The Empire State Building and Other Public Works

Dennis Vecchiarino recently sent me a slide show about the building of the Empire State Building:

Empire State Building 1930

There are a number of public works throughout this area that were constructed in the era of the Works Progress Administration, which employed  millions of people during the Great Depression to carry out a variety of public works projects, including the construction of public buildings, roads, and sidewalks. For example, throughout this area there are a number of sidewalks that were built by WPA during the late 1930's.

For the most part, unless they were affected by construction or other events, these sidewalks are still in good condition - some seventy (plus) years later. The quality of the work seems much higher in work done during that time period than work done during the present - which leads to the question: Why?

There are a number of different possibilities. Economics is, I suspect, a significant factor. Materials that last tend to cost more, and taking time to do things well also adds to the labor cost factor. Many times our governments (local, state, and Federal) are more concerned with the current budget rather than a long range overview.

I've also heard the suggestion that the work is done with planned obsolescence in order to continue to provide employment for construction workers. I don't know that this is true for the construction industry, but it is a concept known in other industries.

Many people are concerned about today's work ethic, and, in many ways it does seem that many of today's workers do not have the same work ethic as before (although many in the construction trade do take pride in their work). Are "restrictive" union rules, although set up with good intent, a factor? Maybe, but, as a whole, the safety rules seem to be good ones.

I don't know what the answer is. The are many different possible factors, and I suspect it the answer is a mixture of these as well of others I have not begun to think of.

I do remember by own experience during a couple of summers while I was a student at Providence College. During these summers I worked as a general laborer for P. J. Delahunty, Inc., a construction firm in Southington, Connecticut. It was a great outfit to work for, a company that did excellent work, quality work, work designed to last. The work was truly done with a "standard of excellence" (to use a term employed by business author Tom Peters).

The boss, Pat Delahunty, was a good man, but exacting in his standards, and he had good, dedicated people working for him. Pat, his son, P.J., and brother, Ed, who ran the company with him, all were encouraging and set a good example themselves. It was not a union shop, but we were treated well. We worked hard, and we had a sense of pride in our work (and had a bit of fun as well). It was a very good experience that I am still grateful for.

Background information:

Empire State Building, New York, NY

Economic History Association: The Works Progress Administration

Wikipedia: Works Progress Administration

Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives: Works Progress Administration Historical Records, Documents Archive