CCC Davis County Iowa

LOOKS AS THOUGH DAVIS COUNTY WILL BE “HOLDING THE SACK”

Does anyone want to buy a good terracing machine, slightly used, in excellent condition. It appears as though the Davis County Soil Conservation association will soon have one on it’s hands, if orders to abandon CCC Camp no 71 are carried out as scheduled at present.

The terracing machine was purchased only last April, in connection with the establishment of a soil conservation camp here. Bloomfield and Davis County business men, farmers and private individuals contributed generously to a sizeable fund which was to be used in purchasing the terracing machine, secure a paid lease on a site for the camp and get the program started in this county. Contributors were quick to realize the need of such a program and the potential benefits that could be effected by a soil conservation camp. The business men and farmers came through with their end of the deal one hundred per cent. Enough funds were subscribed to meet every demand of the army officials, conservation officials and all the other bureaus that have had a hand in the program. Davis county farmers grew enthusiastic about the program and were more than anxious to contribute to the program.

The program was started. It never seemed to get going full speed ahead: but soil conservation work was being done and excellent results were noted. Because of the seasonable nature of the work to be done, real progress was not hasty. Establishing the camp in April, it of course took a great deal of the summer months to get ready to carry on the program. Then, with the coming of the fall and winter, it was impossible to go ahead with the work to any degree of efficiency because of the cold weather. Among the many projects listed in the program, some work was done on a good many of them; others were awaiting their turn. But now it appears that this splendid program, not yet started, is to come to a sudden end. Word has been received that the CCC Camp and the soil conservation program is to be discontinued. Needless to point out, the terracing machine will be useless to anyone around here without the necessary man power that can be furnished only by a group such as a CCC camp. Likewise, a paid up lease on a tract of land secured for a CCC camp is useless unless the camp is populated.

Efforts are being made to retain the camp in Bloomfield. It is hoped that the scheduled orders, by those in charge, to move the camp from this county might be averted. There is every reason why the program of soil conservation in Davis County, only been scratched as far as the real need of soil conservation is concerned. The Bloomfield and Davis county business men and land owners of the county business men and land owners of the county have done their part; and now it would seem that whichever department of the federal government it was that led us to believe there was sincerity in it’s part of the program should play square with us. It was the understanding, at the outset of the program, that the soil conservation camp would be established here on a more or less permanent basis. Heaven knows the buildings aren’t falling apart yet, or anything like that is happening. In fact, it is difficult to understand how any kind of an excuse to move the camp could be found at this time. At least one thing is certain, if the camp is moved and the program discontinued, those who contributed generously of funds and those land owners who have been entertaining hopes that they would benefit greatly from the soil conservation program, as they had every reason to expect, are all coming out on the short end of the deal. – Davis Co Republican, Tuesday, December 24, 1935.

Henry Paris who has been employed in a CCC Camp at Albia spent a few days last week with his mother, Mrs. Emma Paris.

Frank Lyles of CCC Camp of Ottumwa, spent the week end with his parents, Charley Lyles.

Davis County has a Specific instant to Cite the President

The President delivered his State of the Union address, President Roosevelt made statement that came close to home to the Davis county listener, or those of that read the speech the following morning, “Shall we abandon the splendid efforts of the federal government to raise the health standards of the nation and to give youth a decent opportunity through such means as the civilian conservation corps?”

But lets get close to home, Take the case of the civilian conservation camp No. 771, established right here in Bloomfield only about eight months ago. We don’t have any figures on what that camp cost the government, but there are a considerable number of fine buildings out there, all equipped with electricity and plumbing! Roads were constructed in the camp; today that camp sets empty.

Abandonment with the taxpayers’ money, is utter folly and squander.

Can it be that President Roosevelt proposes that every city, village and hamlet in the whole United States shall have a CCC camp standing vacant. – Davis County Republican, Tuesday, December 7, 1936.

Will Erhardt and Carl Kinney, from Lake Wapello CCC camp, were guests over the week end with home folks.

Mrs Leith Van Horn and children, Betty, Charles and Wayne, went Saturday with Mrs Van Horn's brother, Bud Lunsford, from the CCC camp at Lake Wapello for a week end visit with their parents, near Savannah.