Agricultural Eoonomlcs.. ........ •...•.... .•.
Agricultural Marketing Service...............
Dairy Industry...............................
Entomology and Plant Quarantine...........
Forest Service................................
Home Eoonomlcs.-···•·•·················-···
National Agricultural Research Center........
Rural Electrlficatlon Administration..........
Soll Conservation Service.....................
Undistributed................................
205, SH ..•...........•...
97,130
211,254 ..•.•.•.•...••••..
36,037
33,963 ........•. ....•.•. •.•••.•••.......•.
19,234,381
7,008,045
5,696, m
18,186,613
6,185,581
6,318,835
882,377
500,446
230,869
1,194,324
445,891
671,624
362,219
158,014
196,6.12
14,457, 428
8, 512, 298
4, 581. 800
1,697,742
988,808
97,843
--
82, 717
170,598
48
1,848
79,926
429,862
6,226
28,3171
32.816
3
~:~
·····-···5;428
l======l======l=======l======,l=====I,====
t°!:{rer~~°:.~~~~~.~~~~~~:::::::::::::
m:~ ··············•···
l=====t=====l======l======:====,J====
l======l======l=====,=l===•===l,==== 1=====
Department of Commerce. __ ·······-···-····--···
.'.87,333 ········-·········
il,319
SI. 730 ········-·········
19,799
i-----------l-------l------•l-------1------I-----
C088t and Geodetic Survey .. ·-······-·-··•-•·
-
·-·········r.1,520...• ·······51,609·
798
Executive Office or the President: National Re•
sources Planning Board .•••.•••.• _._............
13,149
9,553
Department of the Interior ......•..••... - .• -.. -...
23,692,880
10,514,893
7,310,560
6,023,195
823,592
20,640
3,440,964
91,848
105,737
17,946,029
29,235
I, 739,969
1,866,468
976,296
, 42,891
62,391
5,619,787
471,391
48,510
42,119
4,007,909
18,275
434,991
126,013
409
1.227
634,373
II, 796
61, 670
I, 731
3,596 •...............•.............•...............
0
Flsh and Wildlife Service .. ·-····-···-······•·
Indian Affairs.................................
General Land Offlce ..•.. ·-·-·················
National Park Servloo •.•. -·•···-····-···-····
Reclamation .................... -.............
Territories and Island possessions._...........
Alaska Railroad •........... : ....... -.....
Alaska Road Commission .......• _........
Alaska--miscellsneous. .............. .....
Vlt>gln Islands............................
Undlstributcd ....•.•....... -.. ·-···········-·
f---------1-------11--------1-------1-----1-----
--------------------------------·-7,674,885
-----------------662,626
10,960
579,051
1--------1-------1------·l-------l·-----1-----232,762
2,299
307,833
1,197,
330, 98
g1s
192,959
-----------------108,250
361,417
310,914
39,803
J, 136
133,597
404,616
I. 163 ....................•...•.••
160 ··•···•·····••
65,826
I, 731
368,002
61,410
19,184
55,439
49,311
3,465
51,974
3,465
45,846
4,665,230
420,496
755,920
132,600
J, 843,104
115,462
36, i64, 479
14,138,565
538,589
36.025, 890
275,991
13,862,574
Dep;; ;~:;r; ~~~~;; ; ; ;.; ; ; ; ; ; : >--:: =-::=-~:=-:: :=1=======1===··=·=·=· =:~~;=:.=
1======
Department of Labor: Labor statistics ....•.•.•• _.
Library of Congress..••.•...•.. ·-···-·······-·•···
Department of the Navy .... •··--··········-······
Coast Guard•···············-··············-·
Yards and Docks.···-·····-···-----······-···
Federal Security Agency.·-·····---·-·······-·····
Offlce or Education .. ·········-·······........
Public Health Service.....•.• _.. _•.••.•.......
38
9,076
~J=-:: . .
I, 729, f,83
109,421
332,288
60,614
4,235
2, 41!9
10,266,149
10,361,312
I, 772,425
26,028
110,759
10,155,300
100,712
10,260,600
50,955
1,721,470
172
25,856
,-------f-------1------->-------1------1------
l======t======l=======I========
1== ====1,======l=======I======
!======!======
!=======I
1,445,087
728,648
478,678
220,434
64,731
-47,304
1,251,314
193,773
640,092
188,556
478,678
220, 4J4
12,209
52,522
1
-47,305
2,8.19,054
2. 544,418
1,602,563
508,649
979,460
905,855
356,273
740,234
757
356,477
I
33,203
52,058,861
21,197,353
18,403,546
11,419,592
1,033,464
4,906
2,238.823
40.820. 038
681,299
20,616,054
1,086, 1.56
17,317,390
464, 773
10,954,819
6.595
1.026,869
-------------4,906
7,872
7,784
1--------1-------,------+-------0
Department of the,Treuury: Office of the Secie•
tary '···-···-·····-·····-···················-···
Veterans' Administration.··-··-·········· ....... .
War Department·-··----·---·····-······-··-·-···
Corps of Engtneers .... -••···-···-·-···-·····..
Quartermaster Corps •... •-·••··-·········....
Federal Works Agency: Public Bulldims Ad·
ministration .. ··--·--·······-···········-·· .....
1 - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - / c - - - - - - + - - - - - - -1------1------
88 --············-··· ········-··-·· ····•·•·••··••
• Expenditures during the fiscal year Include, in addition Lo the amounts expended under the current ERA act, the liquidation of obligations incurred
under previous ERA sets.
b Expenditures for the 1943 fiscal year as reported here do not include approved vouchers which were chargeable against appropriations available In the
1943 fiscal year. Payment !or such items were made by the Treesury Department from the emergency Uquidsllon fund.
• Excludes land utili7.i•lion and rural rehabilitation programs administered by the Farm Security Administration under funds allotted (but not transferred) by the WPA under the ERA Acts or 1935 and IU36: Allotments, $27,853,647; obligations and expenditures, $27,786,390.
d Expenditun s of WP A funds by these other Federal a~rncies brgnn in tbe fiscal year 1939.
• Tbe Coast Gunn! wns trnnslerred from the DepsrtmPnt or the Treasury to the Department ofthe Navy as of Nov. I, UKI.
, For tbe use or tbe Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Division or Tax Research,
B0urce: Based on reports of the U.S. Treasury Department and the Works Projects Administration.
Digitized by
Google
TABLE VIII.-AMOUNT OF WPA FUNDS EXPENDED FOR PROGRAMS OPERATED BY WPA AND BY OTHER FEDERAL AGEN CIES, BY STATE
AND BY FISCAL YEAR •
THROUGH JUNE
I-'
~
0
30, 1943
Year ending J unc 30-
Stato
I
TotAI
Tot.Bl .. .....•.. ••...... . ..•...... . ..... . ..•. •..•.• • $10,750,500, 009
Alabama •.... . ... . •••....• . ... .•• . .•..... . . ..• ..........
Arlzona .....•.......• . •....•.• • .. • ••••.. . •.• • .•.•. • .. ...
Arkamas •• ••......•........... • ..... ..... . • . ...•.• . . . ...
Cnlilornia . ..... .•........ ... . ..•...•... •. ...•.• .• ...... .
Colorado • . ..•........ .. .•. .•. •... .. ... ..• ...•..•........
Connecticu t. •.•........•.••. . ...•••.• . . . •.• • •.. .• .......
D elawnrc ..... . .... ..... .... .•...•.•.••...... ... •.••... ..
D ist . ol Coh1mbia ••......•....•...• . . . ............. ... ..
~' lorld a ••. ....... .........••... •. .. • . . .. ..•. .. •....•.. . . .
?ct':t~:::
:::::-::::::::::: :: :: :::::::: :::::: :: ::::::: ::::
Illinois .. .. •.... .. .........•.... ............•.....•• ... .•
Indiana ...•..........•••....•......... . ..•........•.. . ..
low 11- ......... . •.. .•. ••••.• ............. ........•.......
Kansas ................................ . •...... . .. . .. ....
K entu cky . .. . .. ....... ... .... . .......•.•.••••...........
Lou lsiaua .•...............•........•...•.•..• •..........
M aine •.. .•...... . . •.••.• ...•.•........•....•...........
M aryland •. . .. ....... ...... .... •.••. ..•• •••.... . •••. . ..•
M 11SS11cb usetLS ... _..• . ... _...•....... . . . . . •..•..... ... . _
Michiga n . .......••. . .•.. .... .•.....•.. . .. .. .......• . . . •
Ei~!i~i:·:·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
M ontana ... . ....•.. . .....•....... . ... . .......•........••
N ebraska ... ...... .. • ••....••. •..... ...... .•...•...... . .
N evada .. ....... ... ....•.••... •. • . ..•. ..•..... .• ..... . •• .
New H ampshire . ..• .... ... ....• .....•...•....••••• •....
New Jersey .. ...•.•... .. .•....... ..... .......•...•....•.
Now M exico . . . . .................. ... ..... . •.....••.... .
N ow York ... ... •... . .. . .• .•• . ..•. . ..• .. .. . ...•.•.... ...
Nortb C arolina ... .•.•..• .. .. . .•. .. .• • •• • . ... .•• •••...• .
Norl.b Dakota •. •••... . .. ...... . .....•...... .•... ......••
Oblo . . .......•. . ........... .... . . •.•...... . .•.. .... .....
Oklahoma .••... . . ..••••••...•................... . .• .... .
0
ca·
N.
""
(D
0.
CT
'<
C;
0
0
0.0
"""""
(v
~
:Ji~~iviiniii:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rh ode Island . . . ... ..........•..•.. . .... . ....... . . ... . ..
Soutb Carolina . .• • . •••• . .. . ...... . ......... .. .... .......
Soutb Dnkolll ...••.••.. .. ...•.•. ..... . .. •.. . .. ....... . ..
T ennessee . ••. . . .. • ............• . . . .. .•.•. .. • . •.•.•.. •. . .
T exas .. •.........• .... ..... ••.•.. .. ........• . .........•.
Utah ........•..••••••.........• . .. . ... . . .•. . . ....... . .. .
Vermont. . .. •....•.• ...• . ••.•.• . .. . .•..•.• ... .•... .• . . ..
V irginia . .. ...... . .•....•.......... . ..• . ••.• .. •••.••• . ...
~ ::~'tfr~~~ia:::::::: :::::::: :::::::: ::::::: :::::.: :: :: ::
W isconsin . •..........•.•....•......•...•.•.... . .........
W yoming . ......... . .....•...•. .... . .•• •••• . • . ••••. . . •..
Al a.ska • . ..•... . ......•. .•............• . ..••. •.... ••... . .
Hawaii.. •. •..... •. •....•..... . .. ........•.....•.•..•....
Puerto Rico .•..•....... ..... .. .... .. •. . .•.•.... , •.... . ..
i~!li'tr1'~~~~.hii.stai.e:::::::: : ::: :: ::: :: ::::: ::::::::::
148,737,047
42,502,952
124,539, 416
539, 400, 443
120, l02, 73 l
107, 359, 563
12, 538,365
48,938,812
147, 534,898
155, !lOO, 461
42,537,647
782, 373, 687
302, 048, 7g 1
114,600,043
129,545,6 12
174,3 14, 259
142,202, 772
40,627,007
69,624,611
4U7, 031 , 5S7
441,1 10,747
"'151; 55,1:lll
11 0,098,326
324, 923, 705
72,263,572
109, •169, 773
9,820,8..?\I
35,036,860
404, 826, 4.20
52,043,338
I, 386, 028, 060
130,524,628
50,869,301
750, 21 l. 873
185, 552, 185
78, 468,447
I. 00 l. 878, 64.2
60, 061.837
121,302, 750
66,215,566
128,742,019
309, 038, 150
52,277, 277
10,549,987
00, 41 I, 453
161, 883,821
162, 41 l, 287
263, 057, 125
17,282,931
641 , 755
9, 86-1, 965
43, 628, 700
2, 808, 055
81, 271. 132
I
1936
$1,258,130,249
13,643,540
4,812, 888
10,024, 407
70,803,941
16,505,005
13, 54.5, 002
1,3 11, 868
4, 01 5,917
11 , 404,337
14,486,291
4,432, 015
81,65 1, 766
40,322,363
11 , 300,600
16,005, 150
13,31¾,225
15,937, 716
3,086,076
8,571,859
5.1, 925,003
43, O.'l3, 076
30. Q-10, 015
9,002, 125
30, 652,292
6,739,540
8,688, 746
I, 11 2,879
3, 188,419
45,354, 730
4,970,656
25:l, 927, 660
IO, 164, 282
4, 569,073
87,571.816
21,488, 210
8,656,038
I 26, 825, 387
6,307,858
7, 633, 473
5, ll4, 421
12,588,070
28, 114., 195
6, 173,405
I. 934,320
9,604, 100
16,501,804
18,490,335
30, 501,877
2,388, 486
I
1937
$1,818,130, 501
I
1938
$1,427,374,309
l3,874,Q17
17,529,282
5, 54.4, g32
6,515,000
14, 726.096
12,248,023
71, 180,006
100,570,770
15,100,7 17
20,295, 120
16,102, 842
18,730,51 7
I, 500, 628
I , 617, 700
4,004,026
5, 66:1, 830
15, 24.2, 704
15, 721,309
18, 41H, 071
14,966.532
6,276,396
5, 123,830
107,039, 012
126, 662, 073
44,623, 14.2
51, 848, 600
17. 67 1, 795
15, 454., 634
17,003, 452
26,021,699
21 ,202, 749
23,929, 419
21, Oil , 002
16, 435,938
3, 831,634
5, 000, 647
7,100, 098
II. 954, 008
68, 765,431
91,365, 070
57, 2-19, 028
50, 11 8,520
35,144,147
41,534, 756
10,977,009
14, 402, 902
52,340,893
41, 134,690
11,580,244
10,813,255
15,682,574
15,405,637
1, 443,885
I, 598. 374
4, 442,942
5, !l-18, 188
74,032,323
60,464,376
7,098, 142
5,557, 180
313, 719,647
200, 905, 930
II , 253, 453
13,001,023
8,354, 161
15,033,231
106,85 1, 773
116, 949, 136
21, 603, 022
31,648, 407
11 ,007,484
12, 951, 136
154,449, 788
2ll7, 832, 412
8, 718,379
8,303, 210
10, 708, 137
12, 138, 468
9,877, 8.52
17, 681,006
11. 473,769
16,675, 779
28,687,939
36,866,467
6. 282, 974.
7, 'Nl, 181
2,268,289
2,463,860
9,001,452
12, 104, 778
24,209, 416
24, 156,684
19,872, 105
27, 335, 179
36, 751, 813
44, 588,854
2, 170,970
2,009,489
18,460
2,392
------ ----- -- --2,523,002
2,015,536
-------------. - · . • . • • . . . . . . • . . •.•• . •.. _.... . . • .• - . • •. •... •.•.
. . • . . . . •. . . . . . . .
3, 993
22
6, 164,967
9, 120,366
i , 932,888
I
1939
b
I
l9t0
b
I
l!l-11
b
I
l9'l2
--
b
$2, 230, 749, 993
$1, 520,100,078
$1, 326, 110,53 1
$887, 647, 532
28,829,353
8,271,500
25,198, 835
07, 785, 785
23, 470, 100
25,018, 751
2,610, 94-1
10,247, 662
28, 763, Ql7
31, gag, 672
7,847,065
I 79,551, 122
67,444,004
21,093, 713
22,487,389
38,898, 400
27, 133,36S
6, 8..'>2,028
12. 610, 711
103,029,061
122, 791, 220
53, 166,377
21, 400,967
68,047,427
16, 652,033
21, 112, 484
I, 826,285
7,250,5 19
83,548,544
8, 740,379
239, 3119, 240
23,810, 151
IO, 329,835
202,001,629
37, Q-16, 841
14, 466,093
209, 181 , 294
14, 275, 241
23, 742, 768
10,944,574
2-1, 198,830
55, 262,108
9,966,538
4, 1126, 452
16,807, lll4
39,803,523
28,913, 276
59,674, 143
3,315,578
341,922
2,192,592
870,367
372,447
24,286,953
26, 4117, 926
6,775,738
22,594,946
75, 171, 498
17,807,916
15,683, 54.7
I, 865,347
8,861,368
24,862,318
26,933,303
7,256,620
I 20, 868, 327
4.2, 047, 839
17,1 56, 249
17,528,665
27,847,378
20,635,355
5,632,208
10,725,496
70,389, 064
67,969,058
34,817,009
20,385, 764
51, 78-1, 359
9,985, 009
18, 2-19, 774
I, 358, 171
4,944,239
56,608,048
8,665,689
140,341, 848
24, 223.362
8, 170,254
103, 400, 400
25, 065, 484
11 ,375, 719
116,387,2 17
9,374,695
23,230,382
9,013,741
22,427, 864
63, 172, 459
8,213, 995
3, 108,625
16,186,908
22,939,938
22,275,860
38,381,308
2,638,907
20 1,943
1,277, 144
3,658,662
468,2ll2
13,882.883
23,540,819
6,005,353
IQ, 751,698
70,100,552
15, 044, 839
11,676, 753
1. 092, 408
9,681,676
23,786,006
24, 851,567
6,414,859
91,338,989
31,498,278
16, 167, 110
16,492, 631
24, 275, 148
19,345,317
0, 902,013
10, 105, 759
67,749, 384
50, 483, 221
31, 795,014
19,063,600
43, l(i(), 491
8,221 ,886
16,657, 103
I, 419, 724
4, 720,821
47,644,418
8, 388, 700
119,015, 417
24 ,826,916
8,050,988
79,127, 502
23, 674,044
10,545,803
107,25 1, 794
7, 1191, 804
22,227,484
, 7, 737,820
20, 710,735
50, 450, 493
7, 888,024
2, 714,867
15,233,815
20,915,672
21,405. 460
32, 126,384
2, 09'J, 026
70,870
I , 216, 315
10,717,375
854, 187
9,320, 709
17, !HO, 4Q2
4,284, 130
14, 370, 153
44,340,544
10, 184,547
4, 887,249
I , 162,416
4,714, 345
20, 723, 116
17, 872, 118
4, 871, 64<1
56,893,686
18, 708, 3M
II, 964,365
II, 775, 626
18,262,668
16, 724, 698
5,078,470
6, 027, 779
38,231, 137
30,107.002
2-1,470,9™
14,679, 173
28,833, 82.5
6,253, 683
11 ,553,072
871,408
3, 548,685
27, 083,809
7, 579, 285
80. 808,680
17,638, 843
4,560,516
42, 910,866
19. 348,780
7, 737,831
58,507,0 15
3, 119.5,805
16,502, 72-1
5. 107,389
15, 409, 858
42,026,800
5,480. 471
l, 717,553
9,086, 036'
II, 393, 749
17, 645,834
18, 393, 659
I, 341, 2lll
160
669,384
14,641 ,291
729, 911
6, 482,638
I
1943
d
$282, 251, 776
6, 9J0, 718
I, 233,303
4, 725,258
9,455,447
I, 003, 407
I, 714,002
487,049
950, 088
7,030,201
6,406,107
I, 316,210
18,464, 81·2
5,655, 210
2. 825,668
2,331,000
6,504, 182
4,978,478
I, 683, 031
2,438,001
13,677, 437
~o. 168. 562
6, 180,528
5,400,696
8, 91!9, 728
2,016,002
2, 12ll, 383
100, 103
943, 147
10,090, 163
I, 943, 217
27, 949, M9
6,616,598
792, 333
11, 2911, 001
4, 776,398
1, 838,343
21,4◄ 3, 736
1,094, 845
5,029, 3H
838,763
5,258, 005
13, 857,593
968,689
41 6, 021
2,307,080
I, 963,035
6,473,238
3,639,087
365,274
---"-- ---------
29, 008
13, 741,005
379, 293
4,089, 728
• IncludesJt>crams or other Federal agencies 11.nanoed by allocation or WP A rnnds nnder the ERA Acta or 11138, 1939, and fiscal years l~I, 1~2, and 1~. Expenditures on these programa began In
July 11138. In odes NYA ad.mlnlatntive expenaee Incurred ~or to July 1939 wben t be WPA and N Y A progr81I11 were ad.ministered Jointly .
• Separate data on WP A and other Federal :,:_.ncy expen itures are.J.lven by State ror tbe fiscal years 1939 and 1940 on p . 123 of the Report on ProqrU4 of tlle WPA Prl)IJ1am, J un,~. 19¥!, tor tbe ftSCBI
yPar 1941 on/e. BO of the ReportonPrOtJ1U1oflll1 P A Prl)IJ1am, June , 19~1 and for the ft!Cal year 1~2 on p . 67 or the &port on ProVrUI ~tlle WPA Program, June ~ l9~.
•
• Excln es land utilization and rural rehabilitation rograms ad.ministered by the Farm Security Administration under funds allotted but n o t t.nmslerred) by the lVPA under the ERA Acts or 11135
and Jg:J6: ADotmenta, $27,86.1647; obligations and exl:f ltures, 127,71l6,3IIO.
• Includes $108,881 upended for programJ openi by other ·F ederal agencies.
Source: Bll38d on report!ofthe U . S . TrelllW'Y Departmen t and W o rk P roJecta Administration.
....'zJ
z
>
t-
E!l
',:j
0
~
0
z
>'l
p::
l"J
~
',:j
>
',:j
8~
I(
TABLE IX.-AMoUNT oF
"\VPA
.
AND SPoNsoRs' FuNDS EXPENDED FOR NoNLABOR PURPOSES ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY
TYPE OF PURCHASE OR RENTAL AND BY SOURCE OF FUNDS
~
CUMULATIVE THROUGH
r
OCT. 31, 1942 •
I
WPA ltmds
Amount
I $3. 439,311,993
Total .••••••••••
Stone, clay, and glass products ....•...•.•.
C',•ment .
Clay prodt
Coucreui pr
Crushed stone ...
Snn,t and gravel. ...•.
Other ..••••••.•...•.•.•.••...
Cnst•lron pipe and fittings ...................................... .
Structural and reinlorcing steel..
Iron aud stool products•-·················•················•··
Other ......•.•
I $1, 127. 455•.!l."18 I
---19. 3
6111, 856,589
-----Wl,090,25.l
5.1
2.3
3.0
3. 4
3.8
I. 7
378,207,SW
11. 0
----~
---90, 939, 0,52
2.6
fl, 3ll, 85d, 155
1, 2.19, 386,555
405. 452, 380
I
67. 2
64.2
--·----61.0
------
07, 7i8, 013
26. 321, 103
39. 625. 159
44, 2.,0, 606
37,446,614
13,571,758
76,861, 911:1
Sl,6.12, 071
64,776,324
74,470, 57!1
93, !133, \193
43, 777, 42\l
44.0
66.2
62.0
62. 7
71. 5
76. 3
108,872, 18!1
269, 33..5, 7IO
71. 2
68,300, '1.12
-18, 893, 8f>4
81,869,525
70,262,489
75. 1
62.9
137, 781,0'.lO
108, 54!), 276
54,246,681
74. 2
62.4
43. 2
zt:i
R
45,408,049
49,705,807
52.3
>
10,786,816
16,233,323
18,387, 9IO
26,884.543
5, 58,5, 154
17,236, 110
71. 4
2.5. 6
48. 4
"3
39,585.052
29,914,687
144, 815, 863
69.1
M.2
Lumb<>r nnd its proi!ucts, excludlu
Bituminous mixturos, paving and
Textiles .•................•....•...
185, 511'1, 026
174, O!iO, 892
125, IJ82. 760
5. 4
5.1
3. 6
47, 787, !136
, 65,511,616
71, 4:16, 079
Machinery and equipment .....•••
95,113,856
2.8
37,671, 35\J
21,818,477
35,624,020
1.1
.6
I.I
57,279,565
55. 161,027
1\15, 719,476
1. 7
1.6
5. 7
17,604,513
25, 2-16, 340
50,003,613
1, 152. 931, 784
33. 5
358, 16~. 505
704, 762, 27V
68.9
625, 244, 235
31,0i2,0:J.I
#1,470, 912
52,144,543
18. 2
.9
12.9
I. 5
249, 816, 84 7
21, 177,8.'',0
83,166. 9:?2
4,007,886
37 5, 427, 3AA
9,89-1.244
361, 30,1, !J\JO
48,130,657
60.0
31.8
81.3
92. 3
355,137,066
10. 3
77,429,745
277,707,321
78. 2
.
C;
56.2
2.3
3.3
2.8
Rent of equipment •..•.••.••••....•.•.•.•......••..•.
-5!
100. 0
11, n1. 366
113, IOI, 544
96, 43,5, !l37
Chemicals and n!Med products ....................•......
Petroleum products ...................................... .
Miscdlancous ...... .
(D
Q_
I
----~-----\---·--·
22. 62\l, 220
28,837, /i02
31. 2.12,01\1
26,173,448
Electrical machinery, supplies, and equip
Paving, other construction, and transportatio
Other .•.•.•.•••...•.•••••.••••••.•.•.•.•.••..
0
664,4411, 642
174, 640, 006
77,950.174
104,401,493
us. i2I, 185
131,380,607
57. 34\/, 187
:Metal products, excluding machinery .............. .
N.
""
1, 931, 243, 143
Percent or
total funds
Amount
Peroent
-----·----------1-----1----1
Purchase or materials, supplies, and equipment- ••.••.....
ca·
Sponsors' funds
Total fWlds
Type
Motor vehicles .....••.•....••.•.•.•.•••.......•...........................
Team~ and wagons ________ ---· ____________________ _
Construction equipment .......... . .............•...
Other..•..••......•..
Other•-···············-·································•····· ............................................................... .
.
-----
72.4
72.0
H.O
~
ii:,
l"'.l
&;
f,;
C1l
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -----
• Data not available alter this date.
• ~ot elsewhere classiflPd.
• Includes space rent, contractual services such as light and.telephone, land leos1·s and easements, and other miscellaneous expenditures.
Sonrre: Work Projects Administration.
0
a
~
(v
I-'
t..:>
I-'
TABLE X.-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY TYPE OF PROJECT, BY SOURCE
OF FUNDS, AND BY OBJECT OF EXPENDITURE
CUMULATIVE THROUGH MAR.
31, 1943 •
WP,\ funds
Sponsors' funds
----
Total runds
J.ahor
Type or proj,•et
Totul . .......... .. ... •.......
9, 91'1'J. 409, 735
Airports and airways .
BuihlinKs
......•.
. ••.. .•.•......•..
. ......•••...........•.......• . .
<
:on~crvation
__________
• ________________________________________
__
F,11i::mcerng surn•rs . . .. _. __________ . ____ .
_____ · ······-- --- ---- -- - ···· ·· ··
W nter and sewer systems and other utilities ... ..•......... .. ... •.
Other .•............ . •• •................. .• • •.. . . . ............ . ••. .
1 = = = = ==1
2,910,037,520
Public activities
913,116,277
Education ... ...• .. .. ..•... . .... . ......
L lbrnrr •......
Music . ... . .. .
Rccreat Ion.
. ..... .
260,335.443
134,506,510
83. 477, 960
260,386.212
I, 506. 238
27,050, 913
67,044.300
\\ orkt.•rs' sen·iOl' . .
1
\ \ riting _____ .. __ __ __ . - - - . --------- .. ...
Other .......... •.
Research and records .. .•..•...•.••.
llistoricnlrecor<lssur,·ey .......... . . . . .. ......••...•.. •.. •..•.
Puhlic- rcconls . . . . . . . ..... ......... .• ••• •• .... ..... .... .• ••• •.
R"se:m·h ,m<I surveys .. .... . .......... . ... . ......... . .. . ..... .
Other............ ... . . .......... . . . . ... . . . ........ . ....... . . . .
N.
""
(D
0.
~
C;
0
a
i---,.
W &r services
Wol!a.re ...•.•••.•. •..••.•••.••......••..••••.•••.•.•.••..... • •••••
Fcedin~ ...•.. . . . • . ......•....
Production (excludln~ s~wlng) ..•••.••• •.......•••••..•.••••..
Puhlic health and hospital work ......... . .............. . .... . .
Sewing ..• .. .....•••• •.•.....•.••••••.•.••.....• . ••.•.•.••. ••..
Other.
Percent of
totalWPA
!unds
Amount
Pcret•nt
or total
funds
Amount
I $8. 979,771,985
ss. 1 I S2. 830. 014, 885
21 . 9 I $2, 350. 994, M2
I
l== =====lc
I 6,001.374, sn
86. 6 I 2, 340. 202, 003
23. 5 I 1,976, 572,216
-1----1----1----1---1 ----1
$10. IZl. 13!1. 519
1, om. 201, n2
10. 6
3. 5
0. 4
37. 9
7. 6
1. 8
10. 1
I. 9
22. 5
7. 0
1,008, 601,611
375,487. !l26
45,050,476
3, 6\11 . 62'1, 422
834,515, 3flll
IS4. 58!1, 173
~80. 785. 781l
1!12, 270, 8~6
!!Ill. 86.1, 375
889. l()'l, 424
330,721 , 392
4:1. 378,536
3,192,219.630
730,305.118
174. r,19. 688
IUl9, 6.53. 5MI
Iii. 490, NS
65. 3
88. 2
88. l
96. 3
86. 5
87. 5
04. 6
88. 7
8\"I. 2
99,124,878
358. 3.16, 233
79,262.146
8. 787, 110
1,212.144, 949
153, 202,089
51 , 644, 158
322, 277, ij:?2
5.5, 422, 518
24. 5
26. 2
17. 4
16. 3
24. 7
15. 5
21. 9
24. 7
22. 4
2. 452, 33!1, 328
2,308,104.010
94.1
457. 6118, 192
15. 7
5.56.
96. 0
148,916,339
16. 3
217.701.117
lll8. 826. 442
76. 31>~. 7.8
202, O'l6, 7\11
I , l~fi. 344
25. 6.'<5. 756
62. t;!l.>. 65.>
207,00.'i.219
106. 168. 230
74. 232, 121
196. 207,055
I . 071, 191
24. 3!•5. 441
58.
679
w.,.
95.1
95.1
97. 6
97. 2
97. I
95. I
95. 0
92. 7
9,230,646
42,6.'!4.326
25. 680,008
7, 11)8, 182
58,359,421
379, 8114
1,365, 157
4, 158,645
II. 7
16. 4
19. l
8. 5
22. 4
25. 2
5. 0
6. 2
= = - ==
=
=
-
-
764. 199.
938
73:1.
398
----------------78, 808, 701
0. 6
6!l. 578. 0.'\5
611. 167. 462
Art and museum .
0
I
76.11
1,366. 9;17, 844
454,750,072
53. 837. 586
4,903,767, 371
987,717,455
ZJ6. 233, 3:11
1,303, 063, 708
247, 693, 36-1
Hecrt•ational facilities (exducling buildings) . . .....•
DI vl.slon or Serv it~• Projects .
Amount
- -405,
---1--1- - 40'. I, 004
3. 1
306,284.126
Jlighwa,·s, roads, and strt'l•t.; ________ __ • ___ __ ____________________ __
ca·
100. 0
Nonlabor
- • = •= =I
Divl.slon of Englneerin~ and Constniction ..... . ...... . . .
8Bnitation .
Pen-ent
$12. 95-1, 0.'>4. 404
Total
-----,----1------.----1----·~----
Total
Amount
2.0
I. 0
0. 7
2. 0
(•)
0. 2
0. 5
l----------~
Percent of
total spon•
sors' funds
83.0
S4.5
""3
1",J',
89, 552. 583
301. 6.10. 064
63,141,323
4,001.081
I, 033. 726. 140
124,213. 338
47, MG, 718
267. 673, 749
43. 867. 220
S4.2
79. 7
55. 8
85.3
81.1
92. 7
83. 1
7!1. 2
349, 253, 655
76.3
l =,= I = = = =
273, 540
--116.6,835.270
78.1
35,474,856
19,476. 169
6. 096, 104
44.221, 165
326,094
966,1182
2,877,000
74.0
S:l. 2
75. 8
85. 8
75. ~
85.8
70.8
69.2
t"
~
i
0
z
>-3
~
l.'!I
~
:
434. 754. 971
421. 2!16. 091
96. 9
76,612,586
15. 0
39,215,280
51. 2
33,7ll8. S.1.,
W6. 671 , f,31.l
253. 507. IJ4lG
27, 38!1, 426
0.3
I. 5
2. O
O. 2
31.20'!,757
IR7. 2:llJ, ~:16
212. 7:111. 2llll
23. 584, 118
29.ll(H,461
164, 513. 754
204. 2!>8, 819
22. 619, 057
98. 4
96. O
95. 9
2,589,078
211, 440, 794
40, m, 406
3,805,308
7. 7
15. 0
16. 1
13. 9
1,985.398
16. 707,627
18. 588,758
I, 933,497
76. 7
116. 7
45. 6
50. 8
0
46,879.875
I, 438, 673. 8ll
0.4
I I.I
36. 120. ur,1
1. 217,263.456
34. 311,878
I, 118. 9~. 643
95. 0
91. 9
10,758,912
221,410. 3.55
7,885.266
185, 879, 569
73.3
84.0
~
3.3
0.4
0.8
6.2
0. 4
320. 187. 920
40. 523. 180
78. 801. 100
726, 6!17, 4Q8
42. 0.53.1168
309, 429. 080
47,839, S.18
77 ••~29. \l83
G42. 75U, 869
41. ~79. V73
96. 6
98. 6
98. 4
88. 4
98. 4
106. 136, 580
6.676.488
21,849,547
711,381,267
7,366,473
87, 027, 1183
5,887.394
11. 607,155
76.228, 967
6. 121l, 170
82.0
88.2
53. I
96.0
69. 6
~ -=
426, 321. 500
56, !!Ill, 668
100. 650. 737
806, 078, 76.5
49. 420, HI
---,--
65. 524, 13.'i
--------95.8
I
----3. -803,746
- I
61. 720, 38(1
22. 9
16. 4
--24.9
II. 9
21. 7
9. 8
14. 9
17. 2
13. 635,834
5,790,036
42.5
114_.~,------,----,-----,-----
62.123. 357, _ _ _
3. 473,442
91.3
58, 1149. 915
95. 0
844,356
12, iUI, 478
532,847 ,.
5,257.189
18. 2
17. 2
63.1
41.1 .
1====1==
l·•···19; 378;856·1:::::: ·: :r···iii;:J;-S: 6.15·1 ·······ioo.· o
0
943. 46.1
-H,875.139
750, 322
7,419, 779
79 5
·
• Data not svallnl>le by type or project arter this <late.
• The child prot<-ctlon program was carried on under welfare projects In llscal year 1943 but for comparative purposes data for this program are shown here under public activities (education) as formerly
• Less than 0.05 percent.
• War services Include proJerts reported In pnbllr activities and research and records previous to fiscal year 1043.
reported .
Source: Work Projects Administration,
►..j
4.0
(v
• lneludes adjustments !or excess ol deposits in
...
z>
511. 367. 5:.7
Dl,·tsion or Training and Reemployment .•.•• •••••....••.••..•.•.•••••
711. 15~. 116J
0. 6
Household workers' train in~ . . . . ... . .• . • . •.
I - - -4,M~.102
-- - - l i - -(•)
---l
National dc!ense vocational training .....••••••.•••....•••• •..••••.
74. 511. 867
0.6
-Public \\ork Reserve.
I=====~
943,463
(•)
Mlscdlanoous • ....
4, .503. 717
(•)
and rlR11Ls-0!•way.
~
t,j
t,j
the supply fund over payments out o/ the supply /und Bild for items in transit to control accounts and sponsors' expenditures lor land, land len.qes, easements,
~
i:
TABLE XL-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA, BY TYPE OF PROJECT, BY SOURCE
OF FUNDS, AND BY OBJECT OF EXPENDITURE'
JULY
1, 1942-MAB. 31, 1943 •
Total funds
WPA funds
Sponsor's funds
Labor
Type or project
Amount
Percent
Total
Amount
Nonlabor
Total
Percent or
total WPA
funds
Amount
Percent or
total
funds
Amount
Percent of
total sponaora' funds
Total ..• - __ .. ______ . _-- --- - -- - . - .. -- . -- -.. -- . ---• --- -···- - .. -- - -
$362. 896. 451
100.0
$254, 499. 213
$216,018,574
84.9
$108,397. 238
29.9
$87, 278. 572
80.5
Division or Engineering and Construction ...................... ______
220, 574, 578
60.8
145, 235, 955
109,459, 515
75.4
75,338,623
34.2
61,330,396
81.4
Airports and airways . ___ .... _..... _. _......... __ ......... __ ......
Buildings __ .... _.... _... _.................. _......... _.. _...... ___
Conservation ... _.... _. __________ . ____ .. ___________ .. ______________
Engineering surveys ___ .. _._ .... _... _.. ___________________________
Highways, roads. and streets_ .. _ ··-------·-------····---··--·Recreational facilities (excluding buildings). _____ .. ______ .... _____
Sanitation .. _.. ___
.. __ ________ .. __ ... ________________________
Water and sewer systems and other utilities .. _____ . __ .. _.. _.. _.. __
Other._. ____ . __ .. _____________ . __ .... _________________ . ___________
28,951,455
37,086,970
6,419, 769
1,788,212
91,418,383
5,597,876
3,226,151
25,953,499
20,132,263
8.0
10. 2
1.8
.5
25.2
1.5
.9
7.2
5. 5
22,661,005
23,389,834
3,700,048
I, 463,010
56, i4S,884
3,399,641
2,146,088
15,984,008
15,851,937
9,262,841
20,069, 634
3,126,546
1,413,175
41. 1
8.5.8
84.5
22. 1
36.9
3,033,598
1,962,587
13,800,153
12,737,973
89.2
91.4
86.3
80.4
6,399,550
13,697,136
2,719,721
325,202
34,669,499
2,198,235
1,079,463
9,969,491
4,280,326
18.2
37.9
39.3
33.5
21.3
1,641,835
787,055
7,874,658
3,483,125
Division or Service Projects. _______ . ___ . __________________ ... _________
129,257,663
35.6
96,203,600
91,584,789
95. 2
33,054,063
25.6
25,945,248
78.5
Public activities •-- __ .. _______ .. _. _. _.. __________________________ .
\\·ar services o __ ----··- __________________________ ---··-------·-----Wellare. ____ ..• _-····. _____ . __ .... - .. - ----. -- - ------------------- Division of Training and Reemployment.. ____________________________
7,344,072
46,879,8i5
75,033, 716
2.0
12.9
20. 7
5,988,492
36,120,963
54,094,145
5,668.557
34,311,878
51,604,354
94. 7
95.0
95. 4
1,355,580
10,758,912
20,939,571
18.5
22.9
27.9
1,174,712
7,885,266
16,885,270
86. 7
73.3
80.6
16,171,718
4.5
16,167,616
14,448,282
89.4
4,102
2,478
60.4
Miscellaneous•-- ____ .. ____ . __ -------._ ..... -------------- --- ____ ------
-3, 107,508
-0.9
-3, 107,958
525,988
450
100.0
44,o.~.oos
96.6
77.6
------------
450
42.4
38.4
(d)
----------
6,656,000
511,097,843
1,910,848
103,522
28,774,610
88.4
81.0
70.3
31.8
83.0
74. 7
72.9
79.0
&I. 4
• Data not a,·allahlo hy type or project after this date.
• The child protection program was carried on under welfare projects In ftscal year 1943 hut !or comparative purposes data for this program are shown here under public activities as Connerly reported.
• Data for war scrvi'-"'s Include projects reported in public activities and research and records previous to fiscal year 1943.
d Less than 0.0.5 1ier'-"'nt.
• Includes a,ljus1ments !or excess or deposits In the supply fund over payments out or the supply rund and ror Items In transit to control aooounts, and sponsors' expenditures ror land, land leases, easements, and rights-of-way.
·
.,,l':>.,,
z
·t:,
~
>
~
t"'
l':
r:Jl
Source: Work Projects Administration.
0
ca·
N.
""
(D
0.
-5!
C;
0
a
~
(v
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124
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE XII.-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA,
BY STATE, BY SOURCE OF FUNDS, AND BY OBJECT OF EXPENDITURE
CUMULATIVE THROUGH JUNE
30, 1943
WPAfunds
Labor
Total funds
State
Sponsors' funds
Total
Amount
Nonlabor
Total
Percent or
total WPA
funds
Amount
Percent of
total sponfunds
!IOl'B'
$8, 990, 596, 759
88. 7
$2, 837, 713. 394
$2, 356, 105, 776
83.0
197,238, 127
/\6, 726, 024
154,573,901
646, 501, 683
144,039, 4117
HI, 889,697
a9. 066, 238
117,497,081
fi07, f,()9, 044
110,549, 793
120,786,941
33,457,641
00, 772,649
449. RPS, 358
97,597, 702
85.1
85.6
84. 9
1!8. 6
1!8.3
55,348,430
17,659,786
37,076,820
138,892,639
33,489,704
47,750,707
13,916,465
31,377,624
I 07, 520, 301
28,671,917
86.3
78. 8
84.6
77.4
85.6
Connecticut ............... . ..................... .
l>elaware ........... ·-····· ........ . .......... . . .
District of Columbia ............... . .... . ... . .. . .
Florida ...........•...............................
Ueorgla ......................................... .
129, 625, 926
14, 682, 7&9
52, 908, 316
181,125,094
I 93, 1173, 229
IOI, 313, 278
11, 662, 165
42, 579. 795
137,933,659
I«, 008, 732
92,130,321
JO, f,36. 941
37,558,003
116,187,599
123,582,615
90.9
91.2
88.2
84.2
85.8
28,312,648
3,020,604
JO, 328,521
43. 191,435
49,964,497
24,890,399
2,376,968
7,106,559
36,792,845
«. 727,33Q
87.11
Irlaho .......................................... .
Illinois .......................... . .......•.......
Indiana ..... . ... . .. . ...... . ..... . ............... .
Iowa .............. ... ..... . ..................... .
Kall!IBS ..•.... . ·····•····•·······•···•····•····· .
Kentucky ....................................... .
Louisiana ....................................... .
Maine .....•..••......................... . ........
Maryland .••.......•............................
MBSSBChusetts .................................. .
55. 309,376
1172, 219, 130
369,458,292
157,192, 728
161, 478, 9115
38,157,754
757,954. 721
291,100,040
109,601, 202
120, Ql8, 049
33, 093, 703
669, 735, 021
261,128,941
97,464, 736
104,918,638
86. 7
88.4
89. 7
88.9
86.8
17,151,622
214,264,409
78,358,252
47,591,526
40,560,946
14,365,388
154, 276, 680
67,867,761
39,882,024
35,777,214
83.,8
710
213, 202, 298
176,138,326
45, 529, 255
79,080,078
586,266,183
162, 930, 220
135,013,092
36, 960, f\f,O
60, 798, 981
475,799,530
138, 97fi, 791
117,126,210
27,058, 747
49,927,411
4«, 611, 385
85.3
86.8
73. 2
82. 1
50,272,078
41,125,234
8,568,595
18,281,097
110, 466, 653
41,846,126
34,232,025
7,068,766
13,606,725
95,216,208
83.2
Michigan ................... . ... .. ........ . ... .
Minnesota .......•...............................
544, 877 475
387,506,000
87, 043, 207
426, 915, 569
247,062,658
109,748,032
311, 1181, 195
66, 252, 724
383,288,413
219,tHO, 443
IIO, 266, 450
277, 106, 656
59,230,285
89,8
88.9
82. 2
88.8
89. 4
~ll6l,ffi.
846,
45,622,583
75,525, 765
20,700,483
89,654, 4(f1
60,646,421
39,710,222
64,409,701
17,535,837
140,747,210
13, 034, 066
42, 501, 208
4ll6, 395, 824
64, 339, 469
103,233,094
8, 839, 478
33, 195, 68.1
386, 654, 917
48, 899, 172
91,077,450
7,765, 761
29,387,377
355,281, 703
41,376,m
88.2
87. 9
88.5
91. 9
84. 6
37,514,116
4,194,588
9,305,525
109,740,907
15, 440, 2117
32,452,237
3,451,706
7,734,022
93,046,263
13,505, o«
New York ..••.............. . ..... . .............
North Carolina ........................ . ....... .
North Dakota ...............•....................
Ohio ...••.•............... •... . ........ . . .. . . ....
Oklahoma ......................•...............
1, 628, 385, 432
173, 722, 999
73,852,879
888,980,1\43
232, 461, 322
1, 326, 871, 627
121,030, 851\
55,210,415
729, 497,044
172, 782. 707
1,176,290,412
102,692,223
47,808,092
6/\8, 606, 206
140,242,303
88. 7
84.8
86.6
90.3
301,513,805
52,692, 144
18,642,464
159, 483, 5911
59,678,615
2fo3, 407, 757
Oregon ....•.•...................................
Pennsylvania .......................... . ........ .
Rhode Island __ .......... . . ....... . ...... .. ..... .
South Carolina ............................ . . .
South Dakota ................................. .
05, 424,138
1, 142, 563, 031
73,385,704
963, 068, 69/i
57,079,175
111,955,831
61,224,127
63,931,589
!IB0, 117,008
M, 732,898
118,589,118
52,872,021
87.1
91. 4
95.9
88. 1
86.4
22,038,434
179, 494, 3311
16,92'1, 108
36,197,237
19,602,494
18,541,636
1!;4,550,521
14,178,021
30,675,147
17,194,758
'l'ennessee ___ ..... ___ ... . __ _.. . .. .. _____ ... . . . __
Texas ....................... . ..... ..... . ....... .
Utah.................. ....
. .......... .
Vermont. .......................... .
Virginia........... .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
176,971,358
401, 062, 418
69,037,642
23,536,673
107, 102,016
120,597,831
47,671,668
17,517,762
. 78, 800, 491
102, 653, 036
240,474,956
43,150,439
16, 2113, 0li4
67,944,189
85.1
83.8
90.5
92. 8
86.2
56,373,527
114,174,574
21,365,974
6,018,911
28,301,525
42,371,606
117,398,911
18,053, 1173
4,8-40, 703
23,003, Q04
W ashlngton.............
. . . . . . . . . . .. .
West Virginia ........... . ....................... .
Wisconsin.......... . .... . . .. ...... . ........... .
Wyoming ................. . . .. .. .......... . ... . .
194,075, 743
200, 184, 184
3.'13, 005, 385
22,045,191
148, 064, 583
155, 555, 240
253,952,123
15.378,328
133, 530, 053
137,907,319
229, 242, 214
II0.2
RS. 7
90.3
86. 3
46,011,160
44,628,944
79,053,262
6,666,863
37,305,572
38,248,481
65,740,938
5,600,004
Alaska .......................................... .
Hawaii .•..••.........•...........................
Puetto Rico ........•.............................
Virgin Islands .........•................. . ....... .
20, 743
13,909,526
48, 4ll6, 603
I, 031, 308
20, 743
9,233, 736
37. 339,572
885,258
10,208
7,650,127
30,786,218
f,88, 419
4,675, 790
11,157,031
146,050
3,467,012
9,577,845
108,653
Undistributed by State• ......................•.•
6,605,681
6,605,681
5,106,889
TotaL..
. .... $12, lli4, 456, 61!7 $10,136,743,293
Alabama ...................... . ... . ............. .
Arizona.·-· .................. . ... . ............. .
Arkansas ...... ... •.... . . . .. . .. .. ....... . ......
California ....... . .................•.. . ..... . .... .
Colorado .......... ........................ . .... .
------ -·----
~l:i~~y~i::::::::::.:.::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Montana ..•............... . ...' .......... . ....... .
Nebraska •.......................................
Nevada .......•.•........................ . ..... .
New Hampshire ......................... . .... . .
~::tr:1~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: .
-um
..,.~..m-u.,'__
lfflr+-155,370,615
74,007,283
148,153,068
80,826,621
286, 887, 844
13,266,585
93.4
84.6
48,078,390
16,473,008
127, 406, 731
48,468,304
78. 7
GS.8
85.2
89.5
,
86.6
83.8
88.2
83.2
82. 6
74. 4
86.2
76.0
83.3
87.0
8,.~.3
84.3
811.5
82.3
83. l
84.8
87.5
87.4
Ql.2
88.4
TIU
81.2
84.1
86. 1
83.8
84. 7
87.7
75.2
85. 3
84.5
80.4
81.3
81.1
85. 7
83.2
84.0
74.1
85.8
74.4
77.3
• Includes supply fnnd adjustment and central administration projects.
Sonrce: WPA expendlturrs based on U.S. Treasury Department and Work ProJrets Administration reports; sponsors' expenditures based on WP A reports.
Digitized by
Google
125
APPENDIX A: TABLES
TABLE XIII.-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY
BY STATE, BY SouRcE OF FuNDs, AND BY OBJECT OF EXPENDITURE
YEAR ENDING JUNE
30, 1943
WPA funds
SpoDBOrs' runds
Labor
State
WPA
N"onlabor
Total funds
Total
Amount
Percent or
total WPA
Total
Amount
funds
Percent or
total
sponsors'
funds
Tota) __ ._. __ ·-- ____ . _____ ._. _______________ _
'383, 298, 734
$268, 102, 987
$226, 843, 348
84.6
$115, 195, 747
$112, 389, 806
80.2
Alabama ________ .·----·- ____ -· __ ·-·--- ..... ·-. __ _
6,658,004
I, 171,625
4,518,942
9,160,888
I, 489,214
5,104,793
794,176
3,936,0M
7,019,219
I, 257,026
76. 7
67.8
87.1
76. 6
84.4
2,687,946
2,196,666
596, 2!iO
4311,894
California. ____________________ . __ . ________ ._. -__ _
Colorado _________ . ____ ._. ________ . ______________ _
9,345,950
I, 767,775
7,696,384
13,417,982
2,080,968
3,176,442
4,257,094
591,744
2,681,375
3, 162,884
466,566
81. 7
73.8
81.3
74.3
78. 8
Connecticut __________ . ______ . ____ . ____ .. ________ _
Delaware·--·-------·-··-----·-·--------··---·---Dl!trlct or Columbia. __ ._ . . ________ . _____ ·--·---·
Florida ______ ------- .... _-· . ____ . _____ ·--·-· _____ _
Georgia ____ ------- ...... -- . ------· ----· _________ .
2,018,773
006, 518
1,284,146
8,648.671
9,671,799
I, 634,177
63.1
/ill.8
76.3
83.9
90.0
384,596
6,800,662
6,195,827
867,413
279,167
i20,332
6,703,418
5,678,449
139,340
339,761
1,847,909
3,375,972
342,988
125,182
277,848
l,286,06ll
2,832,017
89.2
89.8
81.8
I, 815,927
27,621,388
7,418, 194
4,292,940
3,568,334
1,241,924
17,866,652
5,310,656
2, 702,076
2,221,626
788,lll5
15,779,241
4,429,879
2,381,381
2,049,005
63. 5
88.3
83.4
88. I
92. 2
574,003
9,754,736
2,107,538
1,511(),864
1,336,708
470,332
7, M0,536
1,596,272
1,324,639
1,066,591
81.9
77.3
75. 7
83.3
9,273,781
6,850, 196
1,668,084
2,900,388
18,368,523
6,274,470
4,739,947
1,523,867
2,307, 724
13,229,743
5,689,131
4,069,740
89.1
II, 404,608
52.9
811. 2
2, 9911, 311
2,110,249
134,217
592,664
5,138,780
2,424,237
1,600,058
112, 108
444,330
4, Mi, 527
80.8
76.8
8-1. 5
75.0
88. 7
~=J~i::~:
:::::::::: :: :::::::::::::::::::::::
Montana .. _--· ____ .-·--· .... _-·--._.·--- .... __ . __
14,'87,925
8, 122, 147
7,630,794
12,009,090
2,660,020
9, 789,91i
5,967,392
5,272,308
8,640, 44.1
1,917,524
8,167,656
4,826,574
4,671,887
7,623,344
1,607,020
80.9
88.6
88.2
8-1.8
4,698,008
2,164, 766
2,358,486
3,368,647
742,496
3,533,661
I, lillt, 162
I, 946, 8116
2,917,778
564,306
75.2
74.0
82.5
86.6
76.0
Nebraska______
_... -·- ______ ... ______ .... __ .Nevada _________ .. ---------- · . ___________ .·----·New Hampshire ... ---·-· · --·-- . . ... · -----·-----New JerseY---·--·····---· ···--· -----·-·-··-----·
New Mexico.-·-·· -·-·-····-··-···· · ·-··------·-
3,545,287
235,661
1,161,147
13. 484,988
2,629,311
2,0:rl,05i
173,125
949,616
9, i65, 761
I, 847,632
1,686,211
153,787
~.953
8,516, 764
I, 661,545
83. 4
88. 8
61.2
87. 2
84.0
1,525,230
62,426
211,631
3,719,227
781,779
I, 298,476
52,462
182,649
3,062,966
85. 1
84.0
86.3
82.\
77.8
• New Yorlr; ________ ·------···---·--· ······-----· ..
North Carollna ..... _. ··- ·----- .... -·. --· ... -·---North
Dakota ....
··-------····---·---··-·------·Ohio ___________
.. _.
___ ._ .. __ ... -._·_ · __ ___ . ___ .. .
35,657, 723
7, fi3l,8i4
1, O&l, 4311
16,538,378
7,392,619
27,242,082
5,294,216
il8, 1193
10,891,656
4,520,345
25,136,671
611,006
9,527,500
3, 7411, 767
92.3
81. 7
85.1
87. 5
83.0
8,415,641
2,337,658
369,446
5,flf6, 722
2,872,274
6,604,995
2,110,754
308,215
4,144,943
2,247,743
1,947,146
29,166,265
1.398,31!4
6,400,591
I, 088, 401
I, i56, 781
20, 869, 460
1,028,832
4,806, 191
757,941
668,900
18. 78-1, 783
853,733
4,323, 185
646,078
31.8
90.0
83.0
90.0
85. 3
190,365
8,295,805
369,552
1,644,400
330,460
135,643
6,617,307
254,513
1, :~12, 727
270, 137
68.11
81.0
81. 7
7,633,196
20,040,355
I, 440,317
456,113
3,272, M8
5,017,591
1:1, 256, 6.10
88-1, 713
374,421
2,274, 196
4,425,091
10,371,558
740, 25:1
280,342
1, 8.14, 605
88.2
78. 2
83, 7
76. 5
2,615,605
6, 7811, 7111
5S5, 574
82,292
\198,:152
1,989,473
5,861,245
410, 20.1
64, tllli
iti6,975
76.1
86. 3
73.8
78. ti
7fi.!S
1,307,320
5,324.872
2,842,400
100, 161
~-'
Ma.6
56:1, IIOl
2,729,806
~
i. 281,148
~- 7
108,997
3117,0611
280,261
1,861,774
79, 91~1
4,Si:1.862
l\.>,4,'ifl
:l,W5,ti:tl
47, l'lhU
Arizona_--------------------------------·
-. -----·_
Arkansas ___ .. ___________________________________
Idaho. __ '. ___ .--·-·-------· _________ ·-. __________ .
Dllnols ______ . _. --· __ ·- _. _. _. _____________ . ·-- ___ .
IDdJalla_ ---. ----- -- ------ . ----- ---- - . -.. --- .. ---.
Iowa ________ ·----·-·----·_·--------- ___ .. -·-·---. K11Dll8IL_ -- -- - - - - _-- -- -- . ____ --- --- . _-- __ ·- ___ . __
Kentucky-. - ·-- ·--- ·-· .. --- -· -·------- . --· ___ ·--·
LoalslaDa_ ·--. ---- ----. ·- -- . ----- ---· - -- --·-----.
Maine _________________ ---· .. _------------·------·
Maryland.·-·---·.·-·.-··---·· ... ·----·-_ .. _____ _
MBS!18Ch1Jl!etts __ .. _.. _...... -· -· ___ . __ . _________ .
Mlcblgan_. __ . __ ··-··------······-----· •··------·Mlnnesota __ . _____ . _____ -·- __ . ·- ---· ___ ·--- _. _. ·-
Ol<laboma ... __ ........ _·-· _. _.. _. ·--- ·----. -----·
0regoD--------·---···-·------ • ·-----··--··----·--
peoosylvaola..... . ___ . ... __ .. _.. __ . ____ .. ____ ...
Rhode Island __ ---·_. __ . - . -·· --·- _. __ ·- ·-. ·---- __
South Carolina ... ·-·····--·-··- --··-·----··---··
south Dakota ...... -·- ·-··•·· . ·---·-•··· ----·-·
Tennessee .. ---···--- ____ . ·- ____ . ________ . ·- -· __ .
Texas------------·- ·-··. _. ··---···--··-·-·-·-···
Utah--·--·---·-·-- •-·· •·-·--·-·- •· •··--··-----··-
Vermont ____ ·- -· . . ___ . -··. •·-•• -· ··-·- ··---···
Virginia_··---· ... -···· ...
il$~
1
~::
: : : : : :: ::::::::::::
::::ng::::::_.
Puerto Rico_.-- ........... . ..
Virgin Islands .. -····-··--·--· .
I
::::::::-:::1
·•·--·-···----·--!
· · --
·
Cndistrlbuted by t<tut~ •- ··-····--- --•---------:
467,178
944,386
389, 7911
1,221,393
4, 324,4:rl
2,417,818
8,1140,618
.\681, 112
443, 135
1,!!64,014
d, 210,812
:1, :199, 96-1 ,
:13-1, 138 i
-29,11111
17, 769, 30H
444,314
-29,992:
1a. 1115, 444
378,lj,58
262, 00:l
2U2,603
86. 9
25.6
83.4
llO. 7
iO. 5
69. 6
83.9
79.8
608, 29i
i8, 5
90.3
83.4
73.4
78. 3
71.3
79.8
I
I
i
i
4,417
11, i70, 982
:110,44:1
16.~. 2311
:: : I
02.9 ---
------------ ------- -------1
• Includes supply fund adjustment lllld rontral administration projects.
Sour~: Work Projects Administration.
Digitized by
Google
···----
----
126
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE XIV.:--AMOUNT OF '\iYPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
OPERATED BY WPA, BY STATE AND BY MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECT
CuMULATlVII THROUGH MAR.
31, 1943 •
Dlvlalon of Eoglneerlog and Construction
Alrporta and airways
State
Buildings
Englneertng surveys
Conservation
Total
Amount
Total........................... $9,969,409, 736
Percent
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
$40li, 409,004
3. I
$1,366,937,844
10. 6
$45', 760,072
3. 6
$53, 837, 6811
0. ◄
Alabama ............................. .
Arlsona ...•••••......••....•...••••••.
Arkanaas .....••........•..•.••••••.•.
Callfornla....•.•·•••.•...•••••••••••.•.
Colorado .....••••••...•••...••.•••••.•
155,580,288
46,264,040
124. 351,192
419,031,266
106, 2911,2'16
11,844,876
3,180,267
2,2'16,:xlO
32,148,770
7,3.0, 162
6.0
20, 9117, 661
6.11
1,986,709
677,677
2,574,109
41, 17', 503
8,9117.~
1.0
1.2
I. 7
816,729
7,746
1,032,662
3,497,692
383,367
O. ◄
5. 1
8, "56, 712
18,651,409
78, 8",801
16,800,124
10. 7
14. 9
12.1
12. 2
11. 7
Connecticut ....••••.•..•.••••.••••.•.
Delaware ............................ .
District or Columbia .......••....•.•..
Florida ...•.•.•......•........•.••••..
Georgia .••••••••••..•••••••••••.....••
106,671,558
10,334. 709
33,686, 6711
132, 707, 402
m, 192,431
6,516,886
31,11()6
6,224,081
21, 1123, 141
6,111111,886
5.0
0.2
11. 7
12.1
3.1
15,922,758
2,600,128
7,186,216
32,238,372
19,959,8'°
12.3
17.8
13.6
17.8
10.3
',347,Ml
665,926
380, i57
3,064,091
Idaho .••••.••..••••.•..•.••••••••••••.
llllnola ..••••••.•••••.••••••••••••••••.
Iowa................................. .
47, 1116, IIOl
736, 428, 637
311, 118, 1166
!:JS, 11611, 1176
Kamas ......••.•.....................
12'1, 960,061
1,1172,Sli3
:JO, 790,683
6,061,461
3,207,018
S,313,MII
3.6
2.1
1.6
2.0
2.1
6,613, 93'1
61,006,085
3',066,061
12, 1119, 420
I', 944,234
Kentucky ..••..••••.•••.•••••..•••••.
Loulalana.. .......................... .
173,•Ul,870
137,568,682
38,'38,820
M,:J&0,060
'°7, 307, 516
I, 882,693
4,176,022
10,2'18,831
5, 2'1', 793
13,~,083
0.8
2. 4
22.6
6. 7
2.3
26,817,417
20,536,672
2,198,670
"8,633,149
7,028,:aM
8,606, 1118
6,779,167
3,696,611
3,3211,98'
1.3
2. 7
4. 4
1.0
3.8
36,228,185
43,609,266
13,448,58'
38,493,849
7,392,729
3.3
3.5
6.9
1. 7
4.9
12,380,670
Indiana.••.•••.••••.\. ..•••••.••••••••.
Maine ............................... .
Maryland .•....•....••.••••••......••
M811118Chuaetta ....................... .
ti~~ti.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
~1::,39~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Montana ............................ .
246, 498, 188
110,921, i22
308, 822, 860
67,2'16,679
I. 5
5.0
10.2
6.3
9.2
8.2
9.3
1',092,316
24,711,611
26,551,421
6,88', 729
13,030,823
26.5
2. 6
6.11
4.4
8.1
36,614
2,456,920
2'11, 313
I, 432,855
353,892
o.
0.
o.
o.
77,4111,310
13. 2
613,392
3,473,216
1162, 789
4, 3117, 297
2'1,5411,853
0.3
• 9, 021, 7116
12.2
11. 7
4, 8
11.4
57,216
1,383,'03
123,263
99,885
6,821,530
24,112,738
12,418, 131
2,946,515
26,754,716
9,010,782
4.4
3.9
I.II
6.6
10.4
210,190
0.'
2.6
6.0
5.4
2. g
11.3
00,601
4,037
47, 776
3,339,798
296,201
0.1
7.6
6.5
11.4
26.5
3,1129,337
779,947
2,300,630
14,632,~2
7,290,MII
16.0
11.8
13.1
5.5
0.6
1.2
9.6
15, 1511, 172
368, 8'1
2,126
I, 435, 786
161,706
6.0
6. 7
13.6
8. 7
9.9
8. 6
1,214,040,128
126,749,039
69,039,776
724, 837, 271
185,601, 706
68,214,437
8,387,638
1,447,872
1', 533,433
6,068,419
4. 2
259, 687, 504
4.8
2.2
20,473,710
9,695,864
49,088,958
35,169, .06
15.1
7, 93', 895
2,063,816
7,034,696
17,409,496
9,215,540
~=;ivania:::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rhode Island ..•........•..•..........
76, 2711, 1166
1116,093,092
57,131,086
109,323,935
62,737,058
8,023, 4116
20,776,635
1,162,428
3, IIOO, 651
1,606,606
8.4
1.8
1. 6
2.6
1.9
7,781, II07
85,023,632
6,898,706
27,208,524
8,311,068
8.2
7.4
9.3
18. 4
10.3
6,760,770
31,049,791
4,701,606
1,053,488
8,213,2'13
Tenneasee ...•......•.................
145, 1115, 013
2'19, 707,'03
55,183,535
17,484,970
69,9611,372
6,036, 791
12,013,169
3,036,886
793,262
3,072,766
3.4
3.0
10,569,532
42,983,888
9,918,760
982,581
10,772,937
6.0
10. 7
2,390,926
13,931,223
6,'°6,823
I, 160,420
972,381
154, 929, 106
163,637,546
13,149,588
6,979,358
', 208,962
71', 010
6.8
3.0
15,804,673
10,734,230
32,414,293
2,038,929
8. I
TPUS ................................ .
Utah ...•.••.••••••.••................
Vermont ...•..•...•...•...............
Virginia ......•.••.••.........•.......
Washington .••.....•.•.•...••...•..•.
West Virginia ...••................•...
Wisconsin ....•••.........•.•.•.......
Wyoming ...•...•.....................
263, MIi, 419
15,~,001
4.4
3.4
2.9
1.3
3.2
1 .•
0.
992,210
2,746,619
66,332,105
17,063,774
8.8
14. 4
4.2
IO.I
5. 4
9. 7
9.2
19,075,019
I, 673,808
24,940,790
I, 443, i90
o.
2.0
2. I
5.6
4. 7
2.0
4.0
2. 7
6.4
o. 7
10. 2
o.
497,574
0.
(b)
0.
0.
0.
I.
0.
673,328
I, 064, 661
0.
0.
0.
141,292
2118, 646
"°·
106
3,873,006
236,705
I. 4
111,091
(b)
0.
0.
0.;
(b)
0. i
0. ~
0.
~
0.
~
o. 1
o. 3
o. 3,
o. 1
583,832
218,813
654,649
33,486
107,1191
0.1
0.1
9.8
0.8
7.5
686,509
0.4
977,275
0. 3
6.6
2:J&, 269
I. 0
3.5
7.8
4.9
0.11
0.3
0.1
0.9
Alaska .. -···········-················· ................ ········-··-···-·········-·············· .......... ····-········· ........................ ··-·······
Hawall...-·········-··············--·
Puerto Rioo ........ -····-···-········
Virgin Islands ......•....•... -........
12,764,931
33,430,339
605,239
Undistributed by state•..•.••.•..•.••
8,522
1,MS,530
4,430,809
173,486
11.8
3,301,476
23.7
344,934
2.6 ······-····-·· ..••••••••
10.2
4,125,895
9.5
25,293
0.1 ··•···-••····· ••••••••••
18.8 ·········-······ ·········- ·-··········-· -········· •••.•.•..•.••.•••••••..•
• Data not available by type or project after this date.
b Less than 0.05 percent.
• Includes supply fund adjustment and central administration projects.
Digitized by
Google
~
O.J
1, 0111, li06
New York ..••••..••.•••.••...........
North Carolina ....•..•••..•..•••.....
North Dakota •....•..•.......•.......
Ohio....•..••••.••.•........•..•••....
Oklahoma ..•.••.•..••................
South Carolina .....•........•........
South Dakota .......•••...•.•........
0.
935,495
9, 4117, 619
32, 6112, 374
378, 986, 937
M,8'1,&go
1.6
o. 7
2,103,830
4, 6211, 952
~l,MO
2,951,678
8,650,039
3,133,609
2.0
(b)
3.4
4. 6
7
I. 7
0.6
Nebraska ............................ .
Nevada .•.......•............•........
New Hampshire.a ................... .
New 1ersey ...••.•.•••.............•..
New Mexico .•.••.....................
111, 518, 937
6.4
6. 2
127
APPENDIX A: TABLES
TABLE XIV.-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON CONSTRUCTION
OPERATED BY WPA, BY STATE AND BY MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECT-Concluded
CuirnLATIVE THROUGH MAB.
PROJEC,TS
31, 1943 •
Division of Engineering and Construction-Concluded
State
Highways, roads,
and streets
Amount
Total ..•.••.•.•.••••. $4,903, 7frl, 371
Alabama...................
Arizona ...••....••..•.•..•.
kansas ...••.•.•....••••..
California .•.•.•.......•..•.
Colorado ••.•....•.•..•.•••.
98. 573. 080
Percent
Recreational
fscllltles (excluding
buildings)
Amount
Percent
Sanitation
Amount
-
Water and sewer
systems and other
utilities
Percent
Amount
Percent
Other
Amount
Percent
37.9
$987, 717, 4M
7.6
$Zl6, 233, 331
1.8
SI, 303, 063, 708
10.0
$247,ffll3, 364
1.9
50.2
50. 7
59.0
18. 0
1. 6
2.0
2. 0
7.8
4.2
6,925,011
1,394,605
2. 422,053
I, 971,018
1,840, 160
3.5
2.5
1.6
0.3
1. 3
10,760,342
2,447,499
1,896,326
81. 372,058
11,650,482
5.5
4.3
1.2
12. 6
8. I
579.379
237, 707
1.487. 948
13,120,670
3,058,365
0.3
0.4
0.9
2. 0
2. I
2. 6
1.0
4.9
4.0
I. 1
2. 0
28,724.504
90,886,071
116,283, 179
50,127,306
84.8
3,097.601
I, 137,434
3.124.414
50,618.674
6,097,86.'S
42,448,427
2. 172. 917
6,875,643
M, 669,963
79,586,350
32. 8
14.8
13.0
30.2
U.2
10,821,996
I, :aM, 324
1,861,215
4. 821,139
(,265,092
8.4
8.2
3.5
2. 7
2. 2
3,426,685
324,350
222, 128
4, IOI, 910
7,M0,852
2.2
0.4
2.3
3.9
18,750,748
2,617,438
8. 738,923
9,393,088
17,975,958
14.5
17. II
16. 5
5. 2
9.3
1,333,587
il7, 720
2. 097, 716
I, 998,124
3.919,45"
iC8llS8S •••.•.•.•••••••••••••
16,650,773
369, 186, 570
I 82, 104, 483
73. 672. 959
64,161,347
30.1
38.0
(9.3
'46.9
39. 7
1, 708, 107
121, 539, 891
2", 975,831
6,927,727
17, 932,4117
3. I
12. 5
6.8
4.4
11. I
1,717,181
16,456,044
6,245,562
749,292
3,904, 748
2.3
1. 7
I. 7
0.5
2.4
4. 994,883
111, 933, 466
26,439, 192
17,896,207
9,559,644
9.0
.11.5
7.2
II. 4
5.9
838
8. 347,367
5. 423,652
3,279,769
759,227
1. 5
0.9
1.5
2.1
0. 5
iCentuclr::y ..••.••••.•..•....
.,ouislana ..•.....•.........
Iaine .........•••.••••.•...
\Jaryland ..................
~lassachusetts ......•......
t17,565, 194
70,5"6,003
17,894,503
26. 762.45"
135, 939, 819
311. 3
M.3
40. 2
1.5
11.1
3.9
5.5
5. 7
3,181,964
3,638,849
11,866
I, 004, 379
1,946, 797
1.5
2. 1
23. 2
3,246.336
19,503,337
I, 752,072
4,329,112
33,316,620
12,337,072
12. 038, 419
4,344,015
10,263,798
79,900,924
5.8
6.9
9.5
13.0
13.6
8. 710,586
2,272.861
874,811
4,106,576
30,881,580
4. 1
1.3
1.9
5. 2
5.3
ktlchignn ........••........
Imnesota .............•...
1
:::::::::::::::::
lontana .................•.
266,671,733
107, 358. 318
67,193, 771
161, 558, 250
34,537,883
411. l
33.6
43.4
41. 7
311. 7
26,162,742
32,652,474
1,936, 175
:20,397,561
4,813,180
4.8
10.2
1. 2
5. 3
5.5
ebraska ......•....••.....
evada ....................
Tew Hampshire .........••
ew 1ersey ..... _......... _
ew Mexico .........•.....
61,992,006
3,894,858
9,422.277
171. 780, 782
17,993,150
44.1
29.9
22.2
34. 7
28.0
7,032,677
2,085,500
3,764.673
M, 112,999
2.478, 145
Tew York .......•...•.....
orth Carolina .............
North Dakota ..............
Ohio .......••..............
Oklahoma ................•.
330. 116,196
64,341,317
30,842,630
444, 739, 734
108, 709, 639
:20.3
37. 2
41.8
50.0
46.8
Oregon ......•...•.......•.•
Pennsylvania ........•..••.
Rhode Island .........•....
Southern Carolina ..........
· South Dakota ..............
37,971,839
625, 267, 285
15,189,660
45,050,925
34,722,031
ITennessoe ......•...........
Connecticut ...•.•••..•.•.•.
Pelaware ........•...•...•..
District of Columbia ....•..
~~:~~·.·:::::::::::::::::::
daho ..•...••..•.•.•.•.•...
llinols .•.•...•.••••••...••.
ndlana
....•..•.....•......
owa _______________________
§l=~f.~
Texas ......................
Utah .......•...........•••.
Vermont ___________________
Virginia .••.•.............•.
Washln,ton ..........•...•.
I ""est Virginia ..............
I
~~g~~:::::::::::::::::::
33.9
(b)
1.3
0.3
----------------------640,454
0.2
sro.
12,668,686
8, ma. 001
1,866,036
8.2
2. I
2.1
78,942,950
32, 0(,8, 164
4,428,599
39,318.480
4, 757, 750
14. 5
10.0
2.8
10.2
5. 5
8,813,269
7,081,663
I, 378,933
11,140,840
I, 361,045
1.6
2.2
0.9
2.9
1.6
5.0
16.0
8.9
10.9
3.8
2. 601,893
336. 024
40,804
6,730,878
1,948,745
1.8
2.6
0.1
1.3
3.0
16,853,310
775,906
9,398. 243
55, f,65, 539
3. 798,213
12.0
5.9
22. I
11. 2
5.9
2,311,531
177,497
2,019,674
7. 742,345
839. 304
1.6
1.4
4.8
243,912, 705
8,425,322
3,403,896
81. 769,259
5,450,444
)5.0
4.9
4.6
2. 3
27,867,091
8. 933,019
2,432,426
6,362.994
7,597,490
I. 7
5. 2
3.3
0. 7
3. 3
218. (Jf,O, 244
11. 147,923
3,827,331
00, 312,224
11,865,045
13.4
6.4
5. 2
10. 8
5. I
43,087,884
I, 007, 453
352. 935
13, 18.5. 388
2. 364,019
2.6
0.9
0. 5
]. 5
1.0
311.8
M.8
20.5
30.5
43.0
4,306,986
56,685,784
7,796,274
2, 7f,8, 380
2. 310,250
(.5
5.0
10. 5
1.9
2. 9
1,467,906
13,528, 137
2,516,364
II. 692,921
2,273,015
1.5
1.2
3.4
6.6
2. 8
8,289,561
75. 547,592
16, 740 004
16,924, 742
4,611,230
8. 7
6.6
22.6
11. 4
5. 7
2. 237,395
4,341.230
1,889,440
2,724,304
678. 494
2.4
0.4
2.6
1.8
0.8
98, fl95, 713
159. 637,292
18,707,458
10,444.342
34,685,951
M.9
39.8
27. l
44.4
32.4
4,172.904
13,358.584
2. 141,282
573. 869
3,113,773
2. 4
3.3
3.1
2. 4
2.9
16,410, 763
8,610, 4.54
2,496.656
2.966
5,121,575
9.3
2.2
3.6
(b)
4.8
6,0-11,547
21,588,129
10. 2t\3, 32()
2, .'i80, 179
8,915,912
3. 4
6. I
14. 9
11.0
8.3
2,557, 701
913, Sf,5
3,202,096
0.6
I. 1
3. 7
3. 9
3.0
62,312, 782
121, 473. 808
83,363,789
7.479,013
32. l
60.8
25. l
33.9
14,598,477
3,052,814
50,179,618
1,362,203
7. 5
I. 5
15. l
6. 2
1, 185, 139
12. 418. 970
I, 987,545
571,004
0.6
6. 2
0.6
2.6
25,666,109
6. 474,761
51. 304,411
1,581,824
13. 2
3. 2
15.4
7.2
2. 450,809
I, 829, 797
14, :.!69, 736
515,999
1.8
0.9
4.3
2. 3
11.2
1,023,006
4, 36.>, 861
1.6
I. 3
.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------------0.5
68.089
6,460,397
445, MS
3. 2
46.3
495,857
3.6
7,082, 780
16.3
15,900,807
I. 175,055
2. 7
568,336
1.3
36.6
121,364
0.3
12,523
1.4
419,230
45.4 -------------- ---------- -----·--------- ---------- ---------------- ---------0.1
8,522
Undistributed by State•••• ---------------- ---------- -------------- ---------- -------------- ---------- --------------•- ----------
Alaska .......•....•.....•..
Hawaii. ....................
Puerto R loo .......•....•••.
Virgin Islands .•.•...•..••..
• Data not available by type or project after this date.
b Less than 0.05 percent.
• Includes supply fund adjustment and central administration projects.
Digitized by
Google
128
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGHAM
TABLE XV-AMOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA,
BY STATE AND BY MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECT
JULY 1, 1942-MAR. 31, 1943 •
Division or Engineering and Construction
State
Buildings
Airports and airways
Grand total
Conservation
Total
Amount
Amount
Percent
I Percent
Amount
I
Engineering surveys
Percent
Amount
Percent
Total ..•.... ·-------··-· .• S382. 89G, 451
$220,674,678
$28, 961, 466
8.0
$37, 086, 970
10.2
$6,419,769
1.8
$1,788,212
0.6
AlabamL-····--·····-·········
Arflona •• --··········-·-···-··Arkanaas .....
California •....••....... - •••••••
OoJ0rado .•..........••••..•••••
8,467,424
], 725,668
7,186.681
13,178, 1115
2,053,831
5,710,959
I, 216, 6116
5,335,764
5,766,164
366,311
907,921
164,536
194,340
I, 139,041
113,696
10. 7
11.6
2. 7
8. 7
6.6
466,690
77,653
893,052
356,146
79,236
6.6
4.6
12. 4
2.7
3.9
110,722
1.3
66,763
0.8
0.1
0.3
79,6156
6
Conncctlcut ••......•• -·····-·-Delaware ......... ·-·-·····-····
Dllltrlct or Columbia •.•••••.. -·
Florida.............•.........••
Georgia ..•.. ···•·············:.
1,964,640
1,389,708
8,247,424
8,786,437
1,613,286
431,«2
614,036
6,272,333
4,375, 9116
807,837
16,288
139,257
2,014,167
360,863
41.3
2.8
10.2
24.4
4.0
91,931
146,411
16,166
1,592, 780
668,372
4. 7
26.2
I. 2
111.3
7.6
], 308, 734
16,356,516
4,911,956
2, 1144, 648
2,072,466
623,384
I, 187,724
419,108
161,727
366,825
211. 0
Kan111111 .. ·•·········-·-·········
1,802,099
26,460,461
7,276,411
4,281,497
3,641,971
4.6
5.8
3.5
10.4
218, 1164
1,860,953
I, 604,941
500,661
798,869
12.2
7.0
22.0
11.9
22.6
fa~~::::::::::::::::::::::.
:=~ieiu·.::::::::::::::::
8,G86, 545
II, 167,444
I, 635,462
2,776,022
17, 6118, 724
6,769,447
219,861
191,046
I, !W, :ll7
867,133
1,601,983
885,444
7211, 818
17,526
208,843
3,410,143
10.2
1,316,464
2,189,788
9,931,483
2.5
3.1
73.3
30.9
9. I
Michigan........................
13,323,748
7,961,786
7,001,096
361. 007
1,245,248
446,946
376,663
358,463
2. 7
15. 7
6.4
3.2
13.4
508,694
814,160
377,963
1,201,737
137,635
3.8
10.2
2,685,195
8,373,461
4,353,280
3,626.5117
7,105,012
I, 504,225
2,530,828
88,233
7411,328
8,037,431
1,814,993
1,050,312
5,605
464,104
777,387
381,696
211. 9
2. 4
39.5
6.2
14.6
337,213
21,864
100,464
I, 723, 9113
461,941
9.6
~=:~:-~::·:.·:::::::::::::::
3,512,687
232,474
1,160,998
12,662.021
2,620,982
13. 7
17.6
New Y0rk ..
North Carolina ..........•......
North Dakota..................
Oblo •...........•. ·-···········
Oklahoma......................
34,323,671
7. 089. 389
1,083,822
16,384,269
7,360,078
20,592,388
3,775,988
595,978
10,071,758
4,542.919
895,410
I, 131,88.~
209,083
366,268
528, 726
2.6
16.0
19.3
2. 2
7. 2
7,637,404
479. 673
93.400
128,977
6i4,380
22.3
6.8
8.6
0.8
9.2
Oregon .........................
Pennsylvania .. _.............•.
Rhode Island ...................
South Carolina .................
South Dakota..................
I, 944,884
27,673.224
1,M9,349
6,188,926
1,079,016
1,540,855
18,61i2,8f.O
740. 164
3,4t2,W2
442,537
I, 254,414
I, 256,651
234,411
243,867
134,299
64.5
4.6
27,401
3,251,030
179,786
737,6.':4
221,953
~=~=:::
:: :: ::: ::::::: :: ::
Utah .......................•...
4,363,062
11,553.070
n8,342
283,322
1. 510,751
1,834
2,270,428
12,410
123,103
78. 704
(b)
II. 6
0.9
224,093
Vermont ........ _..............
Virginia .......... ------- ...
7,073,214
19..~95, 617
I, 420,097
449,926
3,230,263
Washln~on ....... . ...........
West V rgln la ..... . ............
Wisconsin ... ...... . ............
Wyoming ........... . . --------
2.380.537
8,545,266
6,509,667
440,752
I, 025, 6211
6,0!,0,645
3,096,964
224, 178
6,15,978
829,378
450,736
166,2118
26. 7
Hawaii ..........
Puerto Rico ...... :.::::::::::::
Virgin Islands ..................
7,281
12,768,515
336,866
3,556
H,416, 578
145,805
3,666
57,816
53,038
Idaho •.. ·········-·············
Dllnola..•........•.. ····-·-··-·
Indiana .............. -·-·····-Iowa. ................ ·---····-·
Maine ..........................
MbmeaotL .. --··············•·
:=r~~::::::::::::::::::::
Montana .......................
Nebnaka .. _....................
Nevada--·-•····•··············
New Hamsphlre_ .•............
Undistributed by Stated_ .•••••
577,790
11, 7111, 7119
4,201, l502
I
64,204 r·············
--------------
17.3
3.9
12.6
27.4
2.4
9. 7
8. 2
85.5
19,496
8,827
6,725
--------·-----------0. 3
26,IW
--------------------(b)
85
•-5, 6118
4,688
(b)
0. I
216,241
891,759
27,313
38,564
5,646
12.0
3.4
0.4
0.9
0.2
11.8
174,684
I. I
7.6
19. 4
617,749
135,558
2.8
---------18.6
0.8
112. 422
168,832
101,249
123,851
184, 738
I.I
6. 9
Jg:), 528
3,834
9,108
269,746
431,048
5.5
1.6
0.8
2.1
ltl.4
63,792
839,319
0.2
0.1
6. 6
0.6
11. 4
1.4
11.8
13.2
11.9
20.6
6,718
898,442
3,690
8,403
7,595
0.3
3.3
0.3
0. I
o. 7
I, 677,796
167,908
10,449
166,647
3.2
8. I
11.8
2.3
5. 2
63,349
381,934
103. 836
i.682
21,370
0.9
J.9
7.3
1. 7
0. 7
110,573
441,438
406,654
12,098
4. 6
-~- 2
9.0
2. 7
2,620
27,664
61,152
12,482
0. I
0. 3
0.11
2.8
5.4
10. 2
5.1
9.4
11.2
8,244
71,718
911,444
0.9
2.1
I. 4
(b)
30,802
0.4
0.6
I. 6
----------·· ----------
------------ -------------·---------- -----20,650
0.2
515
2,656
46,772
16,873
(•)
(b)
---------I. I
o. 6
---------1. 5
0. 4
-------------------676,616
3.8
- --- -----32. 703
0. 4
--------------------2,821
(•)
89,3611
6,866
------------ ----------
---------------------- --•-45,
-- -----274
-3.11
32,6.11
0.3
------------ --- -- - --- 20'-276
8
(b)
3,2111
(•)
0.6
---------------- ---40,528
0.3
2,412
373,893
0. I
I. 4
------------ -----------------------------(b)
28R
11,618
23, 4U2
8,804
0.2
0.1
0.6
------------ -------- . -- ----------
---------
6,141
0.3
------·--·
0. 5
------------ --------28,142
-------- ... ..
·--------1.0 ----------------- ---- ------ -------------- ---------- ------------ ...
········ -----· · ··................. -------------- ---------- ------------ ----- ----- ---·· ------ ---- ----
48. 8
0.4
16.8
...
124,613
• Data not available by type of project alter thl! date.
• Less than o.o.• percent.
• Credit due to return or mat(>.rlal to sponsor 9.lter complPtlon of project.
d Includes supply fund adjustment and central rulmlnlstratfon projects.
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129
APPENDIX A: TABLES
TABLE XV.-A:MOUNT OF WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA,
BY STATE, AND BY MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECT-Continued
JULY 1, 1942-MARCH 31, 1943 •
Division or Engineering and Construction-Concluded
State
Highways, roads,
and streets
Amount
Percent
Recreational facilities
(excluding buildings)
Amount
Percent
I. 5
$91, 418, 383
25. 2
Alabama ............•.. ·-···-·
Arizona... ···· · ·- ····-• •-·····
Arkansa1L .................•....
Calffornla .................•••..
Colorado .•.....................
3,509,036
886,008
3,697,362
2,869,280
124,636
41.4
51. 4
50. 1
21.8
6. 1
Cohnectlcut................... .
Delaware ...................... .
District of Columbia ......... .
Florida ...•.••...•..............
Georgia ....••................•.
553,157
248,273
168, 771
I, 199,014
1,9211,398
28.3
43.0
12.3
14. 5
22.0
68
5
2
31
18,433
Idaho ........ . .........•......
Ullnois .•.......... . ............
Indiana •.......•.........•.....
Iowa .......................... .
Kansas ... ············ ......... .
198,284
6,883,681
1,620,040
1,553, 2211
661,995
11.0
26. 0
22. 3
36.3
15.6
1,364
1,427,221
24,585
39, 0811
74,615
O. I
5. 4
0.3
0.9
2.1
Kentucky ....•.•...............
Louisiana ......•.......... . ...
Maine ....•.................. ..
Maryland ..................... .
Massachusetts ................ .
3,405,038
2,152,428
41,686
490,315
2,172,317
39.2
786
34. 9
60,632
21,169
72,362
237,122
(b)
1.0
1.3
2. 6
Michigan .•....................
Minnesota .......••..... . ......
Mississippi.. ................. .
Missouri. .................... . .
Montana ..............•........
4,740,862
955,110
1,043,070
2,465,816
328,287
36.6
Nebraska ....•.................
Nevada ...•....................
New Hampshire ............. .
New 1crsey ................... .
New Mexico .................. .
726,el5
28,3111
147,699
20. 7
12.2
12.8
111.2
16.8
2,409,802
440,435
2.6
17. 7
12. 3
12. 0
14.9
20.9
12.2
New York ........ . .......... .
North Carolina ............. .
North Dakota .............. .
Ohio ..................... . .... .
Ok.18homa................... . . .
5,580,020
I, 483,990
194, 702
6,038,337
1,696,803
Oregon ..••.•...................
Pennsylvania ...... . .......... .
Rhode l~land. . . ..... . . ..... .
South Carolina ... _... _..... .
South Dakota ............... .
188,284
9,199,608
77,289
937,038
40,294
Tennessee .......... _. ......... .
Texas .............. --•·
Vermont ........ . . . . .
Virginia ..... , ... -..
3,242,003
4,927,208
1611,624
6,760
964,824
11.3
I. 3
211.ll
Washington
\Vest Vlrglniu ...
Wisconsin .. __
Wyoming ... .
174,113
3,076,987
I, 004, 1186
27,638
7.3
36.0
18.2
6.3
Utah ••..•.... . ... . . ·. . ...... __
16.3
$5,597,876
(b)
(bl
(b
(b)
o. 2
1.4
102,354
198,527
I, 113
318,3117
15,939
0.8
2.5
(b)
2. 7
0.6
4,415
O. I
5. 7
0.5
13,160
6,215
263,484
(b)
3.2
0.11
0.1
0.11
0.9
9. 7
33.2
5. 7
15. 2
3. 7
6,105
587,627
5,845
6,754
3,963
0.3
2.1
0.4
0.1
0.4
45,8
29,590
258,808
17,000
I, 873
773
0.4
I. 3
1.2
0.4
(b)
2, 1138
134,493
215,613
0. 1
1.6
------------··
utilities
Percent
3.0
Amount
Percent
0.11
$25,953,499
7.2
0.5
417,896
48,344
140,478
765,999
23,727
4.11
2.8
2.0
6. 7
1.2
94,538
I, 133
5,624
97,917
1,021,762
4.8
0.2
0.4
1.2
11. 6
lll, 213
3,182,280
743,479
233,450
228,362
I.I
12.0
10. 2
6.5
6. 4
-------------- ----------
201,931
399,531
131
24,401
I, 092, 827
-------------- ----------
1,877,068
$3,226,151
-----
12, 746
18,479
69,188
61,390
739
55,807
76,830
0.1
(b)
o. 7
3.2
-- - - --0.---7
o. 7
(b)
0.2
1.0
------------------------------------ ---------76,273
Ill, 215
0.9
1.5
------------------------------------ -------- -599,529
62, 750
9,974
8.6
0.5
0.4
5,823
373
0.2
0.2
---------:u -------------348,161
2. 8
c-23
18.0
36.9
23.1
:15.J
Amount
0.5
~592
•
473 ••••(bl·-9,396
(b
4,420
··········543·
3,0911
0. 1
40,760
1,107, 173
61,041
1,175
143,263
64,353
20.11
Water and sewer
systems and other
Sanitation
5,973
0.2
I, 728
107,306
(b)
I. 5
Other
Amount
Percent
$20, 132, 263
5.5
- -149,579
- - ---1.8
311,696
454,968
542,096
4,646
22,406
I, 768
184,216
314,834
300,640
128,040
2. 3
6.3
4.1
0.2
1.2
0.3
13.5
3.8
3. 4
3115, 660
372,156
29,281
7. I
3.3
6. 4
8. 7
0.8
2.3
6.5
(b)
0.11
6. 2
980, 114
312,883
28,11711
18, 9116
604,1117
11.3
5. I
1.8
0. 7
3. 4
14. I
6.6
2.3
ll.4
3.1
671,074
446,602
162,832
I, 108,317
83, Sill
893,895
I, 444,761
385,2118
5.0
6. 2
12.8
12. 3
107,505
2,682
14,024
1,541,2811
70,168
3. 1
I.I
1. 2
12.3
2.i
11.5
3.2
1.3
12.5
6.0
864,435
492. 208
105. 417
12,400
56. P88
680. 1138
23,755
3.0
5.4
5.0
.5. 4
0.11
&,513
91,274
(b)
1.2
3,938, 2118
230,218
14,221
2,047,284
365,015
257,557
6, 8ll6
369,144
14,409
O.ll
0.6
6.8
1.3
42,520
2,436,632
205,931
351,866
13,999
2.2
8.8
15.2
6. 7
1.3
808,266
6,737
0. 7
1.5
1.9
13. I
0.6
388,170
6.5
0.3
(b)
326,060
797,390
154.1127
37,976
108,526
4. 6
4.1
10. 9
8.4
3.4
66,336
0.9
I, 261,391
103. 935
1111, 470
170, OOi
7. 3
21. 4
6. 3
(b)
0. 7
4, i62
21).5,883
400,541
13.879
0. 2
3.5
7.3
3. I
184,461
450. 140
I, i!<J
M.623
•-2
----------------------- ----------------------551
60,241
----•
-
--------
I, 164,288
14.3
273,623
11,670
1,201,154
279,758
14,001
401,410
26,316
811, OS3
BawaU ........ .
Puerto Rico .... __
Virgin Islands ..•....
Undistributed by Stated
• Data not a,·ailable by type or µroj,•ct arl<•r this dal<•.
• Less than 0.05 pt•rcen t.
• Credit due to return or lllal<•rlal to sµensor aft<>r completion or µroj,•ct.
d Includes supply fund adjustm~nt and c,•ntral admin1Stration proJ<•cl.8.
(Concluded on next page)
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3.4
3.9
1.1
7.3
3.8
6.4
3. i
2.1
8. 2
0.4
130
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE XV.-AMOUNT OF 'WPA AND SPONSORS' FUNDS EXPENDED ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY
BY STATE, AND BY MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECT-Concluded
WPA,
JuLY 1, 1942-MAR. 31,. 1943 •
Stnte
Division or Service Projects
- - - - - - : - - - - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - - - - , c - - - - - - - - - - 1 Division of Training
M lscellaneous b
and Reemployment
War services d
Public activities•
Welfare
1------,------ - - - - - - - - - -·----,---- 1-----.----1-----,----Totnl
Amount
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
Percent
2. 0 $46, 879, 875
12. 9 $75, 033, 716
20. 7 $16, 171, 718
4. 5 -$3, 107, 508
-0.9
JO. 5
10. 7
3. 9
23. 4
34. 2
I, 246, 772
260, 106
I, 293, 733
3, 260, 678
825, 550
14. 7
576,936
46,553
231,282
279,674
80,134
6.8
2. 6
3.2
2. 1
3.9
-IOI, 090
116, 766
1.8
4.8
1. 3
7. 2
5. 7
-1.2
-3.7
-0.7
-I.I
-1.3
30,860
55, 719
1.6
9.6
8.6
6.5
25.9
8.0
15. 9
151,015
41,344
429,369
7. 7
13,299
,11, 971
0. 7
2. 1
-22, 820
7.1
31. 3_
24. 6
5. 2
-427
-188. 112
-79,043
Total. ............•.. $129,257,663
$7,3H,0;2
147,772
82, 7/i8
Arkansas ................. .
Cnlifornia ................. .
Colorado .......•..........
2, 2S(), 619
526, 715
I, 670,326
;, 292,462
1,644,458
Connecticut ......••....•..
Delaware ................. .
District or Columbia ...... .
Flnrirla .................•..
Georgia ................... .
350, 7i6
134,432
;84, 488
2,875,404
4, 31:l, 024
Idaho ...•..................
Illinois .................... .
Indiana .........•..........
Iowa ................•.....
Kansas ................... .
Kentucky ..••...•..•......
Louisiana ................. .
Maino ................... .
Maryland ................ .
Massachusetts ........... .
Alabama ................. .
Arizona ... ______ .. ________ _
Michigan ................. .
?tiinnr,sota ......•.........
Mississippi. .............. .
Mls.souri ................ . .
Montana ................. .
Nebraska ................. .
Nevada .................. .
Kew Hampshire ..•........
New J,•rs,>y ......... .
NPw MexiL"O--------- · -----
2. 3
2. 7
!,08.641
0, 2:19. f,f,0
1,ni2,80I
I, 228, 165
I, 488,656
34. 850
53:1. 516
63, 40.5
I. 9
2.0
0.9
2.3
1.1
2. 819. 74.4
1,620,589
28,5,:145
580,199
6, M6. 882
111,677
80,256
13,670
);2..574
4. !.'\.1, 055
110,299
296, 5118
168,001
37,369
355, 119
660,422
I, 3114, 808
109,069
4,247,863
2,029,154
2,680,410
6.1
16.1
14. I
9.0
16. 2
4,458.281
886.162
364,722
16.1
18.0
24. 7
40.2
30.5
71,611
287, 799
176,460
20. 2
16.8
19,583
I.I
I, 218,588
4.6
6.4
4. 8
3.6
3. 5
2.0
-63, 295
-50. 781
-HS, 385
-27,0.2
-55
-32,859
-354, 313
-1.423
8.5
8. 4
4.9
6. 2
15.9
), 971,083
1,010,632
191.318
235, 69-1
3,445,337
22. 7
16.4
11. 7
8.5
19.6
207,859
318,895
5. 2
26,458
2,313
36,206
I, 108,950
0.1
I. 3
6.3
32,340
-30, 171
11, 40\j
0.1
12. 7
14. 5
1;_ 2
13 ;
2,345,058
I, 156. !J(~J
1,201.917
I, 017. 85Y
Ii. 6
22. 7
836, 115
646,244
27. 7
264, 7f,;
2, 3;s, 750
83;!, 997
20. 2
31.1
618,134
27,632
6. 3
8.1
3. 8
5. 2
1.0
-38, 88:1
-l02, 129
-110, 245
-72. 121
-37.~
-0.3
-1.3
-1.6
-0.6
-1.4
517,215
87,457
235.689
I. ll~O. 650
554,417
H. 7
37. 6
20. 5
123,648
8:lO
3. 5
0. 4
8.6
-148,175
8,724
98,1182
15.0
21.1
lM,340
IOI, 433
3.9
2,009.644
17. 5
28.3
I, 5.59, fif>8
IW. ;51
282, 9:1.~
26.1
10,834
20.8
84;, 89-1
637,310
1.3
737,084
I. 4
0.8
6.2
I. 7
520, 701
80, 35;
171. 932
2, S(H, V57
207,630
127,497
2.4
-118. 946
-H6,638
-110, 505
79. 707
II, ;i:12
2.3
4. 0
409. 464
9, S,'iO
I fit, H~i2
2',,06,5
0. 9
I. 2
I. I
66. 178
2, 35~. ;44
11.6
lf>.3
5.;
18.8
115,104
4. 4
I. 4
2. fi
r,_ I
17 0
14. I
1:1.0
2. 6
5, 8.12. 154
I. IMIO. 020
141.H!i
2, ~59. 71\J
6,020.315
·s. o,!1. o:is
472. 1178
1.,2. H.5~
ti!i. 94..1
•tl2. 2t)/
2. 227, 4\lli
HY, UG4
LO
t,25, 781
14. 4
8. 5
2,887,042
I, 531, ;51
24fi
3. 4
0. i
J4:J, 1;:i
;_ 4
12. I
1116, 597
8.6
26, 27!1
1. 4
4 053 2IJ1l
, 2\l;l: ,526
14. 6
21. 6
I, 5S6, .',67
I, 976. 2ti3
5S, 916
159. 393
41, ;47
5. 6
4.3
2.6
3. 9
I. 7:l.5
-137,1187
12. 5.14
-5!1,6.~l
-10,892
3.11,645
I, IXMl. 380
1:14, tiS7
:ui. iii
4.:nt,32fi
ti!J7,.5'i6
J7li.
:{. lt12, !",2"1
4\l(l, 32.J
om
1,884
f,f,_
7. fi~I. 701
547. 7:i5
rn:l.fi~
2. (\;Iii, 222
605,624
IOi. 104
4. 7
I. 7
27,462
2.5
2,472, 8,'>'l
1, 2r,n, 871
6G.5, 324
157,843
a.l6. 808
61,099
2. 2
3. 4
161, :!84
1,620,078
12,500
2.8
121,845
3.8
117. 814
212. 058
,n.117
5.0
"'.ashi~gt~n, ... .
\\_ ~st V 1rgm1a ............ .
\\ 1sconsm ________________ _
Wyoming ............... .
I, 300, 720
3. 2lf,,099
l,S.1.1, 779
205, 776
Hawaii. .................. .
Punto Hico ______________ _
Virgin Islands ........... .
3,725
4,180. :15!\
191,()(\()
ti4. 117
24,tHS
w~
,51,
~>fl. 7:17
4. 3
3;, 89.'l
3, '.114. 870
l!J<l. 002
s.::11. ~5.5
21,, V45
14. 0
8.9
20. 2
302, 4/i6
4. 3
1,601.61;
227, ,550
76. 364
586,313
8. 2
16. 0
2. 4
5. 6
362.6B
78(\, 62'1
8o:J.50\'J
33. Oil
0. 4
7. y
3,725
266,358
2,166
2. 5
-1.8
-1.3
(•)
-2.3
-4.1
746,236
8;4.895
13. 2
ii.:Vi9
H4, 11,5
-2.3
-0.9
393,07;
355,261
1112.rm
-1.2
(•).
(•)
12.2
17. 4
24. 7
I, 023, 234
38.5, 426
573,007
), 697,608
3,219.977
4,140. 7H
I, 191. 142
Or~on .......••......•....
Prnnsylvania. __________ ..
Rhnd,• Island ........... .
South Carolina ........... .
South Dakota ............ .
Utah ..................... .
Vermont .................. .
Virginia .................. .
96.50-1
39,8M
18.1, 851
219. s;8
3, 079, 3:lO
;o2, 142
0.8
1.3
I.I
I. 2
0.1
~
12, 32.5, H,
'rexas ....... ______________ .
952,454
185,828
237,800
New York ................ .
North Carolina ..... . ..... .
North Dnkota ........... .
Ohio .....•................
Oklahoma ....•...........
Tennessee ......•..........
00, 715
886,076
17. 0
18.1
1.5. 2
t. !<04,874
1. !J.10, 691
1;_ 6
360,217
31.9
33. 4
2.012.5.<;9
4, 9&i. 446
376. 675
72,4:lo
911,920
28. 5
25. 5
26.5
16. I
28.2
34. 5
25. 9
16. 3
33. 6
9. 2
R20, 29.1
2,217,419
14. 6
898, l.'i:l
;. 5
148. 1100
I. 2
4. 5
2.8
1.0
5. 2
8. 7
-1.3
0.4
2.0
-I.I
-4.2
-atZfi:
6,970
3.;
-0.8
-0.3
0. 3
-15.1,832
-78, 882
-0.5
-214, 410
-57, 647
-1.2
-1.3
-0.8
-rn.:in
-I.I
(•)
-0.5
0.V
-0.9
-1.0
4. 7
-84,341
31,678
4. 5
2. 2
1, :l95
108,0till
0.3
3.3
-89, 879
-5, 247
3,825
-8, 0:!4
-1.2
-0.5
-0.3
0.9
-0.3
2. 68.5
-95, 3S9
-107, 842
I, 58:l
0.1
-I.I
-2.0
0.4
s;5, 555
51, 50.1
374,001
686,tl6t\
9,215
2.2
4. 4
12. 5
2. I
51. 2
2. 1
0. 7
3,862, 730
162,157
30. 3
316, 183
2. 5
-15.1, 602
-1. 2
48.1 ······•·• ..••••••.... ······-······ ·•·•·••·•·
t·ndistrihuted hy stalt• '··· ..•••...••..
64,204
100.0
• Data not arnilahle hy type or project 3fter this date.
• Includes adjustments for excess of dr•posits in the supplv fund over payments out or the supply•fund and for Items In transit to control accounts and
sponsors' rx1wnditun•s for land, land lcas('S, f'fi.S('ments, and rights-of-wa)·.
• The child·protection pro~ram was carried on under wolfan1 projects in fiscal year 1943 but for comparative purposes data ror thl, program are shown here
undPr public acti\·ities as form,•rly reported.
d War services inchH.le projects reported In public activities and res,>arch and records previous to fiscal year 1943.
• L,,s.s than 0.05 pnc,•nt.
1 Includes supply fund adjustment and centrul 11dministralion proj,•cts.
Source: Works Projects Administration.
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TABLE XVI.-Pu YsicAL AccO?dPLIBHMENTB AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
CUMULATI VE THRO UGH J UNE
30, 1943
Number
Uoit or
measuremrn t
Item
-
...
- - - --
-
- - - -1- - --
- -·- - - - -1
Highways, roo.ds, st ree ts, and related l11cilities:
Hll~ways, road s, and streets-totnL . . .. .. . , . .
:-.:umber
6SI,087
572,353
H igh•type surface- total.. . . . .. ...... . .. .. do...........
56. 697
:-Jew construction .... ... .. . .. .... .. . . . do... .. . .....
do ..... .. ... .
Reconstru ct.ion or impro,·cmcnt..
Low•typc surface and unsurfaced .... . . ... . do. ...... .. . .
34, 965
21,732
515. 656
-'lll. &18
Other roads (in parks, ctc.) - total. . . . . .. . , ..
18, 455
1l , 103
3i . 493
High•type surlacc-1utal. ...... . . .... .
3, 030
Low•type su rface and unsurfaced .... ..... .. do ... . . .. .. . .
N e w construction
(D
CT
'<
0
0
~,.....
(v
tion or im -
provement
M, 687
6. 524
347, 769
15,754
523,857
25, 468
823, 845
15,889
I, 034, 630
4. 689
199,191
.... .... 1,052, 612
C u l ' ·erts. · · · · · ··· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · {Number
29 804 876
Linear feet
' 78:526
Roo.dside drainage ditch and pipe . ... ........ . ~liles ..... ::::: :
126,321
3 288 421
' 84:347
Wood ..... . ... .
a.
Reconstru c•
46,046
2. 057, 666
l{
;;:i
l 2,621.042
Masonry ... . . . . . ..... . .. .
Number .. .... .
{ Linear feet. .. . .
Number ... .. .. .
{Linear feel . . .. .
[Number __ ____ __
\Linear feel. . ..
I, 750,316
Sidewalks and path s-total ..... . .. . .. ....... .. ..... do... . . . .... .
23,607
6. 972 1
Paved ..... . . . . .. .... ...... . ... . .. ... •. . ..... . .. do.. . .... .. ..
20, 162
5,165
Cur~s~~~~~-- -: ::::::::::::::::::::::~::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~::::
Gutters ............ . ........... . ... . ... ... .... ..... do.... . .. ....
Guardrails and guard walls .................. . . .. ... do . . . . . .. .
N um bcrollight
standard s.
. .
Road and street hgbtmg ... . ... . .. . . . .. .. . . . .• Miles or road
{
eq uipped .
Traffic signs erected . .. .... .. . ....... . ....... .. Number .. ..... .
Traffic control line painted .. . .. ..... .......... Miles of line .....
g~~~ier!f1~~~ rr~1Zi-emov·ac :: : : ::::::: : :
t.rn:.~
1
. ~~~:: : :
5,428
3,367
30, 556
838
937, 282
5,269
2, 240
32, 172
I
6i
2,173
856
31 , 316
I=
151
5,908
Auditoriums . . .. .. ... ..... ... ...... . ..... do . .... . . . .... .
255
1. 4221
Gymnasiums .. . ... . . . ...... . . ............ do .. ... .. .. . .. .
==9 1=
Other .... . . . ........................ .... . do ..... . . .... .. 1 = = i,01
Baros and stables ...... . ................ . . ... do ... .. .. . . .. . .
Other . . . . ... ... ... ... . . . ......... . . . ..... . ... do . .....•.... . ·
77,965
Number . ... . .. .
Bridges and ,·inducts-total.. . . .. ........ .... . Linear feet. .... .
-- Il
-oso
EJ ucational- total. ......... ... . .......... ... do .. . ..... . .. . • i - - 6,
r~~~es:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::: j~:::::::::::::
I. 924
I. 115
8,554
New constru c ti on . .. __ __ ___ .. .. - , -- --. do . .. . . ... __ .
Reconstru cti on or impro,·ement __ ..... do ... . ... . .. .
85, 254
Offices aod administrative . .. .... . ....... . . .. do ..... . ... . .. .
Hospitals ....................... . .. ..... . . ... do .. ... ..... .. .
Penni institutions.... ........... .. .. .. ... .... do . . .... . ..... .
Dormitories . . . . ....... . . .. .. .. ....... ... ..... do ..... .. ..... .
Firehouses . . ... ..... ...... . ............ . ..... do ...... ... . . . .
Garages . •.. .............. . .. .. ..... ......... . do ............ .
11,593
:::: I
800
I , 544
6~. 474
1, 641
Rcconstruc•
tion or im•
provomc nt
4,792
657 ,
-1Recreational-total.. ... . ..................... do ....... . .. ·· · i -- -8,6061
1 - -- - -- --1
New constr~rtion ... ... ... . . ... _. --,-- . . do ___.. _____ _
Addi·
lions
New coo·
strurtlon
- - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - 1 - ---1- - -•- - -
Libraries .... ..... ..... ..... . .. . .......... do ..... ... .... .
Schools .... . . .. ........... . .. ........ . .... do . .... . .. . ... .
67.141
Reconstru ct100 or 1mpro vcment .. . ____ do ____ ____ ___
co·
;:;:
1
======
Low•type surfnee and unsurfaced ... . . .. . . . do . . . .. . . .. .
meas urement
Public buildings, excluding utility plants and
airport buildings:
35,064 I
P ublic buildings- total.. .. .. ............. . .. N umber ...... •••• l=====I=
~files ...... . . .. .
Iiigb•type surface-lotnl. .. . . . ....... .. ... . do..... . ... ..
0
- - - 11
Rural roo.ds- total. ... . .... ... ... . . . ... .. .. .... do..... . . . .. .
Urban strcets-tol al.. .. . . . ....... . .... . . .. .. ... do.... .... . ..
Unit or
It.em
Outdoor rccreatiooal facilities:
StndJ ums, grandstands, and bleachers ..... . . . ... . do .. ... ...... .
Fairgrounds and rodeo grounds ........... . . fa:re~?n·acres ::::::
5, 899
151
286
220
460
749
4,690
I , 536
226
181
1, 473
325
2,522
2. 368
357
1,930,
9,301 I
323
156
38
59
72
231
179
65
81
691
4,524
2, 168
543
5,951
2,3 12
2, 036
3,750
4.88
4, 165
21,246
797
52 1
2. ~
1,737
1,668
75. 152
129
5
46
189
7, 214
-- ·······•::::j~:::::::::::::I
1.851
1. 234
{· .. . do . ........... .
Arca io acres ... .. .
Number ... . .... . .
. . .. . do . .. ......... .
. .. . . do .... . . . . . ... .
3,026
17,440
1,817
2,261
10, 070
805
8,434. 000
Number . . ..... .. .
area in
square feet.
Jee skating areas. ..... . ... .. .... . ........... Number ......... .
Ski trails. .......... . ..... .. ... .... . ..... . .. . Miles . . .. ........ .
Ski.Jumps. .............. . .. . .... ... .. . ...... Number ..... . ... .
Bandshclls.......... . ...... . .•................... do ... . .. .. .... .
Ou tdoor theat res . . . . . . .. . .. ... . .......... ...
Goll courses..... . ...... . . .... . . ..... . ...... . Number or holes .. .
Area in acres ..... .
•
848
2, 553,00o
Athlcti c fl eId s .. · · · ·· · · ·· · · · ·· · · ·· · · ·· · · ·· · · ·
Handball courts....... .. ........ .......... . .
Horseshoe courts ..... .......... . ... ... ..... .
Tennis courts ..... . ............ . . . ..........
Swimming pools . . .. . .... .. . ... . . .. ... . ... . .
{s~~~~;ti~··11 ·
W nd Ing pools .............. . .... . .. ......... {Surface
{·:::j~:::::::::::::
I. 101
310
65
228
138
2M
2, ;97
18, 463
II=
280
13,780
6,335
459,995
86
21
8,217
1,364
68
2,457
14,532
157
153
3, 086
330
5,500,000
248
-· --· --·-·
-- ------- ---- ----·--- -- -------- -------- -----··
-----···--------------- ·---------------- ------- --- ···---- ·-··-··
-- ---------- -- ---- -
.,,
t'l
zt::,
....
~
>
Parks . ....... . .. .. .... . .... . ... . . . . . ... .. . .. {l'::f.;rncres::::: :
l = == = i====I= = ==
.
9,581
3, 085
- -I 1 -107
Playgrounds-total...:...... ..... .... ... . .. Number . ···· ····· i , - School. ..
Other. . .... .
>
.,,
..,
&;
t"'
t.zJ
C1l
81
344, 000
84
59
15
74
32
378
4,009
37, 646
-- -58. 209
2,655
......
~
.....
.....
TABLE XVI.-PBYSI CA L Ac c oMPLISHMENTS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA-Continued
~
~
C ONTINENTAL U~lTJ!l D STATES
CUMULATIVlt THROUGH JUNlt
30, 1943
Number
Item
Unit or measurement
I
Public utilities and sanitation:
Utlllty plant&-total . .... . ..•• Number ... ...........
Electric power plants ..... .
Incinerator plants . .... . . . . .
Pumping stations .. ... . ... .
Sewage treatment plants . . _
Water treatment plants ... .
N'ew ron•
structlou
I
lines.
Addltlonsl
2,8TT ~
17
~
17
69
18
1. 172
171
63
362
415
161
3,658
Water consumer connections .. • Number. . . ...... ... ..
419, 737
462,638
Water wells .• •.... . ... . ..... .. . Number...... . . .. ....
3, 1185
1,954
··········1
738
Storage tanks, reservoirs, etc. ··
2,300, ~: &2:: . • • • •• • . • • 24, 137, 795,000
Storm and saoltary sowers .... . Miles . .. .. .... . .......
24, 271
3, 364
Sewerage service connections . . . Number . . ... ..... . .. .
596,676
42,908
Manholes and catcb basins... .. Number ....... . .. ....
815,292
423, 010
Sanitary privies . . ... ... .. . . .... Numl>or .. ... , . .. . . . . .
2. 309, 239
39, 898
Mosquito control drainage . . ... :\>Illes or r!itch and
15. 268
22, 672
.
pipe . •
Telephone and tclegrapb lines .. 1\-Ules .. . . ... . . . . . .. . ..
3,004
2,362
Police, fire-alarm, and traffic Miles of line. . . . . . . . . •
1, 606
1,850
signal systems.
Electric power lines . . . . ........ Miles ..... .. ........ ..
3,358
1,243
Pipe lines, other than water Miles ... . . . .... ... ... .
727
121
and sewe,.
Flood and erosion control, irriga•
tion, conservation:
Fish hatcheries .. . . .... .. ... ... . Number. .. .. .. .. .. ...
161
136
159
Fire breaks . . .............. ... . . Mllll.s... . . .. .. . . . .. . . .
6,337 . .. • • • • • • •
914
Reforestation . ... . ... . .... .. ... . T rees plant-Cd..... .... . . . ..... . .. ... . . . . . .. . . .
176,636, 000
Bushels planted.. . ....
8,210, 967 . . .. • ••.••..• •.•••••. . . .
rn=~y in ·gallon's°.·.::
ie~!n!n°J!~~aii1<mer:i.s::::::
Jetties and breakwaters .. . . ... .
0
co·
;=;:
N.
(D
MUes ... ... ... .•.. . ...
Miles. . . .. .... ... . . ...
Bulltbeads ... ··· · · ···· · ·· -·· · ·· Miles.. . ........ .. .. ..
Retaining walls and revetmoots. Miles ... . ... . .. . . .....
Rlprap . .. ..•••.. .. . .•. . . . ...... Sc} = yards of sur•
5111 . .. • ... . .•
193 .... .•..•.
169 . .. • • .. . ..
1, 083
7
59
17,323, 000 .... . . ... .
1, 991,000
1,820 .... . . ... .
135
a.
River bank and shorejlmorove·
Miles . ... . ...... . .. . . . ... . . .. . . . . . . . .. ... . . . .
4,419
rr
Streambed lmproverueot .. . .. .. Miles . . ... .... . . . . ... . ... ... . .... . . . . .. . . .... .
Irrigation systems.. ........ .. .. Miles of pipe and 1
1, 351 1•.•... ... .
flume.
8,262
5,339
'<
C")
0
-
~
(v
ment. ,
Airport and airway facllfties:
a.Ids
Landing ""
• ••••••••• ••
••••• •
l
{Number ... . .. . . .. . ...
Area lo acre!! .. .. .. ... .
363
64, 124
131
11, 772
469
91,388
Ruowa~tal.. ...•..•.••.• Linear feet.. . . .. . .....
4,763, 000 ..•• ......
• 1,162,000
High-type surface . . . . .. •... Linear feet . . . .... .....
Low-typeswfaal ...... . .... Llnear fet-t...... . . .. ..
3,436,000 . ... .... ••
1, 328.000 ..... •.•••
• 683,000
• 4i9, 000
• Includes ,urractn1.
Item
Reoonstructton or Im•
provemeot
Urut or measurement
Reconstru().\ddltlonsJ tlon or Im•
provement
New con•
structlon
1- - --- -11- - - - - - - -- - - - --+ - - - - - - - - - f·- - - -1- - - -1- - -- -
,.,., I
49
Number .. .
137
Number . ..... . . . .... .
1,394
Number ......... .... .
Number . . ... . ...., .. .
l , ~l
276
Number .......... ··· · l=====I
16, 117
Miles .... .. . .. .... . .. .
Water mains and distribution
N umber
II AirportAirport
etc.-Contlnued
bulldlnp-total.. ..•. l Numbcr . ... . . . . ... . ..
Administrative and termlnal .
I
1 - - -I,
-192
- i --
Hangars .•...•..... . ..•.. . •• Number •.. . . . . ... . .••
Other.. .... . ........ .. ..... Number •........... . .
Taxi strlpa-total.. .. . .. ... . .• Linear foet •••... .. .. ..
I
2,827
~~
1,076,: 1. ..... ~:.
• 63,000
"'I
244
I
-1so
364
~348
Number ..•.••. . . ...•.
116
16
I
1 - - - - - i- -- - l - --
Htgb-typo surface. .. ... . .. . Linear feet. . ... ...... .
Low-type surface.. . . ... . ... Linear feet . . .. ....... .
Apron&-total.. . . .•. . . . ..... . Square yards . . . . . . . . ..
Hlgh-type surface ..•....... Square yards . . . . ..... .
Low-typo surface .. . . .... .. . Square yards . ........ .
Turning circles ..•. ... .... . .. . ..
Airport drainage .. ... . .... . ... .
Airport drainage ditch and pipe .
Landing areas floodlighted .•...
Boundary lights ...•. . .. . ..... ..
Seafalaoe z:ampe and landing
AE:~;r:J:!kera... .. ... .. .. . ...
Airway beacons . . ..............
Miscellaneous:
Landscaping, other than roadside and parlu.
Ornamental pools and rouotalns.
Monuments and historic mark-
en.
Drainage, other tban rood, air-
Square yards ••..•••• • •
Number of airports ... .
Linear reet . . . . . .. ... . .
Number lighted ..• .• ..
Number of light standards.
Number . .••..• . .. . . ..
l··········I
--
>
t'
626,000
--1----618,000
3,710, 000
·7,000
630, 000 · • ••·• · ·••
l"'.l
'ti
876,000
200,000 ..........
1- -
4.240,oooJ .... •.••.. 1
1-- - --
-i---
1··········1
1 = = ==1
Number .. .
N umber .. .
1, 2'J9, 000
266
9,724,000
88
17,889
----------
----------
----------
.
27
------- ---
13, 857
90
------- ---
Acres .. .
136,000
82
724,000
2'l
3,261
3
3, i72
18
Number ...
I, 238
Milos or ditch and
6,691
---- -- -- ------ -- ----------- -
li,048
T unne Is · · · • • • •. · • • - • · · · • • • • • •• • { Linear root
Doc'.. whn~ee and piers . . _ 1'{ ~=~rwsbie.watiir:·
~ .
...... '
-front.
Area In square feet .• . .
Artlftclal cnannels, otber than Miles .
Irrigation and dralnago.
4,612,000
98
---------••••• • • • ••a
------------ ---- ---
z
t-3
~
l"'.l
~
'ti
:::c,
0
C'.l
:::c,
i6
17,217
1, 057
436,641
364
133, 000
0
:::c,
t-3
0
>
---- ----- -
F«Fo~:.1'.~.~~~~~ ~~~~:.. ~l!:.•
................
N um ber ... ... .. ... . . .
:::c,
211,240
819
Number .. • . . .... . . . . .
....>:j
z
• 39,000
• 14, 000
147
23,298
158
100,263
364
362,000
22, 0118, 000
199
'ti
>
~
TABLE
XVI. -PHYSICAL
AccoMPLISHMENTS AND PuBLic PARTICIPATION ON PROJECTS OPERATED BY WPA-Concluded
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES
CUMULATIVE THROUGH JUNE
Unit of measurement
Item
Educat ion activities: •
.~dult education :
.
Literacy and naturaliwtlon ••........ .• ••. ... •.... ... Enrollees ..... ... •.·....
Vocational training. . ........ ... .. .. .... .. •....... . .... . . . do .... .
Correspondence work . . . . . .. ....... . ..... .... ..... .. ...... do ... .. . . ......... .
H omemak ing and porcnt education ... . ........... .. . .. . .. do .....•... ........
Ot her ......... ...... . .. ... ..........•... .• .... • ... . .. . •... do ..... .......... . .
L<-ctures and lon1111s .......... ... ............ .. ....... ... Persons nttendlng .... .
:--!ursery schools . . ........ . .... ........................ •
Special Instruction :
lnstltutionnlizc<I nnd handicapped persons .. ......... Enrollees ............. .
rn=1:es·· ........... .
~l uslc a~TI!1/~f;:!:~~.~~·. : :::: :: :::::: :::::::::::::::::: ::: :: ....• do ..... ···· · ·•··· · ·
Instruction . . . . ........... ••• •••...••••• •.... .....•. . .. .. . .. . . do ............ ... . .
{Performances .•... . ...
Concerts
Radio b~;~;,;.~~:::::::::::::::::: : :::::::::!:::::::::::
Art activities :
Art instru ction • .......... . ........ .... ...... •. . ... . .....
Art items completed : •
Index of A merican Design plates. ....................
Easel works .. . .. . ........... .. ......................
i ~: r~~t~~~~~:::::
ca·
Item
Unit of measurement
Number
Welfare activitios-Contlnued
Food preserving : •
98,646
55, 412
8, 700
87,218
165,746
59,985
I, 255
35,229
6, 719
IO~
174, 917
5, 974
2,423, 217
ll2
Enrollee.• ............ . .
25,068
Number .
..... do .. . ............. .
21,765
108, 099
11,285
2,566
j:~'£s~::'i~t::: :::::::: :::::::: :: :::: :::::::::::: :: .~~~d~~.
-.::: :::::::: ::
.. ... do ....•. .. . . .... . ..
Housekeeping•nlde services: visits made• .. . ....... .. ...
Scbool•lunch services : •
6 months ondlng December ,31, 194.2 .... . ..•. •. .... . ..
Cumula ti ve through June 30, 1943. ... . .. ... .........
Public health nctlvlt ies: •
Ilealtb nod custodial institutions and health agencies
assisted :
H ealth institutions . _. . .... .. ....... . ......... ... ....
Custodial institutions . _.. •. . •....... .. . .. ...........
{t<!~~!~;t:r:::::::
84,987, 000
11, ◄48, 000
32,171,000
17,533
79,281,000
Lunches served •... . . .. I, 237,133. 000
Number . • ..• .••.. .•••
.•..• do . .. ...• •. . .......
225
Olin.Jes • • . ..... ••• •• . ..•. .. ..... . ........ ..... • •..... .••• . do ..... •.••.•. . ....
314
Othe.r healt h agencies ... . . ..... ... ....... ........••.. .•. . . do . .. . .. •.••.......
Health agencies operated .. . .... ...... . .... .....•...•. . ...•..•do .. ... ......•...•.
Tests and l=unitat lons ... . .... . . .... . .... . .........• . •• do ..... .•....••....
Library activities: d
Library serv ice systems operated .••.... . .... .. .. . . .. . ..•. ....do ..•........•.....
L ibrary service system units operated .•.. . . ... ..... . . .. . . . •.. do ........ . ...... . .
Independent libraries operated .....•... ... .......... . ....... . do .. .. ... . ........ .
Llbrnries assisted .• •••• ••.•.• _•............ . . _.............•. . do .....•..••.......
Book repair:
Books repaired or reno vated• . _.•..... . •.•.......•.•..••. . . . . do . ••.... . .........
60
501
Oil
73, 670
270
1.253
1.669
4,383
>
'ti
'ti
l:."l
zt::,
{ J~~ ~;~.•~.dc~~~s . : :::::: ::: : :::::: : :: :::: : : ·:: :: :: : :::::~~ ::::: ::::::::::::
Sculptures .......................... .. ..... .. .... .. ..• . .. do ... .. .
Wellnre actlvltle.s :
Sowing: •
Garments prod uoed-totaL ...... .. ... •......... .. ...
382, 750, 000
~
>
Men's . .... .. ...... . ............ . .. ..... ... .. . . ... . ... do.
Womcn ·s .... . .................... . . . . ...... .. .... . . . . do ..... . .......... .
Boys' ....... . ..... ... .....•.. .. .........•. .... ....... . do ........•.....••.
Girls' .... . .. . .............. . ............... ... ........ do . ...... ..... .... .
In fants' ............ ... . .. ... . .... . ................ .... do ............. . . . .
Diapers .. .. ............ .. .. .. . . .. .. . ... .. ........ ..... do ............... .
76,407,000
86, 425, 000
67. 325, 000
78,117,000
45, 344, 000
29,138. 000
t:"'
lzJ
rJJ
Other nrlicles produced .•.. .............. . ....... ....
0
Number
30, 1943
17,744
94, 706, 000
~
11 7, 794. 000
• Data relate to the month or January 19'2.
• Reports for this activity were not received for the fiscal year 1943 from a few states.
tor the fiscal year 19-L'I.
• Reports of this activity Crom a few states were Incomplete
d Data relate to the three months ending June 30, 11142.
N.
""
(D
0.
-5!
C;
0
a
~
(v
c,..,
c,..,
134
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TAnLE
XVII. -SEU!CTED
ACTIVITIES
ON
WPA
SERVICE PnoGRAMs,
BY STATE
SELECTED PERIODS
Enrollment in
education
Numherol adult
act! v Itics b
visits
Numhcrof
made hy
school lunches
houseNatumliserved•
Number of Numberol
:--umber ol Number
keeping
zatlon
garments other artiquarts of pounds
Other
aides• and
cles
proliterproduced
dried
canned
acy
duced
Work in sewing rooms•
State
-------
Enroll•
nwnt in
nursery
schools
b
ol health
lnstitutionsand
perlorm- agencies
ances b assisted qr
Operatedb
Attend•
ance at
music
- - - - - - - -~--- ----
United States ............ 382. 756. 155 117,794,474 I. 2:li, 133, JOO 84,986,915 11.HS 079 32. Jil.061
- - - - - - - - - ------95-1, 028
463, 19i
Alabama ...................... 4.5-14,025
21. 081. 614
fl7, 743
51l4.G50
Arizona ............... -,. ....... I. 3.'i8, 383
202. 204
3, 9of>, 887
32,927
60,835
2,(1()1.
9-13
Arkansas ........•............. 3. 311,001
19,122,580
709, i88
345,121
832,445
California ....................• •29. 024, 96-1 • 6, Mfl, 488 d 50,375,450
• 862, 9~7
• 55. 250 2, 04.5, 780
f).14. 082
22,299,778 5,497,018
Colorado ..................•... 6,730,092
44,776
438,859
1, 893,.557 ----------- -------------------------------- -- --- - ---9. 937. 259 ----------- ---------2.'i, 203,818
23,552
592. 759
Connecticut ............•..•... 2, IOI, 153
Delaware ......................
• -101, 278
District of Columbia._ .....•.. I, U52, 483
Florida ......••..•.. --···· ..... 10,008.506
Georgia ........................ 11,538,936
476. 044
• lfi6, 299
31 I, -14,5
2,528, 124
1,471,987
Idaho .•••••... -·····•··-· •.••.. 1.037, 156
Illinois .•......•.........•••.. _ 21, 863, 068
Indiana ........................ 6,816,379
Iowa·-······················-· 5,160,929
Kansas ........................ 6,591,200
22.'i,658
5. 858, 126
2,072.000
1.55-1, 552
1,236,289
Kentucky ....•............. _. _ 8. 165. 400
Louisiana ......•.....•••....... 3,904,083
Maine ....••••.•.••••••••...... I. UJ9, 409
Maryland .............•....... 1, 71a, 047
Massachusetts .•............••. •31. 033, 878
2. 595,013
711,366
2.55, 15-1
209,740
• 2. 627,452
Montana .... - ...•......•......
5,800.332
7, 7ti0, ;,311
4. 59i, 0,'il
8. n-1. o:;2
2. 780,398
28, 8.',5, 741
I, 974, 9i3
I. 32.5.464
2,008.401
328, ;356
Nebraska •..••......... . .......
Nevada ...•......••............
New Hampshire .........••....
New Jersey .............•......
New Mexico ••........•........ '
4. 050. 906
32.5 316
2. t,,2. :!OJ
8. 3,,,. 18,5
I. 368,642
4. 248, 75S
215. 49S
640. 208
2. 293,352
• 80, 705
5, 163, f,33
1.402, 800
439, 52.5
11.101,074
d 7,664,097
New York City.·-······ ...... 18, 099, 438
New York (excluding New
York City) ........•......... • 12. 336,686
N ort.h Carolina ................ 9. 311J, 451
North Dakota ..............•.. 2,610.239
Ohio ..•.•......•............•.. 17, 161, 8119
10,293,863
• 201. 235, 246
• 4, 779 995
1, SIS. 272
184. 126
5,!H5, 456
r 3, 62.5, 910
68. 353 900
4, .'i33, 8,12
42, 068, 074
Oklahoma ..................... 0. 447,429
Oregon .............•.......... • J. 949. 555
Pennsylvania ..•............••• •35, 699. 615
Rhode Island ...........•..•... 2,760,344
South Carolina .•.•...•.•... _.. 4,601, l64
1. 339. 718
• 687. -105
• 3, 60.'i. 249
4tl7, 155
1,277,310
South Dakota .......•....•••.. 2,898, 139
Tennessee ..••.•••...•.••...... 3,516,:l31
Texas ....••...•.......•......•. 30,873, 740
Utah .......................... I, 974, 131
Vermont. •.•..................
814. i-10
-176, 518
3,091.048
1, 7,'>9, 227
521, om
206,490
5,229,901
6, ~>l)t;, 093
5, 2.57, 100
7,027,443
951,938
I, 014, 95U
I, l\l3, 514
I. 2.1,5, :lS:!
1, 732, ti.,ll
122,379
Michigan ••....................
Minnesota ..•..................
t}t~~~f.~'.~:::::::::::::::::::
Virginia .....•....••••...•..•••
Washington ..•..•.......•....•
West Virginia ......••......•••
\Visc,msin ________ . ____________
Wyoming .•..........••.•••..•
Number
Food preserving •
308. 376
3.'i, 2'.!9
2,423,217
1,210
5,-122
22
2,421
1,072
1,455
17.386
1,434
6,644
18,506
8,155
885
12.050
33,875
5,8,'iO
440.~
37,831
4:;
13
43
61
3
8. 963
5,056
41,005
55,150
5,931
JO
8
33
6
148. 678
---------144
58,548
16. 065
14,375
42
21
41
98,f>.16
d 64,026, 12\l
1,138,487
87,156
224,075
29,243
72,398
276,481
1,021,039
7. 755, 7i0
27, 872, f,63
13. Hf,, 793
7. f~l5. 149
13,245,417
2,001,162
7,081,479
5,198.034
403,628
598,087
995,300
13,301
44
8.010
140,428
4,094,081
832,690
563,853
699. 746
16
2,153
956
1,967
137
601. 162
203, 781
22. 229
3, &16
r 964,143
2,865
0, 596
284
I, 112, 05.5
15,021
695, 103
177,699
3, iOO, 191
702,674
3. 2.'i8, 127 1,626,086
2,105
172,420
562,268
385,828
834.120
,548, 582
106,563
928
1,336
4,218
3,992
306
3,926
338,424
26,671
2,672
21
d
11,590,384
745,982
13,931, 701
344,875
2,704,011
72,475
I. 323,699 ----------1 10, 653, I 66 •9. 162, 702
62.680
1, 31l\l
d
d
28,300,040
2/i, 951,658
40, lf,4, 891
24,218.046
4,009,667
753,709
4,618
----------149,052
23, 09-I
----------
---------6,836
88
1,027
297
28
608
193
2,982
6,130
840
3,301
5,571
1,275
1.001
2, 740
10, 79,5
2,562
1,465
288
1,342
376
571
188
2,612
6,034
599
566
6,102
697
416
89
613
2,142
4.550
54,482
3,780
9,700
187, 783
61
54
I
I
9
I, 802
10,236
7,600
10. 162
2,027
993
834
533
1,015
363
87,776
5.,. 610
8,470
71,434
3.5
71
8
119
1
3,516
130
8-1
220
654
.51!3
2o, 943
748
368
-----------------2,.591
7. 948
I, 362, 153
19,972
818
429
2,080
706
1,619
I, 133
----------56. 731
----------2,850
227,611
----------- --------·-
22,820
460
98,687
I 105, 756
578. 084
73, 722
2,086,936
243
3,582
364
13,991
6,799
4,028
3,416
17,007
1,058
699
443
1. 319
36,453
47,344,712 2. S.'l8. 007 2. 734,685 I, 248, 191
r 9. 789, 400 • 100,519
157,904
r 13,016,091
• 108,886
• 5,644 2, 09f,, 394
8,5, 558
818,187 ----------- ---------83,060,322 3,398,225 I, 030, 936
939,292
3,171
136
768
996
6,189
2, 6119
24,700
512
529
714
294
1,021
427
463
173,382
611,862
2,035,419
80
2,646
10,121
546
193
3,444
1,f,90
12,422
2,863
3,798
352
718
2, 739
387
320
2,656
2.869
2,445
59,5
55
4,943
11,936
11,440
5,000
754
742
737
1,433
432
171
d
900,000
2,847, 188
-------------------I, 780,244
657 . .550
368.51-1
955,926
1.489
24,055
12,577,815
65, M9,601
t\-\ 108, O\l6
21,056,917
2,258,291
231,668
22. 118
5,746,056 2,396,769
9. 139, 748
151,620
2,fi2.5, 526
37,356
3,384,510
32,819, 773
29,488.361
29,269,392
15. 4i0. 307
2, 7:17, 437
I, 317,995
4,458.580
1,302, 1\84
tl50, 004
111
2.5, 2.52
7, ~{5[1
75. f>.15
18. 871
55
----------13,721
498,485
384,409
2'-627
• 826
81,252
--------------------1211, 847
85,696
20,198
178, 173
21,317
--------------------7,900
2
65
----------44
34
12
3
15
1
20
68,834
4,304
73
14,760
21
4
2
----------l4, 709
88,095
-----------
• Cumuiaf ive through June 30, 1943.
During January 1942.
• Cumulati,·e through June 30, 1942.
g~~~~~i~1!-ct~~i\;;rtf!~.r
uly 1, 1942 through Sept. 30, 1942.
• Cumulative through Dec. 31, 1942.
C:W~f
Digitized by
43
1
----------- ----------
b
!
16
1
1
27
Google
9
6
135
APPENDIX A: TABLES
TABLE
XVIII. -SELECTED
ITEMS OF PHYSICAL AccOMPLISHMENT ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
OPERATED BY WPA, BY STATE
CUMULATIVE THROUGH JUNE
Highways, roods, and streets and
Number of public buildings
related faclllties
State
Mllesof
highways,
roods, and
streets
(new and
improved)
Number
or bridges Number
and
of culverts
viaducts
(new and
(new and improved)
improved)
30, 1943
Schools
Outdoor recreational racllllles
All other
New construction
andaddilions
Reconstruclion
or improvment
New con•
struction
and additions
Number
Number
of playof swimgrounds
Number
ming
and
or parks
and
Re,conwading
(new and
athlelic
J'
.
)OOlS
struction improved)
fields (new (new and
or improvand Im- Improved)
ment
proved)
----
-United States ............
661,087
124.011
I, 178, 1133
8,081
31,316
31, i75
53, 1138
8,003
18, 149
2,073
Alabama .......................
Arizona ........................
20,990
2,495
11,417
11,234
11,458
10,126
322
5,565
1,401
3,368
47,399
5,424
39,039
20,1148
21,241
304
61
467
320
113
520
219
479
800
381
867
302
772
2, 158
32
583
615
184
317
3,055
764
458
119
282
46
122
R21
195
23
12
21
78
32
4,806
317
41
1
3,614
45
75
7,049
13
3
411
51
15
157
23
97
155
131
H
286
522
462
515
368
1,519
156
17
118
280
205
73
61
711
598
26.1
152
2, 134
1,308
563
612
41
561
361
247
171
58
I, 113
397
232
R
14,
73
52
58
167
199
27
20
Arkansas .......................
California .. ______ ..............
Colorado .......................
16
44
Connecticut ....................
Delaware ......................
District or Columbia ... ____ ....
Florida ..................•.....
Georgia ................. -......
152
7,357
9,061
1,483
2, 745
36,085
371
549
Idaho ..........................
Illinois ................ _. _.. . . .
Indiana ........................
Iowa ...........................
KllllllllS .........................
4,349
45, 149
24,408
36, Oll8
19,806
1,231
11, 9.~2
3,009
7,133
1,511
11,033
108, 12i
36. 610
40
112
78
62
811'1
!1.53
889
275
137
643
515
487
Kentucky ...•.......... _. _... _.
14,026
4,545
1,852
1,348
4,193
807
348
104
389
1,369
618
693
52
I, 785
707
33
18
19
13
377
aJ9
1;059
2,491
3/i
64
316
1,503
1,505
162
'":m""
1,332
Louitjana....•..................
Maine .........................
Maryland ..............•.......
Massacbusetta ..... _...........
Michigan ............... . . ....
Minnesota .•..•............... .
~
~~,._
44,854
86
19,603
100
3,660
2, 140
232
237
318
70,085
11,466
4,365
5,160
3,574
357
720
1,458
8,827
2,306
3,051
63,1143
30,759
1.'13
216
I, 030
1,001
24,433
61,061
17,304
243
460
208
44
366
858
1,417
573
469
465
7,786
154
248
661
1,762
27,354
75
6
269
54
67
1,019
613
167
102
1,071
4,209
361
283
16,748
21, 2.51
16, 760
52,543
52,512
23
1.075
I. 134
I, 474
1,670
1, 1138
197
~l=~~1:::::::::::::::::::::
Montana.......................
15,770
24.399
10,301
Nebraaka ......................
Nevada ................... _....
New Hampshire ...............
New Jersey ....................
New Mexico ...................
14,150
2,032
I, 476
6,018
New York .. _...•... · · - -· ··-·
North Carolina .. _ ··- ··-----North Dakota ..
Ohio ............. :::::::: : :::::
Oklahoma .....................
9, i27
14, 119
20,397
29,325
892
725
I, 737
7,671
3,729
Oregon .........................
Pennsylvania ... _........ _.....
Rhode Island .. ·······-········
South Carolina.
South Dakota ..................
4,949
18,537
671
10,002
18,780
430
2,217
35
I, 138
1,303
9,639
49,488
110
11,699
11, 193
Tennessee .............. __ ... ___
Texas ..........................
5,127
7,686
I, 208
64. 489
Vermont .•.....................
Virginia ....... _.. _.. _. . .......
34. 600
31,836
4,811
1,628
7,602
Washington ...... . .. . . ........
West \'irglnla. _...... _.........
Wti;consin ......................
Wyoming ......................
11, 782
Ill, 514
22,889
3,855
Utah .......... . ................
4,214
22,
774
---------- --
1, 1114
t, 344
3, 58i
99
-----------37
268
59
86
1,010
55
· 144
-----------715
677
3, 178
222
1,464
110
199
192
488
38
659
34, o\31
12,546
3, !!03
13,635
11
162
542
325
213
!07
838
1,030
1,693
1,046
I, :146
30,1!94
211,814
19,229
4. 075
68
97
85
21
495
I, 567
52.i
92
584
511
683
673
29
:126
~
390
~
3
4
22
2li
f,0
4
165
647
57
II
29
493
'M3"
113
JOO
105
240
44
132
43
60
000
131
56
~44
51
30
Ill
39
113
187
33
426
128
2, 793
128
388
34
I, 49!,
789
50\J
I, 132
1,309
5. .j98
467
70i
3,998
527
576
9i
139
/i59
125
1198
21\4
249
846
2, 178
23
15-1
54
405
1,231
56
I, 267
373
408
2,058
339
I, 778
379
R8
3,;7
34
72
107
226
14
1,:115
54
300
89
140
369
I, 24ij
400
40
99
1,606
625
345
1,099
85
189
30
15
34
321
582
161
30
237
744
I, 198
4211
I, 841
252
1114
fiO!!
26
452
35
J!iM
450
Ill
994
1,516
214
221
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24
i6
II
3:l
7
21
15
18
!18
26
3
8
:i8
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ii
18
136
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE XVIJI.-SELECTED ITEMS oF PHYSICAL AccoMPLISHMENT ON CoNBTRUCTION PROJECTS
OPERATED BY WPA, BY STATE-Concluded
CUMULATIVII THROUGH JUNE
30, 1943
Public utilities an<! sanitation
Airport facilities
Numher or landinK
llelds
Number
or utility
ple.nts
(newan<I
improved)
Miles or
water
mains end
dlstrlbulion lines
(new constructlon)
Miles or
storm end
sanitary
sewers
(new con•
struclion)
Number
or sanitary
privies
(new construclion)
United States_. __________
4,049
UI, 121
24,271
2,309,239
484
469
4,762,884
Alabama _______________ -----_ ..
188
162
386
14
89,913
56,555
9,800
62
96
3
I, 198
279
I, 108
34,988
23,362
63,808
20,741
31,991
17
3
California.···--···-·--·----- ..
Colorado_··----····- .. --- . -- _..
40
24
27
184
78
5
39
7
Connecticut .. _·-·---·-··· .... __
Delaware ..... _.···-_._ ... . .. _..
District or Columbia ... _. ______
Florida ________________ - ----. - ..
Georgia. _______ ----------·· ____
33
12
6
31
65
M
262
60
Idaho._-------·--------·
Illinois _____ . ________ ..--__---. ____
.Indiana_
- - ·-- -----.. -·--- -. - -Iowa
__________
, ________________
State
Arizona_. ___________ ... __ ._ ....
Arkansas .. _____________________
Kansas----····-·-··-----···---.
Kentucky ______________________
43
66
2M
49
224
12/i
367
67
3,M8
-----------32,MS
364
492
56, 9113
49
204
230
863
245
119
1.841
575
299
162
19,020
68,462
100,614
11,247
63,082
65,658
60,848
89
114
IM
2114
62/i
ReconNew construction
Xewconstructlon
or Improve- struction
and
ment
additions
19
12
15
-----------3
63
24
6
5
4
4
4
128
271
63
124
686
11()2
Loulalana_
----- ---··-- ·--- ·---.
Maine
__________________________
Maryle.nd .. -···-- _____ . ________
Massachusetta. __ . ____________ .
65
82
1
39
73
Michigan_. - -----···-·- -- . ---· Minnesota. ______ -·-··------ --Mlsslssifpl.. ______ ----·-- -- . --Mlssour ······-··----···---·--Montana
______________ . __ . __ - _.
184
186
57
105
37
699
- --3!i0
1..489
775
240
7
3118
264
120
684
133
183,651
8,902
17.146
13
6
8
Nebraska ...... _.-··· __ ···-- ___
Nevada .. _.. ___________________
New Hampshire .. "••---------·
New Jersey .. _________________ .
New Mexico. _ ----------------
133
10
14
150
44
2114
391
28
147
827
248
38,328
3,682
8
33
34, 2211
19,410
3
4
4
6
New York.----------···---·--North Carolina .... __ . . __ -· ... __
North___________________________
Dakota. ___ ... ----·-··--ObJo
266
142
1-,646
839
153. 748
32,101
69,796
13
18
1
Oklahoma. ______ -----------·-·
1:.16
1, :124.
411()
87
8311
413
22
346
163
7
69
61
696
21
232
138
14
83
IN
656
33
4
25
489
48
357
66
Oregon .. __ ... ____ . _______ ......
Pennsylvania. ----------···-·
Rhode Island. __ ... ___ . . __ .....
South Carolina_ ....... __ . . . __ . .
South Dakota .. -·---------·-·-Tenneseee. __ ..
Texas_. _______ .:::::::: : : :_: : ::
Utah ___________________________
Vermont .... ___ . ______________ .
Virginia_._ .... _. _______ .. . ___ ..
~::~~r~::::::::::::::::::
Wisconsin ________________ . _____
Wyoming ______________________
91
2M
24
162
23
34
46
262
117
606
87
186
933
921
151
72li
83
2,164
287
85
1,319
184
340
115
---·-------13,232
183
Linear feet of runways
2
6
25
4
II
31
4
g
4
8
2
6
4
3
8
48
12
11
4
14
7
2
4
8
2
26
struction
struction
or improveend
ment •
additions
Rooonstructlon
or improvement
1. 161. 741
1,366
2,817
900
50
6
9
210
31
211
3
1
3811
116
Reoon•
66,571
87, 757
76,MII
42,347
63,073
51,470
39,356
203,215
22,400
71,785
153,173
76,386
68,072
56,916
87, ll40
6,700
13,738
12.1, 591
24,300
1
3
1
6,246
6
13
20.
34
15,650
7U68
-----------M, 711()
M,697
26,600
11,850
8,000
19,087
34,900
2
12
15
11
124, 4415
11
3
311
70,606
307,823
77,130
34,840
32,062
3,650
116, 11()2
15,288
11,650
141,673
27,750
109, 749
42,310
16,911()
7,300
42, SOIi
34,110
22
158
1,040
346
57
235,666
75,421
28,932
7
6
4
7
333
3
135,066
11
7
777
84
417
370
308
1.051
49
15
2
8
3
18
2
9
78
18, 2li8
242,093
19,696
6,288
111
4
94, 6211
M -·113
15
~
1
19
2
JI
g
7
4,800
32,621
41,468
42,106
II
8 ---------liOl
33
8
llO
3
- -----·-1
13
4
4
128,869
194,894
10,300
7
17,067
62,777
16
122,932
38,818
14
6
7
18
7
94
7
6
49
11,400
4
2
44
------------
1
-----------19,455
2li
13
2li
31
6
I
16
37,485
Google
8
1
-·········56
2
258
8
3
68
3
4
53
------------8
6
2
7117
fi
1
16
28
8
1
10
5
----------·-
• Inoludes surfacinir.
Digitized by
41
1
H
13
8
3
4
114,644
2li
16
- - -- 219
32, 811()
34,436
76,503
12,200
7,296
11
1
10
8
377
----------------------10,913
26,900
40,700
lill,628
Ill, 1142
COD•
2
---------36-
4,300
3,068
7,181
23,100
291,680
130,460
36,123
80,832
82,480
4
New
24,996 -----------279,873
78,460
IN, 6611
24,680
83,776
10
1 -----------32,668
2
413. 5211
37
134,780
4
-----------7
Number of airport
buildings
2
4
INDEX
(Excluding tables and charts, which are listed in table of contents and appendix)
Accessions to WP A projects, 32--33.
Accomplishments, physical, 50-51, 65, 67, 68.
War projects, 85-87.
Administration of the WPA:
Central administration, 10, 11-12.
Commissioners of Work Projects, 10.
District offices, 10, 11, 13-14.
Lines of administrative control and supervision, 14.
Project organization, 14.
Regional offices, 10, 11, 12.
State administrations, 10, 11, 12--13.
Administrative employees, 11.
Administrative expenses, 11, 98, 99-100.
Adult education program, 60-61.
Advisory Commission to the Council of National Defense,
91, 92.
Advisory Committee on Allotments, 7.
Age of WPA workers, 41, 42-43.
Agriculture, Department of, 5, 15, 33, 48, 86, 93.
See also individual bureaus of.
Air Commerce, Bureau of, 10, 51.
Airport and airway projects:
Accomplishments on, 51, 85.
Employment on, 47, 88.
Expenditures on, 89, 101.
Hours of work on, 26.
Procedures and policies for, 51.
Sponsors' participation in, 35.
Airport servicemen training project, 91, 92.
Aliens, statutory provisions concerning, 17, 82.
Allocation of WP A funds, 10, 98.
American Historical Association, 67.
American Red Cross, 2, 72, 75.
Appropriations, 94, 98.
Armory projects, 52.
Art projects, 64-65, 87.
Arts program, 60, 63.
Assigned occupation of WPA workers, 39-41.
Assignments to WPA projects:
Awaiting assignment, 19.
Number of, 32-33.
Procedure in making, 20.
Statutory provisions concerning, 20-21.
Attorney General, Office of the, 82.
Baird, Enid, 3.
Benefits, average general relief, 3.
Blind, aid to the, 6, 18.
Blind persons, provisions concerning, 18, 22.
Bridges, viaducts, and culverts, 53.
Brinton, Hugh P., 3.
Budget and fund control, 94-96.
Budgetary deficiency, 3, 4, 5, 16, 23.
Bureau of Accounts, Treasury Department, 78.
Bureau of the Budget, 7, 15, 66, 78, 80, 94, 98.
Bureau of Mines, United States, 72, 75.
Bureau of Standards, National, 72.
Canning and gardening projects, 68.
Ca.sh relief, 3.
Categorical relief, development of, 1.
Census Bureau, 66.
Central administration, The, responsibilities of, 11-12.
Central Statistical Board, 66.
Certification of workers for WPA employment, 16, 18-19.
Children, a.id to dependent, 6, 18.
Civil Aeronautics Administration, 48, 51, 56, 92.
Civil Aeronautics Authority, 10, 85.
Civil Service Commission, 82, 93.
Civil Works Administration, 2, 3, 55, 59, 65, 71, 72, 73, 74,
76, 81.
Average earnings, 4.
Creation of, 3.
Employment, 3.
Expenditures, 4.
Operation of, 4.
Projects, 4.
Safety program under, 71-72, 76.
Wage policy, 4, 5.
Coast Guard, United States, 52.
Colcord, Joanna C., 1.
College student a.id program, 5.
Commerce, Department of, 51.
Communists, sta.tutory•provisions concerning, 17, 81, 82.
Conservation projects:
Accomplishments on, 53-54.
Employment on, 47.
Construction projects:
Accomplishments on, 50-51, 85-86.
Employment on, 34-35, 44, 88.
Expenditures on, 89, 101-102.
Materials, supplies, and equipment for, 49-50.
N onla.bor costs of, 50.
Operation of, 49.
Planning of, 48-49.
Sponsorship of, 9-10, 48, 49-50.
Training on, 48.
Types of, 47-48, 50-55.
See also individual types of projects.
Costs. (See Expenditures.)
Cotton Stabilization Corporation, 2.
Defense projects. (See War projects.)
Deficiency appropriations, 15, 91.
Dependent children, a.id to, 6, 18.
Direct relief benefits, 5.
137
72764&-47--10
Digitized by
Google
138
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
Disaster emergency activities, 54-55.
Disbursements, Division of, Treasury Department, 94.
District offices, responsibilities of, 11, 13-14.
Dryden, Francis H., 10.
Earnings of project workers:
Adequacy of, 26-28.
Amount of, 26-27.
Average hourly, 27.
Exemptions from schedule, 25-26.
Schedule of, 23-24, 26, 27.
Education program, emergency, 5.
Education, United States Office of, 10, 60, 87, 91, 92.
Educational services, 60-62, 87.
Eighteen-month employment provision, 21, 29, 32, 33, 41.
Eligibility requirements for employment on WPA projects:
Age, 18.
Congressional restrictions on, 17.
Employability, 16-17.
Exclusion of persons in penal institutions, 18.
Need, 16. ·
Registration with USES, 17.
.
Relinquishment of social security benefits, 17-18.
Residence, 18.
·
Emergency Committee for Employment, President's, 2.
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, 7, 10, 17, 77,
94, 98.
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1936, 10, 17, 98.
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1937, 10, 17, 20,
21, 77, 78, 98, 100.
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1938, 10, 21, 22,
90, 98.
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1939, 9, 11, 16, 17,
20, 21, 25, 63, 95, 98, 100.
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1941, 17,
18, 21, 82, 100.
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1942, 10,
21, 82, 98.
Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1943, 10,
21, 62, 98.
Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932, 2.
Employability of WPA workers, 41-42.
Employees' Compensation Commission, United States, 72,
75.
Employment:
Administrative personnel, 11.
Age requirements for, 18.
Assignments to WPA projects, number of, 32-33.
Average monthly, 29, 30, 42.
Conditions of, 1~26.
Congressional restrictions on, 17.
Geographic distribution of, 36-37.
Hours of work, 23, 24, 25, 30, 96.
Of Negroes, 41, 45.
Of persons certified as in need of re-lief, 16.
Policies and procedures:
Assignment, 19, 20-21, 72.
Certification and referral, 16, 18--19.
Eighteen-month provision, 21.
Eligibility, 15-18.
Labor relations, 21-22.
· Limitation of employment, 17.
Employment-Continued
Private, increase in, 29, 30.
Relation to unemployment, 30.
Residence requirement for, 18.
Separations from WPA projects, 21, 30.
By size of community, 35.
Total number of different workers for the 8-year
period, 30.
Trend of, 2HO.
Turnover, 3o-33.
By types of projects, 34-36, 47-48, 71-72.
Under the Works Program, 7-8.
On vocational training projects, 35, 88, 92.
By wage classes, 37-39.
On war projects, 88.
Of women, 41, 42, 44-45.
On WP A projects operated by other Federal agencies,
10, 33-34.
Employment, Division of:
Functions, 12.
Organization, 46-47.
Employment Service, United States, 17, 19, 20.
Engineer Office, United States, 48.
Engineering and Construction, Division of:
Functions, 11.
Liquidation problems of, 58.
Organization, 55-58.
Engineering and construction projects. (See Construction
projects.)
Engineering survey projects, 54.
Entomology and Plant Quarantine, Bureau of, 33.
Equipment, rental of, 4~50, 77, 95, 97, 101.
Executive order, 7, 23, 73, 77, 94.
Expenditures:
Administrative, 11, 98, 9~100.
FERA relief program~ 6.
Labor, 101, 102.
By man-years of employment, 102-103.
Nonlabor, 77, 101.
Objects of, 98, 101.
Property damage claims, 98.
Sponsors', 77, 89, 100, 101, 102.
Total, 100.
Trend of, 99.
By types of projects, 101-102.
On war projects, 89, 102.
On WP A projects operated by other Federal
agencies, 98.
Year ending June 30, 1939, 99.
Year ending June 30, 1943, 99.
Families of WP A workers, 46.
Farm Security Administration, 37, 45.
Farmers and farm workers on WP A rolls, 45.
Farm-to-market and other access roads, WP A work on, 53.
Federal agencies:
Allocation of WP A funds to, 10, 98.
Employment on WPA projects operated by, 10, 33-34.
Expenditures of WPA funds, 98.
Federal Bureau of Investigation, 81, 82, 83.
Federal Communicatfons Commission, 90.
Federal Emergency Relief Act of 1933, 2.
Digitized by
Google
139
INDEX
Federal Emergency Relief Administration:
Accomplishments, 5.
Aims and objectives of, 2-3.
Adult education projects under, 60-61.
Appraisal of, 6.
Cases, relief, 6.
Cash relief, 3.
Categorical relief under, 1.
College student aid, 5.
Creation of, 2.
Division of Special Inquiry of, 81.
Earnings of workers on work relief projects, 5, 23.
Education program, emergency, 5.
Employment on work relief projects, 4.
Expenditures, 5, 6.
Grants, 2-3, 6.
Safety program under, 72-73, 74-75.
Sponsors of work relief projects, 4 .
Work relief program, 4.
Work relief projects, 4, 5.
Federal Farm Board, 2.
Federal Project No. 1, 63.
Federal Security Agency, 15.
Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, 5.
Federal Surplus Relief Corporation, 5.
Feqeral Works Administrator, 16.
Federal Works Agency, 7, 14-15, 58, 80, 83.
Feeding projects, 35, 68.
Field, George H ., 10.
Finance activities of the WPA, administration of, 94-98.
Budget and fund control, 94-96.
Project timekeeping, 96.
Vouchers, preparation of, 97.
Workmen's compensation, 97-98.
Finance, Division of: .
Functions, 11-12.
Organization, 103.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 33.
Fleming, Maj. Gen. Philip B. , 10.
Foremen and supervisors on WP A projects , 48.
Forest Service, 33.
Fort Snelling, Minn., 86.
Funds :
Allocation of WP A funds, 98.
Appropriated for WP A activities, 98.
See alao Expenditures.
Gardening and canning projects, 68.
General Accounting Office, 98, 103.
Geographic distribution of WPA employment , 36-37.
Grain Stabilization Corporation, 2.
Grant system for operating relief program , 8.
Harrington, Col. Francis C., 10, 55.
Hatch Act, 81.
Hayes, E. P., 2.
Highway, road, and street projects:
Accomplishments on, 50, 53, 85.
Employment on, 35, 36, 39, 47-48, 88.
Expenditures on, 89, 101.
Hours of work on, 26.
Of importance for defense and war purpo,;es , 85.
Historical records survey, 67.
Hopkins, Harry L., 6, 10.
HO!lpital aide projects, 70, 91, 93.
Hospital building projects, 52.
Hours worked on projects:
Exemptions from statutory provisions, 84.
By man-months, 26, 30.
Number of, 24, 25, 30, 96.
Statutory provisions concerning, 23, 24, 25.
Household workers' training projects, 90.
Housekeeping aide projects, 69, 87.
Howard, Donald S., 16.
Hunter, Howard 0., 10.
Immigration and Naturalization Service, 61, 82.
Information, Division of, 12.
In-plant preemployment training, 87, 90-91, 92.
1-;tergovernmental relationships under the WP A program, 8.
Interior, Department of the, 33.
Investigation, Division of:
Establishment of, 81.
Functions, 81-82.
Organization, 12, 83.
Joint Committee on Materials for Research, 67.
Labor, expenditures for, 101, 102.
Labor Management, Division of, 73.
Labor relations, 21-22.
Labor turn-over on WP A projects, 30-33.
Legal Division, 12.
Legislation concerning the WPA. (See Executive orders
and various ERA acts.)
Library of Congress, 62, 64, 67, 70.
Library projects, 62.
Liquidation of the WPA, 15, 30, 58, 60, 62, 80, 88, 93, 98, 99.
Local poor relief, 1.
Local public relief agencies, 2-3, 4, 8-9.
Management or Administration , Division of, 12.
Marine Corps, United States, 52.
Maritime Commission, 52.
Materials, supplies, and equipment:
Purchase of, 49-50, 77-80, 95, 101.
Sale of, 77-80, 98.
Military and naval establishments, projects at, 85-86, 88.
Municipal engineering projects, 50-51.
Museum projects, 63.
Music projects, 60, 63-64, 87.
National Archives, 67, 70.
National Emergency Council, 7, 55.
National Guard, 84.
National Park Service, 33, 50.
National Safety Council, 72, 76.
National Youth Administration, 5, 6, 14- 15.
Navy, Department of the:
Employment on WPA projects operated by, 33.
Projects undertaken for, 51, 52.
Secretary's certification of defense and war projects for
operation by WPA, 36, 84.
D1g1t1zed by
Goog Ie
140
FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAM
Nazi Bund members, statutory provisions concerning, 17,
81, 82.
Need:
Based on budgetary deficiency principle, 16.
Certification of, as requirement for project employment, 16.
Means test, 16.
Periodic investigation of, 16.
Negroes, employment of, on WPA projects, 41, 45.
N onconstruction projects. (See Service projects; Vocational training; and individual types of projects.)
Nonla.bor expenditures:
Amounts of, 50, 77, 101.
Statutory provisions concerning, 78.
Nursery schools, 62, 87.
Occupational classification of WPA workers, 19-20, 39-41.
Office of Price Administration, 86.
Office of Production Management, 91.
Old-age assistance, 6, 18.
Organization of the WP A:
Intergovernmental relationships under, 8.
Other Federal agencies, 10.
Sponsors of projects, 9-10.
State and local relief agencies, 8-9.
Under the Works Program, 7-8.
Other goods projects, 68.
Physical accomplishments. (See Accomplishments, physical; individual types of projects; War projects.)
Placement activities of the WP A, 93.
Poor relief, local. (See local poor relief.)
President, The, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 18, 77, 94, 98.
(See also Executive orders.)
Procurement Division, Treasury Department, 8, 56, 77,
78, 79, 80, 82, 86, 95, 97.
Project Control, Division of, 56.
Project organization, 14.
Projects:
Accomplishments, physical, 50-51, 65, 67, 68, 85-87.
Approval procedure, 9-10, 48.
Defense and war, priority of, 84.
Eligibility of, 9.
Expenditures on, 89, 98-103.
Federal agency, financed with WPA funds, 10.
Operation of, 49.
Planning of, 48-50.
Sponsorship of, 9-10.
Statutory provisions relating to, 9.
(See also Employment; Expenditures; individual types
of projects; Sponsors; War projects.)
Project supervisory employees, 37.
Property damage claims, 98.
Public activities projects. (See Educational services;
Recreational services; Art, Music, and Writing projects,
etc.)
Public Buildings Administration, 15.
Public buildings projects:
Accomplishments on, 52.
Employment on, 39, 47, 88.
Expenditures on, 89.
Hours of work on, 26.
Of importance for defense and war purposes, 51-52.
Public health projects, 35, 69-70, 87.
Public Health Service, United States, 10, 48, 60, 66, 70,
72, 84.
Public records projects, 66-67.
Public Roads Administration, 15.
Public utility projects:
Accomplishments on, 50-51, 86.
Employment on, 47.
Expenditures on, 89.
Of importance for defense and war purposes, 15.
Public Works Administration, 3, 15, 81.
Public Work Reserve, 56.
Puerto Rico, 12, 30.
Quartermaster Corps, 33.
Railroad Retirement Boa.rd, 93.
Reconstruction Finance Corporation, 2, 86.
Recreational facility projects:
Accomplishments on, 50, 52.
Employment on, 47.
Recreational services, 62-63, 87.
Referral and certification of workers for employment, 16,
18-19.
Regional offices, responsibilities of, 12.
Relief. (See Benefits, a. verage genera.I relief; Blind, aid
to; Children, dependent, a.id to; Direct relief benefits;
Old-age assistance; Workers, referral and certification of.)
Relief, categorical, I.
•
Rental of equipment, 49-50, 59, 95, 97, 101.
Reorganization Plan No. 1, 7, 15.
Research and records projects, 59, 60, 65-66.
Research assistance projects, 66.
Research, Division of, 12. ·
Reserve Officers Training Corps, 84.
Resettlement Administration, 5.
Rural rehabilitation program, 5.
Safety program:
Under the CWA, 71-72, 76.
Under the FERA, 72-73.
Under the WPA, 73-76.
Salvage activities of the WPA, 58, 86-87.
Sanitation projects, 47, 51, 85.
Schedule of monthly earnings, 23-24, 26, 27.
School buildings, 52.
School lunch projects, 68, 87.
Sepa.r~tions of workers from WPA projects, 21, 30.
Service projects:
Accomplishments on, 62, 67, 68, 87.
Classification and assignment of workers on, 59.
Demonstration policy on, 60.
Employment on, 35, 88.
Expenditures on, 89, 101-102.
Sponsorship of, 10, 60.
Training on, 59-60.
Types of, 59, 60-70.
Service Projects, Division of:
Functions, 11.
Organization, 70-71.
Sewer system projects. (See Public utility projects.)
Sewing projects, 35, 44, 67-68, 87.
Smithsonian Institution, 67.
Socia.I and economic surveys and studies, 66.
'
Socia.I Securit.y Act, 6, 18.
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INDEX
Social security benefits, relinquishment of, 17-18.
Social Security Board, 6, 42. '
Soil Conservation Service, 33.
Sponsors:
Contributions, 9, 95.
Expenditures on projects operated by WPA, 77, 89,
100, 101, 102.
Of FERA work relief project~, 4.
Participation in initiation and prm,ecution of project;;,
9--10, ·48, 60, 95--96, 100, 101.
Statutory provisions on contributions of, 100.
Twenty-five percent provision, 9, 95, 100.
Types of agencies acting as, 9.
State administrations, responsibilities of, 12-13.
State emergency relief administrations, 2, 8.
Statistics, Division of, 12.
Supply Section, 56, 78, 79.
Surplus commodities, distribution of, 69.
Surplus fund of the Treasury, 98.
Surplus Marketing Administration, 6.
Surplus property of the WP A, 80.
Theater projects, 60, 63, 65.
Timekeepers, project, 96.
Training and Reemployment, Division of:
Functions, 11.
Organization, 93.
'Training of WPA workers, 23, 48, 59--60.
Training of WP A workers for defense and war industries.
(See Vocational training.)
Transient relief, 5--6.
Treaimry, Department of the, 8, 80, 86, 94, 95, 98.
Turno\'er, labor, on WP A projects, 30-33.
Unemployment, relation of WPA employment to, 30.
Fnemployment relief, 1-3.
Unemployment Relief, President's Organization 011, 2.
United States Employment Service, 15, 17, 20, 46, 75, 76,
93, 97, 98.
United States Housing Authority, 1.5.
l'nited States Public Health Service, 10, 48, 60, 66, 70, 72,
84.
Usual occupations of WPA worker11, 39--41, 4.5, 47-48.
Veterans, employment of, 21:
Virgin Islands, 30.
Vocational training:
For airport sen·iremen, 87, 91, 92.
In auxiliary shops, 92.
For defense and war purposes, 90-92, 93.
Eligibility for, 91, 92, 93.
Employment on projects for, 35, SS.
Expenditures for, 89, 101- 102.
Foremanship, 48, 90.
For handicapped persons, 92.
Hours of work on, 25-26.
For household workers, 90.
In-plant preemplo~·rnent training under, 86, 90, 91, 92.
For nonprofessional hospital workers, 91, 93.
Number of trainrws, 90, 91, 92.
Occupations for whkh trnining was i;:ivrn, 90, 91, !12, 0:1.
Rponsors, 91.
Vocational training-· -Continued
Statutory pro\'isions for. 90, 91.
Types of, 90, 91, 92, 93.
Under adult education program, 90.
For women, 92.
Vouchers, preparation of, 97.
\Yage rate::l:
Exemptions from regnlar scherlnle of monthly earnings, 25--26.
Increase,s in, 26.
:\lonthly 11ched1tle, 23-24, 26, 27.
Preyailing rate policy, 24, 2,'l.
Security wage, 23--24.
Statutory provisionH concer11in11:, 24-25.
War Department:
Corps of Engineers, 55, 78.
Employment on WP A projects operate<l by, 33.
Projects un<lertake11 for, 51, 52.
Quartermai,ter Corps, 34.
Secretary's certification of defense and war projects
for operation by WP A, 36, 84.
War Production Board, 86, 87, 91.
War projec~:
Accomplishmen~ on, 84-87.
Certification of by the War and Navy Depat1,ments,
25, 36, 84.
Employment on, 35, 88.
Exemptions from statutory provisionR, 25, 84, 85, 100.
Expenditures on, 89, 102.
Priority of, 84.
Statutory provisions concerning, 84.
Types of, 84--87.
For Yocational training, 87, 90-92, 93.
Water supply system projectR. (See Public utility projects.)
Webb, Sidney and Beatrice, 1.
Welfare projects:
Accomplishments on, 67-70. 87.
Employment on, 35.
Expenditurt!R on. 101.
,'fre also Gardening and canuing, Hou,-;ekeeping aide.
Hospital aide, Puhlie health, School l1111ch. and
Sewing projects.
Whiting, T. K, 6.
Williams, Edwar<l A., 2.
Woml'll:
Emplo_\'llll't1! of, -11, 42. -13, 44 -l!i.
Vocational !mining for. 92.
Work ramps, ;.aft>ty prohlPms in, 7:,.
WorkPrs:
:\,lminisl ml in•, 1111111lu·r of. 11.
Age of, 41, -12 -t:J.
:\ li1,ns, ('01111111111ist s, l'I c., sl al II I ory pro\' isious eo11ceruing. 17.
Assigned orcupat ion of, 39---11.
Bliud, 18.
Earnings of, 23-24, 26.
Effect of 1 R-mont h provision or,. 41.
Eligibilit~· requirements for \YI':\ Pmplo_vmPnt, lii-18.
Employahility of, 41-42.
Families of. 41\.
Honn; of work, 23, 24, 2.5. :JO.
727640-47-- - --11
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FINAL REPORT ON THE WPA PROGRAl\1
Workers-Continued
Need of, periodic investigation of, 16.
Negroes, 41, 45.
Noncertified, 16.
Number of, employed, 28-30.
Occupational classification of, 19-20, 39-41.
Professional and technical, 37.
Project supervisory, 37.
Referral and certificat.ion of, 16, 18---19.
Rights of, 22.
Semiskilled, 37, 40-41, 47.
Se,i: of, 41.
Skilled, 37, 40-41, 47.
Total number for the eight-year period, 30.
Training, 23, 48, 59-60.
Training, vocational, for defense and war industrie~.
87, 90-92, 93.
Training, vocational, other, 90.
Workers-Continued
Unskilled, 37, 39, 40-41, 47.
Usual occupations of, 39-41, 45, 47-48.
Veterans, employment provisions concerning, 21.
Vocational training for, 90-93.
Wage classes, 37-39.
Women, 41, 42, 43, 44-45.
In work camps, 24, 75.
Workers' Alliance of America, 22.
Workmen's compensation, 97-98.
Works Program, 7-8.
Works Progress Administration:
Change in title of, 7.
Creation of, 7.
Purpose of, 7.
Writers' projects, 60, 63, 65.
Yards and Docks, Bureau of, 33.
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APPENDIX B: PUBLICATIONS OF THE WPA
During the 8-year period of the WP A program, there were issued many publications giving information on the work of the program and related information. These included statistical reports on
WPA employment, expenditures, and accomplishments; reports on surveys made of relief workers; and
general information on various phases of the WP A program. Considerable research was conducted
concerning socioeconomic conditions throughout the country. The results of these studies were published
in monograph and pamphlet form. A selected list of WPA publications is given below. Reserves of
some of these publications were sent to the Library of Congress and are available for distribution. Copies
of the publications indicated as out of print may be found in most public, State, or college libraries.
Annual and Monthly Publications
*Federal Work and Construction Projects. Issued monthly, October 1938 to June 1942.
*Federal Work Programs and Public Assistance. Issued monthly, July 1939 to June 1942.
*Index of the monthly reports of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, June 1933 through
June 1936. (1937)
*Monthly Report of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. (May 1933 through June 1936)
Report on Progress of the WPA Program. Issued monthly from February to August 1936, * and
thereafter as follows: October and December 1936;* March, June, and December 1937;* June 1938;
June 1939; June 1940; June 1941; and June 1942.
*WPA Statistical Bulletin. Issued monthly, March 1939 through June 1942, and September through
,November 1942.
Research Monographs
*I.
*II.
*III.
IV.
*V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
*XII.
V
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXIL
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
Six Rural Problem Areas, Relief-Resources-Rehabilitation. (1935)
Comparative Study of Rural Relief and Non-Relief Households. (1935)
The Transient Unemployed. (1935)
Urban Workers on Relief:
Part I-The Occupational Characteristics of Workers on Relief in Urban Areas,
May 1934. (1936)
Part II-The Occupational Characteristics of Workers on Relief in 79 Cities,
May 1934. (1936)
Landlord and Tenant on the Cotton Plantation. (1936)
Chronology of Federal Emergency Relief Administration, May 12, 1933 to December 31, 1935.
(1937)
The Migratory-Casual Worker. (1937)
Farmers on Relief and Rehabilitation. (1937)
Part-Time Farming in the Southeast. (1937)
Trends in Relief Expenditures, 1910--1935. (1937)
Rural Youth on Relief. (1937)
Intercity Differences in Cost of Living in March 1935, 59 Cities. (1937)
Effects of the Works Program on Rural Relief. (1938)
Changing Aspects of Rural Relief. (1938)
Rural Youth: Their Situation and Prospects. (1938)
Farming Haz&rds in the Drought Arca. (1938)
Rural Families on Relief. (1938)
Migrant Families. (1938)
Rural Migration in the United States. (1939)
State Public Welfare Legislation. (1939)
Youth in Agricultural Villages: (1940)
The Plantatiou South, 1934-1937. (1940)
Seven Strauded Coal Towni;. (1941)
Federal Work, Security, and Relief Programs. (1941)
Vocatioual Training and Employment of Youth. (1942)
Getting Starter!: Urban Youth in the Labor Market. ( I 943)
•out of print.
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144
J<'JKAI, HEPOHT ON THE WPA PRUOHAM
Pamphlets
l)pprrssion Pioneers. (1939)
Facts About l:nemployment. (1940)
'.\ational Defense and the WPA. (1941)
On Hclief, :\fay 1935. (1935)
The Plantation South Today. (1940)
Public Health and the WPA. (1940)
Public Roads and the WPA. (1940)
Que,4ions and Answers on the WPA. (1939)
Hural Poverty. (1938)
Rural Relief a11d Recovery. ( 1939)
Rural Youth. (1939)
Thirty Tho11,-,an<i l;rban Youth. (1940)
Work, Relief, and Security. (1941)
Youth on Relief. (1936)
Special Reports
Age of WPA Workers, Ko,·cmbcr 1937. (1938)
Analysis of Civil Works Program Htatistics. (1939)
Areas of Intense Drought Distress, 1930-1936. (1937)
A vcrage General Relief Bcncfi ts, 1933-1938. (1940)
Changing Aspects of Urban Relief. (1939)
Community Recreation Programs, February 1940. (1940)
Final Stati:;tical Report of the FERA. (1942)
Five Years of Rural Relief. (1938)
Former Relief Cases in Prh•ate Empl•iymcnt. (1939)
•Hourly Wage Ratp,-, for WPA a11d for Private and Other Public Construction, 1938, Selected Occupat ious. ( 1939)
Legislative Tre11cls in Public Relief aud A:-sistance. (1936)
•Leisure-Time Leader:-hip: WP A Recreation Projects. (1938)
Mexican :Migratory Worker,-: of South Texas. (1941)
Migratory Cotton Pickers in Arizona. (1939)
The Pecan Shellers of San Antonio. (1940)
The People of the Drought States. (1937)
Relief and Hehabilitatiou in the Drought Area. (1937)
Rural Hcgions of the Uuited States. (1940)
Summary of Relief and Work Program Statistics, 1933-1940. (1941)
Survey of Cases Certified for Work,-; Program Employment in 13 Cities. (1937)
* A Sun·l'y of Hrlief am! f4pc11rit_v Program~. ( 1!l:38)
A Sun•p~- of the Tran,-,i1•11t allfl llonu,Jp,-,s Pop11lat io11 in 12 ( 'itiP:<, SPpfemhPr l!l3.'i and SeptPmbrr 1!!36.
(193i)
Survey or \VorkPrs 1--Pparnt,•d from WI' A E111ploymP11t in Eight Area." During th£' Se<'orul fJ11artrr of
1936. ( 1937)
Sun•py or Work,•rs SpparatPd from WP.\ Employmrnt in ~ine Area.... , 1937. (1938)
tTrban llo111<i11~: A Summary of lfoal PropNty lunntorics Condnctrd a.~ Work ProjC'<'ts, l!l34-l!l3fi.
(1938)
l:snal Occ11pat.io11s of Workers Eligible for \Yorks Program Employmeut in thP l·nitcd States, January 15, 1936. (1937)
Worker" on Relief in the United States in '.\larch 1935:
Volume I-A C'Pnsus of l'sual Occ11pations. (1938)
Vol11me II-Study of Industrial and Educational Backgrounds. (1939)
•out or print.
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APPENDIX B: PUBLICATIONS 01'' THE WPA
Miscellaneous Reports
*Age of Persons From Relief Rolls Employed on WPA Projects in June 1936. (1937)
*Assigned Occupations of Persons Employed on WPA Projects, November 1937. (1939)
*Construction Expenditures and Employment, 1925-1936. (1937)
•Construction Expenditures and Employment, 1937 compared with 1936. (1938)
Construction Expenditures and Employment, 1936-1938. (1939)
Construction Expenditures and Employment, 1936-1939. (1940)
Construction Expenditures a_nd Employment, 1936-1940. (1941)
Digest of State Legislation for the Financing of Emergency Relief, January l, 1931-June 30, 1935,
(1935)
*Employment on Projects in March 1936, WPA, Including NYA. (1936)
Family Unemployment.: An Analysis of Unemployment in Terms of Family Units. (1940)
General Relief Statistics for the Fifteen-Month Period, January 1936 through March 1937. (1938)
*Local Wage Rates for Selected Occupations in Public and Private Construction, 1936. (1937)
Physical Accomplishments on WPA Projects: Through June 30, 1940, United States and State Summaries. (1940)
·
*Price Dispersion and Industrial Activity, 1928-1938. (1939)
•Seasonal Employment in Agriculture. (1938)
*The Skill of Brick and Stone Masons, Carpenters, and Painters Employed on Works Progress Administration Projects in Seven Cities in January 1937. (1937)
*Statistical Summary of Emergency Relief Activities, January 1933 through December 1935. (1937)
Studies and reports (67) of the WPA National Research Project on Reemployment Opportunities and
Recent Changes in Industrial Techniques. This project was organized in December 1935 to inquire,
with the cooperation of industry, labor, and governmental and private agencies, into the extent of
recent changes in industrial techniques and to evaluate the effects of these changes in the volume of
employment and unemployment.
*Unemployment in the United States. (1936)
Catalogue of Research and Statistical Publications. (November 1941)
Index of Research Projects:
Volume I. (1938)
*Volume II. (1939)
Volume III. (1939)
•out or print.
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