Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall today announced approval of 35 Accelerated Public Works projects in 18 States and the Virgin Islands totaling $1,988,000 and simultaneously reported that these allotments have committed the total of APW funds for all Federal projects by the Department of the Interior.
Since start of the work-generating program the Department has launched 512 Federal projects and provided grants-in-aid to about 440 additional State fish and wildlife projects. The entire program will create 105,000 man-months of employment in a wide range of improvements touching many phases of conservation and benefiting most States.
The first allotment to the Department, made in October 1962, totaled $38 million. The second, approved May 28, 1963, was for $25 million, thus making the total available $63 million.
"These funds have been invested wisely and have resulted in immediate as well as long-term benefits," Secretary Udall said. "Their immediate benefit has been the creation of thousands of new jobs at the site of work and many other thousands in providing goods and services. The longer-range benefits now are being realized. Our rangelands, our national parks, our fish and wildlife refuges, our roads, our Indian Reservations have been improved. Fire hazards in timbered areas have been curbed, streams have been cleared, and new trails have been built. Costly soil erosion has been lessened. Also, we now have many new campgrounds, more parking areas, and additional boat-launching facilities, more swimming and picnicking areas.
"Many of these projects normally would have been years in developing. Today they are completed and the public is using them. “
The final projects announced today, all centering on forestry improvements and all certified by the Area Redevelopment Administration as important to alleviating unemployment in local areas, will generate 2,400 man-months of work. They are:
ARIZONA
Grand Canyon National Park
The National Park Service will rehabilitate boundary fences in Coconino County to prevent overgrazing in Grand Canyon National Park. This $35,000 project will provide 48 man-months of employment.
Navajo National Monument
In Navajo County, the National Park Service plans to improve fire trails in the Betatakin Canyon at Navajo National Monument. This project is estimated at $15,000 and will provide 18 man-months of work.
CALIFORNIA
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Ground improvements and reforestation work will be undertaken by the National Park Service at the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in Shasta County, near Redding. The $50,000 available for this work will provide 54 man-months of employment.
Yosemite National Park
In addition to a previous allocation of $150,000, Yosemite National Park is being provided with $188,000 to continue campgrounds and forest preservation work in Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties. This will increase the National Park Service employment in these counties by 240 man-months.
Eureka Project
In Humboldt County, an additional $15,000 has been allocated for the Bureau of Land Management to spray 500 acres for control of forest pests, to construct 4 miles of fire breaks, and to fell snags on 3,400 acres. The new investment will provide 15 man-months of employment. The total project funds are now $345,000.
Lassen Project
The Bureau of Land Management has been allocated an additional $25,000 for reforestation of 545 acres in Lassen County, which will provide 24 man-months of employment. Previously authorized funds were $50,000.
COLORADO
Conejos Project
Site improvement and tree planting on 40 acres of public lands in Conejos County has been authorized for the Bureau of Land Management. The work will involve mistletoe control and collection of forest tree seedlings. It will create 12 man-months of employment from an investment of $8,000.
FLORIDA
Jefferson County
Under a supplemental project for forest preservation, $100,000 additional will be invested by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. A previously approved project, already underway, was for $100,000, thus bringing the new total to $200,000. The latest allotment will create 120 man-months of on-site employment.
INDIANA
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
The National Park Service plans investing $40,000 in Spencer County on woodland clearing, seeding, and boundary marking work at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Some 120 man-months of employment will result from this project.
MAINE
Acadia National Park
In order to continue the rehabilitation of fire roads and trails started with a previous allocation of $28,000, the National Park Service has received an additional $10,000 to provide 12 man-months of employment at Acadia National Park in Hancock County.
MARYLAND
Catoctin Mountain Park
General cleanup and site restoration will be accomplished in Washington County where Catoctin Mountain Park has received $5,000 to provide 12 man-months of employment. The project will be supervised by the National Park Service.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Monument
The National Park Service will direct protective clearing and cleaning of wooded areas of and adjoining the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Monument in Allegany County. Sixty man-months of employment will be generated under an investment of $50,000.
Dorchester County
In Dorchester County, an additional $100,000 will be invested by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife for forest preservation in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, creating 120 man-months of employment. An earlier $75,000 project already is underway.
MICHIGAN
Isle Royale National Park
Keweenaw County will benefit through the investment of $100,000 at Isle Royale National Park, where the National Park Service will improve its fire protection facilities. The project is expected to create about 130 man-months of employment.
MONTANA
Projects on Five Indian Reservations
Forest preservation and multiple-use development projects now underway on five Indian Reservations in Montana have been expanded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The new works, valued at $150,000, are scheduled to begin within 30 days and will create 278 man-months of employment. The Indian Reservations are:
Crow Indian Reservation - A $25,000 increase will provide an additional 48 man-months of employment in Big Horn County, and will bring the total investment in the project to $105,000 and employment to 192 man-months.
Flathead Indian Reservation - Counties to benefit from a $50,000 increase in funds are Lake (48 man-months), Missoula (15 man-months), and Sanders (25 man-months). Flathead County is not affected by this increase. The new work will bring the total investment in the project to $162,000, with 302 man-months of employment.
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation - A $25,000 increase earmarked for use in Blaine County will create an additional 48 man-months of employment. The project, which includes work in Blaine and Phillips Counties, now totals $105,000, with 192 man-months of employment.
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation - A $25,000 increase will provide an additional 48 man-months of employment in Rosebud County. The project, which includes work on reservation lands in Big Horn and Rosebud Counties, now totals $125,000 and will develop 228 man-months of employment.
Rocky Boys Indian Reservation. - New work valued at $25,000 will provide additional employment in Chouteau County (24 man-months) and Hill County (22 man-months). This work will bring the total investment in the project to $55,000 and employment to 94 man-months.
NEVADA
Lincoln Project
In Lincoln County, the Bureau of Land Management has been authorized $87,000 for construction of fire-control facilities, including a dispatch office and warehouse for storage of fire-fighting equipment. Improvement of 15 miles of forest access roads also will be accomplished with the new allocation, providing 144 man months of additional employment. Previous allocations bring the Lincoln County total to $210,000.
Goldfield Project
The Goldfield Project, in Esmerelda County, has been established for realignment and surfacing of JO miles of forest access roads on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. An investment of $35,000 will produce 40 man- months of new employment.
NEW MEXICO
Laguna Indian Reservation
A forest preservation and multiple-use development project valued at $50,000 is scheduled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on Laguna Indian Reservation lands in Valencia County. The project will provide an estimated 85 man-months of employment.
NORTH CAROLINA
Blue Ridge Parkway--Watauga County
The National Park Service will undertake $115,000 in forest-protection activities along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Watauga County. Work will provide 280 man-months of employment.
Blue Ridge Parkway--Wilkes County
A similar forest-preservation project, reflecting an investment of $50,000, will be started by the National Park Service on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Wilkes County. The project will create 95 man-months of employment.
PENNSYLVANIA
Gettysburg National Military Park
At Gettysburg National Military Park in Adams County, the National Park Service will direct the removal of fire hazards by clearing and grubbing 130 acres of historic fields. The $75,000 project will create 180 man-months of employment.
Hopewell Village National Historic Site
Restoration of historic landscapes and reduction of fire hazards will get underway through the use of $5,000 which the National Park Service plans on investing at Hopewell Village National Historic Site in Chester County. Twelve man-months of employment will result.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Chesterfield County
An earlier $300,000 project of forest preservation in the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge will be supplemented by $100,000, creating an additional 120 man-months of employment. The $400,000 project is being supervised by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife.
Clarendon County
An additional $100,000 is being invested in forest preservation on the Santee National Wildlife Refuge, creating 120 man-months of employment. A $75,000 project already is underway. The new total thus is $175,000. The improvements are being directed by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife.
TENNESSEE
Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park
In Hamilton County, the National Park Service will supervise rehabilitation of 10 miles of foot trails and vista clearing of 20 acres at Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park. The $15,000 project will create 36 man-months of employment.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The equivalent of 144 man-months of employment in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will result from a $45,000 project. The National Park Service will direct trail and related improvements and site restoration in portions of the park in Sevier and Cocke Counties.
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Virgin Islands National Park
Virgin Islands National Park will augment its program of forest preservation and protection with an allocation of $100,000. The equivalent of 120 man-months of employment will be required to complete this project which centers mostly on improving access roads.
VIRGINIA
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
The National Park Service will supervise woodland preservation and protection work as well as trail improvements at George Washington Birthplace National Monument in Westmoreland County. This project valued at $20,000, will produce 96 man-months of employment.
WASHINTON
Quillayute Indian Reservation
An allotment of $18,000 for a forest preservation and multiple-use development project scheduled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Quileute Indian Reservation in Clallam County will provide an estimated 30 man-months of employment.
Mount Rainier National Park
With an allocation of $235,000, the National Park Service will direct construction of dormitory-type quarters for ranger personnel and rehabilitate structures and campgrounds in the Lewis County area of Mount Rainier National Park. About 120 man-months of work will result. The project earlier had received an allocation of $165,000.
WEST VIRGINIA
Harpers Ferry National Monument
In Jefferson County, the National Park Service will rehabilitate trails and increase fire protection at Harpers Ferry National Monument. Some 132 man months of employment will result from this investment of $47,000.
