Evening star., 1938-09-04
By A meLia +. NaCFadven.

S the Nation of tomorrow de-
n pends upon the youth of today
"A no investment that our Gov
4 4 eminent might make will pay
better dividends than in the educa ting
and training Of our youth that they
may become better and more useful
citizens.
One agency Of our Government that
Is doing much toward obtaining this
end is the Civilian Conservation Corps,
with its 1900 or more camps, scattered
throughout the United States. in
Alaska and in our insular possessions
A visit TO one of these camps should
convince the most pessimistlc tax
payer that his money is wisely invested
and paying royal dividends, and that
the enrollees at these camps abe as
great an asset. if not greater, than the
gold reserve buried in vaults under
the Kentucky hills.
The c. c. c. alphabetical title by
which the Civilian Conservation Corps
is popularly called was created in
April. 1888, as an emergency measure
to take care of the thousands of young
men reaching work age during the
critical period of depression. with nc
prospects of finding employment of
any kind, and, at the same time, to
aid in the conservation and develop
ment of natural resources in badly de-
pleted national and State forests
parks and public lands.
These camps are administered by
Mr.. Robert Fechner, director of the
Civilian Conservation Corps. with the
cooperation of four regular Govern
ment departments. They are well
equipped and prove clean, wholesome
environment for the enrollees.
DRIVING from State to State
through mountains, parks and
plains, one observes the splendid work
done by the boys of the c. c, c. in
the improvement of natural resources
during the past five years. This man.
ual labor of the enrollees is paid for in
"board and keep anS a cash remuner-
alton of $50 a month. Part of this
remuneration goes to the dependent
~ dependenth of the enrollee, if he
Mas any.
The greatest benefit, however, de-
rived from the c. c. c. is not the
work that the enrollees, themselves. do
to aid in conservation and improve
ment of natural resources OF Nation
and State. but, rather. what the G.
c. c. is doing for the enrolleeS in
training and equpping them to be-
come useful, law-abiding citizens, able
to obtain gainful occupation upon
leaving camp at the end of their en-
rollment period.
To be eligible for enrolment in the
c. c. c. a youth must be between the
ages OF II and %; a citizen Of the
United States; unmarried; out of
school; Of good character; unemployed
and in need of job; physically and
mentally fit and able to do vigorous
work.
N1AniAeC CIV WHO age iHilll-lt W G0,
then glance at another similar age
limit-that of youthful criminals-as
compiled by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. This latter group re-
veals that l8 per cent of all persons
arrested last year were under 21 years
of age. They accounted for 13 per
cent of the murderers % per cent of
robbers, 40 per cent of burglars, 80
per cent of thieves, 81 per cent of auto
thieves and 81 per cent of rapists ar
rested in our country.
Would this high rate of crime have
obtained had these youthful criminals
had the advantage of the wholesome
life and training in c. c. c. camp?
Good food, wholesome, routine living,
gainful work and stimulating recrea-
ton DO not make for crime
OF course the enrollee has to be of
good character when he enters camp;
but had he remained at home, roam
ing the streets. jobless and hungry,