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REPORT ON
PROGRESS OF
THE WPA PROGRA
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JUNE 30, 1939
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FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION
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FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
REPORT ON
PROGRESS OF
THE WPA PROGRAM
JUNE 30, 1939
WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION
F. C. HARRINGTON, Commissioner
CORRINGTON GILL, Assistant Commissioner
EMERSON ROSS, Director, Division of Statistics
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
FEDERAL "'ORKS AGEX<1Y
WORK PR0,11<:CTS AD'.\11'.\ISTIL\TIOX
\\'.\sl!ING'l'ON,
D. C.,
lh;cEI\IBER
15, 1939
'.\h· DEAH '.\In. PRESIDENT:
I ha VP tlH• honor to trnnsmi t h<•n•with tlw Rf port 011 l'rogrf88 ,!f the
H'PA Program for tlw _vpar !'!Hling ,IIIIH' :rn. I n:rn. TIH· l"!'J)Ort suppli!'S
detailed infornwtion 011 thP projPct aceomplishnwnts n•:-rnlting from
WPA work, tlw kinds of projPcts op<•rnlPd, Lh<• Pmplo_vnwnt providPd
by thr \VP.A, nnd tlw funds <'X[><'IHIP<l.
In ('OVPl"ing th<• .nar (•11di11g ,111111• :rn. 19:~n, th(• l"PJ)Ol"t ch•als with a
period dming whiC'h \YPA OJH•rntions W<'I"<' eonductpd 011 an PxpandPd
scalP as n rPsult of th<· i-<'V<'l"Pl_v limit Pd opport unitiPs of tht• u1wmployed to find work in the fiPlds of prirntP PlllPrprisc.
HP:-Jwetfull:v.
F. C.
IIAHHINGTON,
Cmnmissioner of H'ork Projfcfs
THE PRESIDENT
The White I101ue
III
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PREFACE
Renamed the Work Projrcts Administration and made a part of
the Federal Works Agency as of ,July 1, 1939, through Reorganization Plan No. 1, the WPA has conti111wd to provide project work for
large numbers of the country's unemployl•d. In covt>ring the period
prior to the reorganization, ibis rPport dPals with tlw activities of
the Works Progrrss Administration, as such, giving particular emphasis to the year ending on June :30, 1939. As many as 0,:rno,OOO
persons were working at the peak of tlw year's activities on projrets
operated with \VP A funds and at the end of ,June I 9;39 a total of
2,550,000 persons were so employed.
This report reviews the activities of the WPA in the light of its
primary responsibility- -that of providing work for the tmemploy(•d
on useful public projects. It summurizrs the projPC·t accomplishments and operations of the WPA, the project Pmploynwnt provided, and the rxpenditures that havl' bel'll made. Tlw provisions
for continuing the WPA program during tlw current fiscal Y<'HI' nrc
outlined in thP second chapter. The fourth and fifth chapkrs nn•
included as illustrations of WPA proj(•ct activities in particular
instances. One reviews the emergency and rehabilitn.tion work that
was done in New 1<:ngland following the September 19:38 hunicn.ne.
The other describes in some detail the normal operations of the
WPA as carried on in four selected areas, indicating the nature of the
accomplishments realized through the prosecution of WPA JH'OjPcts
and the adaptation of WPA activities to local conditions and local
needs. The final chapter discusses the several progrnms proYiding
employment 011 Federa.l work and eonstn1ction prnjPcts and publie
relief; the WPA program is oriented in this :-wtt.ing.
Essential to the preparation of this report has bePn the willing
cooperation provided by the several administmtivl· divisions of tlw
WPA central office and by various of t.lw rPg-io11al and state n11d district offices of the \VP A. The report lms been prepared under the
V
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VI
PREFACE
direction of Emerson Ross, Director of the Division of Statistics; its
development has been an immediate responsibility of Dwight B.
Yntema assisted principally by Alice M. Atwood, Eleanor Neill, and
Wilfred P. Campbell. Among the contributors to the report particular mention must be made of the follow-ing persons in the Division
of Statistics: Malcolm B. Catlin and members of his Operating Statistics Section, who supplied much of the statistical information used
in the report and who also assisted in the development of the related
text, including B. Alden Lillywhite who carried out the preliminar_y
work leading to the Escambia and Portsmouth sections of the fifth
chapter (pages 57 to 75); Howard C. Grieves who assumed responsibility for the first chapter (pages 1-7); and Theodore E. Whiting and
members of his Relief Statistics Section who supplied data for, and
collaborated in the writing of, the tenth chapter (pages 129-152).
Ed ward A. Williams of the Di vision of Research prepared a large
share of the second chapter (pages 8-14). Data on the status and
expenditure of Federal funds have been taken largely from reports
prepared by the Department of the Treasmy, Office of the Commissioner of Accounts and Deposits.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Review of the WPA Program __ _
1
Provisions for the WP A Program During the Fiscal Year 1940 _
8
WPA Project Accomplishments and Operations_____________
15
New England H nrricanc and Floods of September 1938 _ _ _ ___
35
WPA Project Operntions in Selected Areas__________________
45
Employment and Employees under the WPA_______________
89
Financial Summar,L ___ ______ _____ _______ __ ____ ___ _ ____ __ _ 108
Materials, Supplies, and Equipment_ _____________________
116
WP A-Financed Operations of Federal Agencies___ __ _________ 121
Employment on Federal Work and Construction Projects and
Public Relief__ ... __ .. _ __ _ ____ _ __ _ _ __
_ __ __ _ _ _
129
Appendi.x: Tables _______________________ _
153
VII
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LIST OF TEXT TABLES
Page
1. Schedule of Monthly Earnings on WPA-Financcd Projects-Effect.in.>
September 1, 1939 ______________________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2. Number of Work Projects Operated by the WPA, by Types of Projects-as of June 21, 1939_____________________________________
3. Selected Items of Physical Accomplishment on WP A-Operated Construction Projects Completed During the Year Ending June 30,
1939--Highways, Roads, and Streets_______ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
4. Selected Items of Physical Accolllplishment on WP A-Operated Construction Projects Completed Duri111s the Year Ending June 30,
1939-Bridges, Cnh-erts, and Other Road Appnrtenances _____ . _ _
5. Selected Items of Physical Accomplishment 011 \YPA-Operate<l Construction Projects Complctt-d Dnrin1s the Yt>ar Ending June 30,
1939--Public Bnildings____
______________
6. Selected Items of Physical Accomplishment on WP A-Operated Construction Projects Complckd During the Year Ending June 30,
1939-Water Supply and Sanitary and Storm Hewer Facilities _____
7. Selected Items of Physical Accomplishment on WPA-Operated Construction Projects Completed Duri11g the Year Ending June 30,
1939--Miscellaneous Facilities_ _ __ _ _ __ _ _
__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _
8. Selected Items of Physical Accomplishment on WPA-Opcrated Construction Projects -through JnrlP 30, 1938_ ___ _
_ __ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _
9. Selected Items of Physical Accolllplislnncnt on WP A-Operated Nonconstruction Projects -throllgh J nnc 30, 1938 _
_ __ ___ _ __ _ _ _
10. Total Estimated Cost of Projects Approwd by thP Presi<lent under the
ERA Act of 1038 for Operation by thP WP A, by Major Types of
Projects and by Sonrces of Funds-as of J mw 30, 1939 __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
11. Expenditures on WPA-Operated Projects, by Fiscal Years and by
Sources of Fllmls-through June 30, 1939_______________________
12. Expenditures of Federal and Sponsors' Fnn<ls on \VP A-Operated Projects, by Major Types of Proj<•C't.s --Cumulative through, and Year
Ending June 30, 1939
_ __ _ _ ________ . _ _
13. Expenditures on WPA-Operated ProjPcts, by Objt>cts of Expenditure
and by Sources of Funds-Cnmnlat.ive throu1sh, and Year Ending
June 30, 1939 ___ _
__ __ ___ .
14. Value of Products of WPA Goods Projects Distributed to Victims of the
New England Hnrricane, by 8tat<-s-Cumulative through Juul' 30,
1939 ____________ ----15. WPA Expenditures on Emergency and Reconstruction \York in the
New 1,:uglaud Hurricane Arca, by 8tatcs-Cnmulative through June
30, 1939 ________ ---- _ -- _
16. Number of Persous Employed ou WPA Emergency and Recoustruction
Projects iu the N°<•w England Hurricanl' Arca, b~· Statcs-S<•pkmber 28, 1938 to J unc 28, 1939_
_ __ __ _ _ _ _ _
_ ___ __ _ _
17. Number of Persous l•:mployt>d on WPA-Opcrntl'd Projects, by Typt>s of
Projects and by Sex, Mahaska Couuty, Iowa -March 22, 1939
18. Expeuditures of Federal and Spousors' Fuuds ou WP A-Operated Construction Projects, by Types of Projects, Mahaska County, Iowa-Cumulative through March 31, 1989______
___________ _
19. Expenditures of FcriPrnl and Sponsors' Fun<ls on \VP A-Operated Construction Projl'ets, by Typ<'s of Projects, Escambia County, Alabama--Curnulativc thron1sh March 31, 1939
_________ .
20. Number of Persous Employed on WP A-Operated Projl'cts, by Types of
Projects and by Hex, Escambia County, Alabama -March 22, 1939_ _
21. Expeur!itures of Federal aud Sponsors' Fnnr!s ou WPA-Opcrated Construction Projpcb,, by Typ<·s of Projects, Portsmouth, Ohio-Cumulative through March 31, 1939_______________ _ ___ _____________
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LIST OF TEXT TABLES
Page
22. Number of Persons Employed on WP A-Operated Projects, by Types of
Projects and by Sex, Scioto County and City of Portsmouth, OhioMarch 22, 1939______________________________________________
23. Expenditures of Federal and Sponsors' Funds on WP A-Operated Construction Projects, by Types of Projects, Erie, PennsylvaniaCumulative through March 31, 1939____________________________
24. Number of Persons Employed on WP A-Operated Projects, by Types of
Projects, Erie, Pennsylvania-March 22, 1939_ _ _ _ __ _ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _
25. Number of Persons Employed on WPA-Operated Projects and WPAFinanced Projects of Other Federal Agencies-Monthly, July 1938
to June 1939___ __ __ _ ___ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ __ __ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _
26. Number of Women Employed on WP A-Operated Projects-Quarterly,
December 1935 to June 1939__________________________________
27. Number of Persons Employed on WP A-Financed Projects of Other
Federal Agencies, by Agencies-Quarterly, September 1938 to June
1939________________________________________________________
28. Number of Persons Employed on WP A-Operated Projects, by Types of
Projects-June 21, 1939______ ______ __ __ ___ ___ _ ___ _ _____ ___ ____
29. Distribution of Each 1,000 Persons Employed on WP A-Operated Projects, by Major Types of Projects-Selected Periods, March 1936 to
June 1939___________________________________________________
30. Distribution of Each 1,000 Persons Employee\ on WP A-Operated Projects, by Wage Classes-Selected Periods, March 1936 to June 1939_ _
31. Distribution of Each 1,000 Persons Employed on WP A-Operated Projects, by Major Types of Projects and by Wage Classes-June 21,
1939________________________________________________________
32. Distribution of Each 1,000 Persons Employed on WP A-Operated Projects, by Urbanization Groups-Selected Periods, November 1937 to
June 1939 _______ . __ ____ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ ___ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ __ _ __ __ _ _ __ __
33. Accessions and Separations of Persons Employed on WP A-Financed
Projects, by Types of Accessions and Separations-Monthly, July
1938 to June 1939______________________
____________ ______
34. Accessions and Separations of Persons Employed on WP A-Financed
Projects, by Sex-Monthly, July 1938 to June 1939________ ______
35. Hours and Earnings of Persons Employed on WPA-Operated Projects,
by Major Types of Projects-Cumulative through June 30, 1939_
36. Number of Disabli1111: lnj uries 011 WP A-Operated Projects, by CausesY ear Ending June 30, 1939___________________________________
37. Percentage Distribution of WPA Workers, by Age Groups and by
Sex-November 1937 and February 1939_ _____________
38. Percentage Distribution of Gainful Workers in April 1930 and of
WPA Workers in February 1939, by Age Groups________________
39. Percentage Distribution of WP A Workers, by Size of Family and by
Sex-Februar~· 1939__ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ _ __ _ _ __ __ _
40. Percentage Distribution of All Families in 1930 and Families of WPA
Workers in February 1939, by Size of Family______________
41. Negro Families, Unemployed Registrants, and WPA Workers as Percentages of Respective Totals, by Geographical Regions___________
42. Distribution of WPA Workers, by Duration of Emplo_vment and by
Sex-February 1939__________________________________________
43. Distribution of WPA Workers, by Age Groups and by Duration of
Employment-February 1939 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ___ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ __
44. Distribution of WPA Workcrn, by Urbanization Groups and by Duration of Employment-February 1939___________________________
45. Distribution of WPA Workers, by Types of Projects and by Duration
of Employment-February 1939______________________________
46. Source of Funds Available to the WPA under the ERA Act of 1938as of June 30, 1939___________________________________________
47. WPA Funds Transferred to Federal A11:encies under Section 3 of the
ERA Act of 1938, by Agcncies-Cumulnt.ivc throu11:h .June 30, 1939_
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LIST OF TEXT TABLES
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48. Federal Expenditnrc>s on WP A-Operatc>d Programs, by Fiscal Y cars-through June 30, 1939________
49. Federal Expenditures 011 WPA-Operatcd Programs-Monthly, July
193.5 to June 1939___________ _
________________ _
50. Federal Expenditures on WP A-Qpprat.Pd Programs, by Objects of Expenditurc--Cumulat i ve through, and Year Ending June 30, 1939 _
51. Administrative Expenditurc>s of th<' WPA and the NY A, by Objects of
Expenditure--Year Ending June 30, 1939_
52. Value of Materials, Hupplies, and Equipnwnt Procured for WP AOperated Projects, b~· Types of Materials and b_,· Hourccs of Fundsthrough June 30, I ()39 _ _
53. Number and Cost of Hurplus Garm1·11ts Purchased by the WPA, by
Types of Garments- as of .Jun<· 30, Hl39_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
54. Number of Garments Distriblltcd u11der the ~'PA Surplus Clothin!(
Pllrchase Program, h~· Htates and b_v Types of Garments- as of June
30, 1939 _ _ _ _ _ _ _
55. Employment on Federal Work and Construetio11 Projects and Recipients of Public Relief, by Programs .Jllnc 1939______
56A. Employment on Federal Work and Const.met.ion Projects and Recipients of Public Relief, by Programs-l\Ionthl~·, .January 1933 to
December 1935_ _ _
56B. Employment on FPdPral Work and C011struetion Projeets and Recipients of Public Rl'ii<>f, by Programs- Monthly, January 1936 to
June 1939. ______
57. Employment on Federal Work and Co11struetio11 Projects and Recipients of Public Relief, by States and by Programs-J1111e 1939_____
58A. Earnings of Persons Employed 011 Federal Work and Construction
Projects and Paymp11ts for Public Relief, by Programs-Monthly,
January 1933 to De1•pmber )!)35_ _ _ _
. _. ____ . _ _
58B. Earnings of PPrsons Employed on Federal Work and Construction
Projects and Payments for Public Relief, by Programs-Monthly,
January 1936 to .June l!l39_
_________________ _
59. Earnings of PPrsons Employed on Federal Work and Construction
Projects and Paymellts for Public Relief, by States and by Programs-June 193()____
___________________ ______________
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LIST OF CHARTS
1. Estimates of Unemployment-.January 1!)36 .JunP rn:rn ____________ _
2. WP:\. Wage Rate Rcgions-elfcdivc Hepkmhl'r 1, l!l39 ____________ _
3. Expenditures 011 WPA-Opera1ed Projeets, by :\·Iajor Types of Projc('ts
and by Soun·cs of Funds-1·um11la1-ive through June 30, 1939, and
Year Ending .June :30. 193!) ______ ------------------------------4. Employment on WPA Projects-through Julie rn:39 _______________ _
5. Distribution of WPA Workers, by Size of Family-February l!l39 ___ _
6. Federal Expenditures 011 WPA-Operatcd Programs-July rn:~.5-Junc
1939 ______________________________________________ ---------
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12
31
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112
7. Distribution of WPA Expenditures, by Objects of Expenditure--Year
Ending .June :~o. )!);~9 _____________________________ _
8. Households and Persons Benefiting from Emplo~·ment on Federal '\,Vork
and Construction Projcds and Public Ikli\'f-,January rn:~3 .June
19:19 _______________________ -· _____ _
9. Persons Benefiting from Employment. on F<'d<'ral Work and Construction Projeets and PubliC' Relief, By Programs-January 1933-.June
1939 ________________________________ ---------------------10. Indexes of Unemployment and Persons Bc!lcfiting from Employment
on Federal '\,York and Uorrntrudion Projects and PubliC' Reli('f -·-January l!l33--.June Hl:39 _____ --·· ___________
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REVIEW OF THE WPA PROGRAM
ORE
than 7,000,000 different persons were
M employed on WPA projects at some time
between the initiation of the program in the
summer of 1935 and the end of June 1939. The
number of jobs provided by the WPA has varied
considerably during each of the four years in
which the program has opern ted, generally
paralleling the course of unemployment over
the period. Employment on the program has
been expanded during periods when privn,te
employment has declined and has been contracted when the number of persons in need of
WPA employment has fallen off as a result of
increased employment in prinlte industry.
During the year ending June 30, 1939, an average of approximately 2,900,000 persons were
at work on WPA projects; this is exclusive of
approximately 100,000 persons who were employed on the projects of other Federal agencies
that were financed by transferred vYPA funds.
As many as 3,360,000 persons had work on
WPA-financed projects in :November 1938 and
as few as 2,550,000 at the end of ,June 1939.
The average number of WPA jobs provided
during the year ending June 30, 1939, was higher
than <luring each of the three prececling years
of the program's operations. In the 12 months
ending June 30, 1938, an average of approximately 1,900,000 persons were employed, and
in the preceding year employment averaged
2,200,000 persons. The program was put into
operation in the summer and fall of 193/i, and
in the first half of 1936 an average of 2,700,000
persons were at work on WPA projects.
Federnl expC'nditures for the operation of the
WPA program amounted to $2,155,000,000
during the year ending June 30, 1939. Most
of these expenditures (95.9 percent) were mnde
in the op<'ra tion of work projects; they include
the wages paid to project workers and the costs
of the materials, supplies, and equipment required for project operations. The cost of administering the progrnm amounted to 3.4 percent of the total and ex1wnditures for miscellaneous purposes authorized under the gRA
Act of 19:~8 (the purchase of surplus clothing
and extension of uid to self-help cooperatives)
accounted for the rcrnnining 0.7 percent. In
addition to the funds used for the WPA progra.m about $73,500,000 of WPA fm1ds was
expended from transfers to other Federal
ag('IH'ies; these funds were used by them for
the operation of projects similar to those
conducted by the WPA.
Since the amount of funds e:q>ended by the
WPA is determined by the number of jobs provided on work projc>cts, expenditmc>s during
the fiscal year ending June 30, 19:39, exceeded
the expenditures of eaeh of the three preceding
y<'tll"S. WPA
expenditures amounted
to
$1,400,000,000 dming the year ending ,June 30,
1938; $1,800,000,000 in the preceding year;
nnd $1,:{00,000,000 in th<' yenr ending ,June 30,
193G, during tlw Pnrly months of which the
program was being put into opNation.
Sponsors of "TA projPets provided $493,000,000 townrd the cost of ,\TA project operations during the year <•nding ,June 30, 1939.
This n'J>l'l'S<'nted 19.:3 ppn•ent of the total cost
of WPA work projpcts during the ypnr. The
a.mounts exp<'IHled by sponsors for \VPA projects have increased during en.ch of the four
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
years the progrnm has been in operation, differing in this respect from the trend of Federal
expenditures which were lower in the year
ending June 30, 1938, than in the preceding
12-month period. From the beginning of the
program through June 1939, sponsors' expenditures averaged 17 .0 percent of the total cost of
project operations as compared with 19.3 percent during the last of the four years.
Federal Work Programs and
Public Assistance
The depression beginning in 1929 brought
about an intensification of efforts at all levels
of government-Federal, state, and local-to
deal with the problems of economic insecurity.
It soon became apparent that the origins of
many of the problems of insecurity lay outside
the local communities where the needs for
assistance arose and that their extent was such
they could not be met through use of local
resources alone. As a result, state agencies and,
later, Federal agencies were organized to mitigate the effects of unemployment and povert~,
and to promote economic recovery. In 1935 a
FederaJ Works Program was launched, the
Social Security Act passed, and Federal grants
to states for general relief were discontinued.
By the end of the year all of the major programs that are currently in operation had been
either established or scheduled for future
operation.
The extent and scope of governmental efforts
to deal with the problems of insecurity are
evidenced by the various programs in operation
in June 1939. Over 6,600,000 different households were benefiting at that time from employment on Federal work and construction programs or were receiving public assistnnce.
These households included approximately
19,500,000 persons.
Other security programs have been developed
in addition to those providing employment on
Federal work and construction projects and
public assistance. Unemployment compensation programs, developed under the Socinl
Security Act and covering most of the employMl
population except for agricultural, domestic,
and government employees, were in operation
in all except two states in June 1939. Payments were initiated in the two remaining
states in ,July. During the middle week of
June 1939, over 800,000 persons received unemployment compensation payments. The Social
Security Act likewise provided for a program
of old-age insurance. Amendments to this
act have made it possible to initiate -these
insurance payments in ,January 1940 and have
extended the system to include survivors'
benefits as well.
Federal Work and Construction Programs
The work and construction programs financed
in whole or in part by the Federal Government
provide jobs and income for unemployed
workers. These programs include the project
work of the WPA, NYA, CCC, and PWA, and
the project activities of numerous other Federal agencies that are financed by both regular
and emergency appropriations.
An average of more than 3,800,000 persons
were employed on all Federal work and construction programs in June 1939, including 2,600,000
persons working on projects financed with
WPA funds. The student aid and work project
programs of the NYA and the CCC program
accounted for 490,000 and 270,000 employees,
respectively. Practically all of these were
young persons, 24 years of age or younger.
PW A projects provided jobs for nearly 240,000
workers of whom more than four-fifths were
employed on non-Federal projects involving
public construction in the financing of which
state and local governments were assisted
through PWA loans and grants. Federal
projects conducte<l dirl:'ctl~r by Federal agencies
with PW A funds accounted for the remaining
employment under the PW A program. The
regular construction activities of the Federal
Government provided jobs for an additional
240,000 workers in June 1939.
More than half of all the employment on
Federal work and construction programs has
been providl:'d through the WPA since the end
of 1935 when th<' program reached full development.. In ,Jmrn 1939, the 2.600,000 persons
working on projects financed with WPA funds
accounted for two-thirds of the tota.l of 3,800,000 persons then employed on all Federal work
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REVIEW OF THE WP A PROGRAM
WPA BRIDGE COKSTRl.iCT!O:--; IN PROCESS !K UP-STATE NEW YORK
and construction programs. The proportion
represented by WPA workers has been largest
during periods of relatively high levels of unemployment and smallest when unemployment
has declined_ In the summer of 1938, for
example, WPA employment accounted for a
maximum of almost 80 percent of the total
number employed on all Federal work and construction programs, whereas in the fall of 1937,
when unemployment was at a relatively low
level, the WPA accounted for somewhat less
than 60 percent of all the Federal project
employment provided.
Public Assistance Programs
Public assistance programs for the earn of the
needy aged, dependent children, and the blind
are carried on by state and local governments
with financial assistance from the Federal Government. For these programs Federal funds
are made available under the Social Security
Act to states having approved plans. Federal
participation in providing public assistance also
takes the form of subsistence grants to needy
farm families. Public assistance in the form of
general relief for destitute persons not provided
for under other programs, however, has in recent
years been a responsibility of state and local
governments; Federal funds have not been made
available for this type of aid since the discontimiance of FERA grants in 1935.
The special categories of public assistance in
which the Federal Government participates
under the Social Security Act included, in
June 1939, 1,845,000 recipients of old-age assistance, 311,000 families receiving aid for dependent children, and 68,000 recipients of aid to the
blind. State and local agencies in that month
provided general relief for a total of 1,568,000
families and single persons. These a.gencies also
distributed surplus agricul turn! commodities
made available by the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation and clothing and other
articles produced in WPA sewing rooms. Subsistence grants made by the Fann Security Administration to needy farm families numbered
60,000 during June I g;:rn.
The WP A Program
The WP A operates the principal program of
project work designed and administered for the
employment of unemployed workers. As such,
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
its primary objective is one of supplying jobs on
useful public projects to unemployed persons
until private industry is able to reemploy them.
In keeping with this purpose, the program is
organized to provide, with the funds available,
the maximum number of jobs consistent with
the skills of the unemployed, to operate projects
yielding substantial benefits in the form of public improvements and serYices, and to integrate
its operations as closely as possible with the
labor market.
Cost of Employment Provided
To provide the maximum number of jobs
with the funds appropriated, the WPA has
used most of its funds in making wage payments to project employees. WPA workers are
paid in accordance with an established schedule
of earnings which determines the amount each
worker receives during a month. Scheduled
earnings vary according to the geographical
area and the concentration of population in
each county where the work is done and according to the skill required for the assigned work.
The actual earnings of WPA project workers
throughout the country averaged about $53.50
per month during the year ending June 30,
1939.
Federal funds are made nvailable for project
costs other than wages, but only to the extent
that they are necessary to assure the operation
of worthwhile projects by supplementing the
materials, supplies, and equipment which it is
incumbent on project sponsors to supply. Under the terms of the ERA Act of 1938, nonlabor
expenditures from Feclernl funds in nny state
were limited to a maximum of $7 pe1' worker per
month.
Assignment of Workers
In order that operation of the WPA projects
will have a maximum effect in relieving distress
caused by unemployment, the WPA requires
that at least 9.5 percent of the persons assigned
to its projects in each state be certiffod as in
need of relief. State and local relief nge11cies
designated by the \,\' PA are responsible for
referring unemployed persons to the WP A.
During th<' yenr ending June 30, 1939, almost
97 percent of the persons employed on WPA
projects were certified as in need of relief; the
remainder-about 3 percent of the total-represented certain types of skilled, technical, and
supervisory personnel required for the successful operation of projects but not available
among the persons referred to the WPA by
state and local relief agencies.
Unemployment as a Determinant
of WP A Employment
The volume of unemployment and resulting
need is changing constantly in each section of
the country. Changes, affecting large numbers
of persons, have, at times, occurred with grea.t
rapidity. To be successful in this setting, a.
work program must be able to expand rapidly
when unemployment and need increase and to
contract as unemployment and need decrease.
Consequently, a high degree of flexibility is
necessary to the operation of the work program
conducted by the WPA.
The abrupt increase in unemploymentamounting to about four million personswhich took place in the months following September 1937 is, perhaps, the most striking illustration of the dynamic aspects of the unemployment problem. To meet the resulting increase in need, WP A employment was expanded
at an average rate of almost 150,000 persons per
month over a period of a year. From 1,450,000
in October 1937 the number employed on
WPA projects rose to over 3,250,000 by the end
of October l !)38. In some highly industrialized
areas where the unemployment problem was
much more acute than in the country as a
whole, vV PA operations were more than trebled
in less than six months.
Adjustment of the level of operations in each
section of the country in accordance with
changes in the extent of need resulting from unemployment is a continuous process in the
administration of the \VPA program. The
primary determinant of the need for WPA jobs
is, of course, the number of persons who are
unable to secure private employment. Various
considerations, howeYer, modify the relationship between the total number of unemployed
and t.he number of jobs provided by the W PA.
Among these are the seas•mal increases in need
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RE\"IEW 01" THE WPA PROGRAM
which appear in the winter
months not only because of
curtailment of outdoor con- MILLIONS
OF WORKERS
struction activities and agrirnl- i s - - - - tural work but also becnuse of
14
increases in the subsistence requirements of families during
the cold months of the .n'1H.
Similarly the extent of need in 10 •
rural areas is not adequatl:'ly
8 ·
shown by the conventio11nl
8
measures of unemplo.nnc>nt.
Likewise, not all of the unc>m4
ployed persons are eligible> for
2•
'\YPA work: some are in famiJip,-:
where another member has bc>t>n
assigned to a WP A proje<:-t:
1936
others are eligible for unemplo_\-ment compensation benefits;
and still others, constituting a consid('rahlc>
number of the unemplo_\·ed, Jin• in fnmilit•s
where some other membn has n privatP job
supplying the family with income suflieient to
meet living costs.
Although these and many other foctors modify the relationship between total unemployment and the need for WPA jobs, the moYements in unemployment and \\'PA c>mploynwnt
have generally paralleled ench other rn thcr
closely ever since the progmm ren<'hed full
development early in 1936. A notireahlP difl'Nence between the two a.ppenred in tlw fall of
1936 when the assignment of lnq.(r numbers of
emergency drought workers c·u11spd n temporn.ry
increase in WPA employment in the drought
states at a time when genernl 1mc>mployment
was decreasing. (Unemployment Pstimates for
the period January 1936 to ,Ju1w I 939 n.rn sho\vn
in Chart 1.) The movements of unemployment
and WPA employment devinkd temporarily in
the summer and early full of 19:17 when the
amount of funds availnhle for tlw opc•ra.t.ion of
the program made it neressnry to deC'rens<' \\'PA
employment at a much fustPr rn.te tl11m urn'mployment was dropping-. Another dirnrg-<•nce
appeared in the second hulf of I n:18 whPn the
needs of the unemployed for WI' A work continued at a high level for some months after
unemployment reached its peak in ,June I !l:38.
The continued rise in WPA employment after
June 1938 is attribu tnble in part to the fa.ct
CHART I
ESTIMATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT
January 1936 • June 1939
MILLIONS
OF WORKERS
16
14
8
6
4
-- - ·
COM■ ITTl:I.
Ott
r.eo,.o.,c
lltCLINIT't'
- - - - ALUANOUI: Mlo.lLTON IN $ TITUTt
-
A■l[IIIICAN
2
rr.OUIATIOII or ua()ll
••· ···· ·· ·· NATIONAL IIIDU9TIIIAL CON,CAOICC ac)IJltll
1937
1938
1939
.,..,.
3:MJ
that man~' pNsons who had lost their jobs prior
to thnt tiiu<' relic•d fm 11 while on unemployment
compensn tion ]>H_\'lll<'llts, savings, n.nd other
rc>sourrrs. C'ontin11Pd foil11re to Lind new employmrnt mnde it. Il<'<'Pssary for nrnny to apply
for nssistunre. Other factors were nlso operntiw. Almost liulf of tlw in('J'ease in WPA
employment from ,July through October ocem-r,xl in the southern states where the income
r<'alized from tlw cotton crop was so small that
it h<><·irnw IH'<'<'ss11-1·.'' to pnn-ide temporary
employment for S<'Vl.'ru.l hundred thousand lnhorcrs und tennnt fnrm<'rs. In addition, the
c!Prnstating- h111Ticn.nr thnt strnck Xew Eng-land iii Sc>ptPmlwr I !rn8 oc·<·nsionpcJ the employment of thousands of cnwrg<'ll<'.'' workers in
order to rnrry out thP rehabilitation and reronstrnction thnt wa.s m11de llP<'Ps1-mry by the hurricane and flood,-. Although vVPA employment
c011tinuc>d to <>xpn.nd for sonw time after the
peak had h<'<'ll n•n.<"hPd in llll<'mployment its
subsequent dl'rline during- the spring o.nd early
surnm<'I' of I 9:19 wn.s more ru.pid than the drop
in unemployrn<>nt thc>n tn.king place.
Labor Turn over and the Return of WP A
Workers to Private Employment
The WPA prognrn1 is administered not only
to distrilrnt<' its employnwnt most effectively
in terms of nPed arising out of unemployment,
io1577°-40-----i
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF 'l'HE WPA PROGRAM
but also to facilitate the reemployment of its
workers in prirnte industry. Persons employed on WPA projects must mnintain active
registration with the public employment agencies designated by the United States Employment Service. The regulntions of the WPA
require that bona fide job offers from private
employers providing reasonable wages and
working conditions must be accepted by project
workers and, at the same time, provide that n
WP A employee who leaves a project job to
accept private employment be promptly reassigned to WPA work if the private job proves
to be of short durntion through no fault of the
worker and if the worker is still in need.
Evidence of the close integration of the progrnm with unemployment conditions and the
trend of private employment is to be observed
in the extent of labor turnover on WPA
projects. The net decline in employment over
the year ending June 30, 1939, does not measure
the total number of persons who left the progmm. During the 12 months 2,400,000 persons were actually added to the WP A program;
these included 1,050,000 who had never before
received WP A employment. The decline in
WPA employment in the face of 2,400,000
assignments is accounted for by the fact that
a total of about 2,800,000 workers separated
from WPA jobs during the same year. Of
these, over 1,500,000 separnted voluntarily,
chiefly to take private employment.
The labor turnover that is present in the WP A
program has noteworthy implications. It means
that the individuals employed on work prnjects
are a constantly chang-ing group. The extent of
turnover is the primary factor influencing the
duration of the employment, of vVPA workers.
A survey to determine the length of continuous
employment on WPA projects conducted in
February 1939 revealed that 70 percent of the
persons then employed by the WP A started their
project work during the depression period beginning in October 1937. Only 17 percent had
been employed continuously for three years or
longer. The average durntion of continuous employment for all persons on projects at that time
was slightly more than onc ycar, although the
program had been in operation about three and a
half years. Because of gradual changes in the
composition of the uncrnployed population it-
self, it is necessary each month for the WPA to
assign persons ,..-ho have never previously been
employed on WPA projects. By June 1939, as
noted above, over 7,000,000 different persons
had at one timc or another been supplied with
employment on ,vPA projects.
WPA Projects
Practically all WPA-operated projects have
been initiated and sponsored by state and local
public agencies. Such Federally-sponsored projects as the WP A has operated have never accounted for more than a very minor share of
WPA activities; they have been of even less
importance following the pnssage of the ERA
Act of 1939 which prohibited the prosecution of
,YPA-sponsored projects. Sponsorship of projects by the communities in which the work is
conducted assures that the project work is in
accord with the expressed needs of the communities. The influence of local conditions also appears in the operation of projects that are in
keeping with the occupntional abilities of the
workers provided with WPA employment in
the communities.
To receive 11.pproYnl for vVP A operation
projects must bc publiely sponsored and involve
useful work, the benefits of which accrue to the
public. Projects for work which would displace
persons normnlly employed by the sponsor are
not eligible for appronll under the regulations
of the WP A. Among other factors given considcration prior to the npproval of a project is
the share of the costs. particularly the nonlabor
costs, that is assumed by the sponsor.
A large rcserYoir of approved projects is constantly maintained from which appropriate
work can be selcetcd for operation in order
that conditions arising from the changing
employment situations in the various communities ca.n hc immediately met. The projects
sch•cted from the rescn-oir of npproved projects
and placed u1 opcration in response to the
vn.ryu1g nceds of individual communities have
con'rNI widely diYerse acth·ities. Road and
street impro,·emcnts hnve been undertaken in
all parts of thc country. The erection or
rcnon1tion of public buildings, the extension of
sa.nitn tion and wn ter supply facilities, and the
de,·clopment of pnrks nnd playgrounds have
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7
REYIE\\ OF THE WPA PROGRAM
been prominent among the other construction
activities. Nonconstruction work Jrn.s rnried
from sewing room operations and housekeepingnide projects to health, research, and edurn tionn I
activities.
Physical Accomplishments
The employment of WPA workers on projpcl,.:
selected for their conformity to local ll<'<'ds n,.;
well as their suitability to the work ahilitiPs
of the unemployed has resulted in signifirnnt
improvements and additions to the publir
facilities a.n d public services tlu·oughou t th<'
country. Because road and street work hn;;
been pu.rticularly appropriu.te for proseru t.ion
under a. program whose objectiYe is to furnish
jobs to the maximum number of workers nmong
whom unskilled workers predominate nnd hecause of the mu.rked need for better rond!nnd streets in many sections of the country.
the accomplishments in this type of nrtiYity
have been especially outstanding. In the pas t
year alone (12 months ending June 30, 1939 )
improvement or new constru ction work wns
completed on about 111 ,000 miles of highways.
roads, and streets. A large share of th r rompleted mileage is represented by the road work
done in rum.I areas.
During the same year 6,400 new public buildings were completed. These buildings rn.ry in
type according to the specifi c n eeds of t he
sponsoring community. Th ey i11 clud e many
schools, administrative buildings, muni cipal or
county garages, and gymnasiums a nd smaller
numbers of hospitals, armori es, fire houses, and
aircraft hangars . Besid es the new buildin gs,
over 600 buildings were enlarged by the nddition of new wings, such as the addition o f 11 ew
classrooms or a library to a school ; a nd imp1·o n-ments , often involving major aJterat.i on,.; , \\'<'l'l'
made to 17,000 existing structures.
Important contributions have also bee n mad e
to the water supply and sanitary fa ciliti r:,; of
the various municipalities of the co unt,ry.
Usually this work involves the extension of
sewer systems and the construction of di sposal
plants, or the laying of water main s and t,he
construction of reservoirs to s uppl ement or replace existing facilities. Occasionally , howHrr,
.113 O1,;T A FIFTII O ~' TIIE KEIi' U U ILl>I NG
THE \\'PA ARE SC II OO L,-;-TJJI S ONE IS I N C ALIF O RNIA
an entire \\·ater di stribu tion or sewernge ystem
ha s been install ed through WPA operations in
town s whi ch ba rn prev iously hn.d n o such facilities. In the f-i elcl of recreationa.l fo.ciliti e ,
WPA work ers completed in one year t he d eyp]opment or improvement of a.pproxima.te ly
2,000 parks covering about 100,000 acres, and
built hundreds of ot.hletic fi eld s, playground s,
tennis courts, swimmin g pools, and faciliti es
for other sports. Flood and ero ·ion co n t.rol
work n.nd conse rvation act.ivi t ies have been
exten iv e in certain sections of the cou n try.
In addition to t he work in the construction
f-ield , whi ch bas al ways predominated in t he
WPA progrnm , mnny types of non construc tion
work haY e been undert aken. Sewing room
operations have produ ced million s of garm ents
for di stribu tion to needy famili es. O t her services o f partic ular b011Pfit, to t he welfare of lowin co111e or needy fnmili es a re th e lun ches served
to school child ren and hou;;e keepi ng aid provided a t times whe11 t.l1 c u. uni homemaker is
in capacit a ted. H ealth 111ea ures promoted by
WPA act.iviti es includ e den tal and mediml
clini c work , immuni,mtions nirninst prev al ent
di seases, and st<'ps taken t.o,rnrds t he destru ct.ion of mosqui toes a nd other di sea ·e-s preading
agents. Thro ugh education p rograms well o,·er
11 millioll adul ts hn rn learn ed to read and write
and ma.ny foreign-born person:-- have received
assis tan ce in qualifying them s<' lve for citizen s hip . Altogc thN thr,.:1' and ot hPr items of 1rnrk
repr<'sP n t, 11 ,.;ubstantin.1 in crement to the nn.t,ionnl
1rcalth .
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PROVISIONS FOR THE WPA PROGRAM
DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1940
action caused major changes
C in the WPA program
at the beginning of the
ONGRESSIONAL
new fiscal year on July 1, 1939. Some of th<'
changes were required by provisions contained
in the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of
Hl39 which appropriated funds for continuing
WPA activities during the fiscal year. Among
the more important provisions affecting the
program of the WPA are those which determine
the levels of employment during the year, the
conditions under which relief workers can be
employed and paid, the sizes and kinds of
projects that may be operated, and the contributions required of project sponsors. Additional changes resulted from Reorganization
Plan No. 1, which was prepared by the President
in accordance with the Reorganization Act of
1939. When the plan went into effect on ,July
1, 1939, it grouped the WPA along with other
public works agencies under a newly established
Federal Works Agency. In discussing the provisions for continuing the WPA program in the
new fiscal year, selection is made from relevant
matter contnined in the reorganization plan and
the appropriation act.
WP A Placed in the Federal Works Agency
The new Federal vVorks Agency, as explained
by the President in transmitting Reorgani,mtion
Plan No. 1 1 to Congress, was to include "those
agencies of the Federal Government den.ling
1 The plan wa.., prepared pur:-.uanl In the Hrorgu11izut.ion Acl. or 19~0,
approyecJ April 3, 10:m (Puhlk Hesolutio11 No. HI, itllh l'onl-(ress).
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." Grouped with the Works
Progress Administration (renamed the Work
Projects .Administration) in the newly created
Federal ,i\rorks Agency were the Bureau of
Public Roads of the Department of .Agriculture,
the Public Buildings Branch of the Procurement
Division of the Treasury Department, the
Branch ofBuildingsl\1anagement of the National
Park Service of the Department of the Interior
(so far ns it was concerned with public buildings
which it operated for other departments or
agencies), the United States Housing Authority,
and the Federal Emergency Administration of
Public Works (familiarly known as PWA). The
National Youth Administration formerly in the
·wP1\ was transferred to the Federal Security
Agency.
The several u11its of the Federal Works
Agency are headed by commissioners (Public
Ronds, Public Buildings, Public Works, and
\York Projects Administrations) and an Administrator (United States Housing Authority).
Th£' commissioners are appointed by the Adrninistrn tor of the new consolidated agency
nrnl, with the United States Housing Administrntor, serve under the direction and supervision of the Federal Works Administrator. The
Federal Works .Administrator is responsible for
the coordination of activities within the agency.
By special nction of Congress Pinn No. 1 went
8
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PROYISIONS FOR '!'HE WPA PROGRAM DURING 'l'HE J<'ISCAL YEAR 1940
g
into effect on July 1, 1939.2 On that date, ::-.Ir.
John 11. Carmody wus appointed Federal Works
trnnsfern•d \YP1\ funds rxr<>ed 10 percent of
the totnl 111m1bl'T of persons Pmployed.
Administrator and Col. F. C. Hurrington, who
had been Administrator of the ·w orks ProgTess
Administration, became Commissio11er of Work
Projects.
Types of Projects
Appropriation to the WP A
The WP A program is being curried forward
during the fiscal year under the a.uthority of the
Emergency Relief Approprintion Act of 19;~9. 3
The act proYides for the eo11tinuution of the
\VPA through June 30, 1940, und makps nn1ilable to the WPA the sum of $1,477,000,000,
together with hula nces of WP A funds remaining
from the ERA Act of 1938. The appropriation
of $1,477,000,000 for the year contemplnted nn
average WPA employment slightly in excess of
2,000,000 persons. The amount appropriated
for the year is one-third less thun was provided
in the preceding year (uhout $2,250,000,000)
and requires a corresponding reduction in
average employment.
The appropriation to the WPA, us in the
case of appropriations to other ugeneiPs under
the act, must be so appmtion,:d and administered during the 12 months of the fiscnl .Year
as to constitute the total amount that will be
furnished over the period for the purposf's of
the act. It is further provided thnt not more
than $50,000,000 (less than 3.4 percent of the
WPA appropriation) may he spent by thP
WPA for administrative purposes with definite
restrictions placed 011 the urnotmts that mny
be expended for salaries, communication sPITice, traYel, and printing nnd bi11ding The
Commissioner of the WPA is given nutltorit_v,
such as he hn<l under the ERA Act of th<> pr<>ceding year, to allocate WPA funds (up to
$60,000,000) to other Fed<>rnl n.gc-ncies ror the
prosecution of work projects sirnilnr to thosp
operated by the WPA. These Federal proj<>ds
are to be caiTied on under rulrs and rPgulntions
prescribed by the Commissiml<'r; iu 110 ease,
however, may more than 4 percE•nt of the allocation be spent for administrntive exp('J)sc-s,
nor may the percentage of nonrelid persons
on any of the Federal projects firwnced with
2 Public Resolution No. 20. 711th C'on~ress.
• Public Resolution No. 24, 7r.th Conµress, npprm·~<I Jun~
~o. 19~9.
The funds approprintc-d to the WPA under
tll<' 1939 Act nre n rnila hie for the prnsc-cution
of projPcts approved by the President under
prior EHA Acts n.nd for the prose('11tion of n.
varietv of Fed<>ral nnd non-Federal public
projects suhj<>c.t to the approval of the President. In sp<>cif_ying the different kinds of
projects thnt may be conductrd hy the WPA,
the act lists nearly all of tl1r mnny kinds of
work thut had previously been done undPr the
agency. These mny be summarized as follows:
highways, roads, and str0ets; public buildings;
parks and other recreational facilities; electric,
sewer, and water s:vstems; airports a,ncl other
transportn t.ion facilities; Hood control, drainage,
irrigation, nnd conserva.t.ion; and ed ucn.tional,
professional, elerien.l, eulturnl, rerreational,
production, and se1Tiec projects.4 It is required that, insofar as it is prartica ble, project
workers shall be employed on proje.cts nearest
their respective homes.
A mun ber of new provisions in the act
define and circumscribe the project work that
may be pros('('uted. It is prescribed that no
funds may he nrnde nvniluble for the operntion
of a theittre project, nor rn11y funds be s1wnt
after August 31, 19:39, for the operl\.t.ion of any
project, sponsored sole!~, by the W PA. Funds
rna.y not be ex1w11<l<>d ou the r.onstruction of
any Federal building the total estimated cost
of whirh excPeds $.50,000, or on the construction of any non-FPdPrnl building of which the
portion of the total estimated cost payable
t SC!l'tion I ( h ) s pt.•ei fies: hlfighwnys, rond:-., anrl ~treot8; p11hlic.· huildin!!s; 1>nrks, 01111 othn rt•t·n•at.i,1nal rndlitil•s, indtHli11ii ln1ildi11~s tlu•n •i11;
JHJhlk ulililit.•s; t•l<'<:lri<· tran~mb:sio11 and 1Jis1.ril•11tion li11~s or sy:-:f.t.•111s lo
s..•n·C' 1wrso ns in rurnl 11rt.•as, i11dudi11l! projcd s :-- pom:or<.'d by aud for I IJP
he11l'fil. of nonprofit and <·001M"rut.in• a.."sodotion:-.; sewer systems, water
su1111Iy , atul J)t1riOl·u tim1 s~·~ te111s: airJH>rt.s nnd ot hPr tra11s1l1lrtntion
laC'ilities; Jl1)n1I eontrol; druinage: irrii.mt ion; c·o11Sl'r\·a1 iim, indu<linv;
projt•ds spo11.sorC'd by <•011srrn1tion <listric·ls and nUwr hndit•s duly orgn11i1.l'd undt•r ~tnll' lnw for soil ero~ion eo11trol mHI c-011sen·utinn, prefer(•11cc hcinR gh'<'TI t.o projl~(•t:,; \\'}Iieh will ,·ontrihutc 1.0 the rrhn.hililn1ion
of incli\·id11nls 1u1d an inc·n•a:-.l• in tlw nnti(mn.l in(·o111e: eradicnlion (1f
imwet, p\nnl,, n nd ftm~us pe:--1.s; thr. produel ion of lit11t• ~1nd marl for
fertilizing so il for distribution to farmers U1Hll1 r such c·onditi011s n.s may
bl• determined by t.hC' sponsors of :,;11('h projcd:-. under the provisions of
~tat.t• law; C(l11cationnl, 1-mifessio11al, clcrknl, ('lliturnl, roc·rcnt.ionn.l,
1,rod11ction, nnd son·ke projects, iududing I mining for domestic.· Sf.r\.'ire;
aid to ~elf•hcl p and coo11t.•rnli\'e nssoriations for ihc heueOL or needy
persons; and misccl1a11cous projccL-;."
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
from Federal funds exceed:- $52,000, unless the
building is one "(a) for which the project has
been approved by the President on or prior to
,July l, 1939, or for which an issue of bonds
has been approved at an election held, on or
prior to such date, or (b) for the completion of
which funds luwe been allocated and irrevocably set aside under prior relief appropriation
Acts."
Several specific limitations on project activities are continued in the same or slightly
changed form by the ERA Act, of 1939. With
the exception of authorized flood control and
water conservation projects, no Federal const,ruction project can be prosecuted under the
act unless funds sufficient for its completion
are irrevocably set aside. Nor, with minor
exceptions, may funds be used by any agency
to estahlish or expand mills or factories whid1
pro<luce articles for sale in competition with
private industry. Other sections prohibit the
use of funds appropriated hy the act for naval
vessels, armaments, and munitions or for
military or naval forc.es and prevent the prosecution of non-Federal projects designed to
construct or improve penal or reformatory
institutions unless the President find:- tlrn.t
the projects will not promote the conqwtition
of pr-oduc.t,8 of convict labor with product:- of
free labor.
financing of Projects
Several important, new prov1s1ons arc to he
found in the act concerning the rcsptwtivc
parts to he played by sponsors and by th11
vYPA in the financing of projects. On and
after ,Jammry 1, 1\)40, "not to exceed threefourth:- of the total cost of all non-Fednrn.l
projects tlwn~aftnr approved to be tmdertak<'n
. . . " within any :-taLe sludl he borne by the
United ~taLes. This proviso does not mean
th11t each :-ponsor in a given state must !war
at lea:-t one-four-th of t!tc cost of each n.nd
every project: t.l1e :-po11:-or:- in each state, t.ak!\ll
as a whole, however, rnu:-t contribute' at lea:-t
one-fourth of tJw total cost in the statP. of 1dl
operations of non-Federal project:- apprnYPd
by t,lw Pr\1sidon t on or aft<~!' ,111111mr.v 1, I !l40.
In view of other provi:-io11s of t.fw ad 111aki11g
the Cornrnissiorwr rnspon:-il>le for determining·
the adequacy of sponsors' contributions, it
has been determined that insofar as practicable all operations in each state after January
1, 1940, will be so conducted that sponsors'
contributions will be equal to at least onefourth of the total cost of all non-Federal
projects.
It is further provided that expenditure
authorizntions of Federal funds in any state,
territory, possession, or the District of Columbia for other than labor costs of WPA projects
slw,ll not exceed an average of $6 per month
per worker during the fiscal year ending June
30, 1940. The Commissioner is empowered
to raise the average to as much as $7, the
maximum possible under the ERA Act of
1\)38, only if and to the extent justified by
increased costs of materials. In this connection the 1939 Act requires that construction
equipment and machinery may not be purchased by the WPA if they can he rented at
reasonable prices as determined by the Commissioner of Work Projects.
No non-Federal project can be prosecuted
u1Hler the new act (except under Section 4Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration)
u11ti.l the sponsor has agreed in writing to finance
:-u<·h part of the total cost of the project as the
head of the Federal agency in question "determines under the circumstances is nn adequate
contribution taking into consideration the
linnn<·ial ability of the sponsor." The head of
tht' ngency is also directed to draft regulations
n•g:1rding the vnhmtion of contributions in
kind hy project sponsors covering the use of
fnl'iliti<'s, equipment, and services of the emplo_vePs of sponsors. Credit is to be allowed
only to the extent that the furnishing of such
co11 trihu Lions reprcsen ts a financin.I bunlen
11nd<•rtake11 by the sponsors on account of the
projects .
Monthly Earnings and Hours of Work
Th<' !~HA Act of I 939 in Section 15(a) introdll('('d important modificntions in the monthly
s1·hPd11lP of earnings of project employees a11d in
th<' 11111nlH'r of hours to be worked per month.
TIH' lir:,;t of two general provisions relating to the
montldy earnings of persons employed on
\\TA projects directed the Commissioner of
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11
PROVISIOKS FOR THE WPA PROGRAM D"CRIKG THE FISCAL YEAR 1940
Work Projects to fix a monthly earnings schedule "which shall not substn.ntiully nffoet the
current national average lnbor 0ost per person . . . ", and the second introduced the principle that "after August 31, 19:39. sneh monthly
earnings schedule shall not be --rnried for workers
of the same type in different geogrnphieul 11.rens
to any greater extent than mny be justified by
differences in the cost of living." A third provision sets the work month for project employees at 130 hours and requires that project
employees shall not work more than 8 ho11rfper day or 40 hours per week. Exeeptions to
the foregoing limitations on monthly eurningfand hours of work may bP made in the cn.sp of
relief worke1:s with no depmdents who, if they
are required to work fewer hours, are to reeefre
correspondingly smaller eamings and also in
case it is necessary to protect work already done
on projects, to permit workers to make up lost
tiine, to carry on emergency work i11 Yoking the
public welfare, and in the ruse of s11pPrnsory
personnel employed 011 projects.
A revised schedule of monthl~· earnings to
take effect September 1, 1939, wns isstwd on
August 15, 1939, ufter study of nil comparnble
cost of living data nvnilnblP for both rnral and
urban areas. As is trne of Parli<•r srhPd nks
under which workers h11n bepn paid n10nthly
security wages since the initiution of thP WPA
program, the new scheduh• provides for monthly
earnings that vary according to th<' rq!,'ion of
the country and the degrpe of urbnnizution of
the county in which tJ1p~· work. (S<•<' accompanying schedule of monthly <'nrninvs.)
Different wages are paid for diffN<'llt clnssps of
work in each county in u rPgion, in nccordanr<'
with a county schedule that d<>p<'IHls on th<•
1930 population of tlw lnr!!est mnnicipalit~·
within the county. ExrPptions nre mad<' in
the case of 19 large metropolitan ar<'as as
defined in the 1930 Census of Population; in
each of these the wage schedule of tlw <·oimt~·
·w-ith the largest municipality npplies to tlH'
entire metropolitan a.r<>n. Tlw paynH'nt of
similar wages in entire nwtropolitan ar<•ns had
earlier been ac<'ornplished in many casps by
contiguity adjustments.
The new schPdule, like the on<' it rPplnced,
makes use of tltr<'<' wag<' rat<' n·gions. .As
shown in the accompanying mup, \Yag<' R<"gion
TABU]
1.-SCHEDULE
o~•
MONTHLY
EARNINOR
ON
\YP A-Fix .-1.xc~m Pnon:cTs
EFFECTIVE 8i,;1 1 TEMBER I,
rn:w
Waj!e Class
Count.it•s in \Vhich tlw rnao
.
Popu_l~tio~ or t~P Lnrl,!:PSt : en- i Gnj ·
'.\I ,rnicipnhty \\ as:
' skillPd skilled , Int~r- Skilled
"B"
''A" n1edmte:
.
·1
100,()(M) and ovt'r
2,5,000 to IIKI.CKKJ
.5,CXJO to 2,5.CKKJ
C ndt•r .5,CKJO
A.
I
$.52. 00 $fii. 20
48. Ill
,52. 00
·12. \10
18. 10
39, (Kl , 42. 90
$OS.
02.
.57.
.52,
HO
40
20
(JO
1----· -··--
$~9. iO
81. !HJ
74. IO
67. fiO
>
I ~ri~~~• and
technical
I
$94. \JO
84 .•10
76. 70
68. 90
-
W ng,• lfrgfon II
·
1
100,000 und on•r \
2.5,000 to 100,CKHJ
.5,000 to 2/i,(KKI
l"n<ler .5,CXIO
I
'
52. <Kl -1 .57. 211 , CiH. oo : H!J. 70 I
4S. IO
,12. (Kl
112. 40 I S l.!10
411. SO
.50. 70
61. 10 I 711. :JO
44. 20
411. 40
!i!J. so
7f>. 70
I
1
- - - - - - - - - - - - I-Wag,• J{pgion II I
-,
100,000 and ovpr A
2,5,()(JO to 1110.IMIO
.5,000 to 25,ooo
ender fi,000
Ill. 80
42. !Kl
:rn..10
:i1. 211
-
I
~!- .10
·"· 20
48. Ill
42. !Ill
.511. 70
48. IO
I
10. 30
35. 10
lI
79. :10
74.111
02. ·Ill
54.
r,o
1
I
94. 90
84. f,()
81. IKI
78. lKI
81.!JO
i.5. 40
65. 00
55. 90
\\'agt• Ht•gion I- Comw<'!ieut, lklnwan•, DistriC't ofColumhia, Illinois,
Indiana, Iown, Ka11sas, .\lairn•, .\hrylnnd, .\la.'-Sll<"liust•lts . .\I iehi1:rnn,
~linm•sota, .\ti:--so11ri, :\"Phraska, :--;<'w llampsllir(', ~t'W .lt•rst•,r, :\(•w
York, Xorth I>akota, Ohio, Pt~nns.rlnulia, Hho<l<• Island, ~outh Dakota
Y°"('mlOnt, "'t>st Virginia, \Visl'onsin.
\Yage H1',1!ion 1(- :\rizona, ('nlifornia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,
X1•vada, !\"(•w ~kxico, Ort•l!on, l'tah. \Yashington, \\'yominl!.
\\"11g-t• l{pg-ion III \ laharna, .\rka11sn", Florida, Ot>or~in, Kt•ntueky,
Louisiana, :'.\1ississi1111!, ~,1rth ('arnlinn, ()klahoma, :-::outh Cnrolirrn,
TPnm•ssP<', T<•xa~, Virginia.
'Tlw sl'lwdule of monthly 1•arriir1J!S appliC'ahlt• to eountiPs in which thr
rnao population tlw lnrj!l'St mnni<'ipality wa,,;; 100,(X)0 or morP is appli<•ahll' to tlw ('ntirt• an•a inC'hJ<kd within tlw followinl! nwtropolitan distri<'1:-:, as SU<'h di"tric·t:-: art> dl'fln<>d hy tlw l,'llh C(•nsm• of tlw lTnitt•d
Stall·s. Hno: Baltimorl'; Boston: BulTalo-~ingarn; Chicago; Cineinnnti;
('}p\·<•l:md; l>l'troit: K:msn:,; City, Kans.-Kansn•. _ City, ~fo.; LosAnp:p}p..,;
.:\lilwaukl'l'; \linrwapoli:---SI. Paul; !\'pw York City-Xorth<•nstPrn XPw
Jprs<'y; PhiladPlphia: l'ittshurJ!h: l'rodd< IH'('-Fnll Rin•r-~Pw R<•dfnrd; ~t. J.ouis: Snn FrnrH'is(·o·<>aklan<l; Rc-ranton-\\"i]k('s-Barrt•:
\\"nshinglon. D. C.
or
1
l i11cl11dPs tlH' northPastt•rn nrnl north-cPntrnl
part of tlH• country; \Yng<' RPgion II, tlw wPst<'1"11 stnfrs; nnd WngP RPgion Ill. t.lw southt>ustNn nnd s011th-rP11trnl spctiorn, of th<' country. '!'his division of th<' <'01111try into wage
ratt• I'(•gions I'('(lr<'S<'nts a suhstn11tiul chang<'
from th<' diYision pr<'viously i11 l'li'l'ct. On the
<·nrliPr basis, Wag<' RPgion J indwkd th<' 11orth<'l'II and W<'Stl'rn nn•as of t lw country; it was
S<•pnrnt<•d from tlw third r<•gio11 comprisi11g th<'
southl'nst<'l'II und south-<'<'ntrnl stnt<'S by \YagP
l{f'gio11 II, n ti1'r of stat,,s rnrming wPstwnrd
from DPluwar<•, :'.\lnr~·lnnd. and th<' Distriet of
Columbia nnd i11ch1ding vYPst Virginia, pl'll<'tically nll of KPntuck~· and :'.\lis,-ouri, Kansns,
Oklnlwma, and u sPl'tion in thP northw<'st part
of Tt•xus.
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
CHART 2
WPA WAGE RATE REGIONS*
Effective September 1, 1939
* The achedule of monthly earnln1s I■ shown In T■ble t.
The countim. in each reg10n are distributed
among four urbanization groups based upon the
size of the largest municipa.lity in each county.
Counties come within one of the four groups to
which differentials in wagPs apply de1wnding on
whether the largPst city in the county hnd
100,000 or more inhnbitnnts in 1930, bt't.we(•n
25,000 and 100,000 inhabitants, between 5,000
and 25,000 inlrnbitnnts, or less than 5,000
inhabitants. Consolidation into a singl(• class
of the two groupings (25,000 to 50,000 and
.50,000 to 100,000) that were present in tbe
t•arlier schedule is a simplification warranted by
the relatively minor diffrrences in the costs of
living in cities coming within the broader group.
It is sig11if-ieant to note that the difl'C'rences
rxisting in the vYest between the cost of living
in small towns and the cost of living in larg0
cities are typically less than similar differences
in othPr sections of thC' eountry.
..... 0130
The new scll('dule continues the differentiation by degree of skill that was contained in
the old schedule. Three of the categories, involving intermediate, skilled, and professional
and technical ·work, are maintained; the old
unskilled class, however, is divided into two
classes-unskilled "A" and unskilled "B."
The unskilled "B" class includes work of a
simple nature requiring little education or
training and for which proficiency may easily
be acquired. The work of this class is not
hazardous and does not require heavy physicaJ
labor. Charwoman, flagman, seamstress, janitor, and messeng<'r serve as illustrations of
thP oceupn.tions that eome within the unskilled
"B" (']assilication.
Although the reduction of the number of
urbanization groups is offset by the increase in
the number of wage classes, the new wage
schedule accomplishes much simplification in
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PROVISIONS FOR THE WPA PROGRAM DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1940
the wage payment structure through the elimination of adjustments that had been in forre.
The new schedule effects a substantial increase in WPA monthly earnings for workNs
in the southern states. Unskilled ·wages iu
rural counties of the South are inrreased from
$26.00 a month to either $31.20 or $35.10 depending upon the type of unskilled work.
Comparable increases apply to other groups of
counties-in those ha,Tii1g cities of 100,000 or
more population the new unskilled rates are
$46.80 and $50.70 a month, as against tlw
earlier rate of $40.00. Upward adjustments of
about the same magnitude were also made for
the other kinds of work in the various urbanization groups of Region III.
In the northern and western states genC'rnlly,
only small changes result from tlw new schedulP
of monthly earnings. For some areas whPrC'
contiguity or other adjustmC'uts have bPC'n ii1
effect there are slight reductions. In cities of
·wage Region I having 100,000 or more population, for example, the unskilk•d wage "A" ru tC'
is $57 .20 as against the precC'ding basic ratP of
$55.00 which, as a result of adjustments, had
been raised to $60.50 in certain places. LargPst
increases in Wa,ge RC'gions I and II are proYidC'd
in the less populous counties of tlw ,vest whC'n',
as already noted, the cost of living is not as
much below the cost of living in urban countiC's
as it is in other parts of tlw country.
Labor and Employment Provisions
The sections of tlw ERA Art of I 939 dC'nliug
with employment and Pligihility of worhrs
require that no relief worke~r 5 is to bC' rc•tairwd
on the WPA program, nor is any relic•£ workPr
to be given employment, un!Pss his 1wed for
employment has been cC>rtifiC'd Pithcr by a
local public relief agC'ncy or by the WPA. ThC'
Commissioner is further dirt>cted to cause• n
periodic investigation of the rolls of rl'lie·f
employees on WPA projPcts and to diminate
from the rolls those not iu actual nt>Pd. 'fii<'fW
rnvestigations are to be conducted so as to
4 Adn1inistrative praetke requires that at least
~)fi
Jl<'rC'eut oft hc, workPrs
on each official project shall be f)ersons who arc certified as in nr(•<l. 1--tal c
administrators are authorized to exempt ad<litio110I workers from the
certification requirement if necessary to 8..'-:::.Ure the opcrn tion of :--ound
projects; however, the numhor of noneertifird workPrs on a projP<"I nm~·
not exceed 10 percent and at least 9S percent of all project employ,•cs witliin
eaeh state must be persons certified as in need.
13
Pnsure a clwcking of <:>ach case at least once
evC'ry SL'\: months.
The n<:>w principlP is laid down rn the act
that, as for as practicable, prpfrrence in employing- workers on WPA projects or rctaii1ing them
in employment is to be based on relative needs.
WhPn' rPlntivC' 11PP<ls arc found to be the same,
prefrrcnce's shall be accordPd, us was required
und<:>r thP pn•cPding act, in th<:> following order:
(1) United States VC'terans who nre in ne<:>d
and arP AmPrican citizens; nnd (2) other AmPrie·an citizens, Indians, and other persons owing
allc-giuncc to the "Gnitcd States who are in need.
Aliens are not digiblc for employment on
projects prosPcuted under the Act of 1939 and
1wrsons who have not made affidavit as to
l Tnited Statps citizt>nship are not to receive~
pay under the act.
A new provision, effeetive not later than
August 31, 1939, rails for the removal from
employment of all relief workers, with the
exrnption of veterans, who have been continuously employed on projeet.s for more than 18
months. Workers so removed are not eligible
for reemploynwnt on ,vPA projects until 30
days after their rernoYnl and until they have
been re<·ertified as eligible for employment.
Those persons in need who refuse bona fide offers
of positions in prfrnte employment which they
are C'apuble of performing (under reasonable
working conditions and at pren1iling wages for
suC"h work in the community) are iuelig-ible for
,vPA employment during the period when
stlC'h private employment would have been
available. As in previous ERA Acts, it is provided that \VPA workers who tnke priYato
employment and lose surh employment t.hrough
no fault of their own arc entitled to immediate
re,;umption of their previous employment
,;tat us with tltP \VPA. Such work<:>rs, however,
must still be in need and reemployment is
subject to the rww statutory provision (already
in forC"e under ndminist.rnti,·e rulings of the
"TPA) that the person seckinv reinstatement
on "TPA pn>jPcts must first have drawn all
unemploynwnt rompensntion pny:ments that
have ac<·rtICd to him and which are available to
him as a result of his private employment.
EnC"h of the ag<'ncies opera ting projects with
funds appropriated by the ERA Art of 1939 is
authorized to dPtermine whether persons are
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14
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
able to perform their project work and no
person incapable of performing satisfactory
work may be assigned on a project.
Other Provisions
The first of n series of provisions in the 1939
ERA Act makes it a criminal offense to solicit
contributions for political pm·poses from persons having employment under the act. The
second makes it a criminal offense to promise
employment or other benefits made possible by
the act as a reward for political activity or to
deprive or threaten to deprive any person of
benefit because of race, creed, color, or political
activity. Subsequent provisions prohibit administrative and supervisory persons from using their official authority for influencing
political elections, and forbid the payment of
salary or expenses of any administrative or
supervisory employee who is a candidate, or
the campaign manager of a candidate, for n
state or local office paying a salary and requiring full-time services. Vn,rious sections of the
act deal, in some detail, with matters relating
to administration and administrative and supervisory employees. Among the net's other provisions are those concerning employees' compensation, property damage claims, receipts
and collections, establisl1men t of revolving funds
in connection with supplies and equipment, and
false st,atements and fraud.
Appropriations to Other Agencies
In addition to the approprintion to the WPA
of $1,477,000,000, the ERA Act of 1939 contains appropriations for sevPral other agencies.
To the National Youth Administration is appropriated $100,000,000 for the fiscal year 1940
together with balances of previous appropriations. These funds are to be used to provide
part-time work and tTaining to needy young
persons who are no longer in regulnr attendance
at school and who have been unable to obtain
employment, and to enable needy young persons to continue their education at schools,
colleges, and universities. An appropriation of
~143,000,000 together with the balances of
unobligated funds is made to the Department
of Agriculture. These funds are made available for continuing to provide rural rehabilitation and relief to needy farmers and relief to
other needy persons through loan, grant, project
work, and debt adjustment programs conducted
largely under the Farm Security Administration. The Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration receives nn appropriation of $7 ,000,000, together with bnlances from its previous
appropriations, to continue its rural rehabilitn.tion and project activities in Puerto Rico.
To the Bureau of Indian Affairs is appropriated
$1,350,000 to provide relief and rural rehabilitntion for needy Indinns.
Funds for ndministrative e:\.l)enses incurred
by various Federal agencies and bureaus incidental to the carrying out of the purposes of
the act are appropriated as follows: General
Accounting Office, $5,225,000; Department of
the Treasury, $14,598,825 (Procurement Division, Branch of Supply, $5,200,000; Division
of Disbursement, $2,500,000; Office of the
Treasurer, $675,000; Secret Service Division,
$250,000; Office of Commissioner of Accounts
and Deposits and Division of Bookkeeping and
vVnrrnnts, $.5,973,825); Bureau of the Budget,
$26,175; Public Health Service, $300,000; and
Civil Aeronauti<'s Authority, $250,000. For
pnyment of medical and hospitnl care and disability and death compensation for persons
injured while at work, $5,250,000 is made
available to the United States Employees'
Com pensn.tion Commission. Including the additionnJ appropriations made to the Executive
Office of the President ($850,000) and the·
Nationnl Resources Planning Board ($750,000),
the total funds specificaUy provided in the
ERA Act of 1939 amount to $1,755,600,000.
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WPA PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AND OPERATIONS
of \YPA projrct work arp
Tfound in evidences
all parts of the country. Adapted
ANGIBLE
to the particular needs of the mnn_v citiPs, towns,
and rural areas, the accomplishnwnts rpa\izPd
through ·wPA operations include lnrgP numb<•rs
of widely varied public improvements and publie achievements. Among the wealth of prnj<•ct
accomplishments are many new or impro,•pd
public buildings, more adequate road a11<I st1·pi't
systen1s, new airports, improvPd rpcrpn.tionnl
grounds, additional sPwer and wnt<>r f:wilitiPs,
sanita.tion and health mpasurPs, HJl(I various
kinds of conservntion and flood control work.
Konconstru<'tion work has contributc>d clothing and other ne<'essary artic!Ps to fomiliPs in
need; it has providPd leadprship and instruction in recreation urnl in adult und otlwr kinds
of education; it has PxtendPd public hntlth
services, made possible the impro,·<•lllPllt of
public records, and suppliPd informn tion of
general interest through tmfiic, natural r<'source, and research nnd str1.tisti<'al s111·,·e•~·s.
Significant sNviC'<'S lrnv<' also bePn providPd
through th<' art, music, theatn•. writinµ:. :111d
historical r<'cemls projects of tlw WPA.
. \Yith the exception of a wry limitt>d arnouut
of Federally initi11ted work, \YP,\ projpcts nre
undertakings that nre propos<'d by tlw stat<•,
city, county, urn! othN local governmPnts of
the communities where the work is e·arrie•d 011.
Sponsorship by such bodies in vol vcs not only
the initial plnnning of the work but also the
acceptance by the sponsor of part of th<> <'Ost,
particularly thnt incurred in providing suppli<'s,
nrntcrials, <'q11ipment, and other nonlahor
items. ln ord(']' to b<' ncceptn ble for \Y PA
opPra tions projPcts must satisfy thP vn rious
Pligibilit)' rt•quirements. These are built around
the prngram 's basic obj<'ctfre of providing work
for the lllll'lll ploy<'d on us('ful pu blie proj<•cts.
A reserToir of nppron•d projrcts is <'ontinually
maintained from whi<'h the \YPA S<'lects for
activP opPrntion such projects as nrP most
suited to thP skills of tlw unemployed p<'rsons
n.vnilable for assigmnent and the work rcquirPIIIP!lts of th<' mnn_v communities.
::\lost WP.A undNtnkings arc construction
jobs. Projc>cts of this kind a<'counted for rnon•
than 21,,'>00 of the• :{1.100 \YPA 1mde~tnki11gs
in 01wrntion at the' <'IHI of ,Junr 19:39_ In t(']'ms
of l'lllployllll'llt C'onstruction projpcts we'n' C'Y<'ll
morc> importnnt since constrnetion llll<IPrtakings pro,·idPd work for about 90 J><'rsm1s ])l'I'
project ns against an avPrngr for nll typ<'s of
a.ctiviti<•s of 78 worhrs 1wr projPct. Almost
8,700 rnnd and strPC't constnwtion projpcts
11lone W(']'P in op<'ration at th<' Plld of tlw fiscnl
~'par, with an an•rngP labor forcp of 120 J>Prsons
pN projPct. IksidPs its c011struction work the
\YPA was Pngag<'d in onr i.400 whit<• collar
projP<'ts ol v11rio11s kinds and nlmost 2,200
spwing proj<•e·ts. (SPP TahlP 2.)
Tot11l PXpPnditurPs on \YPA projPet 01wrntions through ,J111w :rn. 193n, amo1111trd to
$i.fi7U,2.i4,000. lncluekd in the nggn'gnte \H'r<'
$(),;37;3,417,000 in I◄'Pd<•ral funds of which almost
ninP-tPnth,; wns uspd in pnyn1<'nt of wng<'s to
projN·t workPrs. As nokd nnd discussPd lwlow
};-)
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16
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 2.-NUMBER OF WORK PROJECTS OPERATED BY
THE "''PA, BY TYPES OF PROJECTS A
As
OF JUNE
Number or
Type or Project
21, 1939
/ Number of
Proj•
ccts
Type of Project
Proj-
ects
Total. .
·············1,!1, 140 I
Highways, roads, and
streets . ..... .... .... ....
Form-to-market and
other secondary
I 8, 685
1-- II
roads . .. . ... .. ..... I 3, 18:J
Streets and alleys.... . 1, 932
Otber. ....... ...
5,n
•·····1_!·
Public buildings.. . ... ....
4, i48
I
Airports and other transportation faeilitics . _ _ _
Other ............. .
W hitc collar. ...... . .... .
Parks and other rccrca•
tional racilities .. ........ 1 2,025
················I
953
I,Oi2
-I
1,264
Coascn·ation ________ ___ _
1-----;;i-
Flood control. ...... ..
Othcr. . .. . . . .. ....... . · l. Oi3
ScwC'r syste ms and other
utilities. . . ...... .. .. . .. .
2,509
Sewer systems..... . ..
Other.. . .... ..........
l, 429
l.080
Ins_tallation,cxt_cn·
176
61
i, 4fii
Education ___ __ ______ _
Recrcat1on ____ ____ ___ _
Professional, clerical,
and 5crvi ce __ ______ __
Educational. . . ....... : l. i94
Other. ..... .. ..... ····! 2,954
Parks.. ........ .. ... . ..
Other
237
Airports
and
airways _______________ _
314
335
agencies financed with transferred WPA funds
or for the work project and student aid programs
of the NYA.
It is the purpose of the sections that follow
to review the work project operations of the
WPA, filling in the broad outline that has been
suggested. The discussion deals successively
with the work accomplished, the manner in
which project operations have been carried on,
and the various eA--penditures that have been
made. Employment on WP.A projects 1s reviewed elsewhere on pages 89 to 107.
6. 818
1
s1on, or rcY 1s1on
of public records .·
gov- 1
2. 410
Extension of
crnmcnt serv-
ices . ___________ _
Studies and sur•
veys .... ....... .
I. 510
A~~i;;ologi~~~ ~r~'.·.
Ilomc C'conomics __
Federa l Project .
37
828
o~~~ _1___==== =: == ==!
321
114
I
1,508
• Data app ly t.o continental United States.
on page 30, sponsor s provided $1,302,837,000
of the total, contributed principally in the procurement of supplies and equipment. The
project expenditure totals relate only to projects operated by the WPA and do not include
expenditures for undertakings of other Federal
Physical Accomplishments on
WPA-Operated Projects
An inventory of the work completed on WPA
projects must include a count of such diverse
physical accomplishments as the building of
roads and bridges, the erection of buildings, the
installment of w11ter supply and sanitation
systems, the cre11tion of recreational facilities,
and the work performed in sewing rooms and
the other accomplishments in the nonconstruction fields. Some indication of the amount of
the different kinds of work is, of course, to be
found in the man-hours worked, the numbers of
persons employed at successive periods, and
the funds expended on the several types of
projects. But because such informat,ion in
WPA·BL;lL'l' ,:,E\I.AGE l>I S PO S AL l'LAi\''l':-; CONTllllll' 'l'E NOTABLY TO l'v!UNlClPAL FAClLl'l'lES lN M.·\ NY CITIE S
AND TOWNS
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WPA PROJECT ACCOl\IPLISHME::-.TS AKD OPERATIONS
17
1TEJ\18
OF PHYSICAL AccOMPLISH-
each case makes use of n common denominn tor
it provides a.t best only a very indirect measure
of the many accomplishments.
For a true inventory it is necessary to define
and obtain information on a number of comparatively broad classes of work whi<"h ns a
group are able to cover the general field of
activities. Each class of accomplishment must
relate to some type of accomplishment that is
objective and measurablr, covering things that
are at least roughly similar. Since the number
of classes must not be unduly large, inventory
can be taken of only the important kinds of
accomplishments. Qunlifications su<"h as have
been suggested are inherent in any invrntory of
physical accomplishment for n broad program
of activities.
In the following discussion of the work <"Ompleted through WPA project operations two
kinds of inventory information nre used. The
first relates to the work done on the WP.A <"onstruction projects that were completed d ming
the year ending June 30, 1939, and thr other
to the work accomplished on all projects, including construction and nonconstruction undertakings and completed and active proje<"ts,
from the beginning of WP A activities in 1935
through June 30, 1938. The first is of Sl'JTice
in showing the rate of completion for important
kinds of accomplishments during a re<·t>nt
period, on an annual or a. day-to-day bnsis, and
the second, the magnitude of the physi<"al accomplishment totals for the WPA progrnm
when cumulated over a period of almost thrt>e
years.
Accomplishments on Construction Projects
Completed During the Year
Ending June 30, 1939
Construction projects of the \VP A wt>re
finished at the rate of 70 pPr day during tl1C' 12
months ending June 30, 1939. Through tlwse
projects the \VPA in cooperation with sponsoring agencies had made ready for public use
approximately 111,000 miles of new and improved highways, roads, and streC'ts, 6,400 new
buildings, 2,130 miles of new water mains
3,280 miles of new sewer lines, and many other'
kinds of new and reconditioned public facilitiPs.
The potential benefits accruing to the public
TABLE :~.-- -8ELECTlrn
MENT ON v\'PA-OP~:RAT~m CoNSTRUCT!O!'i PROJECTS
Colll'U:TED DFHJNG THE YEAH ENDING .JUNE 30, 1939
lJHilIWAY~, H.OADS, AXD STHEET8
I
Typp of C'on:-trndion
--~~>~;,;-----~-------·
Pav<'d
Total
i
1_ l_l~· ;H~"
(~!:~-
Rnra~
roads
Stree~~-1
and allf•ys, road"
~~'.c~!c =~!'.~~ [ ~~l~;
4,()28
4, i!H 1--- · 215
-~---------!---
-----------
H,fia7
~ew
4,
Improvl'd ___ :::- _:~::-~
S4:,
41\31
2, 2,\S
2,
2.
2. 331
4, ;112
:mi
124
n
-;01,_1_41i ~9~~16 = ~756 ~ 174
Unpaved_-------------------.
from the many kinds of a<"complishments were
widesprPnd throughout the country.
Hurnl roads of the form-to-mnrket type
nccountt>d for n large share' of the 111,000 miles
of ronds urnl strC't>ts that were finished on the
projPets which wNe complC'ted during tht> YNH',
An averngt> of 255 mill's of unpaved ronds construct<'<! or improved per day wC'rf' included
among thC' projPct accomplishments of the
\Y PA. Ftfff'd roads and str<>C'ts Wl'rt' cornplt>te<l
nt the rntc> of 27 rnilC's per dav. As mav lw
noted in TnblC' :1, about hair' of the p~ve<l
mileage was new construction work; the newly
pnved streets in cities nnd the nPwly pan'd
ronds in rurnl :H{'ns we.rt> nhout equnl in lPngth.
·wp A accornplislmwnt.s in the line of road
nnd strrc>t n ppurtenancPs includrd the constructim1 of 17 ,(i00 1ww hridgrs and viaducts
and thr renovation of 8,510 during the ypnr- 48 and 2:3 rPspt>ctively on n dnily hnsis~ Approximntely 162,700 cu!n•rts nlso werp instnlled,
TARU] 4.--SELECTim TTEMS OF PHYSICAL AccOMPLISHlrnKT ON \YPA-OPERATED CoN~TRrcTro:-,i PRon:<::Ts
CoMl'LJ•:TED DuRtNG nrn YEAR EKDING ,Ju:-m
1939
;w,
BHW<iE~. rrr.vi,:nT:-:, AXD OTIIEH l{OAD APPFHTEXAXCES
Unit of
.\lpasure
lll<'nt
Type of Hond A ppurtl'THHH't'
_
1
~urnher______
I
·-
-
--
--
-
------ · 8idowa.lks and path-;
C'urbs __
Gut tors
mc,nts
17,590
, ~umher______
:s;nmher_ ___ -·1
~umber ______ -
__ ! :\1ilcs _________
1\liles_________
-- - -- - - ---- - --
In1prove-
H,filO
-------
1 ~umhcr______
\Yood
81,,,,1.
.\1n.~onry _
Paved
Unpavt•d
~l'W
('on-
strurtion
13,803
!,HI
3,lll2
2, 1\52
I, OHi
4,2f>7
1;;;;:6;;;-~-;,~\!K~
=-=---3~257=---1~2~
-------
~files_________
2,690
56i
MiJ,,s ________ _
3,005
1, 06i
!,
omi
li3
==----=--= =-----=
Miles ________ _
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tl70
106
18
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
and the length of new sidewalks, curbs, and
gutters built by the WPA exceeded 3,006 m il es
in the first two instances and 1,000 miles in
the last instance. Ce rtnin important types of
the many kind s of roadway appurtenance work
are shown in Table 4.
WPA work on public buildings jobs that were
finished during the 12 months ending June 30,
1939, resulted in th e completion of 6,400 new
buildings and 630 additions to existing structures and the renovation of 17,340 others. An
average of 18 new buildings and 48 renovated
buildings were completed each clay. Work of
the latter kind ranged from major remodeling
to general reconditioning and incluclecl the reconcli tioning required after floods and the New
England hurricane. Of the new buildings about
a sixth were schools and a third were recreational
buildings, such as auditori ums, gymnasiums,
stadia, and bathhouses. Among the other
kinds of WPA-constructed public buildings, as
may be seen in Table 5, were hospitaJs, courthouses, city halls, armories, jails, fire houses,
and aircraft lrnngars.
The completion of WP A water supply and
sanitation proj ects during the year resulted in
notable increases in municipal facilities. In
the course of the year 2,130 miles of new water
mains and distribution lin es (about 6 miles per
clay ) and 3,280 miles of new storm and sanitary
sewer lines (about 9 miles per day ) were placed
in sen-ice. Work was also completed on significant mileages of improved lines of each type .
Related accomplishments includ ed the con struction of 21 new water treatment plunts, 150
sewage disposal plants, and 20 ga rbage nncl
TABLE 5 .-SELEC TED ITEMS OF P HYSICAL AccOMPLISHMENT ON WPA - OPERATED CON iiTRUCTION PROJECTS
COMPLETED D URING THE YEAR ENDL1'1G JUNE 30, 1939
PUBLIC
llu7LDINGS
N umber of Buildings
Type of Building
New
co~j~~ucTotaL ___ ______ ______ ___ ______ _
Ed ucational. __ _____ ____ ____
I
Addi-
ment.s
1 ~~1~~
~ l~ I~
~
25
Schools ______ _
Libraries __
Irnpro ve-
tions
319
18
l
7,659
192
I
2. 135 1===99=], = =
1.=44=9
Auditoriums ___ ______ ____ ______ I
Stad ia . gra ndst.ands. etc_ _____ _
Gymnasiums ____ ________________ _
Ot.hcr
_____ _____ ___ ___ _ _
Bospit.als _______ __ _____ _____ __ ______ __.
Penni inst. it.utions ___ . ____ ______ _.. __ .
Courthouses. officrs, and other admin-
70 I
31
106
442
s
202
221
34
163
I.402 =====2G=- l== ~
97_8
3G
11
510
30
2
89
Fi~~\~~~~~sbuildings : ::: : : ::: :: : :: ::: :
Garages -------- _ ·-- ---- -Aircraft han~ars _
Warehouses _
___ _____ ____
269
4~i
4i
345
2i
1,0 li
Recreational bu ildin gs __ ___ _____ _. __.
Armories . __
Other. _
-- -- -- - --- -- ---·
41
830
3
14
i03
~~
jn
i3
6
65
79
5.015
trash incinerators as well as 170 pumping stations and 400 storage tanks , reservoirs, and
cisterns. The major accomplishments in the
wnter supply and sn.nitution field are shown m
Table 6.
The rapid strides that have been made in
airpor t and airway facil i ties in the past several
years have been greatly furthered by WPA
projects for the constrnction and improvement.
of airports and uir navigation aids. Th.rough
the projects completed in the period from
July 1, 1938, to June 30, 1939, 52 new land ing
fields were made available for use and 62
existing landing areas were improved (one in
T .·\B[,E Lt - SELECTED lTEMR OF PHYl> I CAL ACCOMPLISHMENT 0:--1 " TPA-OPERATED CONSTRUCTION PROJE C T S
COMPLETED DumNG THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1939
\ V ;\TEn SPPPLY AKD SA:"- ITARY AKD STOR M SF.WER FACILITIES
-"•'.-
✓--
:·i:-~•:-:::;?•-:.-::::-:<.,,
Un it nr Mens- /New Con- Jm pr nYeI strnetion
monts
Type nf Ji'1w ility
11rC'rne11t
- - ------
- - - - - --
\\Inter 111ni11 i.:., aqueducts , nnct distrihntion line:- ___ _
r
Co nsumer ron11cct.io n~-8tora gr tonks, rcscr nii rs, :mrl cis-
:
terns ___ _______ ____ __ ______ __
J\·1ilcs __
Nu mbe r __
2. 133
40,000
Numhor
400
98
N umber ._
15 1
102
'J'reatmont plnnts :
Scwn~c - ______________ __ _.
\V" tcr _____ ____ ____ _
)J umhor _
N u mhor _
Oarhnl[e incin cr nlors _
Punq1in 1-' stntions
Stor m nnd g~rni tnrv sewers
FINE
ARTS MUSEUi\ l S ,\HE J/\C'LUDED
PUllLlC BUILDING S
AMONG
\\'P _~
Scn· irr eo nneCt ions _
l\ilnnholes nn d cntc h bnsins
Snn itnry toi lets __ ___
__
903
81. 000
21
20
:"! umber _
IGf.
Miles . . .
Numhcr .
3, 2ii
Nu mber __
N umber _
Digitized by
n.ooo
95,912
438, l r.G
Google
2fi
13
i3
5"4
I. 200
iO. 4i4
2, .52i
19
WPA PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMEXTS AXD OPERATIOXS
every seven and SL'\: days, respectively). WPA
workers on airport and airway projects also
completed the construction of 4 7 new aircraft
hangars and placed air markers in 1,670
locations.
Selection of a few of the outstanding kinds of
physical accomplishments pertaining to roads,
public buildings, sewer and water syRtems, and
airports and airways <loes not cover many kinds
of work in each of these fields. Furth<'nnore no
reference has been ma<le to many other fields of
WPA work. Through work on recr<'a tional
facilities, for example, newly developed park
areas averaging 30 acres in size wcr<' opened at
the rate of one each day as well as <'ight new or
improved playgrounds, five new tennis courts,
and two new athletic fields. These and other
kinds of accomplishments arc cov<'red m
Table 7.
TABLE 7.-SELECTED lTEM8 OF PnY8TCAL AccOMPLISll:IIENT ON WPA-OPERATED CoxsTHFCTIOX PIWJE<"T"
COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR ExDIXG .J nm :30, I g;rn
:!\1ISC'E[.L\NEOC~ FACILITIES
Type ol Facility
II
A
Coil or l\lea...,ure- 1Xew Con- Improvements
i
I
ment
[ struetion
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ ' __ - - .
Airplane landing fields
Parks.
-----------------Playgrounds_________________
_\thletic fields _____________ ..
Tennis courts ________________ ,
Swimming and wadinir pools
Dams (other than storage
or power)-----------..
.
Ri~~f) _~ot~~:--~~an _:'.~~~Retaining walls anct revet- 1
ments .... ________ ._.__
Landscaping around puhHc
hulldings.-----------Heforestation _____________ __ .
!\"umber ...
.\cres ____ _
!\"umber ..
!\"umber.
!\"umber_ ....
Number __ .
.52
fi2
11, O!iU
'8.%:J
2. :J:Jl
4k4
flfli
1, jfl,5 ,
253 '
4.'"ili
mm
f,fj
14. 7\JO
4\J
i. :Jll4. 111111
177,000
Linear leet
1. r,w. :JOO
Xurnher ol build- ,
in~s-- __
·
:S:umber ol trees
planted..
llfi, IXIO
!\"umber
s,
yards sur-
1~g~
1------ •---
.1,621,0f~I
1
-' Other than highways, roads, and streets; pul>lic• buildings; and \\'atcr
supply and sanitary and storm st.•wer faciliti<'s.
Other broad groups of projc>ct accomplishmen ts that have not he<'n rcf<'rr<'d to above
include flood and erosion control, navigation
aids, and irrigation work; grounds improvements; conservation measures; and misePllnncous work in the construction field not
elsewhere covered. Table 7 reviews Rome of the
work completed during the JH18t year in each of
these fields. As already noted the inventory of
work done on the WPA projects which were
completed during the year ending ,Tmw 30, 1!)39,
does not cover the nonconstructiou activiti<'s
of the WPA.
Accomplishments on All Types of Projects
through June 30, 1938
The inv<'ntory of ·wPA accompliRhmcnts
from tlw lwginning of 01wrntions in 1935
through ,June 30, 1938, summarizes the important kinds of work done during n period of
almost three years including nouconstruction
HR well ns construction work. It indicates that,
ns of ,June :jo, Hl38, tlw <'Xten t of WPA accomplishm<'nts hnd already ass1m1<'cl lnrge magnitud<'s. Further accomplishments efkct<'d in
tl1<' year following Jun<' 30, 1938, probably
W<'rP roughly proportional to the accomplishments realized in the otl1<'r years if allowance
is mad<' for diff<'r<'nt l<'VPls of activity.
It should be noted, how<'ver, that cumulative
totals through Jun<' 30, 1939, cannot b<' obtain<'d by combining th<' dntn for projects completed in the last year with the cumulative data
as of June 30, 1938. The latter tabulntion includes compl<'tc>d work units on all vYPA proj<'ds thnt had hP<'n placed in operation up to
thnt tinw, including work on both completed
and active projects. The ,June 1939 data, on
the other hand, relnt<' to work accomplished on
"'PA projects which were completed during the
y<'ar ending June 30, I 939. Som<' of thPS<' projPcts were in opNn tion prior to Jun<' 30, 1938,
and contain work units which wer<' compl<'ted
at that time. Such work iR included in ti}(' 1938
Rlmuuary. It should he not<'d nlso that work
done dming the last _vpar on projpets which
WN'e being opNnted on ,Jm1P :30, I !-rn9, is not included in <'itll('r 81m1mar~'- Summary tabulations of \YPA accomplishments, as of June 30,
1938, npp<'nr as Tnb]ps 8 and 9 nnd stutc distributions of sl'lectNI it<•ms us Tahl<' XVll of
tlw appendix.
Construction Activities
That rond and strnot work hns hoen of importance in tlw \YP.A program is shown in the
inYcntor,v of nccomplishmcnt through ,June :30,
19:38, in m1wh th<' samP way t-hat it appears in
the n.ccomplishmen t data noted aboY<' and in
the e111plo,vme11t, miw-hour, and exp<'nditure
figure8 noted elsewhere in this report. Through
,June 1!J:38 project cmplo.wcs had built or
reconditioned a total of 280,000 mil<'s of roads
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20
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 8.-SELECTED ITEMS OF PHYSICAL AccOMPLIRHMENT ON WP A-OPERATED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
TIIROUGII
.ru,rn 30, I 938
Numher
Item
l'nil nf .:\lensurc•nwnt
1Nl'w eon-
____ l_sn,~:·- Public buil<lings-total
Educational buildings-total
Schools. __
I~ibraries
Number
!,ti!\3 •46,328
Numlwr
2. 3ti2
Numhl•r
Numht•r
2. 28tJ
73
--17,58 • 21,5.50
I
A
Item
. I IrnA_( 11
c I- provet1ons , nwnts
Ii, 4112
~umtwr
iUO
j. 22,li2
:12
r.22
Unit of Measurement
struetion
Highways, roads, streets,
and related facilitiesContinued.
Bridges and viaductsContinued.
SteeL
Mnsonry _
Recrnntional bu!!dings-t.otal
Auditoriums
Stadia, grandstands, etc
Gymnasiums_
Other (pavilions,
hath houses, etc.).
Hospitals __ _
Penal institutions
Courthouses, ofli<'PS,
and other administrative huil<lings
Fire houses __
Garages
Aircraft hangars
'\\r arehouses
Armorif's ____ _
Other buildings and
small structures (h11s
and streetcar shelters, etc.)
Demolition of buildings __
NumhPr
Numlwr
Kumhl•r
Numlwr
s, 4~fi
--------- (lg
215
9i4
40i
NumhPr
3. 800
Nurnhn
Xumhn
IOI
Numtwr
Numlwr
Nurnh(~r
792
Nurnllc'r
Xumlwr
:\"1m1lwr
2nn
I
43
104
!
149
'1,041
102
80,1
169
Numhl•r _________ .
1\'"umber __________ _
Culverts_
247
Gradt•-ero:5.sing
nation.
337
297
3S
Ii
1,422
321
12fi
23
2,909
I, 403
(iti
Mi
.1
.19
1, 170
3
270
240
12,373
12. 312
Rural roads-total
Miles ____________ _
270, M4
~-Jiles
24.1. 280
Paved-total
New_
Improved
rnpaved
'
Miles_
:m. 483
Paved-totaL.
Miles
New_
Improved
Unpaved
Miles
J\fi!es
Milos_
Urban streets-total.
Oth,•r (parks, e,•m•
eteries,
etc.)total
Pa vrd-tota I_
Number.
Length in f,•et
Xumber of crossings elin1inatcd.
313,204
8,362,654
.r',, li:34
Miles __________
Miles ____________ .
Miles _________
7, 42{)
5,883
1,540
Miles ____________ _
11. 2\)()
.5, 00!
G. 2S!I
10. 103
Number_
Number
Numher
Swimming pools. ___ _
Number
Surface nrea- fn sq.
ft
Numher
Surface arcri in sq.
ft
Nurnhcr
Number of holes
Aeres
Number
4,041
OoH courses.
Miles __
790
New_
Miles.
Improved
Miles
Unpaved ______ Miles.
Tennis courts __
Handhn!I courts
llorseshoe c•ourts
Ice-skating rinks
456
3:J4
:J, 2.11
1\nmhcr
New constnH't.ion
Ski jumps
Ski trails
_
ImproveOutdoor theatres
men ts
Band shells
\\'at.er supply, srmitntion,
and drainage systems:
2ti, 508
\Yater mnins, 1u1m~ducts, and distribu2:l, 521
tion lines.
!llfi, 137
Storage tanks, reser\·oirs, and cisterns.
14, 244 ,
Storage dams
402. 210 I
\\'ells
i, 071
437,655
2,206
i6, 263
50,908
I, 300. 783
6,554
2,206
904
11, 855
4,040
2. S.39
I. 201
I. 569
492
550
53, f\32
429
22,247
1,382
1. 483
44. 25/i
343
17. S.."4
!lA!, 000
------------
420,000
153
19,472
1,483,695
49
IO, 223
204
35, ii!l
604. 817
41
-----------
1, 78i
1,504
10,012
10. 628
1, 06i
4. 232
32,559
246,684
110 -----------1,665
28
125
I. 519
fl. 799
~
Playgrounds-total
Schoo!.._
Other. __ _
Im-
provements
41
of -;. oad -
or,
{,, 9:{:l
233, 713
2,516
135,360
5, i43
li5, 030
Curbs
Length in miles
Guttc>rs
·---- .
Length in miles
Guardrails and guard- r.,,ngth in miles_
wails
Lights for roads and /~'l?~~er
st.rcNs ___ _
equipped
___
Roadside drainagP
Miles of ditch.
~Tiles of pipe
Milt's ___
Roadside landscaping
S trcet signs __
Number of signs
marh_•_
~umber of Si)!DS
c>rc>cted_
Airports and airway equipment (cxe!. hl<lgs. l
Landing flC'l<ls __
Number. ____
Acn~s ______
Runways __ _
Length in feet
Air beacons ____ _
~umber_.
Air markers ___ _
~umber.
Recreational facilitie:,; (excluding buildings):
Athletie fle!<ls
Numher_
Acres
Pnrks
Numher_
Acres ----------Additions to parks
Number
A<'res
Numhef ~-- _- ~::: · -Fair grounds_
Aeres - - - - - - - - .
11, fill7
Miles
Miles
Miles
elimi-
Hickwalks and pathstutai__
Pan•d __
Unpaved._
Nurnlwr
Highways, roads, streets,
and related far:ilities:
Highways, roads, and
streets-total._
Number __________
Length in feet _
?-lumber ___ .
Length in feet.
3, 546
80
2, eins
====-1~=-:=
92
New con-
1. 594
89fl
698
Number_
!\'um her
~un1her_
Surface arc>a in sq.
ft
Numher
l'vli!es
Number
Number
5,010
4,042
96S
471
225
8,251,000
440
3,640.000
60
1, •190, 000
143
1,602
11, liO
4,582
i28
1,142
I, 037
216. 000
214
41,519,000
41
62
i3
18, 4i3. 000
13
116
2,857
21. 211
1,851
62
i0
2m
32
12
33
1
Road shoulders (not
included above)
Miles __________ _
Bridges and viaducts- {Number _____ _
totaL ________________ Length in feet.
Wood _____ _
A
Revised,
Number __________ '
Length in feet_ ____ ,
4, 360
29,084
932,048
20,825
,m.258
6,086
2. 204
i/~~!e~f ·consu111ei-, ronnection.s
148,000
201,000
{Number.
__
1,342
358
· l Gallons capacil r _ 716,500,000 16,269,946,000
Number ___
4,091
469
Number
2.059
2.022
1
(Concluded on next page)
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WPA PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OPERATIONS
TABLE 8.--SELECTED ITEMS OF PHYSICAL AccOMPLISHMENT ON "'PA-OPt;RATED CoNSTRl'CTION PROJECTS-Con.
THROUGH
Ju,rn 30. 1938
:-;umber
Unit of Measurement
Item
Number
,----~------
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---
prove-
struetion
---
Item
Im-
New con-
lTnit of ::\lfasureme □ t
New
Water supply, sanitation,
etc.-Continued.
Treatment plants:
I
Sewage (excl. cess- ,
pools and septic I
315
tanks) __ --------. Number
\Yater. ____________ Xumber
79
Garbage incinerators._ . __ __ __ Kumber
35
Pumping stations__ __ Number_ _ _
:J86 '
Miles___
_ __ I
8. 8,IS I
Storm and sanitary- Kumber (~fser\""ire
sewers.
{ connectwns . ___ _
222. 000
Manholes and catch
2:J7. 000
basins.-------------- Number __ _
I
Sanitary toilets _______ _ Number ___ _
I. 144. 000
Septic tanks __________ _ Kum her ___ _
,), 5i0
Mine sealing __ _______ _ Number or open- I
ings sealed ______ _
I J.5, .191
H, 7;32
Mosquito control._____ Miles of ditch
1, IH2. 000
Acres drained
Gallons of spray
I, 422. 000
Drainage (other than i{MJi°'.:'.,\irlitrh-2, OIH I
98fi
roadside and mosqui- Miles of pipe
to eradication).
Acres draine,L _
2.89t.OOO
I
1
Flood and erosion control- I
con-1
strue-
mcnts
-- --- - -
tion
,
ImprovemPnts
Flood anderosioncontrol-1
Continued.
Le\'ee:- and emh0nk- {Linear feet__
I. 352,000
3,641,000
ments _______________ 1 Cu. yds. placed
13,748,000
14, 34S, 000
Irrigation
W9, 000
2, 72fi, 000
tfi~;; of flume or
229
91
canal.
379
:J, 035
Grounds improvements:
26
{N!]rnher of huildLandsea
11ing
around
mgs
_
179
13, 308
public huil<iings _
___
Acres
2,600
34. 100
M iscel1aneous land28, IXXJ
sea ping
Acres
7. 800
Lighting airpofts, {:--umber of places
I
126,000 '
parking Jots, athletic
lighted
_
110
57
Acres lighted
__
fields, etc _
15, ooo I
3, 127
10.
500 I
Fencing
Miles
7, 9!i9
IO, 490
69
Cemetery improvements.
Acres
4,500
---------I 1\1 is(•e 11aneous:
4, 9fi0
784, om
Tunnels:
Vehic·ular ___
Number
10
5
Length in feet
I, 244
5,408
Kun1ber
Pe<lestrian
9. 490
71
II
Length in feet
322
10. 986
3. 220
Other_
8,728,000
Numher
208
35
Length in feet
111, 184
20. 06~
Fish hatcheries
Number
131
navigation aids-irriga11:i
Annual fingerling
gation:
Jjj
:\"umber
_
471, 136,000 H6, 1180, 000
capurit.y
15-1
Monurnent:s
and
hisDocks, wharves, and I Feet of usable ·
tori(• markers
piers___ __
50. 000
Number
517 I
IIXI
158, (l(J0
{ waterfron I __ _
Areainsq.ft __ _
I, 849. 000 . 7, 9/fi, 000
Numher
Conscrval
ion
(not
elseJe~~~rs_and
break- I Miles
25 j
where ela.._sifiecl):
I
Bulkheads________
_ i Linear feet
;J:ll, IKJ0
Reforestation
Acres
54,300
IW.000
197
Kumher of trees
Canals and channels
I Miles
planted
River hank improve- ,
24,026.000
ments____ ________
. Miles ___________ _
Miles __
1,.10;
Firel,reaks
2, 186
Fire and forest trails_ I Miles _______
Stream bed improve3,:J44
3, 44,5, 000
4, 4Ii I
D!",;~}~iiier
1 Miles
ease, and insert J)f'st
nl~ocns of SI ray
ageorpower) _______ . Number
26, Ofi3
:~nfi ,
18. 481, 000
eradication (except , u. e 1
.
Rlprap (other than I
mosquito rontrol)_
Tons of p01~oned
river bank) _________ 8q. yds. surfaced
6, 859, IX)()
·
food used_
1,-!f,7,<XlO i
83. ·107
Rodent destruction_
Numher
3 I. s:J2. 000
Retaining walls and revetments ________ ____ Linear feet.
3,725,000
4ti:J, IXl0 ,
Planting oysters
4, 9-11, 000
Bushels planted
I
j
I'
II
i-
,. I
than-stor_-
, , ., '""'""""· , , . t"' "'"'"',
1
and streets, a distance sufficient to encircle the
earth eleven times.
~f uch of the work was done on rural roads
as distinct from urban streets. On n state-b_vst,ate basis the road and street mileage:=; of the
middle-western and south-central states were
outstanding. A preponderance of th<' 24.G,000
miles of rural roads completed during the
three-year period were unpaved; th(' unpaved
rural road work involved th(' d('velopment of u
properly drained roadb('(l and thr application
of gravel or crushed rock to JH'ovidr a.II-weather
transportation.
In urban nreas \VPA workers In.id hard surfaces-concrete, brick, block, or bituminow,~
on .5,000 miles of streets, rccond it ioned 6,000
miles of pavement, and mnclr improvements to
l!l,000 miles of unp:tv('d street:=; and roads.
Altogether in both rural and urban sections,
including parks, more t,han 2:3,600 miles of
pavement were laid or reconditioned, representing about 8 percent of the total mileage completed by th<' end of ,Tnne 1938.
Building or !'('conditioning n :=;tretch of road
usually inn>lY('S not only th(' work on thr roadbed itself but also thr co11struction or improvement of uppurtenn.JH'('S :=;ucl1 as bridgt's, <·11lYrrts,
guurdrails, and curbs. By thr end of ,hmP
1H38, vVPA workt'rn had <'Onstruct('(I or rrconditiorwd 52,G05 bridges, rnr.ving in length from
a. frw f('rt to morr than a lnmdred f<'('t.. As
num_v as 2!).084 of thr hridgt>s \H'n' 1ww stnwtun's that wPrr n<>crssnr)' in thr dt'vPlop11wnt
of new roads or in rPpla.eing bridges that were
201:,77°-40--3
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
ARMORY BUILT BY TUE WPA
unsuited for further use or swept away by
floods. Other accomplishments in connection
with roads and streets included the installation
of 313,000 new culverts, the reconditioning of
51,000 existing culverts, and the completion of
many miles of curbs, gutters, guardrails, and
roadside ditches. (See Table 8.)
During the first three years of WP A operations nearly 17,600 new public buildings, were
constructed, additions were made to 1,700
buildings, and 46 ,000 others were modernized
or reconditioned by project workers. Elementary and high schools figure predominantly
among the 2,289 new school buildings and some
college and w1iversity buildiugs are included.
Many of the elementa.r y school buildings are
small schools in rural areas accommodating
fewer than 150 pupils. Floor space of 758 other
schools was enlarged by the a.dclition of new
sections to existing buildings. Besides the new
construction work 21,550 schools were reconditioned. Work on educational buildings also
includes the construction of 73 new librnJ"ies
and 32 additions and the renovation of 622
0thers.
Facilities for sports and other recreational
activities, often in connection with educational
institutions, were increased by the erection of
974 grandstands and stadia, 497 gymnasiums,
and 215 auditoriums, and the renovation of
nearly a thousand such structures. About 3,800
other recreational buildings, such as pavilions,
bathhouses, or park shelters, were completed by
the middle of 1938. Other new buildings
erected by WP A workers included 100 hospitals,
800 cow-thouses, city halls, and other administrative buildings, 150 fire houses, and 100 aircraft lrnngars.
Greater opportunities for public participation
in many recreational activities were provided
through the construction of 140 golf courses,
900 swimming and wading pools, 4,600 tennis
courts, 3,400 athletic fields and playgrounds,
and many other facilities such as ice-skating
rinks, and handball , horseshoe, volleyball, and
badminton courts. More than 5,000 parks were
developed or improved tlu·ough the clearing of
underbrush, planting of shrubbery, building of
outdoor ovens and other picnic equipment, and
miscellaneous work.
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WPA PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OPERATIONS
Since the problems of maintaining an adequate wa ter supply and of providing for proper
sew age disposal are of great importance in
cities a.n d villages throughout the coun tr:v,
many proj ec ts have been directed toward these
ends. Through June 30, 1938, not only had
the dis tribution of water to consumers been
facilita ted and increased through the installation of 6,1 00 miles of wa ter mains, 148,000 ne\\·
consumer connections, and 79 new water purification plants, bu t the capacities of water
system s h ad also been enlarged through the
construction of 1,342 storage tan ks, reservoirs ,
and cis t ern s.
Towards bet ter sewage disposal facilities
WPA proj ect work contributed nearly 9,000
miles of sewer lin es, and 300 new sewage
tr eatm ent plants. A total of 35 garbage
in cinerators wer e erected in urban areas as well
as 1,144 ,000 sanita ry privies in areas not
served by sewers . Approximately 1,642,000
acres of lowl and s and swamp areas were drained
by the excavation of 8,700 miles of mosqtuto
control ditches, and more than 115,000 openings
of a b an doned min es \\·ere sealed in order to
reduce stream pollution and destruction of
\·egeta ti on.
Nonconstruction Activities
vV PA empl oyees working on nonconstruction
projects also achie\·ed a wide va.riety of tangible r es ults. By the encl of June 1938, workers
in sewing room s had produced more tlrnn
180 ,000 ,000 ga rm ents and household articles ;
item s of childrens' and infants' apparel were
most num erou s bu t millions of garments for
men and wom en ,ver e also made. These are
distributed free of charge through local public
relief agencies to persons in need or donated
to t ax-s uppor ted in s ti t u tions for purposes that
cou ld not be sa tisfi ed through their current
bud gets. B esid es bein g an important somce
of needed clothin g for relief families and of
ad d ition al suppli es for tax-supported institution s, the products of sewing rooms have been
of great impor tan ce in meeting emergency
need s cl uring periods of floods or other disasters.
Va lua ble ser vices have also been rendered
by workers employed on canning, school lunch,
and h ousekeeping aid projects. By tlie first
of July 1938 more than 48 ,000 ,000 pounds of
meat, fruit , and vegetables had been canned
for distribution by relief organizations and for
use on school lunch projects. Over 238,000 ,000
hot lunches had been served to undernourished
school children. In the homes of a million
families temporarily deprived of the regular
liornemaker by illness or other causes, housekeeping aides n veraged about seven visits per
fnmily , helping with the liouse,vork at the time
of the emergency .
Activities of a professional , technical, or
clerical nature have included work in libraries,
museums, and clinics; a wide variety of research and statistical surveys; educational and
recreational programs; and the Federal arts
project. Reading facilities were extended by
the establishment during the three-year period
of numerous new traveling and branch libraries
and new reading rooms , the renovation of
56,000,000 volumes of public library and public
school hooks, and the transcription of over
2,000,000 pages of Braille for blind readers.
Doctors, dentists, and nurses employed on
public health projects nssisted in 15,000,000
examinations, immunizations, or treatments.
Among the smveys conducted by project
workers are listings of historical records, engineering surveys, and regional planning surveys.
The I ,300 research and statistical studies were
conducted in such fields as agriculture, natural
resources, industry, science, and government.
Among the numerous education courses offered,
classes in general adult education and for the
BOAT
C ON STR UC TION W[Tli TllE HELP OF A
RECREATIONAL LEAJJE R
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24
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 9.~SELECTED ITEMR OF PHYSICAL AccOMPLISHMENT ON WPA-OPERATED NoNCONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
THHOlHaJ JUNR :W, 1938
Item
Unit of Measurement
Work in lihraries:
C'atalo~ing for existing
librnries ______ . __
Number of volumes catalogpd ________________ _
Number
Item
27, ,\53, 000
Renovation or bookstota!_____ ___ __ _____ ___ Numher_ _________________ _
Public school volumes _____________ NumhPr ______________ _
Puhlic library volUTIIC'S _____________
Numher ___________________ _
Other volumes _____ Number ___________________ _
A'°"• 2,58, 000
20. J.\I, 000
" 2n. 7n4, ooo
'9,343,000
Sewing rooms:
Articles mnde---totaL __ Number_ __________________ _ -' 181. 210, 000
Number ___________________ _
Number ___________________ _
Number __________________ _
Number_ __________________ _
Boys' __
Girls' __________ _ Number. _________________ _
Infants' _______ _ Number __________________ _
Number
__________ _
Other article's
Garments-total
Men's __ _
Women's_
A
J:JO, 643,000
26,846,000
35,809,000
' 23, 020, 000
30. 440. 000
23,528.000
41,567,000
Canning and prPsC'rdn~ _
Net pouncts
48. 061, 000
School lunches sen·,•<! _____ _ Numher_
.\ 238, 411, 000
Medical, dc>ntal, and nursing assistance:
Medical and dental N~mber of persons exammed _____________________ _
clinics conduct.Pd or
4.211.000
assisted ____________ _ {Numhrr of persons treated __
3, .1:J;, 1)00
M('d.ical examinations {Number of ad~ts examinC'<l
1
1
other than nt clinics__ N~~ J~~ ~'~-~~~~~~~~-~~~~~ :
_
Nursing visits _________ _ Number of group inspections made
Number or persons inspected ___ __
Number of home visits
made_
Nursing aid at immunizations __
Numh<'r of immunizations_
Art:
Federal community art {Number PStahlislwd. _
centers______________
AggrP~at.r nttrndancc_
Drawings, easel paintings, murals, and
sculpturl'<l works ____ Number ___________ _
Etching-s, lithographs, fNumbPT or ori!:dnals_
woodblocks, etc ______ \Numlwr of prints _
Arts and crafts ________ _ Numbn of object.:-; made ___ _
Index or American Design plat<•s _________ _ Num hrr of plates made __
Stage sets, rtioranrns,
and HH_)ll<'IS for visual I
education ____________ _ NumhPr ________ ___________ _
A
280, orn1
1, 1174, 000
21.\. 000
3,960,000
4,737,000
8\1:l, 000
,\3
4. 0110, 000
911. fi02
lfi, ifi(i
76,000
4:1,000
i, 940
10.<llO
Number
Unit or Measurement
1\Tusir:
:>.Jusir rlasses (January {Average monthly attendthrough Junf' 1938) _
ance ____________________ _
l'vfusic, performancrs
(l\lonl h or Jun,, 19~8)
Number ___________________ _
Aggregate auctience ________ _
'l'hr-atn~:
Thrntrirnl productions
Number ___________________ _
530. 000
4. 3.5.\
3,030,050
1,813
1.07,
Tlwatric-al 1wrform- {Average number per month_
an cl' s (January Average monthly attendthrough June 1938)__
ancc _____________________ _
476. 000
Writing __ . ________________ Number of books and pamphlets published _________ _
Number or copies distributed ____ _
3,550,000
llistoriral surveys:
Tiistori<'al Am('rican
nuiklin~s 811rvPy_.
293
Number of structures meas-
N~~~~er ofc1i-awings macte::
2. 302
16. 244
Number of photographs
/ made _____________________ _
I-Iist.orical American {Number of vrssels surveyed_
:\lerrhant Marine Sur- Number of drawings macte __
,·,,y ________________ N~;;,,er __~~-~~~-t~-~r~p~~H istorical Records SurNumber of states whose records have been listed ____ _
Nu1nher of counties whose
records have been listed __ _
Number of county inventories publishect __________ _
Numbrr of towns whose records have been listed ___ _
Number of town inventories published ____________ _
Number or churches whose
rerorcts han b,,en listed __
FPderal Archives Survey __ _ Numbrr of agencir•s whose
records Wf'rr survC"yed ____ _
Linear fePt or files surveyed __
Planning survrys conNumber ___________________ _
durtPd
__
Hl'Sl'ard1 n.nd statistical
Number ___________________ _
studirs conductrd __
i\faps _____________ _
Number or maps ctrawn ____ _
Number of items indexed or
lndPxing and c·atalogin~- _
cataloged _________________ _
Braillt~--- - ------------------ Number or Braille pages
transcribed _______________ _
Numbn of visits mad(' _____ _
Number or farnUies aided ____ I
1\lust>um activiti<•s
Number of nrticles constructed or r<'novated. ___ -1
Number or articles cat- I
aloged _____ . ___________ .
--1
17,480
200
775
545
8
2,051
168
1,559
14
50. 355
29,142
4,918,000
757
1,282
116,000
593,175,000
2. 136. 000
Of>O, 000
1,076,000
A 7,
4,745,000
9,498,000
RevisP<I.
reduction of illiteracy have predominated, hnt
great interest has been shown in vocational
training classes, parent education, and homemaking education as well as in the nursery
schools in which thousands of preschool children have received rare. The public bas participated in large numbers in the recreation
programs conducted under WP A len.clership.
Sports and other types of physical recreation
have met with parti('ular interest and social
and cultural recreation and institutional recreation also have been extensive. Through Federal Project No. 1, art, music, and tl1e theatre
were made available to millions of persons to
whom they hnd previously been inaccessible
nnd, by ,July 1938, a total of 293 books and
pamphlets prepared by WPA writers had been
published.
This enumerntion of some of the more important rncasmahlc items among the accomplislnncnts of WPA project,s serves to indicate
tht' broad scope of the program and the extent
of certain kinds of achievements_ Much of
the WP.A work, however, is not covered by the
inventory and some is not susceptible to
measurement. This discussion, consequently,
nnd the arcompnnying tables (Tables 3-9 above
n ml Table X Y11 of the appendix) are unable to
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WPA PROJECT .-\CCOMPLISHMENTS AND OPERATIONS
cover in full the work accomplished through
the operation of WPA projects.
Initiation and Prosecution
of Project Work
WPA projects, with few exceptions which
no longer exist, have been initiated in the
communities where the work is done. The
various state and local governmental agencies
that propose the project undertakings and
thereby become sponsors of the work are required to help in defraying project expenses,
particularly those involving materials, supplies, and equipment. Project proposals and
applications are reviewed by the WP A for
conformity with the rules and regulations
of the WPA program. If a project is acceptable in these respects, the application is submitted for approval by the President who hns
final authority of project approval.
The WPA maintains a reservoir of approved
projects from which it selects project work in
keeping with the changing requirements of the
WPA program. The actual work chosen for
operation may involve either an entire project
ns approved or a self-contained unit of work
that is included in the approved project. The
prosecut,ion of project work is carried out under
the WPA. It is the purpose of the sections that
follow immediately below to describe briefly
the several aspects of project procedures that
have been mentioned.
Proposal of Project Work
Work prosecuted by the vYPA originates
with project proposals of state and local public
agencies and, to a very limited extent, of Federal agencies. The various states, counties,
cities, towns, and other governmental entities
and the legally constituted public agencies
thereof that propose WP A undertakings are
known in their relation to the WP A a& project
sponsors. Unofficial or nonpublic groups may
not act as sponsors of WPA projects. They
may, however, cooperate with the sponsor in
:SCllOOL CHILDREN BENEFIT OHEATLY !•'HOM LlTNCIIES
PHEJ'_-\HED AND ~ERVEIJ BY WPA \\"ORKERS
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
the planning and prosecution of the proposed
work.
The first step in the development of project
work is the preparn tion of a project proposal
by the sponsor. The sponsor may request
assistance in this connection from the state and
local WPA offices. The project proposal conta.ins detailed specifications regarding the character of the proposed project ,vork; it also
contains sections in which the sponsor recognizes explicitly the responsibilities that he
assumes in proposing the project,.
Upon approval of the project proposal by
the state WPA administration, a project application is prepared and submitted to the central WP.A office in Washington. In the application are included a detailed description of the
work to be undertaken; the location of the proposed work; the schedule of the number of required workers classified by occupations; the
estimated cost of the labor, materials, equipment, and services necessary to the project's
operation in terms of Federal and sponsors'
costs; and other pertinent information. Preliminary plans, specifications, and working procedure that have been prepared hy the sponsor
accompany the project application, the nature
of the project determining the detail in which
such information is required.
Review of Project Application
In the Washington offi<'c of the WPA the
projer,t application is referred to the operating
division having jurisdiction over the particular
kind of work involved, for examination of
technical phases and genernl desirability of the
project. If favorable action is recommended
by the operating division, careful study of other
aspects of the project's eligibility is then made.
This investigation is based 011 legal interpretations of the Emergency Relief Appropriation
Acts and pertinent Executive orders, rulings of
the Bureau of the Budget and the General .Accounting Office, recommendations of inter0stcd
Federal agencies, and tlrn general eligibility
rules of the WPA. Certain of the morP grm•rnl
eligibility rcquirPnrnnts are noted in tlrn following section of this statement.
If the project. application hns the fovorablP
review of the Federal vVPA, it is submitted for
appronil hy the President in whom each of the
EHA Acts have vested authority for final approval of projects. (.Applications have been
submitted first to the Federal Works Agency
since the creation of that agency on July 1,
1939.) vVhen such final approval is given, the
project enters the reservoir of approved widertakings from which selection for operation may
subs0quently br made.
Eligibility Requirements
111 reviewing a proposal for project work a
number of factors are given careful consideration. The project must result in benefit to the
public and must be such as to provide work for
tlw unemployed of the community in accordance
with their occupn.tionnl skills. It must be clear,
also, that the sponsor has the legal authority to
engage in the work proposed and the authority
to assume or provide for the operation and
maintenance of the completed work if such is
required by the nature of the project. The improvements proposed must be made to public
property, the ownership of which is vested in
Llw state or a political subdivision thereof, or a
legally constituted public agency thereof, and
such property must be held either for the conduct of normal government fw1etions or for the
general use of the public.
In exceptional cases where large public benefit will result, work on private property may be
1wrmitted where leases, easements, or other
legal authority granted to the sponsor are sufficient in duration to cover the normal expected
lifo of the improvements to be accomplished by
means of t,he proposed work.
Consideration is given in the review of projects to the distribution of costs between labor
and nonlabor items and Fcdeml and sponsors'
funds. This is of importance because approved
projects become pnrt of the reservoir of work
from which projects are selected for operation.
In each statt1 the vVPA program must be
operated in conformity witl1 legislative requirernents which limit the amount of Federal funds
available for nonlabor costs. Sponsors must
defray the costs, nec0ssnry to the operation of
usPful projPcts, that are in addition to the costs
for which Federal funds are available. The
ERA Act of 19:39, covering operation after
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WPA PROJECT ACCOMPLISHME::\'TS AND OPERATIONS
NEW
PAVED
ROADS
AND
STREETS
ARE
COMPLETED AT THE
RATE
OF ABOUT 1:J
M[LES PER DAY
June 30, 1939, contains definite mmmrnm requirements for average sponsors' participation. 1
Among projects which are not eligible for
approval under WP A criteria are those for
cuITent maintenance work or work which is a
recurrent responsibility of the sponsor or which
would displace or prevent the employment of
personnel by the sponsor, such as normally
would be done by the sponsor without WP A
assistance. The object of this restriction is to
avoid the prosecution of projects which would
displace personnel regularly employed by the
sponsor or by some other agency.
Proposals for certain types of work relating
to the activities of various Federal ao-encies
"'
requiTe review by the interested agencies.
Thus applications for projects involving work
on or along highways in the Federal-aid system
are subject to review and approval by the
Public Roads Administration (the Bureau of
Public Roads of the Department of Agriculture
prior to the effective date of Reorganization
Plan No. 1). The purpose of this requirement is to permit the WP A to obtain adv an tao·e
0
of the technical experience of the Public Roads
Administration and to insure that the work
accomplished will conform to general policies
of that agency and not conflict with proposed
work which will be w1der its supervision.
Airport and airway projects are subject to
the approval of the Civil Aeronautics Autl1ori ty
' See page 10.
with respect to the locn tion of the work and the
technical aeronautica l features involved. Flood
control and navigable stream improvement projects are subject to review, approva.l, and
advisory technical supervision by the appropriate district engineer of the Corps of Engineers. Community sanitation, malaria control, and mine-sea.ling activities are subject to
approval and technical supervision of the
Public Health Service, and certain types of
drainage and land reclamation work affecting
wildlife habitats require approval of the
Bureau of Biological Survey.
The National Park Service not only revit>ws
projects for work within the national parks
under its jurisdiction but also provides a
similar type of examination and recommendation on projects in state and local parks, parkways, and recreational areas. Construction
projects for the restorntion or rehabilitation of
archeologica l nnd historical areas or structures
also are s ubj ect to review by the National Park
Service.
Selection for Operation
Placing a proj0ct in opNation i11volvcs a
Sf'l1•ction process for which tl10 state WPA
administrator is responsible, in addition to the
proc0ss through which the proj r.ct applicn tion
has passed prior to approval One of th<• foremost consid!'ra tions in srkcting a projPct for
pros!'cution is, of coursf', th<• rwr,d for the
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
employment which tlw project would provide
and the inunecliate avnilnbility of the kinds of
labor required for the work. The Federnl cost
per mnn-month, the portion of the cost to be
defrayed by the project sponsor, the social
benefit, and the economic usefulness of the work
proposed, all influence the selection of projects
for actual operation. The preference of the
sponsor for undc1taking one appropriate project
in advance of another is a determining factor.
Prosecution of Projects
After an undertaking has be0n s0lected for
operntion, a project engi1wer or projPct supervisor is selected by the local office of the vV PA
and the schedules of work and of ma t<•rial and
equipment deliveri0s are arranged bPtW<'CU the
operating division concerned and the sponsor.
The authority of the sponsor is not exercised
in such a manner as to conflict with the regulations of the vYPA, but full consid0ration is given
to the recornmenda tions of the sponsor regarding
the conduct of work, the sPquence of 01wrations,
methods to be employed, and the interpretation
of plans and spccifications which must bP furnished by the sponsor. When nll d<'tails of
working procedures have been developed, the
work0rs necessary for proj<•ct 01wrn tions are
requisitioned from tlw Division of Employment
by the division having Stljwrvision of the project,
usually by the project supervisor.
During the course of the work the project
supervisor is responsible for the efficient operation of the m1<lertaking to the local representative of the WPA opernting division having
jurisdiction over the project. To the necessary
extent the project sponsor is required to furnish such elements as technical advice, inspection, and supervisory assistance. The sponsor
and the project, supervisor coopNate in arranging for the sponsor's share of the m:1 tl'rinls,
eqllipment, and services to be on hand at the
project site when needed. Frcq11eut inspection
by the locn,l representative of the \VP A n.nd
reports at scheduled intervals kP<'P the local
WPA office informed of the progress of the work.
Fiscal control of the project is mnintn.ined by
the Division of Finn.nee of the W PA nnd the
Treasury state accounts office. All documents relating to obligations and expenditures
for both labor and nonlabor items are initiated
by the Finance Dh·ision for action by the
Treasury Department. The Finance Division
also records the receipt of those items of project
cost which the sponsor has agreed to assume.
A continuous check is maintained to make certain that Federa.l expenditures on the project
do not exceed the amount approved in the
project application or such sublimitations as
may have been prescribed by the WP A.
All possible steps are taken, even before the
project is bcg11n, to provide safe working conditions. Buildings are inspected for fire, accident, and health hazards; trucks and other
vehicles of transportation must satisfy safety
requirements. During the course of operations, regular inspections make effective the
application of comprehensive safety regulations.
Only experienced men may be assigned to jobs
involving unusunl hazards and workers in
general must be familiarized with precautionary measures if these arc necessary.
Elimination of danger from fire is a constant objective and the regulations specify
particular care in lmndling and storing inflnmmable and explosive materials. Periodic
inspection is required for tools, machinery,
and other equipment, including trucks. On
certain types of jobs special devices for the
protection of the worker, such as goggles,
respirators, and helmets must be provided.
Provisions are also made for assistance when
accidents occur, with first-aid kits and persons
qualified to administer first aid always available.
Project Expenditures and
Related Information
Approved Projects
The WP A con st an tly has avnilnble for operation a large resC'l"Ye of approved projects which
enables it to adjust its program quickly and
efficicn tl_\T. The r0serYe is sufficiently large
in size to permit a substantial increase when
needed in the mnnber of jobs provided for unemployed workt>rs and sufficiently diversified
as to the types of work to permit adjustment of
the program to shifts in the occupational characteristics of unemployed workers.
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WPA PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OPERATIONS
Projects approved by the PrC'sident under
the ERA Acts of 1935, 1036, 1937, and 1938
numbered in the hundreds of thou::;ands and
their estimated cost in Federal funds, as of
June 30, 1939, amounted to about $10,000,000,000. The cost total includes the value of work
projects that had been pht<'ed in operation by
that time as well as the vn.lue of all project
work that was held in resern at the time; it
does not include project authorizatio11s of the
National Youth Administra.tion or the value of
projects operated by other agen<'iC's with funds
transferred from the WPA. Sponsors' funds
pledged toward defraying project expenses
totaled $2,397,000,000 for all the approved
projects. Consequently the estimated total
cost of all projects approwcl through June 30,
1939, aggregated $12,854,000,000.
Under the ERA Act of 1938 n.JonC' tlw total
estimated value of approved proje<'ts nmmmt,ed
to nearly $3,774,000,000. Sponsors' pledges
of $839,000,000 accounted for 22 percent of
this total as compared with about 19 perc<.>nt
over the four years ending in JmlC' 19:39_
Highway, road, and strC'et projects as approved
during the last year represented 43 p<.>r<'ent of
the year's total value of appron'd proje<'ts.
,,"bite collar projects acC'ountC'd for n<>nrly 13
percent of the total, sewer system and other
TABLE
10.-TOTAL Ec;TJMATED Cm,T OF PnoJE<'TS
APPROVED BY THE PHEISIDENT UXDER "rttE ER,\ ACT
OF 1938 FOR OPERATJOX BY THE WPA, BY :\1.uon
TYPES OF PRO,IECTS AND BY SouHCES OF Fu:-ms
As OF JUNE 30, 1039
(An1ounts in t.llou:--nnds]
SJ,onsors'
F'und~
Type of Project
High,.-ays,
roads, and _
strc<'ls _________________
I, 633. 570
l'uhlic buil<llngs ________ _
340. f,27
Parks and other recreati•mal facilities. _______ _ 2'i7, 466
C'onll<.'n-ation_. _______ . __ _ 127, i52
Sewer systems and oth~r
utilities __ •. ______ .. • __ _ 360, :n2
Airports and other trans~rtation facilities ____ __
93, J:lo
\\ itc collar.... _________ _ 472. !<02
Sewing _________________ __ 230, 2!i0
Ooods, other than sewing_
liO. 481
Sanitation and h.-alth ___ _ 110. 258
::\fisC('llaneous __________ _
44. 381
4:1. 2
0. :l
1,22:1.~:!1
2ljU, ~2
~OlJ. ";:It,
!tfl, :l-tt,
25. 1
2!i. 8
7. I
3. 4
21~. 07!i
102. 1174
40. :l!Jl
2·1. 771'
18. 5
1\1_ 4
9. 8
2!!1 , 0,17
8i, a.r,5
2:1.7
2.5
HJ. 244
31.X!ll
34. 2
1,5. 7
12.fi
:i
1. r,
3U8••~:r;
:1.1
I. 2
04. r.:12
:ia. r,ir,
o.
211),
92S
IlO, :iW
I
7·1. 2fi.:i
:ll<,:J:l\
HI. lli!i
21. 72(i
JO, 7fifi
11.
~
lfi.S
IX.;
24-3
·------
puhlic utility work, for 10 percent, and public
building-s undertakings, for 9 percent. Projec t.s for the opC'rn.tion of sewing rooms and
for the impronrne11t of ren<'ational facilities
also were important, ns is shown in Table 10.
Project Expenditures
Expenditures of Federal and sponsors' funds
for the pros<'cution of "\YPA projC'rts amounted
to $2,.5.58,0:35,000 during the ~·<'nr ending June
30, 1939. Tlw totnl wns substantinlly larger
than the sums pnid out in earlier years, a.s mn.y
be seen in Table 11. Project cxp<'rnlitures
hnYe, of course, vnried with tllC' level of project
operutions and the 11umhers of \VPA emplo~·ees.
The larger expC"11<litures of the last fiscal
yC"nr resulted primnrily from the co11tinued
expnnsion of proj<'ct nct.iYities following the
sharp dPcli11<.> in privnte employment that bC'gan
in th<.> lntter half of 1937. The incrense in the
scope of "\YPA opC"rntions took plnce OVC\r a
period of about one yenr. Contintwd failure
to find johs in priYnte indm,try forced mwrnployed work<.>rs first to draw upon savings,
lm<'mploynwnt, compensnt.ion credits, and other
rcsour<··<>s and ev<'n tua Uy to seek assistn n<·-e from
relid ngC"ncies and the WPA. Additionnl foetors contributing to the expnnsion town.rds the
end of the J)('riod W<'re the ~ew England hurricnnc nnd floods of St•ptember 19:~8 and the
seriou8 eondition of tenunt fann<:'rs nnd lnhorers
in the South.
Tht• eulmi11a tion of the C"Xpnnsion in \VPA
activities is reflc>ctC'd in n total project expenditure of almost $700,000.000 during the three
months <.>ncli11g D<.>cc>mlwr 31, 19:{8. Including
both l◄'<'dPrnl n11d spon:,;ors' expC'nditures this
total is largN tlwu <·01-rrnp<mdi11g amounts
us<.>.d in any othC'r quarter since the initiu tion
of the \VPA progrnm. Approximatdy $635,000,000 was cxpC'ncl<'d 011 \VPA projc>ct activities during tlw tl1rC'e-mo11th p<.>riod pre<·<'ding,
nnd during th<' thrC'c-month 1wriod SU<'<'<'eding,
the qunrtN of laq{C"St outlays. In the AprilJune man q11art.C'r proj<'<'t expenditures of
sponsors' and Ft'dc>rnl funds nmountC'd to nbout
$58.5,000,000. Total (\XJW1Hlit11r<.>8 for WPA
projects during the four yenrs ,mding Jun<:' 30,
1939, were $7 ,67fi ,250,000. (See Tn.ble 11 on
the following page.)
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 11.-EXPENDITURES ON WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY FISCAL YEARS AND BY SOURCES OF F'uNDS
THROUGH JUNE 30, 19:!9
[In thnusancts]
Sponsors' Funds
Total
Year Ending June 30
Amount
-
TotaL _________________ - - -- -- . -- - - 1936 ---------------------------- - ---- • ------------------------------------------· _. _
1937
July-Sept.ember 1937 __ . ______________ __________________________ --------------- _
October-December W37. ·- • ------ · - ----- - --- · -- -- -- -- • ------------ - ----- -- -Jammry-March 1938
_____________
------------------------April-June 1938 ______________ _______ -------------------------------193\l __
July-September 1038_ _ .. _. _. _. _. _ .
Octoher-llecem her 1938.
Janunry--l\.1arch 1939
April-iune 1939 __
A
--·- - -
A
Federal Funds
Percent of
total
--·-
$7,676,254
$6,373,417
$!, 302,837
17. 0
1,326,475
2,052,964
1, 193, 585
1,751,293
132, S90
;101,671
10.0
14. 7
1. 7:l8. 780
1,363,542
375,238
21.6
37fi, 368
381. 013
426,130
555,269
292, 763
28.3, 923
338, 639
448, 2!7
83,606
97,089
87, 491
107. 052
22. 2
25.5
20. 5
19. 3
2, MS, 03.5
2, OR4, 997
493,038
19. 3
638,644
699,873
635,445
584,073
527, 209
568,235
506,398
463, 155
J 11,435
131,638
129,047
120,918
17. 4
18.S
al.3
20. 7
Tncludcs purchases of land, lnnrl leases, en~C"mrnts, 8.nd ri~hts-of-way.
Source: Federal funds represent vouche1 payments as reported by the Treasury Department; sponsors' funds are based on WPA reports of sponsors'
certifications.
Sponsors' Funds
Project expenditures in the 12-month period
ending June 1939 included $2,064,997,000 in
Federal funds and $493,038,000 in sponsors'
funds. As a group, the various sponsorsstate departments, county boards, city councils,
township trustees, and other publi<' bodiesdefrayed 19.3 percent of total project costs during the year. The amount of sponsors' expenditures has increased signifiean tly since the first
years of the program's operations. The $493,038,000 total for the year ending in June 1939
was an increase of nearly $118,000,000 over the
preceding year and of $191,000,000 over the
year ending in June 1937. On a quarterly basis
sponsors' outlays were at their peak, $131,638,000, <luring the October-December quarter of
1938. (See Table 11.)
Sponsors' contributions have tended to increase on a percentage basis, ns well ns in total
amount, since the initiation of WPA operations.
However, sponsors were unn hie to increase their
expenditures in the same proportion as the
Federal Government when rapid expansion in
WPA employment became necessary beginning
in the fall of 1937. Consequently, the percentage of sponsors' expr.nditures was somewhat
lower in the year ending June 30, 1939, than in
the previous 12-month period, the figures being
19.3 and 21.6, respectively. The 19.3 percent
reported for the year ending June 30, 1939, is
considerably higher than the 10.0 percent and
14.7 percent recorded for the fiscal years ending
June 30, 193G, and 1937, respectively.
In general, an expanding or relatively high
level of project operations has been associated
with smaller percentage expenditures of sponsors even though the amounts of sponsors'funds
have increased substantially with the expanded
activities. This is a result of the Federal Government.'s ability with its greater financial resources to deal with emergency situations and
rapid increases in the need for project employment more quickly and adequately than state
and local govemments.
Sponsors' funds on a relative basis were
greatest (amounting to almost a fourth of the
total) in the last half of 1937 when WPA
employment was at a low level following a
period of contraction. Typica.l relationships
are also found in the last fiscal year. Even
though the amount of sponsors' funds expended
decreased from t,he $131,638,000 expended in
the October-December 1938 quarter to the
$ l 20,918,000 expended in the April-June
l 9;:39 quarter, the relative volume of sponsors'
expendi tmes increased from 18.8 to 20. 7
porcent, of total project costs. Over the fouryoar period in which the WPA has b('en in
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WPA PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OPERATIONS
operation, project sponsors have borne 17 .0
percent or $1,302,837,000, of the total costs of
project operations.
CHART 3
EXPENDITURES ON WPA·OPERATED PROJECTS
BY MAJOR TYPES OF PROJECTS AND
BY SOURCES OF FUNDS
Cumulative throuch June 30, 1939, and Year Endlnc June 30, t 939
Types of Projects
.
NPICEWT
T'YH M
WPA project work has been conducted
almost exclusively through the operation of
state work programs. The relatively small
amount of work which has been prosecuted
through the operation of Federal N ation-widc
projects accounted for only 2 percent of projcf't
expenditures through June 30, 1939. The
Nation-wide projects have been sponsored by
Federal agencies and have emphasized white
collar activities. 2 Preclominnnt among tlwm
have been the undertakings sponsored by the
WPA, including the Federal arts projects, the
historical records survey, and the study of
reemployment opportunities and recent changes
in industrial techniques.
l"tllOJ&CT
or
.-,---1.
TOT.t.l.
I
I .
!
..
......., .__
KWDI A'STDII ANO
OTMDI UTIUJU
.t.lM'Ol'ITS-D ontCJII
1'MN5PORTATIOII FACIU11ES
,m...,_..,..,...
ruNos
ru111oa
@%4--§==1 :..r;:,-,=:-
TABLE ]2.-EXPENDITl.'RES 0~' FEDERAL AND 8PONSORS'
FUNDS ON WPA-OPERATED PROJECT;:\, BY MA.TOR
TYPES OF PROJECTS
™lllll lill Ii/:::.~·~
GOON OTHPI TMM
5n,fllQ
CUMULA11VR THRot· arr, AND YEAR ENDISG JUSE 30, 1939
Cumulative
through June
Year Ending
June 30, 1939
30, 1939
Type of Project
Amount
PN-
ccnt
Amount
I cent
Per•
1
- - - - - - - - - - 1 -- - - - - - - - - -- - ---- Total._--·------------- $7,676, 2,'i3, 94.5 100. O .$2, S.'\11, 03S, 220! 100. 0
- - - --
436, 542 42. 6
Hl!!hway,,, roads, and streets_. 2,IJ3f,, lfJ0.1211
31 I, 000,
Publk buildings _____________
2M. 070, r,1-1
10, :l
828. 436, 880 38.
10.8
Parks and other recreational
737,871, 4,iS ,
191i, 1104. i4G
7. 7
facilities ___ __-------· ·----98,444, 1\.14
312, 26G. 4ll0,
:l.9
4.1
ConS('rvation ___ ·-----··----Sew<'r
systems
and
other
util!ties _______ ___________ _____
24,i, 81\.\ RiG
9. 9.
9.0
762, r,99, ii21
I
Airports and other transpor'
talion facilltles _____________
107, 280, /i28
2.61
2.fi
66, 022, 1981
White collar .. _-·---- ________
9;5, 991,710, 12.81 32.1, 177, 185 12.G
l>. (I
112, /i24, 217
fl. 7
Sewing. ___ ------------ -- ----/ 513, 766, 49(\
I.I
28, 19/i, i951
Goods, other than sewlt1g. ___ 1 101. 179, 1911
2.
1-31
3
·19, 202, 33,5
l.!l
174,311,324
9.61
t~J!'::'eo".;';IA~~~~~::::::::1
1~6. 380, 970 1
1.6
54, 092, 167
2.1
-' Includes adjnstmeut of Federal ,,,p,•nd iturrs lo total reported hy Ill<'
Treasury and sponsors' expenditun·s ror land. land Jcasrs, Nts(·nwnls,
and rights-of-way, for which thr ,listrihution by type of project is not
available.
Source: WP A stale office reports.
State work program proj<'c.ts nre mHlertakings that have been proposed and sponsored in
the areas where the work is done. They are
sponsored by state and local public bodies and,
to a very limited extent, by Fed<'rnl agencies
such as the Quartermaster Corps, the Bureau
2 The operation of projects sponsored only by the WPA
linued under provisions of the ERA Act of 1939; sec page 9.
w1Ls
discon·
of Yard,- anti Docks, and the Forest Service.
The initiation of the projects ui the communities
where t,hey are carried on has been tho primary
for.tor in adapting the WPA program to the
particular needs of <'nch c·ommlmity.
Approximntely four-fifths of the total funds
expe.n<led on WPA projects (82 percent dming
the las~ fiscal year) ha Ye been used for construction projects. SC'wing room opern tions nml
white collar work have a.ccounted for the nonco11struct.ion activities conducted under the
WPA. The highway, road, a,])([ street. projects
of the ·wPA have pr<'dominn.ted among the
major types of work. Projects of this kind
were of enm greater importa.11ce during the
yeu.r ending ,hme 30, 1!)3!), tlrnn in earlier years.
As shown in Ta.ble 12, they accounted for
almost 43 percent of the project ex1wnditlU'es
of the last fiscal ycnr ns compared with 38 percent over the entir<' p<'riod.
White collnr projf'C'ts as a group, including
the ed11cntio11 und recrC'ation programs, research nrnl surn~y projects, home ce011omics nnd
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REPORT OK PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
LABORERS FROilI SUC:AR -DEET FIELDS LEAHNlNG '1'0
READ AND \YRIT E
clerical work , and the F ederally sponsored arts
program accounted for almost 13 percent of nil
expenditures both in the last fiscal year and
over the entire period of operations. Construction work on public buildings, such as schools,
libraries, courthouses, city halls, fire stations,
and armories accounted for slightly more than
10 percent of total outlays, and public utility
projects, principally for the installment and
improvement of sewer and water systems, for a
little less than 10 percent. These proportions
were about the same in the year ending June
30, 1939, as in the four years of activities,
evidence that these kinds of activities were
expanded in the last fiscal year at rntes equn.l
to the general increase in the scale of operations.
Projects involving the development or improvement of parks and other recren tionnl
facilities-such as playgrounds, athletic fi elds,
temus courts, and golf courses- accounted for
8 percent of the Inst fi scal year 's expenditmcs.
Outlays for sewing projects represented 6
percent of the total. The relative importance
of th ese two major types of projects decrea sed
slightly in the last fiscal year since they accounted for 10 and 7 percent, respectiYely, of
the cumulated totals for the entire period of
WPA operat,ions through June 30, HJ39. As
in the previous years conservation nctiYities,
airport and other trnnsportation fncilit~· projects, sa.n itation and health work, nnd goods
proj ects other than scwi11g each accounted for
less thnn 5 percent of total proj ect costs.
Considerable diversity exists among the
seYeral state programs in the relatiYe irnportance of various types of projects that lins e been
undertaken. The highway, road, and street
work, which accounted for 43 percent of the
funds expended on a country-wide basis in the
year ending June 30, 1939, was relatively most
important in ·w est Virginia where it accounted
for approximately 65 percent of the aggregate,
and in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Tennessee, and
Arizona where it represented more than 60
percent of total expenditures. (See Table XVI
of the appendix.) Outlays for public buildings,
:weraging 10 percent for all states combined,
constituted 24 percent of the year's disbursements for project work in New Mexico and 21
percent in the District of Columbia and in
South Cnrolina.
The consernition program was most emplrnsized in Idaho and Rhode Island where it
accounted for more than a fourth of project
costs. In other New England states, as well
ris in Rhode Island , expenditures for conservation work were relatively much larger in the
last fiscal year than in previous years as a
result of the September 1938 hurricane. Sanitation and health work was stressed in the
South. vVith rega.rd to outlays for white collnr
projects, California, the District of Columbia,
N cw York, and Virginia substantially exceeded
thr nation al average of 13 percent.
The differences in the relative importance of
,·arious types of projects among the states are
attributable to the needs of the communities
for the kinds of work carried on , the skills and
experience of unemployed workers in the area ,
and the ability of sponsors to provide materials
and equipment for the projects. Inasmuch as
expenditures of Federal funds are principally
de>Yotecl to payments of wages of vVPA workers
with only the minimum necessary for efficient
project operation used for nonlabor purposes,
projects inYolving heavy nonlabor costs lrn,ve,
in gcnern.l, been undertaken only where sponsors have hcen n hie to providr, a large portion
of the necessa ry materials and equipment.
Objects of Expenditure
Wage payments to project employees during
the year ending ,Tune 30, 1939, amounted to
$1,958,000 ,000 and comprised 77 percent of
the total project outlays of the Federal Government and sponso rs. The percentage in the
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WPA PROJECT ACCOMPLISHME NTS AND OPERATIO N S
TABLE 13.-
EXPEN DJT U RE S ON WP A-OPERATED PROJE CT S, BY OBJ ECTS OF E XPEN DITU RE .~ ND B Y SOURC E S OF F UN DS
CU M U LATIVE 1'JfROUG II , AND Y EAR E:,,;01:-.r: J 1: :-.r:: 30 , 1939
[ Am ou nts in t h ou sa nds]
C' umulati,·e thro ugh June 30. 1939
Total
Object or Expenditure
Year Ending Jun e 30. HJ:.iY
Percent I Amo un t
of total '
Amount
I $ 1, 302.83,
17. o
:
5, (125, 888
i
22•1, ~84
I
4. 0
I
437, 123
1
600. 599 ,
57. 9
266, 696
i
378, SO I
.~S. i :
TotnL ... ·-· _____ . ·- ........ _..... . $, ,676,254 I 100. 0 : $6,373, 417
==
I
Personal services . . . _..... _. __ . . .... . . . _..
Purchases or materials, supplies, and
equipment __ ._.· ·-· -- . ___ .- - · ·- __._ .. . .
5, 850, 272 1
Rental of equipment.- ·------- --- - - ·- · .. . ·
645, 497
l'vlotor ,·ehicles. __ . _. _. _. _... _. . _. ... .
Teams nod wagons ... - .... . . _. .. _. _._
P aving a nd other road•building ma•
chinery and equipment . ......... .
Other, including office equipment .. -·
Other ·'--- · -· ---- -- -- --·- -- · ·-· - ·-· -·-·-·
370. ,563 '
2,. 484
4. 8
0. 4
191. 270
20,665
179. 293
6,8 19
48. 4
24. 8
230, 6i fi
16, 774
142, 763
3. 0
0. 2
I, 9
5 1,983
2. 778
43,710
178, 693
13. 9%
99, 0.5:J
77. 5
83. 4
69. 4
I,
03, , , 22
76. 2 .
13. 5
i
Total
Sponsors' fun d s
Federal
fun ds
8. 4 .
- -- -
'
Sponsors· fund s
Percen t
Federal
fund s
o:i:;
100.0
$2,064,997
$49:J, 038
I. 057, 663
iO. 5
1, 88 1,020
76, 6-13
4. I
342,038
13. 4
1l 5,0i5
227, 563
66. 4
8. 2
60, 474
120, 89 1
3, 105
4. 8
0. I
49, 107
I, 100 ,
71, 784
2, 005
59. 4
64 . 6
79, :166
6,202
47, 970
3. I
0. 2
69, 742
5, 7:;9
39. 542
87. 7
92. 9
74. 0
$2,558,
I. 9
9. 824
19. 3
- ---149. 200
ii. 2
--
I
443 1
8,428
· · -- - A
Includ ing sponsors' purch ases o f land, la nd leo.ses, easements , a nd ri ghls-of-way .
Sonrce: WPA state office reports.
last fiscal year was approximately the sa m e as
the cumulative figure applying to the period
from the summer of 1935 to Jun e 1939. (See
Table 13.) Most of the wage paym ents have
been made from Feclera.l fund s (96 percent in
the last year a.nd in the four yea.rs of operations). The relatively small amounts provid ed
by sponsors have been used for the wages and
salaries paid to specially qualified employees
of sponsors who are necessa ry for the prosecution of projects.
A major portion of the outlays for non la hor
purposes has been used in the purchase of the
supplies, materials , and equipment req uired for
project operations. 3 Such expenditures accounted for $343,000,000 of the $600,000,000
expended for nonlabor items during th e yea r
ending June 30, 1939 . R entals of eq uipment
totaled $210,000 ,000; and th e various other
nonlabor costs of proj ect activities, $48 ,000 ,000.
The relative amounts expend ed durin g the la.st
fiscal year for purchases of suppli es, m ateri als,
and equipment (13.4 percen t of the total),
equipment rentals (8 .2 percent ), and ot her
item s (1.9 percent) were substantially th e same
as in the entire period of WPA operations .
T able 13 reviews the different types of outln,ys
and itemizes the equipn'.ent renta l t ot al. lt is
of interest that the major share of th e rentals
of equipment related to motor vehicles and to
paving and other road-building machin ery and
equipment .
Sponsors have provided an in creasin g share
of t-he non labor costs of proj ec t activities.
Durin g the fi scal year ending Jun e 30, 1939,
th eir contributions accounted for 69 percent of
the nonlahor total as compared with 59 percent
over the entire period of opera.tions. In the
last year, sponsors finan ced 66 percent of the
supplies. materials, and eq uipm en t that were
prncured for proj ect activi ties , and 71 percent
of the eq uipmen t tha t was rented .
The differences that appear in the relative
amount of sponsors' expenditu res on the variou s
types of proj ects are a result of Yarin tion in th e
T il l.< 1\'E \\. n 1u 1JC:E ~!AK ES PO SS IBL E A SIIOR1'-C'U T TIE•
3 A d iscussion of the lypes o f m nl('ri nls pur('hnsr d and the a 111oun1.s
expended ror each appears on pages I IG to I2il.
T \\"EE:S T\\' O T O \\'/\",;; .-\ BO UT .-\ ., JXTll OF TIIE
:,n:1r
BH ID C:E S Bl. lLT BY TIIE \\ ' l' A ARE 01' :'.IA SO:S l( Y
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34
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
expenditures for the materials and equipment
necessary for operating different types of
projects. Since there are limitations on Federal
funds available for defraying nonlabor costs in
excess of minimum amounts, it is necessary for
sponsors to meet the larger expenditures on
types of projects that require greater nonlabor
outlays. This tends to increase sponsors' funds
when viewed in percentage terms.
On public buildings and on airport and other
transportation projects-work which involves
relatively large outlays for materials and other
nonlabor items-sponsors defrayed 22 percent
of the total cost from the beginning of project
operations through Jmie 1939, as compared to
an a.verage of 17 percent on all projects. Sponsors' expenditures on sewer system and other
utility undertakings; on highway, road, and
street projects; and on sanitation and heal th
work were also well above the average. In the
latter two instances the explanation of the
relative size of sponsors' expenditures is partly
attributable to the location of a considerable
share of the work in nonmetropolitan areas
where lower monthly earnings are scheduled.
Lower earnings in combination with more or
less fixed nonlabor costs tend to raise the non-
labor percentage and thereby the relative size
of sponsors' funds. White collar projects, for
which sponsors contributed but 12 percent of
the total amount expended, have required relatively small expenditures for nonlabor purposes;
furthermore, these projects tend to be concentrated in urban areas where higher earnings
prevail.
Dming the fiscal year 1939, when the sponsors
provided 19 percent of total project costs, their
expenditures on airport and other transportation projects averaged 31 percent of the total
cost and on ]HI blic buildings, 24 percent.
Sponsors' contributions also accounted for over
20 percent on sewer system and other utility
projects, on highway, road, and street projects,
and on sanitation and health work. The increase in sponsors' expenditures on white collar
projects and on sewing projects was marked,
with nearly 15 and 9 percent respectively of
the total expenditure being made from sponsors'
funds. As was true of the cumulative figures,
the assumption by sponsors of a large share of
the nonlabor costs of project operations and the
levels of wage payments were important factors
affecting the relntin size of sponsors' contributions. (Appendi.-...: Tables XI and XII.)
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NEW ENGLAND HURRICANE AND FLOODS
OF SEPTEMBER 1938
scnrrc>ly been illinc>rc>ssnry to meet
unforeseen emergency conditions brought about
by floods and other natural forces . In the
first and each succeeding year of op<•rntion~,
emergency measures have been m1<lertu.ken at
the tune of danger and distress, and subspq11<>11t
reconstruction activities haYe been carriE.'d 011 to
rehn.bilitate public properties. Dming t.lw surnmer of 1935 WPA labor wns used to repnir
damage caused by floods in seven west<'rn
states, from Wyoming south and <'U.st t-0
Arka.nsas and Texas, as well as in N cw York
and Pennsylvania. During 19~6 the WPA wu.s
called upon to cope with em<'rgency flood conditions in the New England States, Pc1111sylvania, and the Ohio Valley . liitense dro11ght
over a wide area in the western states in t.11(1
summer of the same year necE.'ssitu.ted em<'rgency operations for the assistirnce of nuu1y of
the people in the areas most seriously stricken.
Early in 1937 torrcn tial rains over t.lw Ohio
Valley flooded the Ohio River m1d the ~lississippi River from Cairo, Illinois, to the Gulf;
this gave rise in 11 bordering st.ates to a situation in which WPA aid was urgen t.ly nE.'ed<·d .
The following year WPA labor combated floods
in California and cleaned up after a t,on11ulo
in Charleston, South Carolina. But tlH' lu.rgcst
task in terms of the population exposE.'d to
danger and of the property destroyed re~nlted
from the New England hurricane and floods of
September 1938.
lrnd
Ttiated"\-VPAbeforeprogram
it became
HE
Wind and water combined , on September 21,
1938, in the X ew Englund States nnd the
coastal section of :'\ew York nnd Kew ,Jersey,
to bring to thn t se<'tion the worst chsuster of
its kind in more thnn II century. Other lrnrricunes in the United Stutes hnYe tu.ken a grea.ter
number of lives but no single storm hns ever
caused as much property damu.ge . The imme~liute toll of the disnster included more thnn 600
de11ths, thousnnds of homeless persons nnd
scuttcred furnilies, nnd property dn.mage conservn.tfrely estirnn te<l at a fourth to a third of
a billion dollars.1
The hur1·i<"a.nc struck Long Island in midafternoon, progressed ut, nn unusunlly rapid rate
through Conncct.ieut, Rliode Island , and '.\lu.ssachusetts, a.nd swept over New Hnmpshire n.nd
\' <'l'JIJ0n t with for!'e only sli~htly nhate<l. E1ist<'l'll New York nnd New Jersey, to the left of the
hurrienne center, und '.\Jaine, on the extreme
right , wer<' also subjected to violent winds.
'.\loving north erly with a rnpid <·ounterdockwise motion , the eentcr of tlH' Jnrrricnne rencl1ed
Long Isln.nd with n Yelo<'it~r of n.bout 60 miles
u.n hour. To the enst of the hurricane c.enter
th<' forward motion of th<' storm wns added
to the <·ount<'rdo<"kwise n.ir-movE.'ment of the
1
.'-,'u "Hurric·ant':-. into New F.111,!lnnd; l\lctcorology of tht' Storm or
f¼>plemll('r ll, l\l:!M," Orog r"phi<"I R rri, 11· (.'\111erlrn11 Oeo~rnphit'fll Society) , Jan. l ffJH, pp. I 10-127: "Jlurril'nne of Sept rmhor 10 to 2".2, 1938,"
Mm1ihlv ll 'rnlh rr Rn·ir11· ( l'. 8 . \\'enther lluroou), Seplcmher 1938, pp.
281, 28X: 1111<1 '"l'he Gco~raphy of :> llurrimne," National Otographic
.Jlagnzi11t, A11ril 1mm. pp .."129 .~r,2. Jt:urlier hurrit..J.nes in ~ew Englund
arf also ,lcsc·rihccl in these puhlil"nlions.
35
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36
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
hurricane, producing high wind velocities. In
many instances these greatly exceeded tlw 80mile-an-hour average along exposed coasts and
the 60-mile-an-ltour average inland indicated
by combining wind components and taking into
account loss from contact with the earth's surface. At Milton, near Boston, a wind velocity
as high as 183 miles an hour was recorded by
the Blue llill Meteorological Observatory.
The gale was responsible for only part of
the damage; water contributed its full share.
Along the New England shores the piling up
of the "storm wave" of the hurricane was the
immediate cause of most of the destruction.
Serious enough on its own account, the storm
wave was strengthened by the flow of the tide,
since the hour at which the storm struck was
only a little earlif'r than t.ll(' expected time of an
unusually high tide caused by the nearness of
the moon to the earth and the conjoined action
of the moon and sun. 2 The storm wave swept
into the downtown section of Providence,
Rhode Island, snhrnerging basements of buildings and rising above parked automobiles to
the tops of stalled trolley cars. Damage inland
was in part the result of the heavy rains that
fell for several days immediately preceding and
following the hurricane. In the highlands of
New England the rainfall amounted to as mnch
as 17 inches dming the five days ending
September 21. The rains not only softened the
soil so that trees were more easily uprooted but
also caused very serious floods in the river
va.lleys. Fire likewise took its toll, threatening
many communities as a result of shortcircuited
power lines and broken gas mains, piles of
wreckage, and high winds.
Damage Caused
by
the Storm
Desolation was g-r0atest along tlw coast.
Summer cottages and even the more suhstnntial
permanent residPnces nPnr the beaches were
torn from their foundntions and treated at the
whim of the elenH•nts. Not only were whole
settlements swept nwn:v, hut in many instances
the ground on whi('h th<>_v stood was wnslrnd
away by the sen. Debris nll(I sand were strewn
2
At Providence, tlw titm• of pxpedPd high I.Ide wns 5:3fi p. m.; 1.his may
li11ll' at whkh I hr h11rrit'n11r passed, as shown in
be compared with llw
the nc<'ompunying mnp.
inland by the force of wind and water. Imrnmernble boats, from small craft to freighters,
were broken from their moorings and borne to
destruction on the shore. With the force of the
gale increasing as the storm moved in from the
sea, the hurrican0 lifted roofs, toppled chimneys,
and smashed windows. Trees and telephone
poles were broken or torn from the ground,
crushing vehicles and buildings beneath them.
Thousands of acres of forests were ruined.
Flooded streams brought destruction to river
valleys as normally small and harmless watercourses were transformed into formidable torrf'nts. Dams and bridges by the score were
washed out. Buildings w0re flooded and sewer
and water systems were damaged. Roads were
inundated and in some cases whole sections of
rondbed were washed away. Gullies appeared
in place of fmm-to-market roads. The damage
to roads, together with washouts along the
railroad beds and badly crippled power and
communication lines, temporarily isolated many
towns.
Gr0at crop losses result0d from the sto1m and
floods. Losses of Massachusetts farmers were
estimated at $10,000,000 (including damage to
form buildings); over $3,000,000 of this was in
apple trees 11 lone. Many orchards were destroyed in N <'W Jersey, eastern New York, and
esperially in V <'Tinont. One-third of the sugarproducing maple trees upon which Vennont
fnrnwrs depend for a considerable part of their
cash income were uprooted. The fact that
s0vernl d0cndf's will be required to replace
these trees is indicative of the seriousness of
this loss. Damag-e to timber g-rowths was extreme, pnrticularly in New Hampshire, where
whole fom,ts were laid wast<'. Destruction of
farm building-s also was extensive. In Hadley,
Massachusetts, 205 out of 300 tobacro barns
w<.'re blown do\\71 and tlwir contents destroyed,
and in Comwcticut some 400 tobacro bnrns
were demolished.
In a plight enn worse thnn that of the formers were the thousands of persons whose means
of liv0lihood were wiped out. Numerous
rnnnufnctm·ing plants were forced to close down
b<.'cnuse of the damnge to, or demolition of,
their lrnildings and equipment. In some cnses
normnl opcrn tions could not be resunl('d for
months. Among the most seriously affected
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NEW ENGLAND HURRICANE
September 21 , 1 938
CANADA
,,"
, MAIN E
-
------
NEW Y ~
·-,
\
-~
~
j
\ '-.
---------
'-·-
PENNSYLVANIA/)•...__ ---
/
' "- :--..
/
-
8
\/
.:,
lj
·,
l.--.
l
~
--.. NEW
Hurrica ne
_,,....
cente r
of
( poi n t
lowest
baromet ric pressu r e) - course, moveme nts of surround ing air curren ts ,
RS
~
,.
LEGEND
--
and ho urly loca t ion (p . m .)
--------------
P ath o f hurricane d estruc t ion - heavy
shoding denotes area o f the great est
damage
A c tual h igh w o ter le vel obove pre-
D
d ict e d high ti de (p . m .) - In feet
llnM. 1" cn• I, •"
•"d d•~ 1,0.-.
tloe
•-1.o o l
Ill• W Hlh•
• ~•u ...
o.,.,..., ... , •'
A1, lculW• • ·
Cou! •"4 o ... uuc s ...... ..-.. 0--••""•" ' ol Cc..,..,e,u
WP.t.
2()J;jj j" O
-10- -
320 7
..J
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38
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
groups were the fishermen who lost their boats
and working tools along with their homes.
Flood Control Measures
Preceding the Disaster
The havoc wTought by the hurricane and
floods might have been consid erably greater
had it not been for the preventive measures
that were taken when the September 1938
flood danger became imminent and for the
flood control work of recent years. In some
sections of New England, WP A and state
officials were already making preparations to
combat major floods before the hurricane
struck. Divisions of the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation were preparing to meet
emergency calls for supplies. Women on WP A
sewing projects were transferred from their
usual assignments to the more urgent work of
mn.king sand bags. Local and WPA engin eers,
profiting by experience in the floods of 1936,
started sandbag opera.tions at danger points.
Along the Connecticut River at I-1:11-tford th e
threatened break of the dike called for special
efforts. Three thousand m en were assigned
to the task a nd 250 ,000 bags were hastily filled.
For three days and three nights men piled the
ha.gs to a height of five feet and a width of 15
feet, erecting a barricade over a distance of two
mil es. Tluough this work, a $5,000,000 property loss was prevented in the southeastern part
of Hartford, according to estim ates by cit,v
offiei::ds. New Britain , Conn eetieut , wa s n.l so
protected from floods by the strengthening of
Shuttle Meadow Dam by WPA workers.
Greater damage was averted in many places
through the many flood control projects of the
WP A and ot,her Federal age11cies that had been
completed after the 1936 flood demonstrated
the need for them. River bends heavily damaged by floods in 1936 had been strengthened
by riprapping. Dikes and river walls had been
built. Channels of rivers and smaller streams
hnd been cleared nnd deepened. In Vermont,
the towns of 111ontpelier, Barre, and Waterbury
were saved by flood control dams which had
been constructed by the Federal Government.
Although flood waters rose a foot above the
peak of the 1936 crest in Fitchburg and Lowell,
Massachusetts, recent flood control work prevf'nted a repetition of the 1936 flood damage.
lu West Springfield , Massachusetts, buildings
that had been flooded to the second story in
1936 were protected by the WP A-built Agawam
River dike and the Connecticut River wall.
Agencies Rendering Emergency Assistance
Federal , sh1 te , local, and private agencies
mobilized their forc es to provide assistance at
the t,ime of t.he disaster. Through e:xl)erience
in recen t yen.rs mnn} of the agencies bad knowledge of the needs under such circumstances and
of the steps to be tnken. The Federal Surplus
Commodit.ies Corpornt.ion made food and clothing n.rn.ilable to distressed conummities. The
Farm SeclU'ity Administration turned over its
7
I N THE WAKE OF
THE HURRICANE
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Goog Ie
39
l\EW El\GLA:'\D Hl'RHICA/1.'E .-1.:'\D FLOODS OF SEPTI<;:\IBEH I \)3X
facilities in the storm-stricken arf'n for rf'lif' f and
rehabilitation of farm fnmilies. Olfrrs of lin:rncial assistance were madf' by tlw Disustf'r Loan
Corporation , an agency finan<•f'd and 111n.n11gf'd
by the Reconstruction Firn1.ncf' Corpora.tion.
·The Federal Housing Administration announced
that it was empowered to assist in making loans
to owners of property in distrf'ssP.d n.n' as.
Meanwhile, the Corps of Enginf'f'rs , ( 'oust
Guard, CCC, NYA, and the WP.A <'ngag<'d in
innumerable emergency tasks throughout the
area. In view of the emf'rgency broad authority was given \VPA state administrators for thf'
operation of emergency projects; regular undertakings were temporarily suspf'nded so that. all
resources could be thrown into the f'mergency
activities. In some places work was rondueted
in shifts, and groups of workers were sent from
one distressed area to another as fast as progrf'ss
permitted . Two broad types of endeasor muy be
distinguished: one in preparing for emNgf'Jl<'ies
and alleviating immediat<' distrPss and disonl<'r
and the other for rchu bilitatio11 of dam11gPd
public property.
WP A
Emergency Work
~.\long with thf'ir othPr JH'('V(•ntivc activities
\VPA workf'rs issuf'd warnings nnd assist.Pd in
evacuating danger zones as th<· thrt•nts of dnnger increasf'd. Later, the work involvPd rpscuing and searching for victin1S of tl1P disnstPr
and supplying th e food, sh<•ltPr, and nH'dical
attention that were urgPntly n<'<'<i<'d .
School lunch operations wt•n' tnrn sfornwd
into emergency f ePding activitiPs. ln a schoolroom in East Hartford, C'omwcticut, th<· \YPA
cooperated with local authorit,ips in sPtting up
a portable kitchen in which , for S('VPral days,
more than 1,500 m eals W('re cooked nnd s(•rvPd
daily to flood suffprers. In Provid<'ll<'<'. Hho<k
Island, from Scptf'mber 2:3 to SPptPmbPr 2i , tl1<'
W omf'n's and Profrssionnl Division eoo1wrn u,d
with the city departmPnt of WPlfar<• by assigning
sewing-room f'mployef's to th<' work of JH'<'paring
food for 5,000 men Pngag<'d in <'lll<'l'gPncy work.
V\Tom en from the W estcrly, Rhod<' lsl:rnd. snving room cooked for the hornPi<-ss, working in
shifts, twenty-four hours a day for a pPriod of
five days. St'wing rooms Wf'I'l' PmptiPd of tlil'ir
storC's of clothing und hospitul suppliPs. Since
( ' 1,()'J'Jll:S(; .\1.\ llE l:S \\"I' .\ ,.; 1,: 1n:-; c; l{()() _\ I ,< 11·.1,.; 1)1 ,<T l([ll .
l ' TEI> TO \"ICTl~I,< OF TIii-: IIFl{l{J( '_.\;,,g
no n'gular distributing CPlltPrs <•xistPd in nuui:,·
of thl' aliliett,d romm11nitiPs, commodity <kpots
wen' Sf't up for th<' purpos<'. Food, clothing,
and mf'clicnl supplil's wpre also distribut('(l by
"'PA workPrs manning trncks and boats. In
Rhock lslnnd alo1w , rPports show that 37,762
garnwnts WPn' distribut.Pd during two days to
1wrsons in rn strirkPn an'ns. Artic!Ps producl'd
on WPA SPwing and canning projPcts and distributl'cl in th<' stntl's in which thf'~• werf' prod11rPd hnd a vnhw of $129 ,790, as shown in
Tnbi<- 14 . It must bP r<'rogni;,:c'o , however,
tlw t. this total in vol n's a considPrn.ble understn tPmPnt of tlw trnP umount innsmuch ns it
dops not includ<• tlw vah1P of products SPIit from
Oil<' stat<' to anotlwr.
" ' onwn PmployNl on s1•wi11g proj1,c·ts who
W(' l'l' not lH't'(IPd in prPpnring food or n111 king
sandbags W('n' shift.f'cl to cl<'ricnl jobs, rPplacing
mPn draft.Pd for IH'aviN duty. Othf'r woml'n
\\·orl«,rs sPrv<'d as m1rs<'S arnl nicks to dodors
:rnd RPd Cross work<•rs in ntknding th1· i11j11n•d
,rnd pn'Yl'nting tlw spn·nd of disPilS<'.
1'1 w H ; <•T:<
\ ' A1,1,i,; Of' l'1t0Dl ' <'TS 01,• \\'PA
Coons
Du,Tn1111 ' TED T O \'l('TJM;; 01,· T JJf; N~;w
E:s-rn , AXD
II
TAHLJ•;
I I.
1·1ut1 c Ax1,; ,
BY
l'\1' ATf; ,; A
('ll ~ll ' I. .\Tl\' E Tlll(() l' ( i ll .l l! ~a.
:,,;".t alt'
Totnl
\'alt tt ·
1
'.\1 a ill< '
'.\l assn<'ht1sl'll s
l!J:i1 1
:-: 1a1 l'
1
I :-;,," Y ork
I Hlwd l' Isla nd
" $ 1:!11. , \"I
ll11111ps hin •
,
( ' onnt •(• I ic1~t
:m.
:\/;: ~!: ~I
:W. i I:?
'.'\1 •\\
\\•rr110111
I. ffi ti
11 , •1:!:l
12. li l-t
( II J
I
·' l>:11 11 rl'ft>r 1111l y lo J.!t1ods prnd11C•1•d nnd d is lrih111,•d w ithin !ht• sa 1114 •
s t a lt•; !Ill' vnlw• of j!Oud s d is t r ih111, •d \\ i1hi11 a '-! Hit • hut pro d11 e,•d n111 s idt·
1hnt :-. t nl<' is 1101 a,·a ilahh•.
11 l>al a ror \"1•r11 1m1t 1101 a , 11 il a hl1 •,
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40
REPORT OK PROGRESS OF 'l'HE WPA PROGRAM
Ev(•11 i11 sN•.tions wlH•n• thP netual toll in life
n11d propl'rty wns rl'lntiYdy low, tliP need for
mai11taining an unpolluted and sufficient water
supply was acute. WPA employpes repaired
brokPn wat<'r mains and assisted in the use of
portablr chlorinating equipment that was
rushed to towns wherp tl1P water supply had
been contaminated. In 1\1.nssaehusPtts scores
of towns werP ai(kd by the portable chlorinators
made available by a WPA water pollution
survey project. vYorkc·rs on the projPct sent
samples of suspected watpr to the stn.te department of health for analysis and posted signs
wl1Pre necessary, wnming i11hnbitn11ts to boil
their drinking wa tcr.
Although r0lid work was mack difficult at
PV<•r~· turn by inr<•ssnnt rnm nncl foilurr of
communication systems, the disruption of
transportation facilities was the greatest handicap of all. Large numbers of WPA employees
labored day and night to remove uprooted
trees, tangled wires, and debris from impassable
thoroughfares; twenty-four hours after the
storm, main roads were suflicently cleared to
allow the entry of supply trucks and firefighting apparatus into hundreds of communities. vYPA forces were also assigned to the
erection of temporary bridges- work which in
some sections was equally urgent.
Rescue of known sufferers and provision for
th eir welfare were accompanied by long hours of
search for persons lost in the storm. Cooperati11g with employees of other agencies and with
rnluntePrs, WPA workers sought victims in the
A F T E H T 11 E H U H RI C AN E :
EMERGENCY C HE \\"S CLEAH·
I NG A BADLY BLO C KED
HOA D ( LE FT ) AKD B UI LDI NG
' l' E i\ l POHAHY BR I DGE (BELO\\')
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41
NEW ENGLAND HURRICANE AND FLOODS 01" SEPTEMBER 1938
wreckage of hundreds of d<>molished honl<'s.
Special crews were detailed in hon.ts to seur<'h
swamps and marshes.
After immediate distress had been r<'liE>wd,
emphasis shifted to cleanup work and snfoty
measures. Under the direction of stn.te iu1d
local health authorities, emergency workers
pumped tons of water and silt from basements.
Whether in private or public buildings. cellars
that were considered a health menace were
cleaned out and fumigated. Electricians and
master plumbers among vYPA torces assisted
city building departments in inspecting electrical and plumbing equipment to make certain that it. was safe for use. The repair of
damaged sewers throughout. the floodC'd nr<'u
served to check the development of unsanitary
conditions.
Rehabilitation Measures
The end of the criticul emergency period
marked the initiation of u new phase of tl1e
emergency activities of Federnl ngencies. The
Farm Credit Administration, the Federnl Housing Administration, the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, the Public Works .Administration, the N a.tional Youth Administrn.tion, the Civilian Conservation Corps, n.nd th<'
Forest Service, in addition to the WPA, nil
aided materially in the major task of reco11struction. To draft plans for this rehabilitation
work the Federal Administrator of the WPA
met with New Englund Governors in Boston on
September 26. Officers of the Corps of I~n~dneers supervising flood control work, Red (_ 'ross
representatives, and teclmica.l experts from
state public works departments likewise attended the conference at which tecllllienl ns
well as general aspects of rehubiJitatiou were
discussed.
Among the foremost rchuhifitation mcnsmc•s
was the removal of fallen timber, whfrh had
the dual purpose of preventing fire nnd salvaging lumber. Towards this end tJJ(' Northeastern Timber Salvage Administration wus
created through the cooperatiYe enclenvor of
the Reconstruction Finance Corporntion, the
Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, and
other Federal agencies. During th e six months
following the hurricane, 185,000,000 hoard feet
of logs were sent to the 223 ponds a.nd the 370
sawrnills under the <'ontrol of tJu~ Northeustc•rn
Timber Salvage Administrn.tion. A closely
related activity was the work of the 8,000 men
in 40 of the New England CCC ramps, which
stressed the removal of fire hazards left in th<'
wuke of the hurricane. Another type of 11id
supplied by l◄'edernl agenC"ies w11s in the form of
extension of <"reclit: t.l1is wns in order to expedite
priva t<' rebuilding.
WPA Rehabilitation Work
Following the SeptC'mher 26 conference certain restrictions on WP A project nctivities were
lifted in New England, and state' administrntors
W<'re given the authority within blanket project
limitations to approve work projerts haYing a
Yalue up to $10,000 each. ExpE>nditures on
the various kinds of emergency and r<'construction work through ,June 30, Hl39, amounted to
$24 ,639 ,000. Largest e\penclit11rc>s wer<>. nrn<l<'
in :\lnssachusetts ($12,993 ,000), Rhode Island
($4,!iJ.5,000), nnd Connecticut ($3,284,000).
TAHU:
1.5.-WPA
ExrENDITl'RES ON EMERGENCY AND
v\" OltK IN THE NEW ENGLAND
HY 8TATt;S
Rt:CO:IISTJtUC-TJ0:'11
llURRJCAXE AHF.A,
C t">lt'I.A 'IWE
~tnte
'
:
TJIHOl 'C lll Jt' !<E ;!(J. 10:)0
S lnt e
Amount
Xew llamps blre ...
. __ __ $24.f,39,356
Tolnl
- . ~cw York __ __
- - - -_
Hhnde ls hmd __
____ _. 3.2X3. !!0J
Connel'licul
Vermon t_ _____ _ ·· ·W0. 144
___
l\fuinc
i
12, 9«J3, JJj,I
l\·t as.~ucllu~elt~ .. __ __
I
Amount
1,92f~l80
622. 320
4,515,2.i2
1,198,521
In Connecticut 318 rel111bilitntion projects
(im·olving l◄'<>.dernl funds of $:3,000,000 nnd
sponsors' funds of $1,000,000) were n.pproved;
under these, operations were initiutc<l in pruct.icnlly every sect.ion of the stntc. Fifty-two
of the projects werE' for th<' rchnbilitn tion of
public buildings. One of the building projects
im·oh-cd work on the state cllpit.ol at Hartford
where the storm ha.d destroyed the copper
coping of the c11pitol, blown slnte from the
roof, broken the skylights, n.nd wenkened tlw
understructure of the stn.tue of the Genius of
( 'onnecticnt on the dome. Removal of tlw
20-ton bronze stotuc was one of the most
cliflicult assignments that the WPA <'ngincers
foccd in the rclmbilitation work in Connecticut.
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42
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
A KI N I) 0 1' l{EII A Bll.l ' l'AT IO:\ TIIA'I ' 11·As :,,;1,:c1,:ssAHY I N
MA/\Y ;s:1.;11· 1-: NGLAN IJ TO\\·N~
It was llP<'.ess11 ry to cut the figurP in to sections,
ench of which wt>ighed hundrPds of po11nd s.
The \-\.PA renovated 300 public buildings in
RhodP Island that had be<'n d n111aged by wind
and water wl1Pn the h11rr1C·ane strnck. B<'si<IPs
the work on tl1e buildings the111sPlvPs, it wa s
necessary to r es tore the records kPpt in tl1c
basernents or on ground floors after they l111d
been dre11rl1ed by water. Recovprpd documents were nrtiticinlly dried and sterilized and
then copied by WP A workers. Tw enty workers
werP 11ssigned to the retyping of 100,000 gowrnmen t i-ecords in PrO\·idence. Among thesP
were the files of the Rhode Island and tl1e
United States Employment Services and thP
records of th e board of cn.11 vassers of Providence. Registere<l voters in two v,,ards of the
city could not hn.ve exercised their rigl1t of
frnnchise without reregistration if the record s
of the hon.rd of canvassers had not lwen n•stored .
ThP r elloating or thP frrrybon t " GoY('J'llOr
Carr" was one of the major rehabilitation
projects in Rhod e I sland. This boat w11s
thP property of n, m u1u<'ipa.lly owned corporn,tion and wu.s tll(\ only forry between ,J11lll<•stown
n.nd N cwport. \,Vhen the storm l><•:i<'hed t.11<•
nnft a.t n 45-ckgree angle on n shal(' l<'<lge
nnd disabled tl1e Jerry to Saund('rstow11 ,
,l11111c•stown wn.s ldt witl1out lll<•a11s or trnnsport to the muinland . A vVPA prnj ec-t \\'II S
npprovt'd for righting: the 550-ton bo11t, and tlH'
UnitNI St11tt's Nu.Yy supplied n, substitutt• until
s rrYice ro11ld be n •s 11111Pd by the " ( ;oY<•rnor
C11rr.'' Working: with the tide and the weather,
tl1t• salvage rrew (varying from 16 to 30 men)
rompleted the job in 39 days. Work on the
proj ect in<'luded the construction of a 300-by18-foot launching track and the rebuilding of
damaged seawalls as well as the actual righting
of tl1<> boat. Among other rehabilitation work
performed by the WP A in Rhode Island was
th<> reconstruction of seawalls at Newport and
l\ nrrn.gnnsett and of various piers requiring the
plncrrnpnt and jettying of several hundred
pilPs.
Within n month after the hurricane 521
projects under a $5,000,000 blanket rehabilitation n.utliorization had been approved in
Mnssn,chusetts. By the first of March, WPA
,vorkers had renovated 346 buildings, cleared
l 0, 1SU miles and built or reconditioned nearly
200 miks of roads, built two bridges and rec011 strnetrd 2(i, built 40 culverts and reconditiont'd 272, rpstored 37 ,980 linenr Jeet of sev..·ers,
ins tH lied 3,800 and replaced 650 feet of water
linPs , nnd cut and removed 161,700 fallen
trers to m ention only part of the accomplisl11nents. Jn North Adams where the
Hoosac Hiver ha.d washed away 300 feet of
Front StrN•.t , leaving nine houses literally
hnnging on'r the edge of the rirnr, WPA
workt>rs f-illed i.11 the ron.dbed , resurfaced it,
and built a 480-foot supporting wall. In
l'ittsfield culYNts and bridgt's were restored
nrnl n. 14:i-foot rctnjning: wall was constructed.
TIii•: .\11 · :,,;1(' 11'.·\I.LY- 0 \\' ',;1•: ll FEHi(\' " 00\'EH:-SOR C ARR "
\I._\ S
IU-:Fl. 0 .\'l'l•: I> ..\:Sil Hl·:CO:-Slll'I'IOl\ED
BY 11· pA \\' OHKE Hi'
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43
NEW ENGLAND HURRICANE AND FLOODS OF SEPTEMBER 1938
timber from forest and recreation areas, the
opening of roads and trails, and the restoration
of forest telephone lines.
By February 18, WPA workers in Vermont
hnd cleared 796 miles of roads and trails, 712
acres of land located within 100 feet of buildings, and 2,805 acres of land constituting fire
hazards and lying within 50 feet of public
highways. This was in addition to the clearance and repair work done by local public
agencies. Of the 75,000 to 100,000 acres of
forest in Vermont that would be considered
extreme fire hazards as a. result of the blownclown timber, 15 to 20 percent had been cleared
by the first of March. Where demolislwd
lookout towers on some of the mountains made
fire protection more difficult, WPA work also
contributed to fire prevention. The erection
of one of the new towers, on Elmore Mountain
in Vermont, was complicated by its location.
Steel framework and concrete mixing materials
had to be hoisted over an overhanging ledg<'
in getting them to the site at the top of the
mountain.
In 153 New Hampshire towns the WPA rebuilt roads and streets, sewers, water mains,
and bridges. Projects for the reduction of
forest-fire hazards were operated in 74 localities.
Rehabilitation measures most extensively undertaken in Maine were for the removal of
Project Employment Provided
On September 28, 83 ,000 \VPA workers were
engaged in emergency and reconstruction activities occasioned by the September hurricane
and floods. Nearly half this number (40,000)
WC're in Massachusetts, as shown in Ta.hie 16.
The smaller but even more seYerely afflicted
stntes of Connecticut and Rhode Island had
22,000 and I 0,000, respectively.
Since a large part of the need for extra lahor
was due to emergency situations ansmg
immediately after the diso,ster, a smaller force
was required in subsequent weeks. By October
19 the number of ·wPA workers employed on
emergency projects had been cut almost in
half, the greatest deere:ises occurring in ·M assachusetts and Connecticut. Work in Rhode
Island required a fairly constant number of
vVPA workers until the middle of November,
when the emergency employment decreased by
ahout 5,000 workers. Employment in the other
stricken states increased after the middle of
TABLE 16.-:t\t'MBER OF PERSON!< EMPLOYED ON WPA J:<:iIERGENCY AND HE<'ONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THE i\"EW
ENGLAND HunRIC' AN f; A1rnA, BY STATES
. Total
Nom•
Date
Connecticut
j Percent!
ber o(
Emer•
~e~~~~;i~.=
Maine
l\fa•sachusetts I.Kew Jla111pshircj
New York
Hhode Island
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---- - - - - -
I
I
I
\"ermont
-
I
Percent
Perc·ent
Percent
, Percent
Pereent
l'ercent
Num• I of all Kum• : of all
Nuro•
of all
Num• of oil
Num• . of all
Num•
of all
Nuro• , of all
J~~~~ ber , WPA ber WPA
her
WPA
ber I WPA
her
WPA
her
WPA
ber
\\"PA
1v.orkcrs
·workers
workers
worker~
workers
workers
workers
1
s2,119
October 11._·······-···149, 770
Octoberl2 .. ---······· 46,411
October )9·--·-······ · 1 42,427
October 26............ 40,958
Kovember 2 ... ···-···' 55,834
Ko,·ember9 .... -..
60,320
Kovember 16 ... ····-· . 57,020
.N~o,·embeberr23 .... -... . · 54,628
1 o,·em
30-······· · 51,279
December 7·-·-···-·• • 48,988
Decemberl4 .. -·····-· ' 49,124
December2L._. _..... , 44,748
December28 ........ _. ' 43,681
···I
I
!~. ~ 13,027
22,001 --1:~ ,I~-~~ . =l~o.~12 -~1.~ 4,115
11,845
38.9 ...... ·-· . 17,744
13.8
5, 19:J
10,233
33. 5 ·· ··-· ....... 16,102
12.6
4,965
6,125
10. 7 . . ... •-•···· · 17,419
13. 4 : 5,304
6,300
10. O 1 293
2. 9 21,814
16. 7
6,879
I 6,910 22. I 448
4. 2 24,909
18. 9 . 7, 88:J
7,972
24.8 j il0
6.6 27,546
2!J.6' 8,279
8,290
25. 1
689
0. 4 27,305
20. 7
8,218
8,200
25.4
003
0.4 26,0:!7
20.1
7,345
8,455 1 25.7
427
4.1 24,479
19. 2
6,J92
7,989
25. 3
425
4.1 24,500
rn. 3 5, 174
7,989
2622• 57 1 442211
44._11 2.5,155
l!J.~
4,!14()
6, 399
23,0<iU
IR. :!
4,371'
5, ~86
21.5
265
2. 6 23,415
18.fi
3,893
I
I
1
it,·. 24 ·, 118s•1,
2,237
8. 91· ·····
2,207
9. 0 . . • . . .
1,839
8.0. •· •·
_ 1_,_s9_0_ _
8._1-'-• ._.._._·
January~~···-···· · 34, 699 11 3,845 ·
February 22... .. .. ... . 29, i13
I, 923
March 211·-···-······ • 30,804
~pril 26 .. ·-·········• ·' 24,1101·
Mar3L-.-·-·-···-·-·116,505
Juoe 28 .. ·-·······~·~· _H_,24_s_
.,2 7
44.7,
41. 6 1
50. 6
5.1. :J
58.7
58. 3 [
54.7,
51.6
45. 7
~(:il._111
,
:lfi. 2 '
~
1._
1•,~.· I~,
--,·
1 ,
1, N
... _ . 21 . 307
·-•-·-·, 15,SW
. . · · -110,103
. .. . .
~-~_1_ .
I
2,_ ",4 ~,
1~_- o
2 143
1,. 1
17.1
2.211
H.2
2 3M
JO.I
1,3011
~~65 •
4.7 10,240 I
3.1 10,582 I
1.8 10, 7i4
8,984 I
2. 2
2. 4 IO, 030
9,606
2. 0
0, 074
3.2
2'tl4
3. 7
5, 2H5
3.8
5,320
3. 7
3. 4 I 4,820
3.5 : 4,9-17
3.5 J 4,705
4,6[>4
3.7
1,088
1,180
I, 408
I, 592
I, 8114
2,000
2,502
2,~~
2,,,v
2. 235
2,227
2,263
2,355
27. 3
21. 4
22. 8
2,5.0
Hi. 0
~~- U ~ __ _ .
r,.
2. 3
I
4, 4t4
4,400 .
4, 4IO
a.Ho I
~
~-·.···i
2, 8UI
2,
208 1
00. 7
62. 0
02. Ii
53. I
55. 5
53. 3
A
•1
I
2,418
2,418
3, oo;
3, Olli
:l,050
4,004
I, 649
51.1 I
7 I ·I. i22
2{)_
21l.8
21l.5
28. 1
28.0
I
I
·I, fi(i2
:l.!ll;O
3. 746
:i, .i45
28. 7
28.;
:l, 51:l
29. 7
2'J. 2
2,31i5 ·
I.IIJ'J
28. 9
6:19
23.
21. 76
15.9
3, 21:1
I
557
371
348
• Employment during previous week.
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40. 0
40. 0
31i. 2
as. 3
ao. ri
37. 2
46. I
48. 0
49. 4
HO
44. 3
42. 6
44. 0
41. 9
33. 5
19. 9
10. 8
10. 9
8. 2
7. 3
44
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
October, reflecting the initiation of reconstruction projects. The peak of the upward movement in all the states was reached on November
9, at which time more than 60,000 WPA
workers were employed on reconstruction
projects.
A large proportion of all WPA workers in
states affected by the storm were employed
on emergency and reconstruction projects.
Nearly 73 percent of all the WPA workers in
Connecticut on September 28 were so employed.
In Rhode Island and New Hampshire the
proportion of WPA workers employed on
emergency and reconstruction projects averaged
more than 50 percent during the eight-week
period beginning with the last week of September. WPA employment in the other states also
refierted the importance of emergency and
rehabilitation artiYities. (See Table 16 on the
preceding page.)
No one task performed by the WPA and
other agencies in connect,ion with the hurricane
and floods of the fall of 1938 can be singled out
as preeminent. Flood prevention measures
precluded additional hardships, rescue work and
the provision of food and clothing alleviated
suffering, and clean-up work and rehabilitation
activities gradually brought order and restored
damaged property in an area temporarily
stmmed by disaster.
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WP A PROJECT OPERATIONS
IN SELECTED AREAS
in the \VPA program in the
D many communities
of the country an• the
IFFERENCES
result of the kinds of \VPA operations proposC'd
by the sponsoring agencies of tlie localiti<'s,
the manner in which the und0rtnki11gs an•
prosecuted, and the variety in the b<'1wfits
that result from the completed projcd work.
These diffcrc11ces are obscured in u N n tionwide tren tment of the \VPA. Th<> sun·pys
developed belmv are design<>d to illustrate this
aspect of WPA activities by describing the
actual operations of the WPA in four s1wcific
areas.
The surveys cover WPA projrct op0rations
in quite different parts of the country. Two
rural counties are included nmmig tl10 dPscriptions of the community programs of th<• "TA.
The first is Mahaska County, Iowa, which lirs
in the heart of the countr:v's corn bC'!t.. Escambia County, Alabama, on the other hand,
is in the deep South. Of the two cities surveyed one is medium-sized with 4£>,000 inhabitants (Portsmouth, Ohio). The other is n
larger city of 11.5,000 inhnbitunts (Erir, l'Pnnsylvania) which has many of the chnractci istics
of the country's industrial centers.
The project operations of the seleded areas
typify in essential rrn,pects the operations conducted by the vVPA in many pnrts of the
country. Each of the four areas is mon• or
less representative of comparable local gon•rn-
mental subdivisions in corresponding parts of
th0 country. ,\s a group the surveys illustrate
the varied settings in which most of the diffrrent kinds of project work lmve been done.
They touch upon t,he conditions which hnve
led to the proposal of particular project undertakings, the part,icipation of the various local
public ag<•ncic•s which sponsor the projects, the
actual 1wt1rner in which the work has been
c·arried on, and the s1wcific benefits that haYe
accrued to the eommtmity from the work
1wrformed.
The nwiews of "'P.\ operations in the four
nreas have !wen limited to accounts of the
project work itsC'lf. No attempt has been
made to des!'rilH• the persons given jobs or the
meaning of \VPA employment to them and to
their families. Passing mention is mn.de, howeyer, of the• mm1her of jobs proYidcd and the
cxtC'nt of u1w111ployme11 L
ThP stmimari<>s c<n-Pr \VP.A operations only.
ThPy do not includ<' thP work pcrfornwd under
the earliPr work programs as conducted by the
( 'ivil "'orks Administrat,ion and thC' Federal
Emergency HPlief ,\dministrnt.ion. Neither do
they includC' t,lw work performed under agencies
concu1-re11 tly operating work projects, such as
the National Youth .\dmi11istrntion, the Public
\Yorks Administmtion, the Civilian Con,;ern1tion Corps, and the otlwr Federal agencies
that carry on projeet operations.
45
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46
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
MAHASKA COUNTY, IOWA
Mahaska County is a 364,000-acre expanse of
fertile, slightly rolling, farm land in the southcentral section of Iowa. The county's farms
produce an abundance of corn, smn.11 grains,
and hay. These principal farm crops n.re
largely fed to hogs n.nd beef cattle- the primary
farm product,s supplying cash income. Important productive activities in addition to farming
are cn.rried on in the small factories, creameries,
and poultry hatcheries of the county.
According to the HJ:30 Census of Population,
the county had 25,800 inhabitants, nearly half
of whom (11,600 persons) lived on farms. Nonfarm residents were largely concen tmted in
Oskaloosa-the count,y seat, a college town, and
the marketing center of the county-which had
a population of 10,000. Small towns scattered
throughout the county inc.lnde New Sharon in
tho north-central part, originally n, Quaker settlement; Fremont to the southeast on the divide
between the Des Nfoines and Skunk Rivers;
Beacon, near Oskaloosa in the central section,
once a tl1riving coal mining community; and
Rose Hill, the center of a purebred hog- and
cattle-raising area near Ln.ke Keomah State
Park in the east-central pnrt of the county.
Approximately 9,500 persons were engaged in
gainful occupations in ).:fnhaska County in
1930 . Agricultural workers accounted for more
than 4,000 of the gainfully employed; retail and
wholesale trade, over 1,000; and persons employed in factories, nearly 700.
Despite the location of Mahaska County in
one of the most fertile agric.ultural sections of
the country, the economic stntus of the county's
residents has been ndversely a.ffpcted in recent
years by the low prices received for agriculturnl
products, the droughts of l\t34 n,nd 193u, and
the depressed levels of general husiness activity.
None of the five bnnks operating in Oskaloosn in
1932 s111Tivccl the bank crisis; they have been
replaced, how('ver, by two new banks nnd a
home loan and snving-s assoc-intion. Such is
the general setting of tlw unemployment problem of the county; in Oskaloosa conditions have
been accentuated during tl1t' past year by the
shutting down early in J \l:38 of an overall
factory which employcd oYer 100 workers.
At the time of the unemployment census in
November 1937, 929 persons between the ages
of 15 and 74 (including 384 WPA and other
emergency workers) registered in Mahasku
County as totally unemployed and 530 more
registered a.s partially unemployed. About a
fourth of the totally unemployed who had work
expericnce reported themselves as common
laborers, and nearly a fifth as farm laborers or
formers. Only slightly less numerous than
the agriculturn.l workers were two other groups
of registrants-skilled workers and foremen,
and semiskilled workers.
Many of the unemployed in Mahaska County
have been given work on WPA projects since
the initiation of the WPA program. In tota.l,
1,130 different workers held project jobs at
some time between the beginning of operations
in November 1935 and March 31, 1939. The
number working at any one time, however, has
ranged between 300 and 650 workers. These
persons have been grading and widening farmto-market roads, digging- sewer ditches, developing parks, making garments for needy
families, and doing the many other kinds of
work thn.t have been carried on under the WP A.
The results of this work have added materially
to the public facilities and socin.l welfare of the
county.
Construction
Road Work
The road system in Mahaska County, as in
the rest of Iowa, hns been greatly improved
during recent yenrs through the regular road
work carried on in the sta.te. To a large extent
this improvement and nutintenance work has
been dire<:'ted towards the building n,nd upkeep
of primnry (stn te or Federnl) roads, which are
stnte-mnintnined. Scvent,y of the eighty-six
miles of primnry ronds in the county were paved
by the P11<l of 1938, and the remainder were
gm veled, nc,·ord ing to reports of the state
highwny commission.
Responsibility for the 1,105 miles of secondary roiids in the county, however, rests on the
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WPA
ROADWORK
IN MAHASKA
COUNTY, IOWA
Through March 31, 1939
cb
WPA Roadwork on County and Other Loca l Roads
R oa d s s u rface d or r esu r fa ced by WP A
Roa ds cleare d and gru bbe d and/ or
era ded by WP A
•
.....
Scale o f MHe s
Rock quarry location
Highways a nd Road s
~
~
U.S . hl g h w.:iys
Stole hi g h ways
County or other l oca l ro ads
0
Grave l pit location
WPA
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
county. It is these farm-to-market roads that
have been developed through WPA project
operations. Before the WPA program was
begun the condition of the secondary roads
varied greatly. Some had been graded and
surfaced, but well over half were still unimproved dirt roads. Travel on unsurfaced roads
in Mahaska County becomes exceedingly difficult during rainy periods. Deep ruts appear
in some sections of the roads making two-way
transportation practically impossible. Frozen
surfaces on rough roads cause discomfort to
motorists and greatly increase the operating
cost of cars and trucks. In the spring, especially after very heavy snow and rainfalls, suf'h
bad muclholes often develop that traffic is
blocked.
WPA work in Mahaska County has already
clone much to improve road conditions through
the farm-to-market road projects that have
been prosecuted in every township of the
county. By the end of March 1939 extensive
grubbing and grading had been completed; a
total of about 100 miles of secondary roads
had been surfaced with crushed stone and 24.5
miles resurfaced. The accompanying map
shows the location of roads on which work has
been done.
17.~NnMBl,H OF
PErrno'ls E~1p1,onrn ON
WPA-OrERATirn PrroJEcT,;, BY TYPES OF Prro.rECTs
AND BY SEX
TABLE
rvr . . 11 Af-KA
f'OC':"iTY, IOWA
\Luw11 21, rn:m
'l'ypo of Project
I Tola!
1- - - -
TotaL ____________________ _
Farm-to-market and other secondary ronds __ _
Puhlic buildings: road equipment building __ _
~ewer system,;;
Education ____ _
llecreation_
-- -Professional and c]erical _
__. . . . . .... .
Housckeepin~ aide .....
Sewing nnd other goods __
Surplll~ commodities.__ ____ ... . . _.
-
,\01
Men
Women
---~-
1:lfi
65
:;2u
,\S
37
2
1
4
5
3
5
19
34
I
Although some of the work has been limited
to dressing and surfiwing fairly well-built roads,
much of the mileage improved by the WT A
consisted of unimproved dirt roads. VVhen
work was done on sud1 roadways the VYPA
undertook pnwtically the building of new roads.
Care has been taken to see thnt r:wh section of
ron.cl on which work is initiated will serve as an
outlet to a surfaced road.
Since the rights-of-way for some of the
road sections were not sufficiently wide to permit building to the width desired for improved
roads in the county (66 feet with a 26-foot road
width) it was necessary to acquire strips of
land along the roadside. Owners of adjoining
forms have in general made land available for
this purpose without charge. In return, WPA
workers moved the fanners' fences back from
the road to the edge of the new right-of-way.
The newly acquired strips of land were then
cleared preparatory to ditching and grading.
Bushes were grubbed, trees felled, and stumps
removed along the rights-of-way.
Steep grades have been elin1inated and sight
distances lengthened by cutting the higher rises
and filling the hollows. The dirt excavated
from roadside ditches, which are made at least
six feet wide, has been used fully in making
fills. WP A workers have done a large amount
of both the grubbing and the excavating with
hand tools but the county has usually provided
the equipment and machinery required for the
heavy cutting in addition to some foremen and
a few special machine operators. The crushed
rock req uirecl for the road surfacing has been
obtained from rock quarries in the county and
has been hauled in county trucks from the
nenrest quarry to the locations where it is
lnid.
Proper drainage of the ,·oads has frequently
necessitated the installation of culverts and
bridges. From the beginning of the program
through March 31, 1939, WP A workers had
constructed 63.5 culverts and had built 12 new
bridges (four wooden, seven steel, and one
masonry) and reconstructed 31 in the county.
Al though the great share of the work done
on transportation facilities in Mahaska County
hns been on farm-to-market roads, the WPA
did undertake a small amount of street repair
work in Oskaloosa late in 1936. Bricks were
removed, cleaned, nnd relaid and the base repnired on 1,.500 feet of brick-surfaced streets.
The various kinds of road improvement activities have occupied the majority of WPA project
workers ever since the initiation of the program.
This type of work provided employment to
t1Pnrly two-thirds of the .501 WPA workers
who were employed in the county during the
last week of :March 1939.
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIO~S I:'\ SELECTED AREAS
County Road Equipment Building
For a road system as extensiYe as 11ahaskn
County has, a considerable amount of ro,1<1
equipment is required. Proper cure of the
equipment is a matter of importance and one
that has been made difficult in ~lahaslrn by the
lack of adequate space for storage and maintenance. So far, the county's road mnchinery
nnd supplies have been housed in two old bnms.
These barns, which are located two miles
outside of Oskaloosa, are poorly lighted and
have few facilities for repair work. The county
highway department needed not only a heated ,
well-lighted, and properly equipped repair shop
but also storage space safe from petty thieving
and the effects of weathering. Furthermore, if
storage space were adequate and safo, sayings
could be reu.lized from quantit)· pm-chas('s of
such supplies as lumber, cement, nnils. oil, and
grease.
Under a count)·-sponsored ""PA project,
operations started in K oYember I fl3S on the
construction of a $32,000 road equipment building at Oskaloosa which should be adrquatc for
the county for 25 years. The building- is in
the shape of an L with a front two-story
section, 60 feet wide and 32 fC'et de<'p. ln
the rear is a one-story section 33 fert. wid(• and
running back 48 feet.
On the main floor of the two-stor)· front section are an office, a storage room having rncks
and shelves for tools, tires , and otlier supplies,
a small, well-equipped workshop, and a lnrger
workshop into which machinery can he brought
for repair. The second floor is adnptable as an
office for the county engineer or as extra storage
space; a heating unit is in the basement. The
rear section provides storage space for road
machinery. Doors are ln.rge enough to admit
trucks, graders, and other pieces of heavy
ma.chinery so that truck loads of materials may
be driven in and unloaded and large pieces of
equipment may be repaired under shelter.
Special arrangements hnve been made for the
storage of lumber (used principnlly in huilding
bridges and one of the major materinJs pnrchased by the county) in a manner thnt will
tend to prevent pilfering and reduce damage
from weathering. Plans call for the enclosure
of an area 114 feet h~· 174 frrt adjoining th(\
( ' o:-.: s THl ' <"Tl:-.: U .\ Bl "ILDI:-.:n TO DE li Sf.J) JI'\ 'l'lJE
IIO L',; [l\"(i AND '.\L\1:-.:Tf.XA:-.:CE OF C OL:l\'l'Y
!WAD EQl: JP11F.l\T
road C'quipment building by n seven-foot stone
wnll with projecting arms nt the top supporting
three bnrbed wires. A series of concrete docks
above ndequn tel_y drnined ground nre provided
for piling the lumber. Tl1ree loading platforms,
loeated along the railroad tracks just north of
the enclosure, will fncilita te t.ransfer of lum her
from railrond cars to thr storage docks.
The rond equipment building is sit,un.ted nt
the edgC' of the town, in the residentinl section
near Penn College. Efforts have, therefore,
been dirreted towards mnking the building
thoroughly attrnctive as well us useful. The
natiYr rock is In.id with nttrntion to drsign nnd
land scaping of the ent.ire grounds will follow
the eonstrndion work.
Edmundson Park Development
The development of -SG ½ acres of pashll'C' nnd
field into a. well-equipped park is one of the outstnnding projects in Mnlinskn County . Pnrk
nrrns supplied with recrrntional fncilitiC's nnd
a rnila hie to the people of Osknloo,;u and ncnrby
communities were, for pract.icn.l purposrs,
limited to the state park nt LnkC' Keomnh.
This pnrk is lorn t.ed Ii Ye miles from Osknloosn
nnd offrrs fishing as its chief nttrnction .
Purchase of land for Edmundson Park was
mndr possihlr by the use oi $20 ,000 beq 11en.th(•d
to Osknloosn b)' the son of the first sheriff of
Mnlwskn County, for whom tl1C' pnrk is named.
The city council, sponsor of thC' project, selected a sit.e in the southwest section of Oslrnloosn wherr numrrous lnrge trees, slightly
rolling ground . :rnd n winding nrek contrihutrd
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
to the suitability of the area as a site for park
development.
Activities on the park project began on
December 6, 1935, with the remova.l of fences,
dead trees and brnsh, and buildings. Two
houses were moved to the new P''\-'A-built
sewage clisposa.l plants and, as described below,
reconstructed into homes for the plant attendants. Afl old barn and 4,100 feet of fence
were torn down and some of the salvaged
materials were ut,ilized in erectmg the park
buildings.
On the park grounds project workers built
a bathhouse and swimming pool, a playground
(equipped with swings, slides, and a merry-goround), a picnic area, an outdoor theatre and
bandshell, and a softball field. All the buildings are of native limestone and include, besides the bathhouse, a concession building,
rest rooms, shelters, and a covered waiting
station on the bus route. Drinking fountains,
outdoor ovens (made principally of native
stone), rustic benches, and picnic tables have
been bmlt throughout the park. With a
seating capacity of 500 persons, the outdoor
theatre can accommodate a much larger
audience by use of the surrounding grassy
slopes.
Approximately two miles of winding drives
were laid out, graded, and cindered, and 15
culverts were installed. Almost 2,300 linear
feet of concrete sidewalks were laid and many
paths cindered. Small footbridges of rock and
timber span the creek which runs through the
park. Just above the main drive the stream
was clammed to provide a small lagoon, the
oved-low from which falls down in cascades.
To minimize the erosion of the stream bank,
retaining walls were built.
·work on the swimming pool, the park's chief
attraction, started in July 1936 and was completed for public opening of the pool on July 4,
1937. The pool is 150 feet long and 75 feet
wide and ranges in depth from 2½ feet to 9½
feet. In accordance with regulations of the
state department of health it has a purification
system capable of recirculating all of the water
in the pool every Eight hours. The city
provided over $22,000 of the total $52,000
outlay for the pool and the 53- by 100-foot
bathhouse. A concrete and stone bleacher
section built along a bordering terraced area is
large enough to seat 330 spectators. Electric
lights were installed for night use of the pool
and a parking lot accommodating 200 cars was
built and equipped with lights.
Equipment of the park with drinking water
and sanitary facilities required the installation
of 5,492 feet ot water mains, 100 feet of 10-inch
sanitary sewers, and manholes for both the
water supply and the sewer systems. In lanclscnping the park, vVP A workers set out approxi-
PAR'!' OF ED!IIU:SDSON PAHK, TUE NE\\"LY DEVELOPED 56-ACRE HECREA'l'IONAL AREA NEAR OSKALOOSA
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
mately 7,000 trees, shrubs, and plants. To a
great extent, those that were killed during the
1936 drought have been replaced. The land
and development of the park (exclusive of the
swimming pool and bathhouse) cost $117,000$85,000 for wages, $20,000 for land, and $12,000
for other nonlabor items. More than 1,500
tons of native rock from local quarries were
required for the buildings, fountains, entrances,
and other stone work. Timber used in the
buildings and bridges came chiefly from trees
and buildings cleared from the park site and
from 100 oak trees purchased by the park
board.
Since the opening of the park, attendance
has averaged 500 or 600 persons daily, with
crowds of 4,000 to 5,000 on Sundays and holidays. Persons coming to the park include not
only the residents of Oskaloosa and of neighboring localities, but also parties from a much
greater distance.
The WPA has not limited its park work in
~,fahaska COlmty to the Oskaloosa development. Park projects have also been operated
at New Sharon and at the state park at Lake
Keomah. Workers improved the 20-acre town
park at New Sharon, erecting a bandstand for
summer concerts and an enclosed shelterhouse, grading and surfacing with crushed rock
about one-half mile of drives, and constructing
a football field, tables, and benches. The
project at Lake Keomah State Park (a 352-acre
tract including a 70-acre lake) was sponsored
by the Iowa State Conservat10n Commission
and involved reforestation and other improvement work.
Sewers
Projects for the extension of sewer systems
have been in operation in Oskaloosa almost
continuously since the initiation of the WPA
program. Most of the work has been done
near the outskirts of the city in sections which
la.eked sewer facilities. By the end of March
1939, WPA project employees had laid nearly
23,000 feet of sanitary and storm sewer lines,
with conduits ranging from small pipes 8 inches
in dia,meter to large storm sewers 42 i11cl1<>s in
diameter. About 90 manholes and catch basins
were also installed.
In Oskaloosa, as in many growing cities, the
origi11al sewer system required extension and
enlargement to serve the increasing population.
~Ioreover, untreated sewage was run into a
creek, a procedure which endangered public
health. This condition resulted in the erection
of two disposal plants as Public Works Administration projects and the laying of mains
through projects of the FERA and the WPA.
Previously both the storm and sanitary sewage had been emptied into a single outfall.
:,.,' ew outfall sewers to the disposal plants were
installed by the WPA in such a way that the
storm sewers empty into the creek as before
but the sanitary sewage is carried to the new
plants. Thus the load on the outfall sanitary
sewers is greatly lessened. When the present
vVP A projects are completed, the sewer system
should be adequate for 15 or 20 years.
The two PW A sewage disposal plants are
located just outside the city limits, one to the
northeast and the other to the southwest of
the city. When activities started on the park
projects in October 1935, WPA workers moved
two farm houses from the newly acquired park
grounds to sites at the disposal plants, remodeling the houses into homes for the plant
attendants. The work included new foundations and new roofs for both houses and new
exterior walls of shingles for one. These improvements, together with the installation of
plumbing, complete refo1ishi11g of interiors, and
painting, converted the houses into attractive
modern dwellings.
Grounds at both plants were graded and enclosed with a high, woven-wire fence. Shrubs
and grass seed were planted and concrete sidewalks and paths were laid. Ornamental entrances were built of native rock. At the northeast plant the vVPA built a shelterhouse and replaced an old wooden bridge with a 15-foot steel
structme. ln the grove adjoining the southwest pln,nt two picnic m·ens were constructed.
Gymnasium-Auditorium
As a result of the grn(lunl consolidation of
rural schools in lown, construction of school
buildings has not been fentured in the sta.te as
it has in some sections of the country where
school construction represents a very important
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
sid e furnish ample accommodations for specta tors at ball games. The stage is flanked by
two dressing rooms. Sound-absorbing wallboard on the ceiling and upper walls and cinder
brick in the lower part insure good acoustic
effeets. High-school and older grade-school
stud ents make greatest use of the new gymna sium , leaving the old gymnasium for the
_voimger ehildren.
Other Projects
11·1'A-DlilLT GY ~I;s _.\ :; I L \l AT C EDAR
phase of vVP A work . Th e one-room district
school s have gradually given way in Mahaska
County, as in the stnte generally, to consolidated schools which pro,·idc for bigh-sebool
training as well as for grade-school work. Recent growth in attendance 1md expansion of
school activities, however, have rend ered some
of the buildings inadequate for current needs .
The consolidated school building at Cedar. n
vi ll age south of Osknloosa. i- illustrntive of th is
situation. The gymnasium was too small for a
standard-sized basketball floor and the only
space available for spectato rs was a small balcony on one side. Th e boundaries of the court
were only a few feet from the wall, and two
columns under the bakony ndded to the danger
of injury to the players. Inasmu ch a.s higl1school games and tournnments constitute the
major recreational interest of the entire comnrnnity during the winter montl.i s, the need for
an adequate floor wn s felt keenly. l\tloreover,
the school b11ilding l1 ad no auditorium for
dramatics and musical productions, for graduation exercises , n.nd for ot her sc hool or community programs.
Un d er the spouso rship of the consolidnted
school district of Cedar nn nuditorium-g:nnnnsium has been ndd ed to the school building.
The district assumed half ($ 10,%7) of the tot;tl
cost of $21,507. Tl1e ne\\· brick-nnd-t.ile strueture is approximately 72 feet sq uare and provides a 40- by 50-foot floor that cnn be used
either for basketball or ns an auditorium.
Elevated seats extending along tl1e cnti1·e enst
side of the room , n hnleony ornr tlH' lobby :it
the end, a.nd tl1e floor of the stnge on the ,\·est
'.\lnjor nlterntions were ma.de on the Mahaska
County courthouse. The courtroom was larger
tli:rn its use required and sound carried very
poorly. Through a project carried on in the
autumn of 1937, the ceiling of the courtroom
wn s lowered about six feet , the walls were
coYered with sound-absorbing board and t.he
floor wn s refinished. Four offices for the judge
and other officials were partitioned off from the
co urtroom . Walls, ceilings, and floors throughout the rest of the building were reconditioned
nnd additions were mnd e to the plumbing and
henting systems. In 1936 improvements were
made on the Oskaloosa high-school building,
nnd the surrounding grounds. Through other
proj ect operations the interiors of the five
Osknloosn school buildings. the county courthouse, the count~r hospital , and the city hall
were renoYated.
Under eomnrnnity sn.nitation projects sponsored by the United States Public Health
Scrvire and the state rl epartment of health
n.hnost 392 sanitary toilets were placed in
publie pn.rks, on rural sc hool grounds, and,
where the owners met n.11 costs of materials on
privntc property. The expmditure of $7 :400
by the sponsors, through :M arch 1939, wn.s
hrgely for mi.terin.ls and practically all of t he
$1:1 ,200 pnicl out from Federnl funds went to
project " ·orkers.
ProFessional and Service Work
SP,\·ing room opPrn.tions n.nd professional and
S<'ITice projects nre currently providing ernplo_vnwnt for nbout 15 percent of the WPA
work ers in Mnhnska County (74 out of 501
<•rnployNI during the In.st week of March 1939).
Although two-thirds of th e nonconstruction
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
workers (mostly women) are assigned to the
sewing project or as housekeeping aides, the
white collar program in the county is quite
diversified, encompassing a recreation program,
units of the writers' and music projects, adult
education classes, book.mending, a Braille
project, and clerical services. Related activities, bes.ides the building renovation projects
mentioned above, includ e projects for the distribution of surplus commodities and a subsistence garden.
Recreation, Federal Arts, and Education
The State Board of Control sponsors the
vYPA recreation project in Iowa. In each community in which a unit operates a lay committee composed of interested citizens from
various clubs and occupational fields serves as
cosponsor and works directly with the project
supervisors. The committee in Oskaloosa,
where the Mahaska County project is located,
secured space at the city hall for a recreational
center and obtained the use of the workshop
and reading room at the YMCA and use of
school playgrounds.
Leather work, plastic art, finger painting,
flower craft, metalwork, and clay modeling,
and some woodwork are included among the
phases of the handicraft work conducted at the
recreation center at the city hall. The center
has facilities for indoor games, a novelty orchestra, and a puppetry club. Such types of
activity are popular in the winter; in the summer, however, chief interest attaches to sportssoftball, swimming, paddle tennis, croquet, and
horseshoe pitching. Handicraft is popular the
year round.
Under the leadership of eight project workers ,
between 700 and 800 persons participate during
the summer and from 400 to 500 in the winter.
One of the regular school physical training
teachers is retained by the school board through
the summer to work with the WP A leaders.
The Federal writers' project began operations
in Mahaska County in December 1935. Through
this project WP A employees prepared a guide
to Pella, a town in an adjoining county noted
for the annual tulip festival held in the tradition
of its Dutch settlers. They also conducted a
survey of coal mining in Malm.ska, once a large
coal-producing county . The survey covers the
location of the mines- both the few that are
still active and those that have been a.bandoned-the techniques used in the mines, and
the physical aspects of the mining communities.
In many instances these communities have become "ghost" towns following the exhaustion of
most of the coal veins 10 or 12 years ago.
Material relating to Mahaska County was compiled for inclusion in the Iowa guide book published in August 1938, an Iowa encyclopedia, an
Iowa almanac, a history of sports, and statewide social-ethnic studies.
A unit of the Federal music project was
initiated in Beacon. Opportunities to study
music have been scarce in this impoverished
mining community, in which the majority of
residents are Welsh, a nationality noted for its
musical interest and ability. Through the
project, group classes in instrumental music
have been conducted in cooperation with the
regular sc hool curriculum.
MA.JOH .-\1/l' E IL\TI U~S l'v!ADE TO OOUN'l'Y COU H'I' HOOl\l
IN CLU DED LO\\"El11NG TJIE CE ILIN(l AND OOVJ-:HIN O WALLS Wl'l'll SOUND-ADSOH BINU llU .,l(D
201577°-40--5
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
The adult education program in Mahaska
County is sponsored by the Iowa Department
of Public Instruction as a pa.rt of a state-wide
project. It is cosponsored by the Oskaloosa
school board, which has supplied rooms, desks,
and other facilities. Citizenship classes for
aliens who desire to become citizens have been
operating since January 1936. These constitute
the most important phase of the work and
include classes in English and civics held three
nights a week in the high-school building. During the past year an average of 18 persons,
largely from the mining districts, have been
enrolled. Ten persons who were members of
the classes have become natura.lized citizens.
In addition to the citizenship classes, two
types of adult education classes are in current
opera.tion. From 50 to 60 enrollees receive
instruction in instrumental music. An adult
sewing class provides training in selecting and
cutting patterns, making over garments, and
other phases of sewing.
Clerical
Several different kinds of work have been
carried on through the opera.tion of clerical
projects. On the bookmending project 1,396
school books had been cleaned and mended
by April 1939 and 300 volumes had been
cataloged. Thirty-four volumes of Braille
transcription had heen completed for distribution to blind readers through the state traveling
library. Considerable work hns also been clone
in indexing and tabulating records in the offices
of the county clerk, treasnrcr, recorder, and
superintendent of schools.
In 1936 the tax records and assessed vahmtion
for real property in the various counties in
Iowa were mrnlyzed in order to determine the
probable effect of a homestead tax exemption
law. The findings in Mahaska County were
incorpora.ted with material from other counties
of the state into a report which was utilized
by members of the 1937 state legislature in
framing the Homestead Tax Exemption Bill.
Mahaska County is also participating in a survey to provide a complete file of the nu.mes,
war records, and other facts rein.ting to war
veterans whose graves are in Iowa, which in
addition to identifying tbe gra,,es of the
veterans will supplement the vital statistics of
the state.
Housekeeping Aide Project
Outstanding among the service projects
operated in Mahaska County is the work of
the housekeeping aides. Under this project an
average of 18 aides have been employed ever
since March 1936. Women assigned as aides
are sent to the homes of the needy to give
assistance in housework and related home
problems when the housewife or homemaker,
because of illness or childbirth, is temporarily
unable to perform the minimum household
duties that are essential.
Each week the supervisor of the project
makes out a program for the aides. Some
families are given assistimce over a considerable period whereas for others the need is of
short duration. Families requiring household
assistance are referred to the project superYisor
by the county relief agency, with recommendations as to the number of days a week and
length of period during which aid should be
given. The purpose of the project is to serve
only emergency cases but in some instances a
limited amount of time each week is given to
chronic cases. A tabulation of the visits made
during the last week of Ma,rch showed that 96
visits were made to 20 families. Eighteen of
these were families where the homemaker
was ill.
The work of the aides includes general
household duties, care of small children and
infants, simple home nursing (only under the
direction of a doctor or public nurse), washing
and ironing, sewing, and mending clothes and
bedding. While doing the necessary general
work the aide also does what she can to make
the home neater and more attractive.
Subsistence Gardens
Persons reeeiving general relief and families
of vVPA workers nre en<"ouraged to garden
under the subsistenee garden project sponsored
by the county relief administration. It has
not heen nec·essary for the county to rent land
for this pmpose since n suflkient number of
plots of unused land have been supplied by
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WP A PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
interested citizens. Although the standard
subsistence plot is 50 feet by 100 feet the
garden areas actually worked depend somewhat on the size of the lots made aYailable.
Seeds, hothouse plants, seed potatoes, and
insecticides are furnished by the rounty to
persons receiving relief. Although families of
WP.A. workers are not supplied with seed, they
are encouraged to garden and are given the
same supervision in their work as are the relief
clients. WPA workers who are assigned ns
gardeners see that families get proper seeds
and plants; the latter, chiefly tomato and
cabbage plants, are raised in hotbeds by the
project gardeners. The gardeners also supervise all plots, showing the inexperienred how
to cultivate their gardens and how to use insecticides. In the spring of 1938, 378 gan!Pns
were planted.
Sewing Project
Approximately $69,000 has been expended
on the county-wide sewing project located at
Oskaloosa; this kind of work has furnished the
majority of the WPA jobs for women. Workers
on this project not only make clothing and
bedding sufficient to meet most of the needs
of the relief recipients in the county but they
also supply articles for the county home and
the county hospital. The 23,500 gasments
made for needy persons between November
1935 and March 31, 1939, included prndi<·nll_v
all types of women's and childrPn's W<'Hl'
exeept coats and other articles of heavy material. For men and boys, shirts, pajamas,
shorts, imd overalls (small sizes only) have
been made. Comforters have been the most
<·omrnon item of bedding produeecl on the
project.
Articles prepared for ins ti tu tions (7,700
articles tlirough March 1939) are made according to specifications supplied by superintendents of the institutions. All sewing machines
in use on the project are of the treadle type.
About two ynrcls of cloth are eurrently furnished by sponsors for each yard procured by
the use of Federal funds.
Surplus Commodities
\YorkPrs 011 projects for the distribution of
,.urplus commodities to needy families check all
incoming consignments and issue the commodities to n•eipients. Families of ·wPA workers
ns well ns families on gerwrnl rPlicf receive surplus commodities. Among the kinds of food
distributed are nnvy beans, corn meal, graham
flour, wheat flour, butter, n.nd fruits such as
grnpefruit, oranges, and sometimes prunes.
Iii Oskaloosa membt>rs of rdief families usually come to the hendqunrtPrs of the project (a
room in thP hnsement of the courthouse) to recei\·p their allotments. vVl1Pn nll members of a
IH:>Pdy family are confined to their home the
eornrnoditiPs are delivered by the project workers. For 1wrsons in other pnrts of the county
tl1P food is t rn 11sportPd in county trucks from
.X,'!,.,."
r
SWIMMING POOL
AND BATHHOUSE
BUILT BY WPA IN
EDMUNDSON PARK
.•
r--'.''
.,-:;,'/
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56
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF 'l'HE WPA PROGRAM
the project center in Oskaloosa to local grocery
stores. Each store manager, like the project
workers in Oskaloosa, has a list made out by the
county relief agency of those families to whom
the surplus commodities are to be given. The
local grocery rnPn rec0ive no compensation for
their work in connection with distribution of
conmwdities.
The county relief administrator, who supervises the dist.ribu tion of surplus commodities, is
also responsible for the distribution to relief
recipients of clothing produced in the WPA
sewing rooms. Articles needed by the individual families are ordered specifically by <·a.se
workers, who indicate the kind of garment and
the size required. If t'.1e articles are not in
stock orders for them are sent to the sewing
room. In addition to the current distribution
of garments made on the sewing project, the
coats, suits, and other items of clothing purchased under the ERA Act of 1938 wen'>
issued to families in need during the autumn
and winter of 1938 :rn.
contribution to the residents of the county.
In addition, the possibility of using trucks a.t
any time of the year to transport cattle and
hogs to market means much to the farmers of
this particular rural county. The road projects,
also, have proven well suited to the employment of the majority of the workers in Mahaska
County, who have developed no particular
occupational skill in their typical employment
as farm hands or as common laborers.
TABLE rn.~ExPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AND SPONSORS' FTTNDS ON WPA-OPERATED CONSTRUCTION"
PROJECTS, BY TYPES OF PROJECTS
MAHASKA COUNTY, IOWA
CUMUI.AT!\'E
Type of Project
TotaL __________ $1,150,434
other
roads
S('Condary
783,435
A_____
Puhlic huildings______
] IllJlfO\'l'lllellt
Type of Project
Arnonnt
Farm - to - mark('t and
159,239
Of
pu hlir huiklings
Oymna~ium-aurlitorium _________ -1
A
Tl1e selection of the projects undertaken in
Mahaska County, as in the rest of the Nation,
has been determined by the specific needs of
the community, the amount of funds available,
and the skills and occnpat,ional ba('kgrounds of
the workers on the relief rolls. The predominance of road work among the WPA
activities is indicative of the outstanding need
for better farm-to-market roads in the county.
Such work accounted for 68 percent of expenditures for constrnction activities, including
sanitation and health work, through March
31, 1939, as compared to 49 percent for thP
country as a whole.
The greater accessibility to schools, chmches,
nnd trading and social centers that is providPd
by improved secondary roads is a very rcnl
THROUGH MARCH 31, 1939
71,071
Public buildings-Cont.
Road equipment
building ________ _
Bathhouse
and
swimming pool. _
Parks and other recreational facilities ______ _
C'onsl'rvation _________ _
ScwPr systpms ________ _
Sanitation and health __
Amount
14,418
52, 243
131. 701
1,280
54, 162
20,61i
21, 507
Includes an $R04 stret~I. repnir project.
The project activities described above cost
slightly more than $1,200,000 from the initiation of WPA operations in 1935 through March
31, 1939. Tlw total includes the expenditures
on construction projects as shown in Table 18
and the $!Hl,OOO spent in the operation of the
county sewing room. It does not include
expenditures for a few state-wide white collar
projects thnt were conducted in Mahaska
County or1 n small scale. l\Iore than four-fifths
of the total of approximately $870,000 expended
from Fed<'l'al funds was for the payment of
wngcs. Of the $350,000 supplied by state,
county, nnd town agencies sponsoring projects,
more thnn two-thirds represented outlays for
materials, supplies, equipment, rents, nnd other
nonln bor items.
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, ALABAMA
Escambia County is located in tlH• southwest
part of .Alabama, next to Florida's north em
border. It is essentially a rural county whose
character is indicated by the fact that only 8,000
of its 28,000 inhabitnnts reside in ineorpornted
places and that its two largest towns, Atmore
and Brewton, have only 3,000 inhabitants pnch.
About one-half of the 10,000 gainful workers in
Escambia are engaged in agriculturnl nctiYities;
these workers cultivate only one-fifth of the
area of the county. The remainder supports n
fairly heavy growth of long- and short-lenf pinC",
accounting for the inclusion of Escambia among
the 16 counties in the southern part of the
state frequently referred to as the "piney woods
section." Cypress may be found in the lowlands and in the Escambia and C'onC"cuh RiYer
swamp areas. Much of the oak that grows in
the county is of a noncommer:cial variety commonly known as "black jack;" some, howcYer,
is suitable for milling purposes.
Farm land in the western half of tlH• count_v
compares fayorably with the best c11ltin1ted
land in .Alabama and the north central arC"a has
fair farming soil. Farms arc generally small,
producing such leading crops ns sugnr carw,
corn, millet, potatoes, peas, strnwlwrriC"s, and
peaches. Cotton is also grown, but not to tlw
extent that it is in other parts of the statC".
Peanuts have become an increasingly important
crop in recent years. LiYestock production is
limited to small numbers of cnttlc arnl hogs.
As of January 1, H:35, there WPl'C' 2,623 forms
in the county.
Four lumber companies are loca tPd in l~s<'Hlllbia County. The largest of these is at Bn•wto11
and employs 300 men in its creosot!' plant, box
factory, and planing and veneer mills; nnotlwr
company, at Atmore, employs approximately
200 persons. Six other sawmills and rnnc
turpentine distilleries also process forest products. Other establishments include three silk
mills, two brick plants, an iron works, a nudt
company, two ice plants, a milling and elevator
company, and a fertilizer plant. 'l'went_'t'-two
manufacturing firms, employing 1,484 workt•rs,
were in operation in 1935.
Som!' indication of the rnunber a11d types of
workers in the county who have been unemployed and in need of public assistance is found
in the count of persons certified as in need of
rC"lief on ,Ja.nuary 15, 193G. and in the census of
unpmployment of N o,·ember 1937. Accorcl~ng
to the former, a total of 1,585 employable
persons needed relief; 1111skillecl laborers ac1·mm ted for nearly a third and form laborers
n bout a fourth of those who had work experience. In the 1937 unemplo.vment census
2,578 persons (including 5;39 WPA and other
emergency workers) regist<:>red as totally unt>mployed, and 1,.5:37 persons registered as partially 1111<:>rnployed. Lik<:> the inventory of employable persons in need of relief the census of
trnemploymcn t reported n'lat,ively large proportions of unskilled workers and farm laborers.
Of the t.otally 111ie111ployt>d 950, or 37 percent,
were ~ egrcws as \rnrc 77 4 of the partially unemployed.
During the two yea.rs following the initiation
of the '"'YA program in August 19:35 the number of workers provided with project jobs in
l~scambia County fiuct,unt,<:>d between :300 and
GOO. Cmt,ailmc11 t of u.cti vi ties in the smnm<:>r
of 19;37 brought the mrmlwr of WPA ernployN•s
below 200. However, wit It the expansion of
the ,YPA program to proYide work for fn.rnwrs
in rwc,d of employment to supplement their
form irH·onu•, projc•ct Prnployllwnt in the coimty
in<'roased rapidly in the summer n.nd fall of
1!l:38 to a peak of approximatdy 950 work<'.rs.
At the end of Murch HJ:39, ti!-Hi persons were
Pngaged in project activities. It is estinrnt,cd
that more than thrne times this numher of
workers ha.Ye had \VPA 0mplo_Ylll<'t1t at sonw
time during tlw pnriod of \VPA 01wrntio11s.
Construction
The \VPA program i11 ~:s<'ambia Count._v, like
the progrnms cond11etPd in other comm1mi ties,
lws been determin<:>d in pnrt by tl1e work proposed by locn.l public agencies and in part by
tlw skills n nd abilities of tlw needy uncrnployNl
workers in the l'.ounty. Loenl demnnds for
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
better Rcconclnr:v ronds, ndditionnl school huildings, nnd improYC'd public hen.Ith \\'NC' rnlntirnly
grent, nnd mnnunl ln,borNs, principal(\· un skilled
workers n.n d fnrm In horers, were numerous
nmong the emplo.rnble persons on relief rolls.
ConRequently, constrnction nctiYitics i1wolving
roadR, buildings, and snnitntion nnd health
men.sures have predominn,ted n.mong WP A
opcrntions in Escnmbin County.
Schools and Other Public Buildings
The imprnvemen t of school fncilities, n.l though
it haR represented only a smnll shnre of the entire
WPA program in Escambia County, hn,s been
one of the most significant phases of WPA
prnj ect operations in the county. On one
project lt new vocntionnl school was erected at
Flomaton. As fl result of this prnjeet ltnd others
through which nclditions were mnde to £om
schoolhouses, the normal cnpa.city of the schools
in l~Rcambin Count,\' hns been incrensed hy 850
pupils and crowded conditions in scrnrnl buildings hltvc been eliminltted .
The Flomaton vocn.tionltl Rchool is a ti Yeroom, one-story, brick structurC' containing n
food laboratory , n sewing room , n mod el liYi..r1groom, n, Cltrpc11try shop , n.nd a gC'nernl classroom. Near the school building WPA workers
erC'cted fl blncksmith shop in which stud ents
leam welding and other met:tl work. Grounds
\\·r rr irnpnwrd h,'I· grnss spriµJ!:inµ: nnd plnn ting
of shrubs nnd two acres of adjoining land were
dHeloped for clemonstrntion and experimental
purposes.
ThC' 11('\\- school at Flomnton fills n. very real
need . Not only hns it elin1innted overcrowding, hut it has nlso mode possible the expansion
of the high-school curriculum to include courses
of pnrticulnr interest and benefit to rural students. PreYiously the high school did not
hnve equipment to carry on vocational work and
could not obtain state funds for vocational
education until suitable facilities were available.
As n direct result of the erection of the building
state funds were granted to the school, and
n1cntionnl teachers are now employed to conduct clnsses in agriculture, horticulture , animal
husbn ndry, hotnernaking, cooking, and sewing.
The sr hool building serves as a center for club
work nnd recreational nctivities of rural students
nnd is nlso used by formers and their wives who
n ttcnd ,·ocn tionnl clnsses.
Other "'PA work on school buildings in
Esenmbin Count_\' includes a two-room addition to the elementary school at Flomaton, an
nddition to the school at East Brewton proYiding n. library , study hn,11, and two classrooms, and four-room brick additions to schools
nt Dnmnscus n.nd Wallace. The new section
of t,hC' dementary-school building at Flomaton
incrC'HSC'S ncconunoclntions by nbout a third,
making the building suffirient.l,'I' lnrge to house
nil thC' grndC'-school C'nrollees (nbout 400).
TITE ADDITIO:\' TO
TIiis nlllII SCUOOL
IX EAST IlREWTOX
PROVIDES LIBRARY.
CONF~;REKCE , AKD
CLASS ROOMS
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WPA PROJE CT OPERATIONS I N SELECTED AREAS
Provision of additional classroom spnce n t
Damascus and at W ullace has led to la rger
teaching staffs with the result that these towns
are now on the state's accredited list.
An annex to the courthou se and a new city
hall were constructed in Brewton in addition
to the WPA work on educational buildings in
that town. Various county offices- -hea lth ,
welfare, education , sanitation , and ngriculture-which were formerly locn ted in se vernl
different buildings are now efl'ec tinly concentrated in the courthouse annex. One of the 15
rooms in the new annex can be conYertrd into
a small auditorium for meetings nnd demonstrations conducted by various county orga nizations. Clinic space for the depnr tmen t of
public health is con veniently arranged , welllightecl, and adequately equ ipped , nnd examinntion and treatment are giYen mu ch more
effectively and rapidly than wa s possiblr in the
former location .
Brewton 's new city hall . costing nhout
$31,000 ,haspermitted theremonl of thr town 's
offices from old quarters ill-s uited to the purpose. In addition to offices for the city co un cil.
mayor, and clerk, the new municipa.l building
provides room for a ja.il and for the city's firefighting and street equipment. The hn senH'n t
has adequate space for stora ge and for a community auditorium or additiona I offices.
Airpark and Recreational Facilities
A mile and a half from Brewton an " airpnrk "
project has resulted in th e denlopmcnt of nn
air port in conn ection with recreational grounds.
Such a project development may be approved
when sufficiently justified by trnusun.l circu111stances. The park at Brewton lies betwren
:\,Iontgomery and Mobile and sen-es ns a refu eling g round for ligh t plnnes.
Brewton's airpark is on the site of nn old
landing field. Landing strips. totn lin g .5,000
feet in length , have been wid ened , n com bi nation hangar and clubhouse lrn s been erected ,
and a nine-hole golf course ha s been built on a
90-acre plot. The total cost of t he airpnrk
amounted to $23 ,000 of which t he state con1mission and the city of Brewto n , as s ponso rs,
contributed $6 ,000 . The nircrnft ha ngn r , mnd e
of brick with steel trusses , is large enough for
CA Hl'El\'l'HY
S I.J O I' I N 'l'l!E \1-PA-DUIL'l'
VO CA'l' IONAL SCHOOL
FLOMA'l'ON
four planes, and the adjoining cl ubh ouse of two
stories ha s about 4,-500 square feet of fl oor spnce.
On t he first fl oor of th e clubhouse, which is used
extensi\·el_y by t he citizens of Brewton ns a,
conununity building, there are n, genernl recreation a.nd reading room, a lad ies' lounge, n,
kitchen , n.nd locker rooms . Tl1 e second floor
hns one large room suitable for va.ried entertainment. Pinc pnneling and appropriate fix tu res
nnd furnishin gs co nt ribu te to the ntt.ract,iveness of the clubhouse.
Athletic fi elds 011 t he high-school ground s a t
Atmore and Flolllnton hnv e been buil t through
t he operation of v\"PA projects s ponsored by th e
county bonrd of 0ducntion. From fi ve ncres of
ground pn rtin lly co Yercd with stumps, t rees,
and brush , and cut by numerou s small g- ullies,
t he Flornn ton n t hl Ptic field wn s developed . The
ll"l'A W OB KJ,; l{ ,s lll "IL l>l.'\"G BHE\\"TO:-.: 'S NE \\" C ITY UALL
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
work perfonned on the project included clearing, grading, drnining, nnd sodding of the land.
NY A project workers constructed n grandstnnd
nnd fenced the entire nren. At Atmore, in
addition to the leveling, draining, sodding, and
fencing required on the three-acre athletic field,
the work involved the erection, on either side
of the field, of grandstands which have a total
seating capacity of 900. A snrnll hrick huilcling
with two dressing rooms for plny<'rs was also
huilt. Installation of a lighting system by the
t,own of Atmore makes it possible to use the
field at night. General community activities
ns well as athletic contests and gymnasium
classes nre held on both the Atmore and Flomaton fields.
Extension of Water and Sewer Mains
Prior to 1935 certain parts of Brf'wton were
not reached by the town's watf'r distribution
system. This cm1dition occnsimwd the initiation of a WPA project through which about
five miles of water mains were laid. The extension of the water S)'St<'m not only provided
facilities for additional consmnNs, but a.lso
made possible the placement of 16 fire hydrnnts
so that firf' protection hns been f'Xtendecl to nil
property within the corporn t0 limits of Brewton.
Recent installation of 1,700 feet of sf'wer lines
has permitted Brewton's disposal system to
serve an additional 50 homes.
Sanitation and Public Health
A state-wide cnmpnign in Alnbnmn hns heen
directed towards the installation of sanitary
privies at homes not reaclwd hy sewer lines.
The prima.ry pmpose of thi~ program is to
combat hookworm, transmitted from infrcted
soil through hare feet to tlw human system.
The Alabama State Board of I-l<'nlth n'portNI
that for seven counties, inch1ding E,;<•nmhin. the
incidence of hookworm among school children
in 1929 was 60 percent or more. By enrl)- I 0:rn,
however, the rate of incidence in Escnmhia
County had been reduced from 61 pen·1'11t to 39
perc<'nt, n.ccording to a survey concl11ct0d by
the Escnmhia County H0al th Dcpn rt men t.
The WPA has contributed mnterially to this
decline through the construction of 672 snnitnry
privies conforming to the specifications of the
state bonrcl of health. Upon approval by the
proper health nuthorities, sanitary privies can
be plnced on the property of any person who
provides the necessary materials.
Other mnjor health measures in Escambia
County include the elin1ination of conditions
cnusing malaria and typhus fever. Since the
climat.P nnd topography of the county provide
n fnvorablr environment for the malaria-bearing mosquito, th0 WPA has conducted projects
furthNing state nncl county efforts to eliminate
mosquito<>s by draining infested ponds and
swamps. This work has proved very effective
in r0clucing malaria in the areas that have been
cove1wl. \V\wre frasible, ditches have been
p<'rmnnently lined with concretf' or riprap.
Som<' 74,000 feet of rww ditches have been
constructed and the 37,000 feet of old ditches
haw bePn improved. Tlw practice of sodding
unlirwd ditdH'S with 11 layer of Bermuda grnss,
giving thPm somf' p<'rmanency at a much
smalkr Pxpense than riprnpping involves, has
been followed since 1938.
Highways, Roads, and Streets
From the standpoint of funds expended and
employment crt'ated, the most important type
of WPA aetivit)' in Es<'nmhia County has been
thr work dmw in conn0ction with thf' development of highwnys, ronds. and streets. Nearly
$470,000 nf thr $663,000 expended on all WPA
constrnction proj0<'ts from the initiation of the
program in August 1935 through l\Jru·cl1 1939
19.-EXPENDITFRES 0~' FEDERAL AND SroNFUNDS ON "'PA-OPERATED CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS, BY Tn•E:s OF PROJECTS
TABLE
sons'
Esf'.DIHIA CorXTY, ALABAMA
C't',._ll"LATIYF. TIIROl'GH l\:JARCJI 31, 1939
I ,I mount
I-
Type of Project
I
Total.
Hig-hwnys, ronds, and
st rerts nnd relnted
fndlitir:,; ___
Type of Project
_I Amount
I
$/,ti~. Al9
i
=
,10:,.;,\1(_).~
II
Herren1 ionnl fac1Jities,
includin~ grandstnn<ls on school
A
County dntn estimnted from :-:tatt1 totn.ls.
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lf:g:~
Se~;~~l~~~:terrii::~-:~:~:
Public· buildings __ , ~ 1
Ed11eational
_
a7. nsl . \\'at.er· distribution
Administ.rnt,h·c
_
17,402 11 systom~ _______ ___
Improycment of;
'_-\iqlorts ____________ .
grounds _.
'
:3, 206
~nnit.ation and health__
11
·1
I
Google
A
12,770
22,88.1.
84,500
61
WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS I N SELECTED AREAS
was spent for road building and improYement.
During that period WPA work ers built or
improved 910 miles of secondary road; they
also laid bituminous surfacing on one and a half
miles of state highway and built the base
preparatory to surfacing an additional three
miles. Almost four miles of streets were paved
through WPA project work, and approximately
four miles of sidewalks laid . In corrnection
with the road and street work in the county
658 bridges (mostly wooden) were huilt, 607
culverts installed, and extensiYe drn.inage and
shoulder work completed.
Because of the marked inadequa<"y of t he
county roads in meeting the needs of the rural
population, the WFA has concentrated its
activities in Escambia County on this secondary
road work. Without any planned pattern, th e
county roads had developed over a period of
years from the crude wagon roads that had been
used when timber was cut and land cleared for
farms. The roads were often crooked and
indirect, avoiding gullies and swamps and
crossing hills where elevations were lowest and
creeks where fording was shallowest and safest.
Streams that could not be forded wer e spanned
by wooden bridges whith were not treated to
prevent rot or built to withstand high water.
Even where roads had been improved somewhat the heavy rainfall on easily eroded soil
still clogged drainage ditches and caused
washouts on road surfaces.
Through WPA road proj ects ma.ny of the
county roads have been straighte1wd, wid en ed,
graded, graveled, and provided with better
drainage. Considerable grubbing and clearing
was required in widening the surfaces. Tl1 e
heavy rainfall of the region n ccessi tn ted the
construction of large culverts. Rninfall also
was a factor influencing the constrnction of
bridges since the creosoted timber bridges that
have been built by the WPA have been mad e
to withstand the high water of flood seasons.
Bridges of this kind eliminate the inconveni en('e
and hazards of fords and th e ('Ostly upkeep of
the old type wooden bridge.
When the WP A program was initiated , several of the streets in Brewton and Enst Brewton
were unpaved and none of th e streets insid e the
corporate lin1its of Flomaton were hardsurfnced . In Atmore, where only a few of the
Wl'A FAHM-'1' 0-MAHKET ROAi> \\' OHK I N F. SC.D •IBIA
COUNTY: CON 'l'HA S T 111':'l ' \\'EE:\T \\' l' ..\-l(l<;II U ir /1' AND UN ll\fl 'HOVEll HOAl> S-- NEAR AT:v[OllE (TOI'). N l<:\V TlllrnESl'AN CON('HE 'l' E HHIDOE O \ " EI{ 111\l ' S IIY C RF.EK-- NEA R
A'l'MOHI, (CEN TER) . OHA Dl:\'O A Flsl•:IJl, R ROAl> - '-IEAR
FLO .\ I ATO'\' (IHJTTO!'\'I )
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
most important streets had concrete sidewalks,
the citizens petitioned the mayor to sponsor a
sidewalk project so that, among other things,
they might have city mail delivery. Through
work on various road and street projects the
WPA had paved 1!),530 linear feet of city
strrets and laid approximately four miles of
sidewalks in Escambia County by the end of
March 1939.
Professional and Service Work
Although most of the nonconstruction projects in Escambia County have oprrated in
Atmore and Brewton, their benefits have extended to persons throughout the county.
Only the recreation and adult education projects
may be said to be less than county-wide in
scope. At the end of March 1939, practically
all workers engaged on those projects were
women.
Sewing Rooms
In order to supply garments for needy families in Escambia County two WPA sewing
rooms have heen operatrd. Tlrr srwing room
projects, one in Brrwton and thr other in
Atmorr, havr providrd a largr sharr of thr johs
for women ·wPA workers in the county; approximately 50 women wrrP at work on sewing
projects during thr spring months of I 039.
Tota.I expenditurrs on thr projects through
March 1939 amounted to $69,400.
The products of the srwing rooms that were
made prior to April 1939 included 16,700 garments for children, 13,675 for wonwn, 6,850
TABLE
20.-NUMBER
OF
P1mHONs
EMPLOYED
ON
WPA-OPERATF.D PROJECTS, BY TYPER 01' PROJECTS
AND BY SEX
ERCAl-lRIA C'OPNTY, ALARAMA
:VfARCTl 22, 10:Jg
Type of Projeet
Total.
Highwny8, roads, and strct.'ts
__
Puhlic hui]dings, ineluding improvement of
grounds_ _ _________ .. _ _ _ _
Sanitation and health ______ _
Education ___________ _
Bookmencling _______ _
Housekeeping aide ___ _
Sewing_________________ ________ __ _______ _
Distribution of surplus commodities. ________ _
_"'°~
-~:J~~~en
80<J
611
lf>8
- - - - - - ---4871
72
103
7 57 I
26
54 i
aI
487
49
23
103
57
26
54
2
I
for men, an<l more than 5,000 each of infants'
wear and articles other than clothing. Approximately l0o,000 yards of cloth were used in
making these products, which have been distributed by the wrlfare worker to families
unable to purchase sufficient clothing. The
welforr worker constantly advises the project
supervisor of the a.ges, sizes, and clothing requirements of members of the needy families
and, whrre conv<'nient, the prospective recipients may be callPd to the sewing room for
measurements and fittings.
Housekeeping Aide and Nursing Projects
WP A housekeeping aide projects are similar
to sewing room projects in that women are
assigned to the work and all persons benefiting
from the project work are persons in need of
relief. \V orkers on this project are trained and
assigned to perform a variety of household
duties for nredy families in which illness or
other conditions have made the usual homemaker temporarily unable to perform the
normal household tasks. To qualify for assignment to this WPA project a woman must
have had homemaking experience and must
pass the physical examination given by the
county health officer. Each worker is given a
two-week training course which is supplemented
one day each week by additional demonstrations and instruction. Subjects in which the
workers rcceiYe training include home budgeting, diet, food values, care of the sick, prenatal
and postnatal care, and general housekeeping
duties.
Families needing housekeeping aid come to
the attention of the county department of
public welfare through its contact with recipi<'nts of public nssistnnce. The welfare department cooperates ,vith the project supervisor in outlining household problems and
indicating the duties to he performed in the
home. An aide may be assigned for a maximum
period of one month; if after that time further
assistn nee is necC'ssary a new worker may be
assigned. Although at the end of March 1939
the projrct !incl been operating only six months,
approximately 1,000 visits had been made by
the aides to I 30 families. An average of about
20 women have been engaged in this work.
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WPA PROJECT Ol'ERATIOXS IK SELECTED AHEAS
The WP A serrice projects undertaken in the
county also included a project to give nmsing
aid in connection with immunizations agninst
contagious diseases. During the l .5 months
that the project was operated l ,Oli immunir.ntions were giYen.
Education and Recreation Programs
The difficulties encountered in attending
school because of the demands of form duties
and, until recent years, the inaccessibility of
schools have hampered many rural reside11ts
in availing themseh-es of educational opportunities. WPA classes in adult education
consequently have filled n very definite rH'C'd
in Escambia County. (Adult emergency C'dncation was transferred from the FB:RA to tlw
WPA in 1935.) A \VPA project was initiut<•d
in Escambia County in December rn:3;"j nnd
subsequently between 139 and 347 mC'11 Hild
women have been enrolled in courses of this
drpa rtrnen t of rd urn tion nnd t.hC' cosponsorship
of the county board of education. A succC'C'ding projrct continues the bookm<'rnling actiYitiC's of this projC'ct. B:v the end of ~larch I 939,
13,24G books and :i ,71:i desks and otlwr piPces
of school furnitur<' hnd been reconditio1wd.
Books for nl('nding hnve bren brought from
the schools t.lm1ughout the county to the
project hendquartPrs n,t Brewton in accordance
with n schC'dulP preparrd by thr county board
of educntion. This insures uninterruptrd work,
with a minimum of hooks out of use. Ench
proj<'ct C'mployee is r<'sporn;ibk for spf'eific
pln1s<'s of th<' r<'pnir work. A hook 1weding
complete renoYntion is first thoroughly ckml('d
nnd its torn png<'s mended with trnnspnrent
t.npe. If tll<' binding is broken, a piece of mnterial is stitchrd along the back to hold tlw pages
sC'cnrr. Sorn<' of Uir books are re.covered with
doth binding which is then lrttN<'d. Aft<'r the
final proc<•ss of shPllncking the <'0Yer, n book is in
~ood usnbl<· condition .
kind.
Classes have been de\·oted to literacy. \·oc·ational education, and general ndult educatioll .
The extent of the program nnd its seop<' lwn1
varied directly with the number and qualific-ntions of the available teachers on tlw rC'lirf
rolls. In March 1939 there were sewn \YI' A
employees teaching citir.enship to 79 persons.
vocational subjects to 62, nnd genera.I rduc-ation
subjects to 121. Any p<'rson in the county
is eligible to attend t.!1C'sr ed uc-ation c- lnssPs .
which are usually hC'ld one(' n wrck in priYut<'
homes.
vVPA recreation act1Y1 tws hnYe lwPn milducted intermittentl:v in Brewton, Atmon• . 1111<1
the community of Canoe. \Yorkers numhNing
up to 20 have provided leadership in social
recreation, music , cru.fts, softball, tC'nnis, :llld
basketball for a number of participants rm1gillg
from 500 to nearly :3,000 1wr month. For r<'< 'reation nreas, public school grounds haYr
generally been used .
Book and Desk Renovation
In ,June 1937 , the WPA initiatC'd i11 t.:scnmbia
County a unit of the statf'-wide projrr.t for
renovation of library and school books nnd
school desks under the sponsorship of ti)(' statf'
lJR ,11:,.;.\(II-: 1>1 ' 1'('11 FOil ~L\LAHI.\ (' O:-.: 'J' HOL
In Escnmbin, ns in other coirnti<'s in Alnhnmn, fr<'<' (Pxt books nrr furnishC'd to the
rhildn•n in th<' first thrrr grnd<'s of tl1C' public
schools . Brrnus<' in recC'nt. yrnrs it hns bNm
11<'<'<'ssnry to )ffOYidC' books for nn innensing
llumhN of studC'nts, the book-n•pnir work hns
hr<'n of pnrt.iculnr importnnce. Thr work nlso
hns proY<'ll W<'II suited to tlw <'mployment of
worn<'n. On ~lurch 22, 1939, fl totnl of 57
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REPORT 01' PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
women, 53 of whom were unskilled workers,
were engaged in activities on the book-repair
project.
The new and improved facilities and the
services provided through the operation of
WPA projects in Escambia County are enjoyed
by the county's entire population. Although
the extension of water and sewer lines and the
education and recreation programs ban• been
concentrated in the larger towns the improYement of roads has been genera.I throughout the
county and other phases of the WP A program
have operated for the benefit of persons living
in both urban and rural areas. For the rural
residents the road work has meant greater
accessibility of markets, shopping centers, and
schools; more regular mail delivery: more adeq un te medical care at lower rates; and wider
opportunities for recreation. Persons residing
in towns have also benefited from the road
improvements through the resulting stimulation
to trade; newly ptwed streets have eliminated
much of the inconvenience caused by mud and
dust; and adequate culverts for the removal of
storm waters have reduced the losses arising
from flooded streets and basements.
In making the many contributions to the
social and economic welfare of the county the
WP A has accomplished its complementary objective of providing employment opportunities
to needy unemployed persons. The prosecution of the project work has supplied jobs not
only to many of the county's unemployed workers but also to low-income farmers. During the
period of nearly three and three-quarters years
from the beginning of operations in 1935 to the
0nd of March 1939, more than 2,000 different
persons, almost all of them with families, have
found a temporary livelihood in their employment on WPA projects.
PORTSMOUTH, OHIO
Located in the south central part of Ohio at
the junction of the Ohio and Scioto Rivers,
Portsmouth is protected on the south and west
by fioodwalls. Behind these flood defenses are
carried on the commerce and productive activity of a medium-sized urban center that participates in the manufacture and agriculture of
the Middle West. Portsmouth serYes as the
trading and shipping center of the surrounding
area and obtains its industrial life from the steel,
shoe, railroad, and smaller diversified esta blishments that are located within the city and
its environs.
The land on which Portsmouth stands was
laid out in lots by ~fa.jor Henry ~fassie, a
Virginian who came to the Northwest Territory
in 1797. Portsmouth was incorporated as n
town in 1814 and six years Inter had 500
inhabitants. The present city account,s for
half the residents of Scioto County, of which
Portsmouth is the county sent. Not included
in its 1930 population of 42,560 persons nr0
the residents of New Boston (n municipnlity of
6,000 inhabitants t.lrnt lies within Port,s111<rnth),
the residential district across the Scioto River,
and other suburban areas that are part of
"Gren ter Portsmouth."
During the years following the introduction
of the steamboat and the completion in 1832
of the Ohio Canal (extending from Cleveland
to Portsmouth), Portsmouth played an active
role in handling the river and canal traffic.
Tlw shipment of local products and trnnshipmen t of produce brought to Portsmouth made
the city an important link in the Ohio and
1\1 ississippi waterway traffic of central Ohio
during the pre-railroad era.
Portsmouth's first rnilroa,d, which later been.me part of the Baltimore and Ohio system,
connected the city with lines running through
Hamden, Ohio, soon after 1850. At the present
time the city is served by the Norfolk and
\Yest<,rn, the Chesapeake and Ohio, and the
Baltimore nnd Ohio railroads. Most important
of these to Portsmouth is the Norfolk and
\Yestern road whose main line runs from Norfolk, Virginia, to its Portsmouth junction from
whieh lines turn north to Columbus and west
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS I!\ SELECTED AREAS
to Cincinnati. The repair shops and freight
yards of this road, which obtains much of its
traffic from the West Virginia coalfields, supply
Portsmouth with one of its major industries.
Since its early days Portsmouth has been a
manufacturing town, the result of its advantageous location on the Ohio RiYer and its easy
access to the natural resources of the surrounding area.
Among the resources that have
played a significant role in the development
of the city are coal, iron ore, limestone, sandstone, fire clay, and timber. In the early days
much of the locally produced pig iron was
shipped without manufacture-this was pn.rticularly true of the period before the building
of an iron bar and nail mill. Portsmouth's first
steel plant was constructed in 1872 and since
that time iron and steel production has predominated among the industries of the community. In 1916 a steel plant was built in
New Boston, which has employed a majority
of the area's factory workers during the recent
decades. The shoe industry of Portsmouth has
likewise been important to the community.
Manufacture of shoes was begun in the city as
early as 1869 and is now carried on by three
firms which sell a variety of shoes in the national
market. Other local industries produce paving
and wall brick; shoe lasts, heels, and laces;
paper boxes; stoves; cement; and stone
products.
The extent of unemployment that has prevailed in Portsmouth cl 11ring recent ~·ears must
be explained in terms of the industrial life of
the nrea in which the city is located. Curtailed
manufacturing activities, particularly in the
steel and brick industries, have caused a relatively high degree of unemployment in the city.
At the time of the national unemployment
census of November 1937, 3,835 persons (including 759 emergency workers) registered as
unemployed.
A ln.rge proportion of these
persons had been skilled and semiskilled
workers; many had been common laborers,
clerks, or domestic servants, and a few had been
proprietors or managers of businesses.
The project activities of the \VP A in Portsmouth are distinctive of the city in that the
work provided for the unemployed has given
Rperial stress to flood clefonse work and to
the repair of damage after the floods of 1936
and 1937. The need for sueh projects was only
too evident. The account of \VPA undertnkings that follows is not, however, limited to
flood drfrnse nnd rehabilitation activitic•s si11ee
in tlw oprrn tion of WPA projects from 1H35
to 19;39 n varircl program of work has lwen
conducted. Through this program Portsmouth
now enjoys the advantages of more adequate
flood c!PfrnsPs, improved roads and strt't-ts,
n•novatt-d public buildings, extended sewer
and water s~TstPms, and better park and recreational facilities. The accomplishments on
whitP collar, goods, and other nonconstruction
projects supply additional lw1wfits to thr
C'OllllllUJlitv.
1937 FLOOD
IN PORTSMOUTH
THE
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OJ<' THE WPA PROGRAM
WPA FLOOD DEFENSE WORK IN PORTSMOUTH, OHIO
Through March 31, 1939
(J)/
I
-
~
............ _.._... ......
am~_,....._.__.
•
.. _....._ . . . . --..CINI . . ...,.,
f'>
...... ..,.,.......... ~IIN.
........, . . ~ ~ . . ....
• •,.,_.atntctat,_~ .. ...
~
Flood Control and Sanitation
Projects designed for defense against floods,
for the rehabilitation of flood-damnged facilities and property, a.nd for the assistance of
flood-stricken families have been outstanding
among WPA operations in Portsmouth becnuse
the location of the city at the junction of the
Ohio and Scioto Rivers makes it pnrt.icularly
susceptible to floods. The site on which the
city has developed resembles a basin that is
exposed on the south to the Ohio River and on
the west to the Scioto River; this ma.y be seen
in the accompanying map. The ground slopes
up from the rivPrs to form a sort of table ln.nd
on which most of the city is built. Hills rise
steeply and irregularly from the tnbl1• lnnd on
the north and east sides of the city .
Prior to the constrnction of Hood defenses
Portsmouth wns subjected to floods in two out
of every three ye11rs. The southwestern part
of the city in which most of the business section is locnted lies nt an elevntion of from 520
to 536 feet. Since t.l1e low-water river elevation is 4 70 feet, a 50-foot rise in the water level
brings water to the edge of the city on both the
Ohio and Scioto sides. At the 55-foot stage
approximately one-third, and at the 65-foot
stnge over two-thirds, of the city is below the
water level.
Because experience had shown that the rivers
seldom rose more than 62 feet from the lowwater mark the earlier flood defenses of Portsmouth provided protection up to that height.
This protection wn,s supplied by a concrete wall
along the Ohio River, about 3 miles long, and
rnilroad ernbnnkments which served as levees
eastward from the . wall a.long the Ohio River
and northward along the Scioto River. The
first section of the concrete wall was constructed
in 1908 and eastward addit,ions were built in
19Hi nnd 1929. As a further protective measme five pumping stations were erected to expel
sewnge when t,he water rose to o. height that
prevented the normn.l flow of sewn.ge into the
river.
The city experienced no major calamity
until 19:37 although floods frequently brought
the crests of water near to the top of the flood
wnll. In 1933 nn<l a.gain in 1936, when other
cities along the Ohio River were inundated,
Portsmouth was only slightly damaged. However, the levee on the Scioto River side, part
of it fL large cinder and furnace slag fill, allowed
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WPA PROJEC'l' OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
excessive seepage during high water and frequently had to be bolstered with sand hags
when the river rose to flood stage. Furthermore, the sewage pumping equipment, which
had to be operated 24 hours a day when the
river reached the 60-foot level, was obsolete
and almost worn out.
The 1937 flood proved to be one of the worst.
in the city's history. At its greatest height
the rising water was 12 feet above the top of
the 62-foot flood wall. A major part of thl.'
city was covered and the flood wall and levees
were damaged. The high- and low-duty watl.'r
pumping stations were disabled and drinking
water from a storage reservoir had to be rationed by drawing from the reservoir for only
a few minutes each day.
WP A Flood Defense Work
Mter the 1936 flood, the city began to reconstruct and extend its flood defenses-work that
was conducted more intensively subsequent to
the disastrous 1937 experience. Through the
operation of WPA projects, the flood wall was
rebuilt and extended, the levees strengthened
with concrete core walls, the water system protected against flood disablement, and t,he sewage
pumping system reconstructed to assure adequate expulsion of sewage duriiig flood periods.
In the 1937 flood a large section of the levee
along the Ohio River at the eastern end of the
flood wall was washed away. The levee was an
earthfill embankment that in eo.rlier years had
been subject to excessive leaknge and consequent failure at high water. The workers employed on flood defense projects extended the
concrete wall a distance of 80 feet to replnce the
demolished part of the levee and mn.de the adjoining section of levee, about l ,000 foet in
length, impervious to leakuge by tlie construction of a concrete core wall.
The necessity of deep exc11,Y11tio11 into the
levee in building the core wall wa,; eliminated
by driving the reinforced concrete piles (about
500 in number) through the enrth fill into five
feet of solid ground. Project workers prPfnbricated the piles, each 24 feet long, with interlocking joints so as to form an unbroken structure over the entire length. A concrete wall
was built over the core, pre,·enting ero,;ion at
the top of the levee and raisii1g by several feet
the level at which protection is afforded.
On the Scioto River side, the cinder and slag
em bo.nkmen t is subject to pnrticular exposure
because of its proximity to the junction of the
two rivers. The porousn<>ss of t,he material of
which the fill is composed allowed seepage during hig-h-wn.ter periods, for beyond the cnpncity
of the city pumping equipment. In order to
reduce such leo.kage concrete piles similar to
those employed in strengthening the Ohio River
emb1mkment were used. As many as 700 prefabricated concrete piles were driven into the
levee in muking a core wall that is appro:-..--inrntely 1,000 feet long. The piles vary from
8 to 38 feet in length depending 011 the depth
of the fill. During the 1939 flood stage no
nppreciuble leakage was observed through this
section of tll(' levee. The city was further protected from flood waters on the Scioto River
side by the construction along the embankment
of a concrete wall nbout 4 feet in height and
l.'xtending upstream approximately 4,500 feet
from the north end of the core wall. This
structure raises the maximum level at which
protection is provided and prevents the erosion
that was formerly caust'd by the overflow of
the river.
The o.cc11rnul11tion of sewage during the 1937
n1Hl enrlier floods for exceeded the capacity of
the city 's obsolete pumping equipment. Seepage> through the levees, run-off of ruin water
from the surrounding highlm1ds, and normal
sc>wn,ge collected so rnpidly tlrn.t, even with the
aid of fire depnrtment and railroad pumping
apparatus, the city equipment was incapu 1,le
of removing the ncc1mrnlntion. Projects begun
in August 1937 resulted in the construction of
five new sewage pumping stntions on trunk
sewer lines, the renov11,tion of two old stations,
and demolition of the other three. New elec-trica lly drivC'n pumps, with n. totnl pumping
capacity oJ 106,000 gnllons per minute, were
installed n.nd H II rwcessnry emrn0.eti0Jts We're
made. The stA.t,ion,; arl.' constructed of brick
on concrete foundations with the except.inn of
the Washington Street Station which is made
of <"OIH'l'<'te. O11e nPw station was also built
and one repn.irNl in Kew Boston .
Unlike the old stl.'11.m-d riYen pumps, ti int. 1111.d
bt>en phic·l.'d direct,ly in tlw st>WN lines :mtl were
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REPORT OK PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
BIGD -DUT Y PUllfPING STATIO N, nL' ILT TO FUNCTION
AT FLOOD LEVEL S MUCII]] ro u ER TilAN THOSE
RE ,\ C UED I N 1937
operated 24 hours fl day during flood periods,
the new pumps opernte discontinuously for
periods of 15 or 20 rnirn1 tes at a time. This
is ma.de possible by the underground concrete
reservoirs that were constrncted at four of the
new stations to hold sewage when the regular
outlets are closed. The pumps start operating
automatically when the reservoirs are filled to
a specified point, expelling the sewage into the
river throu gh a by-pass outlet m1der the surface of the water. The reservoirs hav e a
storage capacity of about 690 ,000 gallons and
the new pumps are capable of emptying them
in less than seven minutes.
WPA proj ects under taken in conn ection
with a third phase of t he flood defense program
are designed to protect t he city's water supply
up to a flood level of 90 feet. A new concrete
storage reservoir, watertight to the 90-foot level,
T ABLE 21.- EXPENDIT U Rl' S 01' FEDErtAL ANf\ SPONSORS' FuNDs
oN
vVP A-OPERATED CoNsTnuc-r10N
PRO.TECTS, BY TYPES oF Pno.11,;c-r;,
.PORTSMO U TH. 0 111 0 ·\
CU M U LAT I VE TIJTI0l 1 (HI !VL\11 (' 11
Type of Project
Am ount
'l'otal. ....... . . .. $3,754, i SS
Stree ts a nd a lleys n . . _.
I. 4;,5, 32i
Public buildings c_ . . ..
5iU, 525
Schools c __ _____ ____
Other .... ... ... . .. .
274. 894
29:,. r,3 1
Park s and other rec•
rca !.ionn.l facilities
Flood control.. .... ::::
2:38, ,500
403, 590
:o.
1939
Type of Project
AtuOll.lJi
Sew C'r sys t.e rn s a nd
other utilil il'S .. . . ....
Sewer s vs t c m s _ ____
\ Val er Sup p ly syste ms ..... . . . . ....
Te l e phone nnd
t c lci:r rn 11h . ___ ___
059, 170
658, 19·1
Emergency Flood Work
297, 8:32
Wh e11 Port smo ut h wns flooded in 1936 and
ngnin in 1937, almost the entire force of \i\lPA
work ers nssisted in Cfl.rrying out the emergency
protection men s11res that were necessary at the
time and Inter helped in rehabilitating the damaged public fncilities. In 1936, approximately
1.500 persons were employed for ten days; and
in I !:J:17 . \,·hen flood waters rose 12 feet high er
~
Ck 1wrnl Uood ro hnbi li- -
--
1.nt ion D __ ___ ________ _
40,000
C'c rnt.•tc r y improve-
111 cnt _____ _____ ______ _
7, 070
A Data relate only to t hose projccls that were opernt:ed in Ports mouth
proper.
u I ncl udin g coustru cLlon of sidcwn l k s and erection o f st reet. sic ns.
c ln rludes ex pcndit.11re:-: of $-11.iOO for c 111 c r gcn c \' rcs tornt ion of sl' hoo l
build in~s n rt er ttw l fJ:J -;- fl nod.
·
0
E s timntf'd.
now replaces the old high-duty station. Water
can be pumped from the filter tanks to the
reservoir, from which it is forced by gravity
into the city mains. A section was added to
the low-duty station loca ted on the bank of
the Ohio River so that it could operate at a
flood stage of 90 feet-a level 16 feet higher than
the 1937 flood and 10 feet higher than the possible m aximum flood as estimated by army
engmeers.
From August 1936 to August I 938 an avemge
of 400 WP A workers were employed on the
flood defense projects exclusive of the wa.terworks job. Peak employment of 600 men was
refl.ched just prior to the flood in January 1937.
The totnl cost of the work, including Portsmouth's sewage-pumping stations but excluding the waterworks, was $464 ,000. (Table 21.)
Th e first test of the flood defense facilities
came in February 1939. An inspection by city
officials at the time when the water reached the
52-foo t stage show ed that there was no seepage
in t he levees where the concrete piling had been
driv en ; the pumping stations were disposing of
the sewfl.ge as fast as it accumulated in the
storage reservoirs; and the repaired wall was
holding up in a satisfactory manner. At the
same flo od stage in earlier years, a large city
forc e would have been laboring night and dav
protecting the levees, trying to prevent seepag~
t hrough the earth embankm ents, and building
ramps to higher levels ,vith sand bags a.nd
timber. Another crew would have been on
duty 24 hours a day to keep the steam-driven
sewage pumps in operation. D espite this
labor, costing the city from $20,000 to $25,000 ,
some water would have entered and fear of
graver tro uble would havr developed. In 1939
th e city was dry and business continued with0 11 t. in te rrnp tions.
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WP.-\ PROJECT OPERATIOXS I.:-S SELECTED .-\REAS
than t,he defense wall , ahout 2,000 "·p.:\_ \\·orkers were engaged in emergenc~- work for two and
a half weeks.
W"PA employees gan' assistnnce durinl,! thP
emergencies in evacuat.i.ng families from their
homes and moving them to higher ground , constructed temporary shelters for flood refugees,
filled sandbags and piled them 011 weakening
le,ees, bolstered fills at roadway openings and
weak spots in the flood wall, protected unfinished WPA project work by fastening down
lumber and other materials. built rescue boats.
and constructed sa.nitary toilets for use when th<>
sewer system ceased operating. "'omC'n employed on WPA projects assisted in feeding and
ca.ring for refugees who were housed temporarily
in schools, churches, priYnte homes, public
buildings, and hastily-built shelters.
Reconstruction after the 1937 Flood
When the 1937 flood wnters receded , nftN
having covered a major part of Portsmouth for
about two weeks, mud and flood debris littered
the city. Practically all WPA workers in thC'
community were engaged in clenning and restoring the city to a normal condition. One of thr
first tasks was to remoYe debris from thr
streets-a continuous process as long as homes
and buildings were being cleaned out. Schools
and other public buildings \vere cleaned , furniture put in place, and necessary repairs mnd<• so
that normal functions could be resumed. WPA
workers also repaired damaged streets, sicl<-walks, curbs, gutters, and sewer and wntf'r
ma.ms. Employment on rehahilitatio11 projpcts.
which totaled 2,500 persons when the work
started in February and was grndually rcducC'd
until the work was completed in ,June, nnrnl,!rd
about 1,000 workers over the fi\·C'-rno11th period.
work nC'arly Oil<' and a half million dollnrs of
l◄'<'dC'rnl nnd city funds hnd been spent, by the
end of ~lnrch 1939. Some of the streets, the
original surfacing of which was not designed
for present,-day traffic, were in a serious st.ate
of disrepair bC'fore tl1ey were furt.l1er danrnged
by flood wn.t,ers. ~1any of the street surfaces
thn t were cO\·ered with brick laid on a s:111d
base gave way when exposed to heavy traflic .
111 the outlying districts the roads were either
gr:1.vel-coated or else quite unimproved with
naiTow bridges and inadequate drnmage.
vVPA workf'rs h::we faced main thoroul,!hfares nnd important secondary streets wit.11
concrete, pnYC'd other street,s with reclaimed
and sah-aged materials, and constructed sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. The expense of
storing and reloading snh·aged brick, concrete,
and stone ta ken from the mu.in streets hns
frequently beC'll saved by timing the mmor
street projects so that the snln1ged material
could be used directly on them. Such nrnterial pro,·ides a good bed for future hardsurfocing, nnd also ma.de possible in Portsmouth the impro\·ement of alleys- work wl1ich
the city otherwise could not have tinunced.
Many <'xnmpks of WPA street improYements
might be citt•d. The Scioto Trnil (the only
nortlwrn outlet from the city) which runs
through t.h<' business section was widened , surfaced with concrete, and equipped with 11C'w
~idewalks, curbs, and gutters. 011 Fifth StrC'et
a s<•ction of rough brick surface was rcmo\·ed
and a concrntc surfnc<> lnid. At the same time
(,ht• st1w•t wns wid<'ned and furnish<'d with
Other Construction
Streets and Sidewalks
The recurrent flood damage suff<'red by
Portsmouth has meant that a \·cry considerable portion of the WPA projects in the city
have been devoted to replacement or rehabilitation of the various kinds of public fncilitiPs.
On the improvmrnnt of streets and relut<•d
Ill.JILT AS A l' .\HT OF TIii•: l'l, O<>I> IJ~: FEN>-~; l'HOtiH .\~I .
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,;1101 · 1,1> ' l' IIE ~I.\IN H0 .\1):-, Ill•: f"l , OOIJl•: IJ .\(i.\l:s;
201577"-40---6
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
curbs and gutters. A one-half mile concrete
extension of l 7th Street now enables workers
employed at the river-front mills and shops to
avoid the downtown business section in reaching their places of employment. Second Street
(U. S. Highway 52, leading to Cincinnati) is
being widened to 50 feet from the Scioto River
to Chillicothe Street and paved with concrete.
This work, when completed, will greatly ease
the flow of the Portsmouth-Cincinnati traffic
and provide more direct access by trnck to the
warehouses along the Ohio River.
One project in the residential section involved
the improvement of a narrow but much-used
street that was virtually impassable in wet
weather. This street, which led to the high
school, was widened and straightened, paved
with concrete slabs, and supplied with cm-bs
and drains. WPA workers converted Mabert
Road , formerly an old stone and dirt street
that became hazardous in rainy weather, into
an all-weather highway by hard-surfacing it,
laying gutters of salvaged brick, and building
catch basins. Among other streets in the outlying sections, Scherer Hollow Road, Thomas
Avenue, Milldale Road, and Daniels Drive
were improved.
Altogether about 6 ½miles of streets had been
hard-surfaced and slightly more than 26 miles
of pavement had been in1proved through the
operation of WPA proj ects by the end of March
1939. In addition, slightly over 2 miles of
park roads had been paved and 40 miles reconditioned. R elated construction completed
by the WPA in th e city includes 24,200 feet of
sidewalks, 59,500 feet of curbs, s:3,000 feet of
MUNlCJPAL UAHAUE !• O H 8THEET El), U I PMEN'I'
gutters, 2,500 feet of concrete marking strips,
and 30,000 new street signs.
Public Buildings
Forced as were other cities to conserve funds
during the depression, Portsmouth kept the
construction and improvement of public buildings at a minimum from 1930 through 1935.
When floods during 1936 and 1937 damaged
many of the public buildings of the city it
became imperative to tmclertake a large rehabilitation program at once. City applications
for WP A projects involving the erection and
renovation of public buildings were approved
and a substantial amount of work of this type
was initiated through the WP A program. By
the end of March 1939, about $570,000 in
F ederal and city funds had been expended on
WPA public buildings projects. Among the
major new buildings constructed in Portsmouth
through WP A projects are a memorial hall, a
garage for the city's street-maintenance equipment, a city waterworks service building, an
a.d dition to the high-school building at Sciotoville, and the stadium at Labold Field.
Because residents of Portsmouth had long
been ,vithout an adequate ha.11 for civic and
recreational gatherings, the city in 1936 sponsored a proj ect for a new municipal hall. The
$41,000 hall that has been constructed is a onestory building, having a large auditorium that
is equipped with a stage and removable seats.
In the basement are a game room, kitchen,
storn.ge rooms, and a. heating plant. Use of
the building is in such demand that it is open
daily with a full-time caretaker in charge.
A new brick a.nd concrete building was constru cted for storage of equipment and materials
used by the city waterworks department. Cost
was kept low through extensive use of salvaged
materials. The brick and structural steel used
in the strncture were salvaged from the de1nolished city waterworks plant. Lumber and millwork were similarly obtni:ned. New materials
were limited for the most part to cement and
sand needed for the concrete floor, electrical
fixtures, and window glass.
On the Sciotoville high-school grounds WPA
work ers demoli shed an old school building,
which had been used to relieve overcrowding
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
even though it had been <'ondenrnf'<l ns 1111snfr
by the state department of education. In pliH'<'
of erecting another structure npart from th<'
main high-school building, a two-story nddition containing eight rooms wus built on to th<'
main building. The new sertion will 1t<·c·0111modate 150 pupils. The workers on th<' projr•d
also installed the plumbing, heating, nnd <'h'<'trical work.
Projects have also been operated for th<' rf'novation of many of the public buildings in the
city. Such work, including both g<'n<'ral improvements and repair of damage caus<'d by
floods, has been done on the schools, th<' fire
stations, the armory, the municipal hospital,
the memorial hall, the court house, the p11 blic
library, and other public buildings locat<'d in
the city.
Early in the WPA program it was plnmwd to
renovate each of the city's 19 s<'hool buildings.
This work was well under way when the I n:37
flood caused heavy damage to nin<' of thP
schools. Water filled the basemmts nrnl ros<'
from 1 to 11 feet above the ground floors. .\n
emergency project was imm<'diatPJy apJH'oHd
for the rehabilitation of heating systf'Jrn,, plumbing fixtures, electric ·wiring, brick work, floors,
blackboards, windows, steps and walks, nnd
playgrounds. After this job was <'OlllplC'tP<I. th<'
prior improvement program w•1s c·ontin11<'<l.
WPA workers removed old plumbing 111](! lwuting equipment and installed I1<'W plumbing fixtures and heating systems. They built <·11hi1wts
and shelves in home economics rooms, cut n<'w
doors and windows, and laid tiiP floors. "'indow sashes and panes were refitt<'d and rc's<'t.
Old brick driveways and worn stonp si<kw,dks
and concrete steps were torn out and r<'pln<·Pd
,dth new materials.
Portsmouth's four fire stations had hN'n
built to house the old type hors<>-dnnrn fin•
equipment. The stations were heated by µ:as
or coal stoves, interiors were unfinished, drying
towers for hose and equipment for repair work
were lacking, and second floors were lit tlP h,,t t<'r
than lofts. Through WPA projed work t hP
<'ity now has four modern fire stations adPqunlt'
for its needs. Repair shops huvP h<'<'II installPd,
towers provided for the dr:ving of hos<', additional rooms have been built, and stparn heat
installed.
A much needf'd rf'novntion job was performed
at the muni<'ipnl hospitnl, whi<'h is l11rg<' enough
to serve 175 in-patif'nts. \YPA operations
included overhauling the plumbing and heating
s_vstems, rebuilding tlw walls and roof, and
rPpainting the woodwork.
Water and Sewer Systems and
Other Utilities
\VPA public utility proje<'ts in Portsmouth
have not been limited to the sewer and water
s~'stem undertakings described in conne<'tion
with the l'ity's flood defense program. Through
\\"PA proje<'t operations a number of wnter
rnains lrnve been extended to provide a suffi<·ient supply of water in underservired areas
and to ren<'h th<' 1wwer out.lying sedions of the
<·ity. Some 12,000 feet of pipe have been
i11st11lled, 1ww eonsumer connf'ctions madf', firr
hydrants rernnditioned, and drinking fountains
put in. This has improved service and afforded
greater fire protel'tion in both the business and
residential sections of the city. Other projert
op<'l'ations involved the installation of water
mC'ters in Portsmouth a.nd New Boston. The
met<'l's were pla<'cd in frostproof, noncorroding,
<'oD<·rC't.p box<>s along the <'Urbs, with ropper
wir<' <'onne<'tions to prevent rusting. Sinre the
installation of the new boxPs ther<> has been no
instance of meters frpezing--n. diffil'ult.v that
prHiously had eost the eity approximately
:f;:3,000 a year.
SC'wer corn,truction work on WP A proj<>cts
lrns been din•cted towards rPmNlying a sit.uat,io11 rC>s11lti11g from th<' lack of planning in location of tlw older sewers and from the deteriorn tC'd condition oJ mmiy of the old lines. Inndeq un tc drainage after heavy rain,: was
typical in some sections and in others 0J)<'II
spwprs constituted a health menace. Bri<'k
sn!vagcd from repaired strPPts has bC>en utilizNI
<•xtPnsivC'ly in the ReWC'I" construction work.
~lost of the sewt•rs WNC built C'ntirely of this
material and tlw few concrC't<' sewers thnt WN<'
lnicl havf' bP<'n lin<>d with brick. In addition
to tlw construction of 48,700 fC'et of SC'W<'I"
Iin<•s :llld irnprm·,,nwnt of Li:~.000 fef't,, :3Gii
ni tel1 basi11s and manholes have beC'Il built or
im prov Pd.
Th<• lurgPst single st'W<'I" job wns that of
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
covermg the Lawson Run opnn sewer a.nd reclaiming- the are.a through which it rnn . This
sewer- formerly a 3,000-foot open ditch bordered by a dump ground--wns the so urce of a
majority of the typhoid cases i11 the city. ThC'
open creek has been replaced by a covered sewer
line over about two-thirds of its length , nnd
the remainder to the point where it empties
into the Ohio River has been riprnpped with
salvaged concrete to preYcnt erosion. The
old dump, which co mprised an area of approximately four acres , wns graded after the sewer
trench Wits backfilled and is to be converted
into a park and playground. Installation of
the sewer line made possible the extension of
roads n,nd sidewalks so that, upon completion
of the project, trncks and other heavy vehicles
will be able to pnss through the city without
entering the business section. Tliis project
has done much to rev ive the section of the city
in which the improvements were made.
R ehabilitation of city police telephmw lines
was undertaken on a project started in November 1935. Upon completion of the work in
March 193G, 210,000 feet of circuit had been
renovated and 148 poli ce call boxes painted.
Work has also been done on switch boards in
city buildings and " ·ires for the police and fire
alnm1 systems haYe been laid und0rgroun<l.
Parks and Playgrounds
La.hold Field in Portsmouth is one of the
finest pa.rk deYelopments in the state. It is the
res ult of WPA operations which have transformed a little-used and inadequately equipped
area of 2/i acres into a well-equipped recreo.tional park serving the entire city. WPA work
at La bold Field included construction of a new
stadium equipped with a football field, a
nmning trnck, and facilities for field events;
renoYation of the baseball field; construction of
12 tennis courts; and deYelopmen t of a 15-acre
piny area .
The senting capacity of the stadium is sufficient l'or 7,500 spectators; stands are on both
si<les of the football field and high brick walls
at each end. Dressing rooms for contestants
are located heneath the stands and are equipped
with lockers, showers, and other facilities.
The grandstand at the baseball field was in a
dilapidated state through years of neglect and
th<' field and enclosure required considemble
nUention.
Project. workers practically rebuilt the grandstand, provided dugouts for the players, and
erected a nine-foot brick wall around the entire
field . The_v also converted the a.rea across the
roadway from t.hese strnetures into a large
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WPA PROJECT OPERATlO:\S I:\ SE LE CTED .-\REAS
playing field of approximately Li acrPs c·ontaining three softball diamonds, croquet comt~.
and facilities for other outdoor games. Th<'
park grounds which surround the playing fi Plds
have been landscaped, shelter houses built , a nd
drinking fountains, park benches, and eleetri<'
lighting facilities for night games prm-icled .
Other pa.rks in the city have also bee n improved. This WPA work induded tlle buildingof stone shelter houses , and the constrn ction of
sport facilities such as croquet, roque , nnd
horseshoe-pitching courts , marble-play in g field s,
and softball diamonds. Benches, sid Pwnlks,
curbs, roadways, water mains, adequate dr:iinuge facilities , and drinking fountains were nlso
installed in Portsmouth parks.
Professional and Service Work
White Collar Projects
White collar undertakings of the WP A in
Portsmouth include not only thosP proj ects
sponsored by city agencies but also certn in
county- and state-sponsored projects that arc
operated in the city principally with Portsmouth workers. WPA recreational leaders,
1rith the cooperation of YMCA workers and
members of churches, school hoards , nnd various civic organiz.ations, have conducted clnss<'S
in handicraft, formed ball leagues, and supervised playgrounds in the city parks .
Teachers on the adult edu cation prog-rnm
(usually numbering about i:3) have mad e a
determined effort to in cren.se litern cy in t he
county, where, according to the 1930 cens us,
1,838 persons were classified as illitern tes. The
fundamentals of reading and wri t ing have hec11
f&ught to more than 300 persons sin ce l\.lnrd1
1938 and more advanced classes have hccn <'ondueted in subjects such a.s arithmetic, geography, history , government, bookkeeping, shorthand, and typing. An avera.ge of about 55
children have been enrolled in the two nurs<' ry
schools for children of low-income fo.milic's
during the past school year .
. Through housekeeping uide nctivit,ies, pro.i<' C't
~kers have gone into homes of more than :i:j ()
'tleedy families in which the housewife was tcmP<>rarily incapacitated , and have assisted wi th
th e regular housework and the care of d1ilclrcn.
l!O!/ l . E C'OUHT>' ,\HE .l\. _\ll. .1111.E 1:-,; .\ I Ol:NIJ P A RK At; .\
ui-:,-:l l l.T OF Wl'A PltOJ~:c-r O 1'~: HATION S
The distrihution of surplu s comn1odities to
famili es in need of relief has been facilitated hy
t-he use of WPA labor. Other WPA workers
have deaned and mended hooks in public and
school libraries and rcnovat(ld furnishing-s and
interiors of various public buildings .
..\ variPd program of sm-Yey proj ects to aid in
muni cipal administ.ration has been conducted in
t,he city of Portsmouth and in Scioto County.
.\n example of t his type of project is the cit,ysponsored real property inventory taken during
I n:rn. :\ to t.al of 1:{,754 dwelling units, covering- 11 ,685 separate strn ctures, were enumerated. The Hi maps and graphs and the
ta bulations prepared from this 1111umcrn.tion are
now being used in city planning.
In s\pril 19:37 a project wa.s undertaken t.o
co mplete, cross-index , and fil e ntrious county
1·pcmds , ineluding a utomobil e hills of sale and
cases of the criminal and dist rict courts. On
another project started in Octo ber 1!)38, all
birth and death rcconls of the co un ty for t.l1c
years 1856 to date arc being clLOcked and
rC'indexecl to facilitate work in co nnection with
t he :ulministration of t.he Social Scc.urit_v .\ct.
( ':ml fil es of the records of hirt.lis and deat.hs
si nce lfJ0S n.n' :dso being made for Lite city and
co un ty depart men ts of health .
\York ers on other prnj ects a.re making, ur
hring-ing up to da k, indexe~ for rcrords of wills,
marriages, adoptions, hills of sale, seUlcrnen t.s,
and oflicial letters. A file of the :rn,ooo pupils
i11 t he Scioto ( '<HIii t_v schools for the _vears 1!)2\)
t,hrough 1fl38 was co mpiled for t.llC county
su perin t.enden t of schools. The faded and
torn lrnndwritten dePds in th<' coun ty rcconkr 's
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
office were typed on looseleaf ledger sheets and
were bound in permanent looseleaf binders.
Location of section corners, accomplished
through an engineering survey, has provided
the basis for public and private survey work
i:n the county and can be used in th e preparation of accurate tax and road maps. Under
another project, maps and records have been
prepared showing the location and condition
of all roads and drninage stru ctures in the
county. These are of senice to the co unty
engineer in maintaining and renoYn ting the
road and drninn.ge structures.
TABLE 22.- NUMBEH OF P1ms 0Ns E~ll'LOYED ON \,\"PA01'1-:HATEI> Pnon:c'l's, BY TYJ>J•: s 01•· P1toJECTS AN D BY
SEX
S CI0T() Cot·NT Y ASD C' JTY O F PoHTS~!Ol "TII, 0 111 0
-M AHrJI 22, l \1:m
Sc1010Co u11t\ ( ln cluJ1n g Ports1i10111h )
- - ------
I
'l' ype of l'roJ CCL
Totul
..
1
T I· I
~le
~ · 187 ~, %n
\\"o lll-
I
~2~
T I I
1•1,
sn4
~I
\\' om•
l_~e~ - - e~1 J
1•1 ,,,w1
I ~.
21.1
llil,:'hwa~·s . rond s , nnd
f- treets
~treets and a ll eys
( 'n 1111 Ly ro:1ds
School bu i Id i 11 gs
Sewer
system :-:
u nd
other utilil ies
Education __
Recreation
Prorcssionnl ,
e\eri cal.
a11d :-en · i<·e
Scw inl,! __
A l>a tn ror Pu rts n1out.h rep rc:-c u1 t.hc u:-t i111ated nurntw r of persnn :workinlc! iu Ports mouth prop er ; thcr i11 elud c so m e worker:- fro111 New
nvston and e ther r,nrts of ~c:in ln t'ou11t~; a 11d exclude m any Ports 111oi11 Ii
workl'rS 0111ploy l d on projod:-. pnrt icu lar\ y tile eo Lrnt y rond und er ·
tn kin gs , opc rnted o utsi d e of til e t' ity \i111i1 s . ' l' ll c nu111her of workcr:-e 111ployed i11 Portsmouth on ec rtai11 cn11nt~1 -wid e projec ts h :L" hee 11
cs tim ntcd from co1111l.y totals.
11 Estimated.
1
In Portsmouth, as in most cities, the majority of the women employed on WP A projects
haYe been given work in sewing rooms. The
women thus employed have not only produced
thousnnds of garments for distribution to families in need of relief but have also made quantities of nrticles for use at the municipal
hospital- sheets, pillow slips, hospital gowns,
nnd furnishings, such as drapes and curtains.
Toys, furniture, and clothing donated through
the Red Cross for flood victims have been
reconditioned. Some of the garments required only clem1ing and minor repairs; others
provided material for made-over clothing.
Left-oYrr pieees of cloth have been woven into
rngs or used in making comforters and quilts.
Portsmouth '
-------_o_·•-1~~1~~-__ :_ :_
1
Sewing and Other Goods Projects ·
Work in Suburban Areas
1n the preeeding description of the WPA
projects the discussion has been limited to
aeti,,ities conducted within the city limits of
Portsmouth. No attempt has been made to
co ,·er the proj ect work undertaken in the sepnrat.ely incorporated town of New Boston-the
two pumping stations constructed there a.re
me11tio11 ecl in connection ,vitb the Portsmouth
flood defense program because the stations form
part of the Portsmouth sewer system. The
discussion of Portsmouth projects also excludes
t,l1 e \l'ork performed by residents of the city on
proj ects operated outside the city limits.
ll\' PORTSMOUTH,
AS ELSEWHERE ,
A LAROE SHA RE
or THE \\' OMEN
EMPLOYED BY THE
\I' I' A 11· 0 H K
IN
SE\\' IN O RO O l\•l S
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
Unemployed persons from Portsmouth have
performed much of the work in connection with
the installation of complete sewer and drainage
facilities at the county fair grounds, at the
community recreational center in Washington
Township, and at the camp built for the use
of youths in the Roosevelt Ga.me Preserve'
seven miles from Portsmouth. At the camp
they also participated in the erection ofsewrnl
log structures including a mess hall and central
building, living quarters for the group leaderR,
bunk houses, and additions to the bathhouse'.
A WPA-built swimming pool and an outdoor
amphitheatre add to the facilities provided at
the camp in the Roosevelt Game Preserve.
Also illustrative of construction work outside
of the city accomplished primarily by Portsmouth labor are the brick dormitory and the
new poultry house at the County lnfinnary, the
silo and modern dairy barn at the County Poor
Farm, and the two-story building for playroom
and sunning purposes at the Children's Home.
Portsmouth workers have, in addition, been
employed in larg<:' numbers (approximately
1,000 in March 1939) on the county-wide road
proj<:'cts. Such projects include the flood
escape roads which connect wi,th main highways at various points in Scioto County after
th<:'y cut across the hills that are located along
the northern edge of the city limits.
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
Erie, Pennsylvania, with an estimated population of 123,500 persons in 1938, has mnny of
the characteristics of the large industrial cities
of the country. Its location on the southern
shore of Lake Erie, about halfwny between
Buffalo and Cleveland and almost due north of
Pittsburgh, places it in the general section of
the country in which large manufacturing cities
have developed. Erie has a relatively diversified group of industrial establishments and enjoys facilities for both rail and water transportation. These are among the more significant
factors which have tended to pattern Eri<:' nft<:'r
much larger cities and to give' a metropolitan
characteristic to its problem of project work for
the unemployed.
The heavy goods industries account for a
large percentage of Erie's numerous manufacturing concerns. Among the more important
durable products that arP made in the con:munity are electrical machinery and supplies,
including locomotives and refrigerntors; machine and hand tools; boilers; building hardware, plumbing supplies, and heating equipment; and steel forgings. The less durabl<'
manufactured articles that are significant in tlw
industrial life of Erie include paper products of
various types, washing machines and othN
household equipment, rubber goods, and certain textile products.
Trad<:' in thP cit~· CP11tPrs about th<' requirements of the connnunity proper and tllC' surrounding areas, which are primarily agricultural.
Orchards, vineyards, and truck gardens are
Pxtensin along the lake; inland from the lake
shon' area dairying and general farming are the
chief pursuits. Commercial lake fishing 1s
curried mi from the harbor.
Industries in the community must rely in
largP measure' for their materials and markets on
reµ:ions outside this limited trading area. Such
trnffie is adequately handled by the transportation facilities of Erie. The loading and unloading of coal and coke, grnin, iron ore, pulpwood,
and puekage freight-major items among shipments by bout- are expedited by grain elen1.tors, fr<:'ight warehouses, and special equiplll<:'nt for handling iron ore. Two railroad
syst{'ms (New York C'en tml and Pennsylvania)
have division headquarters in Erie; the New
York, ( 'hicago, and St. Louis (Nickel Plat<') and
the B('ss('mer and Lake Eric Railroads also
movP traffic to and from tlw city. Tlwsc roads
provide' n network of traeks on whicl1 iron ore
and other goods can be shipped inland to consuming districts, and coal and other prod11ets
can be brought to boats for re-shipment,.
Th<:' growth of Erie has been the result in
no smnll meusur<' of its locution on th<:' bny
fornwd by PrPsque Isle. This peninsuln nffords
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
a protected harbor for the lake boats plying
to and from the city. Largely a state park
that is noted for its attractiveness and recreational possibilities, the peninsula is joined to
the mainland by a narrow neck of land at a
point about a miles outside the western city
limits. Erie proper -is built on the lake shore
plain on a tract between two and three miles
in width and about 113 feet above the lake level.
The peninsula protects the city from the
storms and the lake affords relief from extremes
of temperature.
WP A operations began in Erie in Septem her
1935. Since that time practically all the kinds
of work generally undertaken by the ,vPA
have been prosecuted in the city and its immediate vicinity, furnishing employment for
several thousa.nd Erie workers. By the end
of March 1939, approximately $5,330,000 had
been expended on projects in Erie and on Presque
Isle. This total does not include funds used on
state-wide white collar projects operated in Erie.
Of particular importance to Erie has been
the storm sewer construction work which alone
accounted for almost 30 percent of the total cost
of construction projects ($3,886,487). Street
paving and resurfacing has done much to
improve the city's thoroughfares and the
development of Erie Airport, west of the city,
has been significant in the WPA program of
the community. The city has paid $841,000
towards the cost of the projects it sponsored
(as of March 31, 1939); the county supplied
$25,000 for projects operating in the city and
for county-wide projects operated primari!)r
in the city; and state agencies, such as the
State Park and Harbor Commission, expended
$49,000 for work performed on st.ate propcrt)'
in Erie and on Presque f sle, in addition to thn t
expended on state-wide projects.
Closely related to the work clone in l~riP
proper are the WP A activities in su burhnn
a.reas. particularly in Mill Creek Township.
The sewer and water mu.ins laid in Mill Creek
Township by WP A workers connect with the
Erie systems and much of the street work constitutes an extension of the improvemPnts
made within the city limits. The Wesleyville
sewing projects have provided garments and
other articles for the needy families in Erie as
well as in Wesleyville. Projects in the sub-
TABLF. 23.-EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AND SPONSORS' FUNDS ON WPA-OPERATED CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS, BY TYPES OF PROJECTS
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA A
CUMULATIVE THROUGH MARCH 31, 1939
Type of Project
Total
Amount
_______ $3. 886. 487
Street~ and alleys, including rondside improvement_ __________ l.148,8lfi
Puhlic buildings_. __ _
F.rlucotional
Schools . _. ___ _
School district
warehouse
Lihrari{'s
!\fUSC'UillS_
Adn1inistn1tivc
Annory_
Charitable, medical. and mental
institutions __
County jail.
Stadium
Improvcm1ent
of
grounds around
puhlic buildings_.
513. 530
289.
9351
275. 294
1.074
Type of Project
Parks and other recreational facilities_______
Parks a____________
Play{!Tounds and
athletic fields____
Golf courses________
8.659
67, 6/i
413.485
293.034
84. 295
36,156
Sewer systems and
otherutilities ________ 1.225,293
Sewer systems _____ l, 173.315
9. 145 ,
Water supply systems_____________
4. 422
14. 821
Airport.________________
9.341
68. 680
Amount
Sanitation and health
(mosquito era<licotion) ___ ________
Miscellaneous
con struction_____________
51.978
514.186
45. 224
25. 953
54. 417
A Except where noted, data relate only to those projects that were
operated in Erie proper.
B Includes expenditures for Presque Isle Park and municipally-owned
parks outside the city limits.
urban area of Mill Creek Township and Wesleyville, involving expenditures of about $1,400,000 through March 31, 1939, are included in
the following description of the project work
that has been undertaken by the WPA in Erie.
Construction
Storm and Sanitary Sewers and Water Mains
The plain on which Erie is located rises
gm.dually to the first ridge of foothills south of
the city and is cut by a series of ra.vines formed
by streams that empty into the lake. Mill
Creek, Garrison Run, and Cascade Creek drain
most, of the area. During a period of heavy
rains in 1915, Mill Creek became blocked with
driftwood n.nd debris. und when the jam finally
gave way the impounded waters swept through
the city, causing the loss of 25 lives and property
damage in excess of $2,000,000. The section
of the creek that runs through the city has since
hcon confined within a concrete sewer of ample
capacity.
In order t.o avoid similar difficulties in connection with other drainage a.rea.s a.nd to remove
the flow of rain water from the sanitary sewer
system, the city made application to the WPA
for several storm sewer projects. Topographical
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
and hydrological surveys were undertaken by
WPA workers to determine the natme of the
various drainage areas in the city and vicinity.
The findings of the surveys have supplied a
scientific basis for planning systems sufficient
in capacity to meet the clrninage needs of the
city and have been utilized in subsequent sewer
project work of the WP A.
The largest of the WP A storm sewer projects
and the most significant from an engineering
standpoint is the Garrison Run job. Garrison
Run drains a large area that fringes the business district in the eastern part of Erie. It
flows through a somewhat crowded industrial
part of the city and under railroad yards and
crossings. The construction of a reinforced
concrete conduit more than half a mile in
length and 90 inches in diameter to carry the
stream through the area presented many
complicated problems. Open excavation and
tunneling in a stratified shale formation ,vere
necessary throughout the entire length. Construction was further complicated by an existing
sanita.ry sewer line which intersected the proposed line at the level planned for the new sewer.
This conflict required construction of an inverted siphon to carry the smaller sanitary
sewer under the storm sewer.
A method of installing the 90-inch precast
concrete pipe in the tunnel sect.ions was adopted
which minimized the nmount of excavation
needed. The tunnel was solidly reinforced with
timber and a concrete floor wns poured in which
tracks were laid. Sections of the sewer were
then lowered through the tunnel shaft, mounted
mi a specially designed car, and moved into
place. The space between the timber lining
and the pipe was well rammed with a quick
drying concrete so that upon the subsequent
deteriorntion of the timber, the street, and
tracks above the tunnel would not be damaged
by excessive settling of the enrth.
Two other storm sewer projects, on which
similar work was done, improved drainage
along portions of Cascade Creek. The Cascnde sewer, draining an nren of approximately
3,600 acres in the western section of the c-ity,
replaced an open ditch and permitted the
elimination of a bad jog in the Buffalo-Cleveland highway.
STORM SE\\'ER CONSTRUCTION IN ERIE: (nELOW) PART OF
TIIE IK\'lcRTEll SIPHON UNDER THE GARRISON RUN STORM
SE\\"EH AND (LEF'r) THE SP!cCIALLY DESIGNED CAR USED
IX PFTTJJ\"(l sr,;CTIONS 01' THE STORM SEWER IN PLACE
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
OPEN-CUT
SECTION
OF
1.'HE
LIBERTY
STREET
STORM
SEWER
The Liberty Street storm sewer project
involved reconstrnction of nn old nn<l inadequate system on a brnneh of Cascade Creek
that flows under the business section of the
city. Floods occurred here whenever rainfall
was heavy. Engineering difficulties similar to
those encountered in the work on the Garrison
Run sewer were present, particularly on the
sections where the tunnelling method of construction was necessary been.use of the damage
to adjoining properties that would have resulted had an open cut been made. The
method used on the Garrison Run project was
applied to the constrnction of a 9.'">t>-foot
tunnel , which terminated nt n bluff overlooking
La.ke Erie. Open-rut. constrnction was used
over the remaining distmwe to the lnke.
The three storm sewer projects re(l u ired the
installation cf nlmost five miles of trunk line
(some as much as nim• feet in diameter), 3,198
feet of laterals, 133 ma11holrs , nnd such supplementary work n.s grnding a.long the eomse
of the sewer, construct.ion of vnrious retaining
walls, replacement ,1f curbs and sidewn lks,
and improvement of open sections of strenmbed. ln addition , t.he 01wrntion of n project
nenr the eastern border of the ei ty d rn incd
lnrge swnmp nren s \\·]1id1 were infested by
mosquitoes. Tlic work invoh·ed grnding nnd
cleaning some 95 ,800 feet of crrck dwnncl and
digging of nrnrly t\rn miks of ditchrs lending
to Motch, Cemrt<'r.'·, n11d ~leDnnnel l{uns.
After the sanitnry sr\\-t' rs were rcliPv ed of the
large volume of s torm wn t<>rs tlin t !ind pre-
viousl_\· been carried to t.he city ilisposal plant,
n new trunk line inlet was constructed and the
disposal plant was reconditioned. Seven projects were operated in outlying sections of the
<"ity to install new sanitary sewer lines. By
I\lnrch 31, 1939, about 13,500 linear feet of
pipe hn.d been laid and 48 manholes had been
constructed .
In Mill Creek Township the use of individual
or subdivision septir tanks resulted in the
leakng-e of eonsidern,ble quantities of untreated
waste into the lake and led the state board of
henlth to order the installation of sanitary
sewNs. Sin<'c t.lie Erie sewage treatment plant,
built about 1930, had been designed to meet the
expanding- needs of the city and surrounding
territory, the township n.rrn.nged with Erie to
met<>r t.hc scwag-e as it entered the city system,
paying for tlw sen·ire . j\ 1uch of the• work on
the l-1 \\'PA sanitary sewer projects operated
between the fall of 1935 and ~foreh 31, 1939,
rn thcsl' rPsidentinl sertions involved the
<'Onstrnl'tion of pipe lines along- the slopes overlooking th<' lake.
On the higher SC<'tions the work was n.ccomplish<>d " -itl1 <·ornpnrntiHl_v little diffieulty
hcl':111sc of the fn.,·orn.ble nature of the subsoil.
ln t.hc lower n.rcas , however, the presence of
sn nd , rn U<' k, and wn.t<>r in a g-rn vel vein incren.sed
th<> instnllation <'Ost. Two lift pumps were
instnllcd to misc t.he sewag-e from the low-lying
lcYPl s to t.l1c mnin inter<'eptor. By the encl of
'.\ I arrh I n:rn proj<'<'t workers had la.id over
92,000 line:1r f<>Pt, of tile pipe and had con-
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
structed 124 manholes at a total eost of
$464,751.
Projects for the installation of water ma.ins
have been operated ehiefly in new sections of
the city. WPA workers have laid two miles of
pipe to carry water into sections incorporated
within the city limits in 1919 and in 1927.
At the state soldiers' and sailors' home an
extension was made to the main to improv{'
circulation of water through the water system
of the institution. This resulted in a supply of
fresher water and a much-needed increase in
the pressure, especially at the fire hydrants.
In Mill Creek Township the water supply
was chiefly from individual wells and after the
installation of the sanitary sewers the insufficiency of water frequently caused sluggish
flow of waste matter through the sewcrs.
Consequently the township supervisors sponsored projects for the extension of the Erie
water supply system into the tow11Ship. Between the initiation of the first WPA projeet
for this purpose in December 1935 and the
end of :March 1939, a tot.al of n{'arly fiv{' milPs
of water mains had been laid in the outlying
sections, particularly in the vicinity of vV est
Lake Road.
Streets and Related Work
Nearly a third of the expenditures for construction proj cc ts operated in Eric ha vr bem
made in connection with st!'{'{'t improvement
work. By the end of ~larch 1939, almost
$1,150,000 had been used for this purpos<>.
Outstanding among the various kinds of
street project work is the resudacing don<• on a
number of the ma.in str{'<-'t.S of tlw business
section; this may be noted in thP accompanying
map. The laying of rn5,,'560 squan• yards of
asphalt has greatly improwd tlw condition of
these much-used streets. During the prosecution of the work the project was operakd on a
24-hour basis with thre<• shifts of workNs in
order to reduce the length of tim<• that tmflic
would be inconvenicncrd by project activiti<•s.
,,.PA project operations in Eri<• have inclu<kd
other street improvement work. Drn.inng<•,
grading, surfacing with gravel or asphalt,, and
landscaping have been carried on C'xtensin-ly;
new curbs, manholes, and gutters have been
built; and new strr('ts have been opened. For
sPv<'rnl blocks in onf' part of thr city a railroad
track runs along one of the principal highways
on which most of the truck traffic is rout('d.
Although provided with a substantial concrete
foundation, the asphalt surface on thf' street
wns rontinunlly cracking and crumbling as a
rPstilt of \·ibrn tion caused by passing trains.
A ".PA projPct was pros<'Cut<-'d to construct
sC'paratP concn•t(' ba.s{'s, divided by asphaltic
joints, for the railroad track and for the roadway on eithN side. The asphalt street surface
is no longer subject to faults resulting from
henYy frpight traffic since it is separated from
tlH· tracks. The railroad supplied the city with
all th<' ma tPrial nePded for the work.
A smnll parkway in the center of one of the
mu.in hi1.d1wnys leading to the Eric Airport had
been tlw scene of several serious accidents
bC'cn use a dip in the road under a railroad
bridgP obscured the parkway to motorists
npproaehing from the east. Removal of the
parkway by WP A workers and paving of the
areu has sprved to eliminate this dangerous
tra!lic haznrd.
Numerous other types of projects have
contributed to the safety and convenience of
motorists and pedestrians. On one project
an ll\'<'rnge of eight men were employed for
four months in making and erecting 986 street
signs for 246 unpostc<l intersections. Traffic
counts were made at 130 stations to be used
by the planning commission in redesignating
highway routes through the city. The city
shudc tree commission sponsored a city-wide
project for the inspection nnd removal of trees
that were dead or were otherwise a source of
danger, and trees whose excessive root growth
interfrred with subsurface utilities.
Considerable WPA improvement work has
been undertaken on many of the streets in
the expanding suburban rtrerts outside the city
limits. ~ umerous short streets in these out1:ving districts, particularly those just south
and west of the city in Nlill Creek Township,
were graded and graveled and the adjacent
ditches cleaned and, in some instances, riprapped. In addition, outlying sections of
some of the longer streets such as Grandview
Boulevard along the southern city limit and
South Gore Road, prtrallel to and just south
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
of the boulevard, were widened and reconditioned. Although this work ,vns located
beyond the city limits, most of the workmen
on the projects cnme from within Erie.
Project. work on the state higlrway system
in Erie County furnished a significant percentage of the total WPA employment for
Erie city workers during certain periods.
Although employment figures are not available separa.tely for workers from the city, it
bas been estimated that from 60 to 75 percent
of the total number employed on these projects
at various periods were Erie residents.
Airport
City-sponsored project work at Port Erie,
the municipally-owned airport located about
five miles west of the business center of the
city at the intersection of two state highways,
has resulted in the development of a first-class
airport equipped for both day and night operations. The project was completed in the
autumn of 1937 and air-mail service was
inaugurated the following spring.
An important phase of the work was the
construction of three hard-surfaced runways.
1 t was first planned to hard-surface only one
nmway and to fine-grade and seed the other
two. Through an additional allotment of
funds, it became possible to make all three
with slag base and asphalt surface. The
soutliwest-northeast runway is 150 feet wide
and 3,070 feet long, and the other two, running
east-west and north-south, are 100 feet wide
and, respectively, 2,610 and 2,500 feet in length.
Other improvements to the landing field
included clearing of a wooded area which constituted an obstruction at one end of the field,
placement of power lines underground, grading
of the entire 140-acre field, installation of a.
complete drainage system, and extension of
the lighting system. Project workers also
built a hangar equipped with concrete aprons
and tnxi strips to the runways. Constructed
of 10-inch concrete blocks, the hangar is 80
by 100 feet in size and has storage space for
15 planes other than transports. Repair shops,
office, nnd waiting room are in a structure
twenty feet wide that is built along the entire
length of the 80-foot side of the hangar.
The airport project provided employment
for nn average of 350 persons dming most of
its 1 ~) months of operation, with the exception
PORT ERIE, DEVELOPED
AS A FIRST-CLASS AIRPO HT THROUGH \\"PA
PROJECT OPERATIONS
,\ND ITS
COMBINED
HANGAR .\ND ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
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WPA PROJECT Ol'I~IL\TIO);S IX SELE('TED AltEA.S
of the w-inter months wlH'n wrnthrr conditions
limited the amount of work thnt rould IH' done•.
In the spring of 1937 thr job was put on n
two-shift basis, each shift working six homs n
day and fivr days n week.
Parks and Recreational Facilities
A notable amount of work has i><'<'ll undPrtaken by the "\YPA in denloping rrc·n•ntionnl
facilities in Erie's public parks and school
playgrounds. These artivitirs, 1n·onwkd by
agencies such as the Erie School Board. tlw
City Park Commission, and thr Statr Park and
Harbor Commission, extend bryond thr city
limits of Erie to the developrn<•nt of fn<'ilitiPs
on Presque Isle Peninsula and in Zuck J>nrk.
Two projects have been prosprutPd to improve the grounds and buildings of Gle•nwood
Park, the 128-acre municipally-ow1ied n•cn•ational center in the southern pnrt of Erir
where a nine-hole golf course, trnnis courts, a
baseball field, a modern zoo building, nnd
picnic grounds are located. :Mill Cn•rk flows
through the entire length of thr park. Through
a WPA project thr banks of thr en·e•k wPrn
riprnpped to prevent further rrosion nnd extensive work was done in rlrnning out the
creek channel, including the ex(·avation of
7,000 cubic yards of dirt and rrfusr . Proje•ct
workers also clrarrd 22 ucrrs of the• park,
removed 125 drnd trres. and mad<• 10 horspshoe courts.
The main entrancr to the park wus by way
of a single-lane wooden bridgr which wns
inadequate to hnndle the penk load of I 0,000
cars entering thr park on week-<'1Hls and holidays. The old bridge has been rPplacPd with
a two-lane, reinforced concrPt<' bridgr. Following the elimination of this trnffir bottlc•ne•ck,
a decided increase in the usr of ti}(' park fac·ilities was noted, esprcially of the basc•ball
diamond on which admission-frre Twilight
League games were playrd . A slH•lt<•r house
and pens for reinderr, buffalo, and otlwr animals were constructed; tlw building is of
especial interest from an architPet11rnl standpoint. In order to provide the ne•cc•ssnry
number of pens within the lirnitPd spnC<'
an1il11 hle a s<>ven-sidrd briek str11ct 11n• with
glass brick lighting srrtions wns built. Othe•r
BH!IH,E .IT E:S:TH .l:S:< ' E TO <lLE:S:"'001> PAHK \\'II!C'II
HEl'L.·\ ('l•:IJ A OXE-LAKE STHlT 'l' l ' HE
work conipk•trd on thr park projrets included
the constrnction of flngstone walks nnd stairways, grading, and sppding.
Tl1e municipal golf course, formPrly a
priYatrly-o,,·1wd cours<' that was acquired by
the eit.y in rn:rn, rrceiYPd n<.'edrd improvemen ts through a \Y PA project employing- an
nTerage• of 4fi men for 14 mont.hs. Tlw men
installrd a drainage• system and n. sprinkler
system, relo!'n !Pd the 18 holes and hazards,
improY<>d t.he fairways, built henehPs, and
reconditioned t.Jw el u b and caddy houses and
a rnstic foot-bridg<'.
The eours<> and its
fneilitil•s worn utilizrd by somr Hl,000 p(lrsons
in UW,.
Tlw Bay Front slopr adjoining LakPside
Park along thr I◄:ril' wntrrfront until n•<·(lnt.ly
had br<.'n used as a dump. This slop(I, which
is 70 fret in depth, wa.~ cleared of rnbbish,
graded, and sePded t-hrnugh n. \YPc\ prnjPct
spo11so1'(1(l by Lhe cit.y 's bureau of st.n•et.s.
Tlw 1nirlrnrs bu ii t. n brick gu U.<•r and PxcaYn trd ditchPs for th<' drninag-<' ol' !11<• three
>' E\'J•: :S: ->'ll>EIJ .l:S:l~IAL 1101 ",< E C'O:S:,<THITT E I> 1:S:
OLE.\:\\"001> I' .\ HK
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
acres on the slope.
Another city-owned
recreational area improved by WPA labor is
the 19½-acre wooded tract in Mill Creek
Township given to the city and named Zuck
Park after its donor. Although the area is
part of the City Park Development Plan, lack
of municipal funds had prevented the corlVersion of this land into a park and recreation
ground. With the aid of the WP A, the grounds
have been grubbed and graded; and various
athletic and picnic facilities, including horseshoe courts, a baseball diamond, a children's
playground, picnic tables, and fireplaces, have
been constructed. Provision for the maintenance of the park has been made by tho city.
Presque Isle Peninsula, which extends into
Lake Erie to form the harbor of the community,
has been preserved in its wild and natural condition as a state park. WP A work there has
been designed to facilitate the public's use and
enjoyment of its 3,400 acres of woodland,
ponds, and beaches. Among the project activities conducted on the peninsula were the
clearing and graveling of 10 miles of fire trails
eight feet wide, the building of 100 combination
picnic tables and benches, and the renovation
of two bathhouses and of 800 old tables.
Project workers covered over 400 acres removing poisonous vines and shrubs (ivy, oak, and
sumac) and planting shrnbs and saplings.
They converted fallen timber into 100,000
board feet of lumber and 4,000 cords of firewood
for use in the park.
An administration building of rustic design
was erected to house the police headquarters
and rest-rooms, and parking areas were laid
out. Along one of the beaches on the lake
side of the peninsula a specially designed boardwalk was built; during the seasons when it is
not used as a beach promenade this struc•.ture
can be turned over to collect and hold the sand
that would otherwise be washed away. Another
type of work done in the park was the digging
of a channel between two of the ponds to
eliminate the stagnant condition of one of them.
Among the WPA projects to improve recreational facilities in Eric are those involYing
athletic fields and playgrounds. Considerable
work was undertaken at Erie Stadium, which
has a seating capacity of over 13,000 and is
used for football, track, and field events by nll
the high schools and for activities of local civic
organizations. The stadium was built in 1925
on an earth fill. Water seeped through joints
in the concrete and, when it froze, damaged
the supports upon which the seats were built.
This condition was remedied by replacing 1,200
cu hie yards of reinforced concrete and inserting steel beams to hear the weight of the entire
structure. WPA workers also laid a sidewalk;
constructed steps, curbs, and drainage gutters;
renovated the bleacher seats; and, after grading
and applying top soil and fertilizer, seeded over
26,000 square feet at the south encl of the field.
At Roosevelt Junior High School, a grandstand and two bleachers have been erected of
reinforced concrete to replace the wooden
grandstand destro:ved by fire in 1937. Individual folding grandstand seats-1,640 in number-have been installed; locker rooms, showers,
toilets, drinking fountains, and storage spaces
built under the grandstand; and a press box
built on the roof. The baseball diamond, also
laid out, by WPA workers, will be used in all
inter-school games and for the home games of
the Erie professional basebnll team, a member
of the Middle Atlantic League. Additional
work on this project includes construction of a
section of concrete wnH, wire fencing, gates,
and a qunrter-mile cinder running track.
Many of the city's playgrounds have benefited by the grading and beautifying of school
grounds undertaken in nn effort to keep the
children from pla_ving in t.he streets. As a.
safety measure nearly 300 trees on or near the
grounds were trimmed and the dead trees removed. A two-stor:v frame house on property
adjoining the ,Tones ~whool was razed and the
area used to extend the playground.
Public Buildings
Public buildings projects in Erie have been
confined largely to improvement and renovntion. The work done on school buildings has
consisted chiefly of restoring woodwork and
plastering, painting walls and ceilings, reputtying doors and windows, and rcpointing brick
and stone work. The school district warehouse received needed miscellaneous improvements in the form of interior painting, moving
of partitions, closing window openings, and
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WPA PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
WPA CONSTRUCTION WORK OF SELECTED TYPES IN ERIE, PA.
Through March 31 , 1 939
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restoring the roof. Miscellaneous improvements were made to the interior of the Erie
Public Library, an adjunct to the city school
system. An abandoned steam boiler and its
brick foundation were removed, and a wooden
floor was constructed to convert the boiler
room into a book storage room.
WP A work was also performed on many
other public buildings, both city and county
structures. The county courthouse and jail
were rehabilitated and part of the yard was
converted into a paved parking area. The
mayor's office was renovated and a wall fence
built around the armory. A new concreteblock double garage was erected near the State
Fish Hatchery and Aquarium. Lack of city
funds had prevented adequate improvements
to the house in which Commodore Perry lived
during the building of the American fleet in
1812, an historically important structure in
Erie County that had been restored by the city
in 1923 as a memorial to the Commodore. The
necessary restoration work was completed
through WP A work.
The Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors'
Home, occupying a tract of 133 acres at the
foot of Ash Street overlooking Presque Isle
Bay, houses an average of 3.50 war veterans.
Through a. number of WPA buildings and
groimds projects, all chimneys, foundation
walls, and other exterior brickwork have been
pointed and loose brick reset; windows have
been caulked and weather-stripped; roofs,
drninspouts, and gutters have been replaced;
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
and an old piggery has been torn down and
replaced by n larger well-drained concrete
structure. Other projects at the home have
provided for the landscaping of the grounds,
tree surgery, and the installation of n sprinkler
system for the lawns which requin,d the placement of more than two miles of pipe and over
600 connedions.
The Erie county health and tuberculosis association is cosponsoring a WPA project proposed
by the county commissioners to convert the
Louise Home Snnntorium in Mill Creek Township into an institution for the care and obserrntion of children with s11b-standnrd health. The
home was originnlly a farmhouse on the estate
of a wealthy man who gaye it to the tuberculosis
association about 40 yenrs ngo for use in the
treatment of acti-•;e pulmonary tuberculosis.
Since the recent completion of a new county
hospital for this purpose, the Louise Home has
not been in use. The ,vPA is constructing n
one-story frame addition nnd two dormitory
wings, and making improvements to the existing
building, including the constr11ction of a bnsement under the entire structure. The grounds
are to be lnndscaped and a cinder roadway and
parking area constructed. When completed,
the home will not only have a housing capacity
of more than 50 children, with scparnte wings
for boys and girls, but will also contain adequate
schoolroom space.
ProFessional and Service Work
Sewing and white collar projects in Erie have
provided a substnntial fraction of total vVPA
employment nnd n large shnrc of employment
for women. Tl1e number of women assigned
to jobs in sewing rooms nlo1w hns cx<'ccded 500
during nrnch of the year ending ~lurch 31, I 9:rn;
this total does not incluclP the mnny women
from Erie who were working 011 the W csleyville sewing project, just outside the city limits.
Over 300 persons were Pmployed on the vnrious
locally-sponsored professionnl and scn·ice projects during most of the year nnd 30 to 40 (predominately professional workers) were engaged
on the Feclernl nrts progrnm. Approximately
70 employees were working in lcndPrsbip cnpaeities on the renention nnd education programs,
and a smaller group, nveruging about 20 per-
sons, distributed surplus commodities from the
stnte wnrehouse in Eric to needy persons in the
city nnd its environs.
TABLE 2.J.-KU~IBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPAOPER.\TEJ) PROJECTS, BY TYPES OF PROJECTS
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
MARCH 22, 1939
Type of Project
Total
Men \Y omen
-----------------1--- --- --Total
A_
Public buildings ____________________ _
Parks and other recreational facilities._
Sewer systems _
_ ________ _
Sanitation and health
F.(luent.ion
Recreatif\n
_______________________________ _
Professionnl and. service
I, 303
680
81
172
179
25
38
30
81
li2
179
25
25
30
130
68
44
30
31
15
40
28
26
26
i
623
13
=
=
_____________________ _ =
318
127
191
Housekeeping aide ____________________ _
II istorico.l research ____________________ _
Brnille __________ _ ________________ _
Fe<lernl Project No. L __________________ _
Installation of public records _____________ _
Other.
Sffwing_ _____________
_____________ _
Distribution of surplus con1mo<lities _________ _
130
28
16
4
5
8
=
==
434
191 4154
26
22
--' Does not include the 2,422 men employed on the state highway
projec-t or the 2S.1 persons employed on :1-Iill Creek Township and W eslevville projects; approximately three-fourths of the workers in these groups
were Erie residents.
Sewing Rooms
Two-thirds of the 600 women employed in
Erie on vVPA projects during the last week in
Marci, 1939 were engaged in sewing garments
for distribution to needy persons. Rooms,
supplies, and equipment for the five units
opera tillg in Erie hnve been supplied largely
by cooperating locn.l charitable organizations,
schools, and churches. In two large rooms at
the state soldiers' and sailors' home work is
cnrried 011 in two shifts to obtain the maximum
use of the electricnlly driven machines.
Work in the sewing rooms has included the
production of 213,000 garments and other
articles and the renovation and repair of donated clothing and household furnishings for
distribution to families certified as in need by
tlit' s tntc dPpn rt men t of public assistance and
to public institutions. Uniforms for the housekeepi11g aides nlso were made on the sewing
projPcts. From scrap materials the women
ha vc mnde cloth toys, mg rugs, and other
household articles. Products of the sewing
rnoms are sent to the warehouse, maintained
i11 I~rie by the stnte depa.rtment of public
assistance, from which they, together with sur-
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W P:\ PROJECT OPERATIONS IN SELECTED AREAS
plus commodities, a re dis tributed by WPA
employees.
Education and Recreation
Th e relationship beb,-ee n the recreation and
the ad ult education actiYities of the vVPA in
Erie h as been close . Schools. churches, civic
orgn niza tions , and cit_,.- officials have cooperated in providing s pa ce for meetings of the
recreational and edu ca tional groups, making
42 centers available for th e work. Activities
under the two progrnms ha ve been varied,
with as many as 275 different groups totaling
3,442 participn.nts being su pervised in planned
recreation or in educntion cla sses (such as natura lization , public nffnirs. -..-ocational training,
pre-school , flll<l genera l adult education) by the
,:3 ·w PA leaders employed during March 1939.
Cla sses in li teracy nnd 1rnturalization are
proving of pa rticul ar importn nce since a considerable portion of th e populn tion are foreign
born or children of foreign-born parents. Leaders selected whene,-er possible from the same
nntionnhty group as the emollees aid them in
obtn ining record s necessn ry for naturalization
pnper s as well as in struct tl1ern in the rudiments
of the English lnn guage :ind in the privileges
nnd responsibilities of citizenship in their new
homel and. After nn turn lizn tion, the new citizens are encourn ged to enro ll tn classes in public a ffairs to acquaint tl1 emselves more fully
\\7th loca l , na tionnl , and int ernational even ts .
On e of the most popular among th e genernl
nd ult edu cntion cln ss(•s is the safe driving
school. Sponsored by a loca l safe driving
school coun cil , in coopC' ration with the Pen11s_,.-lvania 1Jo tor Policf' nnd the Governor 's
Highway Safety Council, the school giv<'s
twenty hours of cla ss roorn in s truction in traffic
problem s a nd drivin g tC'clinique and at least
twPnt_y hours of pra c tic e clri,-in g in cars equip1wcl
with dua l co ntrol s. S11cli car,: are furnished hy
rnrious automotive d<'nlc •r;;: in or nC'ar Erie. By
~farch 1939, 13 1 c•nroll c·c•;;; !ind bc·comc licen sc·d
01w rntors sin cr tl1c· scl1ool 01wned the precC'ding
A11g ust.
Pnrticipants in tl1 <· \YP:\. rc •creation activitic•s
hnve shown g-rl'nt int<'rc•s t in music. During
1larch 19~9 t h<'l'l' Wl' r<' (;,i orchestra and choral
groups C'omp risin g nion, tlia11 700 persons, most
of whom had had no previous experiC'nC'e in
orchC'strnl or choral work. Other recreational
activities under the lendership of WPA workers- dranrntic groups, handicraft work, and
various sports, such as softball, squash, swimming, and volleyball- also have been of vnlue
in d eveloping the capacities of the participants
in creating new leisure-time interests.
Clerical and Service Projects
Projects opC'rated primarily to provide employment for clerical and other nonprofessiona.l
white collar workers have covered a wide
variety of work. Housekeeping aides have
given temporary help to low-income families in
times of emergency. Young women have been
trained for housework positions in private
homes through the household service demonstration project. As many as 421 volumes
have been transcrib<xl into Braille for blind
read ers. WPA nurses bavC' assisted regular
school nurses in examining school children , in
administering immunization treatments, and in
notifying parents of remediable physical defects
discovered in their children.
Clrrica.l workers on bookmending projC'cts
have renovated more than 30,000 books and
cataloged 6,700 volumes in city and county
school libraries, in the courthouse, and in the
library of the state soldiers' and sailors' home.
Various kinds of city and county records and
docum ents have been sorted and cataloged, and
surveys- both enginC'ering and archeological
- have bC'en unclrrtaken. Somr of the more
CONTHAS T JJET\\°E 81' PlJ fl LI C HlcCO RD S BE FO HE .-\ N IJ
AFTER ltENOVATION
2111 :-177 °--I IJ--7
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
important of these projects are described in
the following paragraphs.
Women serving as housekeeping aides are
instructed at training centers in methods of
doing household work under the conditions they
encounter in the homes to which they are
assigned. The usual situation in the homes
they enter is a sick mother or a maternity case in
a family that is not financially able to hire the
help needed for ordinary work of cleaning, cooking, and getting the children ready for school.
Occasionally, however, the families to which the
aides are assigned upon recommendation of
approved social agencies face special problems
of longer standing. Illustrative of the less frequently encountered situations is the home of
two schoolboys who, although obtaining high
grades in their studies, came to school unlrnmpt
and undernourished. Investigation disclosed
that the boys were motherless, that their diet
consisted almost entirc-ly of uncooked food , that
they bathed infrequently, and that the home
was seldom, if ever, clean ed. The housekeeping
aide assigned to this home not only cleaned the
house but also taught the boys to cook tl1cir
food, nttcnd to their persona.I cleanliness, and
keep the house in order.
WPA UV U:c'EKEEP JN<; ..IIIJE~ HECEJ\"JJ,<: JN ,:,' J' lt UC 'l"lO N,:,
AT 'J'HAlNING C ENTER
Household sen·ice demonstrntion work was
conducted in 1938 011 n rPlnted type of project.
Through this kind of actiYity 30 girls from Eri(''s
relief rolls werP trninNI for positions in private
homes. Eighteen in th(' group grnduated and
12 were placed in private employment. The
training of unot,her group of 16 was begun in
June 1939. Trainees receive approximately a
half of the security wage paid to unskilled
workers.
A Braille project on which some 40 workers
have been employed is of particular interest.
The nearest source of books for blind people in
Erie was the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh.
Even there, the choice of material was limited.
The 421 volumes that WPA employees had
transcribed into Braille by April 1939 and bound
for free distribution to the blind of Erie County
were selected for transcription on the ha.sis of
requests made by the blind at local libruries.
The total comprised 334 volumes of fiction, 55
volumes of nonfiction (including several textbooks and a cookbook), 6 volumes of poems,
and 26 volumes of short stories and articles.
Thousands of valuable documents and photographs belonging to the Erie County Historical
Society that were sta,cked in open boxes
throughout the Old Customs House were
cleaned, sorted, ca.taloged, and filed by WPA
workers in 1936. A consolidated loose-leaf
ledger index of the 36,000 naturalization
records in the county wa.s prepared and a new
file of petitions transcribed. Over 380,000
records in the county courthouse were indexed
nncl refiled and are being efficiently maintained
through a system, established by court order,
for their withdrawal and replacement. Since
most of the large record books filed in the
recorder's office were badly worn and could
not be replaced , project employees mended
and rebotmd them. The codification of the
cit~r building reguln.tions, made by WPA
workers, is being used constantly in the consideration of a.pplications for construction permits , and an index file of all e;-..--isting building
permits in the city is in preparation.
A county-sponsored project for the establishment of a ca.rd system for tax records hns
res ulted in a great saving of time in the county
treasurer's office. Prior to 1936, records of
delinqt1ent taxes were copied in la.rge tax docket
hooks and transmitted to the county trea.surer
for collection. With legislation passed during
the depression to postpone tax-sales and permit
payment of delinquent taxes in annual installments over a period of years, the number of
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87
WPA PROJECT OPERATIO NS I N SELECTED AREAS
docket necessary to contn in these reco rds
increased from one in 1929 to eight in 1936 .
Each October , Kb en p,1.nn('nts became du e,
taxpayers tood in line fo r hours whil e each of
the eight record books ,,·ns sParched to ascertain
all back taxes before a ren' ipt for payment
cou ld be issued .
\\TPA project workers inst.tiled a card system
containing a cnrd for enc h property own er on
which is n record of his tn,x paym ents over a
period of ten years. Cnder this system the
average time requ ired to comp ute the am ount of
taxes paynble was reducrd fro m over half an
hour to less thnn fi,-e minut('s and th e possibility of onrlook ing itrrns was eliminated.
The county ha s permanent!~· retained one of
the project employees as supervisor of the
clerks who post these rec ord s.
Under anot her tax projrct property id ('n tifi ca tion maps and an index showing the location
and area of enr:v parcel or property in th e
county are be ing prep a r('d fo r th e use of th e
county engineer and assesso r. vVPA workers
also have installed systrrns for taking and
maintaining inventorirs of the eq uipmen t,
proper ty, and su pplies O\rn('d by public institutions. They have pr0p:1 red a card index
of all births, deat hs, and marriages taking pl ace
between 1820 and 1906; t his ind ex is based on
back files of local ne ,,·s pn p<• ,-,;, t he only so urce
of such information becn,u sP the Pennsy h·a.nia
Yitai ... tatistics Act wa s not passed un til 1906
and all cou rthou se rrcord s ha d been destroyed
by fire near the end of tlw nine trrnth cen t ury .
Among the other proje<"t :l<" tivi ties were se veral engineerin~ s urn'~·s st l('li as th e tract lin e
study of thr metropolitan an' :t of t he eity which
identified t he a lmost comple tely obli terated
tract lines and eo rn ers estab lished at t he time
of the origin al purchn.sc or t he land. The
findings of t he t ru rt s111·\·ry fn<:ili ta.te t he determinntion of t he ,·alidi ty of tit les, t he making of
subdivi ions, n.nd ot her sun·0y i.n g and mapping
work. A topogra.phi e sun·ry of Prcsqu (' Isl e
Prninsu la and Ba_v a ids in tl1<' planning of mo re
adequate fir<:' proteetion. rdores tation , rrco rding of riparian growth . and stu dy of erosion of
shore line.
Of pa.rtirulur interest to historians and
archeologists a re a. grou p of projeets sponsored
by t h e county and the state historical commis-
siou for the collection of information concerning th e early history of Erie and its environs.
The work has in clud ed engineering and archeologieal surveys, excavation of sites of Indian
relies, and exte11sive research in early French
and English doc uments .
Severn) uni ts of Nation-wide projec ts have
opern ted in Erie. Employees on t he Federal
writ ers' proj ect com piled a city and co unty
guid e, assembl ed local m aterial for the state
guid e, a nd assisted in preparing maps, pamphl ets, and repor ts . Eighteen musicians, employed on the Federnl music proj ect, have
given approxinrntely 600 free concert s in th e
schools, parks, public institutions, and on the
rndio. Clerical workers engaged on the survey
of his torical record s prepared an in ventory of
th e co un ty archives and cataloged newspaper
holdings, manusc ript collections , and maps
located in t he public librnry . M easm em ents of
34 historicnl buildings were obtain ed by workers
on a n histo ric America n building survey undertak en to mak e sta ndnrd architectural drawings
for trnnsmission , to~ether with photographs,
to t he Fin e Arts Division of t he Library of
Congress.
Th e projrct work ini tiated in Erie by the
WPA has refl ected the particul a.r needs of t he
communit.y durin g t he period from 1935 to
Empha sis given t he construction of
1939.
storm nnd sanitary sewers res ultrd from the
potentinl danger t ha t flooding of t he ex isting
sewers of the city would ca use, from th e need
for segregating the s torm nnd snnitnry sewage,
and from th e henltl1 m ena ce originating in
n.ren s not sr r ved by the snnitnry system.
Th e r xtc-n sive s treet improv em en t work that
has ber n done, particularly t he resurfa cing in
t he busin ess sec tion , ha s con tribu ted both to
t he com for t of motorists and to t he sightlin ess
of the s treets.
Th e airport developm ent work represents
anoth er kind of deman d for projec t prosec uti on,
in this case t he res11I t of increasing reliance
upon nir trnn sportntion.
These and other kind s of constru ction work
and th e white coll ar nnd sewing room activities
that ha ve been cn rried on in Erie have their
cou n terparts in the WPA progrnms of most
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REPOHT ON PIWGHESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
cities. The relntin importnnce of each type of
project in Erie, however, hns depended 011 the
specific needs of t,lw city and the occupational
skills of mwmployed Eric workers assigned to
the program. ThP entu•p \'VPA program of
project work for the unemployed hns been
supplemented in I1:rie b_v a limited amount of
work performed on projects operated by other
FPderal agencies (mainly, the Coast Guard
and the Bureaus of Labor Statistics and of
Internal Revenue) for the employment of relief
workers, and by the programs of the National
Youth Administration and the Civilian Conservntion Corps conduC'ted for young people.
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EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEES
UNDER THE WPA
to th(' \YPA for tlw fis<·nl
TyearAPPROl'RIAT~o:r-;s
ending in .June rn;-rn determi,wd tlw
HE
pattern of \YPA employment during tll(' y<'ar.
Cnder the Emergency Relief ,\ppropriation .\rt
of 1938, an employment average of a.bout
2,800,000 persons was contemplated for th<' first
eight months of the year. The act JffovidPcl,
however, that if some extraordinary <1111PrgPn<·y
or unusual circumstance arose which lmd not
been anticipated at the beginning of the fisral
year, the President might waiYe the n•qt1irPd
distribution of funds over the eight months and
shorten the period by us mucl1 as one mo11 th.
Such shortening of the period became rw<·<>ssary
largely as a result of four dw,elopment.H: t.lH' increase, prior to the passage of the act, in th<'
number of unemployed persons awaiting assignment to \YPA project. work; the s11hs<'<pw11t.
growth in the number of unemployed who wern
in need after they had exhat1sted their privat<,
resources and unemployment comJ><'nsation
payments; the ht1rricane in Ne\\· England; and
the adverse effect of the foreign situat.ion on
prices of cotton and certain other co1nm<Hliti<'s
entering into the world market. With t lw
eight-month period cut to seven months an
avera.ge employment of about :1,200,000 wns
possible. Appropriations for the rcmaindPr of
the :vear (Public Resolution No. 1, 7fi1.h Congress, approved Fehrt1ary 4, rn:-rn, n.nd Pt1blic
Resolution No. 10, 76th CongresR, a.pproYed
April 13, 1939) provided for the employ111mit of
a little less than 3,000,000 ·wPA worknrs lint.ii
April 1 and for a succesHively reduced 1111mlwr
i11 carh month tlwreaftPr llntil n. total smnller hy
400,000 was rcarhcd in ,I line. Tito V\'PA cmplo.vnwnt for whi<'h prnYision wn.s ma.de in the
approprin t,ions indt1ded an a.Ycrage of rot1ghly
100,000 workerR on Fednral ag<~ll('~T projects to
he financed with transferrnd "'P,\ funds.
Trends in WPA Employment
1
Following closp]y 1-h<' g<'ll<'l'II I pa t.tcm pro\'idPd for b~r tl1P appropriations, <>mplo,vnwnt or1
projPct.s firn!Tl<'<'d with "'PA f1rnds !'OS<' in
tlw firRt four months of tlw fiscal y<1n.r from
n<•nrly 3,000,000 workPrs to a 1><•11k of nbout.
3,:);i(),000. By tlw c11d of DPc<'llllwr tlw
tot a I m1mlH'I' <>mploycd had fu 11<•11 to 3, I 00,000.
This was 11ot far from the :),000,000 IPYPI thnt
wns s11hstn11tially maintnim•d lllttil t>arly April
I \l:1\l. By the <'nd of tl1P fis<'nl y<'nr, howPv<W,
Sll<'<'Pssin• r<>d11rtio11s <'nch month had hrnt1ght
to 2,;i:i 1,000 (as of ,T1111<' 28, I\)3!)) the r111mbn
of pNsm1s at work 011 "'PA-fi11a11ePd projPcts.
ThP totnl at thP clos<' of tlw _vpnr repreRP-nted
a d<•elir1c of about 800,000 from the y<'ar's
Jwak all<l of ovN 400,000 from tlw 11areh
figtll'<'.
l'rnj<•<·ts op<'rnt!'d by tlH• \YPA st1ppliPd by
for lh<' l:irµ:est slrnn' of !ht' Pmployment tot11l
tliro11gho11t 1-11<' y<•ar. ,Jobs 1n·o,·idcd by ot.l1<>r
F<>dPrnl agPncit>s on projpcts similar in type to
thosp of t-lw \YPA and fi11:111<·<>d by the WPA
ft1nds !Tansf<>rred t1ndcr SPction :3 of t,he ERA
1 J)t,tail{'d data on p111plo)'ll\Pllf an.1 shown i11 'l'ubl(•s 1-lV of lhC'
appendix.
8fl
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90
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF 'l'HE WPA PROGRAM
TAnr,E 25.- Nu~rn,rn OF PP.RSONs EM PLOYED ON WPAOPERATED PRO.JE CTf\ AND \YPA-FJN .\ NC E D PROJEC'f$
OF OTHER F1mERAL AGENClli:S
MONTlll.¥- ·Jt"t.Y lll38 TO J UNE 1939
WPA-
!)ate
Opcmte,l
Projects
1'otnl
------ - ·- - · ·-
-
Projects
ol Other
Federal
Agen cies
- - -
/9,18
July 27
All!! USt :H
Septembe r :Ill
Octohcr 211
November :iO
December 28
: :::::::1
2,900,832
3,0&1, 762
3, 136. 505
3. 253. 623
3, 19:1, 6.>S
3, 002, 241
86, 495
85, 422
3, 228, 082
3, 3-16. 107
3, 2811 . .,92
3. 093. 855
·- ----1
2,985, f,20
3. 043. 3!\i
2, \180. 4i2
2. i,>O, C.39
2, ,599, 673
2, 5.11. 41 8
2. 895. 125
2. 955. 022
2, 882. 722
2,629,314
2,457, 901
2. 420. 741
90. 495
88. 345
97, i50
121, 32.1
141, 772
130. fi77
3. 0,>3. 327
3. 171. IS<I
---- - ----- -
•---- ----- --------- ---- -·· ··
9 1. 577
92,484
92. 934
9 1,6 14
/939
J uu uary 2!i
February 12
March 29
April 2fi
May 31
June 28 --
Act of 1938 represented, roughly, from 3 to 5
percent of the totu.l. The number of Federal
agency workers fluctuated around 90,000 during
the first nine months of the year . Increases in
April and 1In.y brought their number ton rnnxi-
mum of approx-imately 140,000 during the final
quarter.
More than 3,270,000 persons were working
on projects operated by the WPA at the peak of
the year's activities. This number included
emergency workers engaged in the rehabilitation work necessitated by the New England
h11rricnne and floods of September 1938, as well
n.s many tenant farmers and farm laborers in
the South whose small incomes in a poor year
were being supplemented by a limited amount
of WPA employment. After November, employment on WPA-operuted projects declined
to t,he winter's average of nbout 2,900,000 workers that was substantially maintained until the
en<l of March. Reductions during the remainder of the year brought the total number employed on projects operated by the WPA down
to 2,421 ,000 at the end of June. At this stage
in the decline the number of WPA workers
was smaller than at any time during the preceding 15 months. (See Chart 4.)
CHART 4
EMPLOYMENT ON WPA PROJECTS
Through June 1939
MILLIONS
OF PERSONS
4
-r+--+-+ - 1-+- - - -
1
MILLIONS
OF PERSONS
4
•
- . - -· - i-c-r- --r--c-;-t-t-t-+-1r-t---1
)
!//
I
I
1l~l~i~ _.__,___._.._._~._.._.__.___....._._._...,__,
i .....__ _........
11......,_~i......,__._.......,......,_
. .....,_'~_:......,__._~'-'--'--'--L-L-'-~'- ..........
0
0 ...._.......,__._-"--"......,_~l
JASOND
J A S O N DJ FM AM J J A S O N D J , MAM J J A s p ND J F II A • J J A 8 0 ND
J FM
1935
A
Ill
J
1936
1937
1938
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91
EMPLOYMEXT AXD EMPLOYEES l'XDEH THE WP A
The expansion in WPA employment which
began in October 1937 and culminated a year
later is attributable primarily to the lmomployment situation which dewloped after the
reversal in business conditions that occurred
in the latter half of 1937. ~fany of the workers
who had lost their jobs when conditions grew
worse during the 9 or 10 months ending with
June 1938 were able to support themselves for
a time on their private resources and their
unemployment compensation paynwnts in <'Hses
where these were due; but the exhaustion of
such resources later forced the workers t.o
apply for aid and ultimately noccssitated a
large expansion of the "\YP..\ program. This
influence was of primary importance in th<>
upward trend of the WPA employment tot.al
until late in the calendar year rn:38. Part of
the upswing, however, and particularly that
taking place during ,July and August refl<'<'LPd
the provision of jobs for needy workers who
had previously been engaged in other Fcd<>ml
work and construction activities. Such persons
probably accounted for roughly 100,000 of tlw
rise during the late summer months of l!l:)8.
The hurricane in New England and the condition of southern tenant farmers and farm
laborers also contributed to thc rise in ,YP..\
employment at that time. In the mouths of
August, September, and Octohm· 1r,n,ooo of
the country's increase of 278,000 "'P.\ work<•rs
took place in the South, where thc relatin1
gain was about five timcs as larg<> us in the
rest of the country. The rise in WP1\ employment in New England over the same threomonth period amounted to nearly :30,000
persons, largely emergency workers who wnn'
employed as a result of the Septernlwr hlll'ri<"a.n<1
and floods in the New England area.
Among the persons working on projPds operated by the WPA at the end of .Jun<' I n:rn
were about 353,000 women. This numb<'r H<'counted for nlmost 15 percent of the W PA <'Illployment at the time, a larger proportion thnn
women had represented nt any other JWl'iod
during the year, as may be seen in Tahk 2(\.
The ,June figure for women, however, was uhout
75,000 below the peak reached in the nutllmn
of 1938. Although an increasingly larger Illllllber of jobs had been provided for needy un<>mployed women in th<> period of rnpid expansion
L
TABLE
21\.-
:--t·:1rn1rn OF Wo~rnN E:11PLOYED ON
\\TPA-
0Pt:H.\Tgn Pno.JECTS
Date
//136
December 24
330. 7:l2
:\[arch 2S
June 24
September 30 ... . .
December 30 ..•.....
/9,J6
Percent
or nll
Workers
Numher
···-...·.........i
I
12.1
440, JU:l
387 841 :
39:J: 82.1 I
352, 91\:l
15. a
17. 2
15. 7
16. 4
3-14,639
16. 8
323, 27S
2.IG, 3fi0
284, (Ml,I
18. 2
li. 7
17.0
335, 612
:J72, 058
13. 7
409, 9M
13. 1
J:l. 5
J9.i7
:\[arch :JI ..
June :m ...
.
Reptemher 2<J _____ .
DeC'emher 29 _____ _
Murch :m ........ .
June 29 ... _
~eptemher 28 _____ _
/9.'iX
l)ppemhrr 28 ______ _
1:1.:1
40,1, f,fi5
I
I
llJ.·UI
:\larch 29 ...... .
June 28 .....•.. __ _
..
..
:::.:::::::::::[
:l91,H2
3.12, 784
l'
13. 6
14. 5
in "\YPA emplo:nnPnt aft<>r Octoh<>r 1937, the
proportion of worn<'It workers on "\YPA projPcts
deelined from npproximntely 18 J)('reent in
October 1!)37 to uho11t, 13 percent u. year lat<>r.
The decr<>nsP was du<> <'hiefly to the relntivel:v
gr<>nter i1widPtH·e of tlw growing unemployment
011 men.
FedPrnl ng<>ncy proj<'Ct work fimmc<>.d with
trnnsfrrr<'d \Y PA funds providPd PmploynH'nt
at the end of ,lllne l!J::rn for ubout 131,000 1wrsons. The lurgPst number of thPse workers,
39,000, wPre working on projects of the Qunrt<>rrnnstcr Corps of the' "'nr Department.. Tlw
Soil ConsP1Tntio11 SPnie<> of the D<>pnrtnwnt of
.\gricllltun' PmployPd about 18,000 work<>rs,
and two otlwr ngc•1icies the National Park
Servic<> of Lh<' DPpartmP11t of the Int<>rior nnd
tlw NaYy's Bureau of Yards and Doeks-·ench
<'mployed about Hi,000 pt>rsons. The only
oth<>r F<>d<>rnl ng-Pnci<'s lun·ing more than 10,000
p<'rsons n t work on "'PA-financed proj<>cts
W<'l'l! th<> B11n'n11 of Entomology and Pinnt
Qllnrnntin<> nnd the Forpst Sc>rYic<' of the D<>pnrtnwnt of ,\g-riclllturP with 14,000 nnd 1:~.000
J><'rsons, r<'SPP<'(.in,ly. (t:\ee Ta bl<' l V of the
appendix.)
Almost, all th<' workPrs on proje<"ts fiiin1wPd
with vVPA funds HI"(' j)('l'SOllS I'l'fPITPd to t,he
WPA by local public n-li<•f ngPnci<>s nnd ecrtifi<•d ns i11 nc<>d of n•li<•f. At the end of the
yenr certified work<•rs r<'JH'PSPnt<>d HG.5 JWr<'Pllt
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92
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 27.-N UM BER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED O N WPAFIN.,NCED PROJECTS OF ◊'l' HER FEDERAL AGE.'\'"ClES,
BY AGENCIES
(~eARTERL Y-
SEPTEMBER
1938 TO JUNE 1939
I
h · J
i i'ep- ' Decem- 1 M
· tembf'r
her j 'lrC
une
28. 1938 ' 28. 1938 29, 1939 28. 1939
Agency
'
- - - -- - - - - - - - - - -- .- -- 1-- ---.
•rotnl. __
.
---- --- - --- --- I 9 1.577 , 01.614 •. 97, 71,0 130.11-;-;
.=
.= 1= =
=
Depart ment of Agriculture ____ ____ __ · as. 143
33. 75 1
49. Ofifi
a4, 268
1- - - --- - ·- -- - --
Agriculturol Adjuslmcnt Adnm. :
IW
13!)
Agricultural Engineering
'
._ I
Ji
Biological Survey .
1. 9.53
I, 72fl
1
Entomology and Plant Quarantine __
10 744 - 7,817
Forc•st Sc-rvicc _. __
Horne Economics .___
-- --· ·i
s: 551
822
i
I
121
181
I, 51R
2,485
J:l, 728
8,019
8,374
9,049
439
,J,'i,1
13. 303
361
920
13,833
902
18,100
1,000
576
National Agricultural Research
1.068
Center____ __________
-- --[
151
Soil Conservation Service ______ __ IS. 7% 1, 14, 52G
Department of Commerce:
BurcauofFishcrles _____ ______ ___
1= 1= = =
1.053 , 2.089
Departmentoflhclntcrior _______ ___ ~2.933 l~
.'\Sl
Department of Justice:
'lurenu of Prisons ______ __________
Departmen t of Labor:
Rureau of Labor St.ntistics ________
1n7
Library of Congress . . ___ . . _.
117
National Resources C'ommittec -- - -- ·-- ----Department of the Navy:
Bureau of Yards and Docks __ __ _. 14, 2f.O
Rural Electrification Admn .. _
17:1
~
Coast Guard___ __ __ __ __ ____ ______
Internal Revenue __ ______ ________
ns~
18. 7_'.:
,568 °
10,539
i07
16,078
304
246
395
238
1. 29S
2
OfilceofEducation ____ ____
412 :
528
National Park Service .. _____ __ __ 11,000111,609
Territories and Island Possessions:
Alaska Railroad . . . __
306 I
Alaskn-miscellnrn'ous
____
60
Govt. of the Virgin Islands___ 1, 125
I. 294
Department. of the Treasury _______
73
107
179
720
121
004
121
I
1,779
111
50
lo, 975
14,991
213
217
15,MO
243
1_2.312
272 ·
600
Ril
87,,
~
4.~7
854
.~70
WarDcpnrtment_
i
TABLF. 28.-N°UMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON "''PA◊PERATED PROJECTS, BY TYPEf\ OF PROJECTS A
31lR
8.16
Tota!__ ___________________________________
2,435,930
Bi~hways, roads, and streets ___ _________ __ _____ _
I, 039, 603
Farm-to-market and other secondary roads __
Streets and alleys .. __ . ___________ . _________ _
Other ___________ · ··-· ------------ - ----------
336. 391
193, 193
510, 019
i
100.0
I
42. 7
I
22:1. 758 1
Parks and other recreational facilities ___ ______ __
112. s,o
30,918
40,r,r.9
Par•s. _________ . __ _.. _________ _____________ _
Other _________ . ____ _- · ______ __ _____________ _
95,150
77,600
30,433
128
103, 3i9
I
Floo,l controL ______________________ _______ _
Other _________ ______ ._ . . ___________________ _
..... ,.... m,
13. 8
7. 9
21. 0
9. 2
67,831~
155, 927 1
- ~~
of the total employ<'d on WPA-operatNI project.s and 95.0 percent of the 1rnmber employed
on Federal agency projects financed wi1,h
WP A funds. N onrelief employees typically
comprise supervisory personnel and skilled
workers essential to project oprratio11 who r.rmnot be secured from the relief rolls. The n'lief
percentages displayed only small variation
during the year ending in June 1939. Comparison with the earlier years reveals n slight
increase in the proport-ion of certified workers
on WPA-operat,ed project.s hut at. no time
since the program's initiation have certified
personnel constitut0d less Own 04 percent of
the total employment on projects prosecuted
by the WPA.
Ii orPercent
Total
Puhlic buildings __ __._. - - ------------·---------Eclucat.ionaL ___ _. __ ______________ __ . ______ _
Other . ____________ . .. __ ________ ___________ _
-mj--m~1-:19.,~
'
Number
Type of Project
- - -- - ---------!-----
897
iGR _
-- - ··--- ----- -- : 2'2.m9 1 22.011
Corps nf F,n~inem _____ _____ ___
Quartermast.er Corps . .. ---- - - - --· 1 22 ..,07 21. 298
A widely varied project program is operated
by the \YPA because of the diverse requirements for public improvements in the different
communities and because of the many kinds of
occupational skills possessed hy the unemployed persons for whom the V\TPA provides
jobs. The construction work that the WPA
has conducted in various fields, however, has
always supplied the prepondera.nt share of employment, usually accounting for approxin1ately
four out of every five project employees. .As
of June 21, 1939, nhnost- 1,941,000 persons
were at work on construction projects; these
persons represented about 80 percent of the
2.0fiO
I
~~.;N:H~~1:h~J;~!l~.
~========
33~
:?g! 1,298
·-- -- -------Officcofthe Seerctnry __ _______ __ ____
· I 452
1.7fifi
Vele-rans' Administration __ __ _______ _
Employment on Different Types
of WPA Projects
s:,
I
;.1
I
3. 9
3. 2
4.. 2
1
29,013 i---1.-2
74,366
3. 0
=' "'"• ""'"•---------- - ,,,_ ..
t~11-:.:_~~~te~~--=:::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::: ~:~I
1
I •-•
U
AirporlS an,I other transport.at.ion fadlltie,s_ ___ __
47, 163
2. O
Airports nnd airways .. ... ___ ____ __ __ ________
Other_----------·--.-·------------- - --------
40,579
I. 7
o. 3
6,584
/= = = =;= = =
\\'hile collar_-----------------------------------
315,327
Education ______ . ____ _. _______ ------·------Hct'rent.ion ______ . ___ . ___ _______ ___ __ _______ _
Profo~:,::.innal, clericnl, nnrl ~ervice ____________ _
37,676
41,780
235,871
Inslnll:1tion, exteusion. or revision of .====I'
42,300
public records . . ---- - - - --· -- -J<~xtension of g:ov1.1n1111ent ~en·icos.
__ _
55,905
Studies and stirYcys ____________ ___ _____ _
52,380
Archeologicnl project.s __________________ _
2. 010
Home eco1101n1C's. ____ ____________ • _____ _
Federal Project No.!_ __________________ _
Other ____ ___ · ·· - · __ _____ __ _________ ____ _
Scwin~. _. ___ ________ __ ____ __ __________ . ________ _
Oood~, other 1:hnn sewing _______ ___ __ _________ _
Sanil.at.ion nncl health . ______ -·-·--·-- --· ------Miscollnneous_______ __ __ _
____. ____ _. ____ _
A
Dnt.n npply to continental United St.ates only.
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GoogIe
46,495
32,428
4,257
179,830
31,447
47,355
47,260
1_2._g
1_ _ _
1.5
I. 7
9. 7
1. 7
2. 3
2. 2
0. I
1. 9
1.3
o. 2
7. 4
1.3
1. g
1. g
93
EMPLOYMENT .-\ND EMPLOYEES UKDER THE WPA
CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS PUTT ING IN THE
FOUND.\TION FOR
A NEW PUBLIC
BUILDING
total employment--a pere,mtage slightly lower
than that obtaining during most of the year.
The remainder of the WP A workers were employed on white collar and sewing projects.
The highway, road, and street projects of the
WPA, as a group, have consistently provided
jobs for more workers than any other type of
project. On this kind of work, which supplements an important sphere of regular public
activity in both urban and rural areas and has
come to be recognized as particularly wellsuited in many cases to a work project program,
almost 1,040,000 WPA workers, or about 427
out of every 1,000, were employed at the end
of June 1939. (See Table 28.)
Three other types of projects aC"counted for
a large share of the remaining employment on
construction jobs-projects for the constru('tion
or improvement of sewer and water systems,
school and other public buildings projects, and
projects for the development of parks and other
recreational facilities. These kinds of projects
provided jobs at the end of June for 94, 92,
and 71 workers, respectively, out of every 1,000.
Over 100,000 workers, or 42 from each 1,000,
were employed on flood control and other conservation projects; almost 50,000 were engaged
in the construction of airports and related
work, and approximately th e same number
were employed on sanitation and health
projects.
About 495,000 WPA workers, representing
320 out of every 1,000 employed on June 21,
1939, were working on projects that did not
involve construction work. These workers held
jobs on white collar and smving projects whieh
accounted for 129 and 74 persons, respectively,
out of each 1,000 workers. It is these projects
which have provided most of the employment
available to women workers under the WPA
program. Women accounted for almost half
the number employed on white collar projects,
which include educational and recreational work
as well as the various kinds of professional and
service activities. Women were also employed
in large numbers on sewing projects where they
represented 96 percent of the 180,000 persons
engaged in making clothing nnd household articles for distribution to needy families and public
ins ti tu tions.
Compnrisons with enrlier periods show that
there has been important shifting in the clist-ribution of project workers among the several
types of projects. Highway and street work,
for example, which accounted for 427 out of
each 1,000 employees in June 1939 and 473 in
September 1938, had provided only 357 out of
each 1,000 jobs in }Jareb and September of
1937. On the other hnnd, the proportions of
total workers who were employed on recreational
facility and sewing projects, and to a more
limited extent on public buildings projects,
cleclinecl in relative importance during most
of the fisC'al year and were lower during the )7 ear
than in most of the preC"eding periods. The
various changes in the distribution of vVPA
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94
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE 29.-DISTRIBUTION OF EACH
1,000
PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WP A-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY MAJOR TYPES
OF PROJECTS A
SELECTED PERIODS, MARCH 1936 TO JUNE 1939 B
1
March
Type of Project
1936
----------------1-----
Total ------------------------------------------
1,~
3~~
~~1i~;ai;i{i~7~~•-and streets _-:----::::::::::::::::
Parksandothcrrecrcationalfacilities__ ____________
Conservation________________ _
Sewer systems and other ut iii ties
______
Airports and other transportation facilities
White eollar _______________________________________
Education________
________
Recreation___ _ __
_
Professional, clerical, and service
Sewing- _______ __________ _
Goods, other than sewing
San ital ion and health
MiscrlJaneous __
-::-:-:-- - ·
_
September 1937
l~i_.ooo _
3~~
3i1
100
86
1.000
I
19
4,,
80
24
c 85
110
j
8
{;frt~r
193g ·
I
_1,_000 ~1,000
I
March
30, 1938
1,000 _
4~g
~~~
56
103
18
87
39
93
18
124
141
106
20
14
~=~:1938 '
March
22. 1939
1,000
1,000
427
16
442
81
70
49
101
16
104
ll5
ll9
129
12
11
15
17
97
~1
74
13
19
19
79
39
81
1
II
20 I
17 I
20
53 '
76 1
83
10~
79
1051
16
102
15
31
11
131
31
9
12
17
21
I
18
1
13
1,000_
14
14
78
87
14
14
91
10
12
24
13
10
12
26
20
24
18
~==~===~~
I
--- ------ --- ----· · - -1
. . ____ . , .... . _ _ _
. __ _. ____
..
_
100
21'
36 I
C 23
104
15
28
l7
I
29
21
76
I
I June 21,
I 1939
455
85
72
42
88
15
-173
89
86
48
108
17
I
==----~~1=~~==
,
------------- ·-1
_
_____________ __
.
105
67
90
Septem-1 March
ber 193f. I 1937
1
92
ii
43
94
19
-' Data apply to continental United States o,,Iy.
n Dahl fer March and September 193f> and March 19~7 app!r to the Inst half of the month; for September 1937, the entire month.
c Not comparable with later periods since miscellaneous group for March 1031, includes cert~in types of work which ba,e subsequently been included
under white collar projects.
employment for the Nation as a whole, shown
in Table 29, are brought about by diverse
influences. Seasonal factors affect the employment on the different types of projects; in some
instances, these result from changes in private
employment opportunities in a.griculture and
other fields of activity and in others they are
necessitated by adjustments to weather conditions that are required in a program of project
work. Other important factors, some of them
closely interrelated, are the facility with which
large numbers of unskilled workers can be
assigned to certain types of projects-such as
highway, road, and street work-when employment must be expanded rapidly, the
diversity in the trends of private employment
in different sections of the country, the changes
in the occupational distribution of persons
assigned to WPA work, and the variations in the
local needs for project work in different communities and at different times.
The extent of the wide variation in the composition of individual state WPA programs in
response to the many influences that bear upon
project operations may be seen in Tables VI
and VII of the appendi.x. As agninst 43 percent
of all workers having employment on highway,
road, and street projects on a Nat.ion-wide
basis in June 1939, more than 60 percent of
the workers were so employed in four states---Arkansas, ·west Virginia, Kentucky, and Ten-
1wssee. In nine other states this kind of work
engaged between 50 and 60 percent of the total
number. On the other hand, highway work
was comparatively unimportant in six areasNew York City, the District of Columbia,
California, Delaware, New Hampshire, and
Rhode Island-where less than 20 percent of
the WPA jobs were provided on projects of
this type. Where the emphasis given highway,
road, and street projects was relatively limited,
other types of construction work, of course,
assumed greater importance.
White collar jobs constituted from about 6
to 30 percent of the various state totals but
only in New York City, the District of Columbia, and California. did they rise to more than
20 percent of the total. In Texas, Delaware,
N evnda, Florida, Wyoming, and New Hampshire sewing projects were compara.tively important, with at. leust 15 percent of all WPA
workers in the state engaged in this type of
activity.
Workers in Different Wage Classes
The distribution of persons employed on
WPA projects according to the degrees of skill
of tlwir work is of importance partly because
of its influence upon the types of projects that
en 11 lw opcrn ted and partly because it const.it.11 t.Ps n mujor basis for differentiation in the
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95
EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEES UNDER THE WPA
TABLE 30.-DISTRIBUTION OF EAC'H 1,000 PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA-OPERAn;n PHOJECTS, BY
W Am;
CLASSES A
SELECTED PERIOOS, :\1 ARCH 193fi TO J l·SE 19:mn
Wa~,, C'Juss
--- I
Total__ ___ ____ ----·-- --- -- ----- ---- -- ·
__
Security wage workers ___ __ _________ ___ _______ ___ ___ ___1
Cnskilled ___ __ ____ __ __________ __ ____ ______ _____ __ _
1·
Intermediate___ __ ___ _____ ______ ______________ _____
Skilled___________________ ____ ___________ ________ __
Professional and technical__ . ___ _____ ____ ______ __.
Murch
1936
I Xo,·cm- I
her 1936
I
1,000
!_
1,000_1_
.~pril
19:17
I
;\fay 25,
19:!8
her 1937
1.000 , __ I.~=
92fJ
u:u
!ff~l
97-1
747
8,1 1
\II !
:12 :
r.,6
671
HI.I
114 .
r,l4
132
11s
.o2
;:12
105
110
35
:;7
1
i
I: S'J°(~t~71- I Decemher 2~. ,
i '\ 938 ·
1.!XJO :
Y5.1
107
103
32
1
I
1.000 ,
l9:J8
1~000
March
22 ,
1039
June 21,
1939
1,000_ _
~
97:1
9G7
9f>8
964
718
117
10,
30
69!1
701
124
112
:ll
6.18
142
12\1
35
27
:i:1
121
11.1
32
l= ~ ~ ~ -,= =~-- =------ ~ = ~ i = - = ~ ~~=
1
Xonsecurity wage workers____ __________ __________ __
-
~,•ptem-
I
lo
- -- - - - A Data apply to continental Cnitrd ~taH•:-: only .
B Data through Septemher 1937 are for the first half of th<• month.
monthly earnings of vYPA workc,rs. Prnctirall:r
all (about 960 per 1,000) of tlw proj<·ct workPrs
were paid during the year arconling to th<'
established schedule of month}~- st'curity Parnings which provided for difkn,nt monthly payments to workers according to wlwtlH'I' th<•y
were assigned to unskilkd , in t!'rm<'din t<' (s<>miskilled), skilled, or profrssional and kellllical
jobs. Persons ussig1wd ut tlw unskillc·d rn t<•s
at the end of the fiscal year (us of ,Jun<' 21,
1939) constituted 658 out of (•ncl1 1,000 proj(•<'t
employees. Skilled and in trrnwdia tc· workc·rs
accounted for 129 and 142 persons, l'l'SJWC'tively, and professional and t<>rhnirnl work<•rs
for 35, on the per thousand hnsis. TJw n•rrn1ining 36 out of each 1,000 t•mploy<'<'S WPJ'C' nssig11c•d
as nons0curity wagt' workers; tht·~- incl11drd thP
technical and supen·isory p<•rsomwl <•ssc·n tia I
to project oprration that r01dd not fw obtni11Pd
at the monthly security rat<•s of the ""P,\.
;1 ;
09
-
-
;37
1
I
2fi
--
36
32
--
--
-
Tlw rdative nmnbPrs of WPA workers
assigned at unskilled rates declined somewhat
during the year ending in June 1939 and a
compp11sn.t.ing rise orrurred in the skilled and
semiskillNl groups. These changes reflect the
int<'rplay of thr mnn~- factors intluenr.ing the
composition of the \VPA employment totn.l.
TJ1e dowmva.rcl trrnd of totn.l emplo~·ment was
of parti<"ulnr importnn<·P in the ln.tter months
of thf' ,V<'HI'. Eflic-ient operation of a curta.ilrd
progrnm does not prrmit. tl1e proportionn te
n'd urtion of workf'rs among tlw various gradl'S
of skill. ThP intNmediate, skillc,d, teelmit·n.l,
nll<I prof<'ssional persons cannot hP r<>lrnsrd in
thP ,mme rrlatiYP numbers as the unskill<•tl.
llow(•ver, when PmployrnPnt ran be expanded
nga.in, the unskilled workers usually comprise
n. proportionn tel~- large gronp of thr n.rrcssions.
Diff Prern·es among the various typ<'s of
pro.i<'ds ill th<' distribution of work!'rs n,<•c·ording
L •.\.Y!NO
A
TILE ROOF
0 :S
A
W PACON'STRL'CTED
BUILDING
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96
REPORT ON PRO GRESS OF THE WPA PRO GRAM
'f .,B LE
3 1. -
DI STRIB U TI ON OF EACH
1,000
PERSONS EM PLOYE D ON WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY MAJOR TYPES
O F PROJ ECT S AND D Y V.7 AG E C L ASS E S A
J UNE 21, 1939
Security \\·age W orkers
Grand
Total
Type of P roject
'
- - - ·- -- - - -- -- -- --
-
-
---- - -
--·-·- - -
T otal. . .... . --• · ············· · ··· · ············ ·······
Ilighways, r oads, a nd stre.ots -- -- -- ··-- - ----- - - - --- - - --- - -P u blic build ings.··-- . . . . ··· · ·········· · -·· ·······-· ·· ·· · ·-.
P a r ks nod ot her recreationa l facilities . . . . .... . .... ...... . .
Conser vation _________ ___ ______ ___ ____ ._. ______ ____ ______ _
Sewer systems a nd other u t ili ties . . ... _ . ___ __ _______ ____ __ _
Airports a nd other t r anspor tation fac ili ties .. . .. . .. . -··· · ···
-
1,000 i
--- -
964
= ==
!)69
UfJ
I
1. 000
9ss
--
- -
143 ,
128
35
36
I
790
483
692
10 1
16 1 i
Ill I
108
154 I
130 !
67
298
146
83
10 4
273
11
16
14
10
12
13
31
42
37
29
32
45
292
254
~~i I
.'i.39
Lggg
>..
gii
- - --
j
1~6 !
106
354
31 1
I
I
111
I
ReC'rcation. ______ _____ _ . ________. __ ___ ______ __ __________ _
I
Professional, clerical, and ser \'ice . __ . ___ _______ __________ _
1. 000 '
279
= ====
Sewing . .... . . . . ---·- ·- .. . . . . ... . . . .. .. . . . . . ... · · - · · ···---so2
Goods. other than sewing . ____ ____ ___ __ ____. __ ___ ___ ______ _
i
696
Sanita tion and health .. ......... . . ..... . ... ....... ..... . ... _
679
063 I
1. 000 I
M iscellaneous . . __ _.. .......... . . · - .. . .. .. ......... ..... . _. _.
872
435
1.000
]:ggg
· · - · - - - - -- -- -·-1-
658
====
228_
\V h ite collar ....... -•-· ········ · ·· · · ···· ·· · · · · ··· · · - • -- ·- ·· · - ~ .1 _ _ _ 9~4 . i _ _ _
E d uCRt ion ________ __ . _____ ______ _________ ________ ___ ____ __
Skilled
Non•
security
·wage
,vorkers
I
963
97 1
968 1
9a5
1. 000
1.000 .
1. 000 .
I
Intenne•
din te
I Unskilled
Tota l
Profes•
sional and
technical
i
180
46
343
338
225 I
451
157
141
53
51
04
46 1
119
196
12
16
18
42
23
31
37
128
I
163
147 1
199
H
D a ta a ppl y to continenta l Un ited State:- only.
t o wage classes are show11 in T a ble 31. Unskilled workers were rela tively most nunwrous
on road and street , conservn.tion, and sewing
projects on each of which th ey made up more
thnn three-quarters of the total. A mn.jority
of the WP A workers in the professional 11.nd
t echnical group were employ ed on white collar
projec ts. These projects, as well as the projec ts for the construction or improvements of
public buildings 11.nd of airports, provided work
for rela tively large numbers of th e skilled and
semiskilled employees.
rem a mmg 197 of each 1,000 were at work in
r11rnl rounties which includ ed no municipality
wi th as many as 5,000 inha bitants in 1930.
·
T.~a u ; 32.-- DrsTRIBUTIO N OF EAC H 1,000 PERSONS
E MP LOYED 0"( WPA-OPERATF.D PROJECTS, BY liRBANIZ AT ION GROUPS A
SE [ Ef'TED PERIOD S, N OV E M B E R 1937 TO JTTNE 1939
W PA Wo rkers
Ur hanizat ion
Orou p 8 (Po pu•
la tion )
NoV(' lll·
her
193,C
Ju ne
29,
1938
Sep•
De•
rch June
terncem · Ma
22,
21,
he r 21, her 28, 1939
1931)
1938
-- - - Total. . . ·-- 1,000
Workers in Different Urbanization Groups
Another distribution of WPA workers that is
significant becau s0 of its reln.tion to monthly
earn ings is that which t ak es into nccmmt the
size of the communi ty in which project work is
prosecuted . At the end of June 1939 , 423 out
of every 1,000 ·wp A workers were employed in
the most populous aren.s of the count.ry- counti es containing cit ies th at in 1930 had a population of 100,000 or more persons (Table 32). In
counties whose largest cities had between
25,000 and 50,000 and between 50,000 and
100,000 inhabitants employment was provid0d
fo r 82 and 74, respectively, out of each 1,000
W P A workers. Less populous coun ties- thos<'
wit h towns of from 5, 000 to 2/'i, 000 populationh a d 224 out of each 1,000 WPA workers. The
Over 100,000 . . _. _
.,0,0110-1 00.000 . ..
2.,.000- .,0,000 -- -·
,5,0110- 2,\000 . ____ .
U ndc r 5,000 . . .. ..
J. 000
J.000
456
73
81
215
175
444
-----474
74
it>
201
176
74
83
217
182
1938
- -
=
1.000
- - ---
-
1,000
1,000
1,.mi
424
423
74
82
224
197
206
=-
-131
72
79
221
107
Gainful
Workcrs
1930 D
71
79
225
201
,~.611
78
217
A Data ap ply to continent.al U ni ted States onli-.
n Urhnn izntion grou pings nrc hnsl'<I u pon n rlass iftcation of counties
4ccord iog to t.iw 19~0 popu latio n of tllc largest m unicipality in each
cou nty.
c Dntn appl y t.o Uw r•-nt.irc mon th.
D
Soun·c: F ifteent h Census of t he Un ited States, 1930, Population.
M inor changes have occurred in the general
pa ttern of the urbaniza tion dis tribution of WPA
0mployees. During the past year the proportion of workers located in the counties conta.ll!ing- cities of 100,000 or more inhabitants
decrC'ased from 456 to 423 out of every 1,000
\YPA workers. In fact , over m ost of the period
sin ce N ovember 1937 employment in the populous arens hnd sh own n. grn.dun.l relative decline.
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EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEES UNDER THE WP A
Most of the offsetting increases have ocrurred
in counties whose largest municipalities were
towns with 25,000 or fewer inhabitants.
Changes over the course of the past year have
in general tended to bring the distribution of
WPA workers more nearly into line with the
distribution of all gainful workers in 1930, as
may be seen in Table 32. The proportion of
WPA workers in the most populous areas, for
example, decreased from 456 per 1,000 in June
1938 to 423 in June 1939; gainful workers in
these areas accounted for 430 out of every 1,000
in the Nation in 1930. During the same period,
on the other hand, the proportion of WP A
workers in rural counties increased from 17 5 to
197 out of each 1,000, as compared with 206
gainful workers out of each 1,000 in rural counties in 1930. The Farm Security Administration, through which funds are supplied to farm
families, also operates in rural counties.
Labor Turn over
WPA project employees are a constr.i1tly
changing group, with thousands of workers
leaving the program in the comse of each
month and thousands of eligible unemployed
persons being added. Dming the year ending
in June 1939 the number of workers rertiti0d
as in need of relief who wen• s0parated 0ncl1
month from \YPA-finanred projects ranged
from 163,000 to over 340,000 persons, or from
6 to 12 percent of the total number employed
at the beginmng of the month. Monthly
accessions, on the other hand, varied between
97,000 and 327,000 persons and represented
from 3 to over 11 percent of total employment.
The rapid advances that took place in the
WPA employment total during the period
from July through Ortober l\J38 have their
counterparts in the turnover rates that apply
to the period. More than 300,000 persons
were added to the program per month during
this period. Well over half of the newly
assigned persons had never before worked on
WP A proj ccts; the remainder represented
workers who were reassigned to WP A work
after absences of varying lengths. The number
of workers leaving the WPA program each
month during the four-month period of expansion ranged from 163,000 to 228,000 persons,
of whom more than 70 percent left of their
own volition. The excess of accessions over
separations was neressary in the months of
rising employment in order to effect not only
the replacement of persons leaving \VPA jobs
but also the addition of other workers to the
expanding program.
The rclntionship between acc-rssions ,rnd
s('pnrntions tl111t obtnined in tlH' Ju]y~October
ON ITS THOUSANDS OF PHOJECTS, Tl!E \\'P,\ l'.TJLIZES THE \".\IUEI> ><KILi,,-; OF TIii•: l':\"E:'\IPLOYEI>
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
TABLE 33.- AccESSIONS AND SEPARATIONS OF PERSONS
EMPl,OYED Ol'J WPA-FINANCED PROJECTS, BY TYPES
OF ACCESSIONS AND 8EPARATIONS A
period was reversed during the eight months
immediately following, a period characterized
by severe reductions in the number of workers
added to the program and large increases in
the number leaving. Monthly accessions were
cut to a half and even a third of their previous
levels, except only in February when the
downward trend of WP A employment was
temporarily interrupted. Most of the accessions during these months represented reassignments of workers who had previously been
employed by the WP A whereas in the preceding
period new assignments had predominated.
Separations reached a peak of over 340,000
persons in April. Larger numbers of discharges and layoffs of workers (necessary in
order to reduce WP A employment) were
chiefly responsible for the increase in separations; such separations assumed predominant
importance in each of the months when the
largest reductions in employment were made.
This was true even though the number of
voluntary separations continued to exceed
100,000 during each month except February
and to represent at least 3 percent of employment.
The relative stability of monthly reassignments in comparison with initial assignments
and of monthly voluntary separations in comparison with discharges and lay-offs directs
attention to certain persisting cha.racteristics in
the turnover taking place on WPA-financed
projects. During the year reassignments of
workers to project payrolls were made at the
monthly rate of about 3.5 percent of total employment. The rate was comparatively constant in the different months of the year
although it exceeded the year's average in the
July-through-October period, when employment was ex-paneling, and was somewhat below
the average in the winter months. The presence of a degree of stability in the reassignment
rates may be attributed to the fact that a considerable proportion of the persons reassigned
TABLE 34 .-ACCESSIONS AND REPARATIONS OF
EMPLOYED
MONTIILY-
JULY 1938 TO JUNE 1939
Scpnrntiuns
Accessions
Month
Total
Lnitial I Rea.<;~ignI as..::.i~mt'nts
m<'nt.s
Voluntary
separations
Total
I
- ---- - - - - - - -- - - - -
Discharges
and
layoffs
- - - -- - - -
/9S8
311,568
308,952
276,846
327,085
Noveruher ____ _ 164,774
Deccmher _____ 97,056
July . · ··__· ______
··- -- August
September __ ___
October __ ___ __
1-17, 170
162,915
149. 430
179,673
f,4, 871
29,703
164,398
146,037
127, 41f,
147,412
99. 903
67; 353
163,062
191,195
227, 822
212,827
237,812
294, 146
117, 799
13;, 276
172, ,581
157,986
146, 192
115, 478
45, 263
53,919
55, 241
54,841
91,620
178,668
36,664
119,066
70,531
29, 489
31,630
31 , 775
73, 637
120, 68R
106. 946
85. 449
98. 962
107, 799
215, 876 103, 322
180, 183
94, 707
246. 314 133, 527
340, 427 123, 582
2i5, 424 1 115, 74F
22S, 904 103, 1~9
112. 554
85. 476
112. 787
216. 845
l!i9. fiifi
122. 735
19$9
January . .. . . ..
Fchmary __ ___ _
March __ ______ _
April_ _______ __
May ___ ________
June •••. . •• ...
110,301
239, 754
177,477
114,938
130,592
139, 5i4
·' Data apply to conl.inr.ntal United States, includin~ only persons
certifi(.)d a.~ in need
or relief.
PERf'ONS
MONTHI. Y-JUL\" l!l!IS T O JUNE
ON
WPA-FINANCED
I
1' otnl
-- Nu111hcr
Hat e
SEX.&.
Separations
I
l\•l en
Number
BY
1939
A cce!i-sions
---- - - .
Month
PROJECTS,
__nnte
I_
W omen
Numher
Total
Number
Rate
Men
Rate
Number
Women
Rate
Number
Rate
1958
July . . .. ·· ···-· ·--···August . .. · ·····-·--· Septemher .. · ··- --- ···
Octoher ...... . . . . ····November . . __________
December ._ .... _···-··
311, ,508
308,052
276, 840
327, 085
104, 774
07, or>O
I I.
10.
9.
10.
5.
3.
4
7
0
5
I
1
285,815
280, 3U5
250,854
296,009
150, 03[,
90,203
3. 7
8. 4
6. I
4. 0
5.0
6. 6
IOI, 007
211,632
1.15,869
105, 047
110.9'14
128. 347
9. 3
25. 75a
28, .~97
25,092
7. I
7. 6
G. i
10. tl
5. •I
3. 3
30. 086
13. 830
703
i. 5
:i. 3
I. 6
:i. 9
8. 5
~. liU4
28.122
21,608
9,891
10, &18
11,227
5. 7
2. 6 i
3. 0 .
3. 3
12.0
10. s
n.
Jfi:J, 062
JOI, 195
227,822
212. 827
23i, 812
294, 140
5. 9
6, 6
7..,
6. 8
7. 4
9. 3
150,977
177,106
213,660
200, 189
221, 199
266, 112
6.8
12,085
14,089
7.9
7. 4
7. 9
9. 7
14. 156
12,638
16,613
28,034
7. 0
6. 7
9. 0
12. 6
11.0
9. 9
13,217
18,451
27,473
26,628
13,744
6.3
3.3
3. 7
3. 6
3. 2
4. 0
6. 7
1939
January ...... . . _......
Fehruory . . . . . . . . .....
March . . . . ·····- ·- ·· -April.. .. . ....• . •. . __ __
May_··· · · · ····-·--·-Jun•-·· · · ······-------
-
110,301
239, 754
177,477
114,938
130, 502
139,574
6. I
4. 2
5. 3
6. 0
-
-
2. 2
,.,
I
-
-
215,870
180, 183
246, 314
:110, 427
275. 424
225. 004
7. 3
179,509
166, 966
: 11
2'¥1 , 863
II. 9
10. 5
9. 1
312. 954
248. 790
212. lflO
36,367
9. 2
3.t
4.9
7.2
7. 4
4.0
-
• Dnta apply to continental United States, including only JW.rsons ccrtltlcd as in need or relier. The rote represents percentage of employment at
f.he be~inning or the month.
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EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEES UNDER THE WPA
were former WPA employees entitled to more or
less automatic return to project work nfter
termination of their temporary jobs in priYate
industry. Such reassignments occur in considerable volume regardless of the trends in
private employment.
The rate of voluntary separations was generally high throughout the year; it avernged in
excess of 4 percent of the employment at the
beginning of the month, fluctuating with
sewnal conditions and changes in the business
situa.tion. The rate was lowest during the
winter months and reached its high point of .5.5
percent in September 1938. The majority of
the persons voluntarily separated left to tnkc
private jobs.
Greater stability has been eYident in the
employment of women working on "\YPAfina.nced projects than in the employment of
men. Without except.ion <luring the year
ending in June 1939 the monthly accession
ra.tes were lower for the women than for thP
men; women were added to the program u.t.
ra.tes varying between 1.6 and 7.7 percent of
total employment whereas for men the monthly
accession rates ranged from ;3.3 to 12.0 percent.
In the case of separations the relationship wus
similar. Women left their project jobs nt thP
rate of from 3.3 to 9.2 percent p<'r month as
compared with rates of from 6.3 to 12.6 pPrrPnt
for male workers. Apart from differc,w.es in
degree, however, turnover rntes in the <'mplo.vment of women and of men in the different
months were similar.
Hours Worked
WPA employees had workrd 11,.'il:~.000,000
hours from the beginning of WPA opcirutions
in the summer of 1935 to the end of ,June rn:rn.
During the last year of the four, projrct work
totaled 3,748,000,000 man-hours-a figmC' .50
percent larger than the man-hour a.gg-rC'gate of
the year immediately precccli11g (2,424,000,000).
The man-hour data, like practicn.lly ev<'ry othPr
measure of WPA activi tics, reveal the predominance of work on highways, roads, and
streets; two-fifths of the four-yPar total, or
4,621,000,000 hours, were worked on proj<'cts
of this type. More than a billion homs wcre
spent on each of four other kinds of under-
T.\BLE 3.'i. · · Ho11ns AND EAttxtxGs OF PERSO NS EMI'LOYFD ox \\.PA-O J>ERAn;v PRo.JE CTS, BY M.uoR
TYPE:, OF PttOJECT;;
<'t ' MTLATlVE THROl'GII .lrNE
:m,
1939
1-----· -,--,
Total Hours Worked
Type of Project
· ··· Toi al
I
Ip
-
Tot~! Ram•
mgs
i er• 1
\ cent __ __
Number
- · - --
_
1
. . . . ... . . .... . . . . . . 11, .512, 975. 4Ri 100. 0 $.5. 11.10. 1128, 994
; 4,020: .102, 4.52
Highways, ronds, nn<I streets
. .. , 921, 8-1,, :i21
. ..
l'uhlie huil,tings
Park:-- 11nd other recreational faciliJ, 008, 191. 263
ties
. .. ; 520, 6rn. 7.12
...
Conserval ion
().l:J, 5.16. OlJ8
Hower systems and other ut.ilities . .
Airports 11nd other transporlation
facilities .···-··· ··· ······ .... , H~J.174,4i6
40.
i- ,
8. O
1
9.1
. ... .. !
~;dumtion . .
.
Recreation . .
Professional , clerical. and serv·
ice
1
i9.~~~;;;.058
113, :l<J4,291
I
1. r.
189. 158. 18i
. I. 6 ·
189. 618, ;or, 1
I
131. 594,811
113,801 Oi5
·
81J:l .. 86i,418 ~I~~
I, IOfi, 8,17. 463 ' 9. 6
tsewin~
I
1.7
White collar·············· · ··-····! 1,2i2,644.:lll 111.0
:!86. SO'J
5i0, 807, 272
,567, 316. 096
243. O.~i. 205
535, .IOI, 347
8. 8 ·
4. 5
11,
2, 021!,
430. !KIO, 357
Goods, other than ~ewing
17H. 8:i2, fii'i ,
l. 0
69, ~lafl. 138
8anilalion and heallh
:v!iscelhtnoo11s . . . . ..
:H2,026, 150
2!14, 156. ,12•1
3.0
2. 6
136,f>f>2.647
139, 2o2, 874
I
Source: \\'PA state ofliC'e reports.
takings -white collnr, sewmg, sewer system
a.nd other utility, and park n.nd other recrC'ational fncilit:v projrcts- and only a little IC'ss
than n billion hours of ln.hor were used in the
constrnction itncl r0novn.t.ion of public buildings.
The hours worked n.nd the total rnrnings of
persons employed on nnch of the mu.jor t:vpes
of projects arr shown in Tahir 3.'5: stn tr distributions of totnl hours and e11.rni11gs appear in
Table X of the apprndix .
Safety and Compensation
ComprehrnsiYe snfety regulations applying
to th<' opC'l'ation of "\YP A projC"cts and JH' riodic
Hn.fcty inspe<'tions ensuring the effective n.pplica.tion of th<' regulations lrnn protected the
health 1111d su.fety of projprt, workC'l's nnd the
gc>nern.l pu hlic. ThPse mrnsurrs hn.vc hern instrunwntal in kPeping the nC'cidrntal injuri<•s of
workers on V\TJ> A projects n.t. u minimum. In
the course of 11 % billion mun-hours of work
since the beginning- of the \Y PA progrnm in
1935, disnhling injurips hn,·e occurred at the
rate of less thn.n 1!l J)(>l' million mnn-houn, of
work. On construction work. ns might he expected, the rate was somewhat hig}wr-a.hout
23 injuries per million hours. It should be
noted , howPv0.r, thnt surh disn hling inj uri<•s include nil injuries (whet.her compensable or not)
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REPORT 01' PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
which incapnritnted the worker in the performance of his regular]~, assigned tasks on the next
calendar day, even though he was able to do
othe,- jobs and was not absent from work.
Tl1e majority of the injurie,: that occurred in
connection witl1 vYPA opemtions were caused
by various hand tools or by the materials, such
as lumber and brick , which workers handle on
the job; these two groups of objects were responsible for over 55 percent of all disabling
injmies reported during the year ending June
30, 1939. Falls from scn ffolcls or into pits and
other harmful contacts with working surfaces
were relatively frequent causes of injury.
Among the remaining injmies vehicles and
machines were most often the source. Explosives and inflanrnrnbl<' material s were very seldom the cause of disabling injuries.
(See
Table 36.)
Fatalities l1aYe been relatively rare in t.he
operation of WPA projects, amounting to only
one for each 7,200,000 man-hours of work.
Tl1is rate applies to the en tire period of WP A
operations and does not reflect the improvements that have been realized during the later
years. During the first two years of operation,
the fatality rate was one for eac h G,200.000
SBOIUNG PfiOTF. C' T, \\'P..\ \\'Ol!f;EltS i i\
EXCA\'c\ ' l' IO N~
!JEEP
TABLE
3fl. -
:\t JMDER or, DrsAnLING lNJORIES ON
0PERATED PRO.IE CTS, BY CAUSES
'\VPA-
YEAR END ING J UNE 30, 1939
_ _ __l'_o_t,
__ _ 0__•__
,1e_c_t c__-~~--s_'-n_-~ -1n__i__
ur_;:__-__- _-__-__
- _-__-__-I-N-·: -~-~-e
:I- P
- e_rce
_ _at_
11
1
Hand tools .... _ __ -- - ------ -- -- - -- --- ---- --- -Materials(handlin~ of) __ ___.. ___ ___ .. _. .. _____ ___
\\·orking surfaces .\ _ ___ . _____ ____ ____________ ___
Vehicles .
1\ifachines . _
Poisonous ,·egctntion _____ ______ __ ___ _________ ___
Corrosive su bstnnces ____ ____ __ ____ _______ ________
Hot s ubstances ___ -- ---- ---- --- - - - - -- -- -- -----Explosh·es
Inflammables __
. __ ___ _____ ______ __ _____ ____ ___ _
Other
21. 583
18, 940
12, 480
6,533
2,569
2, 100
514
440
147
73
8,031
100 0
29, 4
25. 8
17. 0
8. 9
3. 5
2. 9
0. 7
0. 6
0. 2
0. 1
10. 9
A lncludes trenches, quarries, pits and other exes vations, scaffolds.
and platforms.
homs worked; even this rate was only about
half the original mortality estimate, based on
former work project experience.
For workers injured or killed in the course of
employment on WPA projects compensation is
provided through the United States Employees'
Compensation Commission to which funds have
been made available under each of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Acts. Provisions
for payment of compensation in the ERA Act
of 19:38 placed the maximum monthly payment
at $50 and set at $4,000 the maximum aggregate payment in case of permanent disability or
death. These limitations, which are exclusive
of the cost of medicn.l care , represent increases
over the amounts specified under prior ERA
Acts. Under the earlier acts monthly payments
had been limited first to $25 and subsequently
to $30 and the maximum amount, set at $3,500.
Pnl\·isions under which the Compensation
Commission operates require that monthly
payments may not exceed two-thirds of the
,nirker's monthly wage rate.
Tl1e United States Employees' Compensation
Commission. itself is chn.rged with administering
the compensation sections of the ERA Acts.
Howe,·er, in view of the very limited resources
of proj ect work ers and the consequent need for
spN•d i.n nweting the problems that arise from
accidental injuries on n. program of the size
cond 11cted b~- the WPA, the Commission aut.J1orizcd the WPA to pay instnJlments of compensntion locally for periods up to 30 clays of
di s11hilit)·. B011efits nre pu.id for traumatic inj11rip,-; which res11lt in more than three days of
disability . The compensation becomes payable
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EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEES UNDER THE WPA
after the waiting period of three days following
an accidental injury. After 30 davs the case is
taken over by the Compensation ·commission.
Provision is made by the WPA for the recovery of wages lost during the period of disability. An injured worker is not separated
from the project on which he is employed until
30 days after the injury and he is permitted
to make up time, subsequent to his recovery,
to a maximum of half his monthly assigned
hours. If the worker's disahilitv exreeds 30
days another qualified member of his familv is
given preference in assignment to project ,;ork
until the injured worker himself is able to
return to his job.
From the beginning of the WP A program in
1935 through June 30, 1939, \YPA compensation officers to whom authority had been delegated by the Commission received reports of
173,826 cases of injury on which time had been
lost and which might involve payments of compensation for one day or more. Some G85,000
additional cases not involving compensation
but likely to require medical or hospital care
were reported during the same period. Compensation was allowed in connection with 1 630
cases of fatal injuries including those ~hat
occurred while the worker was going to or from
the WPA project; 181 additional fatalities were
under consideration by the Commission at the
end of the fiscal year.
The sum of $3,.500,000 was appropriated
directly for the United States Employees'
Compensation Commission by the Emergency
Relief Appropriation Act of 1938 and an additional $2,000,000 provided in Public Resolution No. 7, 76th Congress, approved April 1,
1939. These amounts together with $33,925,000
allocated from earlier ERA Acts, made a total
of $39,425,000 available for the Commission to
meet obligations arising from accidental injuries to project workers. From the funds
appropriated, payments amounting to approximately $19,786,000 had been made as of June
30, 1939. The total includes comp@sation for
all workers injured or killed on projects financed
under the ERA Acts of 1935 through 1938, the
largest share of whom were WP A workers.
A major proportion of the total payments
(60 percent) covered medical, hospital, and
incidental costs. Thirty percent of the com-
pensa.t.ion was paid because of disability lasting
mon• than 30 days, permanent disability, or
death from injmies. Thfl remaining 10 percent represents r.ompensntion paid loeallv
by WP A rompPnsation officers for 30 days ~r
less of disability.
Characteristics of WP A Workers
The men and women employed on WPA
projects include single persons and heads of
families, individuals of all ages from 18 vears
upwnrcls, members of different races,· and
workers with practically every kind of occupat!onal and edurationa.l haclq?;round. The pnrt1eular elrnmrteristics of the unemployed persons who work on '\\~PA projects have definite
hearing upon their employment opportunities
in private industry. They also are an important element in determining the nature of the
work project program conducted hy the WPA.
The following paragraphs desrrihe hrieflv some
of the outstanding characteristics of tho persons
employed on vYPA projects. 2
The typical WPA worker in Fehruar:v 1939
was a little more than 39 years of age; ~vomen
workers were about a year and a half older
than men. Thirty-nine percent of the workers
were under 35 years of age, 4.5 percent wore at
least 3,5 hut under .55, and the remaining 16
percent were 55 years of ago or older. There
were larger proportions of men than of women
in each of the five-year age groups of younger
and older persons, i. e., persons who were under
35 or at least 60 years of age; women were
relatively more numerous in the age range from
3,5 to .59 years.
Considerahlo change had occurred between
November 1937 and February 1939 in the age
2 'The clatn in I he sec·tions ronccrning age, fnmily composition, <lurntion
of \\'PA employment, and otlwr chnnw1eris1ic~ of "\\'PA workers relate.
t.o ~VPA employe(•s in the ront inental United Rtates who were certified
a:" 1_n need of relief. 'T'his information was secured throul!h the J,!eneral
reVIew _o.r the ncec~ status of certifle<l rc>lief work£1rs whirh wu:,:; required
hy Pnl,hc Resolul10n No. 1 of the 71\lh Congress. approved Fehnrnry 4
rn:m. 'T'hn data c-over the 2,732,2,11 persons whose names npprared 0 ~
Fehruary payrolls and who werC' c-crtiflerl in the review for continue<i
C'mplo)-:mcnt. \VorkC'rs whose certifl('ntions were <"ancelerl ns a result of
the review, workers a.._,;,;;si~med too lnt(_I in themont h to he included on Fehruary riayrolls, and nonrelicf personnel are excluded. rnless otherwise
sta.t~cl. this review is the source of the information prcsenterl in tht•
scet1011s summarizinJ.,:" the charnC'teristics of WP A workers and the duration or tl'.eir employment. State <listrihut.ions or WP A workers by age
groups, 1-,11,e or ramily, and duration of employment are shown in Table y
or the appendix.
201577°-40--8
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102
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE
37.- PERC'ENTAGE DISTRIRVTION OF WPA
\VoRKERs, BY A,rn GROUPS AND BY SEx
NOVEMBlrn
rn:r,
AND FERRl"AHY 1939
-----------,
-
I
Age Group (Years)
No,·rmher J93i"
I
February 1939 n
,
,-----------,--i Total I Men Women1 Total ' Men lwomcn
_ _ _ _ _ _ I_ _ _ _ _ ' _ _ _ _
Tot.al_ ___ . . _.I
18-10_ -·
20-24. -----•
2.S-29
_· · - · ------30-:H -·-----------3.5-30
4.S-49 __ ------ __ ---50-M
5.S-.59 --------------
60-64
___ _
65 and over_ _______ _
Mrdian age ________ _
100. O
100. o
100. o
JOO. 0
I. 3
7. 8
JO. 8
I.I
7. 2
10. 9
IL 5
11. 5
12. l
12. S
12. 6
12. 0
9. 9
2. 3
IO. 5
10. 5
11. 7
14. 7
13. 9
12. 5
JO. I
7. 8
4. 7
1.3
l. 6
11.0
13. 8
12. 8
12. 2
11. 7
JO. 8
JO. 3
8. 4
5. 8
1.6
1.5
11.1
14. 3
13. 0
12,0
11. 4
10. 6
10. 2
8. 3
5. 0
1. 7
12. 6
12. 7
12. 6
11. 7
9. 5
6.6
2. 9
40-44 __ . ----------
----
100. O
---
7. 0
3. 2
------
42. 4
42. 9
40. I
100.0
2. 2
10. 4
10. 5
11. 4
13. 5
13, 4
12. 5
11. 0
8. 6
5. 3
1.2
---
---
39. 4
39. 2
--40. 7
A Data are from a special survey of the employment histories or \YP A
workers which made use of I.he special chrck cards fill<'d out for each
WPA worker at the timr• of the Census of Partial Employment, Unemployment, and Occupations.
B For workers included. set' footnote 2 on page IOI.
distribution of project workers, a result in part
of the much larger WPA employment total that
applied to the later period and reflected the increased unemployment of the time. Relatively
more workers in February 1939 than in N ovemher 1937 were in each of the age groups under
35 years, and the median age of all workers was
lower by about three years. This indicates that
many of the workers who were added to the
WP A program during the period of expansion
were appreciably younger than the typical
worker in November 1937. The decline in
average age, however, was true only of the men.
Women workers averaged a half year older in
February 1939 than at the earlier date. It
should be noted in connection with the changes
in median ages that the number of men emTABLE 38.- -PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF GAINFUL
\VonKEHs IN APRIL 1930 AND OF WPA \YoHKER;-; IN
FEBRUARY 1939, BY Aca; GRo\;ps A
AJ:!l' Oroup n~('lUS)
Gainful
\\TA
\\'orkns
April
Frhrunry
rn:m
Total
\\'orkns
11
40-44 __
4.o;...49 __ _
fiO-M.
5,5-fiO __
fi0-04_ _
100.11 I
:~: ;) I
l.'1. 2
1:1. 2 I
11,f,
_ ____ --- _-- · . _
65 and ovPr. _________ _
0. (lJ
i.
ri.
TABLE
39.- PEUC'ENT.\GE DISTRIBUTION OF \YPA
'WORKERS, BY SIZE OF FAMILY AND BY SEX A
FERRUARY 1939
Numher of Persons in Family
'l'otaL ______________ ____________ _
Total
100. 0
Men
100.0
JO. 7
9.1
20. 7
19. 5
2_ - - - -- - ---•• - ---- • ·-----·- - -· -- --- . -21. 6
21. 7
3 - - ------------------------------Ii. I
4
17. 7
12. 3
5
11. 7
7. 4
RO
6 - - - -- - ---- - ---4. 6
5. 0
2. 8
3.1
8'
9_
1.8
I. 0
]()
0. 9
0.9
11
0. 4
0. 5
I 2 or morr _______ _
0. 3
0. 3
---- - - Avrragp numhl'r per family ___________ _
3. 76
3.88
J_
Women
100.0
21. 4
- - . - - - --- - --- - - -- - - -- ------ ------
A
28. 5
20. 7
12. 9
7. 5
4. 2
2. 3
I. 2
=
0. 7
0.3
0.2
0.1
2. 93
For workers included, see footnote 2 on page 101.
19~1H C
2.'>---29 __
30-34 ___ - ·· --·· · -··
35-39 ___ --•. _
ployed on WPA projects doubled during the
period whereas the number of women increased
only about 40 percent.
WPA project workers are only slightly older,
in general, than all gainful workers. 3 Of the
gainful workers 25 years of age or older in
1930, 4 7 percent were between 25 and 39 years
of age whereas only 44 percent of the WPA
employees as of Febniary 1939 were in this
age range; a larger proportion of the gainful
workers than of the WP A workers were in
each of the five-year age groups under 40.
In each of the age groups from 40 to 65 years,
however, WP A workers were proportionally
more numerous, as may be seen in Table 38.
In the case of workers 65 years of age or more
there were relatively fewer WPA workers-a
relationship reflecting the effect on the WPA
of the social security programs for old-age
assistance.
In the avernge WPA family in February 1939
there were nenrly four (3.76) members. Appro::'1.-i.mately 60 percent of the workers were
supporting two, three, or four persons, including
themselves, nnd 30 percent had to provide for
a
I
JOO. 0
J.5. 8
14. 6
14, 0
13, 4
12. -1
I I. 8
9. 6
0.0
--------- ---·' Includes only workers 2:J yc•nrs of ag-e and ohll'r.
8 Source: Fifteenth CP11sus of the United Stntes, rnao, Population.
c For workers includc.•d, see footnoh- 2 on puge 101.
n. u
l. 8
five or more persons. (See Tnble 39.) Single
persons employed by the WP A, numbering
292,000, accounted for nenrly 11 percent of all
, nnsed on a comparison with all gainrul workers 25 years or age or older
:cs shown in the 11130 Census of Population. There is reason to believe
that changes in the age distribution of all workers have not been sufflcicni,ly ,'Tent to preeludc the general validity of the comparison; the compo.rison is lin1it.ed to workers 2S years of age or older because of the fact
that "'PA employment is provided only t.o the principal worker in each
family. Younger persons are typically aided through the CCC and
NY A programs.
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EMPLOYMENT Al'\D EMPLOYEES CNDEH THE WPA
WPA workers. Families of the women on
WPA pay rolls were smaller hy one, on thP n Yerage, that those of the men , and single-pPrson
families were relatively about twice as numerous among the women as among th e men. ~frn
with families of five or more members were proportionately t,vice as numerous ns women with
such families.
Families of WPA workers wPre slightly
larger than families in the gen<'rnl population
of the country as indicated by th<' 1930 ('p11s11s.
Two-person families constitutPd 2.5 p<•rc Pnt. of
all families with two or morP p<•rsons in 1n::w
as compared with 23 percrnt of thl' familiPs of
WPA workers.t (See Tabh· 40.) ~1on· tl11111
TABLE 40.- PF.HCENTAGF. DI STRIIH. TlOX OF :\u, F .u11LIES IN 19a0 A:,;D FAlllLIES OF \\"PA \YoHK~; I{,; I:\
FEBRUARY
1939,
DY
S1zE
o~·
CHART 5
DISTRIBUTION OF WPA WORKERS
BY SIZE OF FAMILY•
February 1939
THOUSANDS
OF WORKERS
700
THOUSANDS
01' WORKERS
700
600
600
500
500
400
400
300 ~
-
_
300
200
200
100
100
FAMILY A
= = = == = = = == ~ ·- - - Total
Population
.-\pril
Xumher of Persons in Family
IU30 H
Total. ... .... .... .. .... .. .• .. .•.. .. . . .. . .
2. - · · ·-·· ·-. -•·•••···· · . .. ... ... .. ...... ... ... .
3 ...... ....... ..... ... ....... ...... . ....... .... :
L .. .. · -····-·· ..... ..... .. ... .. . ...... . . .. .
5 .•• ••• •• • • _ •. - ••• . . • .• • . .•. • . . ·· · ···•· ·· •••• ·•
6 ••••• · -·· · · ··· .. • ••• ••••• •·· ·· · · ·· - ....... .
Familit•:,;
of\\" I' .-\
\\·orkn~
J-' t•hru ary
IH:m r
s ~ ~s~ ~ -1~ - ~e- .-.~d~ o
: :--'~-4~ ~-=2~ ~3
o ~---,-~~~
1m.o
ICXI. 0
2.,. :I
2:1. 2
22. fi
19. II
J:l. fl
X. 2
5. I
3. I
1-1. 2
Ill. I
1:i. 1
10 ..... . . .. .. .... · ·· · ··· · ····· ··· ·· ···· · ·····
2. 0
0.fl
11. • ..• •• • •••••••.• .• •• ••• •••••. .. ....... . . .•. .
l.8
l.0
0. 5
12 or more .. .. . ..... . ... .. . .. ... . ... ... ....... .
0. 4
0.
i __ __ _________ ____ _. - -- ---- -- - ---------- -- --- -
8 . . ......... ... .. . . . . . .. .. . . . ..... ... . ···· ···•
9 •• •· · ·· · ·· -·· · -. ••••• • ••• •••·•·····•·· • · ·• . - .
.,. 2
:i. 2
() _ .)
~
' One-person rnmilit".s omittrcl h<-mu.sr or incompnrnhilit i('~ hPt w<•t>n
Sourrr: Firtrr nth Cl•n.su.s of th r 1· nitPd Stall's, wao, l'o1111l11t.ion.
c For workers included, sec footnotr '2 on
pa~(• 101.
24 percent of the WPA workc•rs W<'r<' from
families of three p<'rsons wlwr<'as kss than 23
percent of all families in 1930 were• of this sizP.
Similarly, most family siz<' groups of more
than three persons were slightly mon• numerous, relatively, among WPA workPrs than
among all families . ExcPpt for th e smnllcr
number of two-pPrson fumili<'s , how<'v<'r, the
size of the families of WP A workt•rs follO\n•<l
the distribution of the g<'ncrul population.
About 14 percent of the workers on WPA
projects in February 1939 were N cg- roes. 'l'lw
percentage corresponded clm,ely with the r<'lative number of Negroes registering as m1<•mployed at the time of the NovPmher rn:~7
unemployment census; it was somPwhn.t larg<'r,
• The comparison excludes one-person (Bmllics hCC'3usc or im·ornpara-
hllities between dcOnltions applyin~ to the tw o sc,ts of d11t11.
• See footnote 2 In the text for coverace of data.
WPA
33el
K:!
the two sets of clat a .
8
over
NUMBER 01' PERSONS IN FAMILY INCLUDING THE WPA WORKER
howPY<'r, t.hn.n thP numl)('r of Nq.("roes n.m011g t.lw
total families (9 percent) r<'ported in the I n:rn
Census of Populn tion. This is e,·idenee of the
gren.tcr i1l('idern•p of 111wmploymcnt. on N <'g1•ops
than 011 whitP work<'rs and shows an adjustment
in the WP A progmm to tlmt fact.
The diffc•rc•nces in nwin.l composition for n.11
fnmilies ns against. unPmploycd registrnnt.s and
41.-
-!\i,rnw F .-u11Lrns, t ·N~J lll'LOYIW Ht:nrs.-1:-.-1> " "PA \\' ouKlslts .\s PEn(·t::-.T.-11:1-;,-; OF
HEs l'J•:r ·Tn·E ToT ,\LS, BY CEO<:ltAl'lllC ·\L H1s1:w;,.;~
T ,u1LE
TIL\XTs,
I
ramilit•~
( A , ii
lq·,;,)r 11
H1·J.do11 A
. Prlt'_mployt•d '
\\ orkt· rs
(Non•mhl'f
.
1
.. ··-
Jil:111) I>
JU37) C
. ·•
--
- ·--
~\· I' .\
,, orkl'rs
(Fc•hrunry
- - ·--
~ortlwo s t.1 ·r11
s. Ii
:'.\I id \\·••s tern _..
~oi1tlwrn . _ _.
\\" l'Sll•rn - - - - . - - -
Ill. ~
2i. ·I
2. ~
1·1. '1
1:i.!J
I
I
·' S t n lt•s inC'l11d1·cl i11 till' n ·1.dons an• n~ rollows: !'\orthl'ustt•rn
Nl'w
J( n!,!lnn d st.ah·s, NP\\' J1•r:--1•y. :\ 1·,v York, and I'l'nnsvlYnnia: Mid w1•st1•r11 · Illinois, l11dinnu , Io,,:n, Kansus, ~liehiJ,."nTI , l\l(nrwsota, ;\lissouri,
~(·hraskn, :'\ort.h Dnkola, Ohio , ~oulh Dnko t.n, and "'isco 11s in: ~011thi•rn Alahamn, Ark 1111sa!-=, l>l' lawnn ·, l>is1ric·t or ('olumhia , Florida,
Ol•nri!ia, Kf'nt.ueky, Louis ia11n, '.\larylnrnl, '.\liss is!- ippi, >J"or1h Cn rolinn .
Oklnhornn, South C'n rolim1. Tl'IIIH'SSl'l', 'l't•xa.-.;. Yirginin, nnd \\'i•st \"ir1.dnia: \\'t•st1• r11 ·tJw n •1rn1ini11).! stntc•s.
n So ur<·~•: ~.. ift1·1·11tll ('1 •11su s o f !ht• l "11it1·<1 :-:.tnh-s, 1!1:m, Population .
c ~0 11rrt• : C<1 ns11~ or Part iol Ernployml•nt, L~nt•rnpluymrnt. and
Occupations.
n For workers lndwl l'd,
St'l'
fo<t l 11ot1 • :!
011 pa).!l'
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104
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
WP A workers apply in general to the various
regions into which the country may be tlivicled.
N cgroes represented larger percentages of the
1937 unemployed registrants than of total families in 1930 in all sections of the cmmtry; except
for the 8011th, the proportions of Negroes were
strikingly larger among unemployed registrants
than among the genera.I population. (See Table
41.) Negro workers on the WPA were moderately more numerous than were the Negroes
registering a.s unemployed, except in the South
where a reverse relationship held.
In the course of operating the WP A program
special interest has, on occasion, been attached
to two groups of employees: persons presumably eligible for aid under social se,,urity pr0grams and veterans. Most of the WP A workers
65 years of age or older normally would be
eligible for old-age assistance; \VP A workers
of this age numbered about 44,000 in February
1939. Similarly, some 91,000 families of WPA
workers were presumably eligible, on the basis
of family composition, for aid to dependent
children. More than a third of these families,
however, were in six states in which programs
for aid to dependent children were not in operation. Veterans are a group eligible for preference in assignment to WPA jobs under the
provisions of recent ERA Acts. Among the
workers certified for continued WPA employment in February 1939 were about 247,000
persons who reported themselves as veterans.
These persons, of whom almost 14 percent were
single as compa.red with 11 percent of all WPA
workers, represented about. 9 per<'ent of the
total WPA employment at the time.
Duration of Employment of WPA Workers
The workers who in Febrnary 1939 were
continued on WPA proje!'ts nJter investigation
of need had been <"ontinuously employed at
WPA work for an n.vernge pflriod of a little
more than one year (the nrndian number of
months is 12.4). 5 Most of the workers had
been added to the program subsC(]IIPnt to the
autumn of rn:n following the n.hmpt recession
6 Duration of contin11011:-- employrnl'nt. is rnf'a.-.urecl by the number of
corrnecutive calenrlar month:-; inrl11di11g and immedintel~· prec·rtling
February 10::m that o ,,.·orkcr's 11nmt' npp(•ared on payrolls of any \\'l'AOJlernted projecf.f.; employment nn projC1cts operated hy other Federal
agencies is not inc·ludeil.
in business activity which began at that time.
Of the persons working on WPA projects in
February 1939 nearly 20 percent had had continuous WPA employment for less than si.~
months, 28 percent from six months to one year,
and 22 percent from one year to a year and a
half.
Together these groups ac:count for
70 percent of the tota.l and represent the
workers whose employment began after August
1937. The remaining 30 percent of the workers,
as of February 1939, had been continuously
employed at WPA work for longer periods- 13
percent from one and a half to three years and
17 percent for three years or more.
TABLE 42.-DISTRIBUTION OF
·wpA
WORKERS, BY
DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND BY SEX A
FERRUARY 1939
Total
Months of Continuous
Employment
Number
Percent
Men
Women
________ __________ - - ,
TotaL ____________________ n2, i32,251
100.0
100.0
100.0
1-----------
Less than 6 _____________________ _
6-11__
------------------------12-li ___ ----------- - -- ---- - ---- -18-23
--- - - -------· ------------24-29 _ ------------------------30-35_ ---------------------------
36 or more ______________ _
545. 066
iiS, 829
500,055
118,928
lM,581
86,174
4fi0. 602
Median number or months _________________ _
10. 9
28. 5
21. 6
4. 4
5. 5
3. 2
16. 9
12. 4
20. 4
29. 0
22. I
4. 1
5. 2
2. 9
16. 3
16.,
25.5
18. 3
5.9
8.0
5.0
20.6
- ---12. 21
14. 6
" For workers inclnded. see footnote 2 on page 101.
8 Includes l lfi workers for whom duration of employment was not
reported.
As shown in Table 42, the number of workers
with 18~23 mon t.hs of continuous employment
was compnratiwly srnnll (4.4 percent) and
similar small percentages apply to the 24-29
month and the :30 35 month intervals. These
intervals cover persons whose vrPA employment began between 1forch 1936 and August
19;37. Much larger proportions of WPA
workers fll'!' found in the 6-11 and 12-17 month
inte1Ynls, covering persons whose employment
began between September 1937 and August
Hl38. Workers with 6-11 months of continuous Pmployrnent, for example, accounted for
rnorP than 28 perct>nt of the February 1939
employment total; these were workers that had
been nssigned to WP A projects between March
and August 1938.
Tlw primary reason for the great variation
in the number of workers in the different dura-
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105
EMPLOYME:\"T AND EMPLOYEES l:XDER '!'HE WPA
tion intervnls is to be found i11 tlH' trends in
WPA employment since the progrum was
initiated. For example, from February 1936
until the fall of 1937 the genernl trend of
employment was downward. During this period relatiYely fewer persons were twing nddC'd
to WPA projects than in the prHious and
succeeding months when \YPA employnH•nt
.
.
was mcreasmg.
The particular distribution of t}l(' <'Ontinuously employed as of February 1939, with
respect to the length of their employment, wns
fundamentally influeneed by the ehanges that
had taken place in total \YP A employment.
The influence of other fa<'tors, such as may be
seen in groupings of the \VP A workers by sex,
age, place of work, size of family, and type of
project were subordinate to tlw C'fl'ect of th<'
employment trend.
\\· o.\!EX HEPRE,-:~;:-ST OXE Ol'T Ol_. l<:\"EHY SE\"EN
Women workers had iweraged <'onsidC'rabl)·
longer continuous employment on \i\' PA proj eds
as of February 1939 than men (14.6 ns rnmpared with 12.2 months). About 40 per<'ent
of the women and less than 30 pcr<'en t of the
men had held a WPA job for 18 months or
longer. (See Table 42.) The relatively larger
number of men in each of the duration intervals under 18 months refle<'ts the fn<'t that in
the expansion of WPA employment after 1937
the proportional increases were greater for men
than women. Actually, the net gains in vYP A
employment betw<'en NowmhN I 937 nnd
February 1939 were 94 p<'r<'C'nt in th<' <'HS<'
TABLE 43.--DrnTRIBl:TION OF
WPA "" OHKEltS,
\\"PA \\"Ol{K~:Hs
of nwn and 37 ])<'r<'<'Ilt in th<' cas<' of wonwn.
Age difforcntials were important in the c·ontinuity of employment of WPA workers. The
median lengt.h of the employment period inrrensed consistently with ench fivp.-year age
group, from less than 10 months for workers
under 2.5 yea.rs of age to at least 15 months
for workers of ,55 or more. (See Table 43.)
Barely 15 percent of the workers under 25
years of age had hnd WP A employment for 18
mont.hs or more although over 40 percent of
thf' workers in the' ag<' groups of ,'i.5 or a.hove
:\(rn <:nopp,-;
BY
.\:-l"D
BY
Dl'HA'l'IO!\" OF E\IPLOY\n;:,rr A
FRnR 1 'AHY 19::\9
Pl•r<·Pnt of \\'ork<'rs Continuousl~· EmployPd For
Ag<• Oroup (Years)
.
~umlwr of
"~ork1•rs
i
Total.
:i1'.2, .i~t,
a,n. 0:-<2
:11~. :,21
l"nd<'r 2.5 .. .
2.'1-29 . . .
30-:W . ... - . - . . .
3,;...39 _ _ · - -·
40-44 . . . .... ··-··-- . . ..
4/i-49 .. __ . · · - ---- •·
r,o-M ··-·· ··- . .
5.'l-/ill ____ ·· - -- · ···
6()-f,4_ - . -
...
65 an<'! ov,•r _____________________ _
I
1
or mon•
I
!
or mon•
lfi.\l
:.m. !
'2,'i.li
Ii, :~
X. :i
11 . fi
1:i. 2
Ii. 7
Ii. !i
22. li
2B,\ 2~1
27!), !1,1!"1
22. I
o,:i
2:!i. !"11i1'
l!"1i, ;)22
4:J , 171
20.
22.
2·1.
2.5.
,\
21\.
:i
n
27. 1
2~. 4
oil. I
:i2. :!
34 ..I
2·1. X
211.
~(i-
2H. :i
~-1. I\
2a.
:i
o
7
I)
11 12 r1•ars
or morP
I yPar
or mor1•
1
2 y,,ar
or nH>rt'
tinuous
Ernploy-
m1•nt
10. H
:!18,:l2!l
..
or mon•
I
2,12 yPars : 2 y,•ars
l•Lli
Ii. I
l!l. 2
20. I
:i:i2.
.. . .
. ....... • · .
·1
, :i yvurs
\I<•dinn
'.':umlwr
of ~lonl hs
of Con-
2
no
!'ii. I\
1-1. I
21. 3
21i. i
30. :i
:32. H
:M./
37 . .J
·10. I)
.JI. i;
49. I
~fl. I
:-u;_,i
·1,1.l
-IH. !i
:12. -I
[1-t. 2
,\,\. 2
Si. i
fill. I
fil. fl
f.7 . .J
A For workers include<l set• footnot<' 2 on pnK<' Jill.
B Includl'S 116 work,•r~ for whom duration of ('lllJllo;prn•nl wa~ no1 n porlt>d nnd 10.!l:H for whom ag1• wn, nnl n•portPd.
1
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12. 1
u. 8
II.I
11. 0
12. H
1:l. 2
13 . .5
14. 3
l!i.O
I!i. 5
17. 7
106
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF 'l'HE WPA PROGRAM
had been employed at least that long. Between these two extremes the percentages of
workers with 18 or more months of employment show consistent increases with age. This
indicates that there probably were relatively
numerous additions of younger workers to the
program in the year and a quarter between
November 1937 and February 1939. Compa.rison with information as of the earlier date
shows that the n um her of workers who were
under 40 years of age increased 121 percent
during this period wherPns the net increase in
workers 40 years of age or older amounted to
only 64 per<"ent.
The local employment situation is an important factor affecting thr continuity of ,,-PA
employment. Stranded communities nnd distressed areas present extreme examples of conditions under which workers might be expected,
because of the lack of privnte employment
opportunities, to remain on the WPA program
for long periods. In lesser degrees the snme
tendency is likely to he found in most industrial
communities where workers depend almost
exclusively on their pa.yroll mimings. The
extent, of the changes in employment opportunities in different arras should also he considered since the areas in which no marked
expansion or curtailment of private employment occm-rrd are likely to be the ones chnrncterized by longer continuity of WPA employment. In rural arens where lnrge seasonal
TABLE
44.-
D1isTRIBU'l'JON OF
\\'J>A
moYrments in employment opportunities are
charncteristic, a shorter average duration of
WPA employment is typical.
Influences of this sort are reflected in the
duration dnta for different population groupings. The shortest average period of employrnen t (11 months) was found in rural counties
having in 19:30 no municipality with as many
ns 5,000 inhnbitants. (See Table 44.) Avernge d urntion of employment incrensed somewhat with the size of municipalities, averaging
slightly less than 12 months for counties having
rnuniripnlities with from 5,000 to 25,000 and
from 25,000 to 50,000 inhabitants, and about
13 months for counties with cities in the 50,000
to 100,000 group. For the most populous
nrens having cities of 100,000 or more persons
the durntion of WPA employment averaged
13); month;;; (13 months if New York City is
excluded). Similar relationships appear in the
proportions of workers found in the several
groupings nrcording to length of continuous
employment. The proportion of workers employed for three years or more, for exan1ple,
incrensed with the population conrentmtion of
the area, averaging about twice as large in the
most highly urban areas as in the rurnl counties
(22 ns compared with less than 11 percent).
The size of the worker's family did not have
much appnrent effect on the durntion of his
\VPA employment. The medinn period per
worker incrensed, though very grndually, from
\YoRKERS, RY lTRRANIZATION GHOlll'>S AND RY DURATION OF E~IPJ.OYMENT A
Ft<:BRl'AHY Jg;:\!)
PPrct•nt of \\'ork('f:,; <'ontinuou~ly Employed ForUrbanizat.ion Oroup
11 (
~11mlwr of
l'opulntion)
,v orkl'rs
I
2i,
:J
I, orYl'.ll"S
mon•
H"
)'l'(U:S
yeurs
years
or rnon•
or morn
or more
year
or more
70
Yl'(U
or mor('
Median
N'urnbl>r oC
:\lonths of
Continuous
Employment
- · - - - - - - - - - __ I
Total .
C
0\'l'r HXJ,CXKI
New York City
Other cities
50,000-Hl0,000 __ _
2.o,()00-50.000
5.000-2S,(l()0
._
.
.·
2, 7:12, 2SI
lfi. 9
1. I02.H4fi
21. H
lfil, i71\
l.tlll,C.l72
12. I
IS.. S
-2112~ lliS
. I'< "
1:1. ,;
22n. 21,
n10.no2
1
.'l'm, ·1iln
I
1T-:
1
Under !'i,1100 ______________ _
2,500-,1,00(L.
Under 2.f">OO
.........
1-----
:·:: :..·:::::I
212. Stll
:lli.
:~o~
I
10. A
20.11
2.1. Ii
29. \l
51. 5
12. 4
:m.11
34. 4
55. 4
13. 5
27 ..,
22. :i
,32. 0
.12. 9
49.;
------------------41i. :-.;
40. i
,"i.r-. 6
67. 6
!;)2. 2 i
23. 7
22.2
27.tl
31.:l
.5.4.0
13.0
82.81
I
.
2L7
I
rn. 1 .
1ti.s
81. 3 ===1=2.=8
79 ..1 !
11. 9
22.n
20.n,
49.5
78.t ·
11.9
.. - - - - - - - - - - - = = = =
l!l. 8
24. 4
45. 8
74. 3
11. 1
--- ---- -------- ----rn. r1 I
45. 0
10. 9
20.0
46. :i I
11. 2
2<1 r,
!
j
A For workers included SC'(' fool.note 2 011 pa~P 101.
B Urbanization ~rouping:- an· hn~(•d upon a cla'-siflcat.ion of eotrnt it•~ n(·eordim.' to I.ht• w:m pop11la1 ion of the.• largest municipality in Pach count.y.
c Includes t Hi workPrs for whom durn1.ion of employ1111•11t wa:-- not n·porlt•d :rnd 10 for whom ~iZl' of rommunity wn~ not report.rd.
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107
EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEES UNDER THE WPA
T.UILE 45.-DISTRIBUTIOX
OF
\YPA
\\'ORKERR,
BY
TYPER
OF
PRO.JECTS
-
Pnct•nt of
1--------
Number of
Type or Project
WorkC'rs
--------------------
--·
B
Construction............................................
3 yrars
or more
!
-
AND BY
-- - - - -
DFRATION
OF EMPLOYMENT A
-------
,v ork<•rs Continuously
Employ<•d ~,or-
2!·'.! yrars
or morr
I
2 years
or mor<'
--~--1- - - - - - -
I!<! years
I
or more
I
---- - - - - - - -
Nonconstruction. _ .. ·-·-·····-·...... .. . . . . . . .
men t
---!----------
20. J ,
2/i. 6 ,
30. 0 ,
51. 6 i
80. 1 I
12. 4
=•c=j==·====
2, i32, 2/i I
1f>. 9 ,
2,2.12, i4/i
15.8 i
I, 218. 219
228. 49fi
18i, 971
133. 134
27:l.-110
38, 4,17
r.s. 808
31,211
.10,009
C~~1~!~]~~~ 1 s
1 y('ar 1 }~ yt"ar
or morr · or morr
18.fi
j
23.fi;
2i.fi,
50.1
- - - - - - - - · _I _ _ _ - - -
Highways, roads, and streets......................
·\
Public buildings..................................... .
Parks and other recrcationalfarilities...... ..
.1
Conservation................ ....
Sewersystemsandotherutilitics .... :::::::::: : :::--·:1
.Airports and other transportation facilities.......
Sanitation and health ............................. ·1
Goods. other than sewing........................... .
Miscellaneous........................ . ... . ..
~fc?dian
---- ~for:;t;:~{
- -- - ---- ---
'I
I
I
14..1 I
16. 5 .
19. 7 i
12. 4 ,
17.81
21. 8
17. 2 j
li.3
19.9
Ii. 2
19. Ii
22. H
14. 8
20.r,
24 ..I
20. O
21.2
23.:J
22. 2
24. ,I
27. 2
19. fi
2,1.8
28. r,
2,1. 2
28.0
29.4
2tl. O ,
29. 0
30. 8 I
28. O :
30.1
32. 8
31. I
3:1.2
34.i
49. 2
47. 7
,14. 9
4.o. o
,14.0
.52. 8
.11 3
,13:3
,11.4
79.2:
12.0
----
78..I
80. 4
~3. O
,2. 4
81.1
82. 7
78 7
80:7
80.5 I
11. 6
11. r,
13. 2
10. 9
J:l.O
12. 9
12. 4
13.ll
12.5
==4=98=.r,=,14~. 1~ . ~ ~I~~ -84.01===1=4=.7
.. . .
:1
Whitecollar ........ -··-·················
Education.................. .
.
Recreation.................... . . . . . .. . . . . .
Professional and service (rxel. Frclrral ~ation•wirlt•L
Federal Nation·wide.. .... ....
314,7411
39, 1 rn
37. 860
209,067
28,698 I
Sewinl'[ .. ··-······-·······-······· ................ .
183,873
Ji
22.2.
30. r, I
25. 6 ,
18. r, ;
33. J I
2H.9
38. r,
-10.,1
,17.8
84.11
14.7
,51. s 1
r.6. r,
88. -I :
20. o
4/i. 1 I
r,3_ I
89. o l
16. 4
3.o. ,I ,
.14. 1
81. 9 :
13. 3
38. i
.Iii. 4
fi/i. i
87. 2 I
22. 7
1
~ 1 - - ; : ; J - - - - - - ; ; ; 1 - - 3 ~ 1 ~ ~1===1=4_=7
:in. R
22. 8
34.HI
46. 3
38. 7
29. 8
48. 4 I
A For workers included, see footnote 2 on page JO I.
B Includes 116 workers for whom duration of rmploymPnt was no1 rPporl<'<l and 892 for whom typr of projPC't rmploym<'nt was not rc,portrd.
under 12 months for single workers to slightly
more than 13 months for workers with families
of eight or more persons. Similarly, the proportion of workers who had heen continuously
employed for 18 months or longer rose from 28
percent for single persons to 32 percent for persons from the largest families (eight or more
persons). The continuity of a worker's employxnent showed even smaller variation as hetween races since the average period was barely
a third of a month longer for negro than for
white workers, 12.7 as compared with 12.4
months.
The duration of WPA employment averaged
about two and a half months longer for workers
on nonconstruction projects than for persons
engaged in the various types of construction
work; for the former the average was 14½
months and for the latter, 12 months. (See
Table 45.) This difference may be attrihuted
in part to the fact that the net increase in employxnent during the expansion period from
November 1937 to Febrnary 1939 was considerably greater for construdion than for nonconstruction projects. Such variation as was
present among the individual types of constrnc-
tion proj<'cts is of limited significance because
the data take no account of the numerous
shifts of workers from one type of project to
another. Transfers are less likely to be made
between construction and nonconstruction projects or among the various types of nonconstruction activities and prohably, therefore, do not
qualify too severely the duration data for different major types of projects in the nonconstruction field. The duration of WPA employment was longest (almost 23 months) for workers
on the Federally sponsored Nation-wide projects;
these projects, however, which accounted for
only a small frnction of the total Pmployment,
did not experience the large incrense thn.t characterized total employment during the period
het\vePn the antumn of 19~7 and February 19~9.
Workers on education and on recreation projects
also were employed continuously for a longer
average period than were all WP A employeps,
the mrclians for these groups being 20 and 16
months, respectively. For all white collar
workers the average continuous employment
interval was less than 1.5 months. A similar
interval applies to persons employed on sewmg
projects.
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FINANCIAL SUMMARY
TABU;
Appropriations
Sot:RCE OF FUNDS
oxoEn THE ERA
WPA
the vVPA
Fthroughforthecontinuing
year ending June 30,
UNDS
.U,, -
progrnm
AVAILABLE TO
OF 1938
THE
AcT
As OF J l':-rn 30, 1939
19:39, were
appropriated in Title I of the Work Relief and
Public Works Appropriation Act of 1938, a title
cited as the Emergency Relief Appropriation
Act of 1938, and in two subsequent joint resolutions. The 1938 Act, approved June 21,
1938, differed from enrlier ERA Acts in that it
made direct appropriations to the WPA and
the other agencies administering t,he work relief
n.n d relief programs whereas in the prior acts
the n.pproprin.tions were mn.de for specified
types of nctivity-the funds to be allocated to
individnn.l ngencies at the direction of the
President. Since the 1938 Act provided that
WP A appropriations should be apportioned to
cover the first eight months of the fiscal year, a
period that might be reduced by the President
to seven months if conditions made the action
necessary, additional funds were required to
finance the WP A progrnm throughout the remn.inder of the yenr. Such funds were provided
in two supplcmcn tn.1 appropriu tions, the first
approved on Fehrunry 4, 1939 , and the second
on April 13 , 1939 .
Net npproprin.tions to t,he W PA under the
1938 Aet n.ncl its supplements n.moun ted to
$2,254,000,000. (See Tnble 46.) The ERA
Act of 1938 itself n,pproprin,ted $1,425,000,000
together with balances of 1937 Act funds
nmounting to $31,400,000; $725 ,000,000 wns
made available through the first additional
appropriation (Public Resolution No. 1, 76th
Congress) and $100,000,000 through the second
(Public Resolution No. 10, 76th Congress) .
Specific Appropriations:
ERA Act of 1038 (Public Resolution
No. 122, 75th Congress) .. .. __ _____ $1,425, 000, 000
Public Resolution No. I. 76th Congre..ss . .. . .... ---· --- - - .. ·- · ... . ____
725,000, 000
Public Resolution No. 10, 76th Con•
gress . ........ .... _..... _.... _.. ____
100, 000, 000 $2, 250, 000, 000
Renpproprlation of 1937 ERA Act Balnnces ___ __ _· --- --·
Total Funds Appropriated to the WPA . --· ---·- -- ·--- .
Trnnsfer to Regular Appropriation or the
Corps of Engineers _. . __ .. ___ _.. - --·_ .. -_ . 18,000,000
Transfers to Other Agencies for 1938 ERA
Act Purposes :
W nler conserrntion and utility projects_ 5,000, 000
Public IIenlth Serdce _____ _·---- - · - --- - 1,211.665
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration ........ .. ... ·- ------------- --·--200,000
Work relief supply fund________________
3,000,000
31, 3119, 671
A
2,281. 3119,671
'Zi, 411,665
Net 1'' unrls Appropriated tot.he WPA · - - ------- ·---· --Transfers to Federal Agencies under Section 3, ERA
:\ct of 19:18 . . · ----- ---·--- · ---- - - - - - - ------ ------ ----·
2, 253, 988, 006
1''unds A rnilahle for Progrnms Operated by the WPA . _
2, 169, 359. 399
Work projects ... .
.. ........ .. .. · -·-------------Purchase or surplus cloth in~ . . .... _... ___ . ___ _____ _
Ai<! 1.0 self-heh> and coopernth·e associations _______ _
Admhiistrath·e expenses"
___ ____ ______ _______ ___
2,070,457.962
JS, 750. 000
100. 768
7~,855. i'84
8. 185,885
Undist.rihuted by programs __ _________________ ____ __
84,628,fJl.11
·' Voes not. include $75,000,000 a)lproprinted nnd $732,000 ren]l]lropciated
to the National Youth Administration.
11 Includes ndministrnth·e expenses of the NYA .
Source: U. S. Treasury Deportment report on the status of funds and
nnnlyses of expenditures under the ERA Acts of 1935, 1936, 1037, and 1938,
as of June 30, 1939.
From the amounts nppropria.ted to the WP A,
$18,000,000 wns transferred to the Corps of
Engineers by the W nr Depn,rtment Civil Approprintion Act, fiscal year 1939. Other WP A
funds aggregating $9,412,000 were transferred
for specific purposes in n,ccordance with legisln.tive provision 1 , lenving the total of $2,254,000,000 nYn.ilnble for WPA programs.
, 1nclnding $1,212,000 lo the Public llealth Service for medical, surgical.
nn<i hosplt.nl services to injured erueri:ency relief workers. and for furnishin~ technical supen·ision for community sanitation. malnrla. control
108
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109
FINAXCIAL SUMMARY
Through Section 3 of the ERA Ad of Hl38,
as amended, the Administrator of th<> WP A
was authorized to transfer an amount not t.o
exceed $88,000,000 to other Federal a.g<>11cies
for the operation of projects similar to those
prosecuted by the WPA. Trnnsfers made in
accordance with this proYision totaled $84.629,000 as of June 30, 1939. Corn~equently, the net
appropriations that were available during the
fiscal yea.r for programs opern.tecl directly by
the WPA totaled $2,169,359,000.
Transfers of WPA Funds for Projects
of Other Federal Agencies
TABLE 47.- ,\1 PA FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO FEDERAL
AGEXnEs UXDER RECTION 3 OF THE ER A AcT OF
1938,
BY AGENCIES~
0Ul!ULA TIVE TITROUGil JUNE 30,
1939
Amount Trans•
rerrerl
Agency
Total. .... . . .. .... .... ................... . . .. .. . .
Depnrlment or Agriculture . . __ . .. ....... . ... • ..... . . .
$8·1, 6'.IR, 007
______
,
Agric-ullurnl Adjustment Administrnt.ion . ... ... .
Ai,ri c-u llnrnl F.n~ineering .... ..... .. .. _ -· · ······ ·- ·
Biolo1?i<•nl Sun ·ey __· ···· ·-··· · ········· ··· ··· -·· · .
Entomology nnd Plant Qua rantine . . . . ·-··· ···_ __
Fore,;t Service . _. .. . _· ·····-. __
Ilomc F.ronomi<"s . ······ · - .
· · · ·-· ·Nnlionnl .\f!rirnltnrnl Research Center _.... . . _
Soi I <"'onserrnl ion Ren· ice
.. . . .. . . _
General ndminist rath·e expenses. ___ .. ·--·.....
122,
9, 8/il, 088
1, 451, 423
Depnrl mcnt or Commerce:
Fisheries ___ _____ __ . __. __ ______ ______ ________ __ . _
il3. ~i4
JO, ilS.1116
drainage, and mlne-sealln11: projects of the WPA (Seco nd llcflden,·y
.,pproprlatlon Act, fiscal year 193R and Hecon<I Defidcncy Approprintion
.,ct, ftsca1 year 1939); $3,000,000 to the Procurement ll idsion of the
Department of the Treasury for a work relief supply fun,! (El!A Acl. of
11138, Section 17); $200,000 to the Puerto Rico Hceonstmction Arlminis•
!ration for relief for needy persons (F.RA Act or 10:18, Section I): nnrl
~.000,000 for allocation hy the President for wnter c:onserrntio11 1,rojects
(Seeonrl Deficiency Appropriation Act, flsc1\I year J!Y.!8).
Office of F.clucation . ___. . · ·- _-·- _. .. .... . ... ... __
Nolional Pnrk Sen-ice ...... ...... . . .. . •..... • . .. _
Territorie~ an<I Island Pm:sessiom•:
Ala.ska Rnilroad . . . . . __
_ · · ······ · - . .
A h1..skn ·m isrellnneous . . . _
.•....... . _
Go,·ernment of Yir~in lslnn<ls _. . •.... . . .
General nrlminist.rnth·ee,penses
·· -·· · -··· - ·
DepartmentofJustice . ... . . . ... .. .
·- ·· ·· · ···· · · ·· -
1)()3
3. POO
1,321 , i86
7, 656, 4i4
6,843, 123
Ml. 523
1,000, 200
Department of the lnt.erior ····••··-·-••··-········ · ·
The $84,629,000 which th<> WPA trnnsfrrr('(l
under authority of S<>ction 3 of tlw ERA Act
of 1938 and its supplements wos distrilrntNl
among 27 agencies for the prosC'cution of projects similar to those opNat<>d by the WPA.
A sum of $21,045,000, or onr-fourth of the
total, was transferrnl to tlw Quart<>rmastPr
Corps of the War DepartmC'nt for th<> construction and improvemC'nt of buildings, facilities, and grounds at army forts, posts, nnd
stations. For similar work at navnl ynrds and
stations, $14,782,000 wns tronsfrrrrd to thr
Bureau of Yards and Docks of thl-' ~nYy
Department.
The WPA allotted $9,861,000 to tlw Soil
Conservation Service chi<'fly for land <lrni11age
and erosion control work; $8,80,5,000 to the
National Park Service for deVf•loping p11blic
recreational areas and conch1cting studiPs nnd
surveys in connection with the dC'vPloprn,·nt
and operation of national parks; $7,655,000 to
the Bureau of Entomology and Pinnt Quornntine for the prevention, control, nnd <•rndicntion of plant diseases and insPct 1wsts; nnd
$6,843,000 to th<' Forest Service for co11sN,·ation work including the dcvC'lopnwnt of fon•st
and range areas and the sttrvPy of nrnttNs
pertinent to such work. These and tlw smnJIPr
allocations made to the other 21 tt~<•nc.it•s that
operated projects with funds trunsferrPcl hy the
28,l!09, S20
590. 000
8,804,903
230,400
130, 813
431, ~.II
a21 . 949
1=-~
Attorney Oenernl's Office
_. . ....... _. . .
,
D11ren11 of Pri sons .... . .. ___ . _.. . ...... . _. . . _.
OeneraJ a •hnin istrnth·e expenses ___ __ __ ___ ___ ___ __
3. /iOO
50, 000
I
2, fi30
1
~i~:J:~~;r~f[i;ih1~~~::::::::::: ·:::::::::::::::::: ...I
Xational Re.sources C'ommittoo . __-···· ··· ······· ··· ··· j
Depnrlment or the :-.avy:
Yarcls nod Docks · · · ···- __ • - .......... -··
Hurni gJectrification Administration. ___ __-· ···· · · ··
m: ~
40,000
14,782,014
16i, 450
2,218,420
Oepartment of the Trensury .... . .
U . 8 . C'onst Ounrcl . .. . ........ . .. . _ . . .. .. . . . . _.
Office ollhe Recretary n ... · •- ·· _ . . . .. ·· ·· · ·- ·- '
Pr<wurement Dlds ion . · · ···- ........ ·· -... .
Pnhlir llenlth f:e.n· ice ...... · ·· · · ···-- · ····-- General n<lministrath·e expenses ____ __ __ _____ __ I
330, I.Ii
1, 639,002
S, 000
179,432
00, 929
==~~~
Vele.rnns' Administration _-·· · · • ...... .. ..... . . . ..... ..
W nr Department. . . . . • . . . . . . . • . • . . . . . • • . . . . . .. • • . . .. . .
.197, .lli9
,==-=-~===
C'orps of ~n1?ineers .. . - -- - ---- - ----- -- ------- -- --- Q11nrtermnsler C'orps . ··· -·
.... ... -········ ·· ·
Oenernl nrlministrath·e expem:es_ ___ __________ ___
2.1, 490, no;
3, 3.13. 000
21 . 04.1, om
1, 002,604
' Transfers of WP A funds pro\' i<le<I for hy of her sections or t.Iie ERA
Act. of 1938 nn<I hy ot.her con~ressional acts n111011nt,e:I to $n,411,r,r.,,.
11
Jncludinl! th e Ilurenu of Internal Revenue.
Sour<'e: l :. H. 'l'rea~ury Departn•ent rcporl on the stat.us or runds and
annlyse.s or expenditures under lhe EHA Acts of 193.~. 1936, 103i, and IO:l8,
as or J1111e :«1. 1939.
WP.A ar<' shown in Tahlt• 47 . Allo<:'ations for
ndministrn tiv<• <'XJH'l1S<'S, incidPnt to the opl'ration of proj!'cts a.nd limitc•d to 5 pcrct>nt of <:'Xp<'tHliturPs, nre shown as dPpartmentn.l totals
in cnst•s whl'n morP thnn on<' n.g<'ncy in a. depurtml'nt rcc<'iv<'<l trnnsf<•n·Nl WPA funds.
Appropriations to Other Agencies
The ERA Act of I !l:38 proYidcd direct n.ppropria.t.ions and reappropriations of bnlnnces of
1937 Act funds for the work relief n.nd relief
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
programs of several Federal agencies in addition to the program of the WP A. To the Secretary of Agriculture, $175,000,000 (plus $23,225,000 in balances) was appropriated for loans,
relief, rural rehabilitation for needy persons,
and administration. These fund<; have been
used principally by the Farm Security Administration to which was allocated $180,956,000.
To the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration the 1938 Act made available $6,000,000
(plus $2,706,000 in balances) for loans, rural
rehabilitation for needy persons, work projects,
and administration. The PRRA also received
$200,000 of WPA funds transferred for relief
purposes and an additional appropriation of
$1,000,000 in a subsequent act. 2
For the student aid and work programs of the
National Youth Administration $75,000,000
was appropriated, together with balances of
$732,000 from 1937 ERA Act funds. Appropriations for administrative expenses incurred
in connection with work relief and relief programs were made to the General Accountirw
Office, to five bureaus of the Treasury Depart~
ment, and to the Commerce Department's
Bureau of Air Commerce (later incorporated
within the Civil Aeronautics Authority). Funds
were also appropriated to the United States Employees' Compensation Commission,3 the National Emergency Council, the National Resources Committee, the United States Employment Service in the Department of Labor, and
the Department of ,Justice.
In net amount $2,581,118,000 was available
for operations conducted under the ERA
Act of 1938. The act itself appropriated
$1,712,905,000; this sum plus reappropriatcd
b_alances of $58,063,000, additional appropriations to the WPA of $825,000,000 and appropriations of $3,150,000 provided in othe~ nets 4
result in a gross appropriated totaJ of $2 599 118,000. Deduction of the $18,000,000 ~ranL
£erred to the Corps of E11gincers yields the net
'Second Deficiency Appropriation Act, fiscal vear 1039
3The $3,S00.000 appropriated by the ERA A;,t of 19:li to the United
States Employees' Compunsat.ion Commission for ndministratiou and
payment or disability or death compensation and hcncfits of worker~
employed on projects operated by the \VP A nnd other Federal ag-encies
financed wit.h JcRA Act. fun.ls wns supplemented by $2,000,000 provided
in Public Resol11tion No. 7, 7fith Congress.
4 To the Puert,o Rico Reconstruction Administration, $1,000,00<), o.s
n.oted above; to the United States Employees' Compensation Commiss10n, $2,000,00-J, ns noted ahove; and lo fl\{' Oencral Accounting Office,
$150,000, In Public Resolution No. f>l, i6th Congress.
total available under the ERA Act of 1938.
!he allocations, obligations, and annual expenditures through June 30, 1939, under all ERA
Acts and under the 1938 Act alone are shown
by agencies in Table VIII of the appendh.
Federal Expenditures on WPAOperated Programs 5
Expenditures for WPA-operated programs
during the period from the initiation of WP.A
activities in 1935 through June 30 1939
aggregated $6,657,860,000. The sum 'is com-'
prised pr<'dominantly of money expended in the
operation of work projects. It also includes
funds used in meeting the administrative expenses of the WPA and the NYA, in purchasing
surplus clot~ing_ f?r distribution among needy
peopl_e, ~nd m a1dmg self-help and cooperative
assoern t10ns.
Of the total expenditures incurred in the
operation of WPA programs, $2,154,225,000
was paid out during the year ending June 30,
1939. The last fiscal year was one in which
WP A activities were carried on at a relatively
high level as a result of the large amount of
unemployment following the recession of late
1937. Expenditures during the previous year
totaled $1,427,374,000, or about one-third less
than in the year ending in Jlme 1939. During
the first two yea.rs of WP A operations expenditures on WP A programs amounted to $1 258 _
' It
'
130,000 and $1,818,131,000, respectively.
should be remembered that WPA activities
were fully under way during only part of the
first year.
WPA funds have been used very largely for
the operation of work projects, nearly ~ll of
which have been sponsored by state and local
agencies. In the last fiscal year, as is true of the
entire period of WPA operations, almost 96
percent of the Federal expenditures of the WPA
were used on WPA project programs. All
except 2.5 of the 96 percent on a cumulative
basis and all except 1.9 in the last year was
6 Not ineluded in the following sections discnssing WP A-operated
progrnms_ are the funds used in the operation of NY A student aid and
work proJect. programs, WPA funds transferred to other Federal agencies
under Rect!on 3 of t.he lcHA Act of 1938, and WPA funds transferred
urnfor prior acts for lnncl utilization and rural rehabilitation programs
arl1~11H:-tered by 1.he Farm Security Administration and for a reclamation
proJect in Tcxa:::: administered by the Bureau of Reclamation.
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FINANCIAL SUMMARY
TABLE 48.-FEDERAL EXPENDITURES ON WPA◊PERATED PROGRAMS, BY FISCAL YEARS A
THROUGH
Jn<E 30, 1939
Expenses
Total
Amount
Total ______
WPA and XYA
Administruti,·e
Work Projects
Year
Ending
1une30
.8
I ~~t
'
$6,657,860,051 ($6,373,416,575
Amou:__IJ~~t
95. 7 ,$268, 616, 155
1936_ -------11137_ ________
11138_________
1,258,130, 24811, 193. 567. 378
1,818,130,502 1,751,286,2~2,
1,427,374,309 1,363.566,316 I
1931l __________ B2,154,224,992 2,064.99/S,.599
I
I
94. 9
64,562,870
96.3 I 6~.81'.!,280
9.5 . .5, 63,80,.933
95.9
73,401,072
I
i
analysis of project expenditures with respect to
types of projects, sources of funds, ohjects of
expenditure, and other aspects of operations
appears in the discussion of WPA projects,
pages 28 to 34.
Monthly Expenditures
4. 0
5. 1
3. 7
4. 5
3. 4
A Does not include funds for N'YA pro~rams or \YPA funds used on
programs administered by other Federal a~encies under the Yarious
ERA Acts.
8 Includes $15,827,320 expended for purchase of surplus clothing and
in aid to self-help and cooperative associations in a<lrtition to ,1,.·ork project
and administrative expenditures.
Source: Based on reports of the U.S. Treasury Department.
expended in connection with state and local
project programs. The smaller amount went
to defray the costs of a Federal work project
program initiated under the WP A 6 and often
carried on with state and local cosponsorship.
Administrative expenses comprised most of the
remaining 4 percent of total ,,.PA expenditures.
In the year ending June 30, 1939, other activities of the WPA accounted for $15,827,000
of the total expenses. The sum of $U5,725,000
was expended in purchasing surplus clothing for
distribution to needy families and the remainder
in assisting self-help cooperatives, as authorized
by the ERA Act of 1938. Administrative
expenditures are discussed in greater detail
in a following section and a discussion of purchases of surplus clothing appears in another
chapter. (See pages 118 to 120.)
Sponsors of WPA projects have supplied
additional funds for the prosecution of project
work. Their outlays amounted to $1,302,837,000 in the period from the initiation of the
WPA program through ,June 1939. During
the last fiscal year sponsors' expendi tnros totaled
$493,039,000; this was the largest amount contributed by sponsors in any year since the beginning of the program. It exceeded the totn,] for
the previous fiscal year by $117,801,000.
Sponsors' funds represented 19 percent of total
project costs during the year ending ,June 30,
1939, as compared with 17 percent over the
entire period of WPA operations. A detailed
'The Federal WPA pro~ram in which th,, FPderal arts proj('(·ls Pr<'dominatrd was discontinuPd, as such, hy tlu, F.HA Act of IU:JU; for a
rti,·iPw or f)('rtinrnt provh:iions of the art, sc•<• pagp 9.
Following the initiation of WP A operations
in tlw summer of 1935 monthly expenditures
from Federal funds increased until in March
and April of 1936 n, level of approximately
$180,000,000 per month was reached. During
the ensuing eight months expenditures averaged
somewhat below this amount and further reductions during the spring and summer of
1937 brought monthly expenditures to about
$9fi,000,000 in October and November 1937.
"'hen the rapid decline in private employment
initiated an expansion in \VPA project work
that extended over the following 12 months,
Federal outlays for the WPA program increased correspondingly and reached their
highC'st level during the quarter ending Decemher 31, 1938.
In that quarter they
amounted to almost $200,000,000 per month.
Curtailment of the WP A program in the spring
of 1939 resulted in reduced expenditures which
averaged a.bout $160,000,000 in April, May, and
June. Th£' monthly average for the fiscal year
TABLE
-Hl.
FEDERAi, ExP~1:-IDITUTrns ON
0PERATED PIWGRA:\lc; A
MONTJJJ.Y-JULY
IIJ35
TO JUNE
WPA-
1039
[In thousands]
Month
Junuary ____ .
F<' hruary. . _.. _
:Vfarch..
April. . . . . . . ., _
:\fay _______ ... June ----.July___ _ ___
August__
s,•ptPmhPr
Octc;hpr
~ ovc m hPr
l!!:l8
$164, 779
$141, :l5o
128, 079
l/i8, 146
137,214
131,3,13
15\!, 581i
184,487
li-1,1%
163,974
I
llr<'<'mlwr _________
$162
5,812
W, 91i0
3,5, 2JO
$102,537
IO.I, 258
145,!!84
142.(Xl7
152, "12
160,017
141,555
IGO, fiOll
157,077
1.11,504
1,58, 002
174,298
112,771i
99,.544
97, li05
96, ,175
rn.1.rno
192.418
H!f>. 890
108, li20
5,1.\, Gfi I
I fiO, 8(i0
9.1, li'i2
18fi, ififi
134,2\Jli
177,703
107,08,\
207,784
1930
$1 ii1, Uifi
1,1:i, 092
191i, 904
IG2, 809
1.18, 278
160,519
U.54
Total calrmlar year_: 2,11, IOI I. 987, .Jri3 I, 4'tfi,
1, 9fi.l, 71i4 Bl, 007, fJ78
Tot.al fiscal v,•ar
ending.iunr30
;l,2f>H, 130 1,818,131 1,427,374 2, 1:\.1, 225
I
I
A f ndtHl<'s \\' P .A-opnntl•d work r,rojl'cts, purC'hnst' of surplus dot hing
for nc•rdy P<•rsons, aid to s(•lf-lwlp and cooperativp n.ssoeiations, ~nd
'VP.A n.nrl :\'YA ndrni11i.strntivr (•xpPnS<'S. Oo<'S not inrludr expendi~
tur<•s on NYA progrnms or expenditure's of \\'PA funds on programs
ndministr-rcd by other Fi?dpral !lg<•nciPs tmdrr t.he various ERA Acts.
B Fir1-;t six monl hs.
SourcP: Ba:-wd on TPIH,rt!- of th,· ll. R. Trea..~ury DC'partment.
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112
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
CHART 6
ing procedures. The real level
of WP A expenditures in a given
month, consequently, is better
measured by an average figure
such as the three-month moving average shown in Chart 6.
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES ON WPA-OPERATED PROGRAMS*
July 1935 • June 1939
IIILLtONS
MIU.IONS
OF 00U.MIS
250
OF DOLLARS
!
250
I
I
I
200
Objects of Expenditure
Payments for services of
employees
accounted for $90
.~~..-+c--r+~-++--+-"-l-"-1100
out of each $100 spent on all
WPA-operated programs in the
I .
I _i_l---'--'--'-'---'-1-'-L-!-f-'-+--Y-H-c+-i-h-l 50
year
ending June 30, 1939, a.nd
I I I 11: I
I
I
1:
i
I
for
$88
out of each $100 during
I
• I I
I
I
'
I Ii I
I
I Ii I I
•
'
the
entire
period of WPA operaI
O
•lo
■ • ■ 11
1,i•I• •
1•1•1,.'. ,'.,1 1 1• ,J,'•l•i•i 1 1•
■• O
tions.
In
the last fiscal year
1938
1935
1936
1937
1939
an aggregate of $1,940,670,000
• Not lncludlnl expendlturN for NYA pro&rams or for projects of
other Federal a1encles financed with transferred WPA funds.
was paid out for wages n.nd
salaries. Most of this total
ending ,Tune 30, 1939, was $180,000,000 as
($1,881,019,000) wns used for wages of project
compared with monthly averages of $119,workers. Their wage payments accounted for
000,000 during the prereding yenr alHI $152,$~) I cm t of each $100 of Federal funds that was
000,000 in the year ending ,Jiine 30, 1937.
spent on ,vork projects during the last year and
The amounts expended in each month from
$88 per hundred over the entire period of "\-VPA
the beginning of WP A opern tions in ,July 1935
operations.
The comparative sizes of the different exthrough June 1939 are prese11ted in Table 49
penditures made from Federal funds during
and shown graphically in Chart 6. Basirnlly
the year ending June 30, 1939, are shown in
the amount of funds expended during nny
Chart 7. Project payrolls account for 88 pergiven month is determined by the number of
cent of the total Federal dollar. Of the reproject jobs provided. Actual payments made
mni11der, 8.6 percent was used for other than
during a month, however, are influenced by
labor costs incurred in connection with project
the number of payroll periods ending within
:ictiYi ties and 3 .4 percent for administrative
the month and other fortors rein ting to account-
JhlJ_
1
1
'
1
•
•
0
1
TABLE
,
1
,50.~
1
1
1
1
0
1
,.'
0
1
1
FEDERAL
1
1•
•
0
,
11
1
0
J
1
1
ON
EXPEKDl'ITHES
0
1
0
-----·
Totnl
1
\YPA-0PEHA'rnU
c:urnulati\'c through .Junr :m,
Object of Expcucliturc
1
PROGRA~IS,
Ycnr Ending June 30, 19~0
-
:\nwunt
Total _
Hg;;~~l~~~~-nt__
o:-.:J
ss:i
7. 0
4. 2
i!JO, 078
2,087, 720
1.0
2~0. 1111.
(iii,
(ll)
4:ri, 122, POO
27:2, iS,i, ·IS7
:{fi. ;ria, :m;
I, SHS, fi!I,;
Totnl
Amounl
PPrC>f'Ilt
----
Work projects
A
-1
Amount
Percl'nt_
I
Percent
$2, 154, 224, OU2
100.0
$2, 064, 900, 509
100. 0
88. 3
I, 940, fiiO, a,i2
90.1
!, 881,018,542
91. l
ti.8
4.:l
0. G
(")
13:1. 22:1, 172
60, 8S9, (i(\0
18, !l33, 748
50S, 050
6. 2
2. 8
0. 0
(B)
115, 075, 345
59,124,909
9,386,957
390, 84f>
2. 9
0. 4
JOO. 0
Si. S
•JWi, 2i2.
OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE
rn:.m
-
Pcnonul scrv ices _____ _
Purchase of materials, suppli<'R, and
BY
- -
\York pro jecls
I
----
A
Amount
f'ontrnctunl ser\"ircs
Other__
0
I
5.6
(B)
A Includes .statP work prol!rnms, Fedc>ral ~atin11-widf' pro~rnms. pt1rd1uSl' of surplus C'lothing-, nid to self-hplp and cooperative associations, and
\VP A and NY A administral iYf' l'Xpc•rna•s. Dm•s not iTwlnd1• l'X.J)l'nditnrl's on NYA programs or ex1wnditun's of\\' PA funds used on programs administered by othf'r FPdernl n~l'ncies under the various EH A '-tcts.
B Less thnn O.Ofi percent.
Sour<'l': Hnsed on rrports nf the U. R. TrPns11ry I )ppnrt 1111•11t.
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113
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
expenses. It should be noted that the projPot
data relate only to ,YPA-oper[l.ted projects and
that the total Federal dollar does not include
the relatively small expenditmes for pmchases
of surplus clothing and aid to self-help and
cooperative associations.
Federal expenditmes for other than payroll
purposes have been made predominantly in the
purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment.
Such outlays represented somewhat more than
half of the nonlabor expenditures through .June
1939 for all progrmns and for project operations alone. A similar relationship obtained in
the last fiscal yPar although, because the total
nonlabor proportion was lower in the last yPar,
the supplies, materials, and equipment expenditures represented a smaller fraction of thP
total-$6 out of each $100 in the last year us
compared with $7 on a Cllmlilati,·e hnsis.
The principal share of the $115,07/i,OOO PXpended in the last fiscal year in purchasing
supplies, materials, and P<p1iprnPnt rPprPsentPd
outlays for work projects. Inclll(lPd in the
total, however, was $2,469,000 rxpended for
purchase of supplies, matrriuls, and equiplllPnt
in the administrative account and $1.5,67n,OOO
used in purchasing surplus clothing for distribution to needy familirs and in aiding srlf-hPlp
and cooperativP associations. 1\1 ost of th<'
remaining nonlahor outlays were made in connection with rent of equipment (lf'ss than $3
per $100 in the last fisPnl year and slightly in
excess of $4 out of each $100 on a curn1ilutiY<'
basis). Contractual services, about half of
which were required in connPction with administrative operations, amounted to about $ I in
each $100; these included such itrms as h<•ut,
light, power, water, electricity, traY<'I, trn11sportation of things, 1rnd printing and binding-.
Administrative Expenses
The adrninistrativr pxpenses incurrpd in conducting the vVPA and NYA programs through
,June 1939 totaled $268,616,000, or 4.0 per<·<•nt
of the aggregate amount expended on all WPAoperated programs since July 1935. The $7>l,401,000 expended for administrative purposc•s
in the last fiscal year constitutrd 3.4 p<'l'<'Pnt
of total WPA ex-penditures for the yP1u. ThP
percentage for the last year is substantially
CHART 7
DISTRIBUTION OF WPA EXPENDITURES
BY OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE*
Year Endln1 June 30, 1939
(
ADMINISTRATIVE
--==377,'i,,.,.
-----
=-===~=
--·---
----'---,-=-'PROJECT LABOR'-·-·
-__: -
* f"ect.nil
-'
--·-
----
_
. ___c88.0%=-c _ - - - - - - -
fund• only •nd exc;:l&&SI,,.
of pureh••• of 1urph11 clothlnl
lower than the ii.I, 3.7, nnd 4.;i percent figures
that apply to th<' yenrs Pnding ,Junr :-HJ, 19:·Hj,
In37, and 1938, rPsJwetivPly. Such yenr-toyPar diffPrences ill11strntP the fact that on n
work progrnlll cksig1wd to nwet employment
1weds in every part of the ,·otmtry tlH• <'XtPnt
and cost of administrative operations do not
vary directly with total rxpPnditures.
Administrntive expPnditures increase or decrease with ehnng-ps in the Yolume of project
operations, but brar a changing percPn t age
rPlationship to total Pxpenditures. Thr year
Pnding in June I n:rn, for example, was onp of
<'Xpamled opera tio11s n11d as n result administrative costs fell to only 3.4 percrnt of th<• total.
This percentage stands in mnrkPcl cont-rnst with
tlw p<•r•cp11tage of 4.5 applying to the prPe1'ding
yP:ir whPn total expenditun•s WPre about twothirds as larg<' us in the yeur ending June
30, I !l:rn.
11ost of the administrative expPndit ures (81
p<'I'<'Pllt on a cum11lutin' basis us well us during
t.hP lust yenr) have hPPll used in pn_Ying the
sulari<>s of the administrative staff. About 8
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114
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
percent of the administrative outlays of the last
fiscal year, however, went to defray the travel
expenses of administrative employees, and 5
percent for various other contractual services.
Such items as communication, printing and
binding, transportation of things, and utility
charges accounted for successively smaller
amounts of the contractual service total.
Purchases of supplies, materials, and equipment represented 3.4 percent of total administrative expenditures in the year ending June
30, 1939, and rent of buildings and equipment,
the latter much the smaller of the two, represented 2.4 percent of the administrative
outlays.
TABLE
51.-ADMINISTitATIVE
WPA AND
THE
NYA,
EXPENDITURES
OF THE
BY OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE
YEAR ENDING JUNE 30. 1939
Object. of Expenditure
Amount
TotaL __________ ··------------------ ___ _ $73,401,072
I
J
Percent
100. 0
Personal services. ___ __________ __. _._. _____ __._
50,651,820
81. 3
Purchase of materials, supplies, and equlpn1ent .. _____ _. __ __ ___ __ . . --- . ----. -- - ---- -- -3. 4
2,468, 838
Renl.als __________ ____ _. _____ ______________ __ __l = =
==
2. 4
l,iG4
, n1 cl= = =
Contractual services .... _______ _______________ _
9. 498. 4.~o
12.9
1----
Communication ... ______ __ __ __ _______ _____
1,640, 184
Trave}, including suhsistcnce .. . . ----- - -- -6, 11\6.924
Tr!'n~portation_ of ~hings __ __ ____ _____ ___ __
403. 623
Prmtmg and bmdmg ______ __ ... , -.--- - --- -787. 554
Heat, light, power, water, rlcct.r1c1ty ___ __ _
245,
230
Other _______________________ __ _______ ____ _
254, 935
I
=
=
=
=
Otlwr ___ _____________________________________ _
17,211-1
A
staff in Washington and the 322 regional offices
and other field employees accounted for the
remaining 2,081 administrative employees.
The average salary of administrative employees at the end of December 1938 amounted
to $1,581 on an annual basis and $132 on a
monthly basis. The averages apply to administra.tive workers of the WPA throughout the
country, including state and local office employees as well as those of the Washington
central office and the regional office and field
staffs. Only 22 percent of the administrative
workers were paid at. the rate of $2,000 or more
per year. In reporting on all administrative
employees on Federal pa.yrolls as of December
31, 1937, the United States Civil Service Commission estimo.ted that the average annual
so.lary of all Federal o.dminist.ro.tive employees
wns $1,871. 7 The WPA average at the end of
Dccern her 1938 was $290 below the earlier figure
for all Federal staffs.
2. 2
8.4
0.6
1.1
3
3
o.
o.
(A)
Less than 0.05 percent.
Source: Based on reports of the U.S. Treasury Department.
At the close of the fiscal year in ,June 1939,
the WPA had 31,497 regulu.r administrative
employees. This total represented a reduction
of about 500 from the number at the close of
the preceding year and of more than 4,200 from
the largest number employed during the yea.r.
Comparison with the total project employment
of the WPA shows that at the end of ,lune 1939
there were 12.9 WPA administ.rative employees
for earh 1,000 WPA project workers-a ratio
which had been above 20.0 in 1937 but ren.ched
a low point of 11.1 eol'iier in the last fiscal year
when project employment wtis at its peak.
Most of the 31,497 persons on WPA administrative payrolls in June 1939 (29 ,416) were
employed in the state and local offices of the
WPA; the 1,759 employees of the central office
Man-Month Costs
The cost to the Federal Government of
employing one man at WPA project work for
one month has averaged $62.00 throughout the
period of WPA operations from the summer of
1935 to June 30, 1939. Of this amount $52.50
ha.s heen paid out to the worker himself, $7 .00
has been used for nonla.bor expenses arising in
connection with project work, 11.nd $2.50 ha.s
been expended for administration. Sponsors
of WPA projects supplied additionol funds to
the extent of approximately $12.25 per manmonth of employment of project workers paid
from Federal funds. The la.rgest port-ion of
the sponsors' outla.ys ($10.00) was provided for
supplies, materials, equipment, and other nonlo.bor costs of operating WPA projects. Sponsors, however, did incur labor expenses of $2.25
per ma.n-month of project work of employees
pfl,id by the Federal Government. This represented wage payments to machine opera.tors,
opera.tors of trucks and other kinds of equipment, skilled crnftsmen, supervisors, and other
kinds of specially quolified personnel made
ava.ilable by sponsors for the successful operation of projects. The Federal n,nd sponsors'
' llnltc<I ~tnt~s Civil :service C"omm!sslon relea.<e dated April 2, 1939.
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115
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
man-month total for the entire period of ,vPA
operations amounted to $74.25.
Although Federal man-month costs were
lower by $1.00 in the year ending Jun<' ao. I mm,
sponsors' funds increased sufficiently to raisP
the monthly figure to $7 5.25 which ,vns $1.00
above the four-year average. The $61.00 shure
borne by the Federal Government in tlw last
fiscal year involved smaller nonln bor un<l
administrative outlays per project employee
than were incurred over the entire period and
slightly larger avcrnge paymcn ts to project
workers. Nonlubor expenditures of sponsors
were about $2.00 higher on a mnn-month basis
so that the total contributions of sponsors
amounted to approximately $14.25 per manmonth of Federal employment during the last
fiscal year.
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MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT
structural steel, bituminous
Cmixtures,lumber,
nrnchinery, petroleum products,
EMENT,
and mnny other kinds of materials, supplies,
and equipment have been procured in lnrge
quantities for use in the prosecution of WPA
projects. The value of all such materials,
through June 30, 1939, amounted to almost
$1,o:38,000,000 of which the sponsors of WPA
projects had provided about 58 percent or some
$600,000,000. In addition to the purchases
made in connection with project work substantial q 11nntities of surplus clothing were
purchased by the WPA for distribution to
needy persons; expenditures for this purpose,
financed from funds made available by the
ERA Act of 1938, amounted to about
$15,680,000.
Materials for WP A-Operated Projects
The materials, supplies, and equipment
required for WPA project work were procured
from many different branches of industry.
Stone, clay, and glnss products cons ti tu ted
more than a third of the total value, amounting
to about $362,000,000 in the course of the fouryear period ending ,June 30, 1939. Of this
figure about $94,000,000 was for cement,
$71,000,000 for sand and grnn~l, $62,000,000
for crushed stone, $51,000,000 for concrete
products, and $47,000,000 for brick, tile, and
other clay products.
Roughly a fifth of the total material outlays
were for iron and steel products, among which
cast-iron pipe and reinforcing steel were outstanding. Of the $188,000,000 spent on this
kind of material over $54,000,000 went for
cast-iron pipe and fit.tings, and $47,000,000 for
structural and reinforcing steel. Over $17,000,000 was used in buying tools (other than
machine tools), and almost $10,000,000 for
heating and ventilating equipment.
Producers of lumber, bituminous mi-..:tures,
and textiles were other industrial groups which
received large orders for materials; together
they accounted for a fourth of the total value
of materia.ls for project use. The value of
hunber and lumber products (not including
furniture) that were procured during the fouryeur period of WPA activities amounted to
almost $108,000,000. The bituminous mixtures used in pu.ving roads, streets, and airport
runways, and in other work amounted in vu.lue
to nearly $90,000,000. About $69,000,000
worth of textiles were purchased for use in
sewing rooms; this was the outstanding outlay
for nonconstruction materials.
Since beuvy machinery and other equipment
essential to project operation were usually
secured on a rental bnsis, purchases of all kinds
of equipment amounted to about $44,000,000
during the four-year period ending June 30,
1939. The largest share of the equipment
purchases were made in connection with electricnl machinery and apparatus, generally for
installation in constructed facilities; sizeable
quantities of paving equipment and other
road-building machinery were also procured.
In addition, over $6,000,000 was spent for
motor trucks and tractors. The purchases of
machinery and equipment including trucks and
trnctors, however, were less than 10 percent. of
]16
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MATERIALS, SliPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT
TABLE 52.-VALUE OF MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMEXT PROCUJtED FOR WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY
TYPES OF MATERl.\l,S AND BY SocRCES OF FUNDS
TIIROl' llll Jn<E :io, 1939
[Amounts in thousands]
Cumulatiw thruuirh June :10. l!l.!9
Type
I
Total
Amount
IPercent •
--1
Federal
luncls
Yclr Ending June :lO, 1039
'"'™"; '""''
I
Total
I
I
Percent
Amount or total Amount iPercent,
~~~~~1
I
--1
Total. ... . ....... . ................... . . . . . . ~l.!•17. 722.· 1on. o 1.$4:17.lZl_ . s•;oo,r,09 __ ,57.9
Stonc,clay,andglassp1oducts ............ ... . .
31H.7M -· 14. 9 _ JS9.501 '.
Brick, tile, and other cl~y pro<lucts ....... . ..
Ct-ment . .. ... .. . . .. .... ...... . ... . ... ..... .
ConcretP products...... ...... . . . . . .. .. .. ... ..
Crushed stone.... . ..... . ................. .. .
Sand and gravel.... . . . .................... .
I
Other.. .. . .... . .................... ... ..... . .
Iron and steel products. . ...•................ . .
= -- -
I-
Cast-lrnn pipe and flttlnl!l! .......... .. . .. .
Heating and ..-cotilating equipment... . . . .. .
Structural an~ rcinfor<cing steel . . .. . . . . ... .. ·
Tools, e1.clud10g machine tools .. . .. ... . . . . . .
Other ................................... . . . .. ,
Lnmber and its products, excluding lurnitun.I
Bltumlnollll mixtures-pavini,- an<l other . . ..
Textiles... . . .. .. ... . .. . . . ........ . . . . . . . . . .
I
~faehlneryandequipmr.nt . ............ . ... . .. ..
Electrlcalmachinery,apparatus,anclsupplies
Paving and other roa<l•huilding mac·hinery
and equipment . .. . . . . . ... . .. . . .
Other.......... . . . ..... . ........... . . . . . . .
Motor trncks and tractors .. . .............. . .. .
4fi 76.5
94.fl!!R I
s1. 01;1 I
~2. o;r,
,1 , 1os
3fi, 68.5
4.,5
Y. I
4. 9 ,
r.. o 1
r..o
3 . •5
18 1
47, 29S
17, 0,3 1
,59. 141 1
107, 977 ,
S!J. R05
f,R, sr,1
4 r,
I. 7
5 7
I
to. 4
!!. 7
fl. 6
21 , 2RO .
2. 1
4, 4!1.5
IH, r,93
o. 4
Miscellaneous. . . . . .. ..... . ................... ..
I
.
14, R71 ·
32, 429
18, 3841
2.1. 207
2.5,181
10. 046
1
4. 3
0. .5 '
5. 4
6. 8 1,
7.3 •
2. 9 I
4, r.1m
18.Rli3
6, MR I
8, 149
7, 140
I, 69R .
1;, f.4!1 :
2:. ~r,
66.4
62:_1
10, 18.5
13,.'if,6
11 . !lf,6 1
1.5, 0,58
IR, 041
8, 34R ·
4U!
r,-1 . s
fo4. o
71.6
R3. I
3, 994
2, 022
5,975
9,610
2. 503
17,335
79 8
83 4
70. 6
46 I
74 4
7,338
8,310
2,5, 800
10, 7R6
10, 481
77. 9
70. 4
47. 4
I
I
1
:
20. 9,0
i. ~9f.
!
I
19.427
2fi, 3~
9, 177
39,SII I
.5.5 7
,'i-1 x
r.,. 2
13,fo0-1
5,425
23, 310
:12. 0.51
41 , xr,1 I
49. qr,9 :
75, 92fi .
47. 041
IR, !l!l2
70. 3
r,3. -1
27. r.
33, 22R
28, 09r,
22, 127
21,r,.<;3 ;
22. ~ii;
~.002 1
rn, 27R
r.2. 4
I. 420
R, 117
31. r,
43. 4
1·
·.,,:a·1
15,30q
4. O
I 6
r,_q I
I
◄1
1.
I. 7
I0,9!i7l.
r.. 3.14
4. 62'.I
- _. : 1_·. ~ 2~0~1
·I·
11,646
- ~ .~
.5r..
13, ow ,
13.. 1~3
41
73. R
.!-. 52: 3_ .
I
6/l . .5
1,320
o. s
I.;
2. 037
3, ORI
83R
2, 6,3
I. 0 ,
2. R3R
i24
f
5, 3.50
r., 411
I. r,
I. .5
•
_ RJ~2- _ _2.. ~
-
.1, 1r,1
I
RO. I
!
~•==
·1.·002·
72 R
- - ~.!!
2.0 1
21,21r, _ ·r.,. 9 .' _1n~i.i.i ; - i1- , ·
R, 190
1
i
,- -4~ .1 ·!
ll, 67P
f
:1. o;s
9. i '
8. 2
6. 5
2, R7f,
1. 8
10. s7r,
, . 7M
--=-~ ~ - = •. ~-- - - .:...=: - - . ~-I ~-=-:-- =-= ·-= ~
fi. rn7 .
0. r, I
4. 93.5
1,202 ·
19. r,
3, 51\2 :
14,r.21
;
I IR, R3,q I
r,s, R02
Chemlcalsan<lallledproducts ... . ......... .. . . . 1- · · :i2, 1i-3 - ·3_·,· ;
Petroleum products . .. . . . ••••.............. . . . .. , _
.59. o
38. r.
ss. 2
sr.. r,
r.R. fi
71. r.
. . ~ ~i - - - · - - · -· · . -- - - - - · - =
3
f\O, 322
17. 6
JG,
43,002
- ---·- - -1- -- - - - ' _r,1_
,_ _ _ ,___ - -420
- - - -.54, 270
.5 2 I 17. 3.51
3fi. 919 '
r.~. o
IS, 195
4. 4
3,065
12, 1:10
9, 7M
o. o
3. 1.sq ,
r.. mo
r.7 r.
2, 788
0. 81
4fo4
2,324
IR7. r,10
·
Chemicals and explosl,•es. ...... . .... .... . ...
Paints and varnishes . . .. ................ . . . ..
:
$342, fiJ!! _ 100. 0 .1 $11/i,n,r. $227. ,'i63_ .
1
202. 2,9 . _ . M. 9 [' 124,illl_l
36. 2 : 47,0!\4 .
77,flf>4 .I_
27. r.1 2
36, 2fi7 j
2R. 20!1 .
:1s. ~~•
4R,.,9
2fi, 2,5fo
•
~ ~ =
44, 4·r.~ - --:;:-3-,
=---
19. 1.53
.57. ~21
22. R,52
2fi. 920
22, 32fi
JO. 429
,.
Amount Percent
I oltotnl
I
1
I
Spons<>rS' lunds
I
29. I
46. 5
=-=--=
20. 3
- ·1.r,02 -
71.0
4, 200
Sl. .5
2R, 82S
'IY'. 7
2. ,oo·• ~ ~
or,1 ·
~ 1:17
l-~ ._
,52 2
113, r,3.5 ·
10. 91
35. 43R
7~. m; •,
fiR. 8
3, M5
5,3r.r.
0. 3
0 ..1
1, 4!J!l
2,2'.14
2, OM
3,132 .
fi!!. 2
/iR.4
I, 014
1, RRI
0. :I
0. 6
307
46fi
707
1,41.'i
69. 7
,14 . 8 ·.
:1, lfo,
.1, 2.54
0. O
J. 5
0.3
7. I
1, 02,\
I, tr.o
2, 142
4, Oll4
740
4. 12.~
20, 0.5~
67. 6
77. 9
35.9
8?. 9
3fi, r.s1 _ 10. 7
7. 82:l ,
Coal and other fuel, except wood and pctro•
leum . . . . . .. . . . .
... .. . .
. . .
Nonrcrrousmetals . .. .... . . .
Office supplies and equipment, inclurlin g
furniture . . . .. .
.
. .. . . .. . . . .
Plumbing equipment an<l supplies........ . . .
Tirrsandrubbcrgoods . ............. . . ..
Other................ . ............. . .. . .
7.5.2
·1
10,979
14,002
2,846
76,857
I. I
1. 3
o.a
7. 4
4, 05R
3, !147
1,810
20,000
6,021
10, 05,5
1,03r. \
55, R07
71. R
3fi.1 1
72. 7
1,15r,
24, 180
41;,
I
Source: WP A stato office reports.
the amounts nsed for rentals of equipmC>nt.
Large a.mounts of chemicals nnd nllied products
-explosives, pnints, a.nd vnrnislws- ns wplJ ns
of petroleum products, plumbing eqnipmPnt
and supplies, and office equipment including
furniture also were obtained for use on WPA
projects. (See Table 52.)
The amounts of mnterinls. supplies, n,nd
equipment required for WPA projC>ct opNntio11s
were larger during the year ending .June 30,
1939, than during the preceding y<'urs, in
keeping with the higher lPvels of project.
activities that prevailed. The value of mn-
terials procmed with both FNlern.1 ancl sponsors' funds amounted t,o almost $343,000,000,
or approximately $9/i,000,000 more tl11111 the
COITC'sponding figur<' for the prPceding ~-<'n.r.
The 1939 total may also be compared with a
totn.l of some $447,000,000 spent for mntf'rinls
in tlw two yNtrs P.nding ,Tune 30, 1937; thesp two
y<'nrs, hoWC>Yer, includf' the last hnlf of 1035
wlwn the program was being put into opcrntion.
A consideruble pnrt of the incren,sp n.s betwPen tlw ~-pn.r ending .June 30, 1938, and the
yenr endi11g ,TunP :~o. 1039, was duP to the
ln.rgcr amounts of lumber, CPnient, concrete
201r.110-40- · · -0
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118
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
lI
REINFORCED CONCRETE C ONSTRUCTION ACC O U NTS
FOi{ S O:IIE OF THE QUANTITIE S OF MATEHL\LS
CSEIJ ON \\.PA PROJE C TS
products, and miscellaneous iron and st.eel
products required for the expanded program.
Some $33 ,000,000 worth of lumber was secured
during the year ending in June 1939, essential
supplies of cement and concrete products
amounted to $32,000,000 and $18,000,000,
respectively, and the value of miscellaneous
iron and steel products totaled over $23,000,000.
Each of these amounts represents an increase of
from $7,000,000 to $10,000,000 over the corresponding figme for the preceding year. Considerably more brick, tile, and other clay
products, sand and gravel, crushed stone, and
machinery tmd equipment of all kinds also
were required for project operntion dming the
1939 fiscal year than during 1938; the increases
in the valu e of each of these kinds of materials
amounted to between $4,000,000 and $6 ,000,000. Since larger outlays were made for almost
every kind of material a nd equipment, the
relative importance of the different types
varied in only a limited degree.
Sponsors of WPA projects have provided
an increasingly larger part ot t he materials,
supplies, and equipment used in the operation
of WPA projcrts. During the year emling
June 30 , 1939, their contributions amounted
to almost $228,000,000 as compared with
$173,000,000 in the previous year and less
than $200,000,000 in the first two years of
operations. Sponsors' outlays for materials,
supplies, and equipment constituted approximately two-thirds of the total during each
of the last two years and about 58 percent
of the total on a cumulative basis.
Lumber, bituminous mixtures, and sand
and gravel were made available in particularly large quantities by project sponsors
during the year ending June 30, 1939. Sponsors
provided about $26,000,000 worth of lumber,
$20,000,000 worth of bituminous mixtures for
paving and other purposes, and over $18,000,000
worth of sand and gravel. They also supplied
substantial amounts of clay products, cement,
ooncrete products, crushed stone, cast-iron pipe
a nd fittings, structural and reinforcing steel,
and textiles. The values of each of these
contributions ranged from $9,000,000 to over
$15,000,000. On a comparative basis sponsors'
funds were large (in excess of 75 percent of the
total) in the case of cast-iron pipe and fittings,
heating and ventilating equipment, lumber,
electrical ma.chinery, paints and varnishes, and
plumbing equipment and supplies.
Surplus Clothing Purchases
The WP A surplus clothing purchase program
was designed to provide people in need with
clothing they would not otherwise be able to
secure and at the same time to stinrnlate priYate
employment by removing from the market a.
clothing surplu s tha.t was seriously retarding
rrcovery in one of the Nation's large industries.
Tl1e surplus clothing purchase program was
financed with 1938 ERA Act funds w1der the
authority given to the WPA Administrator
to use an amotmt not to exceed $25,000,000
for direct relief purposes, under the direction
of the President. A total of $15,750,000 wns
made available by means of three Presidentinl
a uthorizations. The first (on June 21 , 1938)
authorized purchase of men's and boys' heavy
elothjng; the second (July 16) , women 's nnd
child ren's hea\·y clothing; and the third (October 8), miscellaneous clothing which consisted
mostly of lig h ter wear.
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MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, AXD EQUIPMENT
Purchases were made by officials of the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department
aided by members of the WPA administrntiYe
staff and by expert buyers loaned to the Government by private business organizations on a
dollar-a-year basis. :Manufacturers were asked
to submit offers and samples of surplus clothing
to the committees of professional buyers. To
make sure that purchases would be made from
surplus stocks, specifications required that
garments must have been manufactured within
the past two years and in stock on May 1, 1938,
or, for some of the later purchases, in stock on
July 1, 1938. :\·fanufacturers whose offers wrre
TABLE 53 .-XU!IIBER AXD CosT OF SrRPLus GAR~IENT8
PURCHASED BY THE WPA, BY TYPES OF GAR:\IEXT;;
As OF Jt::,E 30, 1939
[8uhject t o n·,· i~io11]
;}~~:::((:~t~~ :
Typ,• M Garment
I
Total. ___ ___ __ __ ____ _____ _
=24R..
2,
I
Suits ______ _. _____________ ___
Overcoats _________ _______ __
Topcoats ____ _____ ____ ___ _
Rainwear ___ ____ . _
llackinaws __ _____ __ _
Cossack jackets, sheep-Lined
garments, leather garmpnts, '
!
and other coats _____ __ _
Knitted outerwl•ar ______ .
Other ___ _____ ------ - --- - -- -1
,\4{;, (;27
i][i
36,i,
I
3r,v, 110
384,02:l
810, HiO
:Ho ;
11i~
-1,411
_2~ -
:i. fi4!!. 1:i:i
2, lR!i, \l02
I,
160, 787
!lf,. 40-1
1,04:l,012
74:3, i:!li
702
2. 72
o. fl:!
'2 . Oli
I
r>~:~. a:d
1J:l, (J:J,I
fii, 5.52
II, 31!;
:m7, :l4 l
·Hl. 0!'>0
,iK 240
·108, ,i :l2
41, 728
130,421
20,i, 704
!
499, r,20
103, 2~2
1.52, Of,3
101, 792
49, 42fl ,
n, .1-1:1
1-
Pajamas
_ ___- ---- ----Robes
__ ______
___--___
_____ -_-_
Snowsuits _.. ___ _______ _ _
Knitter! outerwear __ __ ____ ____
-------,
438, 21<;
222, !UH
74, .-;on
1'
2, !:'ii, -1.52
I. Oi'
fi9R, 2U>-:
4. :in
4. f'i!i
4(i3, 201
,5:l, 831'
1,
on
u:w
I. /Ii
22", 11,12
0, S2
117,
fi7. 12$/
27,1, 722
Rainwf.lar ... --- - -- ____ ______ ___
-- - - - - - - --- - -
I
181, 249
1- 1, 29,1,~,122
Coats: drl'SS, sport, and ot.twr, I
inclurlin~ topJwrs
Suits: two- and thrc•••-pi<'ce . _. _
Skirts_ _____
__
_ ..
Drosses ____ __ . .
. .
. Blouses ____ ___ _ __ _______ ____
- --~~~~~-----
37!. ws
238, ,11,5
- 1.
Coats: drt•ss, sport, a nd ot.hn,
Including toppers _ ___ _
Suits: two- and thrrc-pi r cr_
Skirts ______ __ __ .
__ _
Dresses ______ __ __ _
Blouses ____
RainwC'ar_ ___ __
Knitted outPrwrnr
Other ______ .
Girls' aa<l Infants' rlnthing
n::?~·
18r. _ _
-2, ~; ~~ :--- ~- 1.-~,\
. - - - - - - ---- --- 1
Suits _,______ ____ _________ __. _ -- 1
Overcoats ___ _ ---- -- - -- - ___ .
Topcoats __ .. -- - - -- --- - -- Rainwcar. __ __ _
Mackinaws ___ _ __ __ _
Cossack jnehts, shrep-linrd '
garments, le atht.•r garmc•nt.s,
anrl other coats _
Knitted outc•rw(•ar
__
Other ___ ___ _______ _____ ,
\\'omen's clothinJ? _
gTLffll(•IJt
r,, 443,079 $IS, (i81J, ,54
lien's clothing _______ ______ ____ _
Boys' clothing ______ __ _____ _____._
J>l'r
Total
JH.~, :1fi0
2. li6
,132, l !i2
43. i"fJ!l
a,n. 7S3
11, ;1
2.i, I 1·1
(), !"1i
I, 7W, 114 ·
I, •1,10, :J,13 I
n1. 082
12, HJ;
9, 1,1;. 1
-12~. >-:m,
14, !J4X
4f,,
ist
48, !i.14
48, 19:l
122,233
708, 2!XJ
22.'l, !il7
i
rnr,, u:18 /
1,5, 027
,I , 700
2:i1, fi02
(i, !J2·1
77. '.J:-t{
l:J.!i!i:i
24, t,2!i
:n7, 121
3<;1i, Hll i
193, 0911
accepted were instructed to ship gnrments to
central warehouses located in New York and
Chicago.
The 6,443,000 garments 1n-ocurnd were valued
at $15,681,000 and cost, on the n.verage, $2.43
per garment. Purchases were' made from 1,338
firms located in 32 stn tes . The state distribution of purchases, as might be expected, reflects
the location of the clothing manufacturers of
the country. Goods purchases from 746 firms
in Kew York State accounted for more than
half of total rxpenditures, and purclrnses from
134 firms in PennsylYnnia and from 1:35 firms
in ~lassnchusetts each aggregated well over a
million dollnrs.
The first purchases consisted chiefly of heavy
,,-oolen outerwear for men and boys. Over
$:3,G00,000 was spent for 371,000 men's suits
and $5::rn ,ooo for 113 ,000 boys' suits. The
former averaged $9 ,83 in cost and the latter,
$4.72. About 239,000 men's OYercoats and
G8,000 boys' ovcrconts were purchased at an
average cost of $9.16 and $5.88, respectively.
The 181 ,000 men's and ll ,000 boys' topcoats
purchased were valued at $8.53 and $4.07 ench.
:\lnckinaws. cossack jackets. and other coats for
men and boys ns well as knitted outen,·ear were
also bought.
Among the purchases of women's clothing
were 276 ,000 blouses which cost 82 rents each
on an nYern,gr. Some 152,000 women's coats
and GI ,000 girls' and infants' coats were purchased at averages of $4.59 ancl $3.21, respectiYcl_v, and 102,000 women's suits n.t an nYernge
cost of $4.fi5. The G7 ,000 wonwn's drrsses and
0, R4
:l, ll
I. Ii
I). fi2
() _
'"'
fl. ·Hi
I . Iii
0, :12
0. !i i
2, ,19
fl. !i2
I). HO
'J'llE
:;L: J(J'Ll -:;
(."l,OTIIJ:,.;c; ]'t : l{('Jl,\:;Jo: :; OF Till-:
11\l"i.l"llfo:J) 1\' ,\H~l ('0 ,\T:; 1•' 01( noY:;
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120
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE
54.--NUMBER
OF
GARMENTS
DISTRIBUTED
UNDER ·rrrn· WPA RuRrLu:s CLOTl-llNG PuRCHASE
PROGRAM, BY STATES AND BY TYPES OF GARMENTS
As OF .TUNE 30. 19:19
[Suhjp('f to n•dsionJ
!
State
'l'otnl
A
::\fpn's
OarlllC'nts
I
Bovs'
oUr-
nwnts
],Y omPn 'slGirls' and
' Oar- · Infants'
mcnts (hirm<'nt.s
United States_ 6, 44.5, 451 2,248,612 1,172,604 I, 295,545 I, 728, fi\Xl
--------------2.5, 784
Alabama ----3,5, 485
15,853
96. 504
19. 382
9,212
Arizona
8,861
28, 605
4. 892
5,640
Arkansns __________
22,992
3,5, 7al
93,908
16, 181
19, 0041
California _________ 244, 2lfi I 91. 32•!
59, 761
46, fi88
46, 443
Colorado __________
26,123
14,092
14, 127
18. 72-1
73,066
Connecticut _______
Delaware _________
Disl. of CoL ______
Florida ____________
Georgia ___________
66, .535
10,328
29, 9nt
83,489
103, 735
24,354
3,039
7. 517
29. 820
35, 86f>
12,602
2,180
3, 82f>
16,049
16,644
21, !327
Idaho _____________
Illinois ____________
Indiana ___________
Iowa ______________
Kansas ____________
21,803
501, f,85
183,440
74,613
94. 590
6, 716
160,434
67, 743
28,239
27,4.54
3, 747
89. 507
33. 319
14,384
15, 189
"· 498
IOI. 590 ,
34, 1351
13,739
24, 973
Kentt!cky _________
Lomsmna _________
Maine ____________
Maryland _________
Massachusetts ____
121,749
76,926
31,082
41, I IO
255,472
45,.570
2fi, 584
9. 301
13 . .543
90,867
23,671
15,550
4,983
8,450
44. 551
n1, son
Michigan _________
364,635
173,839
71. 838
184, 6.50
45,219
120,572
44. 04.1
2r., 003
f,f,, 677
13,722
67, 787
24, 6f>2
12,043
37, f,.51
7,265 \
75, 720
42, f,! I I
14. 3f>2
35. 0.51
11. 442
Nebraska ________ _i
.58, 317
N,•va<la ___________
4, 18fi
22, :176
New Hampshire_ -i
New Jersey_ __ _ 203, 443
New Mcxico ______ l 3.5, 257
1,5, 979
l,72f>
8, 157
73,206
11,017
9,537
724
3,782
40,8.\0
,5, 2114
14, 9!1i
7111
40, 290
JO, 08.5
17, 88.1
1,020
,5, 9!11
49. 082
8,891
M!nryrs_ota ________
M1ss1ss1ppi_ _______
Missouri __________
Montana __________
17. 144
3. 121
12. 13[1
20, 738
29.r.%
12, 43.5
I, 988
6, .509
16,882
24,
lfi,
7.
8.
42n I
251\
3R2
r,34
I
I
4, 47fi
·1. 842
150.
48,
18.
21l.
154
243
251
97-1
28. OS2
19.
9,
10.
fiS.
,531\
431\
48:l
24!1
100..1.51;
62 ..521
HJ. ·l'lO
4!'i. 271
12. 7!ll)
New York _______
North Carolina ___
North Dakota _____
Ohio ______________
Oklahoma ________
783, 171
88, OJI
63, 24.5
339,692
18-3, 685
261,977
31. 3.52
18,814
147. 840
66, 48-3
148,293
14, 3,59
9. 406
69,397
35,511
145, 7!tl
18,002
13,007
75, 1sr,
35,243
227, 1~-~
25. 198
22. 018
47,270
41l, 448
Ore~on ____________
Pennsylvania _____
Rhode Island _____
South Carolina ____
South Dakota _____
37, ,597
.575. 289
32. 680
78,187
73,096
11, 280
212,349
12,259
27,296
20. 888
5,799
98. ,599
"· 432
IO, 907
12,219
8, 9f,O
103,300
5. 8;,0
rn.r..54
19,318
11 ..5.58
If>!. 041
Tennessee _________
Texas _____________
Utah ______________
Vermont. _________
Virizinia __________
82, 797
239,818
29. 390
31,573
83,262
10, 820
4. 605
24. 247
15, 174
44, 30.5
4,886
20. 01\,I
fH, ,"iiH
7, 4."'il
IO. 802
15. 98.5
50, fi72
"· 233
2. 840
10, 4r,r,
Washington _______
V/Pst Vir,rinia _____
80, 937
105. 83,5
rn7. :l61
9,010
28,408
39,201
57, 188
17, 287
21, r,91
30.9711
!, 84.5
1.5, 088
20. 100
30, 113
I, 78fl
20.1.54
24, 84:l
49, 090
2. 2RI
YVisconsin _________
Wyoming _________
14, fi07
r.:1, ,53f,
3,095
2, 7!10
~. 10!1
24, :no
20. r,71
4,072
18.0:ll
I
A'Total shipnwnts arP slightly higlwr than total ymn.•lrnsPs ns slimni in
Table 53 h<'eam•r of t.hfl fnilnn• or vendors, in somc1 ins1ru1e1•s. to hill for
sample gnrnwnts.
the 429,000 children's dresses thnt were bought
a.vPrn.ged $1.76 and 54 cents, respectively, per
garment.
The number of knitted outC'rwear art iclC's
bought for JnPn, WO!lWll, and children, represented 40 pAl"C.C'llt of th(' gn.rmc:mtc-\ prOCll l'C'd
although lll terms of value they reprPSC'll t.C'd
only 11 percent of the total. The avera.ge
pricP of such clothing ranged from 44 cents for
boys' sweaters to 92 cents for men's knitted
wear. Table 53 summarizes purchases b:y
types of garments, and shows the value, number
of tmits, and average price.
In allocating garments among the states for
distribution consideration was given to a number of factors; these included population in
1930, numbers of persons receiving general
relief, recipients of categorica.l assistance, and
WPA workers, and the total estimated number
of persons in need. Consideration of climatic
conditions was important in allocating the
specific items of clothing to the various sections
of the country. Table 54 shows the number of
men's, boys', women's, and girls' and infants'
garments shipped to each state.
The selection of persons to receive garments
was made by public welfare and relief agencies
designated by the WPA state divisions of employment, by the WPA, or jointly by the WPA
nnd the public welfare agency. Selection was
made on the basis of need after investigations
proved that the recipients were unable to pro,·ide the articles of clothing for themselves.
The recipients included unemployed persons
who were certified and awaiting assignment to
WPA projects, vVPA workers, families and
single persons receiving general relief, recipinnt,s of social security aid, and families with
NY A workers. Persons obtaining no assistance yet unable to secure clothing through
normal channels were also eligible to receive
smplus garments. Varying circumstances in
the several st.ates resulted in different emphasis
in the distribution of surplus clothing among
the types of digible persons.
Distribution was under way by the middle of
November and proceeded rapidly during December 1938 and the first two months of 1939
in an effort to supply the heavy outerwear in
time for use during the winter months. Miscellaneous gnrments, generally of lighter weight,
were distributed in March. By the last of
April only a very small fraction of the garments
prncured under the surplus clothing purchase
program W<'l'P still in the local distribution
Cl'll tl'l'R.
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WP A-FINANCED OPERATIONS
OF FEDERAL AGENCIES
Tauthorized under authority of Sectio11 3wnsof
HE
WORKS
PROGRESS
ADMINISTRATOR
the ERA Act of 1938 to allocate '"'PA funds to
other Federal agencies for the prosecution of
projects similar to those which the WPA co11ld
operate. These projects, similar in type to
regular WPA-operated projects, have been
carried on in accord with the general regulations
that were established for vYP A projects. In
total, the WPA transferred $84,fi29.000 from
the funds made available by the ERA Act of
1938 and the two supplcmentu1y appropriations; this amount, as of June 30, 1939, includes
a little less than $4,000,000 allocated to the
various agencies for administrative ex1w11ses
incurred in connection with project operatio11s.
The work undertaken with WPA funds by the
Federal agencies which received allocations is
sumnrnrized briefly below. The discussion
excludes activities conducted with appropriations specifically provided for the FedC'ral
agencies in the ERA Act of 1938 and with other
appropriations made directly to them. Tubks
47 and 27 on pages 109 and 92 sliow, respectivel_v,
the transfers of WP A funds, by age11ciPs, und
the employment provided on the WPA-fo1n11cPd
Federal agency projects.
Department of Agriculture
Soil Conservation Service
Almost $10,000,000 was transferrPd by the
WP A to the Soil Conservation Serviee for proj-
ects which have provided work for between
13,000 and 19,000 persons during the year ending June 30, 1939. The projects fa.I] into two
major categories- those which further the
ug-ency·s regular soil consenntion progrnm and
those which relate to its la.n<l utilization program. With the WP A fonds made available
for furthering the regular program of tlw
Service, data on floods, siltation of reservoirs,
climatics, and erosion luwe b<'en collected
wliich the Service could not ha,·C' hoped to
obtui11 in tl)(' immediate future with its regular
appropriations und 1wrs01111cl. 111 addition.
prncti<'nlly all of the Service's field activities
rcquiri11g employment of labor have been
assisted through projects operated in almost
all the states outside the N cw l~ngland group.
In connection with its land utilization program thP Soil Conservation Service has been
using \\TA funds on projects to develop for
their most appropriate uses- -forestr:v, grazing,
c011servation, and recreation- the It-111ds purchased under ParliPr legislative provisions.
(This progTam largely comprises undertakings
that were initiated tlirough the land purchase
program of tlw Federal Enwrgpncy Relief Administration and were subsequently transferred
to the Farm Security Adn1i11istration; it also
ineludes a few projects initiated under Title III
of the Bankhea<l-,Jones Fa rm 'T<'nm1t Act.
The project actn·1t1es, although directed
towards utilizing the land for the specific purposes indicated, n.lso contribute to const>rvation
of soil and water resources. Work is conducted)
121
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122
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
in most of the states where the reg-ular soil
conservation program operates.
Forestry development ,vork carried on in 29
states is converting many acres of barren and
pn.rtly wo0<led land into areas yielding vnluahle
forest products. Primary importance has been
attached to the provision of fire protection.
Project workers also have reforested extensive
areas of treeless and eroded lancls and have
improved existing stands through the removal
of brush and diseased trees. Projects under
tlw grazing progrnm have generally been directed towards conYerting large ac1"€ages illsuited to farming into grazing lands or into
lands combining farming and ranching. The
formerly rich g-razing areas are being restored,
watering facilities for stock established, necessary fences built, and the equipment prepared
that is needed for range research carried on
through land-f,Tant colleges.
An effort has hl'en made to improve naturnl
conditions for wildlife in corniection with both
the forestry and g-razing programs. This has
involved the creation of game refuges wlwre
wildlife is protected from hunters, constniction
of w11.ter holes for g-ame, and the development
of lakes, streams, and fish-rearing- ponds. Many
of the sections where land utilization projects
had been set up were suitable for recreation
but had never been developed for this purpose.
,vP A funds have heen usf\d to make these areas
available to the puhlic in accordance with local
needs. Devclopmen ts in the different sections
include camping facilities, picnic grounds, lakes,
bathing benches, and other recrentionnl facilities.
1
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Ouarantine
St~cond larg-est of the project programs of tho
various bureaus in the Department of Agriculture was that of the Bureau of Entomolog-y
and Plant Quarantine. With the $7,655,000
transferred hy the WPA the Bureau has carried
011 intensive plant disease and insect eradicn tion
work throughout the country, similar to the
work for which funds wore made available
under earlier ERA Acts. Employnw.nt on
these projects varied between 7,400 and a
little more than 14,000 dming- the year.
Projects for the control of black stem rust
have been opernted in 17 states, chiefly in the
middle western and north central parts of the
country. This control, maintained through
the eradication of the barberry bushes on which
the fungus is carried, helps to protect farmers
from the losses in yield and quality of their
small grain crops that result from stem rust.
The protection of valuable pine forests in 27
states by eradication of currant and gooseberry bushes which spread white pine blister
rust is another important project activity.
This disease attacks all native species of white
pine and endang-ers the Nation's existing
stands, estimated to have a commercial value
of $400,000,000, as well as the young growths
having an even greater potential value.
Peach trees have been the particular prey of
tho phony peach and the peach mosaic diseases.
Projects for the eradication of these diseases
are being conducted in a number of southern
and western states. In Texas citrus groves
and nurseries have been inspected to locate
trees having citrus canker, and infected and
abandoned trees have been removed. Work
to protect elm trees from the Dutch e~m disease has been carried on in seven states and the
District of Columbia; this involved locating
and taking out diseased trees and controlling
insect carriers.
Among the other WP A-financed activities of
the Bureau is the work undertaken in five
states for control and eradication of the gypsy
moth. This work includes destroying egg
clusters, eliminating food plants, spraying, and
applying burlap bands to tree trunks. Elimination of the thurberia plant is directed towards the control of a weevil for which the
plant serves as host and which in recent years
has invaded the cotton-producing areas of the
southwestern part of Arizona with particular
damage to cotton grown under irrigation. In
addition to its plant disease nnd insect eradication activities the Bureau of Entomology and
Plant Qnarnntine has one project for the demolition of three buildings in Hoboken, New
,Jersey, and the prcpnrntion of the site for a
plant. qunrnntine building.
Forest Service
Almost $7,000,000 was transferred to the
Forest. SNvice by the WP A to carry on an
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123
WPA-FIXAXCED OPERATIONS OF Jo'EI>EHAL AGEXCIES
important adjunct to its progrum; through this
allocation from 8,000 to 14.000 p<'rsons hnw
been employed in all but a few stnt<>s of the'
country. The work is done chi<>fly in nu tionnl
forests and includes the construction nncl muintenance of fire-breaks, forest-fire lookout towrrs
and observatories. landing fields, trlC'phone
lines, forest roods and trails, nncl misrrll11nC'o11s
buildings and structures. Improwmrnts that
will make forest areas availa hie for rr<'l"<'U tionnl
purposes as well os ronge improvrmc-nts havr
been undertaken. Project work<>rs hun• nlso
planted, improved, and develop<>cl ir<'<' nm·s<•ri<·s.
thinned forest stands, combntNI ins('rts 1111(!
diseases, killed range-destroying rodents, <'rndicated poisonous plants, and nidrd in the
development of fish and game rN,ourres.
WP A-financed projects of thr For<'st 8<>rvire
in more than 20 sta.tes and the DiRtrict of
Columbia have involved resenrch work of
various types including surv<'ys nn<i studieR
relating to forests, ranges, wilcllifC', uud the
management of lands ancl wntrrsliecls. ..\!Ro.
the Service has operated n for<'stry projN·t
in the prairie sto.tcs which involwd plnnting
windbreaks and shclterhelts in coop<'rnt.ion wit.Ii
farm owners in North oncl South D11kot11,
Nebraska, Knnsas, Oklnhoma, nnd T<'xas.
sp<><'i<'s of wildlife hut nlRo Rerv<' to r('(luce soil
erosion and n.id in flood rontrol. For npln.nd
gnm<' JH'<'S<'JTes, projrrt workers hnve built
f<>n<'<'S, post<>cl nncl morked bounda.ries, and
C'onstrnrtrd or rebuilt roods, fir<' ln.1ws. and
hriclg<>s. In sevPJ'nl roses. buildings and other
structures nrcrssary for thr proper ndministration and nmintPrnmrr of tlw refngrs hnve been
built nnd landsc-np('(l. Sheltrrs, pirnir tabl<>s.
fir<>plarrs, hnthhonsrs, and othrr forilitirs for
puhlir rerrPntion hnv<' been provided in conTH'rtion with th<> dev<>lopment work wherever
fensible.
National Agricultural Research Center
A program has hren rarried on by the Drpartment of Agri<"ultur<' to extend the resrarch
fnrilities of <'ight of its bur<'aus o.t the National
Agricultural R<'searrh C'rnt<'r lora.trd in Belts,·ille, 1-Iarylnnd. 1lore than $1,000.000 of
"'PA funds wns trnnsfrrrecl ond PV\'A funds
W<'re nlso mnd<' nvnilahle to improve thr g<'nC'ra.l ser\'ic•p fn<'ilitiC's such ns tlw hC'n.ting plant,
C'lrrtri<' mu! trlrphonr lines. and shop forilities,
m1<l to huilcl or r<'novate gara.ges, hnms, rouds,
In horn toriC's, gT<'<'ll houses, and otlwr properties.
As mnny us 1,000 J)<'J-sons havr be<'n <>mployed
on this proj<•c·t during the year.
Bureau of Biological Survey
The Burenu of Biologicol Surwy r<'<'<>iwcl
over $1,320,000 for de,·<>loprn<•nt work on
various phases of wa.ter and wildlife <'onsrn·ation in 22 states. Conservation and building
up of breeding stocks and the restorntion of
natural environments for wildlif<' are th<' rhi<>f
objectives. The land on whirh rrfugrs nr<>
located are generally submnrginnl nrem~ thut
are particularly suited to ,.,;]dlif<'.
The actual work, through whi<'h h<'tW<><•n
1,000 and 3,500 persons have hr<>n employc•d,
varies with the location of the refllg<'. 8onH'
projects have involved the ronstn1<·tion of
darns, dikes, and ditches to improve wat<>r
areas and create marshes, thus promoting the'
growth of cover and food requirrd by migrutory
waterfowl and shore birds. Ruitnhle plnnts,
shrubs, and trees have been started and vnrious
types of nesting islands have h<>en c·onstruC't<>d,
which not only nttrart shore hircls and oth<'r
Other Bureaus
<d
Tlom<' Economfrs n.ncl thr
Ar1ric11lt11ral Adju.~fTll<'llt Administration n•1·pi\'(•d
$M2,000 and $122,000, respertively, from t.l1r
'l\'PA to <·urry 011 S<'VC'ra.l resrnrch projr<'ts.
Outst11rnli11g :unong the projerts is n study of
ronRlllllC'I' purc·hasrs. op<'mtrd jointly hy th<>
B11n•1111 of Ilornr Eeonomi<'s nncl tllC' B111·C'n11 of
Labor Stntistirs of t.lw Lnhor Depnrtnwnt with
the' roopC'rntic111 of the Kntionn.l R<>so11rrC's
Committee> n.11cl t.11<' CC'11tra,] Statif;ticn.l Bou.)'(I,
nn<i initiutrd 11nd<'r n.n <'nrli<>r ERA Act. 1 Th<'
work involvc>d ana.lysis nncl prepnmt.ion of
r<>ports hn.s<'d on the dn.tn <'Oll<'<'J11ing the leY<:'ls
of livi11g, ways of spP11cli11g, and sources of ineomr of Anwric·u.n fnmilies that had hPen r.ollertrcl in ritie,- and tmnis of vn.rious sizes and
nlso in a IOry!C' nurnh<>r of farm co11nt.iC's. A
Thr Jfore((1J
1
Ree lhe Urporl on Progr,,., n( /ht Jl'PA Program , Juno 30, 1038, pp.
100-JOfi. ror a clPS<"ription nr thP ~Indy.
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124
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
second study conducted by the Bureau in cooperation with edurnticrnal i11stitutions in 15
states has been concerned with the physical
measurement of almost 150,000 boys and girls
from 4 to 17 years of age. This first scientific
study of the body measurements required for
the sizing of clothing is experted to be invaluable in determining standards for the proper
sizing of pntten1s and ready-to-wear garments.
The Agrirulturnl Adjustment Administration's WPA-finnnced project involves a series
of studies connected with consumers' goods nnd
problems arising from their standardization.
The studies include surveys of Federal, state,
and municipal trade standards for consumers'
goods, analysis of the economic aspects of
standardization and regulation, comparison of
govenmrnnt preference a11d general consumer
preference, and other studies of related subjects.
About $4,000 in WP A funds wns trnnsfrrred
to the B1treau of Agricultural h'rwineering to
build a cotton warehouse and make some oth<>r
improvements at its ExJH'rinwntnl Ginning
Laboratory in Stonevillf', Mississippi. This
project, for which PWA funds WPl'I' also nuulP
available, provided five mont,J1s' employment
for about 18 persons.
Department oF the Interior
National Park Service
Most of the WPA funds trnnsff'rrf'd to the
Department of the Interior for work prnjPcts
went to the National Park SPrvicP which rccPived about $8,805,000 for work in linP with
its gPnernl improvenwnt progrnm in na tionnl
pnrks nnd monuments. Lighter types of construction and consPrvation work pn·dominate.
In addition to Uw improvenwnt of rpcrPationnl
and administrntive facilitiPs, the historic, nrcheologicaJ, and sc<•nic pot<>n tialiti<·s of the parks
and mo1111m<•n ts are bPing c!PvPlop<•d or mnd<'
accessible in a manner thnt incrpas<'s thPir
appeal and 11spf11hwss to th<> g<'ll<'I"lll public.
Important ndvancps hav<' hP<'ll mad<' through
the Service's proj<·ct work in its r<>crentional
demonstration arPas. Units of rnads and t,ra.ils
already survey<'d hnvc bPcn made passable,
facilities for organizPd camps and otlwr simple
park structures built, wat<>r and snnitary
systems installed, dams constructed, and other
activities carried on that are necessary for the
cons<>rvation and protection of water, soil,
fon·sts, and wildlifr resources.
Two projects of particular interest have been
01wrnted. At the Colorado National Monument units of road construction have been
undertaken to expedite the completion of the
Scenic Rim Drive approved in the Service's
"l\;foster Plan" for this area, and at the proposed
Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the North
Carolina coast extensive beach-erosion control
work has been done. WPA funds have also
b<'<'n used for research and educational work at
the Washington and regional headquarters of
tlw Service and in some park and monument
offict•s. Together the various WPA-financed
projects of the Service have provided jobs for
between 10,000 and 16,000 persons during the
course of the year ending in June 1939.
Division of Territories and Island Possessions
About $800,000 in WPA funds was transfr1Tc·d to the Division of Territories and Island
Posst'ssions for project work in Alaska and the
Virgin Islands on which employment has ranged
from 400 to 2,000 p<'rsons. In Alaska, project
activities bnve lnrgPly been lin1ited to work on
th<' Alnslrn Rnilrond and certain public improvemPnts in municipalities. In the railway
work WPA funds have been 11sed exclusively
for the labor neeckd in improving the railroad
way. Through tlw m11nicipal iinprovf'ment
undPrtnkings, stn•Pts have bf'en repaired, sewer
and water li,ws installed, and sidewalks built
in cPrtnin towns thnt pn•viously lacked many of
tlwsc facilities.
Project actiYities in the Virgin Islands vary
widely in type. In the islands of St. Croix and
St. Thomas, workers have unproved streets and
highways. Sanitation and water supply systems on both islnnds have been extended or
improved. On three of the islands pens and
dipping- vats for control of cattle ticks have
been constructed. A project to study the epidemic aspects of certwin skin and blood diseases
hns been conducted which ultimately is expected
to include cxnminntfon of the entire population
of Charlotte AmnliP. Sewing rooms and several
nursery-school projects hnve also been operated
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125
WPA-FINANCED OPERATIONS OF FEDERAL AGENCIES
and aid has been given to a local cooprrntive
association in order to facilitate tlw hnrnlicraft
work, cabinet-making, fruit-preserTing, und
farming by needy persons.
Office of
Education
With about $590,000 transferred by the ,YPA,
the Office of Education has been employi11g bC'tween 400 and 700 persons on its F('(lernl forum
and educational radio projects. \Vorkers in
various white collar classifications have nssisted
local school authorities in organizing. plnnning,
and conducting public affairs forums. The
local public agency of education providC's the
necessary supervision and also makC's available
school buildings and equipmC'nt. In connrrtion
with this program C'Xperiment stations havr
been established in 38 states. Tl}(' educational
radio project has as one of its nrnjor actfriti<'s
the production of network programs dealing
with topics of national significnnc<', such as the
origin and development of the Bill of Rights,
the work of the Federal GovC'rnment, a11d r<'lations with Latin-Am<'rican countries. Another
important project activity, carried on in 16
states, makes available to local educational
groups such services as a script exchang<', guides
to production and training centers, trn11scriptions and recordings, and assistance in locnl
radio production and research.
Department oF Labor
The Bureau of Labor 8tati8tfrs has conducted
three studies with the $8.50,000 rnnde available
to it by the WPA. Employment has b<'<'n provided for an average of about 760 persons during the year.
More than half the funds have been used for
the building permits survey which covers fo11r
major kinds of information: building cycl<'s prrvious to the World War; resid<>ntial b11ildi11g
by cost groups and by types of constrnrtion
material for the years from 193G through I 9:rn;
dwellings erected in unincorporn ted s11 bmlrn n
sections of metropolitan areas, beginning with
1936; and the relationship betwee11 1wrmit valuation and selling prices of dwellings. FiPld
work has been conducted in all states under the
direction of seven regional offices.
\Vork on the Bureau's urhan study of consumer purchases hns involv<>d sumnrnrization
for final publication of material on this subject
obtained underan earlier project. (Seepage 123.)
The two series of bulletins being prepared-one
on consumer incomes and purchas<>s and the
otlwr on uvrrngc exp<>nditures for specific goods
b:v famili<>s of different inrome levels-provide
n basis for J)l'<'dicting the probable shifts in denrn11d for certain types of rommodities which
would result from given chnnges in inrome distribution and mov<'nHmts of population.
The Burrau's surv<'y of employment in state,
county. and city gov<>rnm<>nts will ennble it to
fill th<> nwjor gnp which remains in its s<>ries
on nonagricultuntl employment in the United
Stnt0s. The study covers th<> period from
192\l to 19:38 and includes all stat<> governnwnts,
nil cities ha,·ing a populution gwater than
I 00,000 and tl}(' counties in which these <'ities
are lorntPd, nnd n repres<>ntativc sample of
smallN citfrs and l<>ss populated counties.
Department oF the Navy
The B111·ea11 ,!f Yard8 and Docks of the Navy
Depnrtmrnt has been opernting a program of
ronstrurtion, extension, nnd irnprovemen t of
its focilities and structures chiPfly at navy
yards and air stations, nnd nlso at the Naval
AcadC'my and at some fleet opera.ting hnses,
training stations, Marine Corps stations, submnrine hnses, field and supply depots, nnval
hospitals, and radio stations. For this purpose
a total of $14,041,000 was trnnsfcrred from the
WPA to the ~avy DC'pnrtment. Th<>se funds,
aYailablc for paying relid lahor<>rs, w<>r<' used
in conjunction with approximntely $36,000,000
that was supplied by the PvY A for the purchase
of nrnterials and equipment and for the <>mployment of skill<>d labor. WPA workNs
111mtl)('r<'d from 12,000 to 22,000 persons
during tlw coursr of the year.
Building work cnrriPd on umkr thr Navy's
impro,·p111p11t ])l"Oi--'TH!ll involv<'s th<> 1ww construction or extension of shops, storehouses,
hnrrncks, hospitnl buildin1;s, dispensnriC's, aYiation nnd ordnance storehouses, n11d miscC'lla1wous structures. 01wrn tions haYe bN'Il conduct<'<! in 14 states all but three of them
a.long the enstt-m seaboard- nnd in Pu<>rto
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
Rico and the District of Columbia, with the
most extensive work being done at the naval
operating base in San Diego, and at the Mare
Island (Ca.lifornia), Philadelphia, and Brooklyn
navy yards. Project workers have improved
waterfronts through both new construction and
rehabilitation of piers and quay walls. They
have built railroad tracks, roads, and distribution systems; improved power plants and shipbuilding ways; provided increased storage facilities for water, gasoline, and fuel oil; and improved aviation landing fields.
Department oF the Treasury
Office of the Secretary
Allocations of WP A funds totaling $1,640,000
to the Office of the Secretary of the Treasury
have been used by the Bureau of Internal
Revenue and the Dicision of Ta.r Research for
tax investigation and research. During the
year the Revenue Bureau's project workers
averaged 840 in munber, many of whom were
employed 011 investigations of stamp and other
miscellaneous tax collections. Through this
work millions of dollars of delinquent and
deficient taxes-about half of the tota.l that
project employees reported for assessmenthave been collected. Other project workers
have canvassed retail liquor establishments to
ascertain the compliance of dealers with liquor
laws. Reported violations have resulted in
collections also totaling several million dollars.
The Division of Tax Research with some
$600,000 in WPA funds has conducted research
designed to meet the growing demands of both
governmental and private agencies for more detailed information than has previously been
available regarding income tax returns. From
duplicate copies of about .5,600,000 returns for
1936 from individuals, four major groups of
tabulations are being prepared. These include
data on sources of income and deductions (including number of sources), family incomes
(combining separate returns of husbands and
wives), capital gains and losses, and the geographic distribution of various income classes.
In addition a number of other tnlrnlntions have
been made utilizing over 700,000 returns from
corporations, partnerships, and fiduciaries.
Tabulation of these materials, on which employment increased steadily from about 100 to
almost 2,000 persons after the project's initiation in November 1938, will make valuable data
available for use in tax research, revenue
estimation, and related fields.
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard has undertaken a construction and improvement program with the
$330,000 transferred to it by the WPA. At
most of the Coast Guard stations the work has
largely been clearing, grading, trenching, and
related roadway and ground improvement
activities. On one project, however, steam,
fire, electric, water, and sewerage services were
provided. Through two other projects telephone wires were extended, and at one Coast
Guard air station a runway was built.
Other Bureaus
The project of the U. S. Public Health
Service, for which $179,000 was transferred by
the \VP A, provided for the summary tabulation
and analysis of data collected in the National
Hcmlth Survey conducted by the Service with
funds made available under earlier ERA Acts. 2
The tabulations cover data collected in the
chronic disease survey, the communicable
disease study, and the occupational morbidity
and mortality study. That portion of the
work which had been financed with WPA funds
was concluded by the end of February 1939,
the remaining- technical work being carried on
by the regular Public Health Service staff under
its regular appropriation. A small amount of
WP A funds ($8,000) was transferred to the
Proc1Lremrnt Division for a project to decorate
Federal buildings with pninting and sculpture.
War Department
Quartermaster Corps
The quarternrnster Corps received the largest
a.llocation of any of the Federal agencies to
which WPA funds wore made available during
' For u <leseri ption of the N ationnl Health Survey soo the Report on
Proures., of /he WPA Prooram, June 30, 1938, pp. 95-100.
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WPA-FINANCED OPERA'I'IONS OF FEDERAL AGENCIES
the year. A total of $21,045,000 wns trnnsferred for construction an<l imprOV('IlW.nt work
at 17 air fields and depots, 77 regular army
posts, and 19 national cemeteries. A larg(' part
of these funds has been used to employ work('rs
on a construction program for which PWA
funds have provided materials and the skill('d
labor not available from relief rolls. Sonw
WPA funds have also been used in extensive
repair and rehabilitation work at various army
stations. The number of workers employrd
through WPA allocations has ranged from
20,000 to over 45,000 during the year.
The construction work undertaken with
WPA and PW A funds includes various types
of buildings and utilities. Many of the buildings are to provide quarters for the personnelquarters for about 700 noncommissioned offirPrs,
for over 300 officers and families, and for about
80 nurses, and 69 barracks to accommodate n
total of almost 19,000 men. Five hospitals
have been built, with space for some 900 beds;
outstanding among these is the Fitzsimorn,
General Hospital at Denver, Colorado, with a
capacity of 600 beds. The 12 theatre buildings
constructed by project workers help fill a longfelt need for recreational facilit.ies at nrmy
posts. In addition, a number of other buildings such as ordnance magazines, wnrehouses,
garage and shop buildings, radio and fire stations, and schools were included in tlw combined WP A-PW A-financed construction work.
On the utility phase of the constrnction
program, workers have installed m1xHiary sewer
systems of both sanitary and storm types, and
have extended electrical distribution and t.ransmission lines, water systems, telephone lirws,
and railroad tracks. Project workers pnid
from WPA funds have also been employed in
the construction of roads, siclewnlks, and curbs
and in extensive landscaping work. These
activities have been carried on in almost all
states; prominent among the projects wen'
those at the Air Corps Teclmical School in
Colorado, at Fort Jay in New York, and at
certain posts in Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, ll.lH!
1'lassachusetts.
The repair and rehabilitation work undertaken at various army stations through Quartermaster Corps projects financed with WPA
funds included the renovation and remodeling
127
of barrnrks and quarters and the rewiring of
buildings. Project workPrs also l11we modernized heating and plumbing systems, painted
both rxteriors and interiors, renovat('(I windows
and sere.ens, and replaced foundations and
11PfcrtiYe masonry on all types of buildings.
Of particular interest in connection wit,h the
rehabilitation progr:nn is the work begun on
old Spanish fortifications, seawalls, and barracks at army posts in San ,Juan, Puerto Rico.
The restoration of these structures will give
several hundred years more of use to military
monuments already oYer 400 years old.
Corps of Engineers
The $:·U{:i:{,000 which was transferred to the
Corps of Engineers by the \YP .A has been used
for flood protection work in New England.
Earth-fill dikes and embankments, concrete
flood walls, and stop-log structures have been
built and pumping plan ts have been installed
in some instances to protect various cities
along the Connecticut River in Connecticut
and ::\fassachusetts. Sites luwe been prepared
for flood control dams and reservoirs on the
( 'on toocook and Pomigewasset Rivers which
flow into the ::\forrimack River above Concord, New Hampshire. In addition, flood
control examinations, which include field suryeys and sub-surface explorations, have been
made in various river basins of fiye of the N cw
England states. This project work has provided employment for between 100 n.nd 1,000
persons during the first ten months and for
as many as 2,1/50 persons during the remainder
of the year ending in ,I une rn:rn.
Other Federal Agencies
Severn) other depnrtmontn.l bureaus or in<lependent establishments of the Federal Govornnwnt. in addition to those already rnent,ioned
rw·eived allocations of "'PA funds under
Section 3 of the 1938 Act. Although funds in
excP~s of half a million dollars were transferred
to two of these agencies, most of the allotments
i11Yo)YPcl much smaller amounts.
Of the $G8:~,000 transferred to the Bureau of
Pi8liPrif's in the Department of C:ommerce the
greater share was ma.de n.Ynilable to improve
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
Federal facilities for satisfying the increased
demands upon fish hatcheries in connection
with restocking commercial and game fish.
Project workers, numbering from 600 to over
2,200 persons, have renovated or enlarged
buildings and equipment, laboratories, and
rearing ponds at hatcheries in 35 states. On
some projects, particularly those in states
where the most extensive work has been carried on (Washington, Oregon, Texas, and ~Test
Virginia), water supply and drainage lines have
been installed. For most of the work FWA
funds were made available to finance the
purchase of materials and the payment of such
technical or skilled labor as could not be
secured from among the needy unemployed.
In addition, through a few of the WP Afinanced projects, clerical and other white
collar workers have aided in special scientific
studies made in California, Michigan, and
Massachusetts.
The Bureau of Prisons, in the Department
of Justice, was provided with $50,000 in WPA
funds to operate two construction projects.
Project workers built a utility tunnel, installed
sewer and water lines, put up fences, and did
clearing and grading, surfacing of roads, and
incidental work around the institution at
Tallahassee, Florida. On the other project at
La Tuna, Texas, a dairy barn, hay and grain
shed, and machinery shed were built and some
incidental work done. The Department received an additional $3,000 to complete a fivevolume survey of release procedures (including
probation, parole, pardon, and other forms of
release both from penal ins ti tu tions and through
the courts), which had been conducted by the
Attorney General's Office with funds from
earlier ERA Acts.
A Library oj Congress project in New York
City, continuing the work carriPd on under previous ERA Acts, is making talking-book machines for blind persons. Reproducer needles
and record envelopes and containers, as well
as the book machines, were made under tlw
$142,000 allocation. The American Foundation for the Blind, Inc. furnished plans and
technical supervision for the project, which
employed an average of 114 persons, a large
proportion of whom were blind or otherwise
physically handicapped. The distribution of
the machines is handled by the Librarian of
Congress who lends the equipment to such
libraries as he deems appropriate to serve as
regional or local centers. Talking books for
use in the machines are provided by the
Library from an annual appropriation of
$175,000 under ''An Act to Provide Books for
the Adult Blind."
The National Resources Committee project
financed by $40,000 in transfened WPA funds
provides technical and coordinating service to
two Nation-wide projects sponsored by State
Planning Boards, one recording the extent and
usage of publicly-owned and tax-reverting land
and the other preparing six-year advance public
improvement programs for states a,nd their
subdivisions. Units of the coordinating project in Cincinnati, Omaha, Portland (Oregon),
and Dallas during April, May, and June employed an average of about 40 persons in
nssembling material for a permanent file of
reference material, chiefly in map form, and
developing detailed techniques for operating
state projects in the two fields.
A total of $167,000 was transferred to the
Rural Electrification Administration for two
projects which have employed an average of
200 persons during the year ending June 1939.
·workers on one project were engaged in completing the construction of electric transmission lines in four counties of Mississippi, begun
under allocations from the 1937 ERA Act.
The bulk of the transferred WP A funds, however, was used in Baltimore, Maryland, and
·washington, D. C. for the preparation of record
strip maps or diagrmns covering areas in the
vicinity of REA projects. These maps, combi11ing tracings of road maps with deta.ils from
aerial photographs, are valuable in checking
t,he operation and extension of transmission
lines in rural areas.
The Veterans' Admim·stration has been using
WPA allocations totaling $5G8,000 for work in
c0111uwtion with its PW A construction program
carried on in 17 states. Workers on the parts
of the program that are WPA-financed, ranging in numbers from 100 to over 1,000, have
been employed chiefly on grading and excavating; building roads, sidewalks, and curbs;
installing sewers and water mains; and extending steam and electric service lines.
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EMPLOYMENT ON FEDERAL WORK
AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
AND PUBLIC RELIEF
1
1939 approxinrntPly 6,(-l 10,000
D differentJun<'housPliolds
rC'c0ived som0 form
L'RING
of relief under public assistirnc<' programs or
benefited from the wag<'s paid to mPrnbNs of
the households employed on F0<!Prnl work nnd
construction projC'cts. It is Pstimnkd thnt
there were about 19,500,000 persons in the
households, a number equal to 15 p<>rcent of
the population of the continPntal United
States. Members of nparly half of tlH' ho11sPholds had public employmPnt: over two and a
half million workws rPcPiwd wagPs for WP A
work, a quarter of a million p<'rsons wer1' <'mployed on PvVA projects, and anotlwr quarter
of a million on the regular and Pmerg<'llC.f
work of other Federal agrnciPs. Youths lwncfited through cnrollm<'nt in tlH' CCC', assignment to NYA project. work, and KYA st11dmt
aid; between 210,000 and 280,000 youths were
assisted under each of th<'SC programs in ,June
1939. Lnrge numbers of housdiolds ohtHinPd
aid under the stnte and local public assistance
programs in which the Social Secmity Board
participates. Thus aided in June I 9;39 were
nearly 1,850,000 recipi<>nts of old-age assiRtnnce,
over 300,000 family groups n•ceiviug nid for
dependent children, and nearly 70,000 rPcipi1·11ts
of aid to the blind. N <'edy form fnmili<'s
received assistance under tlw Farm SPcurity
t The subject nrntter of thi:::; article will be presented in more detail inn.
forthcoming publication of the Divisions of Research and Statistics ol
the ""ork Projects Administration.
AdminiRtration through th<' paynwnt of nearly
70,000 grants. An ndditionnl typt• of public
aid-gc'nPral rdil'f- -was t•xt<-nd<'d by state and
local welfare ngPnciC's to 1,570,000 nP<'dy
families and singlP pPrsons who W<'r<' Pitlwr not
b<'llditing or dsP rPcPiving insufficient lwnefits
unckr othPr programs.
BetwPen June 19~8 and ,Junp 19:rn n modc,rnte
decline took place in the total numbers receiving
relief or benefiting from Federal work and construction wage payments; the decline amounted
to I percent in terms of households and (-j percent in terms of persons. Tho reduction in the
aggregate for the cliff Prent programs is attributable primarily to the dPeline of more than 11
percent in \VPA employment, as measured by
the average number of persons employed in
each montli on \VPA-opernted projects. The
decline in WPA employment was offset to a
VC'l':V liinitPd extent by iner•pnsps in the other,
rpJntin•ly Rmal!Pr, Pmployment programs among
which thr Federal nnd non-Federal activities
of the PWA wNe outstanding.
0YN the year a substantial increns<> oC<'lllT<'d
in the number of stud<mts uidrd under the
NY A, arnl smallrr advances took place in the
number of CCC emoll<>es and youths working
on NYA projects. The number of recipinnts
obtaining aid thrnugh thr sp<>cinl types of
public assistance programs also incrNtsed-oldng<' nRsistnneP h_v 11 percPnt, aid to d<•1wrnlrnt
children by 20 pereent, and aid to the blind hy
129
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE ,5,5.-EMPLOYJ\IENT ON FEDERAL \VoRK AND C'oNSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC RELIEF,
BY PROGRAMS
Ju,rn 1939
[In t.honsan,Is)
Persons
Program Rpporting Unit
- - - - - - - - - - -I
Percent l
Program
Unit
Works ProgrPss Administration:
"\YP A-oprratrd projects
Other Fe<l(•ral og<'ncy projPcts _
Federal projf'cts___ __
____
_____________ _
Other Federal "''ork and construction projrcts:
Emergrncy funds __
Regular funds ________ _
National Youth Administration:
Studc>nt aid ________ _
Work projects __________ _
Ch·ilian Consnvntion Corps ____ _
Special typf's of puhlic assistance:
Old-agf' assistance_____
¥~&i~~:m: ~~ij\:~: ~~::
~,ants _____ . __________
:-;;,. ..,. ·.1--19--.
_50_2_ 1__
rn_3S
___
6
:~:~:~~~~~~~~~::: ::::::::::~::: _:::~ ~~:~:~~:::::~:j
_____________ , Emplow•rs __ ------- - --• - ---------
~_I
Percent
~umber fr~~~Jii~e] Number fr~~~&
I
_____ -__-__-_-__-_-_-r;::;:,;;;--
Unduplicated total
Public "\Yorks Administ.rnt.ion:
~on-Frderal projpcts_
Estimated
Benefited
Emplo~'Pl'S __
EmployrC'S_
2. 436
133
-ll
(B)
9. 094
496
205
3.5
+144
+322
616
105
g
239
-96
+16
29
717
280
214
2f-,6
+28
+2
1. 845
311
68
1, .568
69
+11
+20
I
1 EmploYL'('S
· · · - - - --------1 Enq_1l0Yt'l'S
_____________ EnrollPf'S _
---------j
~~~~::~~~~~~~:~~~I
I,h•cipi,l'nts. __
~;~t~
~ ~~:~:~ ~~~~:~::
11
::,:;,;,:rs - ::
+o
+322
-9/
+rn
280
234
1,156
+o
-5
-26
(B~~::
}
3,551
+1s
4. 770
-11
-26
34S
.,. PrreL•ntages based upon dntn lwforl' rounding to th1• ,warl'sl thousn.rnl.
e Xo Fedpral agency projects wen• financed hy trnnsf<•r of \\"PA funds prior t.o July 19:-IB.
9 percent. In ,fone 1939, however. there were
26 percent fewer fa.rm families receiving Farm
Security Administration grants than in Jmw
1938, and the number of families nnd singlc>
persons receiving general relief hnd declined
by 5 percent.
The early part of the 12-month pc>riod ending
in June 1939 was mark<•d by a substantial rise
in WPA employment, a rise that was occasionPd
by the large a.mount of unemployment then
prevalent. The early expansion, however, was
more than wiped out in the last seven months
of the fiscal year. There was continued expansion of the progrnms providing specia.1 types of
assistance and, during that part of the year
when seasona I demands for relief were greatest,
in the aggregate nmnber of families and singlP
persons receiving genernl relief. An a.dditionn.l
offsetting influence, though limited in its significance, was present in the expanding programs conducted under otlwr agencies operating
work and construction projects. This was n
reversal of the situation existing in the summer
of 1938 when therP had hr0n a rPlntiYely lnrgP
trnnRfor of workers from Federal ngency projects
to the WPA.
Major Changes in the Number of
Households and Persons Benefited,
1933-1939
2
An analysis of the trends in the numbers of
households nm\ of persons benefiting through
the Federal employment and relief programs
dming the 1933-39 period must recognize the
rdornrnlat.ion of responsibilities that occurred
in 1935. Outstanding among the changes
brought about at that time was the initiation
of the WP A program and the continuation or
inaugurntion of nllied progrnms through which
the Federnl Government accepted primary
responsibility for meeting the problems created
by unemployment. Until the latter part of
1935 the g0neral relief program conducted
under the FPderal Emergency Relief Administration wns the chief fonn of aid, except
dming n fow months in the winter of 1933-34
when the Civil ·works Administration program
was in operation. In the la.tter part of 1935
emphasis shifted to the provision of work for
diffPrent groups of employable persons under
2 Estimalt!d 11nd11plit'ntcd t.otnls of househol<ls and persons heneflted
arc shown h~· 11rnnt h:- in 'l'nhlet- ill.I:\ nnd S6R on pages 132 to 135,
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131
FEDERAL PROJECTS AXD PUBLIC RELIEF
the programs of the WPA, NY A, PW A, and
other Federal agencies. Another feature of
the 1935 reformulation of responsibilities was
the initiation of a broad program of socinl
security, one phase of which involved Federal
participation in the specinl nssistance programs.
After 1935 general relief as the resid nal
prognnn became a responsibility of states und
localities.
The 1933-35 Period
g<'ncy RC'liPf Administrn.tion was inaugurated.
This program accounted for the largcst share
of the households and persons receiYing relief
and public employm<'nt benefits during most
of the remainder of I 9;33_ Through this progrum
gf'nernl re lid activit,ies were conducted by
stntf's nnd localities with FE RA financial
assis tn ncf'.
Other forms of work and nssistnn<'c, although
significant, were of limited importan<'e in terms
of the numbers of beneficiaries. Among the
programs in which the Federal Government
took part were the emergell<'}' work activities
of the newly created Civilian Conservation
Corps (then known officially as Emergency
Conservation Work) and Federal Emergency
Administration of Public ·works (PW.A), and
tlw regular work of established Federal agencies.
State nml local govf'rnments, in addition, continued to give assistnn<'e to the aged, dependent
<"hildren, and the blind, and to the various
families and singk persons who had been
obtaining poor relief; these were forms of aid not
superseded by the FedernJ nwasures initinted
in 1988.
ThP work and n'lid programs wpre expanded
in late I 9:3;3 and in I U34 to a lewl more nearly
<·ommensnrate with the nef'ds that existed during the depression yeurs. The totals of over
8,000,000 housPholds and 28,000,000 persons
The years 1932-33 marked the beginning
of actual Federal participation in providing
assistance and work for needy persons. In
preceding years such Federal construction
activities as were carried on through use of
regular appropriations hnd hef'n comparatin•ly
limited in scope. Nor were the rnrlier nrtivities directed towards meeting the unemployment problems which during the deprrssion
had rapidly outgrown state and local bounds
and had soon overtaxed their capacities.
The transition to Federal participatinn was
begun in 1932 through the passage of lcgisla t ion
providing for distribution of .Federally-owned
cotton and grain and of the Emergency Rdief
and Construction Act. These measures, however, were noteworthy more for the change they
introduced than for the extent of participation
they involved. Through the
CHART 8
Emergency Relief and ConHOUSEHOLDS AND PERSONS BENEFITING
st.ruction Act the ReconstrucFROM EMPLOYMENT ON FEDERAL WORK AND
tion Finance Corporation was
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND PUBLIC RELIEF
authorized to make relntinly
January 1933 - June 1939
MILLIONS
MILLIONS
small advances to states and Of"
Of" HOUSEHOLDS
PERSONS
12
loans to municipalities for un- 30
e1nployment relief purposes at
10
the same time tha.t it was 25
authorized to make loans for
8
self-liquidating projects of pri- 20
,' \ f
vate concerns. The act also
,,.,,,,.-.,,,-✓
6
/ ·
\_.,...,..
•
'"''\..... ,,.. ... - , , ... ,----....
. ,'
--- - - i
made available a relativ<'l:\· 15
,/'\,
/ :I
... _
' \__ ,,,,,I
I
liinited amount of emergen<·y
,_,
4
funds for public works of th<• 10
!Federal Government.
Participation in meeting th<> 5
2
unemployment problem on a
renlistic scale was initiated in 0
0
1938
1937
1939
1933 when the grant-in-aid
1936
1935
1934
1933
progrum of the Ff'deral !•:mer-
1
/PERSONS
,,
HOUSEHOLDS
/
\
----,
..,..,,.,,,-- ...\
',
!
••
~11
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Google
132
REPORT ON Pl!.OGRESS 01" 'l'HE WPA PROGRAM
which were renched in J11n1111r~' and February
1934 and have not sin<'e been equaled were the
outcome largely of the program conducted
under the Civil Works Administration. This
was a Federal progmm of project work that was
broadened, for t,he purpose of st-imulnting recovery, to include many persons who, though
unemployed, were not among those on the
relief ro11s. Ac<"ording to estimates about lrnJf
of the 4,300,000 CWA employees in January
1934 were nonrelief workers. The CWA progrnm was discontinued in April and replaced in
part by an expanded FERA progrnm which,
after being suhstantia11y limited to direct relief
activities during the C'WA period, was enlarged
to include a broad work project program
within its scope.
During the remainder of the FERA period
the totnl numbers of households and of persons
benefiting from the several relief and public
employment programs moved generally downward with only temporary interruptions. From
a low point of 5,800,000 households including
21,200,000 persons in June 1934, the total
numbers increased moderately-in the summer
of 1934 as a result of intense drought and in the
winter of 1934-35 because of seasonal needsto 6,900,000 households and 24,800,000 persons
in January 1935. In the spring and summer
months of 1935 the expected seasonal declines
TABLE .'>oA.-EMPLOYMENT ON FEDERAL \VoRK .\ND CoNR1'RUCTJON PRO.JECTS AND RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC RELIEF,
BY PROGRAMS A
MONTHLY
JANl'Alll 1933 TO DECE'1REH 19~5
[In t.honsnn<ls)
Prol,!n•s:-
Ilous,•holr!s
j
.-\dminis1rntion
\\"orks
Year and Month
O I.her Federal Work
Puhli<- W orks
1 t · n.t111,li cn tod T otal
i
Pt 1rson s in
Uwsl' housf•holds
_
Atlministmt.ion
_ _ _ __
Non~'cdernl
1,rojl'ct.s.
C"ivil Works
1
Pro~rnm ·
_
Federal
projects
nnd
Construction
Projects
_______ _
Emen<enry
funds
NYA
Student
Aid
Ch·ilian
~omwn-a~
tion Corps
Regular
funds
19,13
January _______ _____ __ .
February ___________ __ _
March_. _____________ . .
April. . --------·----·. May·---------------- ··
June _____ -·-··------_ . .
July _________________ __
Au~ust __ ___________ . ..
Se ptember _________ __.
Oct.ohn _- -- -·------· Novrmher ___________ _ 1
December __________ __ _·
4,656
4, 908
5. 52fl
18. 0if.
19.0SO
.~.Mfi
21. 9Sfl ·
,5, 403
,\, 032
20,Hflli
4, i87
4, fl2~
4. 29;,
4. :).\f,
5, r,-1s
7, 2:l(I ,
152 ·· ···--··· · · · -··--······
144
1118
100
221
2.17
21 ..1:19
10, 48.1
(li)
IS, 18/i
17,841
lfl, 438
20. 7:i,1
2!i,57~
19.~4
· · - -· ----··
1-···-------
January _ ________ __ _
Fehrunry ______ _____ _
M a rch _______________ ..
AririL -------------. _.
Mny ________________ _
June ________________ . .
8. 01!1
8.01 I
5, 8tl!l
28. 22S
2S, IS:!
2,1, 072
z:I, 182 ...
21. :J87
5, Sl i
21. 17H
July ________________ _
August__. _________ .. .
Sept.cm her_·----·-- -.
October __________ . ...
Nowm1hl'r __________ __
r1, 004
R. 21m
DCC't'mhcr ___________ __
20!<
I
3
0
2.1
43
.... . . ... · - ·
I. .1:12
3,597
91
45 ··········· 3fl
32
38
44
42
:?'bi
22fi
4, 311
3,R54
2, r,09
51
i'fl
(D)
21, 77!1
o.,
HR
(D)
22. !Kl.I
22. 771
22. ~-rn
23, 431
2,\,21\1
II I
1211
12r,
124
!07
411
34~
300 ···--· - · - · . .
288
224
fi •.~!H1
21. 8:J.\
24. ,172
2·1, 4M,
l6S
1•14 ·
0, 88,\
G, 43fl
r., 2S3
0, ;fj!i
f1, ,'l.12
fl, i4(i
21
23
21
34
122
!~2 .
223
2.111
229
284
380
448
i , 2(j,-!
180
lfi7
5
lfo, 21 ,\
1, 10ft
2:1
06
JO
19
19
18
17
17
JS
17
14
6, 1134
2-1,008
i:J.~
94
78
83
100
Zl,IHfi
114
0, 404
22. -1a7
200
2H
120
209
21, Sl7
21, 1;27
127
253 ... . . ···• ···
240
l!l\1
172
139
IOR
n. s2:1
fi,
July. ___ ______________ _
August_ _______ ____ ___ .
Soptcmher . ____ __ ____ __
Octohrr _.. ---------· - ·
Novcmher ___________ __
Dccomhor_ ------- - --· ·
211. 15:l
20. IIOO
IO, 004
20, 008
I
220
374
705 1
I, 815
2,667
1~5
12s
12:1
110
ox
12
12
12
13
13
14
I.IS
18
39
86
137
18.1
216
256
m
284
34 ---·-···--··
31
358
34;
38
42
44
2113
338
351
32
4fi . ••• •• •••• • •
49
- -· ···- 35
184
74
77
234
08
283
58
~<'c nott's on pa1!t'S 150-.52 ror dcscripl-ion or clntn l11cltulcd.
Less than .'\00 persons.
Digitized by
29,
293
268
41 ··--···--·· ·
44
42
44
42
30
- - -A
D
286
2i4
2'.12
289
200
316
35i I
330 !
350
352
330
1935
January __________ _... .
Fchnrnry _____________ _
Mnrrh_________________
· ··-·--·-·-··-··_
April
May ________________ ___
June __________________ _
m
Goog Ie
3()1\
401
481
~I
!l
480 '
459
133
FEDERAL PROJECTS AXD PCBLIC HELIEF
Through other programs that were operative
(luring thP three-.n~nr period ending in 19:15,
public employment was pnwided under the
CCC, p·wA, and other Federal agencies nnd
special types of assist.ance and poor relief
thro11gh state and lo<'al agencies.
in combination with the generally downwnrd
trend resulted in largP reductions. By N onmber of that year the numbers of difforent ho11s0holds and persons aided through tlw relief ancl
employment programs had dropped to ,'5,700,000
and 19,600,000 respectively.
The FERA program gave ('hief Pmphasis to
its general relief activities under which both
work and direct relief were extended, the fornwr
ordinarily accounting for a little less than hnlf
of total recipients. Special programs to tnlw
care of specific groups of persons were also
developed; under the FERA these progrums
included transient relief, emerge1w:v Pdw·ation,
college student aid, and rural rPhnhilitation.
The 1936-39 Period
The reformulation of responsibility which
took place in 1935 gave re<'ognition to the
diff Prences in the types of work nnd relief
needs b:v the estnblislunent of agencies to deal
specific·ally with each of senral phnses of the
problem. F11nds for <'arrying on the programs
WonK
TABLE 56A.--EMPLOYllENT ON FEDERAL
AND ('ONKTHU<"l'ION Pno.JE<'T>' AND lb;c1PIENTK OF PcrHLIC
HY Pno<:HAl!H A
C'ontinu(•d
l\lO!,TIILY-
JA!,l'ARY
RELrnF,
19:J:l TO l>ErE,IIIER 1935
[In thousands]
Special Types of Public
--
Federal Emerger)('y Helief .\dministrat ion
Spedal Progrnms
General Relief
Assistance
I
Emergency rrlief
Aid to
the
blind
Aid to
Old-ai,:e ,tependent
•&.~istnnce children
I
-----~--Poor
relief
1--
~
1
Helief
•
~onrelief
employ- I
ment
_rases
__
- - - T ran~ien
. t
,
College
1•,merge!1CY
, ~tudent
reher
ed1wat 10n I ' aid
'
_________ ·
I
Hurni
rehahilitat ion
I
Farm
8eeurity
Administration
Grants
Year and !\lonth
1
I
116
116
112
i
112
108 ·
113
Ill
110
111
109
108 I
108
I
106 '
105 '
10.5
104
10.5
107
I
123 I
m1
125 :
128 '
130 .
!Ml
141
145
154
164
206:
I
240
256'
~1
281
293
302.
314
326
347
3.59
378 '
109
110
Ill
Ill
111
112
I
I
25
24
24
25
24
24
25
24
24
2.5
24
2,5
I
:
114
112
109
114
114
114
4, 1:J3 : ------- · ·
4,400
4. 978
"· 071
4, ,;i;; --- --------1I
l, 214
13.5
152
:1, 027
:1, 78X
:i, 421;
a. 4711
:1, 8;o
:J,09:!
If,[
171
167
1.53
m1
------------1
------------1
____ _______ I
·----------------------
fi8
ria
f,4
67
7,5 ,
00
1.934
~- un2 [ ___________ [
,l, 003 , ___________ ,
:J ;;0:1 '
4::!fi:l 1-------·i12·
1,:Jfil
8,5
-t, 2fifl
fii
I02
104
13ti
lfi7
18-1
204
4, :!56
72
241
7fi
27:l
110
109 I
111 I
109 I
110
109
27
26
26
27
26
20
177
181
190
175
!IO
110
109
111
32
31
31
175
191
190
:i~ I
207
4. f>IU
4, 64!1
4,821
,I, 078
68
72 '
8:1
208
2RR
113
32
331
33
82
243
108
107
108
110
110
I08
33
32 ,
32
33 '
32 I
33 I
224
230
23~
241
235
230
.1,
:27()
7U
.\ 2-10
,\ 172
f,,013 ,
·I, 812
7'2
24f>
2-10
110
110
I IO
112
113
117 .
34
33
33
35
34
35
231
240
Ill
•1, fi7iJ
I
I
I
:n
61
2fi
f,f,
17
fi-1 I
34
9
9
JO
1-1
261
I
31
3f>
09
gr,
JOO •
JOO .
40
42 .
44 :
44 ,
102
103
10.,
104
24
!
Januarv.
Fobrui,ry.
J\lnrrh.
1
28 '
34 '
3:J
April.
(II)
l\lny.
June.
:12
42
42 !
July.
40 '
August.
•10
MP pt em her.
40
OrtolH•r.
fi2 ____________ Novc>mher.
60 [ ___________ Dcc·,,mb~:;
35
I, !i34
1
2f,0
-1, :104
-1, 220
:1.010
:1. 72:l
:J.tr.:l
2f>9
2,filr.
251
252
---------
2orn11·-
I
·-----------,
fi5
f,5
84
fi7
67
fi4
fjf,
21;!
fiO
288
~~ I
281
209
f,S
w:1
5ti
30
20
1·1
7
249
------
170
140
110
83
I
:
32
2,"l
19
17
8
! ____
~~ i ~===========! il\lnrc-h.
~::)l:!~:1~)•.
17:l
1
I
?~_1
----------1
- --------- ,
1----------1
210
.\ pril.
May.
___________ June.
20fi , ___________
20·1
167
108
____________ July.
___________ August.
-tfi
·----------
f:leptc>mher.
IO ___________ October.
3 1
6 1 ~ovl'mher.
I I
130 ])pc•cmher.
I
-HJ--10
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Google
134
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
which the Federal Government then undertook were appropriated by the Emergency
Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
The Works Progress Administration was
established with the primary objective of providing project work for a large share of the
employable heads of families whose need for
relief was occasioned by unemployment. The
construction work of the PW A was continued
with allocations of money from the ERA Act
of 193.5 that were used chiefly for non-Federal
construction projects. Emergency work was
also undertaken by many other Federal agencies through use of funds provided by the 1935
ERA Act. The number of youths employed
in CCC camps was increased, and the National
Youth Administration was established within
the WPA to conduct a program of part-time
project work for young men and women no
longer in regular attendance at school and a
student aid program to assist high-school,
college, and graduate students in remaining in
TABLE 56B.-EMPLOYMENT ON FEDERAL WORK AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC RELIEF,
BY PROGRAMS A
MONTHI.Y- - JAN UARY 1936 TO JUNE 1939
[In thousands]
U ndupllcated Total
Works Progress
Other Federal
Work and Con·
structlon ProJ·
ects
Public Works
Administration
Administration
National Youth
Administration
Year and Month
Bouse• Persons in Wl'A· Other Fod·
holds these house• operated eral agency
bolds
projects
µrojeC'f.S
- - - - - - - - - -- - -1- - --
1- - - -1 --
-
Non·
Federal
projects
Federal
projects
Erner•
gcncy
runds
Regular
lunds
Student
aid
Wort
projects
· 1- - - -- 1- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -1 - - - - + - - --l
/9J6
January .· -··· ·-· ·-··- •···············
February .. .. . ...... . . . ........... ... . .
March . ...... ........ ••••........... . ..
April. .. .... ........ . ......... . ...... . .
May .. . . ..... ..... .... . ..... . . . .... . . . . l
June .... ... ............... . ... .... ... . . j
July •...... . . .... ..... . . . ... ..... .. . . .. 1
August ... ... ........... ... . ... . .. ..... ,
September . .. ......... . . . .......... . . . .
October . . ... ..... .............. . ... .
Novcmlwr .. · · · ··· ·· · ·-··············· .
December .....................•.. .....
6, 046
20, 903
2,880
6, 179
6,185
5, 9-53
21,331
21,249
20,377
19,181
18. ,549
3.019
2.026
2. 397
2. 281\
18,095
18, 472
18,819
19, 187
19,351
19, 055
2, 245
2,33 2
2,449
2,.548
2, 5-lfi
2. 243
5,973
5,958
6,008
s, 8i8
5,660
5,388
19. 156
18,875
2, 127
2. 14S
2. 125
4,88.'i
14. 817
14. 408
13,084
14, 102
14, 1\84
s:5 600
-54.5
5, 4i0
5, o82
5, i15
5. -968
6, 041
5,986
95
87
123
172
213
240
2.000
247
246
234
214
83
74
76
81
90
96
;s
71
64
200
58
49
175
39
147
130
133
143
154
1.52
26
232
50
306
265
44
49
61
351
79
380
406
398
163
286
351
392
419
78
105
416
405
38,1
156
162
140
364
165
159
331
302
m
215
(B)
17
ISi
178
184
165
2
63
341
399
411
162
167
166
172
178
/ [:7
ti~:ry:::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
March . ... ... ....... . .. . ... .. ....... .. '
1
April. . ... .... ....... ... ....•....... ...
May ....... .. ... . . ............. .•. . . •..
June ...... ......... ... . ...... .. .. ...... ,
July ..... .. ..... . ................... .. I
~u:i~1i~;.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·i
~~~~';,.;.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:I
December ... ......... . ............•... :
4,782
4,696
4,838
4,992
5,338
19, ll05
18, 36()
17,452
16,660
J.5, 966
2,07.5
2,018
1.874
144
13.5
120
1,628
l,1i09
1,4.54
I, 4fi0
I, 501
I, S94
107
91
77
29
248
207
201
212
222
232
28 '
220
30
27
27
30
26
24
21
18
15
119
113
427
«o
130
154
176
249
194
205
178
169
166
160
147
417
116
209
205
442
424
~1;1r.y:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
April. .. . ..... ............... ...... . .. .
May ... ...... . ............ ........... . .
June .• ...•.•.... ........••....• . . .... ..
July .....••........ .. . . .. ... ..... . ... ..
.-\u~ust .. ................... . . ... .. . .. .
>lcptcmber ..... . . ...... .. •.. .... . . . . . . .
Octoht1r ..... ............... ...... . . . . .
November .. ........... . ... ....... ... . .
Dccomber .. ............. . .•.... ..•. . . .
5,77 1
6,089
fi, 479
6, s;8
17, 50.5
18,63fi
19, !)ti.I
133
36
196
165
3(K
136
138
130
158
310
320
327
334
146
152
155
159
179
20, 3.'iS
65
73
8
120
114
122
152
2. 6.'18
2. 7•11
82
84
9
209
187
329
8
243
206
219
81
78
7
8
80
14
94
24
105
122
34
35
153
16
17
16
13
13
219
1·10
144
34
:11
ISO
31
34
6, 68,5
20, f,84
6, r,86
20. 782
6, 6:16
20, r,s1
6,772
6,804
7,076
7, 161
7, Ir~
21, 101
21, 191
21,700
21. 002
21,892
7, 13.'i
7, 173
i, li!I
6, 98!1
6,SOS
21,744
21, 71\1
21 , 740
20. 1189
20. 235
6,610
10, .'i02
2,4:m
2,912
3,037
3, 120
3, 192
3, 2311
:i, or,G
8.5
8S
89
90
01
90
2,928
2, 00,5
2,917
2, li7H
88
85
86
IIO
2• .,..,07
130
13-1
II
9
9
12i
123
244
283
1,801
2, 001
2. 319
2, !i.1/l
65
63
185
173
1ro
(B)
I
/9J8
185
189
192
192
141
127
D
215
236
2
219
246
243
49
322
:m
225
199
372
36-1
221
230
240
/9,19
January... . ... ..
. .. .... ...... . . .
~~{~1,8?:::::::::::::.::::::::::::·:: I
April. .. ............. . .. . . .. ........ . · j
~~~:::: ::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::
170
188
205
36
35
10
9
8
8
9
0
168
158
161
180
206
239
notes on pages IS0-52 for description of data included.
Lc.ss than 500 persons.
• Sec
8
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Google
372
382
380
384
372
280
237
242
236
228
2'l5
214
135
FEDERAL PROJEC'l'S AND PUBLIC RELIEF
srhool. The NYA student aid pro1c;rnrn th us
initiated broadened the earlier student nid
activities of the FERA whieh were limitPd to
college students. Another Fl~RA ndivity,
through whieh grants were made to n<.'edy
farm families, wa.s continued b~· the RPst'ttlement Administration (later the Fnrm Security
Administration). This ageney also continued
the making of loans to farm families to hdp
them in beeoming self-supporting and took over
for further prosecution the various resettle-
ment, land use, and related projects that had
been started under other agencie:-;.
Through the 8ocia.l Security Act the Federal
Govt>rnmen t in 19:35 bee ame a parti<"i pant in
the special assistance programs to aid the aged,
dependent children, and the blind. With the
delineation of the fields of Federnl responsibility definitely indi<"nted in the ERA Act of
19:35 and the Social Se<'mity Ad, a residual
responsibility was left. to state and local governmen ts. RPsponsibilit~r for general relief under
TABLE 56B.~EMPLOYMENT ON FEDERAL \YORK AND C'ONSTRl'('TJON Puo.JECTS AND HEcIPIENTs O~' PuBT,IC HELIEF,
BY PRO(lH.UIS A C'oni,i11upd
M0NTIILY
JASl'ARY
man
TO
Jc~a:
19;:39
[In thousands]
Special Types of Public Assistance
Federal EmerKCil('Y
Relief .\dmini~trn~
tion Special Programs
General Relief
Civilian
Conser-
vation
Corps
~,
426 I
322,
348 I
336
350
338
299
330
343
328 .
Nonrelief
TranHient
employrelief
ment
--- -------
Aicl to the
blind
~:mergency
edue1ttion
Relier
cases
----
I
Oran ts
!
430
473
505
571 ,
607 .
650 ·
123
132
132
144
149
156
37 I
41
43 '
42 ·
43 I
7881
807
899
973 .
1, 03,5
1,106
158
148
140
154
158
160
42 '
43
I, 150
1,200
lf,6
Iii
47 ·
47
48 I
·19
49
50
I
44i
44
44
45
45
1936
2,216
2,136
2,010
I, 827 I
I. 657 I
l,,5M
I
1, 4.52
1,434
1,389 '
I, 396
1, 40f,
1, .510 ,
i
39
27
23
15
13
11
3
3
1
1
1
1
10
(D)
(D)
(11)
9
9
9
9
11
(ll)
(")
(B)
(B)
(D)
(D)
(B)
151
139
172
108
86
62
(H)
(B)
(II)
41
60
77
(H)
(H)
(D)
135
(11)
aas
88
93
!
350
345
303
303
301
277
276
218
233
1,256 ,
1, 2961
1,327
1,290
i
I
I
:1I
284
1,392
I, 432 '
I, 467
1,503
1,541
1,577
Year and Montb
tration
Aid to <lependent
children
Old-age
assistance
Farm
Security
Adminis-
I
178
183
189
192
,50
51
,52
196
203
209
1,602
1, 726 '
I.fiR.\ I
I, ,\fiO
1,882 ,
1,277
(D)
-- - --------
I
1,257
1,271
1, 26,5
1,270
I. ;Jf,8
1. fi2f, ; - · · ----- -
(ll)
(")
i
::: ::: -: :: ~ I
21.5
220
228
.;4
234
241
247
252
256
2.58
57
,59
fiO
62
62
1.
200
265
268
271
274
6:l
1,0W
I. !i81 i
I. ,\2fi
I, 4116 ·
1, ,518
I. n31
-------------
.\.5
56
10
6
6 '
(H)
(11)
January.
February.
March_
April.
Mny.
June.
July.
August.
Septcmher.
October_
~oYemher.
Decen1her.
/987
2211
323
300
218
191
January.
February.
March.
April.
1\lay.
June.
54
78
67
71
83
100
July.
Au~ust.
September.
Oetoher.
Novemher.
l)eeen1her.
108
119
126
117
112
93
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
19/JS
285
278
1,600
1,623
262
262
257
245
I. 662
1,677
1, fi57 ,
284
290
268
291
293
275
1, 64fi
I, 707
I, 716
1, 731
1, 746
1, 762
I, 776
1
60
64
6.5
65
66
67
280
I. 8931
I. 99fi
I, !J<J4
1, 81.5
mrn
I. f,48
------------
70
62
I
60
70
89
115
--------- ----
July.
August.
September.
Oct.ober.
Novemher.
Deremher.
/,939
295
296
259
285
292
266
I, 792
1,804
1,818
1,834
I, 835
I, 845
288
296
298 :
29fi I
300
311
I
67
67 :
67
tiH
118'
68
1. 772
1,844
1iti
12:l
127
114
1. 851
I. 724
!, f,44
1, .,f.S
.
87
69
-------------- -------------- -- ----- -- - - -
Digitized by
January.
February.
'>forch.
April.
Mny.
Jnnl'.
Google
...
136
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
,
these circumstances relates to the care of needy
persons not aided, or insufficiently aided,
through other programs.
The unduplicated totals of households and
of persons receiving relief and public employment after the reformulation effected late in
1935 and early in 1936 show no substantial
break with the earlier data. The general downward trend that had begun two years previously continued in 1936 and most of 1937,
reflecting the improvement in business conditions. Minor interrnptions in the downward
movement may be attributed to the greater
seasonal needs for relief during winter months
and to the 1936 drought. A large part of thr
def'line was accomplished through curtailment
in the number of vVPA workers and, to a lesser
extent, through reduction in the number of
recipients of genernl relief--changes for which
there wns only pnrtial compensation in the
rapidly expanded old-age assistance program.
The sharp depression beginning in the second
half of 1937 reversed the downward movement
in the aggregate number of households and persons benefiting under the various relief and public work progmms. Between September 1937
and February 1939 the number of households
increased from about 4,700,000 to 7,200,000,
and the number of persons from 14,000,000 to
2 I ,800,000. General relief played an important
part in the initial phases of this expansion
despite the limited capacities of state and local
governments to enlarge their relief e}..--penditures.
The somewhat delayed increase in WP A employment was effectively under wa.y in January
1938 and reached its peak in the autumn of that
year. Throughout the period the programs
providing special types of public assistance to
meet the needs of the aged, dependent children,
and the blind also continued to expand.
CHART 9
PERSONS BENEFITING FROM EMPLOYMENT ON
FEDERAL WORK AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
AND PUBLIC RELIEF, BY PROGRAMS
January 1933 - June 1939
MILLIONS
OF PERSONS
30
I'',,
I
I
I I
MILLIONS
OF PERSONS
i
I
25
I
30
-----+---------<25
20
---110
------<5
0
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
----'0
1939
WPA
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3370
137
FEDERAL PROJECTS AND PUBLIC RELIEF
Total Numbers of Persons Benefited
Trends in the total number of persons bC'nefiting from the relief and employment programs
during the 1933-39 period differ in one important respect from the trends in the number of
households. 3 The count of persons hns t<'IHl<'d
to rise more slowly and to drop more shnrply
than the count of households--an indication
of the decline in the average mun her of persons
per household. To some extent the decrN1s0 in
the number of persons in the average household
from almost four persons in 1933 to about threp
in June 1939 is attributable to the incrcnsPd
representation of single-person households. An
important factor contributing to this result has
been the continued expansion of the old-agP
assistance program through which succpssively
larger numbers of one- and two-pPrson ho11seholds have been included in the aggregate
number of recipients.
The program composition of the totals for
persons throughout the 1933-39 pNiod is shown
in Chart 9. For consideration of the relatiw
sizes of the different programs 11se is made of the
program distribution of persons rather tha11 of
households because the former is bC'tter suited
to a portrayal in broad terms of the rPlutive
significance of each of the progrnms. The dnta
for persons avoid the implica tioll of attaching
equal in1portance to households hellefiting from
one program which would average betweell one
and two persons per household and households
benefiting from another program which might
an~rage in excess of four persons per h011sehold.
"11ether the actual data relate to persons or to
households, however, a chart of the program
composition of relief and public emplo~·ment
figures cannot show the exact importance of the
different programs becnuse of the existern•p of
some duplication between progrnms. 4 Tlie
problem of duplication has bee11 met i11 Chnrt, ~l
by including persons in households which benefited from more than one progrnm i11 that program which occupies the lower position in the
chart.
3 lt,or most programs the numher of persons benefiting was not reJ.!Ularly
reported; in such cases estimates were prepared i11 actorda1H·(• with information derived from special studies of the \VPA and L.he I>i\'ision or
Public Assistance Research of the Social Security Board.
• The nature of the duplication is discussed in the notes t.o the tables
appearing on page 150.
Movements in Indexes of Unemployment
and Persons Benefited
A mnrked degree of correspondence has been
present bctwem1 trends in estimated unemployment and in the total number of persons benefiting through the n~lief and emplo~·ment programs. This rnny be seen in Chart IO which
equntes at 100 percent in the ,July 1934- ,June
1!l35 hasp 1wriod the unemployment estimnt.cs
prepared for the Committee on Economic SN·urity nnd the count of persons benefiting from the
sPvernl programs. The chart indicates that the
dmvnwanl moveme11ts of the indexes from 1934
to the middle of 1937 were substantially equiv:dent; in 1938 and I !l3!-), however, the particular
measure of unPrnployment used in the chart was
cl<'nrly above th<' rneasmc of relief and public
employment. The year and n hnlf preceding
the 1!)34--35 has0 period nppcars as a formative
stage- during most of 1933 the relief and employmcn t progrnms had not yet ass111ncd the
breadth that they wPre Inter to dcn,lop and in
the winter of 1!-)33 34 tlw C'vY A program raised
the seale of activities to a level not since attained.
Characteristic sensonul changes are found in
the unPmployrncnt index n11d these arc generally
pnnilleh'd by comparable fluctuations in the
number of persons benefiting under the relief
ma! public employment programs although the
infh1m1cp of droughts introd11eed contrasensonal
chnnges in the !utter series in 1934 and 1936.
:\1ost interesting from nrnny viewpoints, however, arc the two years ending i11 ,June 1939. It
is noteworthy thnt the ndjustmcnt in the scope
of the combined progrnms to the reversal in
employment conditions was slow in getti11g
m1der wuy and was not gT('H t en011gh in lllHf.,'11it11dc by the winter of I !-)38 3\l to bring the relief
nrnl public employn1e11t i]l(IPx into line with the
index of unemploynwnt.
Any analysis of thP similnritics in the movements of the m1Pmployment and persons ind('xcs must recognize the clement, of incompnm hility thn.t is introduced by the inclusion
in the latter series of pPrsons whose need is
attributable to unemployability rn thN than
to unpmployment. Exclusion of such pNs011s
before comparison is made with the unemployment series, alt.hough desirable, is difli<"ult
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138
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
CHART 10
of support since in January
1938 unemployment compensation payments were begun
in 21 states and the District of
January 1933 • June 1939
Columbia. (A program was
in operation in Wisconsin prior
130
-- - - + - - - - + - - --+---+-----+---+----t 130
to January 1938 and all but
120
120
two of the remaining states
had initiated payment of un110
employment compensation by
100
,Tune 1939.) The effect of
90
90
this program has been limited,
however, partly as a result of
the relatively short duration
70
70
I
of
the period during which
\
I
- - - + - - - - + - -- 1----\,.,/
eo
benefits can be paid (seldom
eo
in excess of 16 weeks) and
~ L__;__ ____;_~.....c...~...L..~.L..c.~~-'-'-1..~....L.~
· ·~· ~·~
· ~· ~·· ~ ·~· ~~--'--'-'-'--~~
1939
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
partly because of oth<'r factors
such as the length of the inter1934 · June 1935 • 100.
- · ~11
val during which wage credits
had accrued and the existence
of accomplishment been.use of the technical
of importnnt fi<'lds of activity that are not
problems arising, pn.rticulnrly during the first.
covered by compensation plans. With the exhalf of the 1933- 39 period. The effect of inhnust.ion of the vnrious e"1>edients upon which
cluding in the count of persons those indirelinne<' could temporarily be placed, the unemvid unls who were aided been.use of 1111employployed turned to the relief and public employability is to increase the n.hsolute totals for the
ment programs for assistance.
series throughout, to reflect the 1936-:39 expansion in the programs pro,·iding specin.l types
Recent Changes under
of assistance, and to limit the n•ln.ti ve mng11ithe
Various Programs
t11de of the seasonal fluctuntions in the seriC's.
A number of fn.ctors tend to cause the Ing.
The following summnries of the relief and
such as occurred in l 9:~7 11.Jl(l l 9:38, in the renet'mployment, programs nre limited to a brief
tion of the relief and public employment proreview of the general character of en.ch of the
grnms t,o increnses in unemployment. TherC'
prog-rnrns and the major chnnges that have
are, on the one hand. thosC' In.ct.ors which delay
tnk<'n pince <luring recent yen.rs. Quantitathe prnvision of assistn.nce 011 a hrnuder ,;;cnl<'.
tive aspects of the discussion in each iustance
Meution sl1ould be mack of limitn.tions m1 n.viiiln.re in terms of the recipient, dat,a reported for
able funds and the time required t.o make adthe pnrticulnr program, without reference to
ditional funds available; nnother fnct.or nrises
t.Jie <'xtent, of duplicnt.ion thnt. may occur befrom the time 11ecded to effect the neces:;;nry
t,wePn prngrn.ms. The bnsic dntn n.re provided
administrntive and procedural n.djusLn1ents.
in Tn hies 5GA, 56B, nnd 57, the first two of
More importn.nt in some respt>cts is the inH11whieh show the number of recipients under
ence whid1 originates with tht> workers who
l'IICh progrnn1 from the beg-inning of 1933
have lost tl1eir jobs in private industry.
t.hrough ,Tune 19:~9, u.nd the third, the number
Mn.ny of the newly u1wmployed p<'rsons are
by s1,ut.<>s n.nd by programs in June 1939.
able to support themsel n •s u.nd their fornilic>s
for varying- periods of time through use of U1C'ir
Works Progress Administration
sayings n.nd resort to other temporary exp<'di<'nts. llncmployment compe11snt,io11 h<'neTh(• progrnm of the WPA has been of outfit.s hn.ve recently provid<.'d an additio11u.l menus
st1111di11g significance in recent yenrs nmong the
INDEXES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND PERSONS BENEFITING
FROM EMPLOYMENT ON FEDERAL WORK AND
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND PUBLIC RELIEF•
~
• July
Digitized by
GoogIe
139
FEDERAL PROJECTS AN"D PUBLIC RELIEF
TABLE 57.-EMPLOYMENT OX FEDERAL \YORK AXD C'oN~TR(C('TIOX PROJECTR AND RE<'IPIENTS OF PUBLIC RELIEF,
BY 8TATER AND BY PROGRAMS A
Jr,rn 1939
\Vorks Progrt•ss
-Xational Youth
Administration
I
I . ..
Othrr
1-
r1Y
United States .... ---A.labama _________________ _
Arizona
Arkansas _________________ _
California ________________ _
Colorado .. _______________ _
2,436, 0!19
133, 4ill
49, SIi
7. fi13
I. 474
908
43, i09
1()(), 364
22, 4AA
2. 41()
S, ill,I
3, 49f>
Connecticut. _____________ _
Delaware. ______________ _
District or Columbia. ____ _
Florida. _________________ _
Georgia __________________ _
23, 230
1,770
3, Io7
10, 4ifi
7. 972
2,329
I. 933
311
2, 35.1
297
774
·122
3, fi60
4,109
----
3, fl37
4. 727
R, fifi(l
198. 914
76, 121
26,376
2. 070
2. fi'ifi
2, 3fi2
17, 4,19
I.Oil
12. 7()9
2. 23\1
7fh1
2,330
9,472
t~~~
Michigan __
:Minnesota ________________ _
~lississlppi__ ____________ - ~lissouri. ------ _____ ----- -~lontana _________________ _
122, 4fi4
52, 1132
39,022
8-1. fi81
14, 48fi
Xebraska ________________ _
Xe,·ac!a _____ _
New Hampshire __________ _
Xew Jprsey ____________ _
Xe"· :'.\foxiro ___________ . __ _
78, 2AA
10. 071
Xcw York _______________ _
Xorth Carolina __________ _
Xorth Dakota ____________ _
Ohio_------------------·--·
Oklahoma. _______________ _
Oregon _____ _____________ _
PennsylYanla _________ . ___ _
RhodP Island_
South Carolina ___________ _
!¼Jnth Dakota. ___________ _
Texas _____________________ _
rtnh _____________________ _
~:r:-:rn1~~-- =:: :::::: :: ::::::
Washington. _____________ _
West Vir~inia. ___________ _
\Vi~r.on~in ________________ _
Wyomln~- _______________ _
4,297
858
9fi.'l
4, ,128
,5, 28!1
2,212
2, 2S3
1.338
I. 058
9. 973
,'1,fifi9
4. 404
Farm
Sec·urity
-i--
I
I
7,237
2,437
7,294
8,096
2,304
i
909
11. .i!8
5,388
fi, 130
.i, .113
I. 324
1,!'iM
I, 3,13
2, 38,i
7,58.1
4. 335 I
5, 4,i,I I
4. 849 I
I. 313
7, S13
133
;;49
4. fi:'i2
I.fin
I, 795 '
lll9
862
I. 3,il
2,940
9, 13i
I
I
!
Hi, fjlf1
I, 42fi
3}G
2,810
3. 281 I
37, ,;44
22. 298
9fi8
3, 93f>
3, 733
200
2,390
990
20, fi99
I, 452
I, 564
8,070
5,933
292
7, 700
2,474
I, 3fif>
1,087
C 2,100
!Sf,, fi84
45, 933
27. 202
18,633
4, 1112
4,1, 028
30, 04.,
11. ~71 ,
17. fi6R '
12. AA4
7,730
2, 19.i
R. 779
510
7,386
f,, 1.lfi
!i, S24
83, 27/i
fi6, 381
2,836
2, 8ii
r.. 031
2, 23i
201,922
41. 39i
12. 325
202, 707
.12. fi34
8,422
39, .1821
22, !Ri
I.I, ,508
182. 240
13, 742
38, i71
13. 944
l ..1~12
2,482
I. 507
1,801
4, 33f,
I
Ifi, 3:lR
14, .i20
I. fi49
Ii. 4,il
12, li7
2,282
7. 7UO
I. fi81
2. 923
14. IM
!i. !iiO
10, 8Rfi
f 27f>
~~
I
R, 2fl~
fli, 71.,
I
2, 724
10,813
I. '!.14 '
7,040
I. .133
I. .i!O
3, ,if.6
4. ,3.1
1,933
13. 459 I
07Sl
4, 80:1 '
I, 24!i
12. 024
8, 113!1 ·
1,fiAA
23, !130 I
2, 2,13 ,
8,838
fi3fi
I. :i4r.
19, 227
312
4, 8fi3
4, 12!1
13i
I, 1198
13, 42~
7, 20,i
4,401
fi28
u~~
139
24
1
r
o. ~g~
110,229
3
<' 249
10, 9,i2
I. 328
7, 1152 i
10. 438 I
C
7. flSfl
C' lfi(i
10, 18i
2, Hi:'i
10, 8i0
I. f,,13
i
I
Iii,
JO, R2!i I
R2, ()f)fi 1
fl, .134
24, m~.,
7. 760
10,131
7,559
fi3, 117
6.,£)
I. 144
1
C
16R
67
3,318
456
71i
82
36
26
403
802
3,353
3,1.54
4,900
604
8, 41fi
5.10
36, f,5()
5,161
7, ,559
3,039
5
22
fil,900
2,192
2,836
317'
;~f I
I
1. not:
C
3fi, 420
"(, J.~7
2, 61i7
27.1, Jin
2, 08,t
122
·'· 932
4,613
10, .,Ti
Hi.~;)~
3, 1133
1. i!il
28, 4<i2
444
12, 2fi2
".;o
2f>4, 153
I, 110
4. 7fl0
I, 89!1
93fi
C 10,000
2, S.12
234
4,072
2,091
3,fiOO
421
,I, 908
13,722
,'i, 118-1
<' ti, fi23
4, 132
3S, .,08
18, lfi8
4fi, /i6fi
:1, 210
7. lfi2
801
11. 42,I
708
I, 97!1
A Sec note~ on pages 150-,52 for dc•scription of dnta inC'ludrd.
B Gnltcd States total reprrsN1ts avcragr <>llro1lmf'nt rlurinf! the month.
!tatP~) reprc~nt numht•r cnrollrcl on Inst <lay or month.
502
46i
1,013
3,190
474
I. 041
,18,I
217
601
61,874
3i, 78i
118, 047 ,
13, fifl9
I
3
3R
7.1)7
~lfi
,\f,2
3, fi,i;)
143
ti, 4:ifi i
11,904
I, 09?
8,291
llOI
3, 2s2
2, lllO
4,228
951
5,100
!119
1,241
I.I, 103
4,084
11, 20!I
3, 220
!113
2,051
!
3,000
r,. nfin
2,933
I. 944
4, 721
l:nclistrihutecl by staf Ps
33. 40(i
1
,).!i11
11. 271
I
C
4, 0:11
134
43!i
2,205
4,340
29, 41i
3. 8,li
I~: i~~
4, J.131
4. RIO
I. 484
i, ii,,
I, 234
I
2i, l.i7
I.Ml
,I, 719
34,014
5, ,105 I
I
.iJ4
r., fi3,I
2, 1i4
C
14, 32!1
19, 7fi4
7,i, 896
4.0!)/l
4, 71S
1 fi07
8,321
4..,M .
l, 3fifi
7,488
I. 023
2, fi4fi
lfi. 721
I
I
49.i
<'i,f,()(}
1
('rants
'
(Grant
Vouch- ers) .
1,567,039 _ ~~71fi
2,019 '
2,888
3, 86fi
123, 12;
12. 040
i8, 991
224 i
fi8, 207
.12G .
3181
631
6, 4;r,
610 ,
fi, 272
9. szn I
2, 144 ,
I
5,519 I
2. ,;no
4,003
13, nn
4,833
8, 39fi
132 ..118
fi3, 712
52,08,1
24, 233
;;t~~ti~
-
311. lfi3
I
Ut~ I
5, 5i0
,I, 074
Jfi, r,14 7. 320 1
17, 0801
080
38,824 •
m.
3,%1
7,958
6,998
I
I
om
S, llf>
I, 144
4. 14fi
I..
1. R44, AAi '
2, 2fi0
404
li. :'ifiO :
3, fi!).'~
.I, fi07
4,420
fl30
I
I
-·-
211fi, 237
q,fi:'i(i
3,S73,
40, ,i24
fi2, 723
3, 102
han
8,902
5,311
7, 711
19, ,12fi
I. 28.1
34, 3.1.1
1
I
24, 98,i
I. 818
i. 91'7
42, iOf'i
91. 1()2
10,303
4,fi.14
2, 2490
I
I. 47fi
3,293
7, 17fi
13,~:!2,
R, I l l
11.M~
II. 429
r., 08.1
3,207 I
B
2, !li4 1. 327 .
2, 170
ia. 112 ,
4, ms
:i:
41,7.50
27. 'i8fi
279, 09fi
12. 043 - ~
3 42n
1, rn5 1
731 I
4,819 I
1. 3sn
22. n.12
n. 807
2, 231
52,f.40
~::.~!a;:,a::
:--:::::::: ::::,
~fa..ssachusetts ____________ _
Tennessee. _______________ _
213, fi94
487, 93fi
1. 783
8, 748
f,, 8,12
8,717
53, fi!fi
42. 48,i
i, 299
13,290
100, Si5
Ei~~~~~---==::::::::::::::,
Ass1stanl'e
\-~i'/;;'~-
WPAoperated
projects
(employees)
Kansas ________ -----------·
I
~PP<'hl T):f){'S of Puhlic
O!ht'r
FPclPrnl
!
!\
--I
General
FedPral A~mC'fes
""o k
n
,\'d t I
Relief
iEm- , ". r ts I Stwlent , ' orps [ OJcl-nge · 1 0 ' P· Aicl to the
(Cases)
aqenry
p]o\"f>es) ()TOJO(' ' aid /emrnn- assistanrp pe!'clent hlincl (reprojects .
·
/pmploy-, plowes)
rolfeps) /rPcipipnts) I rh1l<lr~11 , cipients)
/er;!J~rees)
'
' . I
:
' i (fnmlhPS)I - - - _ _ _ _ ,
State
Idaho _____________________ _
illlnols _____________ .• ___ - .
Indiana ___________________ .
Iowa_. ___________________ _
/
1
Administration
C
143
347
50,1
89,958
8, 41.1
ll44
lfi, 500
1,580
8, 7i5
125
320
lfi
40/\
14, .521
21. 2fMi
!", f\fii
a. !i21
I
s. 100 I
.108 ,
H, ,iHO
119
fi, 1!).'i
1, 38,1
209
mo i
8.il
HOSI
1.i.l
rn2
4,000
13, ,129
5,020
2, 61i9
8, i02
2,193
131
42
fi8
"12,660
14, l3i
44, 74fi
1,465
1,609
350
C
I
200
,51
State fli:tm•s which total 240,8:ll (excluding 179 persons not reported by
c F.stimatPrl.
0
Exrluding
f'BS<.'S
rrceivlng only Tll<'rliC"al
f'!lT{'.
employment-providing nctivitiC>s undNtnkC>n hy
the Federal Governnwnt. Sine<' rn~.5 otlH'r
programs ha.v<' seldom engagNl workC>rs rnm1bering in PX<'P8S of 400.000. wh<'rC>ns \YP A <'lllploymcnt has rang-Pd upwnrd from nhout
1,450.000 to slightly ov<'f 3,000.000. Tlw WP .A
progrnrn lrns nlso eYidC>nced n vnriC>ty nnd
flexibilit~· which, in nddit.ion to its rnagnit11de,
nre 11<'<'<'ss11ry to the fulfilmC>nt of t.lw purposp
for whirh the WP.A wns estnblish<'d in Hm5-
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140
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
that of provi<ling ft maximum nurnbE'r of johs
for needy unemployed workE'rs on useful
public projects.
In its broad npprortch the vVPA program
stands u1 contrast with othPr typps of Federal
work and construction progrnrns. The latter
have either providPd E'mployrnf'nt for sppcial
groups of workf'rs. such ns tlw ('('(' and NY A
programs for youths. or rtffordf'd work to relatively large proportions of <'Xpf'rif'nced construction workNs rts has hcPn tn1f' of thf' heavy
construction of the PVV A and similrtr undertakings of other Federal ngr!l('irs. WPA
workers have hePn drawn from nll clnssps of the
unemployed in 1111 pnrts of tlw country nnd
have rPpresrntf'd thP pconomic hf'nds of fnmiliPs
in need of relif'f bPcnusr of unrmploynwnt.
They lrnve recrivf'Cl monthly security wages in
accordance with n scl1ed11lE' of earnings cksigned
to meet tlrn subsistence rpq11iremP11ts of families.
The nurn her of vVP A workers, ns is noted in
grE'ater detail in anotlwr sf'ctio11 of this rE'port,
rose rnpidly in H)35 n fter the i11itia tim1 of WPA
projf'ct Prnployment in the s1m1mer of that :vcar
and rertched approximately 2,700.000 workPrs
by the end of DecPmber. 1v1nny of the nrwly
assigned WPA employees had prrviously bPen
working on projrcts prosPcut<'d urnkr the
Emerg<>ncy Work ReliPf Program of thP FERA.
Early in 1936 furthrr incrensps in WPA employment brought the totnl number of vVP A
workprs to slightly more than 3,000,000 (Febniary 1936). For about a yPar 1111d a half
therpafter the numbrr of pPrsons working on
\VPA projects moved downwn rd in kreping
with the improved prinite employmPnt conditions; a low avPrage of less th:rn n million and
a half was reached in the foll of l!-)37. The reversnl in husi1wss conditions then cnused nn upward movement in the trend of \i\T A employment which lasted for n yenr nnd rPsulted in nn
employment peak nhout 200,000 nhovp thr
high point of l!-)3fi. Subsf'quent curtailment of
the WPA pmgrnrn reduc('d the numlwr nt
work on WPA pmjE'cts to lPss thnn 2,500,000
during June 193!-l.
Throughout the _vear ending in ,Turn~ 19:3!-l,
vVPA funds wcr<' used to finnncr n ceTtain
amount of Fndernl agency project. work that
closely resembled the projPct activities conducted by the Wl'A. Such Frdnrnl agency
work represented a continuation of part of the
activities that in prior years had been carried
on by the Fed era I agencies with direct allocations
of emergency funds. The actual number of
workers employed by Federal agencies on WP.Afinanced proje('tS was not large, however, in
comparison with the employment provided on
'VYPA-operated projects. During the first nine
months of thP year the WPA-financed Federal
agen('y employment did not vary far from 90,000
and only during ~fay and June 1939 did it
reach an average of 130,000 workers.
The preponderance of the WP A program in
the total for the several Federal work and construction programs has already been noted as
well as its flexibility in adapting itself to changing unemployment conditions. In comparison
with all programs through which relief has been
extended or employment provided on Federal
work and construction projects the WPA
program also is outstanding. During a considerable share of the time since 1935 the persons benefiting from vVPA work accounted for
more than half of the total number assisted
under all prngrams. Only in 1!-!37 and in early
1938-a period of relative prosperity followed
by the first months of recession-did the
number of persons benefiting through WPA
work fall s11bstantially below half the total
number (Chart 9).
National Youth Administration
The NYA wns established in 1935 to administer 11 program of assistnnce for young
people. Through project activities the NYA
hn.s provided pa.rt-time employment and work
experience for out-of-school youths in need of
relief; the stu<lent nid program has supplied
monthly earnings to neE'dy young persons who
nre attending school. The latter program is a
con tinun.tion of the college student aid program
of the FERA, broadened to include high-school
stud en ts ns \\"ell as ('olleg-e stud en ts.
Tl1P KYA studrnt nid program for young
peoph' who without this help would not have
lw<'n nblP to continuP their education assisted
s011wwhnt larger numbers of students during
19:38- ;39 thnn dming the preceding school year.
1ll JunP 1939, at the end of the school year,
nbout 280,000 stucl<'nts benefited under the
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141
FEDERAL PROJECTS AND PUBLIC IUcLrnF
NYA. The maximum for thC' yenr wns rC'nched
during the first few months of 1939 when about
380,000 were aided; this figure repn'sents about
50,000 more students than were assistC'd during
the same months of 1938 and 50,000 lC'ss thnn
in the first four months of 1937. StudC'nts
reeeiving NYA aid nre required to work under
the direction of local school nuthoritiC's for n
sufficient mrmber of hours Pnch month to PH m
their monthly allowances at prevaili11g houri.''
rates of pay. The varied activities plnmwd by
the school authorities range from construction
and improvement work in connection with
grounds and buildings to lnborntory, librnry,
research, and clerical work.
Employment on the NYA work projC'ct
program increased steadily througlwut thC'
calendar year 1938 to rpach 1111 nll-tinH' pPnk
of 242,000 in February 1939. Grndunl dc>clines during the following six months brou,d1t
the number down to nbout 214,000 in ,Jun<'
1939, a figure only slightly higher thnn thnt for
June 1938. NYA projpct workers. prnctienlly
all of whom are between 18 and 24 .''en rs of
age, have been engagC'd mi a pnrt-timC' bnsis
in the many types of work that have been
prosecuted under the direction of NY A authorities.
NYA projects }rnve involn•d construction
activities such as road improvprnent and rPmodeling and new construction of buildings
and recreational facilities; conservation work;
production activities conductt>d through sPwing, woodworking and met.alworki11g- 1n·ojPcts;
and recreational leadership, hook repair, ekrienl
and research assistance, and otlwr kinds of nonconstruction activities. Trnining rPlnt<'d to
project work or to specific orcupationnl n•quin•ments of private industry hns h<wn rnndc nn1ila.ble to NYA project workers, pnrtly mi thPir
own time and partly on projPct tirne. !\YA
supervisors and personnel from other ag-<'n<'iPs
or from educational institutions ha V<' supplied
the instruction.
Civilian Conservation Corps
The CCC program was initintNl in 19::3::3 t.o
opera~e camps providing employnwnt und
vocational training for young lll<'ll who arc
unemployed and in need of emplo:vnwnt.. For
enrollment in the ('('C it hns been required
sinrt> ,July 1, 19::37, that yollng- men, in addition
to being unPmployed, must he between the
ng-Ps of 17 nnd 2::3 inclusive, unmarried, not in
regl!lar n ttc>ndnnrc at school, and willing to
nllot to their dt>pcn<knts nhout three-qunrtPrs
of the usual $30 mon thl.'' rash allowance.
During the six-month enrollment period the
enrollpes live in camps wlwrp most of them
pnrticipate in education and training programs
thnt supplpnwnt the experience gained through
projc>ct work.
CCC projects, in the supervision of which
various FedNnl and state ng-encies coopernte,
have (l<:•nlt chiefly with the ronservntion nnd
dPvPlopnwnt of nnturnl resources. Among the
nrnjor kinds of CCC opc>rntions are thosp for
impnffing the ~nt.ion's forests and prokcting
thPm from firp nml dPstnwt,ive diseases and
ins<•cts; controlling erosion nnd floods; providing irrigation nnd drninng<'; dP,·eloping n•creationnl fuC'ilities in pnrks and forpsts; and
Pstn blishing- wildlife refugPs.
From month to month during tlw y<•nr Pnding
in ,J111w 1939 th<' nvPrng<' numlwr of CCC PnrollP<·s fl11rt1111 tPd bPtW<'<'n 250,000 and '300,000
with disehnrgPs nnd rPplnrrnwnts at th<' Plld
of th<> Pnrollnwnt 1wriods chidly rpsponsihle
for such rlrnng-es ns OC'cunwl. During I 93.'"i n nd
Parly 1!J:35 tlw total numh<>r of Pnroll<'<'S wns
C'onsid<'rnhly uhovP t.hP n•cPnt Pnrollnwnt l<>vPls.
Av<'rngP monthly <'ll!'Ollnwnt <'XCP<'dPd 480,000
in August and SPpt<'mbN of 193.5 nnd only
one<• hi'tw<'Pll April I g::3,1 nnd April 1936 wus
it h<>low 3fl0,000. By tlw spring of I 9;n th<•
numlwr was n•ducPd to a littlP lwlow 300,000,
a lPvPl from which tlwn' havP since bt>Pll only
minor dPvia tions.
Public Works Administration
Sill('(' 1rm:~ th<· FPc!Prnl EmPl'g('llCY Administration of Public "'orks has lwPn ndminish•ring
n progrnrn of lwnv.v construction projpcts prosPCllt<•d mi a contrnd basis and supplying work
for lnrg<• m1mlwrs of constrnction work<•rs.
Dming I 9;~4 und 19:35 most of t.hP P\VA funds
W<'l"<' HSPd for FPdPrnl projPcts; thc•sp projects
providPd PmploynH'nt for aln1ost 4fl0,000 1wrsons nt tlw 1wak of nctivi1i<'s in ,llllw und ,July
of rn:~4, 11 !wight. not nppronchPd in lnt<'r Y<'nrs.
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142
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
The larger part of PW A employrrn,nt smce
early 1936 has brPn on the non-Fedrral proJrcts of state and local governments. The
PWA has made grants of Federnl money up
to 45 percent of the total cost of tlwse projectsthe remainder eitlwr b0ing suppli<'d to the sponsors through PW A loans or raised directly by
the sponsoring bodiPs.
Employmrnt on PWA non-Federal projects
reached a peak of about 250,000 workers in the
summer of 1936 and dPclined therc,aftcr until
tlw lat0 summer of 1938. At that time the
influenc0 of newly appropriated funds initiated
an increase in PV{ A non-FrdNnl employment
that continued throughout the fiscal year. In
June 1939, about 240,000 persons were employed on PWA projPcts, most of which were
non-Federal umlrrtakings; this figure was
larger than any reported since November
1936.
Variations in the volume of employment on
the Federal projects of the PW A reflected the
different methods used in financing Federal
construction work. From the latter part of
1933 until about the end of 1935 the largest
share of the heavy construction work of the
Federal Government was financed with PWA
appropriations. Beginning in 1935 funds for
Federal construction actiYities were for a time
supplied chiefly through the ERA Act of 1935;
this accounted for the greater importance after
1935 of the emergency employment provided
through other Federal work and construction
projects. Although some funds for Federal
projects were made available to the PWA in
the PWA Appropriation Act of 1938, the
recent tendency has been towards the financing
of Federal construction through the regula.r
appropriations of the yarious agencies. The
shifting away from PW A financing of Federal
construction has restricted PW A operations
more and more to non-FN!ernl undertakings.
Other Federal Work and Construction
Projects
Otlwr Federal work and eonstrnction activities, refe1-rt>d to in connection with the P,v A
program, include both th<> regular construction
work undertaken by various Federal agencies
that is financed from regular approprin.tions
and the extension of operations made possible
through the use of emergency funds. Some,
though by no means all, of the Federal agency
work provided through the non-PWA emergency funds has emphasized the employment
of persons certified as in need of relief.
Employment on Federal work and construction projects financed with emergency
funds-chiefly from the ERA Act of 1935reached its peak during June, July, and August
1936 when more than 400,000 persons were at
work. Gradual but continued declines in this
employment brought the total to apprm."ima.tely 150,000 workers in July 1938, and by
June 1939 less than 10,000 persons were employed on the other Federal projects financed
with emergency funds. The decline in the last
year may be attributed in large part to the fact
that many of the projects that at one time had
been financed with emergency funds were later
financed in other ways: with regular appropriations, with PW A funds, or with WPA
funds transferred under authority of Section 3
of the ERA Act of 1938.
Construction employment provided through
regular Federal funds was relatively large until
the latter part of 1933 when a decline to fewer
than 50,000 workers reduced the number to
less than n quarter of the previous volume.
This decline refiected a shift in the manner of
financing the construction work of Federal
agencies. Construction activities of Federal
agencies that were formerly financed from regular approprin tions were provided for under
provisions of the National Industrial Recoverv
Act which appropriated substantial sums to
PW A to be allocated for these purposes.
Especin lly noteworthy was the suspension of
Federal-aid highway grants beginning \\-'1th
the fiscal year 1933-:34 and the substitution of
PW A funds for the continuation of highwny
and road construction work of the Bureau of
Public Ronds. Persons employed on all such
projects lmn' been included in the PW A Federal project employment totals. The restunption of Federnl-nid highway grants in the fiscnl
year 1935-:rn was an important factor in the
grndunl upturn of regular Federal construction
emplo_vrnC'nt in 1936. Subsequent increases
were in purt n.tt.ributn.ble to the fact that a
mrrnh<>r of agencies which had been receiYing
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143
FEDERAL PROJECTS AXD PCBLIC RELIEF
PWA and other emergency funds ohtained
regular appropriations to continue and expand
their construction activities. EmploynH'nt on
regular Federal constrnction projects rC'11C'hed a
total of about 246,000 workNs in September
1938, the peak for the I 933 39 period.
Special Types of Assistance
Important among the yariom; programs under
which aid has been extended throug-11 otlwr
means than by the proYision of project work are
the three specia.1 assistance programs in whirh
the Social Security Board pnrtiripates. The
programs for assisting the ag('d, dependent
children, and the blind are ndminister<'d by the
states and localities with FC'dC'ral partiripn tion
in those states where programs mC'et the requirements of the Soria} SPrurity Act. The
Federal Government parti<'ipa tes through
grants of funds proportional to thC' amounts
made available by thC' statC's-one-third of the
state's contribution in tl1e case of aid to dependent children (onC'-half bPginning in ,January 1940) and one-half in the case of the other
two programs.
Assistance for the aged, the blind, and dependent children had heen pnn'ided understate
and local auspices on a limitC'<) hasis prior to
1936. In 1936 and 1937 initiation of Federal
financial participation stimulated a larg(' expansion of the sperial assistmwe programs. In
the two-year period the nurnbN of re<'ipients of
old-age assistance quadrnpl<'d to rf'n<'h a total
of approximately 1,600,000 in DPrf'rn hPr 1937;
the number of families recPiYing aid to dPpendent children rose from about 120,000 to almost
230,000; and the number of blind persons aided
increased from about 35,000 to ,56,000. Further
hut more gradual expansion of thf'sr programs
took place in 1938 nnd tlw first half of I 9~9.
By ,July 1938 approvPd plans for old-age
assistance werr in opPra tion in 47 stn fps and the
District of Columbia; in Virginia n progrnrn of
old-age assistance was innugurnt<'d in SPptember 1938. During tlw r011rsP of th<' VPar-from July 1938 through ,Ttl!H' I 9~9- th<' ,;umh('r
of reciph,nts incrPas('([ from 1,GG0,000 to 1,8,50,~00, a risr of 11 prrcPnt. Diff Pn•n<'PS in agp
lunitations,
resic!Pnce, and othPr Pligihility
r .
.
equll'ements and in the amounts of statP and
local funds avnilnble hnvf' bf'f'n important
foetors infhwncing the rp]a tivP numbers aided
in tlw vnrious stn tPs.
B<'tW<'<'ll ,June 19:j8 and Junf' 1939 tlw nnmbN
of fnmilies receiving aid to dependPnt rhildn•n
rose 20 p<-r<'Pllt. Pnrt of this incrpasc' from
2f>8,000 to 3 J 1,000 fomili<'s wns due to th('
lwginning of FP<iPral participation in Florida
nnd Yirginin d nring tlH' y<'nr; n total of 40
stnt<'S all(! tlw Distrirt of Colmnhia had
appron'd plnns in opPrution by ,Junp 1939.
Progrnms for aid to the hlind 1m<kr plnns
approvPd by tlw Socinl SP<'urity Board wPre
i11 01wrn tion in 40 sta t('s and thr District of
Columbin dming ,J111H' 1939. Frd<'rnl pnrticipation in this typ<' of nid was h<'gun in C'omwcticut, :Mississippi, and Virginiu during tlw last
fiscal y<'nr. Tlw number of rPcipiPnts rosP 111
tlw cours(' of tlw year from 62,000 to 68,000.
Farm Security Administration
Tlw FSA is concf'rnPd primarily with nssisting
low-inconH' farmPrs and farm tPnirnts. This
agmcy took over and cxpandPd work thut had
bPm ini tin tPd undPr the rural rehabili tn tion
program of the FERA, undPr C<'l"tnin burf'm1s
of tlw DPpartmPnt of thP lnt<'l"ior, nnd under
tlw Agricultural Adjnstmmt Administrution.
Thr FSA has giv<'n chirf Pmphasis to assisting
farm fnmiliPs in agricultural arPas Pith<'I"
through grants to fnmilic,s in n<'<'d or through
loans for the pur<'hasf' of liYrsto<'k, PquipnH'nt,
and lnnd to familiPs lihly to h<'ronw splfsupporting. Grants hnvr bc•Pn rna<lr to provide
nPPdy form familiPs with food, <'lothing, and
rnPdicnl attPntinn wlH'n conditions prevPnted
tlw dPv,,lopnwnt of standard form loans.
During ,Jurn, 19;j9 about 69,000 FSA grnnts
WPr<' rnndf' to fnrmPrs, a totlll that repn'S<'nts a
dPcli1w of 2fi pPr<'Pnt from th<' ,J111w 19:38 figurP.
A lnrgf' proportion of tlw n'cipiPnts of FSA
grants r<'si<k in tlw agrirultural st,atf's of the
1fiddh- Pst, nnd n third of t.lw familif's rPcf'iving grnnts in ,Jun<' 1939 were locnted in North
1111d South Dnkota.
Throughout the 01wration of the FSA program th<' monthly vohmH' of grunts hns shown
wick fh1ct11ations. As might be ex1wc·tc'd 11
larg<' sPasmrnl plf'nwnt has bc'Pn charadPristir,
rPtlPcting vnrintions in agri<'ultural nctivity.
'"°
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REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
General Relief
The highest of the wint<'f levels occurred during
the first few months of 1937 when large numbers
of form families in need of assistance as a result
of the severe drought of the previous summer
were transferred from the WPA to the FSA.
The numbers of grants made during the two
succeeding winters were of about equal magnitude-usually between I 20,000 and 130,000
per month. Tlw spring decline of 1939, however,
was much more rapid than that of 1938;
largely responsible for the greater change in
1939 were the reduction in available funds
and the general improvement in agricultural
conditions.
General relief has been a residual program
since 1935 when the Federal Government withdrew from this field to participate in programs
designed to aid the unemployed and special
groups needing assistance. Subsequent to the
discontinuance of the FERA the practices of
the state and local welfare and relief agencies
in extending general relief have varied greatly
from place to place. The general relief programs of different areas, however, have been
residual activities which provide assistance to
persons not receiving other kinds of aid or
TABLE 58A.-EARNINGS OF PERSONS E~IPLOYED ON FEDERAL WORK AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND PAYMENTS
FOR PUBLIC RELIEF, BY PROGRAhlS A
1933 TO DECEMRER 1935
MONTHLY~JANl'ARY
[In thousancts]
'Other Federal Work
and Construction
Projects
Public Works
Year and Month
Administration
'\\rorks
Pro~ess
Administration
Total
Civil
Works
1933~total __ --------- · -------------------------- _ $1,358, I.Iii
January _________________ _
February _________________ . __ . _____ . _____ _
March ____________________________________ _
April__ ______________ _
May_______________ __ __ - • ___ - -- ----- -- ---- .
June ______________________________________ _
July_______________
_... - - --- ------ ----. - .
August_ __ ------------------- --- -- - - - ----- --Sept.ember__________
________________ _
October
_________ . .. - -- ------------- - --•
Novemhcr _________ _· · -- ·
December ________________________ _
1934~totaL ________ . _______ __ ___ _
January·-- ___________ _
February ___ ___ __ _
March_
April_ _______ _
May _____________ ____
June _________ ____ .. .....
July ________________ _
August__ ______________ _
Sept em bcr __
October ___ _
November ___________ _
December __
1935-t.otaL ______________ _
I:
NonFederal
I
pro1ects
I
$1,816
Federal
projects
Program
Ernergency
runds
I
I
Regular
' funds
NYA
Civilian
Student
Aid
vation
Corps
Conser-
I
$28, (102
$214, 956
-------- $134,830 ---------- $140,736
f---------1---- - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
77. :i:rn
81,0i4
10,910
IO. 090
11,670
12,690
14,810
15,770
9.11, 747
00. 917
05. 629
102. 404
98,536
97. 942
95.8.16
99,189
144, 307
27\J, 222
2, 4:Jr., 328
26
134
1,860
5,810
10. 200
31. 032
501
10. i82
183,024
I, 121
- - - - - - ----216,727
.\03.0f.O
.I.~, 434
311,822
2.50. 995
229,,111
1.54. 128
lf,f,, :J81
167 ..173
l.118
I. 477
1.082
I, 799
2. 842
4, 41f>
m. 725
192, 197
180. 183
193,001
208. 498
208,314
5,305
7. 282
7. 02r.
8.330
2.594,764
1. 522
I. 654
I. fi75
7.-W4
,n1.n19
lfi7.993
r.. 770
I 1, 409
10,099
11,018
13. 858
1;,,fiOfi
rn. 850
1. 098
1. 142
1,060
1. 237
1,339
1. 378
9. 122
10. 328
Hi.1152
15,920
13, 90,1
13, 242
10. 082
8, 7/i2
I
!l, 303
_
$2118.018
11,374
11, 124
14,821
20,342
25,827
1.023
1. 708
I. 068
,
______
19,996
19,169
15,575
20,245
20,319
41,325
$14. 303
218, 799
154,549
123,630
5,968
102
11
25,412
24,931
21. 164
18.9/;2
18. (i9fi
14.112
_
1
9, Oi3
20, 5i1l
13. 990
12. 260
12,000
8,810
6,755
/i,075
37
157
---
1,474
6,387
16,992
1,.591
1. f>60 I
1,283
--------
260,957
3,628
3, 113
2. 811
3. 258
3. 685
3,517
20,810
20,489
18. 761
17,894
20,560
19,907
3,439
3, 724
3. 570 ,
3. 730 ----------
22,113
25,019
23,114
24.510
24. 674
3. fi40
1
~
3.310
48 ..1201
47.o.,o
I
2. -~0
2. 670
2. 780
3. 210
3,500
3.
I, 688
2,463
.5. 425
8. 171
10,054 I
12. ,174 I
3.890
4.130
4. 760
.I. 630
.\, 650
$6,364
332,851
1
January __
February. ______ __ _
March _____________ _
April__ _______ . _.. __ ... .
May __________________ ___ _
June ________ - - -- --- - - - - - - July _____________ _
August
____ ________ . .. .. .
September ___________ . .. . __
October __ _
NoYernber __
Decemher_ _______ __. ____ ________________ ____ _
223, 080
207. 20\J
210,889
2rn. 188
218,920
201. 359
20.1. 738
206, 176
197, 02(!
216. 4r,4
229. 081
2.19.641
.!
2
5,312
rn, 592
32. 617
fl,\. OJ.I
118. 480
.\, 842
5,83·1
1. ,m2
8,.\Sfi
o. 012
fl,,19fl
I
'
9. 3f.1
8,641
7, 130
----1
-----1
-- --------1
no
I
I
,I, 090
A Sec notes on pnges 1fi0-.12 for description of <lnt.n ineludcd.
Digitized by
25, 036
24,305
21,437
20. 499
23,675
24,539
Google
28,088
221
1,653
2,095
2,395
33,687
33, 777
32, !06
33,582
32,120
145
FEDERAL PROJECTS AND PUBLIC RELIEF
of funds, limitntions in the occupationn.l bnckgrounds of the persons ne<>cling employment,
mu! similnr factors; families and persons req umng temporn.ry nssistnnce; and families
n<><>ding n.ssiRtnnce ill addition to that provided
throngh othc-r programs.
Fluctuations in the number of cases receiving
grneru.l relic-f reflect. thP influence of a number
of factOJ'8 which diff Pr greatly from state to
stn.te and from community to community.
~In.rkt~<l sp11.so1ml v1wintions occur in many
ar<>11s ns n. result of inc.rpa.sed physical needs
during wintn months and n. characteristic
tendency towards lnrgcr numbers of unemployed
rec.eiving insufficient aid under other programs.
A residual group of needy persons nccessnrily
remains after the operations of other progrnms
have been taken into account, because the otlu.'r
programs as a group do not assist all dn.ss<>s of
the needy and because the coverag<> of other
programs is often incomplete. For this rc-nson
general relief has been extended to such types
of needy persons as the following: unc-mployable persons not qualifying for the nid provided
through the three specinl programs in which the
Socia.I Security Board participntm,; famili<>s that
are not assisted through the work programs of
the WPA and other agencies because of shortn.gc
TABLE 58A. -EARNINGS OF PER80!-.S EltPLOYED OX FEDERAi, WORK A!o.D CONST R UCTION PROJECTS AND PAY~FJNTS
FOR Pcau c
RE1,1E~·.
M ON THLY
-
RY PnonRAMH
C'o11ti11ned
J .\ NU .\HY 1\1:J:l TO l>ECEMIIEI\ 1935
fin thousands]
I
.
Special Types or Put.lie
Assistance
I
curity
I
Aid to deOlckge
as,istance • pendent
J
children
to the
II Aidblind
·- - Transient
r r
:-ronrelief : re"'
Relief e,tended _ . :_ earn in~_ !_ __ _
Poor
relief
- - - - - ------- - -$16,379
S26. on I $40, 604
22,, 332213 i---3,-6-70_,___ _ _4_9/ ---,:-049
1--------------·· ·- ·----
Febrnnry.
Mnreh.
April.
May.
June .
I. 0.11
1,011
t. 008
I, 128
1,142 .
-- ·--------------------
420
3:l6
335
322
~::~}
g~~
ff~
U~~ I
g~J~l ::::::::::::
fl!
3,297
3,366 1
483
497 1
1 899
1:~74 _,
f,ll, 072
49'.f.!17 ,_·. . .
i:.m
54
:::r
2,098
2,139
~~
1
i~l~-~-J ~'.:3~1
t2,:~
3 .,.,.,
3, 385
3,353
2, 426
2,474
2.553
3 381
3' 401
3' 357
2,672
2,750
2.919
~- u~1 _
3: 409
1~1
41,727
i:!
543
$57,196
1,119.201
23.9f,1
u~ iuf
1
1
2. 026
2, I :1i
l, ~91
KO , 914
97, r.9R
93, 544
flfl2
1,848
2,003
I.!~
2, 148
97.f,119
101U16 I
103, II :1 ·
113, f>40
:~~J~~
~~g , ~:~~
7,970 I =--;o,~~~i ~- ri~o.-i 1t ·
: , 406 ----;,-:;17 --655 °
1
1
6, 112
6, 050
---··· ··:::::::: :::::::::: ::::::::::
I
5,981
7. 0.10
fi, fi!ll
6, 2.1k
r.J~,
- -~t221 : -
33,
1so
, 261
738
!·6:ng
I
6
i
•
-,J06
6,5'l /
6, l56e
817 I
u,002
s, 306
8, 6.19
!•
I
3,307
3 4221
33: 447632
6.10 I
638
656491
3:417
658
3 468
3' 488
3' 472
3°626
3' 659
3: 626
681
660
66ll
693
683 .
694
2,474 '.
2. 4s2
2, RIO .
2.6721
2, 737
2, 822
I
14R,4:<t
135,IJ/lO
137.330
133, :102
130, .5!l9
117,00r.
IIS 81 '1
110: ~8<1
92. Rfl!I
05,017
75. AAS ,
54, 809 j
I
I
1, m_,..._s1_._a4_4_, _____
12.soo
n~~ i - uiF7i
?. :!OK
2, 104
2, 44-1
I , :132
2,f,KI ,
3,007
:1, ()fiS
3. /i76
384
5.11
401
I, 102
t~1.i
40. 012_,_
u~~ • u~~
I
2,2il
2.17R
2.344
2, 2841
2,235
l,MR l
5, 780
:i. 7:J2
:1 , 77,5
:1, IM•I
2, i!>.5
1. 994
1,300 I
I , :J22
·I, :;24
2,147
1,092
464
'
i
2
600
I, 18.1
49, 302_
!
J,346
1,347 ,
1, :178.
I, 385
I 207
384
1,404
3,069
7,0.13
11, 116
IO, 450
8,932
-- ----- -
4,779
1,807
562
78
0
1,51141 ·········
I. 024 . •• • • . •• •
791
. . . ...
• • -- ·
1934-total.
July.
August
Srpt«'mht•r.
Ocloher .
Ko,·<•n1bPr.
t:~~;
7, 1:17
IR,.m.
4.:1041
3.~22 ,
4,02!1
VW8
3, 7R4 ·
3,-176
July.
All~Ust.
Soplrmh<'r.
Octohrr.
No,·cmher.
Drccn, her.
January.
February.
Mnrch .
April.
Mny.
June .
708
725
!IOS
92fi
547
I, 268
7,205 I
6,035:
5,21!1 .
5,296
6, 138
5,627
2,fHfi
1150 .
048
287 1
8il '
403
0
2.4-18 1
2,468
2,SR7
2, /i50
2,499 j
2,3771
:::: ::: : :::: : ::: :::: : :-:· ·
4
. . . . .. ... -- .
04
671 1
1,!t10 ~ - - - 3_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
========::::!
6. 977
·
630 .
591
I
637 :
611! I
62R
m
::i~: I ;~::~; ------------
1033· · IOf RI.
J&!IU"lry.
474
470
496
479
480
.. ·---·-----
··· - ·- ------ ..
$3
32!!
3,431
3.487
3. 406
3,406
3,322
I
$443
326
2,249 •
2, 20.
2,176
2,159
----···- ·---
I
I-
$6,307,
· ··--- -
$742,373
6K,6f,ll
11.1, 407
7f,, 431
60. 211
6fi, 900
62. 217
t:
Aclmints- Yenr and Month
F.mcr!rat.ion
Ru"!l.
Collc~e
~ency
stu,lent 1 rehah1h- Grants
ed
tation
nid
_uca- ,
tlon _ - - - - , _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Emrr~cncy relief
i
!-
Fc<leral F.mrr~ency Helirf AclminLslration Sprcin I Pro~rnms
1
______ FarmSc.
_ ____ ____
Ocnern I Relief
l)('Cfml ht'r.
$2.Ml 1035- ·lOh>I.
Janunry .
February.
March .
April.
Mny.
June.
July.
Au~ust.
September.
Ortober.
NovNuhrr.
Drl't'mher.
3: I
1········-______
---..:____..:.________ ____________________________________________
1
:_
i
__:_
I
li88 • . .
293
09
2,442
Digitized by
Goog Ie
146
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
at that season of the year. The effect of unemployment, however, has been much less marked
in some areas thnn in others. This is particularly true of the South where most states give
little or no aid to families with employable
persons; in this region lin1ited funds have kept
the general relief loads relatively low and many
needy families receive no form of aid except
surplus commodities. In other areas general
TABLE
relief is greatly influenced by the amounts of
funds made available through state and local
financial provisions.
Administrative policies with respect to eligibility of employa.ble single persons and families
benefiting under other programs or from private
employment have their effect in the areas to
which they apply. Payment of unemployment
compensation benefits tends somewhat to reduce
58B.-EARNINGS OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON FEDERAL WORK AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND PAYMENTS
FOR PUBLIC RELIEF, BY PROGRAMS A
MONTHLY-JANUARY 1936 TO JUNE 1939
Un thousands]
Works Progress
Administration
Year and Month
______ ,__ :r:jects
$.3, 258, 353
$1,592,039
262, 03.5
266,480
274, f,51
270,365
266,533
266,917
134,237
140, 672
147. 930
138, 834
130,241
124,986
265, 366
270. 046
272,099
284,111
285,435
274, 315
121,621
125,068
128,971
135, 188
137,502
126, 789
1937-total.. _____ -----------------------------
2,869,379
l, 186, 2fi6
January __ .. _ ----------- -------------February ... - ---- - ------- - ---------------March _____________
-------- --- -April. _____________
May __________________________ _
June ______________________________ ------ •
260,564
258, 303
2,19, 306
258, 944
253, 149
244,203
114, 838
116, 04;
116,912
113,831
112, 178
106,368
July _____ -----------August. ___
- - ------------------ - · ····
September
--•----- - - - --October ..
--------- - -November.
------------December ______ ------------- ---- -- ---------
227,288
219,097
216, 419
217, 7fil
224, 386
229, 969
91,690
82, 778
81. 146
81,369
82, fi34
86, 47.o
--- - ------------
Janmuy
---------------February __ -- --------- - --------------------March ..
--- - - - ------------------ April___ --------------- ------ - ------------May __________________
-------------June ____________ __ -- -- ---------------------July _______
-----------August.--· ______
September ..
--------- - --October_.
--·- -- -------November __
--- ----------December_._
----------------
I
Oth
er
Federa}
Fii~~ls
project~I
Ernergency
I, 722, 277
93, 0fi0
103. 092
119, 693
131, 419
137, om
146,068
$28 . .159
July
August. ____ -- - ----- -- -------- - --- · ····· ·
September __
October_
---------------November ___________ __..
---------------December ____________ • ....
---------------
298,989
307,206
311,029
320, 283
32.o, Sfi.l
324,628
151, 4lfi
lfi3, 378
164,910
171, 162
172,257
107,006
4. 293
4,621
4, 749
4,939
4. 971
4,980
316, 326
310, 157
318, 372
309, 239
307,017
304, 38·1
155, 843
l.10, 200
157, 707
14fi, 340
140, 64,1
133, 132
4, 703
4,476
4,888
6, 116
7,333
7,452
Regular
Student
Work
ru_n_d_s___r_un_d_s_ - a - i d - _p_r_oj-ec-ts_
$180,043
$84, 188
$249,855
$124,284
$25,901
$28,883
6, Rl6
s. 931
;, 861
12,920
16,363
19,274
7,526
7. 223
7. 339
8,014
8,631
9.125
13,354
14,253
16,050
19,494
22,612
25,062
4,418
3. 709
4,018
5,606
6,251
9, 63-2
2,416
2,793
2,986
3,190
3,554
1,842
196
1,061
2, 153
2,003
2,866
3,070
19, 96fi
20. 28.o
19,780
18, 3;o
17. 323
15, 154
7,300
7,051
6, 49fi
6,077
5, 128
4,278
14, 168
15,053
15,097
16,864
15,329
14,139
1
7
342
2,516
3,122
3,132
2,574
2,582
2,729
2,787
2,933
3,029
205,013
25, 107
25,456
24,628
23,240
21,353
19,246
--34, 155
158,213
=
=
141.918
237, 244
24,,. 819
263, 216
273, 946
283,621
294,349
A See notes on pages lfi0-52 for description
BLess l.hnn $,100.
-=~:~ __
I Fe~eral
24,287
32,664
12,fif,4
II, 639
11,074
13,232
13,742
14,112
3. 374
2,990
2,862
3, llfi
3,076
3,123
15,157
13,284
12,877
14,333
14,977
15,722
12,512
ll, 653
12,067
14,536
15,411
17,687
2,967
3,227
3,316
3,347
3,642
1,992
3,087
3,246
3,226
3,191
3,106
2,920
13,315
12,930
11,961
10,337
0, 413
7,499
3. 154
2,924
2,872
2,540
2,249
l, 875
13,844
12,982
12,049
ll, 9S7
II, 154
9,877
20,480
20. 339
22,676
20,654
20,057
16,941
(B)
164
1,599
I, 977
2,056
2,491
2,348
2, 193
2, 165
2,263
2,429
97, 35.1
20, 129
73,041
245,345
19,598
41. 560
6,298
6,000
5, 706
6,824
7. 966
8,601
I. 317
7,919
7. 241
7, 193
9, 0.06
12,473
14,986
15,451
13,848
14,971
17,320
19,576
21, 167
l, 996
2,166
2,203
2,255
2,406
1,550
2,552
2,688
2, 739
2,766
3,075
3,585
23,637
24,282
27,299
24. 527
22,985
20,282
6
211
I, 980
2,408
2,417
3,701
3,9m
3,930
4. 0".8
4, 1931
4,400
18,782
16,990
18,538
19,648
22,389
27,349
2,266
2,457
2,446
2,494
2,494
1,935
4,347
4, 47:l
4,451
4,318
4,286
3,993
------
3. 48,5, 89.5
-----------i
NonFederal
-----
January __ ... _... ____ . .. - __ .. . . ____
February. _____________ ... ___ __ _.. • . _
Murch ___ -----------April__ ---------- • ---May _________ __________ _
June ____________________
----- · ------
1938--total ---------------------- -----------
1939
January ___ . ____ . ____
February __ ........ ___ .
March _________ .. ______ .......
April _______________ _
May ________ _______ ____
June __________________
National Youth
Administration
Total
WPAoperated
193fJ-total
Other Federal
Work and Construction Proi·
ects
Public Works
Administration
------- - - ----l, 070
I, 042
1.078
961
890
8,019
7,658
706
8,220
1,531
757
8,326
I, 366
I, 573
9,070
2, 722
l, 313
3,946
1,099
JO. 664
11,661
4,274
999
= =- - 12,781
13,059
12,003
JS, 008
18, 383
21,600
4. 031
3,283
3,276
4,095
4,206
4,216
829
826
707
734
787
783
or flntn included.
Digitized by
Google
147
FEDERAL PROJECTS AND PUBLIC RELIEF
When unemployment hegan to mount in the
fall of I 9;37, the general relief program was the
first to be affe<"ted. Between O<"tober 1937 nnd
February 1938 general relief <"ases rose from
1,270,000 to nearly 2,000,000. The expansion
in WPA employment was slower in getting
under way, but. soon took over a considerable
shnre of the burden. However, general relief
rolls remained high in the early months of 1938
or delay the need for relief but has not been a
major factor in this respect, partly hC'eaus(' of
the limited duration of the bendit periods
which seldom may exceed 16 weeks. Despite
the effects of such influences as have been
mentioned, the national relief totals have necessarily been responsive to changes in economic
conditions and in the volume of other relipf
and employment activities.
TABLE 58B.-EARNINGS OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON FEDERAL WORK AND CONSTROCTI0:-1 PROJECTS AND PAYMENTS
FOR PoBLH' HELIEF, BY PnoGRAMs:\IONT!ILY
J.\Sl'.\l<Y
Continued
193f, TO Jt:SE 1939
[In thousands]
Civilian
Conser•
vation
Corps \
-=~.
I
I
\
I
$155, 241
$49, 462
29 71!2 ,
.,,;
..,, 1ss
24, 858
2'2, 5751,
24. 348
23, 518 I
7,019
i. 713
8. 273
9, 24i
9, 902
3, .523
3, i60
3, i9 I
3,942
3, 993
4, 221
884
979
1,019
1,024
4, 254
4,017
4, 212
4, 379
4.li6i
4, 19;
24,496
I
I
13, 088
14,947
16, 288
18, 004
19,363
20. ;ss
I_
Relief
Tram,il•nt
reliC'f
N()Ilt(•li('[
t•arnings
extended
$3, i48
1,070
47,921
46, 8,18
44 . .5.5,,
40,070
34. 977
33, 184
328
194
180
201
Jf,3
140
.134
4,58
320
268
227
1,082
1,102 :
1, 1221
1,144
I, lf,;J
I, li9
30,831
29. 6i9
30, 0,17
30, 722
31,934
36, 347
114
91
136
131
IOS
I, 04.5
ss
lli3
·lli-1
06
40
208
128
128
21,039 ;
19,356
19, 334
19,439
16,312
18, 3711
20,876
19,912
25, 799
26, 577
27, 832
28, 607
29, 626
30,695
.5, 89f,
6, I 2.5
6, 303
6• .5.5.1
6, 88.I
7, 16i
1,32!1 .
u~~ i
I
~
,
19,461
18,336
18,311
18,014
11. 174
l9, 848
:.· 376347
.
:
20,367
20,,514
_
1
19,252
20,642
20,689
18,103 I
19,974 I
20, 4321'
18,637
------
7,.li2
7, 8i4
7,880
7, 886
1. 98i
I
9, 2(1)<
9, ,569
1, ,13r,
1,.502
IO
6J
2
2
I
I
l,f,6fi
I 679
1: f,82 I
I, f,87
1, 6~2
3.1. 0!18 ·
3r.. 211
3.1, 40f,
34,934
3fi, -170
40, ~•:_
43, r,79
4,1, 02H
4f,, -138
-11. tari
3'J, (~Jr,
31\, 914
----·-----
rn:rn--total.
2, 7Xh
2, fi97
3, I.II
2,014
1,307
94fi
January .
Fehruary .
March.
April.
May,
June.
,16:!
89.I
1,148
I, 367
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
I.
4lf,
2. 174
-=..:._---=-=
:i:
10:i7. total.
3.1, 894
I
I
I
·------------ ..
5,484
3, i5.I
5, .1,13
5,260
3,671
3, 23f>
January.
F,•hruary.
March.
April.
May.
941
1, 34(1
I, 197
1,396
July.
August.
September.
October.
JunC".
November.
], 770
Dccrmhrr.
2,276
·-·---
22..~H7
19:JH- total.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
2,204
2,473
2,577
2,325
2, 1.16
1, 7fi6
------- -- ---
37. 337
36, i4i
1
1, O!H
12:
12 I
47f>. 201
s'.
9. 227
9,392
9.401
9, 20,1
i
2s,22r,
2!1, 01.1
-----·
29. n.~!i
----- · -30, 274
----30, i2!1 -- ---------33,981
41, 24:l
----
32,826
8,013
I, /i83
32, 91.5
8, 300
I. .198 .
33. 258
8 388
1, 6 I.I
3.1, 615
.504
1, r.10
33,966
8,736
1.f,18
34, 723 _ _ _8_,_n3_s_ ====1.=r,r.=,0_ , __
35,079
35,191
35, 250 .
35,343
35,229
35, s28
27
1--
19, 1.12
1
II
I
- -----l,.lli0;
4f,, 401 I
I, .198
4i. 207
I, 62'J
47, 4il
I, ,127
41. I 13
1. 3.17
31,186
31,403
31, 782
32,072
32, 319
32,276
39
lfi
14
·--·--
37, 88!1
39. 2r,o
:J9, i86
3.5, 74,1
30, r,1.1
I
$20, :ms
$12,1 '
191
17H
406, ilS
230,318 ;==3=9=2,=34=l=i~==9=i.=4=32=1
Pdt1C'ation
188
187
190
22!1
I
I,
I,
I,
I,
I,
1.3.54
1. 440
I. 404
Y C"ar and :\lont.h
------
217 1
234 I
2.10 :
2f.S
270
I. 311
21,228
Emerl,!l'll('Y
778
4,941
.5, 107
5, 378
s. 496
.5. 660
,5, i40
'1
Farn1
St•curitv
AdminiStration
Oran ts
-
!
$1,880
$437. 13.'l
21. 644
22, 535
23, 602
24. 361
24, 753
24,410
24, 158
21, :.38
II
10, 609
,
$12, 8131
245, 756 r==3=!0=,44=1=,===7=1=.2=.13= 1, = = = ~
16, Iii
24, 4851·
-
digi~~:;:t .
I-
$29'l,39!
23,629,
20, 903 ,
23, 133 !
24,006
2'2, 945
,
Aid to the
----'.-·-
1'
i
Aid to
Old-age
assistance
Federal Emcrl(t•ncy
R,-Iic•f Aclminist.rat ion
Special Pn,.
grams
General ll,•lit>I
Special Types of Public Assistance
1·. -- .
~~___:__:c..:_ i~.· = = =
June.
1. 2!11
I, Iii
July.
1,231
1,492
I. 703
2, 2f>2
Scptemher.
October.
AUl,!USt.
Novembl•r.
· - - - --~-1
i
____ _ . l
----------
. . . -----·· ·-'I
I
2. 3111 •
2,3271
2,492 I
I
2, 2.f2
I
l.f.S7
I, 2/s2 i
Digitized by
Drcemhcr.
19:!9
January.
Fchmary.
:\larch .
April.
May.
Jun<'.
Google
148
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
because of the continued influx of the unemployed who had exhausted their resources, and
throughout the year the number of families
and single persons aided remained above the
number for the corresponding months of 1937.
Some improvement in business conditions and
a relatively high level of WP A employment
assisted in reducing the numbers receiving relief
in the first half of 1939. Deelines were particularly noticeable in the ind us trial areas of the
Middle West which had shown unusually large
increases in the previous year. Shortage of
funds contributed to the decline in many areas.
Limitations of state and local funds tended to
prevent the 1939 declines in WPA employment
from increasing materially in the number receiving general relief in many areas.
A notable proportion of the recipients of
general relief have been concentrated in a few
states. The six states which in June 1938 reported caseloads of over 100,000-California,
Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania-accounted for three-fifths of all families and single persons receiving general relief,
although their populations represent only twofifths of the population of the United States.
Furthermore, the concentration was even more
marked in June 1939 when these states together
reported 64 percent of the Nation's general
relief recipients despite marked reductions in
Michigan and Ohio.
Payments to Recipients
Total payments made to recipients under the
various relief and employment programs, shown
by months in Tables 58A and 58B on pages
144-45 and 146-47, respectively, were determined in part by the factors affecting the number of recipients. Influences of this kind are
reviewed above in connection with the recipient
data.. Total payments are also affected by the
amounts paid to individual recipients. In the
course of the years since 1933, the total a.mounts
to recipients increased relative to the total
unduplicated number of households aided,
indicating that the average payments increased.
General relief, which was extended on a
budgetary deficienr,y basis, represented a major
portion of the total payments during the three
years ending in 1935. Throughout this period
when the FERA was making grants to states,
the average monthly amount of relief extended
per case increased substantially as a result, in
part at least, of the measures taken by the
FERA to promote the payment of adequate
benefits. With the development in 1935 of the
various specialized programs of employment
and relief, payments made on a budgeta.ry
deficiency basis declined in relative importance.
More adequate payments were made in the form
of security wages on WP A projects. The expansion of the PW A and other Federal work
and construction activities also tended to increase average payments. Most of this employment was provided through private contrar,tors at prevailing rates of pay and hours of
work.
The total amount extended to recipients of
relief and employment under all programs in
June 1939 was 3 percent higher than the total
for June 1938 despite the fact that the number
of households was 1 percent lower than the
corresponding 1938 figure. The difference reflects the increased wage rates paid on WPA
projects in southern states and the continued
expansion of employment on projects financed
from PWA and regular Federal funds.
The amount spent for general relief also increased slightly whereas the number of cases
receiving this type of aid decreased by 5 percent between June 1938 and June 1939. In
this instance the increase in the average was
attributable in part at least to the greater concentration of general relief in states where relatively large payments are characteristic.
In the course of the year there was considerable variation in the state averages of payments under the special types of public assistance programs although the month-tomonth changes in the va.rious states offset each
other sufficiently to leave the national averages
fairly constant. No change occurred in the
averages for the CCC since the monthly
amounts shown for this program were estimated at $70 per enrollee throughout the
entire period of its operation.
The total amounts paid to recipients under
each of the different relief and public employment programs during June 1939 are shown by
states in Table 59. The state data for the
general relief program and the three special
Digitized by
Google
149
FEDERAL PROJECTS AND PUBLIC RELIEF
7
TABLE 59.-EARNINGS OF PERSOKi' EMPLOYED 01' FEDERAL " 0RK AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND PAYMENTS
FOR PUBLIC RELIEF, BY STATE S AND BY PROGRAMS A
JUNE
19~9
(In thousands)
Work Pro~rams
"·orks Progrl~gg
A<imini.stration
State
A<lmini strati on
---
Grand
Total
Special Types or
Puhlie Assistnnce
National Youth
I
ConserOther
vatlon
Otht>r ' F,•d<'~al
Federa.l a~rnrll'S Work Stucl<•nt Corps
, projects ' aid
ope~ated agency
proJects : projects '
O~d::r I
Total , WP A-
I
i~ ~ 1· $S3, 048
United States.· - $304. 384 J$219.09~;~
Alabama ........ _. __ __
Arizona ______ ·-·- - -·--
Arkansas_···--··-- -- -- '
California_ .... ____ ___ _l
Colorado __ .
--·--------1
3,919 [ 3,653
1, 071
1.428
2,657
2,8.5,1
19,209, 10,8f>8'
2, 4.50 ·
3,888 '
·
1
Connecticut
Delaware--....... . .. . .
District of Columbia .. ,
Florida... - ... - ..... . .
Oeorgia·-···-··--· · ..
3,909
4;0
2. 415
3,.'i63
3,727
Idaho __ ··-·---------··
Dllnois __-----------. - .
I. 207
21,869
8,00!i
4, 146
3, 110
}~!~.~~= :: :::::::::::: ~
Kansas.-·-··-··--- ----
I
I
'.1,lichigan. ··- ..... . .
:Minnesota .. ·-···- · -·
~~:~f~i::::::::::::
Montana .. . - .. ·-· ··· · -·
Oregon ....... .
Pennsylvania ·· Rhode Island ..
South Carolina
South Dakota .
1;o
,56!i
foO
261
2, 2.31
I, 034
32
250
884
41
70
41
121
104
42
21
35
37
143
.18
185
487
146
102
83
68
28
00
sn
330
27
2
20
167
S3
s, 8!12
43.,
I. 118
14.1
l,!112
413
80
247
42
2.3
96
I. 347
I, 271
2,215
1, 820
14,358
3,9.oo
3. 201
1, 008
2,000
ll, 842
12,743
9,601
7,513
4. 910
2,912
8, 112
2,553
2,694
5,948
2,118,
37,848
3. 821
1,.140
19, H73
-~. 019
I
I
I
2.301
359 .
1,081
8, 40-1
i;:~~i I
!
f,62
n..124
2.'i3
3.'i6
8.59
2, 27-1
7,190
3,300
l. 322
3,930
127
1.10
4r,
79
17S
I, 47!i
8-12
R50
I, 297
94
425
().3
5. 15,1
320
491
!i9
1.5, :377
l. 482
020
11,914
2,133
,5U2
104
I
935
11. 788
811
I. 40i
679
Tennessee .. _
Texas .-··- __ _. . . ... . .
Utah .. _..
Vermont. ...... ···-··
Virginia·········- · --· :
3, 749 ;
9,031i I
J,6.JJ I
3,248
7, IU7
1,051
434
3, 1.16 :
1, 4~9
3. :i.10
572
237
92i
Washington ......... •
'
West Virl(inia.
Wisconsin
Wyomln~.
6,139 ,
t6~~
f: ~l~
Undistributed by
states ............ ___ i
!i90 .
3, 5.11
i
7,730.
764 .
i
II
I
I, 849 :
I
774
1,049
ooo
I
fiH9 ;
i
240
!
5fil I
2. 196 ;
1
I
160 ,
2,5
173
95
S
8
4
311
17
IR
3ti
lH
3,101
16f>
406
31
67
1.5
42
84
76
6
540
6
35
10
71
168
4C.O
C 62
159
C 20,\
49
32
20
180
2,M8
I. 094
1.037
428
228
241
47r,
390
316
428
IO.I
$36, Ill;
69
80
33
.580
143
C
211
40
40
67
17
(B)
'II
40
6
I
I
50
4
33
22
C 27
4, 117
5o2
438
230
g
10
co
234
.10
~Z:
3
2
50
24
C 41
lt10
16
2
.,!I.,
I. 3fi0
I, 372
14.1
I, 12,1
480
269
18
21
1,258
4
207
51
<'91
3
4
408
62
8
14
63
44
112
23
420
119
JO
98
46
7
.59
103
14'
3
11!
1,380
241
308
2, 23.~
47,1
4.12
1r,1
50
17
.'i9
mo
5
fij(i
5~ I
46
1, oxri
2, ,iH8
313
477
223
845
f,1R ·
38
23li
(' 2
rnr,
144
1,7:lO
12.1
68
2,624
1,200
202
23 :
247
41
81
16
20 '
130 ·
12
84
31
124
33
0
74 I
106
22
7
42 i
2,079
fl7H
89
36
"35
1,044
130
43
376
9
4
2:J
24
28 I
149 •
1, 04.1 .
76
373
218
424
I. 751
124
201
27fi
fl~84 I
280
I,
4~~
:
I, 672
283
86
rn2
210
987
74
418
22
45
l
9
54
244
4
C
5
3
II
23
30
14
-IS
4
I
22
62
3
82 ,
3
j
2
170
112
912
26
9
11
Digitized by
3
:~1
60
0
4
• Sec notes on pages 150·52 for description of data inelud<'d.
B Less than $500.
c Estimated.
n Excludes medical care amounting to $7,000 because the numher of cases receiving t.his type or aid only ls not available.
20I~i7
«
28
20
107
14
10
14
136
13
IO
31
1.12
I.II
I
I
4
58
8
17fi
I
246
15
I
c1
1,000
53
77
859
918
366
11
I
I, 659
137
7,438
C 287
70
41f,
I
1
169
9,817 '
38
70
I, 492 .
c5n;
411
336 I
206
(")
3
IR
323
3.5
I
350
20
~~-~~9-1--;~;4-
520
181
70
Aid to
th e
blind
IS4
193
103
4,282
I. 095
84
804
418
20
1,()()6
2,08.'\
24r,
114
2. 031
.57
33
I
12
29
14
2f>
78
374
04
37
237
I
17,,
31
51
306 ·
61R
10
80
221
76
Mi
628
178
26
Aid to
dependent
childr<'n
$3.1, 828 ;-
/i()I\
,I
117
36
477 .
4. 165
823
749 ·
140 '
87
·'·~~ 3,n~ I
II '·- · . .
778
i8 i
Ila ;
1
90
4:18
6 '
28
,I
12
S2
,IOI
OOi
I, 691
Ii, 022 ,
4,007 ;
10,, ,
148
139
34
114
201
34
47
2,337 ;
28, 48,1
2, 31,o
3,182
I, 762
2,854
I, 1,13
In
3f,ll
1,106
23, 62H
3,303 •
I , 120 I
202
102
4-H
2. 5iS
2. 223
1'ebraska. _._ ...... . ... 1 2,994
428
Nevada. ··· -···· · .·-· · '
New Hampshire ...... .
I 384 '
XewJersey ..
10'.ml
I, 263
Xew Mexico ... ···- - ·
New York.--···-··- - ··
Xorth Carolina . _.. .
. _
Xorth Dakota
OhiO--·-······ ····· ···
Oklahoma ._ ..... _... .
;.,2
1,951
14
3
17
22
41
564
-
nnce
SH2
17H
51
53 I
79
8 • si.
I $18, 63-;
908
182
I, 358
,5,12
11, 181
4. 130
4. 419
3.879
1,539
$3,903 ·1 $~. 03S
17~
180
5. 847
······--····1
--·---i 2,728
Kentucky.. . ·-· -- . . ·-·
Louisiana
Maine .... .......
'.1-[aryland ....... __ · -'.l.{assachusetts ··-···--
i
23
9
7
108
28
I,
914
14,821
I
102,
IR
03
1.12
31
I, 550
159
fi2i
2. 890
396
2,243
2,8M
3,40.1
r,o '
I
1, 030
39.'i
336
2,904
779
1,876 ,
418;
1,.176 1
6.422
1. 232
Farm
Security
Ocncrol AdminisRelief
trat.ion
Grants
C'i\·ilinn •- - - · - - -~ -- -
Google
29
9
150
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF 'l'HE WPA PROGRAM
types of puhlic assistance administered under
the Social Security Act were great,[y influenced
by local differences in living costs and the
adequacy of state and local funds. Differences in WPA monthly security earnings and
in prevailing local wage rates were factors
affecting the state data for the employment
programs.
Notes on Coverage and Source of Data
The estimated unduplicated total numbers of households and persons, discussed iu preceding pages and
shown together with amounts received in Tables 55
through 59, include recipients benefiting under the
following programs and agencies : Emergency relief
financed iu part from Federal Emergency Relief Administration funds; general relief, including outdoor
poor relief, financed from state and local funds; subsistence grants made by the Resettlement Administration and its successor, the Farm Security Administration; the three special types of public assistance (old-age
assistance, aid to the blind, and ai(\ to dependent
children) which, from February 1936, have been
financed in part from Federal funds under the Social
Security Act; the Civilian Conservation Corps; the
Civil Works Program; the Works Progress Administration; the Nation a l Youth Administ,ration; the
Public Works Ad111i11i Htration; and employment on
all other work and construction projects financed in
whole or in part from Federal funds. The estimates
do uot include i11st.itutio11al care and the distrihution
of surplus commodities, nor arc the regular construction act,ivities of state and local governme nts that are
carried on without Federal grants-in a id covered in
the composite totals. Th(s scope of the compilation
has not been extended to include the programs \\'hereby
rnral rehabilitation loans have been made l>v the R~settlcme nt and Farm Security Aclminist,rations am\
unemplo~·ment compensation and old-age benefit payments made through the insurance programs of the
Social Security Board.
The scope of the data for each of the several Federal
employment and public relief programs is revi ewed by
agencies iu the notes that follow. 011lv the conti11ental United States is covered in each in~tancc . Employment and earnings figures for Federal work aml
constrnct.ion projects cover all workers-both relief and
nomclicf, if such a distinction is made. Administmtive
employce8 arc excluded throughout. Unless othen1·ise
specified the WP A is the source of the dn,ta.
Both the household a11cl the person estimates are
based on data reported for the programs adjusted to
eliminate the duplication which arises from the fact
that in the course of any given month some households
(or persous) receive aid U1ro11gh more than one program. Allowance for duplication between progmms is
required in such cases as that of a WPA worker receiv-
ing general relief to supplement his WP A earnings or
that of ,a family supported chiefly by its WP A worker
but aided also through the NY A or CCC employment
supplied to another member of the family. Duplication between programs is sometimes technical in nature,
a result of th e fact that assistance or work may be provided during part of a month under one program and
during the remainder of the same month under another
program; this type of duplication assumes important
proportions at certain times, as, for example, in the fall
of 1935.
A third kind of duplication would be present if the
recipient totals reported for two of the programs
were used directly as a measure of the number of households. In the case of one of these--the CCC programa small adjustment is required because of instances
of enrollment. in the CCC of more than one member from
a household. Similarly , the reported number of
recipients of old-age assistance must be adjusted because in certain states it is required that separate
grants be made to husbands and wives when both are
eligible to receive old-age assistance.
Unduplicated totals of households and of persons a.re
presented for each of the months in the 1933-39 period
only on a Nation-wide basis. The allowances for duplication in certain instances were based on sample information which was believed to be adequate only for
making adjustments in totals for the country. Such
information is not suited for use in adjusting individual
state figures because of the existence of wide variation
among the different states. Undt~plica.ted state totals
consequently have not been developed.
The unduplicated estimates were prepared by the
Social Security Board and the WP A. Duplication
within the three special types of public assistance (olda11:e assistanee, aid to the blind, and aid to dependent
children) and between these programs and general
relief for months subsequent to June 1936 was estimated by the Division of Public Assistance Research,
Social Security Board. All other adjustments for
dnplicat.ion were prepared in accordance with methods
developed by the Di\·ision of Statistics and the Division
of Research of the WP A.
Works Progress Administration
Employees: Data represent average weekly employment during the calendar month on projects financed
from WP A funds . Separate figures are shown for
WP A-operated projects and for WP A-financed projects
operated by other Federal agencies.
Amounts: Data represent total earnings as shown
on payrolls ending during the calendar month of
persons employed on WP A-financed projects as
described above.
Public Works Administration
R111plo!lees: Daia represent average weekly employment during the IIICmth ending on the 15th of the
Digitized by
Google
151
FEDERAL PROJECTS AND PUBLIC RELIEF
specified month on projects fi11a11ced in whole or in part
from PW A funds.
Amounts: Data represent total earnings show11 on
project payrolls ending within the aforenm11t,io1wd
monthly period of persons Plllployed oil the PW A
projects as described above.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Construction and Public Employment.
Gvil Works Program
Employees: Data represent the number of persolls
employed under the Civil Workis Pro11:m111 d11ri1111: the
peak week of the cale11dar month in each stak .
Amounts: Data represent the Pstimated amoullt of
earnings during t-he calendar mol!th of persons employed under the Civil Works Program.
Other Federal Work and Construction Projects
Employees: Data represent avcragl' weekly employment during the mouth endi11g 011 ihe l.'",t.h of t.hc
specified month on other work and ronstruction projPcts
financed in whole or in part from F<'dl'ral funds .
These include projects financed from RFC funds; from
funds appropriated or allotted to a11:e11cit's otlwr thall
WPA, NYA, pv,,·A, and CCC, u11<lcr t.lw ERA A<"ts of
1935, 1936, 1937, and 1938; and from regular F1·dl'ral
appropriations, including Federal-aid hi11:hway funds.
Amounts: Data represent total !'arnings shown 011
project payrolls endiug withi11 thl' aforem!'ut ionl'd
monthly period of pPrRons employed 011 Uw FPd<•ral
agenc..- projects as described above.
Source: Bureau of Labor KtatiHti<·s, Division of
Construction and Public EmploymPnt, .Ja111111r~· I 936
to date. Data for mo11ths prior to .Ja11uary 193fi arc
partly estimated.
National Youth Administration
Employee.,: Data represent the munhcr of <liffrrcnt
studenti, employed 1111der thl' student aid program and
the number of different perso111; employed 011 NY A
work projects during the calendar month .
Amounts: Data represent total earnings shown 011
payrolls endi11g during the mo11th of studt•nt aid recipients a11d of persons employed on NY A work projects.
Civilian Conservation Corps
Enrollees: Data for total United Htatcs rcpr<•1«mt
average 111011thly enrollmellt (including curollnwnt, of
Indians). St.ate data represent enrollmc•llt as of t,Jrn
last day of the mouth by stak of r<'sid<'11e<', wit-h the
exception of Iudia11 e11rollrnent for which tlw mont,hly
average by state of employment is 11s1·d.
Amounts: Data are computed from average mo11thly
enrollment nnd estimated average monthly bem·fits of
$70 per enrollPc. The dist.rib11tion of the United
States total by stafr of residPIICP is estimated.
Source: Civilian Collsen·ation Corps.
Special Types of Public Assistance
Recipient.,: Data represent the number of rPcipiP11ts
in states which gra11tt'd aid under the t.itlPs of the
Hoeial 8Pc11rity Act proYiding for old-age assistance,
aid to t lw hli11d, and aid to dcpeudcnt children, and the
n11mhl'r of recipients of sirnilar typ1·s of 11.ssista11ce in
stah-s 11ot part.icipatit111: under the act; the latter arc
partly <•stimat<•d for all months. Rl•cipic11ts of the
first t.wo t-~·p1·s of aid may rPlatc to families, co11ples, or
si11gll· un:d,t.al'h<'<l imlivicluals, depending 011 state
prndir1•s. For the aid to dcpl'n<lent. rhildrcn program,
dat.a l"l'prest•11t. tlw number of families receidng aid.
Progntms for aid to dl'l>Clldc11t childre11 were 1101opnating with Fed<"rnl part.icipatio11 during .J1111e 1939
in Co11tll'C'ticut, IllinoiR, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi,
Nenula, 8011th Dakot.a, or Texas; nor programs for aid
to tlw hlind in lllinois, Missouri, Ne\"ada, Pe1rnsylyauia,
or Rhocle bland.
A m.111rnls: Data reprt•sl•nt obli11:ations incurred from
FNl<"ml, st.nti- and lo<"al funds for <"ach month for the
t.l1r<·•• spl•cial types of assistanc<' ill st.ates administering
thl' sp<•1·ial iypcs of assii..tan<"e Ulldl'r tlw Social Hecurity
Act. ancl payments from st.ntc and local funds in states
not. part.icipati11g undt•r the act. Beginning wit.Ii
.Jul~· I 93i, data inrluclc relief in ki11d, payml'nts to
physil'ia11~ for nwdicul <'llfl', mu! other items which an•
not n•imhursahll' from Fcd<"ral funds. Data on
assi,da11<·c• giYl'll in siat<•s not. parUcipat.ing under tlw
apt an• part]~- t•stinmt.ecl for all months.
So11rce: DiYision of Public Assistance Research,
Social Security Board.
General Relief
Recipients: Data Oil t.lw numhPr of emergency r<"lief
cas1•s for ihl' pt•riocl 1933 -3,i rcpn•seni the> 111m1hcr of
difforP11t- families and si11gk p<'rs011s rccPiving work a11d
direct rdid at any timl' cluring t-lw ealelldar month
under t.lm jl;l'ncral rl'lief program of state and local
cm<•rg<•n1·y rl'lid adminisinitiolls. The> <•stinuit<-d 111m1h<"r of outdoor poor re\i1.f ras1•s aid1·d hy local authoritil's during the month 11ncler pro\'isions of the poor
la\\'s is sho,n1 separakly for this pPriod h11t aftpr 193!>
this type• of rl'licf is i11cl11ch•cl in 1,111' ge11eml reliPf
fignres. Dat.a 011 11011n•lipf t·mploy11w11t repreR!'ll1 t.lie
nnmhl'I' working 011 l<:111!'rgl'11cy \\'ork Relief Program
projel't,s cl11ri11g t.lw peak wt•t'k of Uw month in each
stat<•. All general rdi1•f n·<'ipit•llt; tot,als are pnrt.ly
cstimntc<I for .Ja111mry through ,lune 1933 and for
.January 193(i to dat.t, .
. lmo,mls: Data n•pn•1<t•nt, ohlignt.ions incurred during
th!' calendar month for relief t•xtcndcd to casPs 1111<1
earnings of nonrelil'f 1wrso11s as cll'~l'rilwd ahovl'.
Source : April 1937 to <lat<•, Di\"ision of Pnblic
Assist.ance Research, Social Sc-curity Bo1\rd.
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152
REPORT ON PHOC:HESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
Transient Relief
Rural Rehabilitation (FERA)
Cases: Data represent the estimated number of
falllilies and single persons receiving transient relil'f
during the calendar 1J1ont.l1 from state and local emergency relief administrations.
.,\ mounts: Data repres<·11t obligations incurred during
the calendar month from Federal, state, and local funds
for transient relief extended to cases by state and Joe-al
enwrgency relief administrntions. Data for the first
six months of 1933 and for months subsequent to .JunP
I 93,> arc partly Pstimated.
Cases: Data represent the number of cases receiving
adva11ces for subsistence or capital goods during the
month. Data arc partly estimated for months beginning with July 193.5, when this program was transferred to the Resettlement Administration .
Amounts: Data represent the amount of obligations
incurred during the month for advances to cases specified above. Data for months beginning with July 193.',
are partly estimated.
Farm Security Administration Grants
Emergency Education {FERA)
R·mployees: Data represent the 11urnber of different
pcrso11s employed during tht mo11tl1.
A nwnnls: Data rcprcse11t the obligations incurred
during the month for earnings of persons employed 011
the program.
Student Aid (FERA)
Students: Data represent the number of different
st11dcnts cmployPd during the month.
A mounts: Data rcprcsc11t ohligatio11s i11curn·d during the month for earnings of stude11ts Pmplo~·ed 011
the program.
Gran/ Vouchers Certified: Data represent the net
number of emergency grant vouchers certified by the
Farm Security Administration (formerly the Resettlement Administration). Ordi11arily only one grant
voticher is certified per month for a given case. Beginning in April 1938 the number of cases receiving
commodities purchased and distributed by the Farm
Secmity Administration is included.
A mounts: Data represent the net amount of emergency grant vouchers certified during the month for
subsistence paynwnts to cases as described abow.
Also included is the value of commodities distributed
b~· the Farm Sccu rity Admi11istrntion during the
calendar month.
Sou.rce: Farm Security Aclmi11istration.
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- --------------
APPENDIX
TABLES
-
.
-
--
--
--
-· - -
-- -
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LIST OF TABLES
Page
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XL
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
Explanatory Notes ____ _ . ___
. ________________ _
Number of Persons Employed on ,YPA-Op<>raterl Projccts--Weckly,
August 1935 to J unc 1939 _ _
Number of P<>rso11s Employ<'<! 011 WPA-Op<'ratcd Projects, by
States-Quarterly, D ecc>111bPr 1935 to Jun<• 1938. _.
Number of Pcrso11s Employ<'d 011 WPA-Op<'ratcd Projc>cts and
WP A-Fi11anccd Projects of Other Fl•deral Agencies, by StatesQuarterly, S<>ptemhcr 1938 to June 1939 ____ .
Number of Persons Employed on WPA-Finan<"ed Projects of Other
Federal Agencies, by States and by Age11cies- June 28, 1939
State Distributions of WP A WorkPrs, by AgP Groups, by Size of
Families, a11d by Duration of Employnw11t -Fc•bruar~· 1939 __
Number of Persons Employed 011 WPA-O1wratNI Projects, by
States and by Major Types of ProjPets- - ,fon<' 21, 1939. _
Percentage Distribution of Perso11s Employed on WP A-Operated
Projects, by States and h_v Major Types of Projects-- .Junc> 21,
1939 ·-·
Status of Funds unrh•r All ERA Acts Comhincrl anrl under the
J,;RA Act of 1938, by Agencics~through .Tune 30, 1939 ___ _
Expenditures of All Agencic>s and of the WP A u11d1•r thc> ERA Acts
of 1935, 1936, 1937, all(! 1938, by States and by Fiscal Yl'ars--through .June 30, 1939 __ __ .
. . _ _ ___ _- - - Hours and Earnings of Persons I•:mployerl on WPA-Opcrated
Projects, by Stah•s anrl b~· Fiscal Years- -through June• 30, 1939_
Expenditures on WPA-Operatcd Proj1•cts, by Types of Projects,
by Sources of I•'1mds, and b_v Objects of ExpPnditure-- -Cumulative
through .June 30, 1939 .. __ _
Expenditures on WP A-Operated ProjPcti<, by T~·pes of Projects, by
Sources of Funds, and by Objects of Exp1,nditurc--Ycar Ending
June 30, 1939
. - - - - · .. - · Expenditures 011 WPA-Opcrnt1•d Projcl'ts, hy Rtates, by Sourl'<'s of
Funds, and by Objects of Expcnditun•- Cumulativc through
June 30, 1939 _
__ - - . - - -- .
Expenditures on WP A-Operated Projects, hy Rtates, by Sources of
Funds, and hy Objects of Expenditure· Year Endi11g June 30,
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
166
167
168
16H
170
171
1939 _ __ _
XV. Expcncliturcs of Federal and 8po1rnors' Funds on WPA-Opcratcd
Projects, l>y Rtates anrl by Major Types of Projects-· -Cumulative
through J1111e 30, 1939_ _ _ _
- - - - • •XVI. Expendit11res of Fed<>ral and Rp<rnsorH' Funds m1 WPA-OperatPd
Projects, by 8tatcs and by Major Types of ProjPcts- YP!U Ending
.June 30, 1939 __ .__ _______ ____
156
172
174
· -- - - -- - -
XVII. Selc>ctc<l Items of Physical Accomplishnwnt on WP A-Operated
ProjectA, by Stat<•s· -through .Tum· 30, 1938 ________ ______ __ --
176
155
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EX PLANATORY NOTES
The WP A employment data shown in various
detail in the first tables of the appendix relate
to persons employed on "WPA-operated"
projects, to persons employed on "WPAfinanced projects of other Federal agencies,"
or to a combination of the two comprising all
WPA-financed employment. The first group,
much larger than that of the other Federal
agencies, includes workers on projects directly
operated by the WPA. This series extends
from August 1935 to date. The Federal agency
group includes persons working on projects
similar in type to those of the WPA and operated by other Federal agencies with WPA
funds transferred under Section 3 of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1938. This
series begins in July 1938. Project workers
paid by sponsors of WP A projects are not included, nor are administrative employees of
the WPA included in the project employment
tables. In showing detail of employment the
last ·wednesday of the month, or quarter, has,
in general, been used-the employment counts
are taken as of Wednesday. The scope of the
data presented in Table V which provides state
distributions as to age, size of family, and
duration of employment is described in footnote
2, page 101.
Tables VIII and IX are based upon reports
of the Treasury Department and refer to
moneys appropriated by the ERA Arts of
1935, 1936, 1937, and 1938 for relief and work
relief programs. The period covered is from
the beginning of operations, as early as April
1935 under some agencies, through June 1939.
Certain of the terms that are used may be
defined as follows:
1. "Allocations" represent amounts either
directly appropriated by Congress or transferred by the President to an agency, warrants
for which have been issued by the Treasury.
2. "Obligations" represent actual or contingent liabilities incurred against funds a.llo-
cated. The figures are cumulative and represent paid, as well as unpaid, obligations.
Requisitions for materials, supplies, and equipment are set up as obligations when submitted.
Items which are certain to become due in a
short period are recorded in advance, e. g.,
payrolls, rents, travel expenses, etc., are obligated one period in advance.
3. "Expenditures" represent checks issued in
payment of payrolls and other certified vouchers.
Neither obligations nor expenditures necessarily provide a wholly accurate reflection of
operations at any given time since obligations
in part reflect future operations and expenditures lag behind the current situation because
of the time consumed in making actual payments.
Tables XI to XVI, dealing with expenditures
of Federal and sponsors' funds on WPAoperated projects, are based on data compiled
from WP A project registers maintained by the
WPA divisions of finance in the states. Totals
of Federal expenditures as shown in these
records agree throughout with comparable
Federal expenditures as reported by the Treasury Department; adjustments have been made
to allow for small clifferences resulting largely
from items in transit between WPA offices or
between WP A and Treasury offices.
The state data on physical accomplishments
on WPA-operated projects presented in Table
XVII cover certain selected items of work.
Totals reported in each instance relate to the
physical units of work that were completed in
the operation of projects from the beginning of
activities through June 30, 1938. For further
discussion of physical accomplishment data see
tlw accomplishment section of the chapter on
"WPA Project Accomplishments and Operations."
All data presented in this report are for the
United States and territories, unless otherwise
specified.
156
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APPENDIX TABLES
TABLE !.-NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYE D ON WP A-OPERATED P ROJ ECTS
W EEKLY- Al'Gl'ST 1005 TO Jt-XE 1939
1935
193f,
1937
1939
~lonth
ID ate
2. 132. nox
2. 124,307
2. 129, 25(1
2. 138, 0/\9
.,
12
10
2fl
2. JH . !',2fi
~:1:tm I
2, 1• .1. 562
2. 148. 19:I
2. 139. 478
2. 133. 9S3
2, I H. 800
2,110,919'
2, 09R 3S9
2, OR.,. 329
2. 070. 1.5 1
2. Oa9. 044
2
9
rn
23
2
9
rn
23
I, 71 1, 932
1. 7f>i, 701
I , 8.12, 148
1.900,f,25
I, 94S. 3 17
I, OS.I, 400
2, 009, 14 .1
2, 07,1, 492
2.
l(;f,,
70.1
2,243, Sf.5
2. 3:;o, Ri7
2, 44.1, 41.1
r,
2, /iCH. 483
13
20
27
2. 531. 392
2, .'>44. OR.I
2. ,18 1. 897
4
IR
2, f.2~. 7H
2, f,,50, 20R
I. 999. 'lflO
2.,
2, r,7q, 223
3 1
17
24 ,
2, 3!0, 9U
2,293, r,2.1
2. 273, 052
2, 2.,r., 8!1ll
I
jj
22
29
132, f,f,\
1/17 , !)f,R
219, 7P.l
2.12. no
----
3 14, Iii<
2
9
397, 5{13
Jf,
4.~.013
23
30
501\ IUO
501,427
fifil .O!m
iii, 21'4
m~r,. R37
4
26
--- - -- -- --
29!1, 54:1
II
18 '
24 '
31
5'
12
19
'
11
21
28
I. 2fi4. Mfi!i
I. f12:\, tiOfi
1. fl 25, :12.1
2. 44 ., . HM
II
18
2!i
2. &..'l,!t!lfi
2. mo. 11r.
2, i 01. !'1i7
Jr,
4
2, 2411, 085
2. 232.917
2. 240, 223
2, 210, 357
2. 21'>4 , o.,r,
2, 2i0. fi12
2,322. r,94
2,350, 750
2, :lifi, .r,(i,1
I, 080. 2.1f.
I , OIS, 700
l,8f.r., f.17
I, 82 1. 1.51
I , 77f., 239
23
30
I
7
I. 7! 1. 58.1
I, 6.12. 283
14
21
I. S92, 129
28
I , Sf,8, 8 17
4
1. S38. 217
I , S21 , Jr.7
I, 501. 35f,
1, 479,RM
____
II
IR
25
I
2, ◄ Of , 09•
2. 42r.. n1
2. 41r.. 72 1
2. 48 1, 5Jr.
2. 50R, 411
1
R
26
10 •
17 .
24 '
31
1.,
22
20
2. 52., . 4 11
2, 5-1,,,r,25
2, MR, 052
2,581, 20/l
13
20
27
2. ,187. 301
2, ,18,1. 107
2, .510, 077
2. 182. r,1;1
10
17
24
2,740,070
23
2. 7f\2, 252
30
2. l!i2. 212
6
3
I
R
IS
22
29
I, 4fi0,fi(ii
I. 457,029
1, ,1tm_025
1,175. MO
I ••1.17, 558
I, ,157, 689
I , 588. 244
I . 02!1, 27 1
1.fiiO,f.20
2. 7R7, 044
2, ROn, 931
28
6
2,853, 129
2, 898, .197
2, 937. 92f.
2. QM, 8.1 2
3, 0,q,1, 7R2 ;
3. 108. 02 1
- - --,
tg~:~~ ------,
,I
3. 144. 433
12
1. 17.1 , 2.19
3, 208, 0.1 1
3. 2.,3. r,23
2
3. 27 1,308
0
3. 2fln . .15o
3. 2.12. ,\!i5
7
~~141--
2. 449, 189
2, Hf., 5-15
2, 43'!. 255
2, 420, 74 1
I ____ __
3. 13f., .10.1
16
23
30
2. 610,082
2, .127, 9SR
2, 48.1, 360
2. 4r,s, on
2, 4S7, 001
__ __ ______ _
14
21
2fl
I
2,002.Rili
2,801,613
2. f,40, 886
2, 635, 3f,!l
2, fi20, 3 H
3,0lr.,7if, • ___ -_-_- /
3, 038, ~,5 '
3, Of,1,, S95 __
I
28
19
1. 4~7. 0117
I , 108, 028
1, ,'i09, .10.1
) , .1 10, 740
11I
2,693, :175
2, il l , ifi2
29
7
2. 948, I i.I
2. 927, I IS
2,926, 730
2, 91.1, ,IRS
2,882, 722
----; i
21
17
24
31
l , 4M.3f. J
I, 4,58, 830
1, 4,55, 170
I. 451. 11 2
1. 448, 411
1
R
2, 73fi, 0 14
3
10
2,870, f\49
2, 87.1, 724
2,922, 029
2, OM, 022
22
8
15
22
13
20
27
-- - -- - --
2, 31!9. 202
2, 2RK f.65
2. 2Jt 917
2. rn2. -1110
2
0
2
9
16
I
8
J.I
.I
12 .
10
I
W '
2,979,997
2,939, .\74
2,910,007
2, 89.1, 12.1
29
2,HOfi. i19
2.lMf.. 751
2. 023. 3m
2. Olr., 970
4
11
18
2S
1.1
22
2,394,813
30
II
P ersons
- - - -----
3, 22.1, r.2.1
3, 193, r.58
3, 14X, 4~7
3, 003. 027
3. 032, 7,19
3. 002, 211
. -- ----- - -
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158
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE II.-NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY STATES
QUARTe;RLY-DECEMBER
1935
TO JUNE
1938
Dccem- March 2.5,
Decem- March 31, June 30, Septem- DecemJune 24, Septem30, June 29,
her 31,
her 30,
ber 30,
ber 29,
her 29. March
1936
1936
1937
1937
1938
1938
1935
1936
1936
1937
1937
-------------- ----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- - - - - - -
State
I
Total --------------------- 2, 782, 252 2,871, 6:37 2,255,898 2,508,441 2, 152,212 2,110.949 I, 776,239 I, 448,411 I, 670,620 2,445,415
Alabama ------ ---------------Arizona ______ ----- - ------------Arkansas _____ -------- - --------California _________
. _____________
Colorado ______ . ________________
2,800,931
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- - ---49,010
39, 977
32,398
29,233
26, ll99
30. 883
20,548
19,211
25,263
36,928
46, 22i
12, 154
11,439
9,332
8,813
7, 573
8,531
7, 136
6,445
7,241
8,708
10,360
43,649
35, 277
29,045
32, 078
24,676
25,282
17,612
22,167
22,863
35,326
38,038
128. 439
142. 584
110,548
105, 507
105, 591
104,448
95,966
67,370
74,458
94,321
94, 772
40,202
39,033
28,328
28,563
20,279
19,608
15,230
25, 398
19,985
27,530
28,472
Connecticut -------------------Delaware ________________________
District or Columbia ____________
Florida _______
------------Georgia __________________________
27,998
3,048
i, 124
35,052
53,295
27,810
3, Oil
8,983
32,514
44, 142
Idaho ____________________________
Illinois __________________________
Indiana __________________________
Iowa ____________________________
Kansas ______________ . ___________
10,885
177, 169
80, 750
2H, 950
43, 147
Kentucky _______________________
Louisiana __ -------------------Maine ___________________________
Maryland _______________________
Massachu.sctts ___________________
Michigan ________________________
Minnesota _______________________
~:~~ii~f~i_--_-_-_-_-_-:_-_-_-_-_-_~:::::::_
Montana ________________________
22,508
2,344
27, 124
33,881
20, 701
2,001
i, 366
27, 270
3r., 630
17,008
2, 110
6,701
25,359
32,935
12,634
199, 823
84, 715
30. 700
45, 076
6. 380
155,680
68,287
19,408
30,402
5,900
IG9, 435
67,460
30, 034
50,169
61,266
52, 142
10, ms
19,391
112, 407
62,134
50,508
9, 91:J
18, 37,1
120, 372
45,911
36, 510
/, 9il
14, 60(;
104, 5!">7
94,393
60, 3/SO
32, 483
85,230
15,456
98, 534
60,689
37,854
20,500
2, 3,13
87, 727
19,861
18,290
2,087
23,980
29,581
Ii, 466
I, 948
6,205
24,928
23,569
13,388
I, 649
5,522
23,061
20,621
17,428
2,058
6,125
24,995
26,479
21,807
3,094
8,032
31,578
41,511
25,603
3,612
8,632
36,191
6,987
153, 584
64,176
21,250
39, 795
7. 707
148,441
65. 528
24,079
36, f,32
4,566
121,366
52,974
19,324
28,120
4,051
104,950
41,008
16, 296
24,891
8,022
111, 105
47,055
19,000
Tl, 465
11,579
8,556
228, 42i
95,703
34,150
32,589
,56, 25()
34,381
7,051
13, lfi9
103, 2.19
49,153
31,536
7,182
12,781
05, 816
47,088
30,858
6,822
12,682
90,451
40, 957
25, 796
2, 795
10,441
75,253
35,401
21,599
2,452
8,633
61, 170
39,968
24,805
5,109
IO, 219
74,544
50,215
31,500
7,632
11,946
105,659
37,079
8,269
13,192
113,218
75,771
44,805
26,651
66, (l02
IO, 489
76, 107
54,913
27,993
100,468
20, 184
66. 092
44,690
23, 753
74, 757
9,059
61,288
46, 163
22, 792
79, 769
11,611
50,679
37,675
19,060
62. 817
9,089
42, 637
31,584
16,314
48,514
IO, 874
49,530
37,559
21,058
53,000
14,058
125, 723
57,864
30,819
86,279
18,124
187,544
63,553
36,244
103,979
21, 26,
14,512
2, 188
29,488
2,208
7,546
6,561
197, 42i
84,931
30,488
35, 728
48,140
64, Oii
Nebraska _______________________
Nevada __________________________
New Hampshire _________________
New Jersey ______________________
New Mexico _____________________
7, 107
92,855
11,550
21,407
2,525
9,557
92, 13!>
10, 274
7, UOi
79,811
7,899
26,435
I. r.75
!I, 863
78, 68!)
10, 046
19,078
I, 959
8,098
75, 265
8,003
22,328
2, 134
7,315
74, 751
8,687
18, C,65
I, 381
5, 742
66,686
i, 801
16,478
1,017
4,477
56,302
6,3.14
20,569
l,&15
6,062
58, 703
6,506
28,246
2.674
8,638
82,209
9,977
8,719
92,055
10,779
New York City _________________
New York (cxd. N. Y. C ) _______
North Carolina_ -------------North Dakota ___________________
Ohio _____________________________
241, 113
135,051
38,326
12, 100
175,539
2:16, 723
127. :l81l
40,034
11, 997
186,358
205,490
101, (\98
27,984
8,309
152,850
l9'l, .122
103, 403
29, lfi4
42, 740
148, 930
191,369
176,298
27,862
Ii, 958
131,902
181,877
81,273
25,131
16. 118
123, MO
21,960
11, 718
98,033
138,815
53,621
18,744
9,278
84,539
137,523
52,008
22,956
13,418
98,036
153,926
53,048
31,575
14,840
196,089
170,018
58,681
38,405
13,524
252,518
Oklahoma ________ _______________
Oregon_ --------- - -------------Pennsylvania ____________________
Rhode Island ____________________
South Carolina_ ----------------
88,505
20, :169
237, r,3;1
Hi. 32()
3:1, 071
69,669
19,972
287,847
14, r,42
:lfJ, 4:J\l
,15, ,196
14,469
235,047
IO, 888
2;;, 4;0
86, 5!0
13,887
249,992
IO, fi28
24, 844
47, 703
14,057
229, 130
10,636
22,893
54, 784
15,488
212,323
11, 30f,
22,231
47, 181
13,019
174. 625
11,231
19, 32fi
36,262
9, 164
150,500
8,800
14. 238
46,580
12,666
161,743
12, '04
19,682
60,952
16,725
223,052
13,050
30,699
64,857
15,995
264,379
15,263
3.5, 356
South Dakota ___________________
11. 7i'U
Vermont _____________ ._ - -- . - -- --
16, JOO
47, r,os
88, 745
I.I, 001
5, 144
44, G71
10:i, 252
12, I 70
Ci, 697
!l, 100
30, 50.~
79, 38.5
IC, 080
4,400
57, ,180
3.1, 411
76, 909
8,073
3,012
20,670
29, ~30
76,006
8,780
3,316
20, 20f,
27, 93•1
78, .561
8, 744
4, Ofi!i
13, 721
23,131
65, 782
7,536
2,805
11. 823
18, 1\58
40,290
6, 742
I, 914
15,548
21,004
56,248
7, 753
3,551
Ii, 170
31,278
77,876
10,667
5,096
15,413
36,300
81,766
10,517
S, 143
Virginia _________________________
Washington ___________________
West Virginia ___________________
,visconsin __________ ___________ . _
Wyoming _______________________
40,060
34,609
,II. 633
63,500
5, 2()3
34,581
4fi, 114
5f,, 433
63, Jill
4,507
27, 180
25, 048
43, -157
48, ~62
2,759
24, 57:l
27,213
4:J, O!if1
(\);, 998
4, 21.1
24,264
27, 290
40, 183
.IO. osr,
3,007
22,960
31. 800
36, f,14
40. AA,
2. 906
18,867
24, 724
31. 878
41,394
2, 2fi6
16,294
Hl, 744
2f\, 743
33, 198
1.689
18,563
31, 747
30,068
40,364
2,765
22, 74~
46,131
40,931
65,940
4,620
24,183
45,468
47,976
74,167
4,210
Tennessee ____ -----------------Texas _________________ ---------Utah ____________________________
Ala.si<a. _______ ---------· · · -----Hawaii_ ______ ---- - ---- - - · ----- ------
-----
i
-----
85,623
4,548
65,688
i
4;4181 - 3, 020-1
Digitized by
13
3,619
1:1 ---------2,262
2,532
Google
---------2,500
I, 559
159
APPEXDJX TABLES
TABLE 111.-NuMBER OF PERsoxs E11PLOYED o:s WPA-OrERATED PROJECTS AND WPA-FINANCED PROJECTS OF
OTHER FEDERAL AGEXC'IES, BY STATES
Qt°ARTERLY-SEPTEMIIER 1938 TO Jl'SE 1\139
Sepwmber 28, 1938
State
I
ProJ•
I
Total
!
March 211. 1939
I
WPA·
eels of.
operated other
projects Federal
fllt<'DCiC'S
···----· - .
Total .......... . ... .... 3. 228.082 3,136,505
Alabama................... . . .
Arlrona ............... ...... . .
Arkansas ... ................ . .
CllllComia...•.•...•.•..•••••• •
:::::::.-:::::::::::::::::i
~................. ... ..... ... .
District of Columbia ...•.•..
Florida ...... ····· .......... . .
Georgia ................... .. . .
61. Ulfi
12,519
47. H02
I 13, 676
32,004
3. 4XH
31. 681
3,049
13, 5;;
30, 3.17
3. 625
12.515
52,519
,58, 076
I. :J24
32·1
I. flf>2
I. 4Xl
3,0\15
9,668
2.5.1, 124
97. 806
3.1, 9'.l.l
37,357
l,IIXO
54,000
X -............ .... ...... .
34. 299
311. r.r.5
ie::.·.=::::::::::::::::::
72. 930
47,000
\l:1:1
\160
I. 492
6. 184
f,l, 5fkl
f~). 1112
II. 1511
32i
1111. 3U2
31. 83b
10, l!>l
·IX, IX,
112, l 11,
2.',,2115
2X. X711
2i, :iiS
3. 784
12,.5-1~
51. IH2
f>O . ii4
.1.orn
13.814
.52. r.r,11
63. l<.'i.~
91,r, 14 2. PKll, 472 2.RS2,722
:.X, IS4
I. 11,,
11.16
1. R,111
JO, filil
~:~~~ I
1, 4\1,5
232 :
1. 2r,5
I. ,\84 ;
3. !IXI
.i:?. 070
12:1. 1:lfi
32. 703
211.:m:1
:l.4KY ·
13. !XIX
.'.0.1130 :
r,4, 26-1
I
2, 472
I. r,23
:ij4
1.n
I
II. I;I
241. 40,1
H.5. IJ2.'\
31. 5112
36, SHW
fi7.:J.10
.'i3. f.24
Ill. R4,I
IB. i(i2
127,846
Ill. 4:1x
12, 47X
733
2. 421
I.221
:r.lX.IIH!l
'-4 . 704
!II. HIil
:l.~. HH2
2'20. 287 1
HO, 2f,5
311,.543
3i. 999
:ma
1, 0>'7
nr,. klM
I. 512
/i.1,c.'!H
JO, 1IH
15, .',211
12!1, 017
727
4,242
2.229
19. 002
1:io.o.~9
71. 130
47,374
R. f,69
16,373
128,133
181. 305
f,R, 345
41.320
IIO. 371
21. 91',0
2. 037
1. 22;
I. OXf,
I.Xii
2. 320
14 ,1, RIii
fii, Sfi!J
48, .-.12
109, 2R7
20, R1.5
l •t:l, k.'i-1
f.5 , ~79
•17.!"&
10;, sr.2
R\l0
Montana . ................... .
1s.1.r.m
60,572
42. 41.5
112. IAA
24, 2l!O
Ill.II>!
I. 725
1.441
Nebraska............... . .... .
Nevada .... ..... ....... ... •...
Ntw Hampshire ..... .. . . . • ..
Ntw Jersey..... . .......• ...
NtwMnlco ...............•.
31.024
2.f,42 .
10,000
IJ0,.51!()
14. 279
30, 1.51
2. 493
9. 762
107, 3,5.5 ,
13. r,07
K7:I
1411
334
3. 225
672
2R.2Sfi
2,f,17
11 . 221
lfl.3. 141
11.Rif>
27. 712
•) '>20
1it;10
lr.l,r.tR
11.311
.544
JIM
475
2,.523
SJ.5
Ntw Yorlr City
. . . . ... . 1115.R71
Ntw Yorlr (excl. X. Y. C.) . . .
67,519
NonhCarollna ....... ...•...
50. 7AA
Nor1b Dalrota... . . . . . . .. .. · 1 rn. II07
Ohio... . .
.
.
285, 1!114
IR:l. 316
65, 0.58
4!!. !13'1
15, fl.57
285, 040
2. ,5!,.~
2. 4f.l
I. RM
I. 150
f!.14
IR:I. 49X
r,.,.. 9f,r.
51,103
15. 121
2r.2, (~2
IH!I, !M~J
Otlaboma ........... ...... .. .
69, 745
17. 497
274. 100
lfl. f,f,4
47, 244
3,431
1.2:lO
f,0, ,'i41
l!I. .',05
IX.421
3. flll.1
21il.~91
M.394
43.foR2
2!')7, HOH
Ill, 014
ii.1. f,Of,
112. 32~
14,916
R. IAA
15, :1:ix
51,036
101. :1.51
12.!122
7,f,62.
ffifi
1.970
4. 077
-~26
6,/\.511
2i. 90.'i
48. 191
49. r.t2 .
7R, ·1/i.1
3, 7114
.5. /i.1f,
573
739
50!1
30, !MXJ
Maine ....................... .
Maryland .............•. . ....
Massachusetts.......... •. . ...
Soutb Carolina .............. .
Soutb Dakota . ..... . ..... . . .
Tennessee ............. ... . . . .
Tau ...................... .. .
Utah .. ................ .. .
Vermont................. .... .
Vlqlnla . .................... .
WashlnJlon ... .............. .
West Virginia .. ...... . ..... . .
Wlaconsin
Wyoming................... . :
I, 411
900
2, ;i;g
8, 717
25, 1.55
3, 456
12. 723
44,375
5li. A76
~:~11·
9, f,1)6
I.N•I
r.22
!13i
2. rnm
l.112f.
ri.'3 .0fi2
40.112fl
Ill, ;)27
r,sn
IS.l'<lli
87, 421\
30, ()1\!I
32, ,5211
I
I
126. 1/0i '
JO, 743
Pomo Rico ....... ..... . :.
Virgin Islands._. .. . .. .. .
3,479
I. 8.17
310
2,328
2,589
23,318
3,146 ,
10,395 :
41. 786
52.212
4, 6f,4
8,574
Ul9, 273
70,732
26,432
27, 3.111
2,169
2, 665
I, .507
678
2,210
51!,027
43. 0!49
/i.1, 58R
42. 225
4. 439
7, 9i6
17,.';43
105, 2i0
7,032
13. 194
100,838
4,349
4,432
I. 2:l3 1 125,211:J
M,6.10
724
40, 125
940
84, 762
1,f\RII
17,609
l./\00
12:l,081
f>.1,1.54
38, 7M
S2, R46
14. 46.1
2, 212
I, 4i6
I. 339
1. 916
3,236
757
2,785
1.1137
460
2, 471
r.1. 415
4,5, 2'JO
10.11871
14. 7,'\!I
124. 478
I
201. 938
78,230 j
27,110 '
29,546
2, .'i-17
4.m
•
2, 4RO
i:J. l7fi
1
18. 727
Zi7. 7M.1
17. fl02
50, OOl!
rn. 307 •
48,500
00, .~59
15, 36R 1
6. IIOO I
3l,46R
.5/l, 1192
.'i.1.621
~5. 30.1
4. 690
2, 1(11,
:1:JH
2. 7r,1
15, 617
780
46,9.51 I I • .5551
3.r.:u
92, 9281
2. 2112
13. 166
6, 047 .
7.5.1
27. f,IJR
.51,SR.'i
/i.1, 131
3. Kllll
5.:1117
114.349
4~)
054
4, 259
431
31. f,GU
.5.1. 727
.'iO, IR5
79, 192
4,1134 ,
g;r.
2,530
I.RI.~
1-1.3!>4
261. 203
7R9
!!64
944
AA,f>IO
12,367
17H. 119 , 174 • .5-19
67. 127 1 f>.l , OJI
19.11.51
47. 792
14 . f,17
13. !151
243, i25
2·1<>. 01,5
3,
l,M.59
696
1.200
~:i~~ I
3,374
l~i. f>.11
IM, 942
I.AA·\ ,
211. 2lR
3, IIR2
1,5, 626
191
IS, 444
2. R·l.5
I
11;,20:1
40. S.17
I
I. 904
I
kM5
122
221
3.193
.111
Ill. M.111
12. 77R
727
HI>. 1#;7
I
1::;~; i
211,603 ·
2.•'i!;'J
r.2. 2AA
11.1. 43Ci .
4. 235
140. 202 i 139.11211
1\.1, 445 1 r.1. 121
45, 2AA
44, 34fi
IIVl. 4,5.1
19. Rll
16, /\.14
/i.1,·130
114 ,431
14, 743
IH, !.!Hl
4R, .~10
75,491
4, 1r211
I
i:ml
0:1. 451
17. 9R6
23-1. 7llli
rn. 2;2
4.5. 245
2.5, M.57
1. 9-1.5 '
K, 41XJ ,
83,002
11.961
3. 570
116 1
3. 100 ,
!l.56 '
6,462
3,'i4
3. 100
r,56
15,P78
51.[>HX
107, 0-12
13,082
5. 9fl0
o. 789
2H,9f>I
44,441
48. 076
74.61i5
4,372
3. 11:16
4, 155
431
826
556
I
I. 12.~
3CH!
3,173 •.
I, 1251
- - - -- -
IIO
a.mt
3. (194
16~
I.211-1
39·1
2. f>l9
1.om
246
4, 380
I. 498
0, 651!
1.3.50
4,699
13,942
1,388
2,255
7, 480
1, 745
1,5, :130
44. 904
1,661
tl5R
1.003
246
497
1. 268
51. f,00
1.5, 435
173, ,520
13. R/i.5
3R. 038
97. 008 :
12,012 •
5,268 !
2.f,19
◄,
.5.5.911:1
16. 0:13
IIIO, IR7
1.5, 205
43, f,17
l , R4ll
394
I, 274
143
565
i
2.32,5
5,038
2,400
I, 461
I, 780
z.q. 775
37,404
40, 92.~ ,
63, /i.19 1
3. 762
760
2,284
3.0IR
1.29!1
~n: 1
JO. 267
4. 776
24. 208
16.1 '
300
3,173
24, .'il!3
1,R02
7,113.5
7R• .595
10,093
143,065
145. 300
57,018
62. 0.56
·13. 438
41. 0.18
13, 748
12, 2R7
202. R25 I 201. 036 ,
Undistributed by states . . . .
.,Iuka..
Hawaii
7,515
43,632
llll, 343
22,525
I
Michigan .... ........ ...... . . .
Minnesota.............. .• •...
~ ~ ! . . . .... ···· · · ·· · · ••
!Sf~~t::::::::::::::::
130, 677
25, 221
I, 070
3, 261 .
228
11 . 4MO . I. 528
I, 822
49, 108
60,lllN 1 3. 446
I
8~(.'nCi<'S
49, 715
51. 126
8,415
40, 1111
108,060
26,0()4
116.
30, 380
6.19
----
WPA· cctsor
operated otlll'r
proj!'cts . Federal
Oi,750 2, 551,418 2,420,HI
I. 10:J
497
1, 772
6, 746
2, 124
:ii. (l~l
10. 154
.50. 2!1~
-
ProJ•
·-----fij!('D~~, ___
--· J._ .
;)(I,
l'roJ•
WPA· ectsof
operated other
Total
projects Federal•
I
Jdabo ........................ .
11.f>.18
llllnola. ..................•.•.. 2M. 500
Indiana................ . .. . . .. . 99, 42'J
Iowa......................... .
Total
June 28. 1939
· -- -·
WPA· ectsof
op<'rnl<'d other 1 T otal
proj,•cls \1''ederal,
ai!<'ncics
91.577 3.0\13,~,';5 3,fl02,W
61. 939
13,479
40,294
119, Hf,O
35. 490
61.171
- - -·- - - - ' Proj•
I
34. 490
40,402
62.413
3.149
......I
492
4. 567
2,914
433
I, 126
613
163
760
2. 2114
·a:oo
1,298
···-'--- - - - - - - --
Digitized by
Google
-
TABLE IV.-NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA-FINANCED PROJECTS OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, BY STATES AND BY AGENCIES
JUNE 28, 1939
0 :,
0
Depo.rtment of Agriculture
State
Grand
Total
1---~--~-- - - ~ - -- - - - - ~ ---a
I
Soil Con•
Bio· Entomollogical ogy and I Forest servat_ion
Pinnt
Service
Service
Survey Qu~rantrne
Total
----------J
1- -
Toto.L. .... ......... 1130, 677
Alabama ....•............
Arizona _________________ _
Arkansas . .. . ............ .
Californio. ............... .
Colorado .. _. ............ .
Connecticut. ........... __
Delaware . .. _.-·- ... _... __
District ol Columbia .. .
Florida ..... . .
Oeorgio. . .. .. .
li.lubo . .... .
Illinois.
Tndiana ..... .
foWiL _ ______ _
Kansas ... . .. .
Kentucky ..... .
0
;:::;.:
N.
(D
Q.
~
0
0
a
~
(\)
Mississil'pi_ .... . . . .
New Hatnpshire _______ _
New Jersey···· •·····•-·
New Mexico ......•....
New York City ......... .
New York (excl. N. Y. C.)
North Carolina.......... .
North Dakota .......... _.
Ohio . .........•..........
Oklahoma . ............. . .
Oregon ................. . .
Pennsylvania ..... -·-· ... .
Rhode Island ........... _.
South Carolina .......... .
South Dakota .. ....... .. .
Tennessee ...... . ....... . .
Texas .. .......... -···-.-·
Utah ........ ......... ... .
Vermont ................ .
Virginia ................. .
Washington ............. .
West Virginia ........... .
Wisconsin ...•............
Wyoming ............... .
Undistributed by states_
Ala.ska ............... .
Puerto Rico _____ _
Vlr.!l_in Islands •.•.•.•
900
13, 72S
I
2,328
2,580
4,664
6~1
I , 297
I, 602
226
2, 169
2, Jal
116 I
2, 6fi5
I. 507
1, 14S
70:l
:17~ -· -· · · .
220
7:32
,542
653
181 · • -·· ·-· .
90
216 :
429
I, Z29
123
41
4f>4
456
6,8
9H
2,212
I, 476
I, 339
1,916
3,236
I, 274
143
565
4,497
I, 268
18, 106
6S
342
273
I. 321
731
073
21
1,929
147
2 12
145
84
62
I, 147
887
72
902
51
··1
179
537
2
330
~!~ I
I, 217
.... -· ·1 ·•-··•·• -·
7i4
1,082
761
13, 303
159
202
8G
4,349
4. 432
Missouri_
2,485
3!0
'.1,fa_ine . ..... _·-····•·•-.
Maryland . . .. ..... . .. .
'.\Io.ssachusetts........ _.
Montana ... . ... . .. .
Nebraska .... .
Nevada . · -· ····-·-···-·
\
I, 837
3, fi9
Louisiana __ ______ _____ _
Michigan ... . . ..... .
I 49,066
Department or
the
Navy
---~---------'
,____
National
Park
Service
Bureau
Bureau
of
Fisheries
Other
Total
126
5ii
10.1
1,896
518
), 109
143
253
640
7
71
150
159
71.1
63
35
636
147
135
4
12
1,444
576
14
8
528
l••·····u·
46
I
1····-·-· ·•········
1
Zl7
273
98
664
302
76
82
629
300
76
429
1351
188
159
103
148
323
64~
196
692
123
643
873
143
166
~~~. ·•·•···•i·
18
I
130
256
324
230
155
561
470
159 1-- -- -- - -1 - ---
14
364
720
12
536
01
19
299
I, 300
255
55S
1,027
63
30
), 327
286
66
10
747
6,658
I, 350
I, 284
707
82
144
319
993
21
2S
23
12S
17
355
332
1,219
64S
687
41
206
793
100
60
181
920
430
107
105
801
I, 538
2
Z7
21
384
451
120
492
4,567
897
327
I, 784
I, 119
1, 221
1,1811
2,221
596
401
20
I, 856
10
197
72
31
82.5
414
119
637
433
I, 126
531
84
1,063
96
307
458
613
363
5
10,1
211
11
19
67
17
2,014
301
200
268
1, 231
100
293
8
9
21
160
562
173
20
2,415
673
1,388
2,255
7,480
I, 745
Total
Docks
2921
55.
10 ········1······
.. . . .. .
4!~ l::::::::1........ 2.
303
807
57
15
57
. • . •.• l:1
136
251
I, 779
·I
305
946
I
2-12
565
I, 176
1,025
106
~
71
-------- --
Corps of Quar•
terEngimaster
neers
Corps
14
15
•u
137
18
~
557
4
I
33
58
667
165
854
-- ------ --
u
7
-- ----17
3
-- ----10
18
7
44
91
1· •·•-·3·
~
l·····-····I
57 .•....1s..
583
m1::::::::
[;]
U?~ 1:::::::: "ti0
194
:§
Z72
243
711
124
0
I, 945
z
94.5
I, 166
I, 106
144
144
111
111
3,711
136
r:JJ
r:r,
I, 546
2,335
I, 546
2,002
"'.l
333
93
::i:
I, 433
3.33
333
641-•·•··
64
I,nl
203
14
II
73
- · ·· - · ··
·· · · -· .
.• . . . . •
·• ·--·-~i:_.___~.
2
·· · · -· · ·
4
8
2,457
66
2,457
66
4
Z7
2, 14S
765
5
IT
3
-·
13
34
2 ·• · • · · - 207 -· · • · · · ·
--20· .. ... ~:.
126
2,481
403
120
2,481
111
403
687
2,212
·· 2 , · ~ i r :
799
10
799
111
305
5,013 ·····•-·-•
5,013
837 ········ ··
837
53 ··········
758 ••···•·• · •
I, 164 .•.•.•.•..
74
53
758
1,104
::::;~i= ::=:::·::: ::::;~~f::::::
163
ti I:~:;~~:\ ::::::::1 ::::::::::!::::~~:I::::::::::1 ::::::::1 ::::::::::1--j~::~I :=: ::: ::1-·i:::.[::::J .: ::::~:I ::::::::1 :::::J ::~~~~:I::::::
1
~
~
6S •• . •.• . • -··•·• -· -· .•.. - . . •
2 · · · - - · --
~
"ti
1········ Mi~ 1::::::::::
1,285
ZIO 11,8.512 • • . • . • . •
2,243 ·• · • · • · • .• . • . •..
--3
t,j
- 1---- -
~ I - - - - · - - • I • - - • · - · - I• - - - - - - - I - - - - - -
27
0
3'.~.l-- -···1(
312 ·•····
2 .• .. . . . . ·······• ·•·•·•
207
::.:1
0
Cl
::.:1
t'J
I, 413
:l, 711
13G
03
701 - · · · · ···1
· · · · - · _. · • . . ·· - -
163
==
1- - - -
2
-- ---- ·-
303
I
18
~
~2
7
Z7
126
2
18
3 •••• ·•··
14 · • · ·· · ··
33
91
18
ffl
U3
106
23
71
28
-- ----20
•• • • · • · •
1,093
24
30
2
3
9 ·· · · · • · ·
102
12
330
I, 216
048
----- --------
0 ••• •·• · •
15
14
-
370
I, 11 5
3
-- ---- 325
----
I, 962
I, 976
q45
194
272
711
1,945
21
u
u
128
215
147
2 •• ·• · · --
6
I 30. 128
I, 441
335
···•·so·
24
10
9
11
U9
10
I 10,509
778
Other
A~en•
Cies
"t1
~
77
28
29
---------1. 272
2, ooo
2 •-- - - - - - -
7
118
3,367
12 -------- - 40
73
15 - ----- ---192
517
17
214
· • ·• · • ·
5
19
230
~~
I
15, oso
12 , .•..
.-- .·1······-- -,...... -·
ii: m-····2a
946
247
565
1,176
I, 025
106
70
2, 638
16
35
2
1
39~
33, -· ··· · · ·
40
119 · • · · · · · · ·•··-·····
8 ···· · ·'.~7. 1.• .•
I
16, 018
2,325
5,038
2,400
I, 461
I, 789
4, 3'l0
I, 198
4,699
e~tr' !---~---.-----
I of and
Yards
I orBureau
Labor
Statistics
1s, 116
96 · · · · ··-·················--I··· ·
4H
12
15:J
43
70
I
83 . . . . . . . .
30 I
8
867 ···•·· · · ·•···•-···
169
425 •• · • ···· ·•·•-··•··
583
1,19 ·• · •·• · ·
32 ...•.. . .••.•
438
2-35
1,498
11
I, 493
292
1,434
Other
War Department
De•
Vetpart·
ment
of the minis·
Treas- trat!on
ury
1- - -1- - - -1- - - - 1 - - - -1- - - 1 - - - - - 1- - - 1 - - - 1 - - - 1 - - -- l- - - - 1- -- 1 - - - 1 - - -1- - - - 1 - --
565
2,274
2,370
I, 173
689
2,210
4,439
864
!\finnesota _______ . _.
,ff
I , 411
900
2,379
8, 7t7
-
Depart• 1
I Depart·
ment or Department or the Interior ment or
Com•
Labor
merce
163
I ··-·· ··· 1·• •• ·•••
2;so5
1---------
0
Cl
~
rs:
161
APPE:-;DJX TABLES
TuLE
V.-STATE D1sTRIB'[fT10:ss OF WPA \\'oaKERfl, RY A<1E GaorPs, BY S,zE OF FAMILIES, AND BY DURATION
OF EMPLOn!ENT
("osT(S"ESTAL UXITEIJ ~TATES
FF.RRt•ARY 1939
Numhcr or Pnsons in Family
1State
Percen1
,
- - - - - - -, -
{;nJtedStates .........
-
_
__ I _ _ _
39. 4 1 12.6 \ 26.6 , 23.0
Alabama............. . .....
!rilona.............. ...... .
rUllllaS... ....... ... ...... .
('alllomla.............. . . . . .
olorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
{'OllllfCtfcut ... .. . .. . ...
Dtla..-.n! ......... ······· ·
District of Columbia... . ..
~~~: ................... :
-.-
3r,..; 15.7
38.8 14.2
36. 3 14.7
42. 4 , 9.1
39.3 11.9
30. 4
27 ..i
32. 2
23. .5
27.6 .
40.0. 1s.2
41.4
9.3
39.4
9.0
42. 4 1 9.6
3r.. O 1 17. l
24.1
2.~.3
27.,i
23.3
30.2
I
MN!ion
Percent
Aver•
5.~
81!0
and (mean)
owr
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54
1
·
.. --· - - -··- - -
Perren!
-.
M~dlan
Duration or Employment. or Fehruary
1939 Work,•rs, In Months
•
-- -
-- -
I Total ' Men
2 a nd 4 a nd 6 • nd
1
I 3
I
-.-
.~
more ,
,
-
-
--
i 42. 3128.81
21.1. 15.8
3.76
10.7
22.1 · 11.8 13. 4
20.9 20.7 , rn. 7
22.3 · Jr..r. , 14.2
23. 6 24. 61 19.2
23.7 J 22.3' 14. fi
4.00
3.112
3.92
2. 119
4. JO
.1. 2 ; 41.s I 31.1 1
11 . 4 40.2 ' 21!. I
4.4 1· 44.1 I n9 I
24. 8 4.5.R 20. 2
6.1 . 40. 4 31.2 1
3. R2
3. 73
2. 92
:J.61
3.R.1
11.0
10..i
28.4
JU
7.3
40. 9
43.9
41.0
44 , 3
44 . 3
4. 03
3.23
3. 70
4. 21
3.0R
7. 1
19. 1
RO
2.r.
11.0
13. n
If>.!
rn. n
11.3
4. 77
3. 84
4.32
3,
07
3. 72
ll~:. :61
-
18.2
-
· -,-
12.4
•
1
"i om•
! en I
•.. - - .
12.2
Less ;
36
I 1s-:i5
than
18
-
-
and
over
-
- -
1
11.3 11.0
Jn.9 Im 7
10.3 · 9.9
10.9 I0.2
13. 1 12.0
14. 6
70.0
14. 2
14.1
12.7
18.8
16.6
81.0
71.4
79.7
69. 6
72.5
16.9
9.9 1 9.1
18.1
10. 5
10.6 ! 9.7
13.3
17. 1
12.9
14. 6
28.9
19. 2
27.fi . 111.0
19. 9
10.7
2Rfi
15.9
2!1, R
111.6
10.6
12.6
11.4
JO.I
0.8
10.4
12. 0
11.2
0.6
8.8
rn.1
14.6
13.2
12.0
16.5
74.8
72.2
68.8
76. 4
79.1
8.9
13.3
8.6
19.4
10.8
16. 3
14. 5
22.6
4. 2
10.1
r, , r,
39. 2
4l.4
46, I
41.2
42. 0
32. 7
24. 0
27. r,
3.1.1
31.0
9.2
13. 3
13. 4
14.fi
8.8
13.3
13 . .5
14.4
15.4
14. 7
13.3
12. 6
14.6
17.4
81.8
70.7
69. 7
05.0
58.8
13.0
10.9
10. I
17.2
IR.R
5.2
18.4
20. 2
17.8
22.4
2.3
R. 5
r.,oI
10,
13. 2
!ll.1
H.7
3fl
.l
39.. 11
40.2
3.1.4
28, 8
30.7
28. I
2!!.7
16.3
16. 0
1.5.fi4
21.
29. 2
62.7
70. 2
87.
65. 89
69.ri
19.7
12. O
0.94
15.
12.•1
17.6
17. 8
2.37
JR.
11.9
16. 5
i.9
7. 0
6. 9
13..I
45. 9
41. I
45. 8
44. 2
30. 7
24. 4
31.6
30.0
29. I
30.0
8. 1
13. 5
13. 7
16.9
In. R
3. 39
3. 03
3. 77
3. 89
3. r,7
11. 9
19. 1
8. 6
16. 7
8.0
16. fi
32 9
3. 97
2. f,f,
r,
3. 48
3. 7:1
4.!1.5
.5. r, 43. I 31. 6
3.5. 8 37. I j 18. 4
lR. 2 41.6 23. 7
11.0 . 41.Rl29.7
3.2121!.9 ' 33. 1
3. 32
•1. 61
17. 0
3. 7
I
1 22. 4 , 21.7 rn.6
. 23. R 23.~ 18.~
• 29. J 20., I 13. ,
2-1.2 22.9 • 21.0
1 23.f. 17.3 JI.II
I
21.3
20.3
IR.6
9.2
22. 3
13.1
!
1
Idaho.... ... . ........... .
IDlnols.•..•.. .......... . ...
Indiana...... .............. .
lo..-1 ..................... . ..
unsas ...................... !
f:~t:!r············•······i
l[al
.
39. R 12.4 27.2 1 20.3 21..i 18. r.
39.R 1 12.4 . 26.l 24. 2 , 22..i : 14.II
41. 2 10. 2 ! 2.5. 2 Zl. I 22. 7 18. R
41.019.7 2.5. 4 1 24.r. z:i.2 17.1
42.3
7.4 1 2.5.2 I 23. 9 I 23.4 20. l
i
~~:_y1anch··:1;.:t·1·s·
.·.·:::::::.:::: I
...
_
36 . .5,1 13.3 32.2 2fo.O,
38. 3 · 12. 3 2R. 0 , 24 . 9
30.04 12.
11..50 I 26.
211.,53 24.
24 , 91
30.
40.2 14.5 24 . 1 I 23.2
!~oi=ntana'i~i:::::::::::::::·::I
..
~ : :61
lH :~j: ~j II ~H
I
!
40. 8
X"•braska....... ·· · ····· ·· ·
X•vada
17 . .5
20. 9
20.R
20. R
20.9
40.7
4R. 3
9. 2 . 26. 6 , 24 . 3
10. 3 26. 3 22. 6
21. 3
24. 0
10.5 1· 25.8124. 2
8. 2 !fl. 3 18. .5
I 23.0
~
~EE~t :::::::::=: :?:11 n:: ~:f I ~~- ~ ig : ~
37. 4
39.0 11.4 27.r.
42 8
!!. 3 22 2
37: 6 1 14. ! 21i 4
38. 6 1 10. 7 ' 30. 2
38. 7 14. 4 I 26. 7
9
~:~.~~.~ota.::·:... . . ...
Oklahoma . .
~
26. 0
30. 0
1
~•..-York City
. . .. . ..
.,.,.. York (excl. X. Y. C.)..
!l'orth Carolina
p
I
13. 4
24. I
I
20. I
10.
I 28 4 I 21.6 1 11.0
2/\ 4 I 2/\ 7 18 4
ii: 4 : iii: 2 I 1.1: 1
23. 2
23. 4
I 21.
20. 1 I rn. R
0 14. 5
I
1
38 . ..•
43. 8
39. 6
39. 0
as. .,
9. s 1 30. s • 24. 1 • 10. 5 1r.. 8
7. 8 21. 2 I 24. 3 26. 9 10. R
14.3 2-~. 7 22.2, 19.9 I 11.0
14. 4 23. R I 24. 4 21..5 15. O I
rn. 2 29. 1 21. 1 I 11. 4 . 12. o
I
I
.
39. 2 1l. 7 28. 0 23. l . 21. 6 I.~. 6
37. 2 14. 2 30. I
4 ' 17. 4 . 14. 9 '
37. 9 . 12. 9 I 29. I 25 . .5 10. 7 12. R
37. 81' 13.0 . 30. 2 22. 7 I 20.3 1 13. R
30. 7 16. 4 I 23. r, I 22. 2 19. 0 UI. 8
OIL· ···•··.. ........ .. . .
a.:::i'~i':.':!a. ..............
Sooth Carol~a::::::::::::::
i~:·i;,;;·················I
\\",st v~ lnia· ········ ····• · ,
;~~L::::::::::::::?
I
39. 7 1 13. 0
42. 7
9. 7
I 24. 9 1 23.0
23. 0
22. 8
I 19.2
1
19.0
20. O
24. 5
!k~
1~:~ :u I ~g !J:~ iu
40. 6 1 12.6 I 25.4 21.0 i Zl.O I 18.0
1
------------- --
1
1
42. 2
4. 4
4. 26
3. 40
3.Rr.
3. 74
i 29. 0
I 41.0 32.fo
' ~~: ~ i ~: ~
l I. 0 1 47, I
I 26, 3
37 fl ' 33, 8
i:~ !tl. · :J
14. I 40. 0 26.
:
1
8. 2
4. 06
I !: l~
123.
I
ti
4. 27
4. 40
3.•ii
I
5
30. 4
I 29. 7
.
t ~ ! :i:~ I ~~: ~
4. 19
4. 41
3. n
4. 7
2.4
13. 4
4. 1.5
3. .56
4. 76
3. RO
3. 57
8. 0
R.1 i
4. 2
11. 2
11. 5 '
I
39. I ' 33. 3
35. 8 1 36.4
I 41. 3 21. o
37. 5 21!. 9
48. 2 1 29.R
30. 4 :12. I
41. 0 29. I
44. 2 29. 0
I
21.0
12.5
17. 3
23.1
20 . .~
1.5.8
3!l.2
10. 0
2.1.0
21. \I
11.0
14. 4
I I. O
9. 4I
12.
12.0
14.0
10. 4
9.06
11.
11.3
14. 2
19. 4
17. 2
19. 8
16. 8
10. 0
13.R
10. 4
13. 7
JO. 0
11.0
13. 5
R.0
13.6
10. 6
0. 2
16. 4
16. 4
15.0
13. 2
81).0
67. 4
77. 7
66. 4
75.9
10. R
8. 7
Jr...I
17. ,I
34.S
13. 2
10. 4
11.9
14. f,
9. 9
12.9
9. 7
11. 3
14. 2
0.6
15. 9
13. 8
67.8
76. 3
70. 2
62.5
78. 2
!fl. I
21. 7
rn. 3
14.6
19..5
16.8
JO. 0
22. 7
2.i. 9
25, 71
14. 7
23. 7
14. 5
25. 0
13. 6
10. 3
13. 6
12. 3
9.•;
44. 4
16. 6
27.8 I 56. 7
76. 4
13. 8
66. 3
I 78. R
13.•5
15. S
14. 0
24. 7
8. 2
42. 1
27. 8
9.6
9.0
13. 0
19. 5
11.6
IS. 0
17. 8
7. 1
15. 3
23. 4
16. 6
JO. 2
10.8
9.0
14. 2
12. 2
10.9
6. 4
13. 2
6. 1
5.6
4. 9
i
!
I
.
16. 81
17.8
13. 5
13. 2
12. 5
n:!
I
~:~
I
10. R I
19. 4
12. -~
10. 8
14. 1
11. 9
22 1 I 0. 0
22. 2 , 10. 5
23. 4 I 10. 2
:
JR.: :3
I,
I
I
JOO
9. 4 I
0.8
I
11.6 10.4
24. 7
13. 0
11.0 . 10. 8
33. 3 · 15.•~ I 15. 3
lR. 7 , 13.8 . 13. 7
15. 3
9. 0
8. I
I
I
12. 3 , 14. 4 i 74. 9
73. I
10. I 1 24. 2
61.6
14. o
14. 1
65. 0
II. 7
16. 0
82. 7
II. 7
R. 7 1
I
IO. O
73.8.
17. 5
77. R
10. 1 I 11.6
79. 7
13. 4
82. 2
0ll.72
11. 6
9.3
13. 7
84. 2
I
15. 0
12.9
16. 9
16. 4
12. 4
70. 2 13. 4
76.8 12.4
60. 6 1 13.4
69.0 11.4
82. 1 II. 1 I
I
I
----- - - -
Digitized by
I 10.5
8.4
1.5. 2
18.0
5.0
5. 0
16. 4
10. ~
26. 0
19.0
6.S
Goog Ie
162
lnEPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WPA PROGRAM
TABLE VI.-NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY STATES AND BY
MAJOR TYPES OF PROJECTS
COSTJNENTAL UNITED STATES
JUNE
Parks
I
Highways,
Hoads,
Total
State
and
Streets
1
Public , ci'S,~r
ConBuild- • Hecrea• S('rvaings I tional
lion
Facil-
21, 1939
Sewer
Sys-
tems
and
I
Connecticut_ ________ _
Delaware _____________ _
District of Columbia_
Florida _______________ _
Georgia _______________ _
Idaho _________________ _
Illinois ________________ _
Indiana. ______________ _
Iowa __________________ _
Kansas ______________ __
Kentucky ____________ _
Louisiana __ __________ _
Maine ____________ _
Maryland ____________ _
Massachusetts ________ _
Michigan.
Minnesota .. __________ _
~ !::~s~~1_~~-_ ~
==========_
Montana _____________
Nebraska. ____________ _
Nevada _
New Hampshire ______ _
New Jl'rscy __ . _______ _
New Mcxic-o
_______ _
7, 751
524
1, .517
II
519
8,978
095
56
283
12,9-54
l,.55fi
0
2,330
144
368
I. 624
1. 670
042
91
132
770
2!12
I, 082
378
22, ,,3:3
4. 372
I, 19.5
27, f>4S
2,788
352
2,459
4. 251
4, :!81
8,638
200, 728
76, 460
26,343
27, 766
2, li03
73,853
HM!
13,055
12,731
14,869
4, (j9(i
2, 190
2, 1131\
53,814
42,456
7, 217
13,358
101,009
34, 133
19, 270
3,884
5,784
26. 402 I
,5, 391
3. 081
624
I. 312
11,067
817
4. 578
429
654
6. 925
81
I, 132
164
109
11, 788
122. 74i
53,080
38, 722
3:i. 776
14, 502
65, 21)2 '
18,020
18,231
39, 279
5, 2S,5
7,541
5, 783
2,788
9,956
I, 260
6,922
5. 553
684
3, 734
!, 158
6,281
3, OOi
698
ll, 703
I, ,5711
25, OflO
10,993
701
I, 810
45S
l, 454
2,505
!I~
229
3. 455
7, O!iR
78,520
10,715
31,486
2, gr,5
8. 6116
2, i40
I, 521\
371
944
8,076
550
143, .584
18,011
23, 3!tl
15,042
4,375
4. OJ.5
N~~h 6a :o~i~;ty):: :: : i
~grt~~~o~~.
:::::::
1
Oklahoma ____________ _
Oregon _______________ _
Pennsylvania_ . ______ _
Rhode Island
____ _
South Carolina. ___ ___ _
South Dakota. ______ _
Tennessee _ __________ _
Texas _________________ _
Utah _________________ _
Vermont_ ___________ _
VirJ?;inia ______________ _
Washington_. ________ _
West Virginia. __ _
\Visconsin _ .
Wyoming_
57. 3112
41,309
21, (i,:J I
Ii, li3.I '
U, 291
12 359
3,65fi
l,li9H
202: I i4
I 10. 3f,:J
52, 5:ll
15,606
179, 784
13, 742
39,002
30,o:l(I
7. 184
102. 017
2, 0311
1,5. 71\J
13, U!i7
43,003
90,318
10, 3.56
4,698
211, 01 I
38, 455
3,307
2, 2ffi'
,\ 21n
2,1. 292
34, 4831
40, fil2
fi2. ill!
1, 171
!
4,088
(i, 48il I
IO, 720
I, 188
ll, :J38
I, 201i
2. !IIS
s. nan
1, :392
4:J4
10, 11110
!l,:l;J2
2fi, 741
3. 40fl
nr1u
2:i:i
rn, n:t1
2,251
I. 632
4. 184
Sani-
OTthhaenr
taat iodn
0
Miscellaneous
Sewing Health
service
47,163
37, 6i6
41,780 235,871
189
263
1. 762
393
201
274
3.988
271
519
3. 494
14,251
2.078
3,.540
882
507
25
273
563
I, 16.5
239
90
149
IOI
532
2, 041
206
2,502
3. 213
3. 879
193
2, 756
544
170
5, 178
1, 736
570
334
733
334
I
i
392
141
I, 77:3
9fi
2. o:i8
2, 741
I, 000
I, 033
2. 11:i 1
794
8, 86:3 i '.!S, 100
6, 385 I 4, 118:l
I. 401
874
2. OU4
I, 416 I
I, 4,1.5
47
I, 2ii
2,061
I, 634
!
199
180
1,000
877
2, :141
2, (180
i90
I, i;J4
l:J. 840
78
13
2,536
15,951
l, lit)
n. 582
112
570
179,830
31,447
I
9. 001
23.5
443
969
J.'jC,
2,895
w2
2. 05:1
7,481
ul4
I
710
881
87
121
677
1--
330
1,880
47,355
47,260
1,333
3,683
f>49
264
284
1,819
112
709
2, 960
4. 180
708
17,209
4. 283
374
3,436
451
303
2,403
239
414
3,534 I 2,927
1,093
I.020
14. 443 20,222
r,32
I, 588
3, 80:l
2,839
I, 221
2,690
215
118
7US
2. 017
44,5 I 1, H09
4,027
2, 14!1
1. 671
L:l87
208
:i5r, I
2-11
222
:12:1
16:!
1.5
201
639
I. 334
751
2, :J34
:122
I, 691
403
1.1;:is I
ll,290
1, I'-\7
I, fi29
546
468
1.0:10
737
621 ,
s20 I
434
903
2fi9
"· :m1i
:i,,,, I ltl, 200
2,080
I
I
I
,21, I
~1l
I, 701
309
263
2,227
224
491
285
96
134
Digitized by
I
596
43fi
i
110[
380
28
585
455
143
252
I, 520
1,155
5,088
940
498
146
1,248
480
597
215
524
3, 183
205
2,900
4,348
3, 994
931
279
189
1,183
61
1,353
1,638
205
141
155
2,025
643
I. 868
7. 539
444
636
I. 310
I. 2.54
18. 570
728
374
455
1,656
1,667
2,901
2. 134
2,912
2, 714
2. 972
2. 146
510
670
Google
795
684
52
11,014
7, R70
3411
1611
3, .592
651
67
840
1. 747
73
175
591
952
22
489
26
I
421
345
I, 333
338
63
109
2,483
396
786
:JO, 120
22
405
IO. 214
240
208
7. 009
609
2. ilTi
R!l:J
at:-1
686
4. 089
303
2:io
9:J9
64!1
741
791
974
2. :m3
I, 619
11. 2:i7
I
585
446
I s. 552
57:{
743
4 292
711
222
4. 000
585
1
·~:
~i~ I
l, 77U
2:m I
3511 I
3,628
1,475
314
I, 197
4,682
697
IS, 1182
1, 4."12
4. 320
3,698
405
I, 094
12. 870
I, 917
139
40fi
10. 752
328
1, {).')2
;:ln
178
193
2,429
744
82
413
51\3
58
14
927
112
2. Oo:J
S.50
471
9,339
3,573
I, 757
2. 350
388
44
18, IOS
1, 5(i5
137
2.5, 226
3,815
2,339
I, 687
5,377
11,436
1
650
4,904
1.l:J6
7fi
sit
314
774
33
66
1,512
2, 579
6,005
4. 652
2.806
4,422
1,587
52
118
867
4,365
336
8,672
5, 726
-- ---
213
233
274
982
426
592 -------574
287
7, 112
I, 060
4, 962
777
I, 895
975
461
728
337
1 15, 7IO
2. 10\1
till
250 _____
3,247
532
11,188
2,286
2,050
784
843
473
836
509
30ll
800
7:3:l
I
222
3,9
702
423
2. 794
514
9. 195 I 2:l . .59;3
I, 5fiU
Goods,
3\11 ______
220
387
8,342
2,980
2,670
898
1
New York City _______ _
New York (excluding I
1
Proles- Sewing
1,053 ~ - --9-4f-, ---1-44- _ _7_1_1 --506- -4_-04_0_ --2.-1-38- --1-,0-2-7 -3-,_29_7_ --2,-16-1
23,362
3, 153
10,461
41. 851
52. 611
17, U2fi
Other
itios
United States ___ . 2, 435, 930 I, 039, fi0:J 223, 7,58 172,840 103,379 227, 9fi8
.50, o:Jg ·1-2\J, ,551 - 3, 8511
7,585
4.457
I.180
43,781
30, 18G
3,276
100.~83
1.5, iifl 13,730
22.4fil
7,241
2,875
White Collar
I
Ai~~~rts :----,-----------,-------
Other Tran~por- Educa- Rccrca- sioi:iaI,
F~~Hitics
tion
tion
cl~;'l'I,
Util-
ities
Alabama__
______ __
Arizona__________
Arkansas_. _______
California____________
Colorado______________
I
28
296
1,607
1, 84i
,.,
703
400
345
684
I. 3l!3
1,287
161
1,916
1,035
366
I, 874
517
HO
3,202
1,062
452
233
431
844
181
48
5.194
1,851
217
23
82
166
363
1,010
154
2,589
398
37
399
684
267
1,920
79
163
APPENDIX TABLES
TABLE VIL-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS E~tPLOYED ON WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY STATES AND
BY MAJOR TYPES OF PROJECTS
CO~TIXE~TAL UXITED S TATES
JL'XE 21, 1939
Parks
and i
Con·
Puhlic i Other
Build· J' Recrea-! scrrnlion
tional
ings
Facil•
Ili~b·
Total
State
ways,
Roads,
and
Streets
I
itiPS
White f'ollar
Airporls
Ooods, Saniand
, P rofes- tlcwin~ I ~ther tation :VI iscelOther
lnncous
and
1 h~n
,
s10nal,
Recrca•
,
Educa•
Tran~porOther
I Sew mg Health I
tion cleric-al,
tat,on : lion
Ftil· Faclhtws
I arnl
i
1
ities
, service I
Sewer
Sys•
terns
and
I
-- -
United States __
l00.0
42, 7
u.
2
i. 0
4. 2
l(X)_()
59. 0
58. 8
69. C
15. G
32. 2
i. i
2. I
ll. I
I. 2
I. 2
0. i
0. fi
Alabama ______________ _
Arlzona __ ______ • ___ ._. Arkansas __ ---·-·- - __ ._
Cali!ornia _______ .. _.. __
Colorado _______ · - -· -- ·
100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
Connecticut_ _______ . __
Delaware_ ------- -- -· District of Columbia . _.
Florida ___ .. ___ __ ____ __
Georgia __ -·-----· -·-- __
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
JOO. O
100. 0
33, 2
::::·::
~r:iis~~=:::::::
Jndiana_._._ .. __ · -· · -· ·
100. 0
100.0
100.0
100. 0
JOO. 0
Kentucky ___ ----·- -· -·
Loulsiana ___ . ____ ___ . __
Maine _____ _______ _.. ..
Maryland_·-- -_ -· -· · . .
Massachusetts. _______ _
.Mfchi~an ____ -· ----- -··
15, Ii
7. ,1
,a. r,
s. u
12.8
4. 4
-
J.U
1.U
0, 3
-- - -
~1
J.i
IO. 0
7, 4
1.3
I. 9
I. 9
1.0
8. l
t\. H
S. 0
14. I
9, 3
.J. 3
3. 3
i. 4
II. I
9. I
2. I
6. 6
2. H
0, 5
C l
J.f,
2, 0
4. 3
]. 4
0. V
2. r,
0. Ii
4. 0
I. 2
1.0
2. S
I. 4
0. ,I
1.0
:i.o
fi.H
4. 0
l.i
I. 8
IO. O
4.11
4. r,
:J.!i
1.1. 2
1.7
2. 2
2H. 0
4..1
n. 8
:i. u
2. fi
8. 3
3. 2
0. 5
17, 0
4. H
5. 2
0.!I
2
2, 9
I. 3
I. 8
30. I
3G. s
5~. 3
49. 1;
45. 0
12. ,\
i. 4
fJ.1
4. 4
2-1, 8
II. 3
,5. 7
4, 4
ij_
4
fi.l
JOO. 0
JOO. O
100. 0
100_0
03. 4
43. 3
9. 8
JIK). 0
20, I
ll. 0
100.0
100. 0
JOO. O
100.11
JIXl. II
53. 2
6. 2
IO. \I
i. 2
4fi. 9
3fi. r,
100.0
HXl.O
100. 0
100. 0
100.0
43. 9
18. 2
10. 0
,I. 4
2. H
40. I
27. 7
ll. I
25. li
New York CitY-----···
New York (excluding ..
New York City). -- . .
North Carolina __ - - -- ··
North Dakotfl ____ _. __ .
Ohio ...... ---------· -· ·
100.0
12,;;
JO. 2
JO. 5
100.0
3i'. "'i
42, 7
2~. 1;
54. r,
JI. I)
i. fi
1.l. i
,1. 2
JJ. 7
Oklahoma_-----·_ -· · ·.
Oregon ___________ _-·· Pennsylvania_ .. --- -· - ·
Rhode Island ___ __ __ ___
South Carolina ___ __·· ·
JOO. 0
100.0
100. 0
100. 0
100_0
South Dakota ____ ___ . .
Tennessee_ ... _--- · .. _.
T exas __ ·--·-·---·---- -·
Utab .. ·--·-··----···· Vennont_ .. __ -··-·--- __
JOO. 0
JOO. 0
JOO. 0
100. 0
Virginia _--··----.-- · __
Washington ______ __ __ _
We.st Virginia. ____ _. __
Wisconsin _. ______ __ _
Wyoming __________ __ _
100.0
JOO.O
100. 0
JO(). 0
100. 0
Iowa .. ______ . ___ .. ___. .
Kansas ____ ___ ._ ..... _-
~~;Er~'.~-:-~: : : :::
Montana_-·----··· ··Nchraska ___________ . . .
Nevada _______ ·- - -- -.. .
New Hampshire __ _
New Jersey
New Mexico __ - -- -- -·
--!
HXl.U
]Of).()
JOO. 0
JO()_()
II.
II.
2:l.
JO.
16. u
H. 5
42. 8
52. 1;
45, 4
,53. ~
3~. !I
4i. I
2."i. 3
;j
KO
,I_ 2
3, 2
JO. 0
l.!i
10. 8
0 2
2. i
4. 4
7. 2
8. 6
5. 9
4. 9
6. 9
JI. i
0. 2
J. 4
I. I
0.1
2. fi
5.0
JO. 5
5. I
5. S
1.8
1.H
11. V
4. 4
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8. 0
0, 3
0. 0
27. I
05. 9
4, 0
I
2.
I.
0.
0.
.5.1
1:i. 4
0. 2
41. 2
2. :;
0. i
0. 2
3. 8
3. 3
u. g
42. G
31. 0
48. 3
!I. 2
14 . 0
4. ,I
8. f,
4. 9
60. !i
2. 2
12.-J
w. 2
3i . 8
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2, 0
7. 3
12. ;;
JO. I
6.0
8. f,
14, 8
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2. 4
8. 3
u. 9
5i. 2
4G. 0
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4. ;i
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il. 4
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15. :;
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1.0
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4. 8
2. 8
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6.8
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Iii. 3
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2, 4
3, 0
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a
19.
ij
0. V
0, 4
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12, 7
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0.8
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8. 0
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I. 5
3.
J2. 2
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6. 2
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I. 2
0. 7
~
2. 8
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0. 7
2. 0
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3. 7
l. I
fl. ;J
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21.0
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5. 8
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,I. 6
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0. 2
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I.I
3, l
1.:1
0. I
I.J
2, 8
0, 7
2, 0
2.3
1.0
3, 2
,I, 2
3, 8
8. 2
3. 3
3. 2
3. !I
12. I
1.8
0. 3
2. 0
2.1
o. 0
2. 7
4. 2
0, 2
0. 4
6. 4
0. 6
I. 2
1, 7
2.0
0. 7
3.1
2. 5
0. 5
I
3. 4
0. 4 ,
2. g
0. 9
I
Google
2. 7
1.7
1.0
I. 7
1.0
TABLE VIII.-STATUS OF FuNDS UNDER ALL ERA AcTs COMBINED AND UNDER THE ERA AcT OF
TnROUOR JUNE
1938,
BY AGENCIES
~
30, 1930
0)
ERA Acts of 1935, 1930, 1937, and 1038
ERA Act of 1038 •
A
Ex!)<'nditures during year ending June 30-----
Agency
Allocations
Allocations
Obligations
Total
Orand totnL ____ . _. .. _. _...... _. ... . __ _ $11, 171,431,434 $11,073,281,572 $10,904,286,643
1, 3:10, 498, 206
1,374.929, 085
Deportment or Agriculture. __ . .... ___ . __ ... __ 1, 403,246,437
107,423
117,445
122,003
AgriculturnlAdjustrnentAclministrution
2,727,870
2,806,542
3,U00,(l93
_ . ..
Agricultural Economics ____
11, 041
11,041
11,(J.13
__________
Al!t:iculturol Engineering ___
1,649,703
1,640,703
1,651,322
A!J•mallndustry _______ ____ ___ ___ __ __ __ .
~. 064, 001
5, 095.f,84
5, 173,509
n10,loglcal SurYey . . .. _. __ . _ .. __.. . . __
2,000
2,000
2,990
Dairy Industry . -------- -- - -·- -- - ---- - -40, 56-0, 857
40,978,938
41,513, 796
Entomology ond Pinnt Qunrnntine . ___ . . _
2,004, 060
2,0(H,060
2,004,060
Extension ~n•i('(' __ ···-- ··· ·- - --- - - -- · · - 69<J, 743, 930
711,782,751
713,785.461
Fnrm Secur!tY .-\clmlnistrntion . . . _. .. __
67,040, 577
57,572,250
57,929,998
Forest Service -.- - . . . - - . - .. - . . .
2,585, 788
2,632.511
2. 679,290
Home Econonucs . - - . ... __. _. _.. __ ..
445,891
543,801
1,009,200
~J°tionol ,\griculturnl Hesearch Cent,·r
39,770
39,770
39,770
ant Industry - - -- - ------478. 384, 750
409,204, 8:l!S
506,828,602
Public Roads . .. -- .. -- -- - · - · . ___ ___
35,717,536
36,732,904
37, 8.16, 853
S9il ConserYation 8,,n·ice . . . . .
18.781
18,781
18,781
\\entherBurenu . . __ --- - - - -- -- - -13,487, 179
13, 734, 996
14,079, 667
Qen~rnl admlnistratiw expenses
15,553,099 ____ ____ ___ _____ --·------- -- - - -.
LndIStrlbuted by pro~rams
1935 and 1936
1937
1938
Obligations
I Expenditures
1039
$3, •124, 504, 516 $2, 860, 508,932 $2,001, 240, 379 $2,617,972,816 $2, 581, ll7, 612 $2, 527, 240, 200 1$2, 405,935, 609
195,429, 352
2()!j, 409, 073
227,034,603
239,222,072
276,321, 183
512,370,885
311,584,060
107,423
117,445
122,003
107,42:J
___ ___________ _ _______ ___ _____ __________ ___ __
127,000
152,591
200,000
272,304
568,300
1,887,176
___________ ___ _
3,898
3,898
3,900
3,808
124 _______ ______ __
7,019
917 -- - ------ -- --·· ---- - - - -------- ------ · · ·· · ···
7,894
004,524
730,368
I. m, 480
1,302, 716
1,321 , 786
1,474,004
1,496,376
1, r,oo, 718
332,273
2,090 _______ __ __________ _ _ ____________________ -----------·· · · ______ ___ _______ ___ ____ _____ _
7,056,047
7,467,090
7,656,474
7,428,507
- 1;ii1r., 674
11, r,.17, 341
10,685,335
50,045 __ ______________________ ____ ______ __ ___ __ ____ __ ____ _____ ____ ____ ___ ___ ___ _
1,95-1,015
144
109,285,
179,927,686
180,965,617
180, /i57, 281
169. 207,254
215,370, 956
134,518,439
6, 154,842
0, 646,858
0, 843, 123
7, 45-1, 030
12. 248,050
22,827.003
14,510,885
496,030
.522, 404
Ml, 523
582. 550
683,029
1,320.209
__ _____ __ ____
445,891
543,801
1,009,200
445,891
___ __ __: : ______ ____ ___ __ _____ _ __ ____ ___ ____ __
____ ______ __ ___ __ ______ __ __ ___ ______ _____ _____ ____ __
_
584
39,186
30,142,004 ___. _______ ____ __ __ ___ _______ _ __ _________ __
241,041,577 --- -79,-iiiii" iiii4
127,508, 14,5
8,796,703
9,786,818
10,714,206
8,937, 89'1
2,740. 42.'l
9,323, ,590
14,715,614
___ ______ _____ ____ ____ . -- ----· - - - - - --- _____ __ ___ __ _
10 _
7,091
11,GSO
1,726,894
1,937.070
2, 113, 772
1,671. 204 - - - · 1,813,920
3,439,038
6,562, 117
15,553,909 ____ ______ ___ __ ____________ __
________ ___ ____ ______ _____ ____ __ ___________ __ ____ _____ __ __ __
i
85,057 , __ _
1,862,317
1;-s93, 810
I. 895, ooo
Administrator or the Unemployment Census
1,777.260
-1
17, 126
17, 127
17,127
17,127
Ad\'i.<ory Committee on Allotments _. .
1-1
___
_____
__
_____
194,667
164,358
6,472
365, 497
36,\497
365, 197
Al!cy Dwelling Authority . ---- ·· - · ----- - -38,692 _____ __ ___ _____ ____ ___ ___________ __ ____ __ __ _
325,634
371
364,697 ___________ ____
3r,4,r,97
:16,5.MO
Architect or the Capitol. . . ---------- -·· 229,189
278,208
301,894
232,043
232,043 ___ ____ __ ______ ______ __ _______ ____ ___ _______
281 , 8,58
318,/i40
Ch·il Aeronautics Authority 8 __ _ ___ ___ ___
-11 --- - · --- - ---- -· ________ _______ __ ___ _________ ___ ____ __ . . . _
11, 857
107,684
110,530
119,5.10
119,536
U . S. Civil Service Commissio n ____ ______ __
. _. ___
___
___
__
__
__
.
__
_.
.
__
.
__
..
_
____
.
_____
.
116,322
.52.'l
1,013,
2H
50,464,
541,034,550
592,628, r,50
593,607, 124
593. 019, OSO
Cl\'ilion Conservation Corps .. __ ____ __ _____
624,506
643, 333
736,480
670,042
513,203
4,903, 708
6,571,019
12, 658,572
12. 681, 767
046
12.
Deportment or Commerce. _____ ______ ____ . __
23, 106
23,100
23,100
37, 196
229,805
267,061 ____ ___ __ ___ ___ ______ __ __ _____
267,061
267,061
Air Commerccc __ ________ ____________ ____
31,548
134,928
4,417,300
6, 186, 48.1
10,770,265
10,774,233
10,780,420
Census _. _-- - __- . ___ -- . __ . _____ ___ ____ . __
576, 110
1, 708
48,853
90,595
720,272
744,499
s:13. 457
Fisheries __ ___ _. ______ ________ __ __ __. _.
510, uii
594, 343 I
683, 301 I
407
62, 760
36, 792
90, 968
99,068
09, 968
Industrial Economics
1---776 _____________ _
18,25.1
10,029
19, 020
19, 029
Lighthouses ____ ___ . .
31
53,450
21,510
75,000
75,000
75, 000
.
Standards . ___ ___ . __ __. __. .
25. 284
· - - -, - - - - - -- ---- -- . -, - --- -- -- 2s, 884 I
146, 2M -- - ---- ---320, 55-1
208,377
700,077
701,077
707. 111
30,073
25, i82
General ndmlnistrath·c expenses
8. IOI __ _____ . __ _. . ____ _____ . _ . _ .. ____ __. ____ _. ____ .. ___ . __ . .
133,435
32,838
174,374
175, 170
J7C,, 150
Coordinator for Industrial Coopcrn tion ___ . . ..
6,371,015
5,382, 724
5,500,000
8,359,340
5, 228, 39r,
6, 231, 20.;
I, 712, 777
21, 631, 787
21, 5-14, 639
39,425,000
U. S. Employees' Compen~ation Commission._
-303 --· - -·-- --- - - -- -- - -------- -·-- ____ _________ _
-1,581
4,681,720
12,204,001
16,883,807
16,883,807
16,884,200
Farm Credit Administration __________ ___ _
-IO, 17Y __ . __ . ___ ___ _.. . _. . __ . ____- - .. _____ . ------ - 481,270
3,078,075
920, 721, :147
934, 170, 513
934,211,415
934. 272, 779
Ferleral Emcr1?ency Relief Administrnt.ion . _
4,287, 698
4. 2"7, 006
4,330,000
4,310,858
4,301,835
3, 565. 4<14
2,083. 572
15,230, i09
1.5, 231, or,o
15, :J30, 000
General Accounting Office . . ___ .. __. . ____ .
17,900,178
10,430,253
20.624,77'1
42,479,248
57,206,193
63,168,593
24,556,269
187.410,303
102,373,249
198,9H,738
Department or the Interior_ ______ ____ _______
70, .; 17
70,517
Bituminous Cool Commission _... __ ___ __
48, r,9,;
70,517
21. 822
500, 000-, ---- --- 567, 843 -,------ -536, 644
377,283 - -- -- --· 573,500
3,141,601
3,213. 231
OffieeofEducation ___ ____ ·-·- - -- --·- - 418,312
3,120,208
1,751.203
108,604
108,694
Geological Survey_____ _____ ___ _____ ______
108,694
12,343
00, 503
6,848 ----------- --- - ------ - -- -- - -· ·
2. 180,348
2, 182. 066
Office or Indian AfTnin< __ .. _.. __ . _________
2,180,244
I, 515, 175
1,403
576, 160
87, 000
38,281,830
30. 632,913
Notional Park Scn·ioe __ __ _____ ___ __ __. ___
16, 551, 648
12,450
9, 485, 274
30,720, 298
10,070,926
7, 595, 189
8, 242,
8,804, 9031
M. 891,618
57, 6i8. 709
Puerto Rico Reconstruction .,dmn ____ _ __
8, 801, 660
9, 450, 185
9, 006, 858
13, 722, 843
6,452,530
12, 186, 620
54,023,694
21,661,695
65, 365, 966
60, 652, 000
Bureau of Reclamation __ ___ . __.. _.. ____ . _
25,402,840
6, 004, 973
15,081, 1133
16,898. 565
64,288,001
---1----1--9, 396
9, 396
St. Elizabctbs' HospltnL ____. _. ____ _. _ __
9,396 --- ---- -- -- --- -1---- ------ - -- -.
9,396
---1-----1----- 1-Territories nod Island Possessions:
236,906
282,347
449,800
Alaska Railroad__ ___ ___ ___________ ___
192,969
226,932
239,400
8,974
239,400
170, 777
661, 3991
1, 119, 4461
10,622
1, 119,446
1,134, 930
376. 740
Alaska Road Commission_ ._. _____.. _
20,359
157,527 _________ ______
163, 108
199,052
Alaska-miscclloncous ____ ______ ____. _
113, 167
24,001
401,620
121, MS
1,318, !n1
I, 360,287
1,404, 658
Government or the Virgin Islands ____
375,685
419,350
19,770,700 _______________ ----------· - - -20,074,927
21,684,742
U. 8. Housing Authority o___ ______ __ ____
16,255,077
3, 515, 713
I, 2 6 1 ~ _ l , 401,773
4. 323, 167 ___ 4,287,288
1, 124, r,27
General administrative espel!S('s __ _. _. _-- - ~ 4. 524, 130
521,049
139. 197
A Transfers of WPA funds to other agenele!' under the ERA Act or 1038 aro Included In tho respective agency amounts.
8
Funds transferred from allocations made orlo;Jnnlly to the Bureau or Air Commcroo, Dopnrtment of Commerce.
c Reftects transfers made to tho Civil Aeronntitlcs Authority.
D Expenditures made by tho PWA Housing Division on projects trnns!errod to tho U.S. Bowing Authnrlty are Include<! in tho Housing Division Item .
(Conclurlecl on nexL page)
--
0
,~2.
0
co·
;::;:
N.
~
~
0
0
a(v
~
1----
-1- ---.--
6631-
----·--m:rnr··---~t~~r--·--::::~
423,ooo-i-·---- -394, oso
~
'd
0
~
0
z
~
0
Q
~
tz:J
gi
0
►..j
~
tz:J
~
'd
>
~
0
Q
~
TABLE
VIII.-
Concluded
S'l'ATUS oF FUNDS UNDER ALL ERA AcTs COMBINED AND UNDEU THE ERA AcT OF 1938, BY AoENmEs-
TnROUGll JUNE 30, 1930
...
.,...._,
0
ERA Acts or 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1038
(
,..
r
I
Agency
Allomt!ons
--,-- - · --------1
----- ·
1937
!935an~~93_o_ _ _ _ _
Total
~ Department or Justice
1938
---:-----
1
$3,881,110
43,410
$653, i62
$974,382
$3, i35, i97
3i,097·1 ····-··-···· -[·········· ....
4,2'~:~~
3,i::m
3,6~tA~: ······653.-762 ·······g7f3i;:2
37,6..'s~,884
:!3,U~S,t~ll
1,5,528
2,SlS,4l4
17:l,Sf,0
Ml>, tl9l
35,576,348,
3l,9~6,4:'°.
1,.\S28
2,692,564
li2,12U
559,686
···········-······
$4,32l,439
Attorney Gent>ral's Olfice ....... - ....... ···----43,,'i(Nl-
~~~~~::i';.'d~1~1~~aih:eexpens,•s·······.
A
Expenditures during y,•ar endinir June 30---
I
Obligations
-----------=----·---·. ___
Deparlmento(Labor
······•···········
t:.S._Employnll'nt_Servil',e . . ····-······
Im1111~rat10n11n<1:--11turahzat10n ......
Labor Statistics
········-··1
Spcn•tary'sOtll<-1°
. ..
... ...
Oent>ra! administrative ,•xppnses .
ERA Act or 1938
A
---------------------=·------------
~~=,
---
35,4i4,tl07 1
11,060,140
:i"I.---\1!6,-142~48,~,>41
I,5,S28
116,,31
2,624,803 .. ...
160,7i4
46,293
55i, if,0
148, .,62 ·
·-
l5,23:l,16S
13,499,:!lf:
58,,16
1,512,202
115,:!17
47, fil4
Allocations
~;xpenditurl's
Obligations
,----
1939
I
-----1--==--
I
$1, 306, 130 ·
$850,017
$936,189 I
$920. 821
3, 5(X)
3,465
3,465
3,529
44,156
44, 156
49. 213 I
w.ooo I
·-···1:is2,304.
873, 136
1,252,630
802,300
883,511 ,
======l======l===s=,== ======
7,00l,480:
2,119,222
3,802,fm
2,010,01.,
l,014,332
~'i(l,i67.
1,241,405
3,000,lNN)
l,18S,9941--l~lf>8,4l2
81 ····.
......
. .. .
286,080
826,512
848,0l4
i80,819
iJ:J,0S8
8,l48
10 .....•...
.••••..
. ...
3l0, 39.,
51,289
43,693
43,202
42,802
$1,180,832
34,4681
L!braryofC'on~rc•ss ..... ·-·•-··-··-··-··-··1
80,\:lS:l
846,S29
8411,33,,
189,304
:!4S,i7S
170,251l
13.5,000
142,0<Xl
138,4itl,
1:12,iw;;;
::Sational Enll'r~ency Council _. ·- ···--······
4, 2<J(l, 042
4, 163, SM
4, 12i, 824
I, 458,668
1, l82, !IO
682, l,,:l
804,893
8SO, llt.XJ
809, 0661
i8S, MS
Xational Resources C'ommitt,•e ............
3,41:l,2·12
3,206,293,
:J,06.1,-17:l
729,202
0:17,363
il5,9n
682,035
790,tXlO
668,003
,,66,81fi
lJeparlmPnl of the Xavy:
!
[
'
Yardsan,i Docks
......... ···-·····
f>3,0S2,Sl7
62,252,S20
61,S50,056
15,100,116
li,6,\9,tXl2
13,f,00,374
15,IW,564
14,782,014
14,554,6091
13,802,;,74
PrL<on IndustrlPs R,•organization Admn . . . .
:1.1:1, 041
346, 87:l 1
:Ht;, 22l
63,644
154,388
122,487
5, i02 l=====.c...C.:.l.c.c=''-'==== .
Public Works Administration.. . .......
=--3\Nl, l\14,:!UI~
395, 74.8,.!:~
380,US(J,~~O ~ : 14~
frlC:i1s,022
i4, l4~•. !·l~- ~~268,0IJ2- ·-··········
··-····- ...
llousingDivisionll_ .......... -._······ •·
S2,S,\4,9S3
82,854,953
82,854,\153
19,626,i:I.,
43,713,851
19,,514,3ii
--·······
·····-···· . .
:Son-Federal Dh·Lsion ..
:11:1,:1:l\l,4:lH
312,89:J,82.'l
2<J8, 134,427
113,628,42:l
116,f,04, Iii
54,633,741
13,268,092 ......... .
1
Rural EJ,,ctrification Administration...
.i
15, il52; 024
15,312, 1761
15,084, 824218
8, 2'30, 700
4,-370, 840
158,0[4
1,028,006
167,450
166,735
Departnwnt of ~Hate:
·
Int,,rnalional Boundary Commission
I
1S2,2M
152,264
152,204
. ....
152,264
..... --------Department or the Tn•a.sury
--1111. fl\Jli, ti47
114, 4S9, 445
l C4, 374,l;il
32, 52.'l, 92,5
36,840, 48:l
24,070, S21
20,930,222
20,658,324
24,480,085
l". "· Coast Guard.
..........
r,, 141,900
,5,084,913
5,058,467 1
1,446,f,()2'
2,739,110
581,22l
201,525
330, 15i
276, 5131
266, 93:l
Olfice of the Secretary c
.
11,060, 49,1
11,265,859
l l, 162,084 1
3, 91:i, :!80
4,304, 150
I, 447,936
1,494,618
1,581,175
I, 477, 8(J:l
1,639,902
Procurl'Illent Dh·Lsion
........ 1
3,878,407
r, 758,402
2,03,\293 I
2,695,334
-1,1\\JI, ilttl
4,980
i, 994
I, 269, 621l
426,688
3,008, CXNl
Publicllealtht't•n·ic·c• . . . . ··-······ 1
6,726,190
6,682.640
6,:!84,919
2,4l2,32l
l,800,3S9
004,292
1,111,947
1,391, (\\Ji
1,358,9931
l,OOl,827
Oern,raladminL<trativeexpenses ·•-···· .
92,289,Mfi
90,66i,63l
89,733,:188 \
22,054 . 288
28,992,564 _
21,081,092
17,605,444
1i, 487,062
16,582, I :J5
18,110,929
Veterans'A<lministration
......... · · · ~ 2,\Kl:l,lll2_
2,26:i,283_1--·2,2:!5,\ll8 ·-~92.'l,813
311l,lli0 _
242.7~6
i6i, 609
597,569
S34, 97l
508, 6-IU
War Department.. .. ···············-·-···•·· 1_ 2,,2,117!1, 7__l_i. ---·246, 151,508 - 243,074,987 I
90:sT7,208
69,588, 749 1 --.is:-419, 137
34._249._893. _ 25,400,607
2:l, 763, 31,5 I _ 21,197,353
CorpsofEn~ineers ·······-·--·····-··-··I
166,59:J,,S\I
164,180,3391
101,802,078-,
78,814,696
52,289,632
22,857,086 I
-7,MU,664
-·- ··· I
681,299
3,353,000
2,048,169
Olficl'olC'ludofSta!I. -········----·····I
3,I\J3,25,\
3,191,149
3,184,280 ...........
l,0iS,770
2,ll3,466
-4, 956 ------------Quartmuaster<'orps
······-··---·-·
i\J,1192,S4\I
ifi,630,736
75,086,30l
11,02.3,106
15,764,850
23,111 fi52
25,186,793
21,045,003 ·-. · 20, 048.-845
19, 528.-402
Oenl'ral administratiw expenses
I
3, l!l!l, .%4
:l, 149,284
3,002, :128
979,400
458,497
337: 033
98i, 6.,2
1,227,392
1,092,604
l, 060, 301
Works Progress Administration........
: i, ti4i-: \!SO, 7il
024, 2:l8, 439 ,-6-;-0l6, cii-s, 274- · 1,305,802, 58l · · 1,890,069, 107 · 1,478, 858,-500 2, 232, 348, 026 2, 24,5, 091, 399 2, 224, 5l4, 672 2, l21, 369, MS
WPA;-operate)l programs, . . . ... . . . . ~84, 830,96i I 6, 761, i82, 609
6,657,860,051 I, 258, l30, 249 1,818,130,502 1,427,374,309 2,154,224,991 2, 169, 359, 399 12,149,202, i,53 2,048,787,884
\\ ork proJects and miscellaneous pro·
·_:;;-y A administrative ex• 6,504,039,019 6,489,849,091 6,389,243,895 1,193,567,378 1,751,286,222 1,363,566,376 2, 080, 823, 019 2,086, 3l7, i30 , 2, 0i4, 612,076 1,977. 47-1, 817
1~-
1·=--c-·-=
·-1~55,
I'
I
0
co'
;::;:
N.
CD
a.
~
0
0
arv
~
>
~
t.".l
z~
....
~
...t::J
>-:3
~
"(/1
-I i,
,l?t!:ct
2
1:~a~~'::1hiiied :.::::: :::::
-·
WPA·financc•d programs or Federal agen•
cies under the E HA Acts or 1935, 1936,
.a!'d 193i F........ . ..
........
" \ A programs.................
Water ronsl'rvation and utility projects G
·UfiU;! I' ....~'.~'.~~~:~'.~---·-~:~'.~:'.~~.-··-~'.~~'.~'.'..---·~'.~~'.~~.
73,401,072
63,807,933 - ---------------
74,855, 784
8,185,885
74,590,677
ii, 313, ()67
j
32,387, i3i
32,252,919 j
30, 760,4141
12,136,978 I
15,319,623
327,686
2,976,127 .. ....
. ..
2.30,. i:>3, 067 _ _ 230,202,911 ,
227, 45i, 809
35,535,354 ,
05, 610,042
51, 156, .>O., _ i,5, 146, 9081
75,732,000 I
1.5, 311,919 I
12, 58t, 664
5,000,()()() '-···--·---······1·_···---·-···-·· ---·--·-······.l·-·-··········_i·······-···
.C~--:-:-.~ =-5-,000-;-(X)(f ..
. . . . . . . . . 1. . . . . . . . · · • · ·
1
Transfers ol WP.-\ funds to othn agencies uncler the IOU. Act of 1938 are included in the respective agency amounts.
Expenditures made• by the PWA IIousing Division on projects transferred to the U.S. Housing Authority arc included in the Housing Division item.
r Including the Bureau ol IntPrnal Revenue.
n Excludes $1,277,102 not yet reimbursed to the work relief supply fund by agencies for which purchases have been made.
" Includes state work programs, Federal Xation•wic!e program, purchase ol surplus clothing, and aid to self·help and cooperative associations.
" Excludes transfers under the E HA Act of 1938. Includes land utilization and rurnl rehabilitation programs administered by the Farm Security Administration an,! a project in Texas administered
by the Bureau ol Reclamation.
n Transferred from funds appropriated to the WPA and made available for Presidential allocation to Federal agencies.
11
Source:
e. S. Treasury Department report on the status or funds and analyses or expenditures under the ERA Acts of 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1938, as ol June 30, 1939.
1--'
~
C-1
TABLE IX.-EXPENDITURES OF ALL AGENCIES AND OF THE WPA UNDER THE ERA ACTS OF
1935, 1936, 1937, AND 1938, BY STATES AND BY FISCAL YEARS
.....
~
~
T!!R0UGH JUNE 30, 1939
Expenditures of the WPA During Year Ending June 30"-
Expenditures or All Agencies During Year Ending June 30-State
Total
Totnl _______________________
Colorado _____
Connecticut_
$6, 688, 620, 464
$1, 270, 267, 226
$1,833,450, 125
$1, 427, 701, 995
$2, 157,201, 118
41, 171, 608
10, 788,079
36, 452, 557
114,716,341
31,385,518
26,728,389
3,069,142
37,066,724
33,515, 201
44,237,008
71,074, 178
24, 577,824
03, 472,621
334, 636, 945
73,391, 337
72,582,980
7,011, 945
56,899, 701
71,758.968
79,280.917
17,871,003
0, 51,5, 010
15,499,365
100, f,32, 908
20,603,040
18,828, 713
1,085,571
16, 456, 261
16,385,942
19,163,437
13,890,871
5, 544, 932
12, 283, 139
71,180.906
I.I, 191,374
16, 103, 747
1,585,900
12, 822, 670
15,270,027
14,984, 178
28,208,531
7,704,994
24,208,872
91,055, 166
20,900,036
23,988, 623
2,320, 703
17,449,886
27, 771, 304
30, 146, 837
27, 0.51, 963
190. 034, 656
72. 153. 159
32, 837, 317
44, 279. 766
44,471,482
44. 738,496
22, 102, 298
32,111,884
127, 52.5, 799
15,401, 195
169, 748. 382
72,051, 364
32,906,585
46, 434, 756
40,968. 555
30,864, 344
13. 538,872
28,921, 203
115, 953, 273
9, 373, 427
126, 9,59, 759
52, 103,413
21,262, 120
25, 80•1, 265
29, 731, 773
24, 330, 213
8, 149, 754
15,253, 169
84,523, 194
11,460,020
191. 047, 157
73, 113. 953
20,930, 183
29, 812. 740
43,538, 639
34,870, 596
9,818, 140
16,909,948
109,077,397
22,039,410
493, 473. I 40
203, £66, 367
66, 3·11, 517
80,651, 733
96,829,819
80, .542, 858
20,642,015
38,219,475
314, 86,5. 984
14,042, 783
4,812,888
11,391,245
70,867,075
16,636.887
13,061,897
1,419, 771
lll, 170,884
12. 331,695
14, 986. 465
4,480,492
81,884, 02,5
5, 127, 386
107, 039, 431
44, 633, 036
15,457, 320
17,904,096
21,211, 769
16,447, 110
3,827,853
7, 105, 124
68, 76,1, 431
7,075,013
177, 837, 448
66, 263, 231
21. 737,346
21, 455, 125
37,592, 515
26, 782, 798
6,323,991
10,022,427
100,810,480
391J. 251,916
250, 897, 019
128, 830, 249
292. 973. 142
119,847,312
123. 103, 140
81,381, 924
64, 452, 972
34,551,683
79, r.01, 021
30,579,025
33,785,607
4,521,483
0, 604, 538
94,908,022
10,907,847
74, 634, 690
46, 170, 410
25,407, 523
51,767,012
21, ,109, 046
26,663,028
2, 207, 186
6,286,980
73,769,884
9,450,068
131,014,257
60,043,479
31,370, 380
83,870,993
24,980,392
28,803,224
2,377, 190
8,203, 249
89,026, 228
10, 8~1. 470
28!, 833,201
159,589,831
55, 954. 797
191,962, 454
45,779, no
60, 565, 222
,5, 899,495
20,768,869
260, 559, 292
26,053, 755
57, 453, 6[13
41,908,849
14, 782, 7.55
52,846,856
12. 411,372
15,893. 121
1,598,374
I\ 024, i75
74, 032, 323
7,156,483
.59, 121, 351
35, 146, 735
10,992, 769
41, !35, 947
10,824, 187
15,406, 718
1,443,885
4,442,942
60,464, 3i7
5, .5.57. 007
121,341, 104
52,228,045
21,027, 627
66,996,020
15,321,964
20,349, 103
I, 744,357
7,020,576
80,707,853
8,285,336
::d
35, 3·12, 221
3,11. 673, 267
ris. 528, 111
109,221.045
80, 230. 158
37. 500, f,63
i7, 734, 116
42, 778, 849
33,851, 281
9, 635, 214
11, 247, 454
93. 969, 133
31,288.462
40, 757, fH4
11,426, 044
15,013,428
13,589,347
16,033. 788
4,307, 738
8,813, 705
53,925,003
43,017,093
30,306, 202
9,151,646
30, !183, 631
7,192,407
8, 916, 190
I, 112,879
3,280,576
45,354, 739
5,055. 029
5,356,519
126. 712, 236
.52, 311,886
17, 719, 907
26,279,084
24,436, 188
21,279, 162
6, 182. ·133
12, 188. 219
91,365,070
l, 353,414,874
128. 319,638
99, lcO, 384
679. 4.53, 650
195,671, ,,37
94,334,830
931, 197, 527
50, 742, 6.58
115, 129, 0,56
107, 2n3, 022
466,951, 753
46,312,233
23. 25[1, 822
178, 777, 146
59, 96,5. 462
33. 410,094
277, 742, 508
II, 533, 681
35,868,979
25, 347. 154
379, 096, 261
29,428, 705
33,086,698
I 54, 778, 284
56,502.261
26,000. 703
247,841, 390
12,895,046
27,030,615
36. 430,024
250, 154. 874
20,858,972
21, 643. P87
131,835,866
32, 530, 189
16,690,235
184, 325, 130
11,009,350
19,168,000
23, 29,5, 989
257,211,986
31, 719, 728
21, 1.59, 877
214. 062, 354
46. 673, r,25
18, 233, 798
221, 288, 403
15,304, 581
33,061, 462
22, 130, 755
1, 013, 259, 058
,58, 184, .590
38. 229. 638
513. 318,929
110,890,475
46,757, M2
09,5, 152, 790
37,661,999
53,671,041
43,770,386
254, 704, 574
10,509, 717
4, 7•15, 013
87,910, 260
21. 736 ..146
8, 776, 117
127, 383, 289
6,527.163
8,337,326
5,310,860
314,369,651
13,571, 713
LI, 482. 230
117, 323, 778
32,289,506
13,306.644
208, 402, J41
8,472,895
12, 6.54, 303
18,328,602
209,063, 241
II, 261,432
.~. 368. 631
106, 86 I, 803
21,041,010
11,016,602
154. 457,733
8,716,045
10. 811,063
9,885,542
234, 221, 592
22, 751, 728
9, 633, 704
201, 223, 088
3.5, 232, 413
13,658,109
204, 909. 633
13,945,896
21,869, 249
10,245,373
:il
"d
>-
134, 232, 600
31 I, 68fl, 274
60,804, 974
28,769,683
112,901,060
194, 943, 168
148, 788, 759
273, 551, 292
41, 744, 562
48, ,574, 534
115,174.542
24,018,306
13, 777, 570
46,829,906
64, 942. 820
50,293,361
8~, 357,570
13,148.427
33,037, 586
71. 635,880
14,517,379
5, f,6], 001
27, 50.5, 195
50,002, 115
39, 265, 043
74,486,358
12,561,603
23,848,562
51,348, 643
9,914,092
3,719,526
17,827,578
35, 140, 554
24,721,879
48,415,739
8,266,024
28,771,918
73,530,209
12,355, 107
5, 611, 586
20,738,381
44,857,679
34, ,507, 570
67,201,625
7, 767, 708
65,528,934
146,135,472
28,606,876
11,167,200
46,913, Z20
100, 420, 644
04, 502, 041
172,099, lil2
10, 604, 374
13, 194, 427
28,217, 754
6,227,508
1,934,320
10, 160, 130
10,014,061
18,549,308
31,034, 738
2,478,231
17,522, 287
36,991,917
7,305,209
2,463,860
12, 446, 547
24,355, 801
27,418,018
45,262,030
3,054,267
11, 486, 252
28,690, 240
6, 285, 723
2,268,289
9, 92,5, 047
24,210,658
19,873,280
36,756,094
2,171,232
23,325,968
52,235,561
8,628,436
4,500, 731
14,381,487
35,240, 124
28,662,335
59,045, 760
2,960,644
152, 336, 470
50, 749, 794
54,609, 180
20,632,375
26,345, 121
10,792,549
-1, n2,oos
14,243
12,550,371
6,440,399
18,831,005
704,217
76,245,656
2, .522, 748
3,960,994
5,080, 777
242,824
22,431,093
607,380
I, 590,207
u, 121,627
455,938
24,010,582
609,230
470, 301
4,174,922
I, 238
14, 463, 873
457,994
412,807
2, 5[,3, 079
4,217
15, 340, 108
758, 144
---------------
Mississippi_ _______________ . . _____
l\1issourL _____ _________
Montana ________________
Nebraska ________________
Nevadu _______________ _
NPw Hampshire ___________ ~:~:_:::::
~ew Jersey ____________________ . __ .. _
;::;:
N.
Q_
C,
'<
0
0
arv
Pennsylvanifl ___ :· _·::~: :: : . : : : ~ ~ -- - - _,
Rhode Island_
Son th Carolina ___
South Dakota _____________
Tennf>~see. ________________
Texas ____
--------------
Utah ___
----------- ----Vermont
---------- - ---Virginia_
Washington ____________________ ::::::
~
~f:Jo~~t~'.a::::::::::::::::: : ::::::
Wyoming ____________________________
Not distributed by states ____________
~~":Jc::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Panama Canal Zone _________________
Puerto Rico ________________________
Virgin Islands .. _ ____________________
1939
$2,617,072,816
1\..finnesokL ____ ____________ _ ..
CD
1938
23, 832, 167
9,819,047
21,095,237
101, 002, 399
24, 169, 320
20,397,992
2,021,816
40, 604, 337
21,413,671
26, 42!), 781
----------------1faine _______
---------Maryland ______
---------Massachusetts __
---------Mich:~nn _____________
cff
1037
$2,001, 240, 379
rnr:~;,::::::::::: ::::::::: :::::::::1
0
1936
39,337,860
15, 793,641
32,624,830
155, 332, 894
31,602,017
24,565, 537
3, 133, 291
58, i34, 903
30, 485, 950
32,499, 635
----------------------
New Mexico _________ ______ ____
New York
North Carolina
:::: : ::::::_: ::_
North Dakota ---- - ------ - - · --Ohio _____
------ - -----Oklahoma
----------------Oregon __
Total
$2, 860, 508, 932
--- ------
-------
1030
45,413,631
30, 218, 0,58
45,373,374
202, 439, 632
49. 159,388
30,957,805
4,522.800
52,942,887
43,818,313
51,096,613
lndiana _____________ __ ____________
Iowa ____
Kentucky_
1938
$3,424, 564, 516
~[lffif~r:~_o_l~~b~~~~:::::::::::::::I
Louisiana ____
1937
149,755,260
66,618,825
135,540,004
573. 491. 266
13f>. 376, 249
102, fl49, 723
12,747,049
189,438,851
129, 233. 135
154. 863. 037
63. 286, 60.5
677. 789, 954
269,511.889
I 13, 936, 205
146,331, 527
158, 710, 449
134, 803, 649
53, 609,064
93. 19f>, 204
437. 07P, 663
-- -- -------
Kansas _____
I
1$10, 904,286,643
Alabama __________________________
Arizona _____________
Arkansas ___________ _
California ___________
11935 and 1936
18,741,073
----------------
.A Includes WP A-operated programs: State work programs, Federal Nation-wide program, purchase of surplus rlothlng, grants to seH-help and cooperative associations, and W PA and NY A ad ministrat1ve expenses; also WPA funds spent on land utilization and rural rehabilitation programs administered by the Farm Security Administration find on a proJect in Texas administered by the Bureau of
Reclamation.
Source: U • 8. Treasury Department report on the status of funds and analyses or expenditures under the ERA Acts o! 1035, J030, 1037, and 1038, ns or June 30, 1939.
~
tr:1
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0
::d
>-3
0
z
;g
0
0
tr:1
[I)
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0
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0
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is:
167
APPENDIX TABLES
TABLE X.-HOURS AND EARNINGS OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON
FISCAL YEARS
WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY STATES AND BY
Tnnonm Jt·sE :JO, 1939
Cumulali;i, It;;ugh June
State
Years Eni!':l1i~r· 3 o, 1936
i
f - - - - - - - - - - - - _____________
_____
Total hours
ITotal earn~':'.',!
TotaL ____________ U.512,9i5,487 ,$5.630,928.994
1
----------1·
i:~1
Year En<ling June 30, 1938
~•~t-a~h~u~_ Tot~ earnm~ ~otal
.5,341,35i,091 $2,515,192.0i3
Total ,•arnin~s
1
Year Ending June 30, !V39
Total hours /Total earnings
2,423,756,987 $1,238,927,i31 i 3,i47,861,409
I
$1,876,809,190
Alabama_--------------Arizona
_________________ _
Arkansas _______ . _______ _
California ______________ _
Colorado _______________ _
200. 931,293 :
40,559.895 i
li7, 902. 1}43
4i3, 789, !!76
122,937, 163
Connecticut_ ___________ _
Delaware _______________ _
District of Columbia
Florida ________ -- --- _- - - Georgia _________________ _
110,251,696
13,810.696
42,082,.558
172. 71 I, 431
211, 5S9, 515
ll-1,867, 944
5,912.583
20. 414, "94
56. 098. 3.53
62, 4:rn, 544
47,893.301
5. 872, 7H7
18,210, 193
65,945,447
85,952,523
27,657.697
2. 421, :is9
7,875,686
19, fi72. 148
25,156,673
24, ,504, 591
3, 179. :JOO
8,781,299
36,917,588
41, 143, 742
14. 454, 50:J
1,395,892
4,318,984
12, 4f,8, 568
12,136,894
37,853,804
4 758 629
001: 066
69,848.396
84,493,250
21, 755, 744
2,095,302
8,219, 724
23,957, 63i
25,145,977
~~is::::::::::::::::::
39,676,894
828, 134, 360
358, 239, 409
122,893, MO
171,190,620
li,57i,(Kl8
417,725,581
177,405,567
,'j(i, 1'10. (i7(i
65,005.308
18,145,705
360, 27 I , 533
110. 021, om
55,494, 9f,0
88,982,239
7,437,013
171,471,979
78,775,083
23,867.392
31,567,909
0, 276,202
179, 139. 735
75,480, 492
28,467, 180
38,301,606
4,320,548
92,982.867
39,836.318
13,506,806
15,234. i2fi
12 254 987
288: 723: 092
ll2, 731, 301
38,031,520
43,906, 775
5 819,477
153: 270, 735
58, 794, 166
18, 726, 4i8
18,202,673
t~~~::-_::::::::::::::
Maine
2,i, 169,269
18.1, 236,288
39. 582,997
72,201,371
456, 5.12, 154
76,438,912
65,422,403
I 5, 79fi. 439
29,:l0.5, f,lf,
286,411,744
Ill, 175,562
83,616, 188
18,483, 743
36. 054, 099
209,221.134
~:n~::r-1~
55, ,5[,2, 667
34, 7:li.0.11
7,412,678
7,570.016
14, :J68. 530
127, 4S7, 018
15,060,491
98,841, 778
JG, 5:19, f;:J2
13,452, 7111
2,994, fi22
6,007. 04f1
64,303. 104
90,441,040
64,883,069
13, ,529, 238
21,086,781
148,469, 242
31,274,983
22,863.139
5. 380, 139
8,870,040
94,621,622
;;::1r:::::::::::::=
470, 758, 99 I
248,512, 738
144,463,747
38~, 392, 491
5.5, 406. 952
244, 2'J6, 001
136,942.022
41, 63.5, Z:J4
161,380,089
37,,512, 1.52
I 74,700.518
I 19,470,541
173,771,439
23,370,867
81, 65fi, 182
59,808. 88:-1
15,8S9.915
67,442, .507
14. 960,065
IO:l, 700, 777
52,082,943
27. 467, 88.3
83, I!J5, 4:J2
13. 747. :ms
55 231 822
:i1'. 050'. i\19
8.4fi,I, 800
36, 08/i,32S
9, 3>8, !1!10
192,354,696
76,959, 254
5U, 7~G. 08t,;
131,425,620
18,288,720
107. 407,997
46,082,340
17,309,519
57,852,254
13,163,097
::~~k-~-_-::::::::::
::::
New Hampshire ________ _
~:: ~~x'\~,.-::::::::::::
124,610,433
7.804, 702
40. 310,781
411,515,274
51. 728,515
50,395,820
4. 794,865
18. 084, 301;
232, 126, 133
20, 09fi,324
50, 102, 37H
3, 771,.820
17, 748, 108
187,449,325
23,089,348
10, 46:J, 64i
2, 190, 274
i, .197, 443
103. 547,324
8,773,049
:i2, 11.57, UU7
I, 818,433
8,498, O:ll
93,871,951
11,4~l,Of39
13, :J28, 455
I, 185, 163
:l, 989,952
55. 017, 820
4,507,140
41,850,060
2,207,449
14,063, 742
130, 22:J, !J98
17,157,498
17,603,718
1,419,428
6,496,911
73,560,989
6,81fi, 135
New York CitY----· ___ _
New York (excluding
New York City) ______ _
North Carolina _________ _
North Dakota __________ _
Ohio ___________________ _
901,101,611
649,028,330
502, 192, 149
35:l. 478,316
180,921,454
135, 29:J. 970
217,988,008
160, 256, 035
374,253,695
164,716,489
68,766,000
831,677,388
202,272,327
45, 1).39, 378
30, i12, 557
452, 141, 211
218,091,559
67,382,870
37,564,817
340,020,094
I 16,005, 129
oua
17,398,076
15, 8.14, 186
174,481,174
73,437, 17 I
33, 179,347
14,516,535
173, 076, 528
9,281,684
6. 908,825
!18, 184, 0,1!)
82, 72'!,005
64. 154,272
16. fi84, 648
311,680,766
45,0ll, 105
18,959,618
7,969,546
179,475,998
Oklahoma _______ ······-264,076,315
71,815,975
Oregon. _···--···--·----·
Pennsylvania .... _______ _ I, 094 607 212
Rhode Island ___________ _
69: m:564
South Carolina _________ _
164,567, 219
85,140,241
30, son, f>47
612,964,084
35, ll:l, 551
43.:lll,977
120,819,3Z7
:l4. 189,663
5:Jo, 642, 286
2<J, [>02,585
(i:3, 981, 779
3fi, 880. 220
17,832, 750
289,443,WO
I :J, 8:J2. 776
15,980,623
52. 790, 119
16, 42!!, 071
236,292,313
15,621,300
33,412,:li2
17,042,674
137,873, 4lli
8, 2!15, 1!11
8, 709. 261
84,466, 799
21,197,241
321,672,613
24,049, 6i9
67,173,008
30,317,347
12,295, 126
185,646, !J97
12,985,584
18,622,093
South Dakota __________ _
Tennessee. _____________ _
Texas ___________________ _
Utah ___________________ _
Vermont.·------------ __
Virginia. _______________ _
~esh~~t~n, . __________ _
88,662, 102
198. 1:13, 101
368,683, 4i8
44,906, 769
25. 626,391
34,664, WU
49,681,424
111, 865, 25:J
24,048, 75fi
9,982,474
4<J, 255,012
88, :l42, 331
168,552,823
22, ·120, 914
I 0, 682, :JS I
17, 9,57, 086
21,367,676
47,384, 0.13
10, 82fl, 2,5:J
:l, 1122, 828
{~:
(~J1~
72. 107,520
23, 27H, HOL
9,llOO, 103
4, 1172, 049
fi.~1,76.1
2,027,794
20 2o6 258
72'002'5,14
128: 02:i'. 135
13, 47(i, 752
\J,971,0lil
8,673, 271
18, 9:l2. 186
41,201,619
7,940, 738
4,031,852
135, W0,312
154, IU4, 985
I 75, 332, •165
244, 902, f,33
18,230,587
37, 46:J, 04fi
87,979, 179
79,264, .152
148,6:J:l, z:l.5
8,306,652
66, 787, 2:l4
6:J,82i, 02.li ,
85 214 208
10s: 990: 050 j
9,586,996
17, 408, (i08
:l4. 247, :J0S
;Jli, 12.li, :H2
63, 982, f,8',
4, O!J3, 48-1
1, soo, 650
3[1, 983,210
53,070,589
53,588, 160
83,500,591
4,978, 758
12 006 455
31: 886: 789
2,5, 652, Oi5
51,745.511
2,412,519
2,8571
6,217,858
2,:JOU
2,185,274
8, (i{i8
1,580, '277
5,033,355
Indiana ________________ _
lows ___________________ _
Kansas _____________ . ___ _
Maryland ______________ _
Massachusett.s __________ _
m~~~k::::::::::::::
1
est 1rgmm __________ _
Wisconsin ... ____ .. __ . _..
Wyoming ______________ _
Alaska __________________ _
Hawaii._ _______________ _
U,587
15,385, 797
58,583.966
20, i85, 830
48,912,457
284,243, 6())
f,1, i48, 388
82,413.159
20. 772,339
76,680,853
247,353,314
65,782,461
22, 660.f,95
9. 462,070
19,493.1451
1:is. 557,865
:io, 111. 275
37. l57, 072
8, 31i6, 954
:n,693, 786
100, 103. 870
25,480,849
10,977
5,589,084
.57. 259, 77fi
28, 4l!l, 859
3i, 297,368
:lfl, ,,30, O'J7
52, ·II I, !186
3, 6fi4, 8.33
10,730
4, rn4, 584
11,429.679.
4,770.2:m
9, 48:J, 808
62,609,893
13,448.604
81,361,062
11,420,602
69,527,404
126. 332,692
31,673,853
24,493, .592
6,553,521
19,935,504
83,075,843
18, 15,5, :i09
41, 25fi,
9,468, 771
g:tir:~g
8,018,583
g:~tt\1ii
32,905,037
15:
Digitized by
Google
.....
TABLE XL-EXPENDITURES ON WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY TYPES OF PROJECTS, BY SOURCES OF FUNDS, AND BY OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE
0,
00
Cu,!ULATIVE TIIROl'GII Jt:SE 30, 1939
I
Total
Federal Funds
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ! - - - - - - S p o n s o r s ' Funds
Xonlnbor
Labor
1----------
Type of Project
Amount
Percent
Total
Amount
Percent or
total
Fc<lrral
Total
Amount
funds
TotaL _
$i, 6i6. 253. 945
llig-hways, roads, and streets __
Labor Expenditures
as Percent
of Total
$5,625,887,097
88. 3
$1,302. 83i, 3G9
$1,078,452, 450
82. 8
1i. 0
:!8. :l
2,367,614,516
2,036,290,990
86. 0
568,554,605
479,001, 9G3
84. 2
19. 3
72. 4
92'.J, 456. S50
705. 310, 4i9
!.30i,401.i92
12. 0
9. 2
17.1
705,522.424
5ii, 863,213
1.084,228,8i9
600,741,058
486,849,970
948,699,962
85. 1
84. 3
87.5
217,934,426
127,447,266
223,172,913
182,504,695
108,211, i97
188,285,4il
83. 7
84. 9
84.4
23. 6
18. 1
17.1
68. 9
71. 8
75.2
828,436.880
10. 8
650, 493, i88
570, 77G, 792
87. 7
177,943.092
148, 143, 252
83. 3
21. 5
72. 5
27G. 333. 05G
552.103,824
3. 6
7.2
206. 460, 196
444.033,592
182,210,375
388,566,417
88. 3
87.5
69,872,860
108,070,232
58,468,885
89,674,367
83. 7
83.0
25. 3
19.5
70. 1
73.7
i37.871.45,5
9.6
651,813,563
563.5G5.i43
86.5
86,057,892
68,416,083
79.5
11.7
78.8
3.58.995.711
378, 8i5. 744
4.7
4. 9
312,765,553
339. 048, 010
276,i00.:!27
286,865,416
88.5
84. 6
46,230,158
39,827,734
34,808,781
33,607,302
75.5
84. 4
12.9
10. 5
80.3
77. 4
312. 26fi. 480
4. I
273,581,073
240,508, 14fi
87. 9
38,685, 40i
30,745,206
79 ..5
12. 4
79. 6
132. 882. iO\J
179. 38-3, 7il
I. i
2. 4
118, 595, 23i
1.54, 985,836
103,623, 954
13G, 884, 192
87. 4
88. 3
14, 287. 472
21,397,935
11,652. 179
19,093,027
81. 6
78. 3
10. 8
13. 6
80. 0
79. 3
..,
2. 936. 169. 121
100. O $G, 373, 41G, 5iG
Percent or
total
sponsors'
funds
Sponsors'
Expenditurc:-s as
Percent
of Total
76. 2
1------
Farm-to-markrt and other secondary roads_
Streets and allcvs __
Other._
__: __________________ _
Public buildings_
Educational
Other_
Parks and other recreational facilities
Parks ________ _
------ ------------- _
Other ________ _
I
I
I
i
Conservation ____ _
Flood control__ __ ..
Other__ _______ _
I
i
:.;;Pwrr systems and other utilities.
0
co"
I
Sewer systems_
Other__
;::;.:
N.
CD
a.
~
0
0
arv
~
.\ irports and other transportation facilities
Airports and airways_
Other __________ . ___ _
White collar __
Education _________________ _
Recreation ___________ ________ _
Professional, clerical, and service_
Sewing _________________ . __ _
Goods, other than sewing __
Sanitation and health __ _
Miscellaneous A _________ .
- :1
·j
t:,,J
'O
0
~
...,
0
z
'O
~
0
0
~
u:,.
u:,.
0
>:rj
762,.599.i72
9.9
611.561,477
534.953,304
87.5
151,038,29.5
124,884,472
82.7
19.8
73.6
0::
498,089,927
264,509,845
6. 5
3. 4
420. 812, 96i
190. 748,510
369,902,892
165,050,412
87. 9
8G. 5
77, 276, 960
73,761, 33,5
62,267,070
62,617,402
80. G
84. 9
15. 5
27. 9
77. 3
66. 6
~
197, 280, 528
2. ll
153,981,373
115,980,288
75. 3
43,299, 15.5
38,663, 182
89. 3
22. 0
61. 1
162, 102. 769
3:i, 177, 759
2. 1
0..\
126. 281,929
27,699,444
92,480,231
23,500,057
73. 2
84. 8
35,820,840
7,478,315
32,740,011
5,923, 171
91. 4
79. 2
22. I
21. 3
59. 0
71. 2
985. 991. i19
12. 8
868. 612. 370
837,852, 935
9G. 5
117,379. 349
78, 159. 035
66. G
11. 9
89. 0
1.59, 81i. 716
139. 96.5. 401
6~6. 208. G02
2. 1
I. 8
8. 9
138, 2Gl. 940
11.5. 672,804
614. 677,626
131,778,533
113,074,859
592,999,543
95. 3
97. 8
96. 5
21,555, 77G
24,292,597
71,530,976
17,658,123
18,298,376
42,202,536
81. 9
75. 3
59. 0
13. 5
17. 4
10. 4
84. 9
85. 1
90. 7
,513. 766. 496
IOI. 179,191
174. 311,324
126, 380, 9i9
6. 7
1. 3
2. 3
I. 6
481, 78-3, 180
86,444,094
141,575,098
85, 956, 044
42G, 308. 061
88. 5
81, 17G, 525
93. 9
134,045,961
94. 7
84, 428, 352 ______ __ ____
31, 98-1, 316
14,735,097
32, 736, 22G
40, 424, 935
31, 164, 779
12,906,249
30,488,450
35, 879, 779
97. 4
87. 6
93. 1
6. 2
14. 6
18. 8
83. 1
82. 0
78. 2
A Includes adjustment or Federal expenditures to total reported by the Treasury Department and sponsors' expenditures ror land, land leases, easements, and rights-or-way, for which the d lstrlhut.ion
by type or project is not avalla hie.
Source: WP A state office reports.
~
t:,,J
'O
>
~
0
0
~
TABLBI
XII.-ExPENDITU Rms ON WPA-OPmnATl!lD PnoJEcTs, DY TYrms OF
PROJECTS, BY SOURCES OF FUNDS, AND BY OBJECT6 OF ExPENDITURl!I
30, 1939
YEAR ENDING JllNE
Total
Federal Funds
Labor
Type of Project
Amount
Percent
Total
Amount
I - -- - 1-- - - I - - - Total.. •... ..• .
Highways, roads, and streets
Fnrm-to-mnrkct and other sccondnry
.. . . . ... . . .. .
Streotsandnllcys ____ _ __ __ ___ _______roncls
_____ __ _____ ____
Oth,•r .. .•. . . . ... . . . ... . . .. .. . .• .. . . .... .. . . .. . . . . . . ..
•:uucntional . .
Othor ... .. . . .. . .. ... .
Parks nnd ot.hcr recreational facilities . . . . . . . . . ... . .•
arv
91.1
$403,0:l8,02U
1,090,430, 542
42. G
800, 8i0, 560
76ft, 088, 667
88. 4
328,581, 162
233,86.5,429
527,989,051
12. 9
0.1
20. 0
240,082, 158
l87,5G9,517
432,318, 894
2lG, 201,556
104,000,244
380,327,867
87. r,
87.5
80. 4
I
1- - - - 1- - --1- - - Mlll,395,449
84.5
10. 3
76.5
22:1, 51~5. 073
193. 242,854
80. 4
20. 5
73. I
81, ,599, 004
40,205, 012
05, 071, 057
70, 60:1, 502
30,700,161
82,810, 101
80. 6
8,5.0
8fi. 6
24. 8
10.8
18. I
60. l
73.0
75. 0
2fil, 079, 634
10. 3
200,615,962
181. 838, 557
90. 6
63, 46.1, 1172
54, 709, 160
so. 2
24. 0
72. 2
85, 85i, 460
178. 222, li4
3. 3
1.0
01, fi30, 050
138.oss.0 12
5..5, 612,229
126.226, 328
90. 2
9o.s
24, 22i, 410
39,23r.,262
20,909,028
:i.,,no,532
86. 6
86.0
28. 2
22.0
68. G
n,9
151,154, 077
90.3
28.685,228
2\9,58,807
83.5
14.6
70.5
;,,.
97,019, :is;
70,300,131
8G, 845,328
64, 3118, 749
89. 5
91. 5
15,769,864
12, Ola, 364
12, G07, 285
11,291,582
80. 3
87. 4
14. 0
15. S
iO. 7
70. 2
>ti
>ti
r.onSl'r\'f1.tion ___
98,444,534
3.9
84,773,980
78,490,448
92. 6
13,670,554
10. 980, 5;5
80. 3
13. 9
82. 5
zt,
1.4
2. 5
31,520,240
53, 24-1, 731
28,717,542
49,772,906
91.1
93. 5
4,45,'>,902
0, 214, r.52
3,701,i07
7,278, 778
83.1
79. 0
12. 4
14. 8
81.0
82.8
9. n
101 ,671,807
173, oss, 208
oo. 6
54, 1s1, ono
45, 136. -121
83. 3
22. o
74. 3
6. 2
3. •I
1:ll, 766, 173
59,905, 6.14
110,008, 3l\3
.54, 679, 84,5
90. :i
01. 3
27, i4.'>, 2,12
26, .\:JS, 817
22. 852, 250
22, 28·1, 168
82. 4
84. 3
I7. 4
30. 6
ii. 7
68. 1
2. 6
45,259,000
38. 86..'>, ,585
8,5. 9
20, 76.'l, 108
19,5 14,522
0-1. O
31. 4
fiO. 8
0. 3
2. 3
39,174,396
6,084,604
33,302,469
5, ,',63, 116
85. O
01. 4
18,355,808
2,407,390
17,400,625
2, 113, 89i
94. 8
87. 8
31. 9
28. 4
59. 5
69, 0
32~, 1~, 1s.5 ===;'2. 6
,
Sewing . . . . . . ... . . . . . . _.. ______ .. . . .. _. .
GoO<ls. other than sewing
.... . .
Sanitation and health . .... __ _.... . . . . . . .
Miscellaneous •' -·· ·· · ·
35,985,151
62, 4.59, 383
24.5. s55. 876
159,511,425
86,344,451
====
. ..
6fi. 022, 108
Edm,ation .. .. . . ... . . . . ..... ... . .. . . . . ... .. . . . . . . .
Recreation. . . . . . . . _. . . __. _... . . . . . . . .. .•. . . • .. ..
Profess ional. clerical. and service .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . .
0
I $1,ss1.018,M2
107,310,518
57,530,204
8,491,994
White collar
0
- - --1--- - 1- -- - --'
$2,064,ooo,ooo
7. i
Airports and ainvays ... . .. ... . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .
Other.. ... . . . .. ... . . . .. . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ... ... . . . . . .
a.
-1 -- -
100.0
Percent of
total sponsors• funds
4. 4
3. 3
Airports and other transportation lacillties.. ... .. . . . . . . .
~
Amount
eral runcls
100,004. 74G
Sewer systems .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other ... ... . . .. . . .. ..... . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . .. . . .• . . .. . .
CD
Total
112, 789, 251
S.'l, 215, 495
;;.,wer systems nn<I other 11tilities .. •.• . . . . . . . •. . . ..•
N.
Peroont of
I total Fed-
Sponsors' Labor ExExpondl- penditures
turoR as
Percent of asorPercent
Total
Total
Porks .. .. . . .
Otlwr ... . . .
Floo<l control
Other.
0
Nonlabor
$2,55S.03s,229
======
Public buildings ... .
co·
;::;:
Sponsors' Funds
=
ur,o
I
27~, 615,670
267, t,10.,
97. 1
47. 561,515
31. 226, 219
65. 1
11. 7
87. o
4,,03,,462
1.8
45, 641,002
I. 8
_230, 498, 121 - - ~
31 ,980,900
35,912, 919
201,721.851
36,2-18,050
34. 904,981
190,523,020 I
95.4
97. 2
97. 4
O,OSfi,562
9,728,683
28,770,270
7,557,146
7, 114, fill
16,554,462
83.4
73. l
57. 5
19.3
21. 3
12. 5
80.2
82. 2
00. fi
-
l 29, 005, 392
23,550,639
39, 23~, 529
41,01,. 534 1I
116, 651, 143 i
90. 4
22,638, 0091
06. l
37, ~7, 483
95. 8
45, ,59, 705 1•••• ••••• •••
13, 458. 825
4, f,39, 1.56
0, O~l. 806
13,0, 4, 633
13, 180, 392
4, 206, 168
9, ~43, ~77
10, ,90, ,88 ...
OS. 0
OU. 7
94. 7
9. 4
16. 4
20. 3
82. 0
81. 8
77. 4
-142,--21,- - - -524,
5. 0
28, 195, 705
LI
49,202. 3.3.5
1.0
5',092, 167
2.1
t'J
><
1-3
>
gl
t'J
UJ
A [ncludcs adjustment of Federal expenditures to total reported by the Treasury Department and sponsors'
expenditures for land, land leases, casements and rights-of-,vay, for which the distri butlon
by type of project is not arnilable .
Source: WP A state office reports.
....~
~
~
170
REPORT ON PROGRESS OF THE WP A PROGRAM
TABLE XIII.-ExPENDITURES ON WPA-OPERA'l'ED PnoJEC'TS, BY STATES, BY SouncEs OF FUNDS, AND BY OBJECTS
OF EXPENDITURE
CUMULATIVE TUROUGIT JUNE 30, 1939
Sponsors' Funds
Federal Funds
Nonlabor
Labor
Grand Total
St<>te
Percent
'J'otal
Amount
90, I03, f,80
31. 1181. 8 11
71. 199, 136
386, 721. 885
--- ---- -- --
Ari1.onn . ___ _
Arkansas __ __ --- -- ----------California ___ _
Colorado __ __ ----·---- -- -- -C onnecticut_
Delaware ___________
D istrict of Columhla_
F lorida ________________ ___ _. _
Georgia __________________ __ __
Idaho ___ ______________ ___
Illinois __ ____________ ----- - -Indiana _ --------------- - - - -
Iown
-- ------- ------ --
Kentucky __
-------------- Loui~innn
----- - ----- Maine _____ _
----- --------
Marylnn<l _____
M nssachusetts _ ----------Michigan __
------- - -- ---
Minnesota
Mississippi ___
Missouri .
Montana ____
· ----- --- --·
Nehraska _
N ernda. ___ _______
New Hampshire ..
Now Jersey _
--- -- -----·
New Mexico -------- - - -
Rhorle Island_
Sout.h C'nrollna_
South Dakota
Tennessee __
--------· --
---------- ------------·--- ---
Ii. J
81. 6
81. 3
8,150,075
101,068,851
37,808, 119
22,528,898
21, 580, 1'83
6. 569,400
f,8, 816,891
33, 91 i. 492
18, fi40. 7fi9
JR 923, :\41
80. 6
68. 1
89. i
28. 5
17. 4
16. 0
26. 1
22. 0
67. I
2
3
f,
3
0
23,272,418
1s, ;r.s. 217
4. r.oa. 420
7,730,0 18
48,852,474
19. 333. 30fi
16, 0 I 3. 3gr;
3,741 , 998
ri, 248. 34ft
41,311.798
83. I
85. 3
81.3
tri. 9
84. f>
20. 3
328, 784. f>99
l!l.~. 29f>. 3f>CI
71.J.oi,117
2 m. 489. 040
,\ I. 1r.2, 3(10
274. 153,
1,13, 822,
52, 383,
l 84, 78f.i,
42. lOfi,
242,494,
13f>, -139,
-t I. 9!i~,
rn1. 3.5a,
37, MR,
88.
88.
80.
87.
89.
5
M,631,299
34, 4i3, 992
39,833,928
29, IXIO, 203
16,588,011
26, 2fi3, !;/:3
i, 814, J.15
72.
84.
88.
82.
86.
80. 0
87. 7
88.9
22. 7
31. 0
19. 1
17. 6
18.8
69. fi
\JI I
3IH
159
209
287
373
799
279
r,92
i 8!J, 330
319, (i9(l
-1:ll Oa-1
907, i~H
Mi , 201
4011
374
:l(KI
2fli
131
252, .591. 764
24. rnr,, r;21
f)_
2-li~. ORfi :
:tr.4. rin:t
02, 460, 2!i5
R4. S
f,(>~
801
fiiG
7.~
!i:l3
430
039
220
287
i-;f,Q. 24-~. (if,~
97,1. 421,498
a:i, 471, 99!l
3.~. iii, fiii
.'iOO, 9.14. 711
I 04, 393. 3fi9
4,\ f,49, 806
:JO, fifil. f,07
4.51. 091, 991
~fi. 939. (jf{j
:m. ~24.fili
4-t. 0-1:), 4ii
fi73, 07S, 9:lX
007, 172
49,817, O!il
:J(i,
-10, 9ii, 773
2f1. fl24, 4ii
J0, !i:~o. k2!i
43, 1-12, mM
,16,fi.11, 74fi
4, 778,
18, Oi8,
231, iflS,
20, 120.
19, 70.1, 44:i
82. 3
88. 5
87. 9
91.
92.
89.
85.
50, 1 lfl. 7fifi
,)7, 57fl. 620
!i, 432, 674
9fi, 145, 88fi
90. :l2.1, 02i
l f).'), Ofl-1 . 1111
!l, S<i2, 202
I
18. 0
14.8
16. 3
20. 0
20.1
83.
85.
85.
8 1.
93.
Wi. f,22, flfrl
U nrlisl rihul.e<I hy ~t.nt.r .\ ..
89. 6
77. 8
61.4
86.1
91. 7
if>.OW,283
6.1, 3-16, 743
15.838,1.14
29,317,599
:?XS. filli. n.~;')
201. 092. 2311
1,1, 027, !"h1~
I
13,715,030
868,020
2, 675, 105
14, 291, 898
17,051.037
91 ,4 13,442
ifi, fiS3 , 770
18, 502, 7HI
31\0011, 070
304, !2S, 4:l8
117, f,4!1, 94,5
TPrritories . .
15,314,174
1,116,370
4, 3.56, 125
16, 602, 543
18,585.281
l 14 , f,85. SW
95,351.987
23, !Of,, 130
43, 791\, 088
:1.12. 977, 912
Washin_gton
------- - -- ------- - - -- - ----------·
88.8
8fi.
86.
89.
88.
Virginia ___ ------- - - ---------
\-VC'sf. Vir{!inia
\Visconsin . .
W yo ming- __
68. 2
17. f>l3, ,1113
H.l,,52fi,f,lf,
I ii. 049. 83fi
5(l, 187, 02fl
f>'I. 9Rfi. 517
f>O, :l24, MS
134, ,191. Ofo3
VC'rmont. _ ------ - -- --- ------
2'.!.0
27. 3
17.1
16. 9
19. 8
20,469, 30f,
480, oo.,, 549
107, i89, 038
fi3, fi(i(i, 839
7fi, 734. :l80
024
S02
3:!8
932
090
--------- ---- -
76. 2
85. 0
i6. 3
91. 7
i2. 3
85. 2
61U, 381
074, 400
,,97, 157
195, 737
324, 2f,1
-~H. I I 8,
178. 991.
30. H'>,
13, i73.
.1r,, 811,
Texn.s __ __ _
Utah .. __ ___
17.0
16. 855,223
6,666,550
II. 141. 217
47, 169, 968
14, 743, 721
n3, 894. 781
5,911,667
20,018,728
,14,
i!>i,
·13.
Ii~.
."iO.
--- -- -----· --
82.8
19,826,586
8,742,9 18
12, 154, 163
65,215,873
I 7, 297, 62.3
88. 3 $1,302,837, 369 $1, 078, 452, 450
83. 3
69, 079, 939
6,428,318
22, :l45, 979
66. ,I 19, 194
73,684,040
70. 4111,
H, 773.
."")7•1. 00.~.
133. 218,
--------- ----Pcnnsylvanifl. __
funds
~,. 3ii. 400
I. 138. (),19, 7(12
Oregon __
Percent
of total
sponsors'
~4. 994, 11:J
7,544,688
26, 702, 104
!l.1, !21, 737
02. 2r.o. 32 1
7-1, 028,
i , 877,
24, 4•1 I.
30fi. 70!I,
29, 794,
N ew York _
North Caro li na
North Dakota_
Ohio _______
Ok lahoma ___ : ::::::: :::: :: ::
58, .,oo. 2()lJ
20, 642, 741
48, 620, 39 1
284. 543. f,26
m. sri2. 1s.1
70,277, 09-'
Amount
23,238,893
59, ().J.1, 973
321,506,012
10, om, 783
28,
,'iSI,
23.1,
Sr.,
98,
--------- - - - -----
Kansas·_-_- ::
$.,. 625, 887, 097
---------- -- -- $7, 6i6. 253, 945 $6, 373. 416, ,,76
TotaL
Alabama __
Total
of tota l
Federal
runds
Sponsors'
Labor
Expendi- Expenditures as tures as
Percent
Percent
of Total of Total
fo l I,
3r,,
·13,
34,
221.
Jf,O,
31 I,
r.so,
-HI,
I I I.
24,
n,
!i.5.1, !iJ.5
99f>. SSO
ll:13, 403
942, 234
ti93
Ri:l
.~.10
RHr.
7
0
6
2
0
6
5
3
s,1. 7
87.
88.
91.
91.
83.
i
I
3
4
18. 773, Rl 7
:n, 702, 7S2
O
O
,5
If>, 949,291
2, 444, r,4,1
19. 9
17. 7
13. S
83. I
16.
18.
26.
14.
78. 3
75. 4
62. 0
19.;
6
3
4
6
7
4
3
6
77. O
76. O
17. i
S7. 2
8,5. 4
~5. 7
90.0
!l.1. 3
162, 628, 2f,1
If>, 931. 374
8, llOO. 122
73,650.568
2R, S2!1, 32:J
145,202.231
la, 450, 80.1
8. 000. 287
f>J, lf,0, 413
23. W I, 469
89. 3
91. 3
89. 0
83. 0
81. 5
14. 3
24. I
20. 1
12. S
21. 6
70.
60.
70.
80.
69.
~(I. 3
1)0. i
8. !lM , U39
73, 370, 980
fi, 589, 528
12, 808, 578
8. 2-1 !\ 4 ,5.~
83. 3
88. 0
sr.. o
R4. f>
JO, ; 43, H.13
83, 340, 738
i. 42,1, 882
14, J;,O, 74:l
9, ,5fi9, fi!S
i5. 0
82. 0
82. 9
RO. 2
19. 6
11.0
17. I
22. 1
18. 9
82.
83.
89.
94.
2~.
44,
9,
3,
21. 107, ;;20
2, f>In, 059
JO, ,5/iO, 559
73. 3
81. I
81. 9
80. 8
83. 3
32. 3
2-t R
2f,_J
23. ,5
22. i
05\)
937
r,0.1
332
17, 120, ?C,i
I ,I. Of,11, OS9
29,340,997
3, 43[,. 243
70.
87.
81.
82.
18. 3
1!1. 1
17. 9
2, !142, 844
2,283,826
Oi. fi
I
2
3
4
~i . (i
-~9. 8
84 . 3
r,_ ?20, 242
.I, W7, ~94
S7. l
:-tn-1,!":H:t
4,2 12,487
I
68. S
09.
71.
72.
72.
n. .sris. nfm
4,1177, 714
.1-1, 117, ,IOa
~
87, 97:1. t\.1.1
7H. 14:l. fi:l4
148. 247. 70:i
8. 30\l, :l !4
I
Ti. I
76. 8
69. 7
2
~i. I
I
9
l
4
8
3
70.\l
60. 4
14,420, 244
2,007, 122
3,744,001
47. 470. 526
4, 977, 8!;2
37, fi58, 877
I
!
9,0M. 229
82. 7
87. f\
71.0
69. 7
78. 2
73. 4
793,
400,
.120,
243,
:li(l
739
861
107
12, HO~. lRG
21, 504,
17, 21l7,
:rn, 02S,
4, 16,\
91. 5
:rn. 023, or,4
i. i9f>. S72
85. I
82. 1
ss. 7
90. 5
fi
I
4
70. 6
66. 2
77. 8
77. 7
2
9
7
7
3
69. 8
iL 2
64. 2
6i. 3
iO. 7
711. i
il. I
78 . .I
5
2fl. i
i
77. 6
31.8
I
7,1. r,
ii. 0
f,I. 4
6<.1.
(I
-I
A Tncl11clrs snpply fund nnd trxl ill• nrco11nr ndjust.mpnls nnd 1·r11t ml ofnco pro_ircts.
Ro11rcC': J◄'pdt'fa l funds rpprrsrnl n,11rhl'r 1mr111t•n1s ns n•pnrlt•d hy tht> Trr:isury l >l'pnrtnlC'nt: sponsors' funds nrc, hnsNl on ,YP :\ rr•ports ofsponsnrs'
cortincnt.ions.
Digitized by
Goog Ie
171
APPENDIX TABLES
TABLE XIV .-EXPENDITURES ON WP A-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY STATES , BY SOURCES OF FUNDS, AND BY ◊BJECTS
OF EXPENDITURE
YEAR
ENDING J UN E 30, 1939
Sponsors' Funds
Fectcral Funds
State
Grand Total
Total
Amount
Sponsors'
Expend i·
tures as
Percent
Percent of
Total
of total
~ponsors'
fnnd s
Nonlabor
Labor
Percent
of total
Federal
funds
Total
Amount
- - -Total. ___ ________________ $2, "58, 03/i, 229 $2, OM. 006, 61'-0 $1. 88 1. 018, 542
___ .---------------·--·
__ ______ ______
.\rizona. _________
.Alabama
9 1.1
$493, 038, 629
$416,395,449
84. 5
Labor
Expend it.ures as
Percent
of Total
---
19.3
i6. 5
23. 5
29. 4
15. 6
20. 4
23. 4
70. 8
69. i
72. 6
78. 7
72. l
- - -- - - - -
23, :185, 704
89. 020, 505
20,293,382
24,423, 11 8
6,550, i02
IO, 837,872
82,991,817
IS, 277,894
89.
88.
84.
93.
90.
6
9
8
2
I
8, 3%, 674
3,062,410
4,324, I II
22,845,679
6,188,336
7, 5i9, 643
2, 337,255
4,034, 283
17,767,754
5,363,482
90.3
76. 3
93. 3
77. 8
86. 7
28, 152, 781
2,702,590
10,675,242
33,466, 238
36, 8i3, 451
23, 184,803
2,220,343
8,516,808
26, 606,438
28,638,232
21,812,083
2,100,042
7,970,407
23. 923,968
25, 203, 761
94. l
94. 6
74. 7
89. 0
88.0
4,067,978
572, 247
2, I 58,434
fi, 859,800
8,235,219
4,566,873
447,457
I, 356,590
5,983,250
7,562, 788
01. 9
78. 2
62. 9
87. 2
91.8
17. 6
20. 5
20. 2
20. 5
22. 3
78.
79.
82.
74.
70.
Idaho _________ -- -- ____ -- -· .....
ID!nois ___ . _-- ·· ---- -. -- --- - .. . .
Indiana ___ ___ ____ ___. ____ . _. ...
Iowa ___ . ____ . _________ ....... __
Kansas ______ ___ __ ________ .--·
9,386,456
213, 260, 139
80, 561, 748
30,369, 212
27,425, 4ii
6. 698,539
174,198,262
64. 1)(12, 036
21. 005. 692
20, .'>12, 889
.s, 904,030
153, 483, 567
,59, 284, i32
18,829,398
18,321, fl05
I
I
3
6
2
2,687,917
39,06 1, 87i
15,659,712
9, 363, 520
6,882, 58B
2,232,416
27,428.548
13, 931. i31
i , 961, 732
6, 1.55, 3Ii
83. I
70. 2
89. 0
85. 0
89. 4
28. 6
18. 3
IO. 4
30. 8
25. l
67. 8
77. 4
75. 7
66. 6
69. 5
t~~~~L::::::::::::::::::·
Maine ______ __ _______ _........ .
45,009,659
33, 440, 499
;, f.32. 331
13, 02R. 629
11.5, 494, 224
36, 252,-143
25. i93. 123
5,009, 142
9. 597, "49
98,047,439
31, 172, 937
22. 784,736
,5, 413. 955
8, 88.3, 3fl0
94,614,578
86.0
8, 757, 21G
88. 3
7, 64i, 376
90. 2
92. r,
96. 5
I. 634, 180
3. 431,080
17, 446, 785
7. 463,387
6,718,995
1. 344, 108
2,611, 40,5
15, 118, 5M
85. 2
87. 9
82. 2
76. I
86. 7
10.5
22. 9
21. 4
26. 3
15. I
72. 1
70.9
74. 7
74. 5
83. 9
Michigan. ___ __ __ ______ _______ ..
Minnesota . ___ __ · - -- --·- - · -···_
Mississippi ... . . _. . .... . .. . _.
Missouri.·--· · -- · -···--·· ·
Montnna ... - -· ···- - ·-····--··
Nebraska ____ ___ · - ·--- .......
Nevada .. · - ·-- ----·- ·· · ----_New Hampshire ______ ____
New Jersey __ ___ .. .... .......
New Mexico .. ___________ __
139, 750, 5i9
fi4, 918, 402
27,996.873
77. 7G3. 70.5
18,829.020
II 9. 278, 40f.
50, 889, .511
20, I If,. 29fi
6.,, 288. 172
14, 714, 13,1
353
248
246
514
759
!lO. 9
90. 4
20,472,173
14,028,891
7,880, 5i7
88. 6
90. 7
12. 47.\ 533
4, 11 4.SS.I
15,231,699
12, 149, 179
7. I 26,483
Ill, 7"l,416
3. 638. SfiO
74. 4
86. 0
86. 6
90. 4
86. 2
88. 4
14. 6
21. 6
28. I
16. 0
2 1. 8
8 1. 3
73. 8
64. fl
76. 6
73. 4
25, .112. 494
2,547,820
8,406, 223
IOI. 421. 022
10, 006, 760
19, fifi4, 165
I, ,199, 32f.
6, 7113, 9-15
78, .,r.1, 828
i , 7!i7, 384
17,430, 694
I, 429,001
6. fiOI, 2.53
74. 109. 940
r,, 964, 93a
0
4
7
3
8
5,848,329
048, 494
I, 612. 278
22. 853. 194
2, 249. am
5,024, 1133
764, 774
1.:l31,13I
19, 71!7, 246
2, 0 1 I, 631
85. 9
80. 6
82. 0
80. 6
89. 4
22. 9
37. 2
JO. 2
22. 5
22. 5
71. 5
63. 3
80. i
76. I
72. 0
New York ____ _______ ____ ___
North Caroilna .. .. __ __ _____ _
North Dakota ......... - .. .. Ohio . ___ ___ ___ _-- . --- · . _... ---·
Oklahoma. __. __ ___ .. -·-- - · .. --
278, 183,3Ifi
28, 785, ,l,1fi
12. 213,457
22fi, 958, 571
42, 28S, 441
221,044, 140
21. ,5,\6, 352
!•. I 8S. i84
198. 347, 100
33, 760,927
20,\ 81.5, 885
18,9 13,636
8 . 0fi2, 308
180, 4~.,. 3Sl
30, 19fi. 64fi
91. 9
87. 7
$7. fl
9 1.0
89. 4
54, 139, lfi7
7. 22\1, 184
3.024, fi73
28. 6 11. 381
8, .518. fi l4
40, f,60, 384
(i. 697.117
2.687,659
naw, 044
7,201.944
91 ..5
92. fi
88. !I
81. Ii
84 . 5
19.5
25. I
75. 6
67. 5
68. 7
Oregon .. ___ _... ... . .. . _.. ..
Pennsylvania. ___._ ..... ... _
Rhod e Island.- ·- -- ---- --South Carolina .... _.. _____ .. _..
South Dakota .. .. .......... - ..
If., 907, 794
233, I 80. 59fi
Iii, Olfi. 373
27, 136, 124
13,520, 12,5
13, I.Ill. 180
199, 658. 483
13. M l, 974
20. 909,209
9. 744, 048
12, 183,102
185, 5f>0,004
13, 113, 7fi5
18,672,241
8, fi37, 400
92. tl
02. 0
9fi. 8
88. 8
88. fi
3,830,614
33,522. 113
2,373, 309
6,226.915
3, 775. 177
3, 2:35, SIS
211,193, 271
2,200, 25.5
5,677,454
3, 192, 245
R4. 3
87. I
93. 0
91. 2
84. fi
22. 6
14. 4
14 . 9
22. 9
27. 9
75.
81.
83.
70.
68.
Tennessee . _____ __ ____ ___ _______
Texas _______ -----·-· -- · - · ---- -Utah __ ____ __ ______ __ __ ____ _____
Vermont ________ __ ____________ _
Virginia . _.. ___ __________ __ ... . .
31. 033, 227
11. G40. fil2
Ii. 47,5, 22,I
18..110. 3r,g
22. 217. 044
4fi, 804, 7:Jl
8. 318. 928
4. 201 . 9fi!i
13,572.905
18,875. fi28
-11. 080, 041
7,940, I 07
4,022, 773
12,053,751
~-5. 0
87. 8
9,5. 4
93. 7
88. 8
8,816, 183
If> . 274. 048
3. 321. ,184
I, : 83, 2fi0
4, 937. 4fi4
n, 600,860
13,930, 708
2. 700. 389
993, fi55
4,104,513
75. 7
85. 6
83.1
8-1. 0
83. I
28. 4
25. 8
28. a
21. 0
211. 7
67. i
68. 8
73. 0
76. 9
69. 6
Washington .. _. _____ _____ _.....
West Virginia.. .. __ ___ ___ ___ __ .
Wisconsin .. . ... -· - - ------ -- ·-·.
Wyoming .. ____ · - ----------·.
44,989.022
34,371, fl.If>
12, n:.2. 13-1
·1, 133, 248
:J4, 246, 791
27. fil 8, 821
57. fl()(I, 24f,
2, 770,829
31,765,829
2fi, Q/i7, 928
52, 2fi2, 103
2. 4fi2, 3 12
92. ~
92. 9
90. i
88. fi
IO, 743, I 31
fi, 7n3. 13;)
11. 451,888
I. 353.119
8, 937, •!24
5, 96.5, 1170
12,154,030
I. 1.18, 2:l2
83. 2
84 . I
So. 6
23. Y
IO. 7
20. I
32. 7
76. 9
3, 32.5, 421
2,046,919
I, P,f.0, 012
00. ll
I, 278. ,I 02
95t1. 552
74. 8
38. 4
65. 6
- 2, 62 1, 548
- 2, 621, 548
36fl. 4!J1)
Arkansas __ _____ ._ . ___ . ________ .
California _.· --- --- --- -- -----···
Colorado _____ · - -- ·-·--- ---- ····
Connecticut. ____ . ___. __ ________
Delaware.- - -----·- - ----·-·--- ·
District of Columbia____ ._. __ ..
Florida __ -- -- -- -- -----·-·--- --.
Georgia ______________ _________
Maryland .. .. ·- · . _· -· __ . _______
Massachusetts . . . . . _... __..... .
Territories .. _. ______ . __ . . _.
Unrl istributc,I by state•--·----- A
35,653,460
10,432.900
27,709,815
Ill, 866, 184
26,481. 71 8
63,078. 779
2i, 257. i86
7,370.490
l08, 40.5,
46,017,
17, 306,
,17, &,12,
13,348,
88.
88.
91.
89.
89.
88.
89.
95.
91.
89.
88. 3
24 8
12.6
20. 1
9
7
2
l
2
81. 8
74. 5
2
4
4
5
2
74. 6
75. 7
64. 3
--- - ----·· · ··
Includes suppl y fun d and textile account adjustm ents and cenl ral office projects.
Source• : Fedrral funds rcprc.•scnt ,·ouchl'r paynwnts ns reported hy the Trnasury Depart.nll'nt.: ::;ponsors ' funds nrC' hascd on WPA reports of sponsors'
certifications.
Digitized by
Google
TABLE XV.-EXPENDJTURES OF FEDERAL AND SPONSORS' FUNDS ON WPA-OPERATED PRO,JECTS, BY STATES AND BY MA.TOR TYPES OF PROJECTS
I-'
"
CUMl'LATIYE TIIROPGH .JUNE 30, 193!)
Highwnrs, Roads, and
I
State
Amount
TotaL
-·---
.:\rizona _
---------------
.Arkan-.;~
California_
__ . ___ _ $7, tl7fl, 2,5:l, 94.o
--- • -
-----
--------
Colorfl(}(l
C'onnreticut :
Delnwnn•
District of ·r~ill~b-ia·_
Fkricla
Geornia_
0
;::;.:
N.
CD
a.
O'
'<
0
0
arv
~
l03.
9Sl,
Hl\l.
721.
o~O
SI I
l:ltl
885
28. Ii 19. :JS!
.ISi, 074. 400
8, 100. 774
230, 014. 30.1
I Jf,, 204. 477
39. 706, 342
40. u:i. 42.1
1).5, 137, :i02
:l7, 43.1, l;J6
II. 19-1, 061
16,001,804
8.3, 7fi8. 2W
28.
39.
49.
46.
40.
318
1.19
209
287
164, 88.3, 1'51
66. 4 73, 0,52
31. 047. 904
88. ,112, 97r,
21. G9fi, 298
33, 420, 30,1
2,364, iii.I
6. !OJ, 741
108, 472. 822
9. 444, 995
50. I
35. 3
43, 6
40. 9
42. 4
44. 8
30.0
25. 0
35. 4
31. 7
I. 138. 049. 71i2
70,403, 373
44, 7i3. 799
,574, GO.I, 279
l:J3, 218, 692
.54. 789, :l30
757, 319. (i9(j
43, -133, 0.14
63,967, 794
50, ,117. 291
218,802, 18fi
20, .598. G92
I 8, 17,5, 296
2S9, 143,f,OJ
68,637.806
22,823, 276
449, 268, 4 28
9. 317,400
18. 260, 9.55
22,889, 761
19. 2
29. 3
40. G
50. 3
,51. 5
41. 7
59. 3
21. .1
2S. 6
4,5. 2
80, 11-~. 024
178. 991,802
3C,, HI, 338
13, 773, 932
5.1, 81 !, 090
117, 649, 94,5
107, 622. 964
201. 002, 236
14,027, 534
48, 110,068
74,156,002
0, /i02. !03
6, 704, 372
15,804,522
43. 996,247
67, 73f>, 310
4 7. 00,1, 620
4, 85,1, 558
--------------
0, 263,086
4. 766, 707
- - - -- --- - -------------- ------
364, 50:l
.. ----.. - · -·-
- . -- . ----
.
~
2:ts ..597, t.57
Sf\, HJ,\
n;
3."i2, fJii, 912
Michigan
:\Iinnrsota
:\1ississippi
:\lissonri
Montana
Nebrnskn
Nevada_
)Jew Ilarnp.-;l1irr
New .J,•rsry
New ~frxfco
328. 7S4, f,!)9
18~. 29(i, 366
il. 1.57, I li
210. 489,019
51. rn2. :ir,o
· -·-
-------·--· --·- -
· ------·-
Undistrlhuted by state•---·
A
i4. 52~. HI I
-----
Tennessee __
-••·Texas _________
---- --Utah _________
Vermont_ ____
Virginia _______ - --------Washington ____
,vest Vi!'ginia __ ________
\Visconsin __ ____
Wyoming ______
--- - --Territories. _______________
s.~:.t 276
49. 4
,55. 8
17. I
36 ..1
34. i
13. I
18. 9
33, 0
36. 4
31.
!H. :l24. 26:J
111, CS.I. 860
OS, :J,51, 981
2:l. JOG, I 30
H. 790,088
- · -·-·-
I.I, SOIi, ,129
39, 742, 142
Gf\, 107, OSI
38. 3
I~
29, oH, 4S.3
oso. 046
,5, 04;;, 47,5
28, 100. 380
33,634, 771
!\.Irissn.chtt,f'tts
Xew York
C arnlina
North Dakota
Ohio ____
Oklahoma
Oregon __
Pennsylvania
Rhode Islnn<I
South Carolina
South Dako1 a
$2, 93n. lfiU, 121
~7. :177_ 406
- · -·-
• ··· •
~ ort.h
Percent
Amount I Percent
-- · - - - - - - - - - · - - - - -
8-l, 99-l, 113
7, .14-1. 688
26,702, 104
s:i. 121. 737
92,269,321
---- · -·
------
Idaho ___
Illinois_
Indiana
Iowa_.
Kansas
K,•nt.uckv _
Louisin.nO
:\Iain('_
.\foryland_
co'
----
------- --1-1. ;:;~379
9ll,
:ll,
71.
3SG,
---- ----- -------- - --- --
----
------·--------
. --·--------•-----·---------
·-·- · -
·------ ----- -----··-- · ----- -·----- --------------· ------------------•------------------- ------ -- ----------- ----- --- ----- --
--------------
7,
24,
30G,
29,
87i,
-141,
709,
79,1.
I
Conspn·ation
Sewer Systl•ms and
Other Utilities
---·-------
---···-----
Alabama
Porks anrl Otlwr
Recreational
Facilities
Public Buil,lings
Strc•cts
Total
1:-v
-------------
3
6
3
I
8
56.1-'
39.
48.
36.
23.
54.
41.
26.
48.
28.
37.
62,
23.
34.
3
4
5
7
$828.
n~sso
~ ~737.
IO. ,<22. !OS
,"i, iS9, ~11
12. 0
18. I
10, 22-1. 9i'i
H4
13, 91.1, 224
9.
499
IO, 0,1:J, 120
f\5.1. 326
4. 420, 914
13, 278. 15:l
II, 678, 8R5
II. 4
II. 2
II. 8
::!. 74fi, 7:l2
39, :Y72. l "'5
no.
Amount
Amount I Pcrc<'lll
--~--- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
s;'J, 4,1.1
2. 21\ll. 318
1,012,317
2, 4:J7, 141
3~. -124, .507
4. 020, 02.1
8. 361. 724
- - - 9 ~ $:ll 2. 2ofi. 4so
4.1
907, 2.5:1
504, 7,)9
2, oo~. 004
2-1. •18:J. 955
7, 81G, 342
3, 210. 4.51
:J42, 407
193, 147
2. :ms. s14
,;,5,5, 0S9
1.1
1.8
2. S
6. 3
8, 9
3. 8
4..1
0. 7
2. 9
0, 0
2 ..I
3. 2
:i.-1
fl. 9
4. fi
n. n
8. 7
727, 147
H.13
16. 6
Jli.O
12. 7
I, ,524, 502
3, ii20, 312
2, f,91. 436
S. 7
4. 4
2. !I
9. 6
6. ~
9..s
7. I
7. 3
13. I
12. 9
4. 3
13. 5
12. 9
1. 100. s,5,;
88, 03,5 49-1
20, .107. 488
:i. y
Itl. 2
S. 7
181. 114
2,17, ,509
Sf,3, 863
232, 541
118, 242
386. zs:i
467,417
112,447
439, 488
341, 3f,1
8. 0
15.0
IL 0
9. 3
8. 0
7. 2
5. g
4. 6
11.0
24. fl
18:l, 821, 792
22, 272. 020
n. 08fl, 4lll
7. !.I~. H.I
t.;, fH2. 5i9
12, 279.-115
988, 133
.\, 890. Z:l2
4.1, .197. f,0.1
26,
28,
7,
20,
-1.
.1.
I,
36,
7,
9, 701, fi7i
5. 534, .12fJ
4-1. 821,
20, 003,
3, 8.11,
47,.17:l,
Ii, 084,
12, .191,
4.
381
199
100
790
555
784
on 211
0
4
3
7
3
4
9
4
6
5,552,038
16,800. 787
6, 147, 3f,0
618. 854
5, 557. 674
9, IJ88, 312
6,203, 216
21,347,015
I, 172, 0.33
51. 5
I, 783, 886
(Conclude<l on next page)
ii. 7
11..1
2. 2
J.I. 4
5. 8
-----
7. iS:1. 699
1,. ,1\0, 93,;
21. 277, 97G
(i, 3
4,947, 221
11, C,23, -~13
492. 88.1
2, 188,361
813, r,04
710. 370
18. -1.14, 4 II
19, 290, 735
22,446, r,92
I. 299, ,527
12,491. r,92
3,747,326
.5. o:io, 250
1. 31D. 80-1
2. 62.1, 8f>i
11. 180, 034
2, OJ.I, ,142
5. 9
11.0
I. 8
5. 8
7. 3
6. 8
16. 8
JO. 7
13. 1
20, 3S.3. 322
7. 814, 4S.3
I, 215, 3&1
20. 260 ..IG4
,5, 407, 259
2,014.037
G,17. 689
I, 320,000
~- .130, 280
0. 8
2,
ss~. 047
16. 1
13. 8
12. 4
7. 8
15. ,5
7. 0
6. 2
11. 7
19. 7
8.0
197, 7llO, 5fii
17. 4
;i,
tl73.
6. 2
9. 4
2, 746. 761
8,308, 128
I. 582, 302
427,902
2, 519, 944
II, 478, 769
I, .5.50. 693
37,061, 438
I, 171,032
I. 334, 169
:i, 310, 780
22,089, 396
.I. 1 lfi, ;J4g
2. 473, 9o:l
61,022, 180
3, -~82, 931
:J, O:J-1. 49:l
40,601,327
Ii • .163. 842
2, 12S, 126
1. neo. n2
16. g
4. 5
10, 0
8, ,5
5. 8
JO. 6
8, 4
450,041
10. 3
----------- ----------
Includes supply fund and textile account adjustments and ccntrnl office projects.
,5, 787. lfi5
11. 2G8. 831
2, 543. 784
14. 11/H, OOfi
--
-----
Percent
7. (i
7. 3
mm
10. r;
2. 9
5..I
5. 4
12. 8
3. 3
3. 3
I, 124,400
,5, 137. 8.50
15,867, 733
,5, 774, 070
4. 29G, 027
21. 706,374
4,148,908
781, 86fi
6,462. 270
3.
4.
4.
3.
4.
9.
I,
18.
8.
734, 542
5, 519, 871
3, 176,081
441, ,525
773, 103
9,730.321
069, 725
17, 187, 404
I, 181. 137
fi,.I
1
7
4
I
5
7
4
4
3
4. 9
------ --
344, 9.35
----------
Amount.
Prrccnt
------$7G2, .599. 772
9, 9
-------
27.
:J,
9,
,5,
II.
0.
2_
3.
1.
2
2
0
i
X
4
3
[l
(i
.I. 2
6, 097, 838
1, 158, 202
&'3,"i. 24."i
.54, 739, 040
6,432, 214
12,231, 690
I, 587, 639
4. 943, 09,1
6, 131. 608
JO. 836, 408
6, 8
3, 6
I. 2
14. 2
7. 4
14. 4
21. I
18..,
7. 4
I I. 7
2. 653. 510
64,648, 113
14. 287..17fi
10, 452, 924
5,018, 27fi
r., 793, ,150
6, 362, 168
3,009,064
7,019.900
4,1, 791, 278
9. 3
II.I
6. I
12. I
5. l
,5. 9
G. 7
13. 3
16. 0
13. 0
40,
JG,
2,
20.
3,
8.
6. 2
4. 2
1. 7
9. 4
Ill. 7
2. 7
8. 4
5.1
3. I
9. 7
315, 087
110, 207
023, 493
468,881
188, 0,16
835. 789
320, ,128
5, ~73, 492
33. 678, 753
I, ,103, 700
15. 0
8. 6
2. 8
9. 4
6, 2
11. 9
4. I
21. f,
11.0
.I. 0
0. ,5
l.(l
11.,1
2. 8
4. 3
141, 802. 20:i
4. 523, 5(f,
12. ,I
n. 4
5. 4
2, 4 LS, 5~5
61, 745, f,27
6, 944, 637
3, li7I, Iii:.
H 672. 74:l
7,006, 219
2,251, 138
2,614,440
10, 8
8, 7
3. 2
1. 4
8. 3
0. 9
8. 6
8. 4
2,463. 602
10, 704, 748
4,787,829
I, 573,638
4,178,893
13,418, 391
3, 894. 478
31,056, 688
866,089
2. 8
6, 0
13. I
11. 4
7. 5
11, 4
3. 6
15. 3
6. 2
3. 7
296,421
3. 2
7. R
2. 0
9.
(j
1, 2
12. 8
0. 8
3.1
---------- -------------
,I. 2
6, ,5
5. 9
16. I
3. .5
5. 2
~
t,,j
"C
C
~
,....
i
"C
~
0
"
~
t,,j
rr,
rr,
0
~
~
t:i::
t,,j
~
"C
>
"C
~
C
Q
~
>
;::::
TAB1 .. E
XV.-
-Jt;xi:-EN DJ'l't1H.EH OF FE1>EH.AT~ ANI> SPONH<>rt.H' l◄"trNo~ ON WPA-()PJ<IHA.TJOD
]>11.0.110<,TR, BY H·rA'l'F.JH AND
CUl!ULATIVfo: THROUGH JUNK
State
I
Airports nnd Other
Trnnsportntion
Fncilitios
Amount
--------
P,•rcont
_.\.rizona ____________________________ - ______ --------
Arkansas ____________________________________________
<'nlifornia __________________________________________
<'olorado _________________________________________
<' ounecticut ______________________________ --- ______ Delaware _________ -------------------------------- -District of Columhi,,______________________________ .
Florida ________________________ -- ______ ---------- - --.
Oeorgia _______________________ -- ------------ ---- -I<\aho ______________________________________________ _
Illinois _____________________________________________ I
Indiana __________________________________________ .
Io\V"a ___________ - ______ - ------ - - ----------- -- -- -- - -
F nnsas_. ___________________________________ - _- - - - -
K,•ntucky _________________________________________
Louisiana. _______________________________________ . _
\faine __________________________________________
'.\faryland ___ ------------------------------------. _
~f assf\chut-:rtts ______________________________ ______
0
co"
;::;.:
N.
CD
a.
~
0
0
arv
~
\lirhi~un ___________________________ --------- --- -:\Iinne~ota. _____________________________________
!\1 ississippL ______________________________________
~Iissouri ________________________ __________________
'.\fontana _____ -------------------- --------------- _
~ehraska _______________________________ --- - ----- Xerndn ___________________________________________
~ew Ilnmpsbirc __----------------------------- ___
:S:ew Jersey __ --------------------------------- - -Xew ::\.lC'xico_ --------------------------- __________
Xew York ____ -----------------------------------:•forth Carolina _______________________________ .
Xorth Dakota __________________________________
Ohio ____________________________________________
Oklahoma --------------------------------------.
Ore~on ____________ ---------------------------- __ - Pennsylvania ___ -------------------------------Rhorle Island _____ -----------------------------South Carolina __________________________________
South Dakota __ ------------------------------Trnnesseo _____ ___________________ --- __ -------Texas _______
Ucah _________________________________________
Yermont __________________________________________
Vir~inia __ ___
~:;rt\~~i~i,,:-::
_:::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::
\Vi-;consin ___ -------------------------------------
Wyoming·--- ________ -----------------------------Territories___________________________________________
"Cndistributed by state c ____________________________
2. 6
0.
0.
4.
2.
2.
5.
2.
5.
2.
2, 307, 712
971
7ll6
133
281
744,479
9, 121, 5S.~
3. 060, fi76
1. 200,382
J,085,:lO!,
614, 614
880. -101
1,323,2:l:l
741i, 216
s. 2!l4, 90fi
8
6
4
4
8
4
4
I
9
0, (i
$.113, 766, 496
6. 7
$101, 179, 191
I. 3
5,904, i84
9. 3
4,871,085
40, 7 Hi. flO/\
8, 46:l, S40
3, 322, \182
I. 243, ,;g1
6. 6
6. 6
6. 0
HJ. 5
ll. 7
:l. 9
16. 5
I. 847, 745
82,490
028, 987
12, 09S, 835
4, 04fi, ~OS
I, 042, Olli
25, 89fi
83-1, 828
!, Iii, 2!l2
1. 354, 01\I
2.0
0. 2
I. 3
3. I
4. 6
I. 2
0. 3
3. I
I. 4
21. 0
11. 2
13. i\
1-1.1\
22. :1
12. n
12. 2
I, ~74, 157
(). (i
S2, H7fi. 85!i
1-1.:J
11,845. ~:J.I
8.170,-IM
7, .13:1. 890
6. :l
H. .I
7. i
s. 3
12.0
7. fi
11. I
l, 7:{0, Hill
4, 871, ,\89
no. 20~. 1;s
17. 1
2. 4
2. 0
2. ,5
27, 293, S:l8
21, 441>, 188
8. :l
1:1. 11
11, 587. fi57
16, :J
1.0
IS, O:l2, 479
-1, 031, 1122
i, 7:30, 7A;)
\l57, 929
I, 893, 1194
42, !l!:l, 91:1
I. 7fi2, 37.1
6.
7.
10.
12.
1..)
2.,)
2. S
2. 7
'
I
\l
9
4
2
7. i
14.0
5. 9
20. 8
13. 5
10. I
2,185, 31:J
i2S. 92i
2:1;, 224, 714
.5.0
9, -Wi, OtlO
2.'
0. !i
4, G4S, 2.16
1.:1
49, 8-IS, 498
0. ,i
8, f,03, 800
6. ,I
fi, 034, 003
6,1, 02\l, 41fi
2. 3
0. S I
:J, 871, 723
9, 333, 241
:u
2, \124, :i21
1. 4
4,849,949
2, onn. 303
1. 727, 17f1
231. 933
1, 2ft0, 054
4. IOI, 847
1, 6i3, 257
2,132,474
326,303
,5. 4
1. 2
4. 7
l.i
2. 3
3. ,I
1. 6
I. l
2.3
7. 6
11.fi
II. 9
13. 9
20. 3
11.6
r,_ 8
11. 8
II. g
754,455
8.1
713, 877
3,529,962
I 7, 223, 792
237, 3fi8
------------.
----
Pu.0J1oc,·rl':\
'l,Y1•10H 01.-
I Snnlte.tlon nnd
Henlth
Amount
Percent
Percent
10. 2
II. 4
11. 4sn. ~mu
"
Amount
12. 8
5. 7 I
0
Percent
9,195,580
3, 6%, 008
r,, 636,900
81,051, 147
9, 829, 407
11, fiSO, 09G
I, 101, oos
fi, 948,231
10. 7 I.I, 48:1
11, 247, 08-1
o. n
i '~
Amount
MA.JOH
Ooods, Other than
Sowing
I
$081i, 901, 719
9, 5:3n. i2fi
I.;
2. :l
.56. 423, 027
2,004,247
245,829
7, ,113, 287
Percent.
Sewing
-------- ------- - - - - - - - - -
2. 6
1. 6
1.:l
!.•I
I.I
7,792,392
3,841. 2->I
I, ififi, 53:1
2. 11:l, 478
772, ~,1(i
l, S-17, 764
214, 278
861. H.36
8,528,020
804,010
I
UY
(1011ol,1rlod
1030
I
Mlscellaneous
Amount
A
Percent
- - - - --
I. 9
I, 605, Oi4
257,459
425, 8i8
10. 945, 875
2, 136, 4g1
402,
633,
4, 240,
2,633,
Amount
----
Total.________________________________________ $19i. 280, 528
Alabama __________ ________________________________
White Collar
ao,
6, 72fi, -1-97
20. 691, 286
4,320, !lOI
l,PI-1,.553
11, 308, 826
13, 6n9, 29S
7,319, 295
23, 757,
:ns
1,664, 564
8. 7
6. 4
11. 0
8. 6
8. \)
14. fi
5_ 8
2, 116. 3i8
2, 767. Sill
10. Vii, \l!O
10, ·tnli, 27 t
l, .507, li,17
10. 4
12. 2
II. 4
5. :1
22. 203, son
10.n02.:mo
5,031, .181
10, 0711, 511
S, 2.57, fl2:l
3. 8
4. (l
fi.S
10. 2
7. 2
f,.
G. 2fli, Tl3R
1, G82, 88.r,
2, 50,1, Ill\
12, 3:lO, f>Hl
10, fi78,
12,871,
11, .13-1.
20, 111.
4, !I\JO,
5, 40\l,
2 I:!
702
U:l:l
!ll!l
388
:ns
{j
377. n20
5811, !182
7lifi, 7H!)
s, 2s1, n:rn
3. 2
G. 8
9. 2
9. 3
0. 8
I, 11:io, 484
3, !121. 821l
fi88, :l35
9. 7
J:l.6
S. 8
5. 8
32, IG!. ,521
2. 8
14. 0
fi. 8
5. 3
6. 2
8. 7
6, 1:rn. 27n
fiGi,
I, 700,
fi2,
100,
1,122,
I I(),
2S8
19g
231
027
82:l
239
6. M9. 159
4. 200. -!83
10. 7
10. 3
8. 3
12, 002, ,122
733, ,5fi0
3fi2.-l42
4, 626, 97q
2, 6fi7, -112
4%,881
l, 2()0, !o2
8,\4, 11\2
1, ,5.19, .J.12
1,809.310
5, 167, 67{i
28, ons. 11~
2,001, 96\l
1,054, fi31
6, 332, 214
7. 969, oiO
7, 74S, 840
7,393,221
1,636,063
5. 8
16. 2
5. 5
7. 7
11. 3
6. 8
7. 2
3. 7
11. 7
773, 96,1
2, 598, 2fi2
272, fi39
37-1, 4S2
l, 230, 024
302, 065
I, 029, 22.1
10, 122, 033
297,988
9. ~7fi, 076
3, 0112, \l81i
30, f\07, 211-1
8,202,819
4, 788, 14.1
5.1, S21. 3M
7. 4
4, (H7, R2fi
6. 4 ----------
-
----------
5,296,823 ' __ ------- ----·-----
-
---------- ------------
589, i25
2. I
0.8
(i(i(I
"· 07
12.
------------
-
4, 060,
\lSi,
2, 121,
2,014,
1. mo.
2, 587,
3ll4,
111.
2, :ll\l,
4, ,1n:l,
1.,1
020
:I02
SSH
(l{\,I
1\88
52f,
7. 2
7. 3
3, :121. Sll2
17,690. om
1, 71-1, ,ol2
t\02,
4, llO!I,
a, HHU,
I, Ill.I,
7\10,
43i,
$174, 31!, 324
481,
821
252
77:1
777
780
,IS3
50S
<Ill
fi II
H:t2, flf,l
14, ()(il, (,Oli
l.fi
2. 2
0. 8
0. -1
0. 4
2. ti
(B)
I. 5
.\ 002,@:1
0. :1
2.1
0. ~
3. 1
\. 3
2. 3
l.\:{fil
(HO. 4.'l1
f\1,0,0o(l
\l, "'Hii
ti7fi, f\8fi
1,~!'ili,fl(ifi
fl, 081i, \Hll
7, 3fi:\, 3tH
J, ,}HJ, 27H
I, !\iii, 021
1\11. 018
:{7. :~.1:i
0. 7
0. 4
0. -I
0. 4
4, 12H, ;,7~
1,41-l.20S
I. I
24, 57-\, 82(\
.I, 9Ml, 15r,
1,87:l, Ufili
6. 287, IQ.t
6, llll. 227
1, (ll9, ll!O
9, no~. 464
1,901,I:ll
6,521. 730
I, :l05, 00,1
1.0
0.8
0. 8
2. 0
0. 9
0. 2
2. 0
2. 4
3. r,
0. g
I. 4
0. 7
9, 8-13, 19r,
6, 494, 722
2, 10:l, \l2:l
2. i
2. 2
0. 3
1.0
5. 0
2.1
4, 326,
937,
8,406,
I, 368,
417,
.
----------
-
----------
I
2, ifi,\ JOH .
2, .tfi\), 077
2, 2·tli, fi.tfi
--
073
fi31
:in
42J
201
2. 3
$126, 380, 070
1. 6
5. 2
3. 1
3. ()
0. 5
I. 3
3. I
4. 8
0. 4
2. 8
4. 9
2,077,213
567, 8.~1
967,525
6, 133, 034
I, 879,040
721,969
102, 1\4
278, 765
833, 21\
2,578, 421
2. 3
3. 2
2. ·1
2. I
0. 8
2. 8
2. 2
2. :i
0. I
566,034
7,231, 120
3, 56ll, 2:18
1, G28, 5l fi
880, 9!\9
3,300, 204
1,173,226
:1;0, 1.17 .
2, 0.59, 82fi
Hl, 2\lS, r,7r,
----
-------
1.fi
0. ,I
(U)
-----1.8
I, 3
1.6
2. 2
0.8
I. 4
1.0
1.0
2. 8
1.0
1.2
l.S
I. 9
0.9
2. 9
I. 2
I. 6
4. 7
5. 5
2,014,772
I, 471, 709
1,153,667
3, 165, 8·19
I, 001, 949
1, 40\l, 191
fi64, 870
I, 770, SOS
2,087,491
801, 674
0. 6
0. 8
2
,I
2
I
G
g
3
4
2
('
27,470, 285
!, 308, t\33
850, 167
3,121,731
I, 187,914
I, 345, 788
4,250,847
786,921
1,802,040
I, 907, n03
2. 4
II. O
3. fl
2, lfiO, 731
2, .592, 65fi
7:J2, 966
429, 042
2, 519, 163
I, 997,397
I, 094, 544
2
'
0.
~:l.
2.
:l
ll
4
g
2. 2
2. l
0. 2
1.:l
4. 7
2.
8.
4.
1.
4.
I.
I.
4.
10.
2.
5. 8
7.
0.
7.
0.
3.
7
8
8
7
2
267,458
2. 0
----- ---
-----1
1.7
Lfi
2. 0
I. 9
7. 1
7. 3
0. 9
2. 7
t,,J
z
ti
......
~
.,
>
l;tl
t<
t,,J
[I).
I. 8
LO
0. 5
0. 9
2. ,I
o. 5
l.h
2. 8
3. 8
2. ·1
I. 4
2. 0
3. I
4. 5
1.7
1.0
~gg: &~i i
398 :
~
>-c
>-c
1. 3
2. 9
(B)
-4, 932,230
-' Inclndrs adjustment of Federal expenditures to total reported by the Treasury Department and sponsors' expenditures for land, land leases, easements, aud rights-of-way, for which the dlstribulion by type of project is not available.
8 Less than O. 05 percent.
c Includes supply fund and textile account adjustments and central office projects.
Source: WP A state officer eports.
"""'
-:J
Cl,j
oF PROJECTS
TABLE XVI.-ExPENDITUREs OF FEDERAL AND SPoNsoRs' FUNDS ON WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY STATES AND nY MAJOR TYPES
>-4
"
YEAR F.NDING JUNE 30, 1930
Highways, Roads, nod
Streets
State
~
Parks nod Other Recreatioonl Facilities
Public Buildings
PcrcenL
Amount
Percent
Amount
Percent
..\mount
1 - -- - - - - - 1 - - - - 1 - - - - - 1- - -- - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - -- --1
10. 3 1$106, 0 04, 746
42. 6 I $W4, 079, ~
$2, 558. 03,1, 229 I $1, ()<JO, 436, 542
Total.. ... . . . .... . . .• . ...
Alnbama .... . . . . .... .. .. .
.\rizonn. ___ _. . _. . - ---- . .
ArkLltlS<\S . __ __ ___ . . . . . _ __
California . • ..
Colura,lo . .. . .
ConnL•cticnt . .
Dt lawnrt• ___ ___
1
.
District of Columhia . ... .. .
~·1ori,tn . . . . . . . . ... •
Ot•urgin .. .. . . . . . .. . .
lclaho .•.. . ..... . . . .. . •.. . . . . .... ... . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . .
. . .. .. •
Illinois. . . . . . . . • . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . .
lndlaoa . ... . . . . . . . . .. . ... .
. . . . . . ....... .
Iowa... ... . . ..
Kansus . . . . . . . .
Kentucky ..
Louisiann ... _
.. .
:\Iain,•.. . .
:\[arylancl. . . ..
).'[a..~sochtL~t..•t IS.. . .
0
co·
;::;:
N.
CD
Q.
-S?"
0
0
~,.......
rv
.- .- . - . - --
. • . • .. . .
:\-[ichigan. .. . . . .
:\[inn<•sota .. • ..
:\[ississip11i . . . .
:\[issouri. . . . . .
:\fon1ana . . .. . . . . . ... .
:--."ebruska .... . ... . . . . . . . . .
:--."e,·nda . . . . . . ... .
:><rw Hamp~hire ... .
Nc•w Jersey ••.. . ..
New :\[e,ico .•. . . _ . . . . . .. •..
3:l. 4f,6, 238
36. Si3. •151
21, 311 , 195
6,283,524
Ii. -IOO. 008
21, 07i, 930
9,535, !IIO
lfl, 5flll. 820 :
41l5. ,; 79
1, 3i3, 381 .
12, 345, 221 ,·
17,821.926
0, 386. 456
213,200.139
80. 561. HS
30, :l69, 212
27,425, <17i
45, 009. 659 :
33, 410, 499
7,633,33 1 ·
13,028, li:19
11 5,494.22 1
2, !J<J4, OOS
84, 443, I26 :
43,941.215
14, 42!1, if,S ·
12. 32.~. 180 ,
20, 12\J, 835
lfi, 040, 12,i
4,000, llli
5, li87, 061
2i, 507,914
35,653, 460
IIJ. 432. 900
2i, i09, 815
111. 860, 184
2fl, 481, 718
28. 152, iSI
2. i9"2. 590
IU, 075, 212
i
130. i50. 5i9
01. 918. 402
27. 9116. 8i3
ii , itJ~. 70,5 I
18. 829, 020 '
2.5. 512, 491 '
2, ,54i, 820
8. 406,223
101,421.022
10,000, 700
i5. 557. 519
23, .5.19. 377
H . 138. 161
33. 397, 572 ,
~- 92:1, 46i '
11. i;G!I, 290
I. 027, 739
1. no. 993
41, 13i, 471
2, fllfi, 497
59. 8
60. 2
6.3. 1
18. 9
36. 0
37. 5
!fl. 7 '
12. 9 ,
36. O I
48.3 1
31.9
39. 6
5-l_ij5
4i.
45. 0
58. 0
I
50. 7
5.3.2 '
43. 6
23. 9
2,378,421
,5, 121, 30-l
3,94 1,601
12. 1
10. r,
22. :!
16.2
IO. 7
1, 035,769
13, 86:t. 152
6, !i2l, 932
11 . 0
6. 5
8.1
344,245
29, 32i, 205
5, 4117, il)3
2, 740, IOI
9. 0
I. 212, 9<J4
2, 1.15,652
,I, 820. 108
:!, 152,442
516,058
l , 3,i i,:H3
14, 4·18, 961
7. U
12. 0
3,212,812
032, 216
2,087, 289
300, 710
790. 081
6,535, 187
3, 4 l.i, 381
200, 164
I
29. 1
IO. 1 i
38. 9
2. 440, 584
3,325,421
42. g
1,301,240
Undistributed by state 8 • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••
-2,621 , 548
than o.os ncrceot.
Includ~s sup,,ly rund Bnd tcxt'lc nccount ndJustmcnts and CP.ntml office projects.
,i.5,1
40. 2
63.8
H. 7
3S. 2
38. 2
44. O
0.5, 4
2.l 0
8, 1
6, 3
3. 8
10. 0
24. 4
4.8
tl.9
16.6
5.0
I, 425,488
37. 1
57. 9
11. 4
8. 2
1.5. 3
13. 2
IR. 3
Terrltorlos .... ............................. ......... . ..... .
A LeM
Hl. 4
12. 5
42,070,350
3, i95, 331
I, 088, 682
13,084,600
6,847,885
1, 802,396
13, 443, 9116
2, 0~3. 8711
5,Mt,301
I. 469,632
40. 3
0
6. 8
7. 1
1,100, 779
7, 490,281
I. 932, 700
272, 711
2,073,252
4,033,469
1. 736,385
0, !i76, 214
300,261
Virginia ••.• . . . .
Washing too . •.. . . . . . .
Wost Virginia •... . ..• .... ...•.•....••• .•. ..... . . . . ...•.. . ..
Wlscooslo .•...•....•........•.•.•.••.• .•.....•.. • . . . · • • • • ·•
Wyoming •. • •• • ...... .....•..• .....• • •..... . .•.... •··· ·· • . .
u. 4
14. 4
S. 4
61.0
42. 8
33. 1
52.0
34. 3
Vermont •.. . . . . . . . .
14. 0
9,303, 008
2, 344 , 341
8,830,851
I , 538, 90i
2,067,421
mo, R29
321. 030
10, 8IO, 578
18,910, .526
27,002,234
3, 1157, 654
2. 846, f,88
0, 342, 738
10,769,378
22,467,690
17,180,013
I, 066, 005
16,097, 704
r,
0, 019, 264
31, 033, 22i
63. 078, 779
11,MO. 512
5,175,225
18,510, 300
44,980,022
34,371,950
72,052, 134
4,133,248
Tennessee .. . . .. .
Texas .... .... . . . . .. .
Utah ..... . .
42, 2'18, 441
233, 180. .590
0
5
3
36. 3
15. 915. 373
2i, 130. 121
13,520, 125
278, IS:!, 316
28, 785, ,536
12, 213, 4.57
22fl, 058, 571
9.
14.
13.
13.
5t. I
50. 5
43. 0
4i. 4
45. 3
40. 4 '
20. ff .
4o. o
7. 7
499, 8461--,-.41.2
125, 678
I. 5
409, 191
II. 8
10, 1188. 822 1
3. I
80i, 819
8. 7
2, 443, 895
8. I
2'17, 502
3.2
341,55!1
3. 6
1,209,3 15
2. 5
942, 116
3, 225, 050
I. 5IO, 607
3,080, Oli
15,231.808
3. 04K, om
.i3, 19:l, !148
11. 191, 122
4. .';.lf,, 42.1
131,363, 107
23,307, 8@
7. 8.i~. 828
HR, 887, .i3R
2,333, .53.5
10, 3.51. li89
5, )f,o,02~
New York •••. . . .. . .. . . . . . .
. .. . •.. . .
North Cnrolinn . . .
. ... . . . . .. .
~forth Dakota....
. .. . . . . . .
Ohio.. ..... .. . .
Oklahoma . .. .
. .... . . . . .
Oregon. .... . . . .
Pennsyl rnn ia... .. . . . • . . .. .. _. . . . . • . . . • . . . . . . . . . .• . . . ..
Rhode Islan,t.. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. - . - . .. - South Carolina.
South Dakota •. . . ... .. •. . . . . ... .. ••···• · • · ··· · · . . .. . . . .•...
Sewer Systems nnd
Cooservatioo
Other Utilities
Total
(Concluded on next pnge)
6.0
16. 2
10. r,
5. 8
13. 1
20.0
10. 0
I
5,041.314
1,205, 405
1. 262. ,138
32,989
584, 279
2. 1
8. 0
3. 9
--..-2,
1.0
9 1·
0.
9. 3
6. 5
5. I ,
4. 8 I
0. 8
3.1
0.0
26.6
3. I
7. 4
4. 0
1. 6
0. I
I. 8
:194. 203
6.1
5.6
Lil, 035
10. 152, 550
I. 2
8.8
7. 5
5. 2
I, 178, 000
330, 709
1,487.009
1.7
6. 5
12. 5
2. I
II. 8
o.
5. 7
260. 726
2. 2
10. 0
7. I
1.9
1. 1
0. 2
5. fl
6. 2
13. 2
7,806,510
1.073,202
3,400, 772
102,711
1, 6i8, 071
10,204,256
590,324
I, 162,699
35,587
8. 7
1:1. 0
i. 0
11.(1
9. 0
8. 5
1,406, 712
311.1
200
-0
7,022. 054
I. 505,620
3. 8
2. !i
2. 3
3. 3
0. 4
1,00\I,
~
18. 8
5. i
8. 5
8,947. 7i7
2,410, 715
445,435
2. 7
380,688
820,217
27, f,63, 107
5. 601,849
3, !ill, 2'JO
1,707,014
2, 623, 107
2,087. 747
~t~
13. 4
I. 5
25. 0
I. 2
11.0
7. 3
I
4. 3
0. 11
11. 7
i. 9
18. 814, 172
6,87'l. 327
3, 4!10, 355
3, 011.1,442
1.0
10.0
I
441. 98i
254, 236
13, 013, 611 I .
2, 100, 510 i
3
·~~:~
2, 008, 78.31
I. 893, 357
3, 150, 272
6. 4
3. 7
1.6
o. 6
I. 1
10. 5
8
I.I
o. 8
848, 682 ,---2.-4-
0. 4
I, 500,509
334. 103
1,270, 711
I, 703,830
471.203
071 , 369
3. 3
4. 2
. 6$245, 855, 876 1- - 9 -
14. 3
9. 2
0. 1
3. 0
3. 0
3. 9
10. 7
I Percent
1, 22S. HO
423,234
164,606
1,049, 4.54
2, 109,085
4. 4
11.1
Amount
16,533. 6i9
6, 6
14. 4
8. 7
12. 2
-~- 3
128,600
018, 589
3,075,010
542, 822
13, 683, 271
11. 2
11. 0
5. I
0.1
Percent
4. 7
I. 7
5. 7
8311, 621
2, 36i, 360
286, 415
2li,891
6. 8
4. 0
11. 7
5. 8
10. 7
50~. 8.34
427, 456
107, i04
261,008
10,365,802
I, iOO, 743
1,444.229
134,324
86, 52i
1, 042,812
2,503,356
6, 568, 437
474, 030
4, 462, 140
1,409. 761
I. 6i9, 159
366,866
728,252
12, 393,875
,52/l, 501
9, 013,401
l , 710, 188
90i, 213
571 , 087
$0S, 444, 534
3. i
13. 7
8. 075, 734
6. 914. 903
25,740.349
2,037,272
513, 490
25,196, 004
1, 276, 329
Amount
388,384
352,903
2,247,514
130,802
0,640, 870
240,101
0.8
5. 0
0. 4
9. 2
6. 0
(A)
896, 00S
3/i, 314,480
I, 643, 182
757,084
21,786,799
I, 874,809
I, 423,249
10,834,621
2, 110,297
927, 564
753, 900
89S, 377
3,814, 7118
I, 718,388
404,621
1,410,034
6,361,023
773,585
11. 111,012
266,372
123,763
t"'.1
0
~
0
z
-0
~
0
~
"(/1
"(/1
I0. 6
3. 2
0
10. 0
~t,,:j
5. 7
13. 6
4.0
20.
(I
10. I
5. 0
12. i
6. 7
6. 2
9. 6
4, 4
".I
:.!!
~
~
0
8. 4
~
4. 6
13. 2
==
3. 4
5. 0
2. 9
6. 0
14. 8
7. 4
7. 6
11. 9
2. 3
16. 4
6. 6
3. 7
TAsn... XVI.
r •::-ciaio...,. ..
,,..,"'°" .. ,.. ....... •••"'•·
"'N111 H1•0NM01&"" l"uNn"' uN
,vi•A-nr•••-'·r•n P 1&n,11ac ,-rM.
1
'\"KAtl
KNOINO 11.•NK
:tct
0
nY HrA"t• ao-.. ANU HY
M
,,.,11
•rv,••M ••r
IIKIU
Alr110r1s Rll<I Othor
Tran.•portatlon Faclll•
State
Whlto <Jolt,,r
<lood•, Othor ttmn
Sow!ng
~owing
tie•
-~~1-;:-,:.:L : _ :~•-no~~t __ , Por~nt _! __A:no:mt·• __ PeroonL __ Amount_
Total. __
$00, O'l'-, IIIN '
Alnbuma ____ __
Ari:wnn . . _. _
Arkn.ns.t\S . . . _ _ _ _
C'11lifornit1 . . _ . . _. _
Colonulo ___ . . ___ _ _
C'oma•rti<'ut . . ______ _
Delaw:iro . __ . .
I>islrl•·t or <'olumhia
Florl,Ja
tl(,or~la
-
--- 1
hlnho .
Illinois . •
2. 6
-:10:ui.~ ~
1:1,:12;
122,0i-l
3,st2,os6
1. ins. ,ts
Ho. 2.10
I rn, 112,i
-112. om
I, liS, :1,,'i
; :12, :\fill
I
Iowa _ .
K:\n:,;as
KenllH'k\'
J.,ouisian:"i .
;\{aim• _
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0. 71
I. 5,
4. 51
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277, 75if I
lill, :i:!I 1
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2, -ISi. 071
72, 7RI
lthoclr f<lmul
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2, s~~-IMM i
:1, R78, s:1;
:1, \Mlll, :171
11
11. x
I
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10. li27, O:';:!
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7. t87
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14. s
i . fi I
H. 2 I
11. -1 I
12. :i I
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1:1~.187
1,701, 712
liS7, ll7S I
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1:l.:i I
10. s '
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2. :10.I, 2-12
ili, ~fi<I
Ill, I.Ill, 1111
1. iff{. H•).'l
1. O'H. s;~
Ii. SH7. 71-t
1.21li,.iO:I
l , 280, 727
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11.1
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i. i I
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1:14, 11211
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51S, \188
2S2. 321 '
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2, 22:1. l<Utl
30S. !i:1 1 !
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:-,18, :«>o
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r1. 7
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3. 0
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2,54, 130
2S2, 724
!1'11.321
40-l .•1112
291, m;
Sit!, 004
r,:J,492
2,1, 840
4:\:i, 2117
81.382
281.H0
3, 000, S28
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1. 7
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2511, ,'18:I ·,
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1.5
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2. H
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5, I
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1xr.,:c1H
2,1 :11,l f,M
0:12, 527
16:1, 411:! '
7.'il . :iOO
75.'4, o;o
122. o.-,o
2.0
1.0
I. 2
0. ,;
2. K :
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22:\, 0-11
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I, M2'. I, tr.i
I, llli2, 182
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I, :10.~. 11112
to,ao;. 102
t•.o
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41).l, I ~I:?
~7/i, 11111
I, :~17, l~Xl
201. ~~\\I
2. fi2'2.1.174
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11: 4
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I. 2
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2. 9
8. i
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:I, 720, ~1.5
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1.0-1
102, 551
41,338
i
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0. 7
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2. 5
2,0.,;x,or,.1
80, 17,i
2, \I
-2, 781
-0. 1
.521, 27:I
Sourrc: Wl'A ~tnte office reports.
t'l
UJ
2. K
8
1.0
l. 9
I
-3, li4, 4-0K
i
-~-lt~h•s adjustment or F,•(ll'r:ll 1•XJ)l'tHl:tur,•..; to-lutnl r1.:1port<'d by th~,-·fn•asury Dl• 1mrtment nnd sponsors' l'X IX'ntliturc:s for lu.ntl, l1111dl1.:111S1.~, e1is1.•ml•nl;, ~ml ri,itht~-or.;ay , !or whicb-·uu.) distrihut~~ by
t n u• or projt•ct is not u.vnilublr.
1, I.,e.,;,.~ limn o.o.=; percent.
C lnc-lnclPS su1,1,ly (uml and tt-xlil1· tH·<•ount adjustnu,nts and C(lntral utfi<·1• 1,rojt•cts,
;,.
c:I
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1.6
1.0
:lt:l, ·11111
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2. 7
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-1:12 :1:!li
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or,K, ,l:10
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2. 8
2. 9
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2, 71ttl, 170
:\Iii, 72K
0. I
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I. 4
0.5
0. 5
2. 4
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2,r.15, !)(J,i
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2. 7
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2. 2
2. 2
2.-1
2.1
2. 2
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2-~-I. 2.',2
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I, 0111. 111151
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SM, (Hl2, 107
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2,581, 88(1
2,383, !II I
2. 150. 88.'
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:1, 0211, 4:1:1
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I, .517, 471
•>•>s SI I
'rn.1
-t. -t0I, r,~i
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:I, 0.111, :"17S I
1,:1111,:1117 I
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s . :1
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21. '. \fiU, 12H
I , :?tli, S-l.)
:1. 2
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7,730,91:1
I, Oil:!, O!lS
2. lil, 01:~
2. -ii"'. !)lid
:?. ti:'i. :104
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10. I
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t
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1
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1•,.,.,., •• ,,.,.
--
JPercent_!_ Amount,--! Per(.'('nt I- Amou.ni__
$28, 195, 7115
:u I
3.71..
!i.;,
I, I0,1, 110;
:1s1,5(),I
1,581. 418
o,;.11,.5-10
2. 219. on
.1. 111
la. I ,
7. :1
1'
1;.'<o:t, :i;.1
1.Hl, -1111
2, lltlll, Slill
:lit, 02S
320, :q,
1-1, 4117, :10,,
Iii I, 111:1
!i. 6
:HR, 111-1
nz.1. 43.;
4, 3:12. !ISH
2. 728, 70.i _
12. I
.1. s,o. n,2
$141. 524, _, I
11.., I
27. o ·
I I. ll
JO. 11 :
522, iR~ ,
:12, 2:1:1, 777
ii, SOI. !Oli
2, \Ill! , t.'\:I
2, .-;;, !i:!0
I. til\ti, :t-t !
t O'.M. o;:,
rn••.t.:tl
I, 1112. <Iii!
r,
(I,
2. 4
220, f,31
c __ _
0. 2
:1. :m, sn
:1:1'2, (~15
3. 5
I.I
7.'iO, f~I!
rn,, 117
'rerrlt orl<•s
ll.,I
I. 4
2. ,i /
;o:i. o.;1
\\"yominJ:
IL 5·
1.0
:l~I. 2117
3n,Rlll
1. fi77, !iOI
o.s:1, 0.1,
\V is<'fms in
2. 0:
o. n
1. 11
ll. :I
2 w. ;no
2,•tl,-1:!7
_
:I, ,I ,
2. s·
I
Or~1w11
3. o.
2. :i
1. 2-lO • .570
:110. S74
l. 1.,1. :ll\1
Xcw York _
Xorth Carolina
Xnrlh 1Jako1:1
Ohio
.
C)klnhnmu
1. o.
t 3.
o. 7
H , 2.1:!
I
: - - : i:-9/iH, IKJl --1,-.
1,220, :1r,o
11.8 I
2,1134. 110
11..1 I
22,Mt,:1:151
20.1·
a. s
:i. 110. o;,;
12. o
0.11
0. 7
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1-10. ;21 :
12. (I
0.5
3.4/
3. 1:
l.,1 1
21<11,9.'il\
:1, 1;-:1, :110
:"1\l\l, 2\lU
SIi. :\.l!I '
H:3.~. :.?2U
:m:i. l~t?
lnclitlna
$.12:1, I"· 18,i
-- -
.....
~
~
176
REPOR T ON PRO GRESS OF THE W P A PROGRAM
TABLE X VII.-SELE CTE D ITEMS OF PH YS ICAL A ccol\l PLI SHMENT O N W P A-OPERATED PROJECTS, ll Y S TATES
Tn nOUGII JUNE 30, 1938
-
I
Numhcr or Pu blic Buildings
All others
Schools
State
I
N ew
con:
st.ructi on
(mclm ltn l!m l·
dit ion~)
I
New
con:
Impro,·l'- st_ruct ion
mcnts (_m cl ud·
ml,! nd<Ii i ions)
Alabama ... · - · - · ____ _. .
A rizona .. _____ _______ __
Ark a nsas ... ··· · ··---·•Ca liforni a. · ·····-··--_.
Colorado . ···· ·· --·--·- ·
3, 04i
A
4.58
189
367
520
263
fig
24
202
143
57
10
Con necticut . . · -·····- · ·
D clnware . . ... _____ ___ __
1
District ol Colu mb ia. - ----- - - Florida .. ___ ______ . __ ___
12i
2m
Georgia __ · ····-----·-· ·
Idabo_
- ----- -· ·
lllinois --··
... _.· ··____________
I nd iana.-··· -- ----- ____
Iow
a . · ··-·· - -· - ··- --__Kansas.
___ ·___________
21 ,550
- - - - - --
21
39
II
-
-
mt•nt
·
- - --221
15i
46()
1. 567
I
Im·
proved
P8YC·
ffi{' Ot,
New
U n paved
N um ber ol
Culverts
413
32
, , 259
I , Ii i
317
807. 8
12!). 4
,~ 1. 0
3.15. 6
244. 2
p rove-
mcnts
i4. 8
H .9
12,257.0 256, 15i. 0
29,084
2~. 521
9. 124. 8
3,5-19
103
2,540
2 19
I , 127
1, 760
40
185
259
i2I
- - - - - - -- - - - 154. 5
48. 3
100. 6
308. 9
64. 9
5. 209. 9
4. 505. 2
4. 088. 0
!02. I
J.9
34. 9
422. 7
16. 5
1,993. 1
30. l
41. 2
I , 340. 0
2,902. i
I. 468.1
JR ,',15. 3
752. i
360
I
18
240
33i
294
24i
82
81
905
434. 6
3f>2. 3
43
)2{;
411
405
230
2119
46
10. 5
903
9 18
217
1.59
f,25. 8
i2~.5
C.8. 1
153. 3
5. 3
), 182. 2
I , 124. 0
82.8
154. 9
517. 7
lfli. 3
i.I
139. 4
130. 2
544. 2
22. 9
4 ..'J
86. 9
234. 2
5, 159.0
I. 0.5 J. 7
I . 25K 8
06
Im-
COD ·
struct io o
New
const rue·
tion
- - -- - --- - - - - --- - -- --- -
13fi
13
750
30
New
pnve-
24, 778 11, 390.0
- - - - --
16,078
278
Im-
361
24
682
122
9S
28
A
N um ber ol
Bridges
I
pro,·cmcnts
- - - - --Tot11I. . .. . ___ __
Miles or High ways, Roads ,
and Streets
0. ()
63
2
--- ---286
716
-
-
74
I
- ----- -133
257
----
se, 908
11,384
I. 317
14. 834
6, 144
6,149
1, 054
125
---06.0
-
- - - - -i17
71 I
806
), 510
359
I .. - ---4 -- - . . 53
I. 47 6
i , 682
603
8, 123.0
69. 3
95. 9
663. 3
247.3
128. 4
16. 3
---- -----67. 3
215.4
26()
8,332
I. 494
I , 733
734
28,528
·2, 050
I, 319
I , 380
I. 194
I, 483
54
330
l04
436
158. 9
68. 5
4.8
147. i
473. 5
160
324
413
223
317
Ii, 747
9. 192
5,593
7,920
4, 124
1,067
1,686
778
21 3
674
321.1
138.0
69
5, l i2
6 18
I. 449
167
2,422
31
872
437
174
2,525
1, 066
1,808
7li
21-t .~
I, 542
286
95
18
I. 5.1\l. 9
53
II , 322. 8
9, 103.9
-
~13. 204
1,819
2fi,H4
6. 990
8.W9 .
6,903
253
1,935
194
684
391
s. iOO. 2
Im·
provemcn ts
M iles of
CurbsN ew
and im·
proved
90
Miles or
Side·
walks
and
PathsNew
and improved
11,469.
374.
81.
72.
342.
75.
222.
12.
37.
64.
252.
33. 8
31.
523. 2
1,290.
508.
93.
222.9
24. 8
113. 6
105.
6,53
21)3
,58
3;34
I , 115
3i~
539
13!\
35
17,',
I, 421
52
69
12.'J
I JO
7
808
621
1:J9
533
l07
493
722
204
18~
)f,2
I , 131
660
109
243
304
86 1.4
49. 2
311. 6
232. 0
31. 9
653. 5
60. 2
108. 3
198. 5
JOS. 0
8, 054. 4
1), 8 45. 7
4. R28. 7
10, iS2. fi
3, i74. 6
176
2,937
387
546
30
I
Nebras
ka___
.. ··-·· -·-·N
C'YadrL
______
______
Ke w H ampshire. ___ __ _ ------- - - Ne w Jersey . . . _________
JG
New Mexlco ___ . ___. ___
1:.;
162
22
42
625
147
24(;
137
42
284
25
85
1,089
72. 4
18. 9
29
380.0
0.6
. .. 438. 8
I. Jr,7. 5
834. 0
l. 89R 1
I. 320. 4
1,189
50
97
98
79S
2,480
21
109
109
27. 0
I. 3
9. 7
300. 8
8. 6
29
706
New York City ______ __
N ew Yor k (excludi n g
N ew York City) __.
North Carolinn
North Dakota . . . :.:: :::
Ohio ........ . _______ ___
259
4i3
I, 270
177. 4
700. 4
2UI. 4
22
24
263
J.5
78
38
fii
557
776
) , 297
I, 58 1
Mil
3 111
2, l ll
297
304
2,025
692. 4
8 4. .'J
lfl. 2
448. 9
590. 0
8 2. 7
3, 4f>3. 0
3. 189. Q
G. 593. (j
196
i, 695
I. fi29
6. 020
I~. 029
476
54
1,320
3, 195
351
18
78
488
72
2,280
63
632
90-1
ilO
SS9
2S
2.1.'l
20. 369
2. 552
10, 705
70
l. 851
2,300
I. 288
5. 225
15
421. 4
59. 4
29.
504.
129.
44. 9
175.
129
91
18
.I
98
480
139
139
106
144
21.'J
4 19
2 12
12
2,402
19. 614
5. 444
2. 574
20. i
102. 0
196. 3
32. 5
10. 6
20.
46. !
110. 1
253. l
1. 377
296
I, 524
I. 480
1,068
134
\Visconsin .. _________ ___
Wyomi n~. •- -------· ··-
63
27
17
22
II
640
350
l, 132
381
38
136
338
463
7,5,',
).18
10
51 6
1, 488
I. 387
16
139.3
46. 0
04. 9
2-~0.0
11. 2
123.
87.
50.
89,1
181
3, 39 1
6, 621
89 1 9. 192
170
90
3. iSO
711
Hawai L_··-· - ------ -- .
12
21
109
28
4
17.0
Ei~~~~~r~:::::::::::::
Maine . .. .. ·-- - · - · --·- -·
M ar ylan d . . .. · ------- -Massach usetts .. _____ __
Mich igan .. . · ·· ··------
~:~sii:t;~;L::::::: :::::
M iss.ourL ___ _____ ___ ___
Mon tana ____ _______ ____
Okla homa . . . . . - ···-·· · ·
Orr!!on . __ .. _. . . ________
178
18
4
9 :
f,
----- --- --
Pe nnsyh ·o~ia . _. _______
R hode Islnml.. _______ _ -- - - ..
Sou th Ci:uolina _______ __
22~
South Dakota ___ ___ ____
Trnnrssce. __ ________ __ _
Tf'X8S. _ ___ _ _ _ _______ _ _ _
Ut ah . .. . ·- ··· - ------· -·
Ver mon t . . . __ . _______ _.
V irl{inia . .
Wash ington . __ _··--·- - ·
West Vir.idnin _______ ___
;l3
I
2/il
170
32
123
21;()
JO!l
604
I
GI. 6
186
57
87
95
154
I. 059. I
10. i -1 7. 3
188
64
164
9f>4
32!1.
I.
8S9.
30.
7
3
I
8
JOO. 5
332. 2
2fi. 4
R74. 7
63. 2
20 ..',
11. ~84. 3
2. 3 12. 8
5. 2 12. 4
32•1.0
:i. 476. 0
1, rn6
159
642
2
380
859
107
83
132
2.13
178
5. I
Hi7. 2
998. 7
S. :l
14. 4
58. 7
83. 0
:lis. 3
18. 9
36. 0
8, 1126. 0
19, 711 1. 0
10.:mo. 4
22i
I, 315
I. 700
239
:ion
S27. 6
i2
3 13
IOI. 3
94. 8
4.lHX. 5
.1.0o:l.5
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76
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163. 2
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!JO,'J. l
,',J.0
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3!>8
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412
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· --- ·
I
33. 6
I. 7~9.
!i
2. 724. 2
II. 2
22. fl
268
424
132
375
88
220
2. 388
75
483
25
125
2, 233
1.229
241
125
41
18 __ __ '.5~.1
91
( Coud u <ied on next page)
Digitized by
Goog Ie
97. 8
165.
195. 1
57.1
89.
971.
3M.,
165.
99.
172. 4
75. 3
274.
20
72.8
16. 7
7. 0
388.6
38. 2
37.
I , 512
750. 2
502.
575. 6
88. 4
16. 0
4f,6. 2
813.
165.
74.
I, 081.
125. i
5. 0
176.
--- - -
33.
6.
36.
706.
i3.
52. ~
21 7.,
9. j
6.1
177
APPENDIX TABLES
TABLE XVII.-SELECTED ITEMS OF PHYSICAL Acco~tPLrnHMENT ON WPA-OPERATED PROJECTS, BY
STATEs-Concluded
THROUGH JUNE 30, 1938
Miles of Water Miles of Storm
Sanitary
Mains, Aque- ·, and
ers (Trunk Lines
ducts, and Disand Laterals)
tribution Lines
Sew-1
Number of Parks,
Playgrounds, Athletic Fields, and
Fairgrounds
State
Work in Sewing Rooms
Number of
Books
Renovated
New construction 1 lmproYe- XC'W con- Impron•- XC'w con- lmprove(including
ments struction I ments struction
menls
additions)
1
---- ----
1
Total ______________ _
----
- ----
I,
10,871
6,086.0
2,204.0
Number of i
other articles
produced I
----
1
4,586
Number of
garments
produced
Number of
School
Lunches
Served
8,8.\fi.0
2,600.0' ',\6,258, 151
I
A
)39,642,695
~-:.5~~~72
- - - - - - - - - - - · - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~---- - - - - - - - - - 2(), 5
!lahama_ ________ --- - -- - 88. 9
60,\. 004
2, 106,f,45
74. 3
79
38
6. 8
421,261
!riwna _____________ --- - ,\9. 8
lO. ,I
2. 9
818,221
15
0. I
145, 676
213. 474
24
31.
8
1,083,742
26il,
828
70
I.
2
22.
4
191,609
48.
I
33
Arkansas ___
------- - - - - - - -_
Cllifornla
_______________
1.50. I
6,639,428
14. 2.12, ]32
802. 3
61.4
5,002,965
127
651
Colorado ________________ _
493.
1,
,\IO,
314
115.
4
56.
i
80.
2
5.
5
343,630
198,590
35
204
I A :Z:l8, 410, 706
I, 332,862
518,718
I, 193,065
6, 774, ,535
5,354,634
81
I
COllllectlcut._. -- --- - - - - - Dela.-.re ________ . ___ . __ . _
District ol Columbia ____ _
l'lmida_____________ . ____ _
lkorgla _____________ -- - - -
~-:::::::::::::::::
Kama., ______________ - - - - -
~
31
114
113
1·
96
20
192 :
177
69
92
~~iis:::::::::::
Mlchig
136 ,
§!{!~~!~~~~~~~~~~
~•hraska _____ _
18.3
28
103
67
x:1ani--liii--e ________
-------_
45
12
23
Xew llexi~::::::::::: ::
232
43
x,w1erneps
~ewYork City ________ __
'":" )'.ork (excluding
x~Jork_City) _______ _
Xirtbn':ir°1ma_
---------
Ohio ______ ota ___________ _
~ma _______________ _
PeDDsylvania
- -- --· ·
~ea!~t~~~:: : : : :
Sooth Dakota
!ZL}~~~~~~~~~
l'hxlnJa
[~~~!~((I}
Hawaii__________________ _
27
I, 032
279
215
!05
63 I
32 '
39 ,
39
205
~=-·-------------
6
198
66
314
54
59
23
117
420
8. 0
2. 4
36. 5
82. 9
0.1
13. 2
8. 8
137. 1
13. 3
4.5. 3
117. 9
104. 3
94. 6
233. 0
120. 6
8S. I
164. 5
.59. 4
I, 030. 0
12. 5
4. 3
20.8
4-1. fl
662. 3
2(),J. I
97. I
69. 0
48. 4
114. 9
l.i
JO. 0
23. 3
71. 7
198. .I
416 ·
353
65
399
138
119
18
66
!
31. 4
14. 7
3~~ i
114. 7
43.1
228. 7
69. 8
89. 2
14. 3
12. 7
114. 4
24. 2 ,
:,
i
6. 4
24. 5
8. 4
6.8
262. 3
97. 0
II.I
42. 3
25.1
7. 4
1,489, 772
38, 449
124,317
113, 295
218,949
929,517
118,466
481,226
2,650,862
4,661,079
286,674
79,277
109,966
630. 598
686,491
280,992
3, 235. 6S7
I, 833. 32<J
), 248,625
621. 380
344,636
8,961,916
2, ,177. 019
I, 250, 723
2,720,496
87. 672
3,010,897 I
1
946,084
1,007, 773
37, !)3,5
98il, 1116
1, fi3f,, :i07
2, 741, 47,5
I, 409,886
904, 094
79,1, t\69
I I, 948, if>i
334,904
427, 2JO
112,268
127, ll4i
J, 874, 620
1!8, 170
3,900,294
633,674
5, 104, 100
·8;~:m I
i
688, 328
I
I, 172, 737
927,089
280,960
201,110
286, 788
80,917
664,008
94, 500
190,831
1,449, .532
i
I. 3
4. i
77. I
JJJ.{i
6. 0
JI. 2
Ii. 8
12. 4
fl78. I
197. 7
W.7
247. 3
40. 4
31. 8
,Ill. 6
6. I
32. 8
0. I
2, 74\J, 818
I, 449, ()()9
192,719
524, ,546
431, 40:l
2,226, O<J2
2,832,828
2. 499, 8-13
4, m:o, .507
852, 4il.5
398,868
871,038
600, .500
923, .527
186, 1.53
1,872, 796
3, 738, 355
14,609, 391
1,352,836
124,814
18. 2
85. 0
22. 5
377. 480
I 18, 1148
n. 188
I, ,136, 316
84. 4,11
I, 055, :l94
I, 806,512
2()6,318
580, 409
7H, 590
217, \!03
93:J, :J.56
94,027
234,650
261,394
874,695
12,221
4. 2
38. 3
271. 3
245.
218.
46.
96.
339.
18. I
5. 7
4. 4
33. 3
12. 0
6
7
8. 1 :
61. 2
295. 7
4,5, f,
0. 8
0. 1
120. 8
2, 243, 3{if>
85, 2:ll
363 :
316
294. 1
17. 8
IG8. 2
125. U
2, :J99, 549
3, 7G7, 765
5, 791, 8(18
100,312,370
208
84
67
279
264
3:ll.0
726. 4
85. 9
38. 5
388. 4
363,875
2, 6:Jo, 416
4. i
77. I
652.
191.
36.
8f)2.
2
144
281
770
2.5. 0
,5, 7
1,465,914
887, 737
70, ·118
2,047.811
245,608
8,913,557
597,548
7,802, 788
3,532,276
3,988,848
I, 127,892
6,277, 947
162. 9
121. 0
168. 7
87. 7
23. I
15. I
348,
277,
1,f>07,
217,
I, 312.
.\50,721
274, 00:l
I, 7!\7. 841
14:J, 684
458,004
3,236,247
1,349,200
I, 606,273
i
2, 8011, 204
5:34, iGO
8, 94G. 3:J:l
I, 084, 081
2, 12.1, H7t;
16,682,711
2311, :J62 ,
I, 35:J, 93f, 1
1. 828. 1)2fi I
J3S, 254
144, 20,\
1, 21.>, 887
2,171,953
11. 913, 48.5
.147, 109
387, I J(j
299,303
2 492 959
1:o:ir,:721
20tJ, t<57
110, 4:32
I. 217,052
JO, 756, 174
133,988
6, .123, 084
312,356
54
39 ,
242 '
30 :
60 ~
383
80
900
32
7. 8
207
62.0
o. 2
36
105
13,5
41
14
69
100
154
47. 6
41. 7
8. I
87.6
Hi8. 7
1:i2. 0
41. 3
7. 1
74
146
44
164
425
86
414
53
I
80
22
Ill
13
I
1
I
I
I
1
24. 8 '
61
I
8. 9
0
3
i
145. 3
4~~:: I
51. 5
80. 6
34.
68.
169.
00.
18.
8
2
6
5
3
124. 7
288. fi
36. 3
162. 9
27. ,5
,5, 2
32. 0
13. 6
122. 8
1.12.1
157. 2
:l51l.O
17. i
7. 2
21. 4
0. 8
II. 0
IO. I
24, 3
107. 0
84. 8
14. 8
244.8
0. 7
0. 2
8. 7
2. 3
134. 6
0. 4
7. 3
436, 156
774
405
li4
7•13
731
0. !)
{i.\1,.59:J
I, :J60, :l5i
618,927
2,388, 733
I. :Jill
0. I
67, 527
8. 7
15. .I
14. 2
,50. 3
1
2,042, 9,18
2,247,771
2, 07,1. 497
:l, Oll9, 147
242. 080
452.
439,
988.
6.50,
118,
l,l\l
97:J
41\8
2114
14:l
8,475,
5,444,
4,084,
I. 112,
580,
I
------------ ·1--
'Revised.
Digitized by
4,466,677
Google
751
083
284
276
201
Digitized by
Google
Index
Digitized by
Google
Digitized by
Google
INDEX
(Excluding tables and chart8, which are listed in table of contents and appendix)
Accessions to WPA projects, 6, !)7 !)\).
Accomplishments, physical, 7, 16 2!).
Administrative employees, 114.
Administrative expenditures, 1, !), 109, 110, 111, 113 -14.
Aged, aid to, 3, 129, 143, 151.
Ages of WPA workers, 101 ·2, 10,5 (\.
Agricultural Adjustment Ad ministration, \\' PAfinanced projects operated by, 123· -24.
Agricultural Engineering, Bureau of, \\"l' A-fi11a11ced
projects operated by, 124.
Agriculture•, Department of:
Appropriation of 1939 ERA ,\ct funds to, 14.
Transfer of WPA funds to, under l!l38 EHA .\ct,
109-10.
WP A-financed projects operat<'d h_Y, 121 2-1.
Aid to the blind and to dependent childrl'11 and old-age
assistance, 3, 129··30, 13,5, 1:rn, 14:l, 1.51.
Airport and other transportation facility projects:
Accomplishments on, 18 l!J, 22.
Employment on, 93, !)6.
In Eric, Pa., 80 ·81.
In Escambia Count_,·, .\la., 5!l.
Percent of total project funds t•xpt•11d<'d 011, 32.
Sponsors' expe11diturns on, :H.
Alabama, survey of project opl'ratio11s i11 Escambia
County, 57-64.
Alaska, WP A-financed projects opl'rated in, 124.
Aliens, 13, 54, 63, 8,5.
Appropriations, 9, 10· ·14, I 08 · 10.
See alM ERA Acts of l!l38 a11d 193H: i11dh·idual
agencies.
Archeological sun·c~· project in Eric, Pa., 87.
Assistance. (See Rclil'f.J
Biological 811rve~·, Bureau of, \\'P.\-fimu1t·<·d proj,·l't-~
operated h.1·, 123.
Blind, aid to the, 1111mbers asi;istcd, 3, 12\l .;l(), 1-t:{, Iii I.
See also Hocial Hccurity programs.
Braille projects, 23, 54, 8(\.
Bridges and culverts, 17-18, 21-22, 48, Iii, 81.
Buildings projects. (See Public b1iildings proj<•ds.)
Categorical assistance. (See Hp<'eial typ<'s of public
assistance.)
C!iildren, aid to dependent, 11umhcrs assisted, :{, l2!J,
143, 151.
See als,~ Hocial Hecurity programs.
Civil Works Administration, aetivitics under, 131 32,
137, 151.
Civilian Conservation Corps:
Activities of, 41, 141.
Earnings of enrollees, 148, I/ii.
Number of enrollees, 2, 12!l, 141, liil.
Clerical and service projccts, 23 24, /i4, u:{ li4, 73-74,
85-87.
See also Whit<' collar projl'cts.
201577°-40--13
Coast Guard, WPA-financed projects operakd b_,·, 12(\.
Compensation:
For injuries sustained by workers on \\'PA projects,
100·-101.
Cnemployment, 2, 13, !ll, 138.
See also Employees' Compensation Commission,
F. H.
Connecticut, hurrican<' and floods of :-leptember 1938
in, 3fi, 38, :3!), 41, 43, 44.
Consen·ation proj<•cts, :12, !l:3, !H\.
Construction projl'cts:
Accomplishments on, 17 23.
Employment on, !)2 ·!l3, 107.
Number of, 15.
Percent of total projPct funds <'XP<'1Hkd 011, 31.
See also individual t~·pl's of projects.
Corps of Engin<•prs, 108, 127.
lkpcndent children, aid to, :{, J:!n, 14:3, I/ii.
Earnings of project workcrs,"4, 10 -1:3, :32 33, I 12,
114-1.5, 148.
Education, Office of, WP.\-financed projPcts opPratt-d
b~,, 125.
Education proj<'cts, 23 -24, 54, li3, 73, 8!).
Emcrgl'ncy R<'linf Appropriation Act of l!l38:
Appropriations under, 108 ·10.
Balanc<·s, unohligated, n•appropriated under the
ERA Act of J!l3!l, !l.
Employml'nt cont<-mplah-d 111ulPr, 8!).
Funds trnnsfrrr<'d from \\' l' ,\ to other F, ·cl!'r:t I
agl'IICiPs, IO!l, 121 28.
Em<'rgcnc.,· HPlid Appropriation Act of rn:{!l, pro,·isio11s of, 8, !) ·11, Ia 14.
Emplo.n•es' (;ompcnsat.io11 (;ommission, 1·. :-l.:
Comp<·11sat.io11 provided for injuric>< sustained b.,
workers mi \VI' A pro.i<·cts, IOU - JO 1.
Funds for, 14, 101, 110.
J,;mplo~·11H'llt, 8!l 107.
Of administrativ<• p<·rso1mel, .Jun<' l!l:rn, 114.
( \,ni<'1nplat.l'd under the ERA Act of l\>38, 8!l.
Cm1tPmplat<•d under f.lw ER,\ Act, of rn:m, !l.
Duration of, (i, !l7 !lH, 104 7.
011 <'lll''rgPnc~· and rPhabilit.at ion pro.i<·<·t" i11 '.\:<•11·
England, 4:{ 44.
011 Fc•d<"rnl work and construction prnjccts, 2 .;{,
120 :m, 1as 4:t
Ilours of work, 10 II, \l!l.
Of pl'rsons certified as in 11c<•d of relief, 4, 13 ·14,
!ll !l2.
Of per,-0118 presumably Pligiblc for aid under Hocial
HPcurit~· prngrnm~, 104.
Provisions COll('C'rlling, in the ERA Act of rn:rn,
1:l 14.
For tenant farmPrs, 57, !)1.
181
Digitized by
Google
182
INDEX
J!;mployrnc11t, 89 -107-Co11ti1111erl.
Termination of, after IS 111onthH, 1:{.
Trend of, 1--2, 104 -.'i, J;{\l 40.
Turnover, 5-6, !l7 -rnl, 104 7.
By tn>es of projeclH, 92 -94.
lJ11e111ployment as a deter111i11ani of, 4-5, 01.
B~- urbanization groups, 96-97.
B~- wage classeH, !l4 -91L
Of wonien, 91, 93, !l!l, 103, 10.5.
On WPA-fina11ced projects operated b~· otlwr
Federal agencies, I, S9-90, 91, 121 -28, 140.
Year c11di11g June I039, 1, 89-91, 12!)_
See a.l.,o i11divid11al agencies; \Yorkers.
Employme11t Service, U. H., 6, 110.
Engineeri11g survey projects, in Erie, Pa., 76-77.
E11gi11eer, Corps of, 108, 127.
Entonwlogy and Plant Q11ara11ti11e, B11rea11 of, WP Afina11ced projects operated by, 91, 109, 122.
Equipment, supplies and materials, 33--34, 113, 114,
116-18.
Erie, Pa., survey of project opprations in, 7fi -88.
Escambia County, Ala., survey of project operations in,
57-64.
Expenditures:
Administrative, 1, 9, 109, 110, 111, 113 14.
Cum11lative thru11gh .June 1939, 15 Hi, 110.
Emergency and rt'cunstn1ction work in New
England hurricane and finod an'a, 41.
Of funds transferred to other Federal age11l'ies, I.
For inj11ry compensation, 101Lahor costs, 32-33, 112, 114-15.
Man-mor1th costs, 114-15.
Monthly, 111-12.
Nonlabor, 4, 10, 33, 113, 114-l!'i, ll(i 18.
Objects of, 1, 32 34, 110-11, 112- l!'i.
Project, 1, 29-34.
For purchase of surplus clothing, 111,113, 116,
119-20.
Self-help cooperatin·s, 111, 113.
Sponsors', 1-2, 30 -31, 3:{ 34, 111, 11 ,1- 1!'i, 11 G, 118,
Trend of, 1, 29 -31, 110, 111 12.
By types of proj!'<·ts, 31 32, 33 34.
Year ending .June 1939, 1, 29--31, 11:l.
Farm Security Ad111i11 istrntion:
Funds for, 14, 110.
Grard,s to need~• farm families, 3, 12\l, 1:rn, 143-44,
l!'i2.
Farm-to-markd and other seco11dar.,· rnncls, 17, I\) 21,
4{i 48, HO fi L
See al.so High way, road, and strl'd 1,n ,j,•c·t s.
Fed<'ral art. projPl't, a<·eo111plisl1111<'11ts 011, 24.
Fcd<'rnl l•:111<•1w•11cy Relief Ad111i11istratio11, I :m, 131,
132 :{3, 148, 152.
Federal m1rnic projPct, :>3, 87.
Federal 8mphrs Co111moditi<·s Corporation, 3, 3S, 41.
Federal work and co11strudio11 programs, 2 3, 12B,
138-43.
Fedt•ral work and eo11str11<'I io11 projects, l'lllploy111P11t
on, a11d puhlie r<'li<'f, 2-3, 129 !'i2.
Federal Works Agency:
l•:stahlishment of, 8-9.
WP A placed under, 8.
F!'deral writers' project, 24, !'i3, 87.
Fisheries, Bureau of, WP A-financed projects operated
by, 127-28.
Flood control projects, 38, 66-69, 127.
Floods. (See New England hurricane and floods.)
Forest Ser\'ice, WPA-financed projects operated by, 91,
109, 122-23.
Funds, 108-15.
Appropriated under the ERA Act of 1938, 108-10.
Appropriated nnder the ERA Act of 1939, 9, 14.
WP A transfers to other Fed!'ral age11cies, 9, I 09,
121-28.
See also Expenditures; indi,·idual age11cies.
Garden projects, subsistenC'e, i11 Mahaska County,
Iowa, 54-55.
General relief:
Number of families and single persons receiving,
3, 129, 130, 151.
Payments, 148, 151.
Program, 130-31, 135--3{i, 144-48.
Grants to needy farm families, 3, 129, 130, 143-44,
lfi2.
TI ighwa_,-, road, and street pro,iccts:
Accomplishments on, 17-18, 19-21.
Approved, value of, 29.
Emplo~·rnent on, 93, 94, 96, 99.
In Erie, Pa., 79-80.
In Escambia County, Ala., 60-62.
In Mahaska County, Iowa, 46-48, 56.
Numb<'r of, in operation .Jnne 193B, 15.
Percent. of tot.al project funds expe11ded on, 31, 32.
In Portsmouth, Ohio, 69-70.
Spo11sors' expenditures on, 33-34.
TTistoric American buildings survc~·, in Erie, Pa., 87
n istorical records sun·ey, in Erie, Pa., 87.
Horne Economil's, Bur!'au of, \\"PA-fina11ced projects
operated by, 123--24.
Hours worked 011 projects, 10-11, 99.
Households a11d pernons benefiting from emplo~•ment on
FPderal work and construction projects and public
reli!'f, 2, 129 :i7.
fl ous!'kPeping aide projects, 23, fi4, 62, 73, 86.
n urricanc. (Sff N!'w Engla.11d hurricane and floods.)
ln_jmi<'s snst.aincd h.,- WPA workers and compensation
for, 99 -101.
Tnt<•rnal H<•,•p1111<', Bureau of, WPA-financcd projects
op<'n1.tt-d b_,·, 12{i.
Tmrn, sun·cy of project operations in Mahaska County,
-Iii .5(i.
Labor, <'Xpc11dit.urcs for, 4, 32-33, 112, 114.
Labor St.at.i~tics, Bureau of, WP A-financed projecti:
operated hy, 123, 125.
Labor turnover on WP A projccfa, 5--6, 97-99, 104-7.
Library of Congress, WP A-financed projects operated
by, 128.
Lihrar~- projectR, accomplishments on, 23.
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INDEX
Mahaska County, Iowa, survey of project opcrat.ions
in, 46-56.
Maine, hurricane and floods of ~C'ptl'ml)('r I o:1x in, 4:3.
Man-month costs on WPA projects, 114 Iii .
Massachusetts, hurricane and floods of ~t•ptemlit•r l!l:lX
in, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 4:3.
Materials, supplies, and eq11ipmt·nt, :3;3. -34, 11 :J, 114,
116-18.
Music projects, 53, 87.
Xatioual Agricultural ResearC'h Cent-C'r, WP.\-ti11a11C'l'd
projects operated by, 12:3.
National Park Service, WP .-\-fiuanced proi<'<'t~ opPrated by, 91, 109, 124.
Xational Resources Commit-tee , \\"P.-\.-fina11C'C'ci projl'd
operated by, 128.
National Youth Administratio11:
Funds, 14, 110.
Number of young persous be11efiti1111: 11nd<•r, 2, 12!l,
140---41, I .51.
Pro11:rams, 1a4 -:3/5, 140- 41.
Transfrr to the FedPral ~ec11rity :\ge11cy, 8.
Need of WPA workers, pro\'i s io11 for pl'!"inclic in\"Pstigation of, 13.
Xegroes, emplo_\'lnent of, 103-4.
New Eugland hurricane and floods of i-leptPml>er I !l38,
35- 44.
Damage caused b.", 36 :38.
Emergenc., · activities of WP:\ workC'rs, 3!l -41.
Expc11ditures for cmcrl(t•11cy and r eco11stru<"tioo
work, 41.
Number of WP A workers emplo.n•d i11 c1111•rg:,•11cy
anrl reconstruction work, 4;3 -44, \l l.
Preventive measures which IPsse n Pd tlw ha\'oc of,
38.
Rehabilitation work, 41 -43 .
New Hampshire, h11rricallC' and fioods of R<•ptnnher
1938 iu, 36, 43, 44.
Noncoustruction project-s:
Accomplishments on, 23--25.
Employment on, 93, 107.
Number of, 15.
PcrC'ent of total projC'ct, funds expt•11dcd on, 3 I.
See also individ11al types.
Non labor expendihtres:
Amounts of, 33, 113 1ii, 11 fi- 18.
Limitation p(,r mouth pc,r \\"ork<•r, 4, 10.
Ohio, sun·ey of projl'C't. op<•rat.ions in Porl-s1uo11th,
fi4- 7/5.
Old-age assistance, 1111rnlH'rn n.ssisfrc! , a, 12!l, 143,
151.
See nl.~o Social 8cc11rit~- prng:ran1 s.
Park and other rei·reatio11al fa<"ilit.y pn,j,•ds:
Accomplishuwuts ou, l!l, 22.
J•: mploymcut on, 93, 99.
l11 J•;rie, Pa., 81 -82.
Ti, l•:seambia County, Ala., f>!l fiO.
Ir, Mal,aska Co11ut~-. lo\\"a, 4\l ii 1.
Pcrreut of t,ot.al proj<•ct, fu11cls c•xpl'mll'rl 011, 32.
111 Portsn1011U1 , Ohio, 72
Payments to n•cipients 111,c!1•r t.)11• ntrio11s 1•mplo,1·11,c•11t.
a11d r<'licf progranis, 148 :i0 .
n.
PP1nrnylvania, s11n·cy of project. opC'rations in Eric,
7,'i- 88.
PPrsm1s hcncfit.ing from cmplo~·mp11 t on Federal work
11-11<1 C'o11str11ct.io11 projects and p11hli<' rdid, 2, 129--38.
Physiral :U'C'omplishnH•nt~, 7 , I Ii -2:i .
Portsmouth, Ohio, s11rn•~- of projC'd opnations in,
ti4-- 7il.
Prisons, Bureau of, WPA-fiw-1.11rl'rl projt•d operatc:>d Ii~·,
128.
Pro<' Ul'l'lllC'llt Di\'isio11, Tren.s11r~- J)ppartmcnt, WPAfi11an<'cd projects operated by, I 2(i.
Pl'<>jPC'ts:
A<·c·omplishnH~llts, physi<'al, i, If\- 2.'i.
Appro\'al procNlurC', Ii, 2il 2X.
Apprm·C'd, \'!1]1!(' of, 28 29.
F,•dpral Nation-widl', 31 .
Limit.at.im1s i11 ERA Ad of Hl3!J, !l-- 10.
I11 the New E1111:Ia11d h11rriC'arw and flood area,
39--43.
Number of, by type, .J1111(' 1939, 15.
Operatiou of, 28.
111 8<'icd.C'd ar!'as, 4.'i 88.
8pousors' part.icipatio11 i11 initiation and prosec11tio11 of, 25- 28.
Types of, 31 32.
WPA-finanC'cd, operated by other Fee-J e re.I agencies,
121 -28.
See also Emplo~·ment; Rxpendit11res; i11di\·icl11al
types of projects; Hpcmsors .
P11lilie lmildi11gs projl•C't.H:
AC'<·omplishnumt,s 011, 18, 22.
ApproYecl, Yalue of, 29.
Emplo_\"!UC'nt mi, 93, !lfi, 99.
In Eric, Pa., 81, 82--84.
In F.sC'aml>in. Countr, Ala., 58- 5!l.
Linlitat.iou on cost in ERA Al'I. of 193!), 9 10.
111 MahaHk:t County, lo\\'a, 4\J , 51 -,52 .
PercPnt of tot.al project. funds expended 011, 32.
I II Portsmout,h, Ohio, 70 -71.
8po11sors' (,xp(•uc!it.urc•;; 011, 33 34.
PuhliC' lwalth projPrt.s, a.ccmnplisln11t•11ts 011 , 23 .
Public J-lpa]t.h H<•n·icl', CT. H., \\'PA-fi111u1cecl projpct.s
Cl)lC'rll.t.<'d I>~·, 12(\.
Public rPliPf. /81•1• FPdPral work and C'.011struct.io11
proj1•rl-s, Plllplo_,·11t<•1d- 011, and public rr•lit,f.)
1'11hli<' ut ilit.y proj(•ctis .
(Sn St'\\"('l" syst.<•ru and ot.lwr
ut.ilit-_,- projt•C'ts.)
l'ul>li<' Works Aclmi11ist.rnti011, 2, 12!l, 141 42, 150- /ii.
l'1H'rt.o Rico RC'co11st.1·11C't-io11 Achni11ist.rat.ion, ERA :\rt
f11 ncls for, 14, 1OX -!J, 1 I 0.
J>11rr·hast•s:
Of nmkrials, suppliC's, :uul c•q11ipmC'11t. for proj<'C'l
Ol)l'l'lt( i1111~ , 3;{ 34, 113, 1 Iii l 8.
Ofs11rplllHC'lothi11g:, 111.11a, llti, llX 20.
(luartc·rnmsl ,·r ( 'orps, "' I' A-Ii 11a11c·<'d proj(•C'ts opl'rnt1•d
h ., ·, !ll, IO!l, 12ti 27.
H!'ro11st.nwtiou Fi11a11r<' Corporation, 3!l, 41, 131, I .'i I .
ll,•,·n•al i1111 pr»j<•<·t.s, 24 , /53, fi:l, 73, Xii.
s,,,. 11/s11 Park :111cl ot.lu•r n•c·n•atioual f1wility
proj1·t•1s .
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184
INDEX
Relief. (See Blind, aid to; Children, dependent, aid
to; Federal work and coustruction projects, employment on, and public relief; General relief; Grants to
farm families; Old-age assistance; ·workers, certified
as in need of.)
Rental of equipment with Federal funds, 33, I 13.
Reorganization Plan No. l. 8-9.
Research and stat,istical projrcts, 23, 86 -87.
Rhode Island, hurricane and floods of Heptemher 1!)38
in, 3ti, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44.
Rural Electrification Administration, \\'PA-financed
projects operated hy, I 28.
Rural rehabilitation program. (SrP Gr:wts to needy
farm families.)
8afcty provisions for WPA workers, 28, 99--100.
8anitation and health projects:
Accomplishments on, 18, 23.
Employment nn, 93.
In Escambia County, Ala., 60.
Tn Maha.~ka County, Iowa, 52.
Percent of total funds expemled on, 32.
Tn Portsmouth, Ohio, 68--ti!l.
Sponsors' expenditures on, 33 34.
8chool hnildings, 18, 22, 51- 52, 58, 70-71 .
Rchool lunch projects, accomplishments on, 23 .
8ecurity wage schedule, 11-13, 94--97.
Self-help cooperatives, expenditures for , 111, 113.
Reparations of workers from VVPA projects, ti, 97 !Hl .
8ewage p111npin11: stat.ions, in Portsmouth, Ohio, 67- 68.
Hewer system and other utilit~· projects:
Accomplishments on, 18, 23.
Approved, value of, 29.
Employment m,, 93, 99.
In Erie, Pa., 76- 79.
In Escambia County, Ala., 60.
In Mahaska County, Iowa, 51.
Percent of total project funds expended on, 32.
In Portsmouth, Ohio, 71-72.
8ponsors' expenditures on, 33- 34.
8ewing projects:
Accomplishments on, 23.
Distribution of products in NP\\" England lrnrricane area, 39 .
Employment. on, 93, 94, 96, 99, 107.
In Erie, Pa., 84--85.
In Escambia County, Ala., 62.
In Maha;;ka County, Iowa, fifi, 56.
Number of, .June 1939, 1.5.
Percent of total project funds Pxpended on, 32.
In Portsmouth, Ohio, 74.
Sponsors' expenditures on, 34.
8oc>ial Security programs :
Old-age insurance, 2.
Special types of public assistance (aid to the
blind and to dependent children and old-age
assistance), 3, 129--30, 135, 136, 143, 148, lfil.
Unemployment compensation, 2, 13, !ll, 138.
Soil Conservation 8ervi<>e, WPA-financed projects
operated hy, 91, I 09, 121- 22.
Special types of public assistance 3, 129-30, 135, 136,
143, 148, 151.
Sponsors:
Expenditures on WPA projects, 1-2, 30--31, 33--34,
111, 114--15, 116, 118.
Funds pledged for approved projects, 29.
Participation in initiation and prosecution of
projects, 6, 10, 25- 28, 31.
State and local agencies, relief extended by, 129, 14448, I !->0, 1fi I.
See nl.~o Sponsors.
Rtatistical studies and surveys, 23, 86--87.
8treets anrl sidewalks, 17, 19-21, 61-62, 69-70, 79-80.
Supplies, materials, and equipment, 33-34, 113, I 14,
116- 18.
~urplus clot.hing, purchase and distribution of, 111,
113, 116, 118- 20.
Hurplus commodities, distribution of, 3, 55-56, 73.
Tax Rc:scarch, Division of, WPA-financed project.~
operated by, 126.
T enant farmers, WPA employment provided for, .57, 91.
Territories and Island Possessions, Division of, WPAfinanced projects operated by, 124--25.
Theatre projects, prohibited h,v the ERA Act of 1939, 9.
Transportation facility projec>ts. (See Airport and
other transportation facility projects; Highway,
road, an<l street projects.)
Trcasur~·, Department of the:
ERA Act funds for, 14, 110.
Financial controls, 28.
WPA-financed projects operated by, 126.
See also individual bureaus .
Turnover, labor, on WPA projects, 5--6, 97-99, 104--7.
Unemployment:
Compensation . 2, 13, 91, 138.
As a determi1,ant of WP A employment, 4--5, 91.
Estimates of, 4, 137-38.
Urbanization Groups:
Basis for security wage schedule, 12.
Number of workers by, 96--97.
V<>rmont, hurricane and floods of September 1938 in,
36, 38, 43.
Veterans' Administration, WP A-financed projects operated by, 128.
Veterans, employment of, 13, 104.
Virgin Islands, WPA-financed projects operated in,
124- -25.
Wage rates, 10--13, 94--96.
vVhitr collar projects:
Accomplishments on, 23-24.
Approved, value of, 29.
Employment on, 93, 94, 96, 99, 107.
In Erie, Pa., 84, 85- 87.
In Mahaska Count~-, Iowa, 52-54
Number of, ,June 1939, 15.
In Portsmouth, Ohio, 73- 74.
Sponsors' expenditures on, 34.
T~•pes of, and percent of total project funds expended on. 31 - 32.
Women, 91, 93, 99, 103, 105.
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INDEX
Workers-Cont.inned.
Family composition, 102 3, 106 -7.
Negroes, 103- 4, 107.
Provisio ns in the ERA Act of 1939 concerning,
13---14.
Safety provisions for, 28, 99.
Security and nonsecurity wage, 13, 95.
Veterans, 13, 104.
Wn!(e classes, 12-13, 94- 96.
·women, 91, 93, 99, 103, 105.
Sn, nlRn Employrne11t.
Ynrds 1rnrl Docks, B11reau of, WP A-fina11cecl projrc>ts
opernt.ed by, 91 , 109, 125 -26.
Work programs, Federal. (Su Federnl work 11.nd construction programs.)
Workers:
Administrative, number and average salary of, 114.
Ages of, 101-2, 105-6.
Aliens, ineligible for WP A employme11t, 13.
Certified as in need of relief, 4, 13, 91 --92.
Characteristics of, 101- 4 .
Compensation for injuries sustnineci by, 99 -IOI.
Duration of c-mploymrnt, 104- 7.
Earnings of, 10--13, 32 33, 112, 114 15, 148.
Eligible> presunmhly lor aid under Hoc•ial Ht>c-urity
programs, 104.
0
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