Evening star., 1932-07-17
CALIFORNIA HELPS
J0BLESS IN CAMPS
Mountains Prove Refuge Also
as Gold Lures Thou
sands.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
SAN FRANCISCO, July 16.-Cali-
fornia's mountain regions are proving
an alI-year aid to the unemployed dur
ing this period of depression, offering
during Winter a safe and health1ul
haven of refuge for men willing TO
work for a living and during Summer
a chance to pan sufficient gold from
stream beds for SubSlStence-and lhe
lure Of more if one is lucky.
A report On Cahfornia's experiment
last Winter in providing highway ana
forest camps for the unemployed Is
now in preparation for submission 10
the Governor 1t will show that the
experiment was a success and VIII
carry a recommendation that the plan
be carried out next Winter on larger
scale.
Relieves Crowded Cities.
The camps were. provided and man
aged bv a statewide committee TO re
Ieve the cities of some Of the bur-
den of caring for able-bodled unem-
plOyed men and to absorb ltlnerant
unemployed who tend to flock to Cali
fornia's mild climate for the Winter.
Two highway camps and % forest
camps were maintained, housing
maximum Of $500 men at any one
for physical fitness and promised to
do five hours OF work daily. No wages
were paid, but work clothing, whole
some food. shelter medical service and
tobacco were provided.
The work of the camps was super
yised by State employees III the forestry,
highway and fish and game depart
ments and equipment was provided by
those departments and some Federal
The work consisted Ot
trail and road construction and other
measures toward flood prevention and
forest fire protection. ReXford S. Black,
secretary Of the California Forest Pro-
tective Association. active member OF
the committee in charge OF the expert
ment, estimates that the State received
more than a dollars worth OF benent
from each of 100000 spent, and that
the men helped through the Winter
came out in improved morale and
health.
Mr.. Black is recommending to the
Governor that the State provide for
next Winter 100000 from the emer-
gency fund 100000 from the highway
maintenance fund and S200,0 600 from
the highway construction fund to main
tain camps for 1000 unemployed from
October Is to May l. He estimates
that a million mar-days thus provided
VIII NOSG lIIC ot1NN NtG ~ NNA-N9 PNA
nan-day. and that the State will bene
fit to the full extent Of the expenditure.
Each Gets S. Bonus.
When about 1900 men. each with a
s. bonus in his pocket. LETT the forest
and highway camps at the final closing
April l, quite a number of them Joined
the thousands from California cities
and towns trekking into the hills TO
pan gold. The State Department Of
. Mines estimates that more than 1000
4 individual miners are in the hills and
deserts Of the State this Summer
searching for the yellow metal. Last
year California gold production in
creased from SO 45l ,l62 to an estimated
Sl0,7080 900 about 81 900 900 of which.
il is estimated. was produced by about
10000 amateur placer miners This
year, with the number OF amateurs in
creased and with mining companies
active. production is expected again to
show an increase.
State MineralogiSt Walter w. Brad
ley, who recently returned from a trip
into the Sierra Nevada region. says the
unemployed are busy with pans and
sluice boxes and generally taking out
enough gold for subsistence. Wages"
run anywhere from 80 or 40 cents
day to several dollars. A dollar a day
Is good average wage for the hard
work, but the fascination and lure and
adventure seem to make up for the low
returns. Rent is free. sunshine and
fresh air is plentiful, and subsistence
can be had at present low commodity
prices at 40 or so cents a day.
A favored playground during vacation
season. the States mountain regions are
proving year-around shock absorber
curing depression.
(Copyright 1922