If funds were available, it is estimated that our department could usefully undertake approximately 2,300 man-years of work without extensive preparation for the specific projects. Yours very truly, S. N. PEARMAN, Chief Highway Commissioner. COOPER RIVER PARK AND PLAYGROUND COMMISSION, Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Received your letter of June 12 concerning the possible use of the unemployed for recreation and park improvements. The recreation and park superintendents in South Carolina, I am sure, would welcome the use of the unemployed to supplement the maintenance staff. I am confident that we could use the additional help to good advantage in our beautification program, and in establishing more family picnic areas for family recreation areas. We could also use the additional manpower to develop and clear now undeveloped areas. Also, I am sure our beaches on the coast could use the labor to make their areas more attractive. As to the number of man-hours, it would be almost unlimited, as maintenance of parks and recreation areas are way behind the program in my community and most other communities. We are very fortunate in this area in having an abundance of undeveloped areas that could be developed and enjoyed by the entire family. All that is needed is the labor. I suggest that you write to Mr. Carl Hust, superintendent of recreation in Greenville, S.C., W. M. Moore, superintendent of park and recreation in Columbia, S.C., and to Jack Vaughan, Spartanburg Recreation and Park Department, Spartanburg, S.C. Also, Sim Wright, president, South Carolina Recreation Society, Sumter, S.C. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to let me know. CITY OF CAMDEN, S.C., June 22, 1964. Hon. GAYLORD NELSON, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Thank you very much for your letter of June 15 regarding your proposed legislation concerning Federal funds to utilize unemployed workers on conservation projects such as park development, etc. Such a program would not have much application for a town such as ours. While our recreation program is larger than most towns of similar size, we still could not make effective use of substantial (I am defining "substantial" as 25 or more) numbers of workers. Ours is a town of 7,000, with another 7,000 or 8,000 in the immediate area. While I am personally against most Federal Government "giveaways" and welfare programs, your proposal seems to be aimed at helping people help themselves and this is what we need. It seems to me that your idea would have its greatest application at the State and county level, with some of the larger cities also sharing the benefits. I am afraid I have not been of much help to you but if I can be of any further assistance, please let me know and I wish you luck with your proposed legislation. Sincerely, BEN C. BOOZER, Director of Recreation. SOUTH DAKOTA RESPONSES SOUTH DAKOTA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT EXPANSION AGENCY, Senator GAYLORD NELSON, SENATOR NELSON: I appreciated receiving your letter inviting me to submit a summary of estimates as to the potential utilization of unemployed workers on conservation projects in South Dakota. Inasmuch as our agency is charged with the responsibilities of preparing a master plan for recreational development and because this project is now in its early stages, it is difficult for me to ascertain with any degree of certainty how much use would be made of Federal funds of this type. I have checked with the game, fish, and parks department and have found that you have sent a similar request to them. Inasmuch as they are the action agency responsible for specific projects of the nature in which you have evidenced interest, I am sure that their reply will provide you with the needed information. I shall call your letter to the attention of our commission at its July meeting and will contact you following that meeting should there be any specific suggestions resulting therefrom. Cordially, EUGENE H. STEARNS, Director. SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF GAME, FISH, AND PARKS, Hermosa, S. Dak., June 2, 1964. Mr. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Custer State Park could keep a camp of approximately 30 working men busy doing related services such as; engineering and park planning staff, cooks, motor maintenance, and so forth. These would keep such a camp operating. There are 150 miles of trail work, 50 miles of road building, 70 miles of stream improvement, and 5 dams and 15 homes for employees to be built, also picnic areas and roadside improvement to be done. Approximately 30,000 acres of timber is to be thinned, along with firefighting duties and 100 miles of fence maintenance and building. Such a crew could be used indefinitely. Hoping this is the information you seek and assuring you of our desire to be of assistance whenever possible, I am Respectfully yours, Mr. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. LES PRICE, Superintendent. SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF GAME, FISH, AND PARKS, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: In reply to your letter of June 3 requesting information as to utilization on conservation projects of presently unemployed workers, we submit for your consideration the following information: The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks would have few work opportunities for large encampments of the CCC era. However, small crews or groups could be utilized. If at all possible we would also prefer to hire local men living in their own homes. Any such program should also provide for purchase of special or vehicular equipment needed by the crews. Within a 2-year period we could probably utilize the following: Project Fisheries, stream improvement_ State park projects: Road and trail construction_-_ Erosion control and forest protection__. State forestry projects: Thinning and pruning-. Fire control (suppression and presuppression) Road maintenance.... Should you desire more detailed information, please let us know. GAYLORD NELSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. WALTER J. FILLMORE, Director. CITY OF HURON PARK DEPARTMENT, DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Thank you very kindly for your letter of June 12, 1964, relative to conservation projects which could be undertaken by unemployed workers. If Federal funds were available, there are several projects that could be implemented in and around the city of Huron, S. Dak. We have a river that runs through our city limits and a small lake adjacent thereto. Bank or shoreline stabilization is needed on both. The river should be dredged and cleaned out; all the rough fish in our lake should be cleaned out and restocked. We also have two fair size park areas that are undeveloped where trees and shrubs could be planted, roads built, landscaping and general development of the parks, swimming pools and proper playground areas could be developed within these areas. In my opinion there is no problem in finding something worthwhile that can be accomplished by your suggested program. It is difficult to estimate the number of man-years, but I would suggest 100 would not be unreasonable. DEAR SENATOR NELSON: Your letter of June 3, 1964, with regard to the proposed legislation to utilize unemployed workers on conservation projects would have been answered sooner had I not been engaged in getting a full and comprehensive report of the number of such workers we could use in our affected divisions and the specific kind of projects on which we could use them without extensive preparation. Attached herewith are copies of memorandums addressed to me from our division of State parks and our division of forestry both of which, as indicated, would greatly welcome such a program. While these two divisions would be the two to benefit in the largest degree, it is also my feeling that we could make good use of some of these employees in our division of geology and the water resources division. Thanking you for this opportunity and hoping this material will be of assistance, I am, Sincerely, DONALD M. MCSWEEN. 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: Man-years Construction of lookout towers, service headquarters, connecting 105 100 2, 192 Erosion control work--‒‒‒‒ 1, 005 11, 120 Timber stand improvement---. 1, 657 16, 179 Reforesting idle and eroding lands_. 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__. 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 landowners could increase the size o 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, 1934, 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. would be quite significant and will be forwarded to you. At any rate the figure 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. |