Page 89 - 2005 DT 12 Issues

I n T h i s I s s u e !

Featured Article

The Civilian Conservation Corps..........1

Departments
News & Notes.......................................2

Programs & Hikes.................................4
December 2005 Desk Schedule.....................................6
Bulletin Board.......................................8

THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS ate non-union jobs. It didn’t matter,
the CCC had overwhelming support
. . . Economic and Environmental Lifesaver for America throughout the nation from both par-
ties, and even FDR’s implacable foe,
by Chuck Kleber Order, it could get things done, rough Colonel McCormick, publisher of the
roads or not. Chicago Tribune, put himself squarely

rother, can you spare a The daunting problems of organi- behind the CCC. Significantly, Indians
dime”—words from a zation and logistics were paramount. participated in the great enterprise to
“Bsong during the Great There was only one group equipped restore the land that had once been
Depression that devastated America to handle it—the Army. Young men their pristine homeland; 14,000 came
in the 1930s. Tragically, there were were fl ocking to recruiting centers, in at the start and over 80,000 would
few dimes to go around and millions particularly in the east, but the greatest serve during the life of the CCC.
of the nation’s young people were left environmental needs were in the states What was life like in these camps?
without jobs, and almost without hope. to the west. Camps had to be set up It was a lot like the Army. CCC vol-
To compound the malaise, our natural unteer Ed Braun recalled, “The daily
resources were suffering from severe routine started with Reveille at 0600
land erosion, the loss of trees and a hours . . . loudly blared bugle calls
host of related problems. The outlook through a P.A. system that could blow
was truly grim. you out of the sack.” Pay was only $30
It was a time that called for ener- a month, but food and lodging were
getic and dramatic action. It came from provided, and there were $25 allot-
the newly elected President Franklin ment checks for families. For people
D. Roosevelt. In one of his first acts, who had nothing, it was a windfall.

he called the Congress into emergency Money began to flow into the econo-
session on March 9, 1933 with a monu- my. Many small businesses and even
mental proposal to put the nation’s some communities owed their survival
young men to work in an “army” to to this infusion. The hard-working
restore the country’s life-giving natural CCC men became physically lean and

resources. In just three weeks the bill “The slogan of the Civilian Conservation fit. It was good emotionally, too. They
Corps is ‘We can take it!’
had passed through Congress and was were re-building America by planting
on the President’s desk for signing. and transportation organized. The De- trees, improving and building roads,
FDR promised to have 250,000 men partments of Agriculture, Interior and installing telephone lines, creating res-
in camps by mid-year as the Civilian Labor were brought in to help. FDR ervoirs and much more. They worked
Conservation Corps (CCC). It was an chose a union leader, Robert Fechner, every day except Sunday. Evenings
agency without precedent. There were to lead the CCC. He had a problem at were free, and much time was spent
no rules and regulations . . . and no the start with many union groups who
red tape. Operating under Executive saw the CCC as an instrument to cre-
The CCC, continued on page 6