Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
January 3, 1940
Daingerfield CCC Camp Is Moved To Tarrant County
Supervisor Will Have Charge of State Park In Future.
An announcement was made Wednesday morning of the removal of the Daingerfield CCC camp to a new area at Azle, in Tarrant County, alter completing a three-year program of work in Morris County.
The entire camp was torn down this week and all of the enrollees and equipment were transported by truck to the new location. Notice was forward to the technical staff at Daingerfield to the effect that part of the group would be transferred to Azle and the remainder of the men would be sent elsewhere.
Practically all the entire program carried on at Daingerfield consisted of the creation of a beautiful State Park and the building of a huge lake. In the future the park will be in charge of a supervisor and probably one or two assistants.
When the camp was first established at Daingerfield the unit consisted of a detail of white enrollees. Later, though, a Negro CCC camp was maintained there.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
January 18, 1940
500 CCC Enrollees Sent Out From Mt Pleasant This Week
Three Contingents go to Colorado and Wyoming Location
About 500 new CCC enrollees from Northeast Texas were sent from Mt. Pleasant to camps in Colorado and Wyoming this week, the last of three contingents leaving here Wednesday evening over the Cotton Belt.
The new enrollees were assembled here from points all over Northeast Texas for assignment to their permanent locations and their records and orders were handled by the Mt. Pleasant camp.
Three trains were required for handling them, a contingent leaving here Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights. The Mt. Pleasant camp has become the concentration point for all enrollees in this section, all the "rookies" being sent here before being sent to their assignments. Practically all of the men sent out this week were new enrollees, with only a few experienced men accompanying them to their camps in the Northwest.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
February 21, 1940
Potato Culture To Be Discussed At CCC Camp Thursday
Specialists Will Be Present and Talk on Yam Production
We have been requested to announce a special meeting to be held at the CCC camp from 10:00 until 3:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon, which has been arranged by County Agent Jas. W. McCown, County Agent, and Miss Susie Brabham, County Home Demonstration Agent.
The purpose of the meeting will be for discussions on the production of sweet potatoes and their uses in the every day diet. J.P. Roseborough, Extension Service Horticulturist; Mr. Wright, superintendent of the Gilmer sweet potato experiment station, and Miss Junie Cant, food production specialist of the Extension Service, will be present and will give talks upon their various fields of endeavor.
All farmers and others interested in the growth or use of sweet potatoes are especially invited to be present and to take part in the meeting.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Thursday Evening, February 22, 1940
Sweet Potatoes And Their Culture
Demonstration Held At CCC Camp Here Thursday
J.F. Rosenborough, Extension Service Horticulturist from A. &. M. College; J.K. Wright, superintendent of the sweet potato experiment station at Gilmer and Miss Junie Cant, food production specialist for the Extension Service, were the principal speakers at a demonstration held at the CCC camp from 10:00 o'clock until 3:00 Thursday.
The purpose of the demonstration was to advance the different theories of sweet potato culture and to bring forth new uses, for yams in the daily diet.
The meeting was arranged by County Agent Jas. W. McCown and Miss Susie Brabham, County Home Demonstration Agent. During the noon hour lunch was served in the dining room of the camp.
A rather small crowd was present for the occasion but a great amount of good was accomplished.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
March 8, 1940
Be Sure To Vote In Saturday Election
Mt. Pleasant owners of farm property are urged to vote in tomorrow's election for the formation of a soil conservation district comprising Camp, Franklin, Morris and Titus Counties.
Anyone owning farm property or having an interest in an undivided farm estate is eligible to vote if they, can vote in the general election.
This is a very important matter, and the district should be formed in order to keep the CCC camp here and insure further farm improvement through the Soil Conservation Service.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
April 5, 1940
CCC Camp Has Done Much to Improve Titus County Farms
51,296 Acres Given Treatment For Soil Conservation
In connection with the observance on April 7 of the 7th anniversary of the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Homer Hays, Camp Conservationist of the Mt. Pleasant CCC Camp announced today that 326 farmers located in the camp work area, have installed or are in the process of establishing complete soil and water conservation farming systems on 51,296 acres of land.
Mr. Hays said that these farmers have retired from cultivation approximately 5,382 acres of land. Some of it was so badly eroded that it could not be profitably used for the production of clean-tilled crops. Other acres retired were located on slopes too steep for safe cultivation and some of the land was composed of soils too easily eroded by rainfall run-off to be left without a protective covering of vegetation.
As a result of this land retirement pasture area on the 326 farms has been increased from 13,090 to 19,227 acres, thereby insuring erosion control and a more profitable utilization of the land.
Mr. Hays also pointed out that farmers have utilized idle, as well as retired land, through the establishment of hay-producing meadows. Meadow area on the 326 farms having been increased from 676 to 718 acres. Some of these meadows have been established along natural drains by removing brush, weeds and sprouts and sodding and seeding with Bermuda and carpet grass. Many of the meadows serve the three purposes of controlling erosion, producing a hay crop and providing a safe outlet for field drainage water.
Cultivated land on the conservation treated farms has been reduced from 23,008 to 18,103 acres. On these acres remaining in cultivation the erosion control practices of contour cultivation, strip cropping, terracing, crop rotations and cover crops are being used to insure the retention of productive top-soil and the maintenance of soil fertility.
Contour rows from tiny dams on the level of the land to slow, the rate of flow of rainfall run-off. Strip crops, bands of close-growing, fibrous-rooted crops, also planted on the contour spread out rainfall runoff, cause it to slacken speed and catch and filter silt washed from the clean-tilled, intervals on the field, Mr. Hays pointed out. These two practices are backed up by terraces where needed to insure the safe and orderly drainage from the fields of excess water. Cover-crops of legumes and small grain planted on the land in the fall protect the soil from the erosive action of heavy winter and early spring rains. When turned under green in the spring, they add organic matter to the soil and help the growth of crops that follow.
Mr. Hays said also that the farmers who have installed complete conservation systems on their land with the assistance of technicians of the Soil Conservation Service and CCC enrollees, are now protecting 6,013 acres, of farm woodlands from fire and grazing to insure a plentiful supply of wood products for home consumption or for sale on the commercial market.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
April 5, 1940
Open House Will Be Held at CCC Camp on Sunday
High School Band to Render Concert In the Afternoon
Arrangements have been completed for the annual open house celebration at the local CCC camp, and the date has been fixed for Sunday, April 7th, Lt. Charles S. Bushnell, Commanding officer at the camp, stated Friday. A special program will be from 1:00 o'clock until 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon.
At 1:00 o'clock, a concert will be rendered by the high school band, under the direction of Neil McKay. This will be followed by tours of inspection through the camp area, and explanations of the various activities of the enrollees.
Officials at the camp, including Lt. Bushnell; H. G. Hall, subaltern; Dr. Lee W. Fulton, camp physician, and Newman Casey, educational advisor, have extended an invitation to the entire citizenship to visit the camp Sunday. All who do so are assured of seeing things that will be worthwhile to them.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
April 8, 1940
Hundred, or More, Attend Open House at CCC Camp Sunday
Visitors See Film of Soil Conservation Work Methods
According to officials in charge, a crowd estimated at more than a hundred persons attended the annual open house celebration at the local CCC camp Sunday afternoon. The celebration commemorated the establishment of the camp.
The open house hours were from 1:00 o'clock until 6:00 and during that period motion pictures, depicting soil conservation practices, were shown to all visitors present. Tours of inspection' were also conducted around the camp area.
Plans were made to have the local high school band give a concert at the camp at 1:00 o'clock, but because of unforeseen circumstances it was impossible for the band to appear.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
April 14, 1940
Five Carloads of CCC Enrollees Go To Arizona Points
Total of 302 Northeast Texas Boys Are Transferred
CCC enrollees from various points in Northeast Texas assembled at the local camp Friday and in the afternoon entrained at the Cotton Belt station for different camps in Arizona.
There were 302 boys in the group which left here for new locations, and they occupied five coaches attached to the regular train, which left at 5:30 for Dallas, where the Texas & Pacific took the group as far as El Paso. A majority of the enrollees had just been accepted and only a few of the experienced men were sent away from this section. The Mt Pleasant camp is the assembly point for the entraining of all CCC enrollees for a large section in Northeast Texas, and many, are brought here at intervals to be sent to their permanent locations.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
April 19, 1940
Titus County CCC Enrollments Total 37 For This Month
Enlistment Of Boys Completed For Spring Period
Mrs. Jessie Johnson, manager of the Titus County relief office, announces the selection of thirty-seven local boys for enlistment in the Civilian Conservation Corps during April, the period for spring enrollment. The county's quota for this period has been completed at present.
Those chosen for work in the camps are as follows:
James Walton Allen, Hollis Beasley, Ray Carson Boase, Edgar Ray Braggs, R. L. Brownlee, Melvin Bradford Byrd, Lawrence Wesley Cabell, Morris Lee Clark, Ralph David Culver, Arlene Eldon Daniels, Jewell Arden Fletcher, Edwin Alien Gibson, James Alvis Gross, Murray Alton Guess, Billy Conrad Hammonds, Edgar Eugene Harbour, James William Johnson, Harold Kay, Joe David Kelly, Laddie Lee Landers, Arlie Ferrell Lewis, H. D. Mayfield Jr., Edd Burton Martin, R. L. Mills, Ira T. Moon Jr., Noble Wilson Morris, Edward Moses, Leegar Vernon McDonald, Morris William Nichols, Eugene Ferryman, Harvey Lee Randall, Lester Stephens, Ellis Ray Stephenson, Ted Taliferro, Winford Vail, J.U. Vaughn, Leonard D. Vaught.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
May 24, 1940
Bill Soon Goes to Congress To Train CCC Men for Army
Government to Enlist 50,000 Aviators For Service Soon
It was announced in Washington Friday that a bill is to be introduced in Congress next week that if passed will require the personnel in every CCC Camp in the nation to have two hours of military training every day. It is not expected to make soldiers of the men under the provisions of the bill, but to give them the groundwork of army operations so that in the event of war they would be more quickly available.
President Roosevelt said that 50,000 aviators are to be made ready for service by 1941 through the establishment of a number of training stations throughout the nation. All the reserve fliers, commercial aviators and everybody with flying licenses will be included in the special training, and many others are to be enlisted for this service. Men 18 to 25 years of age will be eligible for enlistment.
Mr. Roosevelt made an about-face in regard to the operations of the Dies Committee on Un-American Activities Friday. Heretofore the object of some caustic criticism by the President, Congressman Dies of Texas, head of the Congressional investigating committee, was highly complimented by the President for uncovering much information which has proven very valuable regarding subversive elements of alien governments in the United States.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
June 24, 1940
Eligibility Changes Made For Selection Young Men for CCC
Family Need will Not Be Considered as Basis In Future
According to Mrs. Jessie Johnson, County welfare supervisor, there have been important changes recently made in eligibility standards for the selection of young men for enrollment in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Young men in need of employment may now enroll for the CCC, even of they do not belong to families in the needy groups, and their allotments which formerly went back to their families may remain on deposit for the enrollee until the end of his enlistment period. Applicants will be required to bring statements from the heads of the family to the effect that the allotment is not needed and if need develops at a later date, a change will be made so the allotment will go to the dependent. Enrollees from the relief group will be given priority in selection.
All applicants in the future will be chosen on the basis of their ability to profit by and contribute to the work of the corps. Character is still the most important qualification.
Applications will be taken at the local office on Mondays.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
June 27, 1940
Safety Certificate Has Been Awarded to Local CCC Camp
Personnel Operated Full Year Without Single Accident
The Mt. Pleasant unit of the Soil Conservation Service, including the CCC camp, has been awarded a safety certificate by Dr. H.H. Bennett, chief of the service, in recognition for the operation during the entire year of 1939 without a single accident to any member of the personnel.
There are 38 units operating in the Western Gulf region of the Service, including demonstration projects and Civilian Conservation Corps camps doing erosion control and soil conservation work, operating motor vehicles for a total of 3,713,200 miles during the year without an accident and performed 4,142,080 hours of work during the year without a single disabling injury.
Of the 38 units receiving safety awards, 12 are located in Arkansas, nine in Oklahoma, eight in, Louisiana, and nine in Texas.
The nine Texas units performed 728,119 man hours of work and operated motor vehicles 669,979 miles without an accident. The units are Lindale project, Bogata CCC camp, Garland project, Lockhart project, Mount Pleasant project, Pflugerville CCC camp, San Antonio nursery, Tyler area office, and the Vernon project.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
July 14, 1940
Large Contingent CCC Enrollees Sent to Western Parks
Week End Transfers Totaling 417 Are Made From Camps
Transfer of 417 CCC enrollees from camps in East Texas was effected this week to camps in park service in Colorado and New Mexico. Included in the transfers were eighteen white and eight colored boys from Titus County.
A contingent of colored enrollees left Thursday night for Ysleta, Texas, while a large number of white boys were sent Friday night to Denver and Dolores, Colorado, and Tularosa, New Mexico. On Saturday morning additional enrollees were sent to Roswell and Carlsbad, New Mexico, where they will be employed in national park projects.
The transfers were made from the local camp and also camps in Jacksonville, Tyler, Marshall, Bogata, Winnsboro and Azle. The enrollees were assembled here, because this is the concentration camp for this area. The boys left by Cotton Belt trains for Dallas where they were routed over other roads to their final destinations. Many of the enrollees had just been recruited, and were sent to their first assignments.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
July 26, 1940
More Youths Are Needed For CCC Camp Service
Applicants Asked to Be at Local Office Monday Morning
Mrs. Jessie Johnson, Titus County WPA official, stated Friday morning that she received communication from the State Director of CCC enrollment to the effect Titus County's enrollment quota has been enlarged and that ten more youths are needed for immediate service. According to Mrs. Johnson a large number of boys have been approved for post-dated enrollment, to be placed into service sometime around October. Their addresses, though, are not available and this paper is being used to contact them.
All boys wanting to enroll at this time are asked to be at the relief office Monday morning and the first ten youths will probably be selected.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
October 2, 1940
Applications For CCC Enrollment Again Available
Five Thousand Texas Boys Are Needed At Present Time
According to Mrs. Jessie Johnson, County Welfare Agent, Titus County boys between the ages of 17 and 23 years, will have an opportunity to enroll the CCC on October 17 and 18 as the allotment for Texas is 5,000.
Admission to the CCC camp does not make a boy more liable for military call, nor are the enrollees given distinct military training. The training is of a non-combatant type, calculated to aid the country in case of a national emergency. But it is primarily intended to fit the boys for profitable places in civil life.
Thousands of boys each month go directly from the camps to worthwhile jobs as a result of their training. Only ambitious boys are sought for enrollment those willing to work and to take instructions.
All boys are required to enroll for six months. A shorter period accomplishes nothing and is expensive for the government.
CCC rules now permit enrollment of all boys "employable and in need of employment." This includes the sons of families receiving some type of public assistance, and hundreds of worthy boys whose families are not on public assistance rolls, but are in need of employment and training. Youths without families or proper support can enroll.
All CCC boys with dependents, and this includes the vast majority, are required to remit $22.00 monthly to their families, or other dependents. They retain $8.00 for spending money. Enrollees without dependents must deposit a $22.00 allotment with the government's Finance Officer, to be returned to them in full upon completion of enrollment.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
October 16, 1940
Over Four Hundred CCC Enrollees Will Leave This Week
Special Train Takes Large Number to Utah on Saturday
A total of 412 enrollees of the Civilian Conservation Corps from the various counties of this section will leave the Mt. Pleasant camp this week for other locations.
A special train will leave the Cotton Belt station at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon to transport 318 men for service at Cedar City, Utah. They will have nine tourist Pullmans, a baggage car and a kitchen car at their disposal to make the trip.
A contingent of 94 men leave Thursday afternoon on No. 5, to which will be attached three coaches and a baggage car. Ten of these men are scheduled for a lamp at Albuerque, N. Mex., and 84 will go to a camp at Santa Fe, N. Mex.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
October 16, 1940
Jobs In CCC Are Going Begging In Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY - Jobs in the Civilian Conservation Corps are going begging and officials accuse veterans of refusing the work in lieu of future defense program positions at high salaries.
The Veterans Administration announced that 45 vacancies were available in the CCC but only 25 had accepted the jobs. The shortage is unnecessary, officials say, since between 85 and 90 men are eligible.
"It's a foolish attitude to take," one official said. "If a man has a trade or a skill, there is still an opportunity to put that ability to good use in the defense program after he has joined the CCC."
It was charged that the men are anxious for work to begin on the Wendover bombing field and the general army supply depot in the hope of making $14 a day.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
November 3, 1940
Thirty-Nine Boys From This County Accepted Into CCC
Welfare Agency Has Issued Report For Month of October
The Titus County Welfare Agency, in an announcement made Friday morning, gave a list of thirty-nine boys who were accepted into the Civilian Conservation Corps from this county during the month of October. The list includes the following:
William Addison Allen Jr., John Charles Armstrong, Howard Smith Bell, George Frank Brown, Charles Benton Browning, Richard Joshua Chestnutt, Charles Ellis Cochran, Lewis G. Cochran, Edward Leon Clark, Pat Alton Clover Jr., Willard Clangmon Coe, John Eldridge Gibson, Mack Alexander Goates Jr., Roy Lee Harvey, James William Hays, Hugh Berry Henderson Jr., Carl Johnson, Oscar Thomas Johnson, Melvin Eugene Jones, Marion Jimmie Kay, Charlie Grissom Kelley, Glendon Lawrence King, George Lee Lilly, John Albert Littlefield, Frank Houston May, Carl Junior Miller, Vernon Joe Murphy, John B. Newman, William Darwin Phillips Jr., Glenard Eugene Poole, Donald Eugene Rich, Calvin Henry Perkins, Vannoy Harold Sargent, Harold William Staton, Temple Joseph Steadman, Robert Samuel Taylor, Chester Crawford Temples, Jason R. White, Marshall Johnnie Love.
