Such a statement is rather strong and would be met with considerable opposition except that the need is so strong for such aid. The counties would match the funds for maintenance on a 50-50 basis. Such a program would be made available to the counties and municipalities for a set period 5 to 7 years, or until the county or municipality, is financially able to undertake the entire load. The funds would be allotted on a decreasing basis so that the counties and municipalities would be forced to assume their responsibilities. Such a decrease would become effective after the set period if the counties and municipalities have not yet assumed 100 percent of the cost. Such a program would alleviate the burden of a sudden increase in a maintenance budget and would provide for a transition and education period so the agencies could be trained to properly maintain their parks. (A major problem is that after a few years, the parks are in terrible condition because of a lack of understanding about maintenance costs and procedures. The American Institute of Park Executives, Oglebay Park, Wheeling, W. Va., can give you a great deal of information concerning this very real problem.) F. A program of recreation resource development should be started as a general undertaking within the counties. This program would be in addition to the specific park development program. Such a plan would include the development of scenic roads, planting for scenic preservation and esthetic development, foot and horse trail development, preservation of historical sites, and generally developing the recreation resources of the total county area. This program would produce many man-years of work and would substantially boost the economy of the area through employment and by providing an incentive for private interests to enter the area and develop motels, eating establishments, etc. We call this the holding power of an area. People will stay rather than drive on to other areas. The program which I have outlined can easily be managed by our present department structure. It would bring into play all the facets of the conservation department plus the skills of the department of resource development, welfare, highway departments, and such Federal agencies as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Department of the Interior. All these organizations would have a part in the undertaking of a comprehensive recreation development program within the counties. It is high time we cut out all this duplication of efforts and administrative confusion. Let us assign one agency to spark the effort, give it the necessary funds, then go to work. We have so much to do to prepare for the future recreation demands of the public. We have not scratched the surface of what is really needed. This Midwest is the playground for the Nation. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have a tremendous recreation potential. The real future for the economic rehabilitation of the great north country lies in the development of this tremendous resource. I have studied this country for 8 years. I know what it can and cannot do. The gold is there but it will take a great deal of education, training, and money on the part of those who own the mine, to get it out. This has been quite a rambling soapbox oration. I hope I have not bored you. If you would care to explore any of these points further, I am at your service. Keep up the excellent work you are doing for conservation. Sincerely, MARTIN BONDE, Park Planner, Wisconsin Conservation Department. P.S.-What I have said here will apply to almost any State in the Union. Our problems are all similar. KENOSHA COUNTY PARK COMMISSION, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Reference is made to your June 12 letter concerning possible use of workers for park development programs. If our land acquisition goals are attained we would have two new county park areas totaling 620 acres on which to conduct the type of works program you envision. Specific projects would include site preparation (removal of fences, dead and down trees, stumps, stones, etc.); road right-of-way clearance (brushing and grubbing); construction of hiking trails and bridle paths; shrub and tree planting; construction of dry laid stone walls; riprap work; construction of rustic shelters; development of picnic and playground areas; campground site; beach site. Estimated man-years of work ranges from 50 to 1,000 depending on our financial ability to purchase materials and ability to locate adequate help skilled in the art of training and supervising labor in performance of handwork. The skills of knowing how to use ones hands and handtools such as shovel, ax, pickax, grub hoe, rake, and wheelbarrow in performing handwork are all but lost. The younger generation seldom has ever seen work done by hand. Amount of help which could be utilized would depend largely upon the degree to which we could train help in successful performance of handwork. Sincerely yours, R. J. LINDL, Superintendent. July 8, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. Dear Senator NELSON: I would like to commend you for introducing legislation to provide funds for municipalities to utilize unemployed workers on conservation and recreational projects. I am sure that there is ample work in these projects to keep many unemployed busy. Madison could use much more help in renovating its parks and recreational areas as well as keeping roadsides free of rubbish and brush. I have felt for a long time that nature really provides work for everyone. I would hope that any governmental program making money available for this type of work would make provisions for the hiring of people without jurisdictional problems with the union. Our public welfare department in Madison has attempted to have some of its clients work out some of the relief that is given to them on various city projects, but the city has to, in most cases, clear with organized labor before embarking on the various types of work. I don't know how this could be spelled out in legislation, but I do think it is one of the big concerns in hiring the unemployed. Sincerely yours, HENRY E. REYNOLDS, Mayor. CITY OF LA CROSSE, WIS., June 23, 1964. Senator GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Thank you for your communication concerning utilization of unemployed workers on conservation projects in park development. If funds were available we definitely could utilize unemployed workers in our programs and projects. Several of our projects would be to develop the Red Cloud Park area into a winter sports facility. We also have Hixon Forest, 533 acres, along with a recently purchased State experimental farm, 160 acres, for development into park and recreation facilities, such as hiking trails and bridle paths, archery and rifle ranges, camping facilities, and possible relocation of our zoo. In regard to the number of man-hours of work which might be usefully undertaken in the immediate future, I will be very conservative in estimating approximately 10,000 man-hours. This is primarily for a 6-month period during the spring, summer, and fall months. I wish to sincerely compliment you on these efforts, and as you know La Crosse has a very acute unemployment problem, and this would be very welcome in La Crosse, and I'm sure we can develop our program to include many additional man-hours. Very sincerely, EUGENE B. FRY, Director. CITY OF KENOSHA, Wis., Senator GAYLORD NELSON, June 18, 1964. HONORABLE SENATOR: In regard to your letter of June 12 with reference to municipal agencies utilizing unemployed workers on projects such as park development, we submit the following: Kenosha is in need of an extensive citywide tree program-planting, trimming, and removal of street trees. We could use between 20 and 25 men for this project. Tools and equipment, however, would have to be furnished. Yours very truly, ALBERT G. REIS, Superintendent of Parks. CITY OF GREEN BAY, WIS., July 21, 1964. Senator GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. HONORABLE SENATOR NELSON: There is a definite need for the development or improvement of park property in this community. It would enhance our park and recreation development program if Federal funds were made available to employ the necessary manpower. The park property that should be improved is newly acquired and not developed. It is necessary to build driveways in some of the parks, riverfront park property needs improvement, and we also plan to acquire other park property in the near future which must be developed. The projects which I have outlined require manpower. This means the hiring of at least 10 men working from April 1 to December 1 each year for a 3-year period. The municipality finds it difficult to appropriate the necessary funds now; therefore, the availability of Federal funds would make it possible for the citizens in this area to enjoy the park and recreation facilities in the foreseeable future. It is probable that without Federal assistance some of these parklands may never be fully developed for public recreation. Sincerely yours, VERNON H. KRIESER, Director of Parks and Recreation. CITY OF WAUSAU AND MARATHON COUNTY PARK COMMISSIONS, Wausau, Wis., July 2, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: I apologize to you for being so slow in acknowledging your letter of June 12, although the delay was unavoidable. Answering your first question, we could use a substantial number of workers in our city and county park programs. In addition, many could also be used to improve the roads leading to some of the county areas, as the townships adjoining the county parks do not have the means to do so. Your second question of types of work could be listed as road and trail improvements; bridge construction, both foot and highway; shelters, mostly of the trailside type; sign erection (we use the rustic, homemade, wooden type); dam construction; land clearing and construction of athletic fields; trailer site improvements-all of which can be done without plans or with plans on hand. It is very difficult to estimate the man-years of work but would say for this community it would probably be 50 for perhaps 5 years. Of course, this is a very wide estimate and would change due to new work arising as a result of new developments in the parks. If a program should be set up it should be be vastly different from the old CWA, PWA, FERA projects where 75 percent of the money spent was wasted. This should be carefully studied in order to secure major results for the money spent. Cordially, I. S. HORGEN, Superintendent of Parks. CEMETERY AND PARKS DEpartment, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR: Regarding your June 12, 1964. letter relative to using unemployed workers on conservation projects. Your proposed legislation appears to be limited to park development as related to conservation only and therefore would not include projects such as additional athletic fields, beach area landscaping, etc. Assuming this to be the case, our department needs would be negligible in the immediate future especially if concerned individuals possessed no special skills. Each year our department hires about 40 temporary workers, students, and others, during the summer. I assume Federal funds would not be substituted for municipal funds to pay any of these persons. An important factor affecting the number of individuals that could be properly used would be the latitude allowed in the use of funds and if contractors services could be used in connection with projects. Simply adding unskilled labor would be of very limited help. Specifically, within the definition of conservation projects and without extensive preparation, few persons could be usefully employed. This should not be construed to mean we have no need for a park improvement program. It means we require authorization and funds chiefly for Road resurfacing; Additional restrooms (buildings); An additional athletic field and play areas (we have land); Park development within our present parks (added facilities); and If funds for some of these projects were available the personnel picture would change. I feel most cities need to develop their parks and playground system more, and by so doing would relieve their own overburdened facilities plus relieving pressure elsewhere. I have tried to give you an honest appraisal of our municipal situation as it is at present. Please write again if you think I might help. Very truly yours, LOUIS H. NORTEMAN, Superintendent. CITY OF MADISON, Madison, Wis., June 26, 1964. Senator GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Your letter of June 12, 1964, has evoked a great deal of thought on the overall subject of unemployment. There are two types of workers who are seeking employment in Madison at this time of year. The adult labor pool, small as it is in Madison, includes many excellent workers who, because of age, cannot compete for the available unskilled labor jobs. These men, many of them without a job skill, are unable to qualify for the usual heavy labor jobs available in construction but they are excellent workmen in the field of park maintenance and park construction. At this time of year, particularly, we have hundreds of young men-18 or over-who are begging for summer jobs. These young men need work not only for the wages which they will use to further their education but also and more important because they need a physical work experience. These young people are at loose ends because they have pursued their academic studies for 9 months and are ready for a change. In my opinion the best change is to hard physical work. The Madison park system could use many of these men if funds are available. The work would consist of work as laborers in the construction and rehabilitation of public parks. We have several hundred acres of land in need of improvement. General plans have been prepared and the projects are awaiting financing. A very substantial part of the work would be handwork consisting of cleaning out drainage waterways, placing riprap on shorelines, trimming trees and shrubs, grading of park lawn areas, sodding, construction of flower gardens, construction of park walks, brushing out hiking trails and bicycle paths, construction of animal enclosures at the zoo, improving landscape features on golf courses, and planting trees and shrubs. In addition to this type of work we need a great deal of construction work requiring skilled help. An estimate of the amount of such work in terms of man-years of labor would be purely an estimate. The estimate must be related directly to the availability of supervision, tools, and equipment. This relationship is important because the project, to be successful, must be adequately staffed and equipped. As a preliminary estimate and assuming that the necessary tools, equipment, and supervision are also available we could gainfully employ up to 150 men during 9 months of the year. Considering the backlog of work which we now have and anticipating that Madison will continue to grow, this work force and even a larger force could be used for the next several years. I trust that this information will be of value to you. If I can be of further service, please call on me. Sincerely yours, MADISON BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Your letter requesting information as to the legislation that is being drafted to provide funds to Federal, State, county, and municipal agencies to utilize unemployed workers on conservation projects was received. Here in Sheboygan the recreation department is administered by the school board and the park department by the city council. It may be of interest to you that just 2 weeks ago I proposed to the board of education that commencing next summer the Sheboygan Recreation Department set up a combination work, study, and play program in conjunction with the school curriculum coordinator, the vocational school, and recreation department. The proposal as was planned last week would employ 25 to 50 youths next summer, and approximately 100 to 150 the following year. I made a comment at this meeting that there possibly might be Federal funds available in the near future for this type of a program. We have given thought that this would not be limited to any particular type of youth; that it would be a mixture of all. Some of the youth would be employed as assistant playground leaders, some in maintenance work, and some with school cleaning during the summer months. We have given thought that every boy would be required to take one or two subjects during the summer months, either as an enrichment course or remedial course, whichever is needed by the individual; that he would sign a contract which would obligate him to take these courses: do approximately 6 hours of work; and participate regularly in an organized recreational activity. I think this program that you are working on is very much in need, as we are experiencing a great number of youth who are coming to us for employment, and under our present arrangements we are not able to use them. If I can be of help in any other way, please let me know. Yours truly, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: I have been working with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on work which could be done around Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs in |