The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-04-07
CITY REPORS
CONTINUED from Page One)


the necessary labor was not available
from relief rolls, this was furnished
from City funds.
We have one suggestion to make for
a more complete coverage of available
labor. We have a great number of
single men (not transients) who are
eligible for relief employment. At times
due to quota reductions these single
men are laid off from the relief projects.
If some method of staggered employ
ment could be found for these single
men they would earn enough to take
care of their needs.
Local Planning.
Local planning is now ahead Of the
relief program. We have projects
planned which will take care of eligible
men for the next three years. Planning
is difficult for the reason that we often
run into long cold winters and all types
of work cannot be carried on during this
period. We have attempted to fit the
projects for the type of labor available.
We have on our relief lists great per-
centage of common labor and a small
percentage, and at times none, Of
skilled labor.
Our planning of relief projects is CO.
ordinated with our longtime planning
program Most of our longtime plan
ming projects are suitable for work re-
lief projects, and are suited for the type
of labor available.
Local Costs.
The City of Ely has in all Of the
work relief projects contributed all ma
terial and equipment costs. Our con-
tribution from Federal Funds has been
the relief labor and a very small per-
centage of equipment costs. All of our
future projects are planned so that the
municipality will pay all material and
equipment costs. There has not been
any improvement in the Citys fiscal
condition but it has not become any
worse.
The work relief projects undertaken
by the City of Ely have been of the
non-revenue producing type, such as
street improvements and the revenue
producing type such as water line ex-
tensions. In some cases the non
revenue type of project, where improve
ments have been made, maintenance
costs have been lowered. Perhaps the
Sponsors share and the total cost of
the projects has been greater under the
work relief program than under a con-
tract system, but we believe that the
benefits of the program offset the in
creased costs.
| Construction.
All Of the projects undertaken have
been of permanent nature. Some of
the facilities were badly needed. The
City has had healthy growth, the new
streets, roads, sewer and water lines
serve newly built-up sections of the city
Economies have been affected by
using salvaged lumber from an old city
owned building, field stone has been
used where available. Local gravel has
been screened to save costs from dis
tant gravel pits.
| Nom Construction.
The only non-conStruction under
taken by the City of Ely have been
"white-collar" clerical projects. The re-
cords of the City have been brought
up to date and much valuable infor-
nation has been brought to light.
Workmanship.
The workmanship on the projects has
generally been good mainly through the
efforts of the supervisory staff in
fitting the men to the jobs for which
they are best adapted. This has also
reflected itself in decreased costs.
Improvement of Civic Standards.
About rs per cent of the construction
type of project would have been beyond
the resources of the City during the
period covered by the program Some
of the projects have been of benefit to
the entire population, others have bene-
fitted fairly large groups. Our water
and sewer extension have expanded at
better than normal rate.
| The WPA has demonstrated to some
of our people the value of work and of
producing something for the wages re-
Lceived. Some of them were in rather
hopeless mental rlIt until they received
a regular job at regular pay for real
work.
The WPA program has stimulated
interest in planning future community
improvements. Without intelligent
planning no program can be successful.
People now talk of what we shall do
two, three and five years from now.
Work Relief and Direct Relief.
In our opinion in the field of relief,
work relief should cover all those needy
cases willing or able to work. Direct
relief should cover only those who are
physically unable to work. In our ex-
perience with the unemployed they
want jobs. Some of them feel ashamed
of direct relief. Here has been the sore
point with us locally. Some Of the
unemployed feel that they should not
be considered relief cases before assign
ment to the work relief program. We
know definitely that a great many
more would be eligible for the work
relief if we could make them eligible
without having the direct relief feature
entering the picture.
A combination of direct and work
relief is better for the community, but
work relief program is infinitely bet
ter for the unemployed who are willing
and able to work.
Dated at Ely, Minnesota, March l.,
1888"