The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-04-28

Dream of dream he has
| nursed for years.
His ideas for reforestation of idle
lands have been enacted into law that
lumber requirements of future years
may be met. Thousands of men are
being drawn from the ranks OF the
unemployed in a score OF cities ana
are receiving their training that they
as the Civilian Conservation corps may
go into designated areas to replant
the forests that have been devastated
by the ever-encroaching hands of In
dustry.
| Mr.. Roosevelt looks upon the pro-
gram that may cost as much as $780,
100000 as work that is made with
definite purpose and definite value to
the country. 1t is possible to employ
100000 men under the terms Of the
blanket authority given the President
by congress. Each man will be paid
one dollar a day and his keep; he Is
under disciplinary supervision of the
army and is fed and clothed on the
same basis as the military man. The
theory Is that he can send most of his
pay back to his family. thus relieving
local charity of that charge. but the
recruiting is not yet complete and
those already In training have received
only one pay check. so it cannot yet be
told how much government money will
be returned to the families.
In purpose, the reforestatiOn move
ment is broader than just the plant
ing of new trees; it is to be scien-
tific job in that engineers will consider
the areas to be forested with view to
prevention of floods and for the check
ing of soil erosion or washing, and
| for the utilization Of lands the value
of which for crops is doubted. The
| several units, therefore. constitute a
gigantic move for conservation Of re-
sources of a national character and
the program as whole bears the
stamp of a relief measure for destitute
| citizens.
The President is under no illusions
about the project. In chats with news
| paper correspondents he has made II
SlcdI Ludt lc ICdilLcS luC IOtdl VI I'LL
employed to be given work is only a
| drop in the bucket But he contends
even that number gainfully employed
will have some effect on the general
situation and that they are doing
useful work. Advocates of cOnserva-
ton of national resources agree that
the work is useful, yet among many
| others there is doubt as to the wis
dom of expanding funds in this way.
In this connection, some of the ar
gument used in debate on the legis-
lation may show the trend of thought.
1t was declared, for example, that an
outstanding weakness of the plan,
from an unemployment standpoint, Is
| the full time use of limited number
rather than part time or half time
use of double the number, accomplish
ing distribution Of the work. Such
result obviously could not be had If the
work was In the forests and the work
ers away from home without attendant
expenses of food and clothing for the
larger number. Hence, it was argued
that work should have been made in
the home communities of the men.
And the further question was asked
whether this type Of work was worth
the price, since it constituted bur-
den upon the present taxpayers for
production Of a future asset.
Considerable complaint has reached
washington about the methods en-
ployed in recruiting
Recruiting the men for service
Criticized of the forestation
work. Officials
charged with supervision of the work
say, however, that objections and crit
fcisms are to be expected and that
their instructions to the recruiting
agencies naturally must leave some
discretionary powers to the subordi-
mates.
In addition to the fred tape" so
usual in government affairs and not
lacking in administration of the for
estation program. reports here indi-
cate tendency on the part Of some
recruiting officers to be dictatorial and
to refuse to cooperate with local
charitable institutions. Corps head
quarters here denies that local charit.
able agencies have not been consulted
SO that the most deserving individuals
may get chance to join the civilian
service If they desire.
At any rate, the picture of the great
program for restoring the country's
forests and providing work at the
same time holds forth indications of
trouble. In fairness. it ought to be
said. according to general opinion
here. that Mr.. Roosevelt has promoted
scheme of exceedingly high purpose
but that 1t Is of the character that
permits extreme abuse exactly as do
so many idealistic plans. have heard
some of the Presidents supporters in
congress express fear concerning the
eventual reaction of the country to
| the plan.
A few years ago, 1t was quite the
thing to issue bonds to pay for public
m p rovements.
Bonds and States, counties.
| EmPtyTreosuries cities, towns,
school districts,
road districts, levee districts, drainage
districts, irrigation districts and every
other subdivision Of government was
issuing bonds with reckless abandon
and making Improvements galore.
have been unable to obtain from any
source an accurate figure as to the
total amount of such bonds, but with
out doubt they run into good many
billions of dollars.
But now the day Of reckoning is at
hand. Bonds must be paid off and re-
/ fired nv MANY communities ~ 20 81.