The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-29
To Dedicate Largest WPA
Armory Built In South On March II

most recent al q
comprehensive work relief program
in Robson county.
Governor Clyde r. Hoey, Colonel
F. C. Harrington, Commissioner OF
the Works Projects Administrator
Adjutant General J.. Van B. Nets
Captain Eli Wishart, commanding
~Lumberton's own Battery B, 252nd
Coast Artillery,N. C. N. G. State
WPA Administrator C. c. McGinnis
Lumberton's Mayor E. M. Johnson
and City Commissioners c. M. Bak'
er, R. A. Hedgpeth, R.. E. Clegg, w
R. Allen, County Manager Ed But
Ter, the Robson county commits
sioners. National Guard officers and
units from all over the state and
other dignitaries will attend the eel
ebration.
First Visit
This is Colonel H~arrington's first
visit to North Carolina since be-
coming head Of work relief in the
nation" said Administrator McGin'
mes. 1--WE feel honored that u gov.
ernor and our Work Projects com.
missioner have consented to make
the principal addresses at this i'm
portant marking of another mile.
stone in Robson county's progress,
resulting from cooperating with
WPA in providing jobs for the needy
unemployed there"
Yesterday, when McGinnis an
nounced the preliminary plans for
the %dedicatory exercises, he reported
WPA's activities and accomplish
ments in Robson county from the
start of work relief there in October
1885 to February Is, 1910.
Superintendent of Robson coun'
ty schools, C. L. Green, recently
commented, with WPA we've had
fine work and splendid cooperation
With some other work, we had
headaches. Robson county has been
setting the woods afire' with WPA
and we've got plenty to show for it.
Administrator McGinnis' schedules
disclose what they have to SHOW
for it."
WPA's fundamental purpose, pro
viding work for the needy unen'
ployed, is carried out with 877 per
sons earning livlihoods through
honest, worth while enterprises. The
peak number employed in the coun
ty was 1855 men and women, De
cember, 1938-mills resuming in
creased operations account for thu
decrease in the number working
WPA is sensitive to and reflects 10
cal economic conditions.
Robson county, it's municipal
ties in partnership with WPA
have spent $1,511, O46. The lion
share of that large sum has beel
paid as wages. Salaries at substance
levels must be spent at once TO
groceries, rent and the bare es
sentials of living. That money ha
been turned loose into local bust
ness. The material and non-labo
costs must be purchased from pr
vate industry, which in turn mus
hire other men to produce the ma
erials, supplies and equipment.
At LumbertOn
;. The immense armory, quarterlni
company B, 252nd Coast Artillery
, is not owned by the militia. A mum
cipal improvement to be used TO
a wide range of civic functions. !
is best termed an armory-auditor
ium. It p%ortends being the socia
center for the section.
: From WPA workers, Lumbertol
!, now has four miles, 21,120 Inca
feet Of new concrete streets, eigh
miles Of curbs and cutters flankin,
] them with storm drains construct
ed under the entire distance. TIL
paving job is so impressive that
national trade journal recently cal
ried a story about it.
The astounding total Of fifteel
miles Of sewers now service tow
areas not formerly possessed G
those modern essentials. While, o,
a similar series of projects, WP1
workers have dug seven miles Q
other trenches, before covering tn
holes, Z miles Of six inch waite
mains were properly placed in then
The two story Robson count
agricultural building has been i
use for owe two years. There tn
county agent, W. .. Reynold!
services agrarian needs; Miss Mar
Huffine carries on her home den
onstration work, DR.. e. K. Hardin
public health service is locate
there, as we'll as the county we
fare offices, headed by Mrs. Kat
S. Mcleod. A farmers curb marke
is in the basement.
The new 100000 WPA-built voc;
tional educational building at tn
high school contains the gymnasium
class rooms and the six room HON
Economics laboratory.
A drainage ditch, sixteen feet dee
prevents the cemetery from bein
swampy. Before that was dug,
was not uncommon for new grave
to be filled with water.
Repairs
Relief workers have repaired t.
City Hall, Court House, schools an
have built a garage for the Coul
ty, at Lumberton.
EST. Paul" stated that town
Innavor r A Keith dc 1ro+ef,,J Fl