DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION, STATE OF TENNESSEE, Nashville, Tenn., June 11, 1964. Memorandum to: Mr. Donald M. McSween, commissioner, department of conservation. From: K. H. Howard, Jr., assistant director, division of State parks. We feel that 630 man-years could be spent in the existing 21 State parks for the initial work in the next 3 years. In each park six crews of five men could be used in forestry and construction projects which once started, would justify continued maintenance and new jobs for such crews into perpetuity. This work would involve special projects not able to be performed by regular park personnel. Some 390 miles of nature, hiking, bridle, and bicycle trails, 45 new tent camp areas, 10 new group camps, some 42 new picnic areas, 160 shelters, 2,200 picnic tables, and 98 trailside shelters. This would also involve reforestation and erosion control in some areas plus much work on landscaping and rehabilitation of heavy-use areas. A breakdown on this work would include in each park: 15 forestry workers, 3 crews of 5 who might be expected to cut and adequately construct 1 to 2 miles of trail per week. Another 15 could be used in construction and maintenance in each park. Five in carpentry; five in landscaping, stonework, bridges, etc., and five in such jobs as plumbing, painting, welding, and other aspects of general park expansion. There is also the probability of acquiring many new park areas if sufficient personnel is available to maintain them. A program of this type in Tennessee State parks would boost recreational facilities and result in broad base economic benefits and would create a third of this employment on a permanent basis after completion. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION, STATE OF TENNESSEE, Memorandum to: Hon. Donald M. McSween, commissioner, department of conservation. From: Carl I. Peterson, State forester. Date: June 19, 1964. Subject: Available forestry work on State-owned and privately owned forest lands in Tennessee. Private forest lands, 12.233,000 acres: Construction of lookout towers, service headquarters, connecting Man-years 105 100 Erosion control work--- 2, 192 1.005 11, 120 1,657 16, 179 Reforesting idle and eroding lands. Timber stand improvement-- Total on private land___. State forests, 200.000 acres : Building lookout towers, service headquarters, roads, trails, and Developing camping and picnic areas, scenic trails and shelters__. Reforestation--- Timber stand improvement_ Total on State forests.. 342 100 30 88 288 848 17,027 Grand total (man-years)---- The foregoing estimates are tentative and further study would doubtless result in amendments and additions. In considering work on privately owned forest lands limited contributions from landowners to help defray costs was presupposed. Favorable response by landners could increase the size of the program. CARL I. PETERSON, State Forester. TENNESSEE GAME AND FISH COMMISSION, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: Reference is made to your letter of June 3, relative to legislation which will allow State conservation projects to utilize unemployed workers for the development of conservation projects. If funds were available, the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission could utilize an almost unlimited number of people in the day labor class. On our various wildlife management areas we could use this manpower for the development of roads, timber stand improvement, clearing picknicking-camping areas, browse improvement control for wildlife, clearing and developing new fields for wildlife planting, actual farming operations, and weighing and checking animals at our various checking stations. Our fisheries division could also utilize this type of manpower in developing recreational access areas on our various streams and TVA lakes, for trout stream improvement in the eastern part of the State, as labor crews during our population studies, and as labor assistants at our various hatcheries. There are many other programs that could utilize additional manpower should this manpower be available in the area of need. We welcome such an operation by the Government and under the conditions which you outlined, I feel sure we could support this program. Very truly yours, FRED W. STANBERRY, Director. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In reference to your letter of June 3, 1964, relative to the drafting of legislation to provide funds to Federal, State, county, and municipal agencies to utilize unemployed workers on conservation projects, etc., several departments of the State of Tennessee have been investigating their potentials concerning such funds. We understand that some of these departments have already replied directly to your office in response to your survey. Tennessee at the present time has an estimated unemployed labor resource of 108,827 persons or an average unemployment of 5.3 percent. In view of your proposed legislation, Tennessee State departments could utilize approximately 23,369 plus man-years of work on conservation projects over the next 3 years. An itemized allocation of these estimates is as follows: A more specific estimate as to the number of man-years needed is now being compiled by the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission. At any rate the figure would be quite significant and will be forwarded to you. The success of such legislation as you are proposing would be of immense value to Tennessee in helping solve the unemployment problem, and in assisting the conservation programs of our departments. Trusting the enclosed material will supply the necessary data, I am, Sincerely, HARLAN MATHEWS, Commissioner. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, TENNESSEE BOTANICAL GARDENS, Cheekwood, Nashville, Tenn., June 19, 1964. Washington, D.O. DEAR MR. NELSON: Many thanks for your very interesting letter of the 12th of June. We are extremely interested in employing more workers in the gardens at Cheekwood, but our present budget does not allow us to hire more than three. We could use 10 to 20 additional workers. We would use them for general weeding, cleaning up brush, cutting down trees, constructing flower beds, and for many other projects. I would estimate that 60 man-years could be usefully undertaken in the immediate future. May I wish you speedy success in this matter. I hope that if you are ever in this vicinity, you will find time to visit Cheekwood. With best wishes. Yours sincerely, GORDON SCOTT. METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.O. BOARD OF PARKS AND RECREATION, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Thank you for your honored consideration as manifested in your letter of May 15, 1964, regarding your committee's work toward legislation concerning the unskilled and unemployed. Our board, at its meeting of June 3, unanimously endorsed your proposed program to utilize the unskilled and unemployed workers for park and playground development and improvements. In addition, Mayor Beverly Briley likewise endorses the plan, thereby authorizing total support and participation on a local basis. Observance of your intention arouses a sphere of ideas that promises a wide potential toward alleviating the unemployed and unemployable ills of our society. Such programs appear conducive of establishing a cooperative educational work situation to develop the unskilled into semi and skilled capabilities, at least within the realm of school dropouts and other teachable age persons. This seems possible by the means of requiring a period of special training. followed with field experience and later returning for further advanced formal training. It appears that such an educational work effort would be feasible in cooperation with the State vocational educational program. An approach in such a manner would aid in developing and recapturing a sense of dignity, personal worth, and hope for the future through the accepted values. The metropolitan park and recreation department is presently involved in the first phase of a two-phase land acquisition program, which includes an excess of 800 acres of new park sites. Master plans are being prepared for development of the various sites. The nature of employment required for their implementation includes the various trades found in construction of minor buildings, roads, utilities, heavy and light excavation, grading, landscaping, and installation of various park facilities. These trades are only referred to here in a general sense, rather than in a degree of specific skills. It can be visualized that skilled supervisors working with such persons can accomplish the desired results. Unquestionably a minimum of 50 men could be worked valuably almost immediately into our work program, as herein stated. In the very near future we can visualize the inclusion of another 50 to 75 men into our expansion program. In evaluating the new construction mentioned herein, coupled with grooming the existing 4,000 park and playground acres to appear more immaculate, and fully capture the ascetic values of nature, we can reasonably estimate a 1,000 man-year program. It is a pleasure to have heard from you in this regard, and we await further opportunities to work with you toward your project implementation. Sincerely yours, BILL L. CROUCH, Secretary. CITY OF COLUMBIA, RECREATION DEPARTMENT, Columbia, Tenn., July 3, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR HONORABLE NELSON: I received your letter in reference to your interest to provide funds to utilize the unemployed to aid and make improvements in the field of recreation. In this community of 21,240 we are in need of space to construct permanent recreation facilities such as athletic fields, centers, etc. We are fortunate in securing an ample supply of "volunteer workers," serving in supervisory capacities. The Columbia Recreation Commission is presently working on a 10-year program for our recreation department. Their plans consist of purchasing property, constructing new facilities, and various other projects. Due to these plans, which are tentative, it would be impossible to answer your questions at present, but I would be most happy to after the recreation commission makes definite plans for our future program. Respectfully yours, BRUD SPICKARD, Director of Recreation. TOWN OF MORRISTOWN, RECREATION DEPARTMENT, Morristown, Tenn., June 23, 1964. Mr. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. NELSON: In reference to your letter of June 12, 1964, I would like to express my complete approval and support of legislation which would help utilize unemployed workers on projects such as park development, etc., which I'm sure all other recreation departments would welcome. We in Morristown and Hamblen County could certainly utilize more help in improvement and development of parks. I am in charge of all city recreation and also a 188-acre county park of which about 100 acres are in need of development. The county has another 482-acre park leased from TVA completely in the rough which should be developed. Many numbers of workers could be utilized in our park development program. Projects not requiring extensive new preparation could include clearing and trimming of underbrush and trees, building grills, tables, picnic areas, cutting and installing posts, trail and road clearing, seeding, planting, building shelters, restrooms, erosion control, among many others as the areas would be developed. The number of man-years of work would, of course, be an estimate but I would estimate a minimum of 100 man-years of work or more as the area would develop on park areas which we have. Planning and supervision is an important factor in developing large park areas and supervisory personnel such as myself frequently are not qualified and certainly do not have the time to make detailed development plans for the entire area. In fact, it is often difficult to obtain services of a competent park planner we have found. It would be of great benefit if this service could be utilized also or made available. Sincerely, WAYNE N. HANSARD. CITY OF CHATTANOOGA, Chattanooga, Tenn., July 13, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Thank you for inviting me to comment on your proposed legislation to provide municipalities with funds to utilize unemployed workers on conservation and recreation projects. Throughout the years, municipal governments have more and more difficulty in raising necessary funds to meet pressing needs. Consequently, in Chattanooga as elsewhere most of the budget goes for necessities such as schools, and the parks and recreational department has never had enough money to provide the quality recreational program we would like to have-and should have. Also, our public works department would like to be of more assistance to the scenic cities beautiful commission. For example, nearly every entrance into Chattanooga is through tunnels. Each tunnel is on a grade and excessive erhaust fumes create a major maintenance problem. Unfortunately, this kind of project is often neglected because it isn't absolutely necessary. We plan to build several new parks soon and to greatly increase our efforts to beautify. Also, we hope to make more recreational use of school plants in the summer. I would hazard a wild guess that the city of Chattanooga could efficiently utilize 500 man-years in this type project in the near future. Such an undertaking could be accomplished within our present organizational structure, We would be glad to offer Chattanooga as a guinea pig for a pilot program similar to our outstanding program for school dropouts and the construction of a new State technical institute here. Thank you again for the opportunity to comment. DEAR HON. MR. NELSON: Thanks for your letter of recent date about information pertinent to using unemployed workers on conservation projects in the event legislation is provided for an expanded program. The opportunities for using unskilled labor in information and education projects would be very limited. However, there are many opportunities in our department, especially in the parks division. The list could include the following: transplanting shade trees, repair of secondary roads, painting and maintaining buildings, thinning and trimming brush and trees, fire control lanes, new installations, garbage and trash disposal, fence repairs, and general maintenance of buildings and grounds. There is reason to believe that 150 men could be permanently employed in region II which consists of 52 counties in the north-central part of the State and contains 13 State parks. An additional six men might be permanently employed on maintenance projects on State-owned lands and approved conservation projects in other departments. I anticipate that much good could be accomplished for conservation by a program such as the one you have suggested. Thanks for this opportunity. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: This is in reply to your letter dated June 8, 1964. I can see a definite need for legislation providing funds to Federal, State, county and municipal agencies to utilize unemployed workers for conservation projects. The State of Texas is now launching an expanded park development program. A comprehensive plan has been developed to guide the future growth and development of a State park system in Texas which, we feel, will equal any other |