Evening star., 1935-10-25
j. s. GUIDE BOOK
RESEARCH BEGUN
5000 Experienced Authors
Writing Five-Volume
Work for w. p. A.

today put its spotlight on long hidden
secrets of American lore and history.
buried for years in dusty documents
and the memories of remote peoples,
as it set 5000 experienced authors to
work gathering material for master
guide book of the United States.
The destitute writer, dependent on
the work-relief program for food and
shelter, will scour every nook and
Granny of the country to produce the
five volumes of 600 pages each which
will make up THE American Guide"
Henry Alsberg, director of the Writers
Division, professional and service
projects section Of the w. P. A, with
$3,000,000 to spend, remarked:
mo section of the United States is
to be neglected by the guide, and it
will give special attention to all cities
of 10000 or more. These cities num-
Der roughly 1000. and each will be
the center of activity with an Office
and with Investigators who will oper-
ate within its borders and search its
surrounding neighborhood for color
and information"
No Thorough ID. c. Guide.
Even Washington possesses mo
thorough guide" according to Alsberg,
once a foreign correspondent for New
York newspapers and later play
wright and director of the Province
town Theater in New York'S Green
wich Village.
10 {1NaY
prepare articles for The American
Guide" Alsberg continued. Original
reports, maps and illustrations will be
left with each city, county and State
for use in preparing local guides.
"The local guides will supply a
need that has not been adequately
met by existing compilations even
in the older communities, where much
has been done to interest outsiders
in scenic wonders and historic sights"
Alsberg has been organizing this
project for two months Relief roll
writers not employed in gathering
material for the guide will devote
their attention to drafting semi
monthly field reports on the activities
of the w. P. A, to be used as gen.
eral report to be made to President
Roosevelt on all undertakings OF the
relief program.
The writer's will also compile an
encyclopedia of Government functions
and engage in a number of other re-
cearch projects.
Alsberg's super index of Amerca,
which the writers will prepare as
painstaking and accurately as they
would if they were writing their own
books over their own signatures" ex-
poets to cover thoroughly long list
Of subjects from the general topog-
raphv and fora and fauna, to neigh
borhood architecture.
Price Not Yet Announced.
Although Alsberg has made no an
nouncement concerning the price OF
the guide, it is expected each volume
will cost between 81 and $l.5O, with
a special rate for the purchased COM
plete set of six. 1t will be many
months before it is available.
The many results Of the work, ac-
cording to the w. p A., will include:
1. Rediscovery of many forgotten
facts about American shrineS and the
Nations great dead;
2. Enable the sightseer, whether
bent on q days excursion or an ex-
tended tour" to find fresh scenes TO
entertain him and to promote his
knowledge Of America as whole;
3. Reveal 1.-The distinctive cultural,
frQ6itinnS'
hundreds of communities known only
to a handful of people;
4. Give descriptions Of sections OF
the United States that remain prin-
tive wildernesses;
S. Describe festivals such as the
Portland, Oreg., rose festival; the New
Orleans Mardi Gras; the Santa Fe
fiesta; the Bethlehem, Pa, Bach music
festival, and various Indian ceremonial
dances;
6. Provide school children with a
useful source book.
The guide will also help the foreign
visitor, according to Alsberg, who said
of the travellers from abroad:
"Of course, all desire to visit New
York City and Washington, D. c.; they
have all heard Of Niagara Falls, the
steel mills of Pittsburgh, the stock
yards of Chicago and the automobile
plants of Detroit.
Unfortunately, the belief is current
in some places abroad that the red
skins still haunt the primeval forests
supposed to be just north of Yonkers,
N. Y, and that the traveller in America
is constantly exposed to the danger of
neing scalped."