FUNCTIONS OF THE CONSTRUCTION BRANCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00662R000200170017-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 16, 2000
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: October 8, 1951
• Content Type: MEMO

STANDARDFORMAJQ Proved For Relapse 2001/11/01 : CIA-RDP75-00662R0000170017-7
Office Memorandum UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO Assistant Director, O/RR
FROM : Chief, Economic Services Division
SUBJECT: Functions of the Construction Branch
DATE: 8 October 1951
1, Since our conversation on the above subject, I have reviewed
the mission of the Construction Branch as it was conceived to be when
it was decided that such a Branch should be established. It was de-
termined thats "The Construction Branch will assemble and evaluate
data and maintain files on the construction of houses, factories, dams,
canals, and other structures in foreign countries, with particular
emphasis on those of the Soviet Orbit, to ascertain what is now built,
what is planned or under construction, the importance of the construc-
tion to the national econco y, and the requirements in terms of materials,
manpower, etc., which the programs may involve. It will advise other
CIA offices on these matters."
2. The establishment of a Branch to handle construction problems
was based on the fact that construction is a specialized industry hav-
ing its own technology and differing little in fundamentals throughout
the whole construction field. That is, the same knowledge of engineer-
ing principles and the same materials are required for building a house
or office building as are required for building a factory, and the
principles of earth moving and concrete pouring used in building high-
ways or bridges likewise apply to the construction of dams. A different
shape or size of factory may perhaps be built for various industries
but the principles of construction are not affected by the use to be
made of the structure.
3. A basic building may house many different kinds of machines
and completely different product outputs could be obtained therefrom,
but the fact that a building in one case produced shoes, and in another
case hats or fine chemicals, would not necessitate appreciable changes
in the type of construction involved. There are a few very specialized
exceptions, but changes are primarily in the type of machinery installed.
4. It is not expected that a chemist, for example, will know how
to build an office structure for chemical company executives or that
he will know how to figure the time, labor, materials and cost involved
in constructing a large building to house process equipment. The corn
straction engineer is expected to supply this type of answer, based on
general specifications that the industry will supply.
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Functions of the - 2 - ? Oct 1951
Construction Branch
5. It would seem that the original concept of construction ana-
lysts working as a group to serve all Branches that have construction
problems and to integrate all construction requirements into a national
whole, is correct. Should they be independently attached to each Branch
that nay be concerned with some type of industry -- chemical, iron and
steel, petroleum, munitions, population (housing), transportation,
electric power, etc. --- the problem remains of coordinating the indi-
vidual requirements to determine the total effect on the national
economy.
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