The Poplar Standard

Spend Over $6,000 Here

35 men who will be paid over $6,000 will be employed by the Civil Works Board in improving Poplar's streets during the coming sixty days, Mayor C. A. Swanson announced Tuesday.

The work will be started at once and must be finished within the sixty days allotted. It is expected that the crews will be busy by Monday of next week.

News of the development, which will be the greatest that has come Poplar's way for several years, was brought back by Dr. Swanson Monday following a trip to Malta where he conferred with Director Spaulding of the Montana Civil Works Board.

An agreement was reached for the employing of 35 men on public works within the city limits of Poplar. The men will be given work for sixty days. They will work five hours a day and six days a week.

Pay Very Good.

The rate of pay fixed by the board is unusually good for these days. It will be 60 cents an hour for unskilled labor and up to $1.20 an hour for skilled. A man and team will receive 85 cents an hour.

The only feature allowing for criticism is that only men who were on the R. F. C. relief roll will be employed. Evidently it is believed that these men need help the most, as Director Spaulding stated that this ruling was sent out by Washington.

It is obviously unfair to men who have not asked for relief but who now need work the worst kind of a way. However, it cannot be helped and it is hoped and expected that further employment will soon be provided to assist those who cannot get on the present project.

Needed Improvements

The improvements to be undertaken in the city will include removing a considerable quantity of dirt from the streets and replacing with gravel, and the digging of another city well. The pumping plant would be hooked to both the present and the new wells and this improvement should practically double Poplar's water supply.

Not only will the work be practical and lasting in benefits, both projects being needed by the city, but the employment to be provided will be welcomed especially at this time of year.

Wages will be paid every week, meaning that a payroll of around $600 will be released in town every week.

County Program

In addition to the public work to be done in Poplar the county program includes important improvements in this vicinity. The highway to the ferry will be graveled, as will several miles of the west Poplar River road. The shoulders on the highway between here and Wolf Point will be repaired.

All parts of the county will benefit by the program. The total employment in the county will be 300 men. Ex-service men with dependents will be given first consideration.