KENTUCKY RESPONSES COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: This is in reply to your letter of May 29 requesting information concerning use of unemployed workers on conservation projects. Within our department of conservation, we do have programs which would lend themselves to the utilization of this kind of labor. Some of these are as follows: 1. Timber stand improvement. 2. Reclaiming prelaw strip mined areas. 3. Developing outdoor recreational areas, and perhaps youth camps within our State forests. 4. Assist in controlling forest diseases and insects (seasonal). 5. Assist in controlling forest fires (seasonal). 6. Assist in developing small water projects for public use. These are projects directly connected with our own department and does not include those related to the departments of highways and parks. The number of man-years of work which might be usefully undertaken in the immediate future would depend upon Federal funds for supervisory personnel. The present program of utilizing unemployed parents of dependent children has worked satisfactorily in nine counties in Kentucky; however, we are greatly concerned about State financed supervisory personnel when and if the program is expanded. This same problem, I believe, would be true in your proposed legislation if supervisory personnel is not included. We feel that work is available that might be usefully undertaken in the immediate future for 1,000 to 1,200 man-years. Please advise if we can be of further assistance. J. O. MATLICK, Commissioner. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: This is in answer to your recent letter concerning proposed legislation to utilize unemployed workers in conservation projects. This department has many projects which could utilize such labor in substantial numbers. The following projects could be undertaken without extensive planning : 1. Trail repairs. 2. Trail building. 3. Forest cleanup. 4. Lakeshore cleanup. 5. Erosion control. 6. Boundary marking. 7. Reforestation planting. 8. Roadside improvement. 9. Lakeshore protection. 10. Vista clearing. Please note that all of these are what are sometimes called secondary Jobs-those we would like to do if funds were available. They will therefore not take work away from other persons since they will only be done at the expense of capital construction, or when surplus funds are available. May I point out, Senator, that I urge you to include in any legislation, some method which will insure a day's work for a day's wages. We have not been very successful in getting work from the fathers of dependent children since they are receiving a welfare check whether they work or not. Kentucky could use 10 men in each of our 20 larger parks for a 2-year period. Very truly yours, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. THOMAS J. NELSON, Director, Division of Planning. AUDUBON STATE PARK, Henderson, Ky., June 21, 1964. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Your proposed legislation is very dear to my heart. I spent 7 years in the CCC camps as a project manager and I am very aware of the possibilities that your legislation will mean to the unemployed people of today. However, I do think that we must be cautious so that anyone not willing to work can be eliminated from the work rolls. We must not encourage loafing or poor workmanship. Any governmental agency working toward a conservation program can use hundreds of these men. Here at Audubon (600-acre park) we could easily employ a hundred men for 2 years or more, doing such jobs as building trails, shelters, cabins, roads, toilets, cutting out of weed trees and damaging vines, eliminating poison plants such as poison ivy and those of the nightshade family, marking and fencing in all park boundaries, cataloging and improving exhibits and improving the park interpretation program. These jobs are now current necessities that need to be done, but cannot because of lack of funds. I believe that throughout the United States a million men could be profitably employed for at least 10 years on our vast conservation program in parks, forestry, wildlife, and soil conservation work. Thank you for permitting me to state my opinion to you on this subject so essential to our American way of life. Very sincerely, CLINTON G. JOHNSON. BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK COMMISSION, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Please refer to your letter under the date of May 29 as directed to Mr. Lon B. Rogers, vice chairman of the Breaks Interstate Park Commission, which was given this office for reply. The Breaks Interstate Park consists presently of about 2,000 acres, mostly in Dickenson County, Va., but extending into Buchanan County, Va., and Pike County, Ky. We expect the land acquisition to increase to about 2,500 acres total within the next few months. The park apparently would be interested in utilizing some extra manpower should Federal funds become available. Some projects which could be carried out without extensive preparation are as follows: clearing of underbrush, cut fire trails, build retaining walls, cut road rights-of-way, and a planting program. Other work in the area but outside of the park could be carried on, such projects as cleaning up debris on the highway approaches and clean creek bottoms of brush and trash. There is always the problem of supervision. Our experience in the past has indicated that about 8 to 10 men in a crew under a supervisor is the maximum number which can be worked to a satisfactory degree on any one project. We estimate that the park could use 25 to 30 man-years of labor in the immediate future, possibly within the next 2 or 3 years. There are usually about 4 months-December, January, February, and March-in which the weather conditions are uncertain and during that period there would be days not suitable for outdoor work. We thank you for your interest in a project of this nature in this area and if you desire future information, please feel free to contact this office. With best wishes I remain, Sincerely yours, HAROLD ZANGER, Superintendent. JEFFERSON COUNTY PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION BOARD, Jeffersontown, Ky., June 23, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: It is my pleasure to be of whatever help I can in your endeavor to draft legislation to provide funds to Federal, State, county, and municipal agencies in the form of workers on park development and other related projects. We have an extensive park development program going on in Jefferson County, and we have a limited budget. This means that the Jefferson County Playground and Recreation Board could very well use workers for whom they would not have to budget salaries. The types of projects we could use these men for are our major parks, and we have presently dedicated eight, and propose dedicating three more next year; our forests and our campsites. I would estimate that our program could very easily use 50 man-years in the immediate future. Permit me to suggest that your proposed legislation is excellent, and that it will certainly serve two purposes; namely, providing employment for unemployed workers as well as conserving our natural beauty and providing recreation. Sincerely, CHARLIE VETTINEB, Superintendent. CITY OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In answer to your good letter of July 1, I am incorporating a reply which we received from Miss Dorothy Wehrley, ACSW, director of Jefferson County Welfare Department. Miss Wehrley stated: "As you probably know, the Jefferson County Welfare Department assists individuals and families where the problem is one of unemployment, and until July 1, 1963, we had a work-relief program. Able-bodied individuals who were unemployed and who met eligibility requirements for assistance were assigned to work in city and county departments. We discontinued the work relief for several reasons. There was more private employment available and we were able to help clients obtain such jobs. Also, some individuals had been on work relief for long periods of time, considered these jobs permanent, and made little effort to find private employment. "I do not know how a program such as Senator Nelson is considering would be administered. If it would cover both city and county there would undoubtedly be projects in the development of parks and recreation areas, floodwall, drainage, etc., that could use these workers. The number of such unemployed, who would qualify would depend on how stringent the eligibility requirements were for such employment. There are always unemployed individuals who want to work but who do not qualify for work relief. "At present, the number of employables we are assisting is negligible due to seasonal work. Many of these workers will be without work in the fall and winter and will again seek assistance. There is a hard core of unemployed who, because of lack of skills, illiteracy and age (50 to 60), will never be able to secure permanent employment. These individuals could benefit by a work program. Incidentally, they do not fit into any kind of training program. "If Senator Nelson is able to secure funds for municipalities, I feel sure we could develop projects for which these could be used." Quite frankly, I am most interested in such a program and would be very appreciative of your keeping this office posted as to your progress. Sincerely, WILLIAM O. CowGER, Mayor. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. LOUISIANA WILD LIFE AND FISHERIES COMMISSION, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Reference is made to your recent letter requesting information on conservation projects for the State. If funds were made available, we would be able to utilize sufficient numbers of workmen in our lake management program. Many of the lakes in Louisiana need to be cleared, boat roads made through the timbered areas, and stumps removed, which is all done with labor. Access areas could be cleared, launching areas could be provided along with parking and picnic areas. We are also in need of a fishing evaluation program and many of these people could be used in a creel census check that would last for several years. If we can be of any further assistance, please let us know. Sincerely yours. HARRY E. SCHAFER, Supervisor, Fisheries Section. RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In answer to your letter of June 16, certainly, we can use a lot of people in park and recreation work. If they were available, I sincerely believe that this organization could use an additional 300 people per year and still not catch up with all the work that is to be done. We could easily plant 10,000 trees in our park areas and we could use these people as junior recreation leaders. Under present budget conditions we do not have enough personnel to clean the existing park areas. We have 1,000 acres of land that needs to be cleared and of course many new capital improvement projects could be started if personnel were available. We have plans for $10 million for improvements and no funds available. All of these projects could be done without any new extensive preparation. Certainly, in our type of work and as we have continued to expand in this recreation and park field, it is endless to the number of years that this work could continue. Many of us on the local levels have been turned down in our efforts of obtaining additional tax operating money. This has limited us in our ability to get the job done and in meeting the demands of the people. Certainly, any additional personnel or funds would be helpful to any organization on a local level as the population have increased demands. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Thank you for your letter inquiring about the number of workers who might be employed by this department on conservation projects if funds were available. There are several types of projects on which workers might be employed if legal restrictions were not an important consideration. These are oil pollution cleanup, beach erosion, and pollution abatement projects. One of the legal problems would be the matter of riparian ownership. (Would such supporting funds be limited to publicly owned beaches and other shore areas?) A severe gale-force storm last December coincident with abnormally high tides drove a raft of crude oil ashore along some 25 to 30 miles of Maine's coast. Most Manmonths 36 12 2. Sister Lake Camp: (a) General repairs to camp, boathouse and pier-- Total (4 man-years) -. 3. Grand Pass and Bay Gardene Camps: (a) General miscellaneous repairs to camps, piers, boat sheds, lifts, etc___. Total (2 man-years).... 24 24 48 ༴།༅།། མ།*།།མ།*།། 4. Shell plantings as clutch on oyster seed grounds east of Mississippi River. 24 Total (2 man-years). 5. Development of additional oyster reefs in suitable areas of Calasieu Lake to help offset reef losses due to navigational channel developments and augment potential production for the area....... Total (3 man-years) –– Total (man-years' effort, 22) ‒‒‒ 36 36 264 It should be recognized immediately that much of the above work will be dependent upon physical plant including boats, barges, draglines, etc., to support the manpower needs. These represent types of projects in accordance with the responsibilities of this division. Other possibilities are available in the development field. Some deal with water control and could be quite costly with a relatively low man-year index although quite beneficial to the marine fisheries program of Louisiana. T. B. FORD, Assistant Chief, Division of Oysters, Water Bottoms, and Seafoods. LOUISIANA WILD LIFE AND FISHERIES COMMISSION, To: Richard K. Yancey, assistant director. New Orleans, La., June 11, 1964. From: Kenneth C. Smith, assistant chief, fish and game division. Subject: Employing workers on conservation projects. Upon examining the needs of additional manpower, as requested by Senator Gaylord Nelson, I would like to submit the following conservation jobs and the probable utilization of this manpower for each : Conduct creel census on important fishing areas, particularly the Atchafalaya Basin__ Clear boat roads in shallow impoundments---- 4. Building construction: Assist carpenter crew in various construction jobs. 48 Total (32 man-years). 384 It is understood additional funds would be necessary for the purchase of materials and supplies in order to properly utilize this number of additional manyears. KENNETH C. SMITH, Assistant Chief, Fish and Game Division. |