Evening star., 1933-03-21
GLASSFORD URGES
. FUNDS. FOR CAMP
Radio Audience Told Plan of
Rescuine youths From
. Throes Of Depression.

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Plans for establishing . model camp
for wandering boys on the Potomac,
near Washington, were described by
Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford last
night in . radio appeal for funds to
launch the enterprise.
Speaking over Station WJSV, Gen.
Glassford told how he expected to set
up Camp America on thousand acres
of fertile land between Washington and
Leesburg, and how poultry, dairy and
truck farms could be operated for the
eventual self-support Of the project:
The speaker used information he
collected during several months spent
among young wayfarers to emphasize
the need for immediate action.
He declared that Camp America
should serve as a model to the rest
Of the country, and perhaps offer
solution to one Of the most distress
ing phases Of the depression.
Undermining Of Youth.
1.-The purpose of this talk" Gen.
Glassford said, "is to bring to you .
clear picture Of how the present eco
nomic situation Is undermining the
younger victims of the depression and
to appeal to you for support In re-
habiltating these boys.
Throughout the United States there
are thousands Of young men and boys,
Their homes are wherever they are
fortunate enough to be able to lay
down for the night. Day after day, they
wander, eating at random. Night after
night, they sleep IN any conceivable
place that offers shelter"
Gen. Glassford pointed out that the
young transients are exposed to every
! known disease, Of mind as well as
| body. Deprived Of the home influence,
he nd, they run the risk Of becoming
criminals, and all because circumstance
has turned them adrift, through no
! fault Of their own"
10,000,0 600 workers are unemployed, and
."at least another million on the bor-
der line Of destitution." Ne pointed
out Mat although several bills for i'm
mediate relief have been introduced
in Congress, none OF them has been
passed.
Need Of Federal Aid.
1T IS impossible for the Federal Gov
eminent to overcome this situation at
orce," Glassford continued, nor can
misery that has gripped the Nation for
more than two years"
Returning to the plight Of unem-
ployed boys in particular, Gen. Glass
ford said I'VE are ready to start q
model camp for these young men near
Washington, camp which will be de-
veloped by the boys themselves. and
which eventually. through their own
efforts, will become self-supporting."
Gen. Glassford said a mile Of road
must be improved to make the camp
accessible. THE Improvement OF the
road" he continued, will increase the
Everything we plan to do on this prop
erty will increase the value, so that
when the depression is ended and there
Is no further need for the camp, we
can sell the poultry farm, dairy and
truck farms and pay back to the under
writer's substantial part Of their con-
tribution.
"All that is holding up the estab-
lishment of this training camp Is lack
Of funds. The boys must be fed until
the camp is self-supporting: They must
be clothed and provided with other ne
cessities. We require trucks, farm ma
chinery, implements, seed and fertilizer.
We need COWS and pigs and chickens.
We need equipment for vocational
training We need thousands OF dollars
to make Camp America q success and
we must start Immediately in order to
take advantage Of Spring planting"
Federal Funds Lacking.
Gen. Glassford said there are no
Federal funds available from any source
to start the camp, and, as conse-
quence, the project is dependent solely
on private contributions"
He estimated that $40 Will keep and
train q boy for one month, and this sum
includes payments on the land.
About $4,000 would be required for
the first year with camp enrolment
of 500 boys. During subsequent years.
however, the cost will be negligible,
Glassford declared.
A $40 contribution entities the donor
to one membership bearing pro rate
ownership in the land. Thus the men,
bers will receive their share when the
land Is sold. I'm other words" Gen.
Glassford said, "a contribution Is also
an investment"
Boys will be selected for the camp
by the Transient Committee OF the Dis
trict, on a basis of good character,
bona fide victims of the depression, but
can be either transients or residents Of
the District. No boy will be accepted
who wisely can be returned to his home.
Gen. Glassford said 1t Is his inten-
ton to live In camp with the boys as
commander, adding that some splendid
men have volunteered to 60 with me
as instructors and to work without pay.
Among these are experts In construc-
ton, agriculture, engineering and vo-
cational training, as well as chaplain,
doctor and dentist"
The speaker predicted that q success
full camp for the rehabilitation Of young
transients established near the Capital
will expand quickly to a Nationwide
movement"
He concluded with an appeal for
subscriptions, no matter how small.
from "every club, every church and
every veterans post in the city," as well
as from every individual interested in
1.-The welfare OF Americas men Of to-
morrow"
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