Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
January 31, 1941
$4,032,750 to CCC Families of Nation Paid During l941
During the last fiscal year $4,032,750 was allotted to dependents of boys in Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Texas, the annual CCC report showed Thursday.
This amount is the total share of the boys earnings sent to their dependents.
During the year, which ended with June 30, there were 16,197 juniors and 242 veterans enrolled in Texas and there were 56 camps in operation in the State. Of these camps, one was with the Bureau of Reclamation, one in a national park, 15 in state parks, one with the biological survey, six in national forests, five in private forests, and 27 with the soil conservation service.
In the work during the year, the CCC camps built 85 bridges, 52 impounding the large conversion dams, 905,522 rods of fencing, 1,303 rods of guard rails, 332 miles of telephone lines, laid 34,770 linear feet of pipe or tile lines for water systems, and built 34 small reservoirs.
In erosion control work the CCC enrollees in Texas did 77,220 square yards of stream and lake bank protection, built 443 permanent and 2,107 temporary check dams, seeded and sodded 1,975,048 square yards of gullies, planted, seeded and sodded 2,600,891 square yards of terrace outlets, finished 13,432 miles of contour furrows and ridges.
In the field of food control, irrigation and drainage the Texas CCC cleared and cleaned 142,400 square yards r4 channels and [story was cut off here on copied page]
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
February 4, 1941
Soil Conservation District Meeting Set For Thursday
Supervisors Sulphur-Cypress District To Sign For Work
A meeting of all agricultural workers and business men interested in the operations of the Sulphur-Cypress Soil Conservation District will be held at the CCC camp Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock.
At this time, the supervisors of the district will enter into a memorandum of understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Soil Conservation Service, thus completing the district organization and authorizing the program of action to begin at once.
Under the plan of operations, land owners of Camp, Franklin, Morris and Titus Counties will be permitted to call on the various soil conservation agencies of the Federal and State Governments for assistance in farm improvement work, crop planning, conservation practices and other agricultural features calculated to improve farm conditions.
A comprehensive plan has been outlined on a general scale for the four counties, and includes phases of work suitable for the various kinds of soil in the district, social and economic problems and full cooperation of the land owners is expected.
Heretofore, there has been no actual physical operations conducted, but in the future such work may be arranged in connection with the CCC camp, which is centrally located in the district, and also have the technical advice of the technical experts of the Soil Conservation Service.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
February 7, 1941
Agreement Reached On Thursday For Soil Conservation
Will Be Ready to Begin Improvement Work Here Soon
At a meeting at the CCC Camp Thursday afternoon, attended by about seventy persons, the district supervisors for the Sulphur-Cypress Soil Conservation District, signed the memorandums of agreement with the Department of Agriculture and the Soil Conservation Service for operation of improvements on farms in Camp, Franklin, Morris and Titus Counties.
The memorandums were read by C.B. Spencer of Tyler, district superintendent of the Soil Conservation Service, who explained in detail the purposes of the agreements, and others also made interesting talks.
These memorandums were then forwarded to Washington, and as soon as they are signed by the Secretary of Agriculture, the local office will be able to enter into agreements with land owners for improvement of farms in the same way that benefits were received by the Titus County organization during the past few years.
This will mean more to the Agricultural interests of these four counties than anything that has been done for many years, and will likely receive the full cooperation of hundreds of land owners in the next few months.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
February 9, 1941
CCC Enrollments To Be Increased During This Year
Four Extra Periods Are Announced by State Executive
Announcement is made by J.S. Murchison, executive director, State Department of Public Welfare, that four additional CCC enrollment periods will be held each year.
"Beginning in February," slates Mr. Murchison, "an immediate enrollment will be held for boys wishing to join the CCC. These will be held following the regular quarterly enrollments in January, April, July, and October and will be a means of keeping all camps up to full strength, allowing the work programs to be maintained at a constant level."
The CCC has more to offer unemployed boys of good character than ever before. Training in various skilled-trades is being stepped up to meet the needs of national defense. Enrollees must now set aside $7.00 each month as savings, thereby assuring themselves of funds when they leave camp to tide them over until employment is found.
Applications should be made with Mrs. Jessie Johnson, local County Welfare worker, who will take applications each Wednesday morning.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
March 13, 1941
500 CCC Youths Needed to Fill Out Program in Texas
Boys To Be Assured Complete Schedule Of Work Training
J.S. Murchison, executive director of the Department of Public Welfare, has advised the welfare workers in all counties of Texas that it will take approximately 5,000 boys to bring CCC camps to full authorized strength.
The April enrollment is merely to replace those enrollees who have been discharged due to the fact they have completed their 18 months or two years service, or to accept employment to better condition, or who have been called home due to emergencies. Texas has over 16,000 boys currently in the CCC, those from New York and Pennsylvania only exceed that number, and over $250,000 per month is returned to Texas boys' families, while $125,000 is set aside and saved to be paid to them when discharged from the corps.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
April 7, 1941
CCC Celebrates 8th Anniversary With Open House
Refreshments Were Served From 2:00 'Till 5:00 Saturday
The local Civilian Conservation Corps celebrated the eighth anniversary of its creation by the Federal government Saturday afternoon, with open house at the camp from 2:00 until 5:00 o'clock.
Invitations were previously extended to anyone in the county to visit the camp and see the way enrollees are cared for during their enlistment in the Corps. Refreshments of coffee and doughnuts were also served.
Quite a few Titus County visitors were registered at the camp during the afternoon and all were highly impressed with living conditions, recreation facilities and educational advantages provided for the boys.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
April 15, 1941
CCC Youths May Obtain Leave For Army Examination
Rejection By The Army Will Not Hurt Standings
Members of the Civilian Conservation Corps who have been placed in Class I for selective service training prior to their enrollment and assignment to a CCC camp, will be permitted to report to their local selective board nearest their camp for physical examination, General J. Watt Page, State director of selective service, announced today.
Director Page also pointed out that a recent War Department ruling enables CCC enrollees to report for these selective service examinations without loss of CCC pay and also protects their status in the CCC should they be rejected at an army induction station. He said: "If a CCC selectee for military training was classified and placed in Class I by his local selective service board prior to enrollment in the CCC, but had not received notification to report for physical examination until after he had been assigned to a CCC camp, upon receipt of such notice he may request his local board for permission to report to the local board nearest his CCC camp for the required examination. Also, the War Department has ruled that his CCC company commander will grant him leave of absence with pay for whatever time is deemed necessary to report to the selective service board."
In addition, Director Page said, if a CCC enrollee who has been passed for selective service training and discharged from the CCC be subsequently rejected at the Army induction station, he may be reinstated in the CCC camp from which he was discharged upon application made within 15 days of the date of his rejection. If he does not wish to return to the CCC, he may apply in person to the commander of the CCC company from which he was discharged who will give him the authorized transportation to his home.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
April 15, 1941
Operations of CCC Camp Explained to Rotarians Tuesday
Commander Bushnell Tells of Benefits Received By Boys
H. C. Bushnell, commander of the CCC camp, was the spoke at the Rotary Club Tuesday, and told of the operations and results of the local camp.
Mr. Bushnell said that then are two phases of the CCC work one of which dealt with the field work for the Soil Conservation Service, and the other will training men. As everybody familiar with the work they are doing on farms in the county, Mr. Bushnell spoke on the other phase.
Since the establishment of these camps eight years ago, two and a half million men have served enlistments, but with changes being made whereby now one-third of the enrollees an only 17 years of age, and new problems have arisen. Most of these boys when they enter camp are under weight and undernourished, but after they have spent two years in the service they show remarkable improvement.
According to Mr. Bushnell, all illiterates must take educational courses, which are voluntary for the others, but about 85 per cent elect to enter the classes for Instruction, and since their average scholastic level is the fifth grade, they make good showings, as they have competent instructors.
The camps are not militarized, and by the first of July it is expected that there will not be a single reserve officer connected with the CCC. Their places are gradually being taken by former enrolled who have shown ability to accept responsibility and who took advantage of the possibilities offered during training. Two years of service in one of these camps better fits the enrollees for military service, if drafted, and also make better citizens of the men than they would have been otherwise, according to Mr. Bushnell.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
August 29, 1941
113 Enrollees Of CCC Are Entrained Here on Thursday
Entire Number to See Duty in Camps Throughout Ariz.
In compliance with orders issued recently by officials of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a total of a hundred thirteen enrollees were entrained at Mt. Pleasant at 5:00 o'clock Thursday afternoon for transportation to various camps in Arizona.
All of the new enrollees were secured from Titus, Bowie, and Cass Counties and were sent to camps at Adamana, Flagstaff, and Kingman, Arizona. They were placed in charge of CCC Subaltern Morris W. Ward of Marshall, and were guaranteed free transportation and meals to their destination.
Prior to entraining the enrollees were gathered together at the local camp in this city.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
September 12, 1941
Note: An area of this article was torn and could not be transcribed. We placed ". . . ." in those places and continued transcription at the next available location.
Colored Personnel May Be Assigned To Local CCC Camp
Officials Declare Unable to Secure Enough White Men
Officials of the soil Conservation Service and CCC met with a number of local people Friday afternoon regarding a proposed change in the personnel of the local CCC camp from white to colored men. The officials not want to make the change until they had consulted with Mt. Pleasant citizens to see . . . . would be any objection . . . .
It was pointed out . . . . to the increase of e…. over the country, due the armament program, it is . . . . difficult to secure sufficient white boys to properly man a camp . . . . the best results to the areas . . . . fected, and that those who enlist are small and unable . . . . as much work as those . . . . vice heretofore.
There is also such a turnover in the personnel that as soon as the men in the camp here become accustomed to their duties they are transferred to other places to leave the service.
On the other hand, Negroes are anxious to join the CCC, and there are plenty of them available. When once enlisted, the colored boys generally stay their full two years. Physically, they are stronger than white boys available, are more tractable and turn out more work on the farms than do the whites. It was said the only objection to the change for the local camp would possibly come from white families near the camp, but as the Negroes are more easily controlled than whites because they like their work and are better off than usual, they are mote likely to remain in their quarters when off duty.
Since a CCC camp's value to this section is to assist conservation work on the farms of Camp, Franklin, Morris, and Titus Counties, and as only about fifty men are available for field work daily under the present set-up and three or four times this many colored boys could be sent out to work, it is believed Mt. Pleasant people will accept the change without protest, because at Winnsboro and Bogata, where the camps have been manned by colored boys all the time, there has never been any trouble.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
September 15, 1941
Changes Are Made In Requirements CCC Enrollments
Differences Are Made in Method Of Paying Boys
Recent changes in regulations governing enrollment of boys for CCC camps, has made it possible for prospective enrollees to report to the nearest camp for enrollment, where formerly it was necessary to report to the selecting agency of their county. White boys may enroll in colored camps and be transferred to white camps immediately after being enrolled.
All white juniors between 17 and 23-1/2 years of age, unmarried, not employed or attending school regularly, physically able and of good moral character, are eligible for enrollment in the CCC. If they have had previous service with the CCC, an honorable discharge received at least three months prior to re-enrollment is required. Total enrollment must not exceed 18 months since July 1, 1937.
An allotment of $15.00 per month may be made to enrollees' dependents. If no dependents are indicated a deposit of $22.00 per month is made with the Finance office, which will be paid the enrollee upon completion of his enrollment period or discharge. If allotments are made to dependents, he will receive $8.00 per month in camp, and his dependents will receive $15.00 per month, and $7.00 per month will be deposited with the finance officer. The $7.00 per month thus deposited will be paid the enrollee upon completion of enrollment or discharge.
To those boys who have had only limited opportunities to attend school the CCC offers art excellent opportunity to secure training in arithmetic, grammar and penmanship.
To those on high school and college level, the CCC offers courses in auto mechanics, clerical work, cooking and baking, radio, typing, carpentry, and almost any vocational course where the facilities are available for teaching.
The national defense training has provided an opportunity for many boys to secure excellent training in trades that previously has not been offered and would have incurred considerable expense to boys desiring such training. The type training that CCC provides is the one basic factor in the elimination of the misfits.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Date not listed on photocopy, was between September 15-30, 1941
Resolution Of Appreciation Is Given CCC Boys
Supervisors Of SCS Service Issue Formal Thanks
In a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Sulphur-Cypress Soil Conservation District, held in Mt. Pleasant Friday, a formal resolution was passed expressing the Board's appreciation of the services rendered in the past by enrollees in the local CCC camp.
The Board is composed of Raymond Brown, chairman; John Hall, secretary, J. E. Pate and C. D. Solomon, and the official resolution is as follows:
"We, the supervisors of this soil conservation district, are of the opinion that the Junior White CCC Camp, located at Mt. Pleasant, now assisting the land owners and farm operators in the District Conservation Work Plan, has been satisfactory, desirable, effective and appreciated. We are also of the opinion that a Junior Colored CCC Camp made up of East Texas Negro boys supervised by white officials of the U. S. Army and Soil Conservation Service, would also be satisfactory and effective in assisting farmers cooperating with the district and would be a valuable asset in the district. Since the replacement of the white boys in the Mt. Pleasant CCC Camp with colored boys has been proposed as a possibility, we, after investigations, believe the existence of a CCC camp at Mt. Pleasant will likely be prolonged considerably by such a change. Therefore, in considering the general welfare of all the people in the district, we resolve that the transfer of colored boys to the Mt. Pleasant CCC Camp would be desirable during this defense emergency, if this should be the desire of the officials responsible for making this transfer."
John N. Hall, Secretary
For: Raymond Brown, Chairman
J.E. Pate
C.D. Soloman
At this time, it is not only appropriate that the Soil Conservation Service officials express their appreciation for the work that has been accomplished by the CCC enrollees, but it is also appropriate that every citizen of Titus County join with the SCS in saying thanks to the boys. Very few, if any, of the things that have been completed here by the SCS could ever have been done had it not been for the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
October 26, 1941
District Meeting Of SCS Held Here Friday, Saturday
Good Program is Presented At The Local CCC Camp
A district conference of SCS personnel from nine counties in Northeast Texas was opened at noon Friday at the SCS office at the local CCC camp, continuing Friday night and Saturday morning. Representatives were present from as far west as Rains County and as far east as Bowie County.
The purpose of the meeting was to improve planning assistance given District Supervisors in various districts in this section of East Texas. Speakers on the program included Raymond Brown, local district supervisor C.B. Spencer, Tyler, area conservationist; Delbert Taylor, zone representative from the regional office at Fort Worth, and Joe Pinson, editor of the Clarksville Times.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
November 5, 1941
Change-Over of Local CCC Camp Is Now Completed
Negro Youths To Occupy Quarters In the Future
The change-over of the local CCC camp from white quarters to those for Negroes was completed Wednesday, according to an announcement made here by officials of file Conservation Corps.
In making the announcement, officials said that the full contingent of white youths was moved out of the buildings last Saturday and that the Negroes began moving in Monday morning. The white boys were given their choice of a transfer to other camps or honorable discharges from the service and the result was about fifty-fifty.
Most of the Negroes who moved in this week, officials continued, come from a camp at Jacksonville, which has been abandoned. They will do the same type of work in the Sulphur Cypress Soil Conservation District as the white boys did.
No announcement was made as to whether the command of the local camp will be changed, but a complete audit of it has been made by Lt. A. E. Millot, former commanding officer here, but who is now a traveling auditor for the CCC.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
December 2, 1941
Rotary Meeting is Held at CCC Camp As Work Explained
Special Program Rendered For Club Tuesday Afternoon
The Rotary Club held its meeting Tuesday afternoon in the mess hall of the CCC camp for a special program to get acquainted with the new officials and to receive more information on the work that is being done in the Sulphur-Cypress Soil Conservation District.
If the luncheon served is an example of what the boys receive in the way of food, they certainly have nothing calling for complaint.
Lieut. J. G. Casey, camp commander, was in charge of the program, pointing out the company strength at present is over 200 men, while white camps are gradually being reduced all over the country because of a shortage of enlistments. He also gave details on securing enrollees.
The local camp has only a commander, a subaltern, a physician and educational advisor in charge, so the discipline of the organization is maintained by leaders and assistant leaders, chosen from the boys. The ration, allowance per man is 49.4 cents per day at present, according to Lieut. Casey. The commander then went into details of the daily routine of the men.
A quartette from the enrollees rendered three numbers for the Rotarians, which were highly enjoyed.
J.D. McDonald, the educational advisor, explained that colored camps have colored educational directors, and he told of the courses that are being given in this camp. They are vocational, academic and job courses, and the primary studies consist of reading, writing, arithmetic and citizenship. Educational training in some form is compulsory, and the boys are receiving much benefit from their studies.
Homer Hays of the technical service of the SCS, said the primary function of the CCC camp is the training of the personnel, and soil conservation work is part of this training. Safety is also consistently taught, and this camp has a remarkable record for few accidents. Mr. Hays utilized a large map to show where work is being done in the district, and instead of operating on individual farms, there must now be ten or more farms, with a minimum of 1,500 acres in a block to secure labor from the camp.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
December 10, 1941
At the CCC Camp
Four Colored Enrollees Are Unusually Good
Members of the local Kiwanis Club held their regular meeting this week at the CCC camp at the special invitation of Lt. J.G. Casey, Company Commander. Upon their arrival at the camp the Kiwanians were ushered into the dining room where they were served southern fried chicken with all the trimmings. The meal was one of the best the members have had in the history of the club, and was faultlessly served by a group of enrollees.
At the conclusion of the dinner Lt. Casey gave a short address of welcome and then introduced a quartette of colored boys who really knew the meaning of the word "harmony." Their selections were all old-time Negro spirituals and they were rendered in a manner that only members of that race can do. Three numbers were originally scheduled for the gram but the Kiwanians were so delighted with the music the singers were urged to give several more.
Guests at the Kiwanis meeting included Paul Hardin of Talco, J.K. MacKinnon.
Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
December 10, 1941
Boys at CCC Camp to Repair Old Toys For Christmas Use
More Needed This Year Than Ever for Filling Stockings
Arrangements have been made for the boys at the CCC camp to repair old toys and put them in good shape, so they can be used as a part of the Empty Stocking Fund to insure a happy Christmas for every little child in Titus County.
Those who have toys they can spare are urged to call Delbert Snider at the Chamber of Commerce, or better still, take them to his office. Mr. Snider will then notify J.G. Casey, commander of the camp, who has arranged for his boys to repair them.
Mr. Casey would like to have a supply of these toys not later than Saturday so the work can be completed in time for the toys to be included in the packages to be distributed on Christmas Eve. The more of these toys received, the less money will have to be spent, and more money will be needed this year than ever before to reach all of the children.
