The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-04

sound that is not fair to both the aged and the taxpayer.
 We should strive to make sub- stanial beginning with our jail farm program.
 Insistent and pressing demands will be made upon you during the next few weeks for an extension of our welfare program. It is right to bear in mind that the state owes 8 duty toward its un4 r. tunates. No worthy person should go unclothed or unfed or be de- nied shelter. Proper, loving care must be given to children. We all desire an extension and improve ment of our welfare program in every direction towards those who need. help. We all want to extend opportunity to be under-prlvileged. We must realize that any service performed by the government must be paid for out of taxes. In this present time of economic dis tress and widespread unemploy- ment and part-time employment we should ask ourselves how we NesAA bNov PA0N1 4aA RAOSk dAAA A0k oV- cial welfare upon firm, and sure foundation. Can we increase and expand our service and facilities further without considering busi- ness and employment? Or should we first consider business and em- ployment, work to get them on sound and firm foundation know tng that business improvement and full-time employment will take care of much of our well fare needs? Just good times, not necessarily prosperity, but just good times, agricultrrally, com- mercially, industrially must be our immediate goal. These obtained, all of our people (and we must re- member that all of them, at least a very great majority of them, are taxpayers) will demand and will willingly pay the taxes to supply those things which may next be needed.
 Recreational Facilities and Con-
 servation
 The hurricane last fall wrought havoc with our state parks on the seashore. The cost of restor- ing them has been estimated at $400,000. A WPA project has been asked for, but to date little or nothing has been done. We should anticipate the possibility that the state will be required to restore these parks at great expense. They must be restored SO that they can be used during the spring and summer seasons. The primary problem is one of rehabilitation but we must have in mind also the possibility of extending these facilities whenever opportunity of- fers. When funds are available the completion of the States holdings at Sherwood Island would be de- Sirable.
 The storm did great damage in our state forests. Millions of feet Og good lumber now lie on the ground. Plans are being formulated to salvage this timber and make it available for use in the various departments of the state. This will require some financing and proper provision must be made for 1t.
 The storm has created 8 great fire hazard, particularly in the eastern part of the state. The state forester is building fire lanes so that forest fire, if started, can be confined within some limit. It is hoped that some federal funds may be required to expend as much as one hundred thousand dollars one hundred thousand dollars guarding citizens and their lands against fire. It is most desirable to extend our state forests. Here again, however, with limited means at our disposal the primary prlb- lem is rehabilitation and plotec- tion with the hope that funds can be later made available for extending our state forests. In many places additional lands can be purchased at reasonable prices which will not only extend cur present holdings but help la1id- owners who have not the means to clean up their properties aftc-- the storm.
 There is widespread dissatisfac- tion among the hunters and fish, ermen. These men and women pay a substantial fee and are en- titled to have full value for their money. Our woods, fields and streams are not far removed from large centers of population and consequently natural propagation presents problem which requires careful study by an adequate pro- gram of research. We must release more game end fish to supplement the natural supply. We should be sure that the game and fish which we release can adapt themselves to natural conditions. We could advantageously spend less money for administrative overhead and more money for game and fish. The cooperation of all of those who love the out-of-doors is need- ed in an unselfish effort to im- prove hunting and fishing.
 Waters and Floods
 The waters of our state consti- ute our most valuable resource. We must have definite, compre- hensive policy for conservation of water and protection against floods. The administration ot the existing statutes concerning wa ters which is now distributed among several different agencies, should, for efficiency and economy, be placed under single agency. The powers of that agency should be enlarged concerning dams, con- trol over streams and allocat.on of waters. There is no continuing state agency which has authority to deal with flood control meas ures. Such an agency should be established or such power gwen to the State Water Commission at the earliest date possible. Imme- diate action is necessary to de- velop and carry forward, with the cooperation of the Federal gov