In reply to your direct questions, may I state as follows: At the present time, we are engaged in roadside beautification and improvement on a section of the four-laned U.S. Highway No. 1 which is presently being completed. Plants grow quickly in our area and there is so much to do, I believe that we could utilize a substantial number of workers in our own program here in the city of Stuart. Undoubtedly, you have addressed a similar question to our county officials, who, with a much larger area with which to deal, can certainly use even larger numbers. Since many of our communities grow their own plantings; i.e., have their own nursery stock available, or easily obtained through local cooperating civic clubs, etc., for the planting of these items, and without extensive preparation, these items of labor could be undertaken almost immediately. Due to the limitations of funds which both the city of Stuart and Martin County operate under, it is difficult to estimate the number of man-years of work which might be usefully undertaken in the immediate future without having some estimate as to what funds would be available. However, if unlimited funds were available, I do believe we could use at least eight more men full time the year round in beautification projects in the immediate future. As far as a crash program is concerned; I believe, however, that we could successfully squeeze these eight man-years into a period of 6 months, as we here in Stuart are possessed of these capabilities at this time. Thank you again for honoring me with your inquiries, and I trust the answers will be of some use to you. Respectfully yours, W. E. AMBLER, Park Superintendent. CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH, West Palm Beach, Fla., June 23, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Senator from Wisconsin, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In reply to your letter of June 17, 1964, concerning the use of Federal funds to employ workers in part-time programs I submit the following: We are planning substantial park development in two locations but these will be projected over several years. I foresee no projects where the use of such labor would be justified. Inasmuch as you request any general comments or suggestions let me point out that the legislation you are drafting would certainly be difficult to administer within reasonable costs. The waste attending such programs has proven in the past to be tremendous and the gains questionable. Such legislation would be another step in governmental spending without consideration of value received by the taxpayer and an increase in administrative costs not in line with the benefits to the laborers for which the legislation is being drafted. Further, it is long past time for each State, county, and municipality to stand on their own feet, develop their own resources, pay their own costs, and advance according to their own abilities, excepting extreme emergencies. These are my feelings, both personal and as an administrator. Respectfully, HUGH S. AUSTIN, Superintendent of Parks. CITY OF TALLAHASSEE, FLA., July 1, 1964. 1 Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: I am sorry for the delay in answering your letter, but I have been on vacation for 2 weeks and have just returned to my office. I was quite interested in your proposal for using unemployed workers on conservation projects; however, if I were to vote on such a proposal, I would vote against it. I am of the firm opinion that unless we realize that the U.S. Government cannot solve all the problems of the world, our country is headed for bad times. I think the problem of unemployment needs to be handled by the individual people and not by the Federal Government. Of course, if you feel it necessary that the Federal Government should take such action, I will certainly be in favor of people working for their relief dollars rather than sitting on the front porch waiting for a check from the Government. I am sure there is not a recreation department in the United States that could not use able-bodied workers in the building of new facilities. Back in my college days, I worked for the Nashville Tennessee Recreation Department and every facility they had, including the golf courses, swimming pools, community centers, picnic facilities, etc., was built during the depression by WPA labor. It would be impossible for me to estimate the number of man-hours that Tallahassee could use, but with building new facilities I am sure we could use all the labor that would be placed at our disposal. I appreciate your asking my opinion, and if I can be of further help, please don't hesitate to call. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In reply to your inquiry of June 17, 1964, concerning utilization of unemployed workers on public works projects. Without extensive new preparation and with no present knowledge of any sizable expansion program it seems very unlikely that a city park department such as ours could use any more than 30 or so man-years of labor. These could be utilized in clearing swamps, stabilizing lake banks, maintaining drainage ditches and water retention basins. However, our particular part of the country is expanding so very rapidly that 1 year's time could change the whole picture. Very sincerely, H. P. DANFORTH, Jr., Park Superintendent, City of Orlando. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, GEORGIA RESPONSES STATE GAME & FISH COMMISSION, Atlanta, Ga., June 10, 1964. U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Your recent correspondence of May 29 regarding proposed legislation to utilize unemployed workers on conservation projects has been referred to me. I personally feel that this is desirable legislation and would be of a great help to us in furthering conservation development programs. If unemployed workers were available to us here in this department, they could be utilized for the construction of steam improvement devices, public access area development, as well as general development and labor on public fishing areas in the State. I feel that we could utilize at least 10 man-years of the work in the near future which could later be expanded considerably more. Very truly yours, HOWARD D. ZELLER, Chief, Fisheries Division. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: The legislation which you are drafting to provide funds to Federal, State, county, and municipal agencies to utilize unemployed workers on conservation projects such as park development, etc., would be of considerable help in improving and expanding the facilities of the Georgia State parks. At the present time we are trying to obtain Federal funds to match a $2.3 million bond issue which the State of Georgia recently issued. With a program such as you have outlined we could double the amount of work that could be done. On one of our parks where we expect to spend $511,560 in bond money, we show around 480 man-months of labor. It is estimated that we could set up a program that would require 3,840 manmonths to complete. This could be done in the immediate future. The program that you are suggesting seems to be the type of program that State parks departments might certainly use to good advantage in the elimination of unemployment in so many of our distressed areas. The work that we could give these people is of a nature that could be performed without any additional training on their part. We think that by expanding the facilities of our State parks, tourism can be increased considerably in those areas and many new jobs can be created: jobs in building campsites, picnic areas, parking lots, trails, fishing lakes, and restrooms. Construction alone in these areas could provide many years' work for many of the skilled, semiskilled and even unskilled workmen. As the jobs are completed, operations and maintenance would then begin. In the visitors' season people are needed to provide basic services such as garbage collection, cleaning, check in and check out, fire prevention, concession operation, water safety, etc. Considerable maintenance would also be needed in the off season. Sincerely, HORACE CALDWELL, Director. GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Certainly, if funds were available, the Georgia Historical Commission could utilize unemployed workers in our programs. As are most historical agencies, we are woefully understaffed, particularly in clearing grounds, cutting grass, building roads and parking areas, and in such jobs that require not too much skill under supervision. I know of at least one site that would probably be given to the State almost immediately if we had some means of handling rather expensive archaeological work on it. We have wondered about the plan you suggest as an answer to that particular problem. It would be hard to estimate the number of man-years of work which might be usefully undertaken in the immediate future. That would depend on location, whether workers could be transferred from one section of the State to another, and other factors. With our present program alone, I could use 10 men indefinitely. Please let me know if I can furnish any more specific information. I shall be interested to learn what progress is made in your planning. Sincerely yours, MARY GREGORY JEWETT GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION, Macon, Ga., July 3, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Mr. Shirley, our director, has asked me to prepare and send information that you requested in your letter of May 29. Enclosed please find these data. There is much that needs to be done to bring our State forests up to their full potential. An adequately financed program would be a giant stride toward the fulfillment of this need. A program such as you have suggested would bring in increased revenue to the State, provide employment, and boost the economy in general. We certainly are in sympathy with your endeavors along this line, and if we can give you any more specific information, please don't fail to call on us. Yours very truly, W. H. MCCOMB, Chief, Forest Management. DEAR SIR: I have succeeded Mr. Thrasher as secretary-treasurer of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority. If Federal funds could be made available for the employment of individuals for capital improvement on Jekyll Island we would be in position to apply our meager capital funds to the purchasing of materials and could at an early date undertake construction of a number of badly needed projects, among which would be the construction of a marina and yacht basin, the construction of an 18-hole golf course, extensive work in the protection of the beach area, and in the planting and beautification of the island. It is my feeling that a minimum of 200 man-years of work could be undertaken almost immediately. If there is further information which you would find useful in this purpose of legislation or with regard to its preparation we will be happy to supply it. Very sincerely, E. B. DAVIS, State Auditor, Secretary-Treasurer, DE KALB COUNTY, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: The De Kalb County Parks and Recreation Department, presently owns 1,692 acres of park land. This acreage includes 80 parks which range in size from 1 acre, to large parks with 238 acres. Our program in the past few years has grown so fast that it is impossible for us to perform the proper maintenance and improvements of these parks. Consequently, the appearance of our parks is not what we feel it should be. The rapid growth of De Kalb County, has made it extremely important to buy available land now, rather than wait until it is too late. This has resulted in many park areas being undeveloped as well as poor maintenance. I would be most pleased to see the legislation that you are drafting pass, so that it might be available for parks and recreation departments with these problems. I feel extremely certain that we could use a large number of individuals in the maintenance of our new parks, as well as many of our old ones. This would give us employees that would help with such propects as planting, correcting drainage and water problems, cleanup, and many other routine-type projects. I feel we could very easily use 50 such individuals for the next 5 years to very good advantage. In connection with this project, however, one important factor would be to have supervision in order to insure that the work be done in a proper and economical manner. The proper supervision would avoid much waste and squander of labor. I appreciate very much having an opportunity to express my thoughts in this matter and am looking forward to favorable results from this legislation. Sincerely, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. JOHN G. WILLIAMS. CITY OF ATLANTA, Atlanta, Ga., May 25, 1964. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: I acknowledge and thank you for your letter of May 15, 1964, addressed to Mr. George I. Simons, regarding proposed legislation to provide funds to communities to utilize unskilled laborers who could do needed conservation work in such areas as park improvement, playground development, etc. Mr. Simons retired March 1, 1964, and it is my pleasure to supply you the following general information. The city of Atlanta Parks Department is in the process of acquiring 20 to 22 additional park sites under our 1963 bond program. While much of the development work of these sites would necessarily have to be performed by private contractors, there surely would be a substantial amount of clearing, grubbing, and other basic work. In addition to developing new park sites, there is a need for additional maintenance personnel to perform our everyday housekeeping chores. Our greatest workload occurs in the summer months and we could easily use additional personnel. However, I am concerned as to the supervision of any substantial number of unskilled workers in that we have only a minimum number of supervisors. If the proposed legislation provides for the utilization of unemployed supervisory personnel we could more effectively use the unskilled. I regret that it is not possible at this time to estimate the number of manyears of work which could be usefully undertaken in the immediate future. Thank you for your inquiry, I am, Sincerely yours, JACK C. DELIUS, General Manager of Parks and Recreation. |