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^jje Empire Stale recognizes that its imperial place in the Union
< a pi ft in perpetuity crowning the thrift and wisdom of past performances,
r Bul l's, rather, an ascendancy which must constantly be fought for ttf be
'♦£ irl
^retained. Industry and commerce must continue to be fostered, natural
^rftained. Industry and commerce must continue to be tostered, natural
Vesources must be conserved, ravages of nature repaired, works for ffie'
jWftiKe good continued, and intelligent consideration given to the gyegf
«»J&~ '-W' * . .
-a*nq»growing human problem.
f-"'
UOSai^goVcftiment has done well along all these lines and promises to do
i ,i •' '"still -BettSh And marching along with it are the forces
.......
and resources of
tfie'ftatjipjial Works Progress Administration . . . that great agency o$ , j
v ;^5't*he( New Deal which has done the biggest and best job in human Teh^biji? ^
world's history. *.*• f '
- r-ii . '^~L- - t « ;1 Stlf • "m ,
D18l^T'
NEW YORK STATE is criss-crossed by trail* which
lead to the (treat Union of the United States.
From the misty morning when Samuel de Champlain
leveled his firing piece at an Iroquois war party, and
gained the lasting enmity of the powerful Sis Nations,
its territory was a constant source of contention.
It i» hard to visualize the peaceful and beautiful Hud¬
son, Mohawk, Susquehanna and Delaware Valleys; the
broad-bosomed Lakes Champlain and George erhoing to
hostile gunfire and Indian war cries.
It is equally hard to believe its broad, smooth high¬
ways in many instances follow the trails broken by the
constant passing of the Indian warriors' feet.
Before the echoes of the war cry had died the first
while pioneers were forging westward to find new homes
in the wilderness and later to push farther west until
only the Pacific Ocean halted their progress.
Champlain, the young Montcalm and Wolf, Gentle¬
man Johnny Burgoyne, who lost the colonies for England
at Saratoga, each in their time and turn followed the
trail of their destinies through the forest paths of the
Empire State.
So much for an all too brief setting for the story of
the Works Progress Administration in upstate New York.
☆
SET LP to meet the emergency caused by the depres¬
sion and its attendant unemployment, the Works Prog¬
ress Administration proceeded with speed and efficiency
to carry out this purpose. Stale headquarters were estab¬
lished in Albany in July, 1935, with Lester W. Herzog
a* State Administrator. District offices were set up at
strategic points to facilitate operations and to permit more
direct contact with the communities which sponsored the
projects and the men who carried them out.
WPA workers won their spurs early in the floods which
caused havoc in many sections of the State in July, 1935.
First going to the aid of stricken communities they
took heroic part in rescue work.
Cooperating with communities, the WPA proceeded
to the task of restoring the sections to normal life and
trade. Scores of bridges had to be rebuilt, highways had
to be reconstructed, and numberless other tasks per¬
formed.
For the way they carried out this work the WPA work¬
ers received the highest praise from officials and private
individuals in the communities where they labored.
Very much this same work was repeated in March,
1936, when heavy rains and melting snows again caused
creeks and rivers to rise over their banks and inundate
miles and miles of country.
Dorothy Honeywell Johnston, area director for the
American Red Cross in New York State, wrote after the
1935 flood work had passed the emergency stage:
"Now that the disaster relief operation in the
New York State area has settled down for the long
pull, I want to take time to thank the Works Prog¬
ress Administration for their splendid cooperation
and service to the Red Cross."
Officials of the City of Binghamton and other com¬
munities added their commendation. These have been so
widely circulated it is not necessary to repeat them.
☆
THIS was in the nature of emergency work. WPA's
real job was to get unemployed off the relief rolls
where they were a dead load on financially-harassed
communities and place them at useful tasks.
This was for the purpose not only of lifting the relief
burden, but also to help those who were unemployed,
through no fault of their own, earn a living wage, pre¬
serve their self-respect, and make a lasting contribution
to the community.
The program was planned and carried out so that the
great bulk of the appropriations went into the pockets of
the workers in wages.
First, workers were assigned to projects in August,
1935. The order went out to move as quickly as possible
in conformity with efficiency all able-bodied worker* from
the relief list.
How speedily this was done may be judged from the
employment figures of 1935. By September there were
1,495 on work projects, 17,169 in October, 61,024 in
November, and 135,531 in December.
This was the employment peak. From then on it
began to decline slowly. There were many reasons for
this decline, chief being absorption of workers by reviv¬
ing private industry.
☆
AXTHILE the program includes many large projects,
* ' notably Loudonville reservoir, Albany; Ley Creek
sewer, Syracuse; Roesch Memorial Stadium, Buffalo;
Bear Mountain Park improvements, and such, it also em¬
braces hundreds of smaller projects, each important and
beneficial to the community in which it is located.
2
These smaller jobs have provided playgrounds, bathing
pools, school and community athletic fields, safely cross¬
ings, farm-to-market roads, a boon long sought by the
agricultural interests of the State; school and public
building additions. Many public buildings such as police
and fire stations, libraries, city halls and the like were
repaired and renovated. This modernization program will
add years of usefulness to these buildings with a conse¬
quent saving to the taxpayer.
Through the program improvements which commu¬
nities could not have hoped to carry out for many years
have been provided.
And it should be remembered that these projects, car¬
ried out with relief labor, have been uniformly completed
under the time and cost estimates. Private industry could
have done no better. It is a signal proof that the man
taken from the relief rolls was not only willing but anxious
to show his worth.
The record of accomplishments stands for itself in the
hundreds of commendations of WPA workers. It stands
more vividly in the scores of projects they have com¬
pleted. It is a record of which the worker has reason to
feel proud.
TUP. H OIIK i>I the WPA has been diversified. In the
City of Troy, for Instance, all trolley lines were dis¬
continued and bus lines substituted. This left a traffic
hazard in the abandoned trolley tracks. WPA is either
removing these or covering them so that smooth-surfaced
streets will afford avenues for an easier flow of traffic.
Basin C, Loudonville reservoir, part of the new and
modern water supply system of the City of Albany, dou¬
bles the city's water resources. This project, one of the
largest in the State, is considered by water works experts
to be one of the outstanding engineering feats of recent
years. Besides providing employment for hundreds of
men, many of them skilled workers, Basin C will be of
lasting benefit to the City of Albany.
In the same city a modern athletic field was converted
from abandoned Bleecker reservoir, part of the old water
system. This natural ampitheatre has been graded, lev¬
eled, and provides an ideal site for athletic games and
outdoor meetings. Recently at an outdoor field "Mass"
sponsored by the American Legion, it was estimated more
than 20,000 persons were comfortably accommodated.
ROESCH MEMORIAL STADIUM
Buffalo's former abandoned reservoir is converted by WPA into one of the Nation's finest athletic
and recreational centers. This shows work, now about completed, under way
LOUDONVILLE RESERVOIR
Before and after WPA and its workers added ninety-three million gallons to Albany's water supply
State of new York
Executive Chamber
Albany
HERBERT H LEHMAN
GOVtA N O A
I commend to the people of New York State
this brief summary of Works Progress Administration
accomplishments within the State. It Is a record
of a great undertaking originated to provide work for
the unemployed and carried out with courage that sur¬
vived bitter and sustained criticism. Today It Is
generally recognised as having contributed an Import¬
ant part to the governmental campaign to relieve
distress. Fine public Improvements resulted from
the work and many communities were benefited.
To State Administrator Lester W. Herzog
and those associated with him In the New York State
WPA project I extend my felicitations, and to the
citizens of the state I express the hope that they
will read this brief record of accomplishment.
In Schenectady three parka were extended and im¬
proved. In one instance, Pleasant Valley Park, a dump¬
ing ground, was graded and prepared as an addition to
the park, which adjoins Mont Pleasant High School.
There are numerous such instances throughout the Slate
where WPA workers converted unsightly eye-sores into
athletic and recreational centers, especially in the vicinity
ol school buildings.
In Albany and many other places WPA men are hard
at work draining and clearing swamp lands, breeding
places for the mosquito pest. Eventually this reclaimed
land may be used for parks, playgrounds or for building
purposes. In the same city the project known as the
Thirteenth Ward sewer will provide much needed drain¬
age facilities for one of the most valuable residential
sections of the city.
In less populated sections extreme care is taken in
mosquito control work so that the swamps are not im¬
paired as game refuges. In this the State is cooperating
with the assignment of conservation experts in super¬
visory capacities.
THE Woik» Progress Administration was designed to
make direct payment to workers. The Public Works
Administration was designed to foster projects which re¬
quired a greater number of skilled laborers and to let on
rontract projects which would "prime the pump" of pri¬
vate industry, thus indirectly creating more employment.
☆
BUFFALO is the second largest city of the Slate and
the center of a metropolitan area of more than one
million inhabitants. Like most cities, it had a problem of
keeping its streets in repair, in consideration of increas¬
ing motor traffic. An outstanding example of the work
WPA has assisted the city in doing is the Delaware Ave¬
nue widening. This project, which eliminated a serious
traffic hazard, provided for the construction of two street
level bridges over Scajaquada Creek, the erection of a
twin-arch bridge for overhead traffic, the building of a
new highway 2,000 feet in length paralleling the old
street. The project also has provided Buffalo with a scenic
surrounding for Delaware Park, one of the many beauty
spots of the city. It should be noted that this entire pro¬
ject, done with relief labor, was turned over to the City
of Buffalo with formal ceremonies.
BUFFALO ZOO AIR VIEW
Great animal preserve rebuilt and modernized by army of WPA workers
CLEARWATER RESERVOIR
Twelve million gallons of water for Buffalo's emergency uses impounded under a park. Top view shows surface aspect and bottom picture enclosed solid concrete water tank
Roesch Memorial Stadium was an abandoned resrr-
voir. WPA worker? are reconstructing it to make a
stadium whieh will aceommodale 38,000 persona. The
usefulness of this project, which will he completed in the
fall of 1937. is unquestionable. It will provide facilities
for football, baseball, track and field meets to encourage
the youths of the city to engage in these body and mind
building sports. Thus, what would have been abandoned
ground for some years to come hat been reclaimed for
the benefit of this great metropolitan area.
One story leads to another. Roe sell Mrmorial Stadium,
once Prospect reservoir, will be supplanted by Clear¬
water reservoir. There are many interesting facts about
this project. Clearwater reservoir is completely roofed
over. Situated on the shores of the historic Niagara River,
it will become part of a program of a waterfront develop¬
ment that calls for beautification of the shores of the
river.
Its usefulness may be summarized in a few words. It
will contain 12,000.000 gallons of pure water for emer¬
gency purposes, such as fire or water famine.
This gigantic project, covering an area 425 feet long,
335 feet wide and 25 feet deep, will be an integral part
of the river front development.
The entire structure is constructed of solid concrete.
The roof is supported by 300 concrete piles.
The southeastern section of Buffalo was annually
harassed by spring floods of the Buffalo River. Work
now under way with WPA labor will not only eliminate
this hazard, but also will pave the way for Buffalo's future
plans to make this a navigable river, adding substantially
to the city's growing shipping facilities.
Other Buffalo projects stand out as lasting benefits
to one of the fastest growing cities of the eastern section
of the I'nited States.
The Federal Government has allocated $1,000,000, to
be added to by a local contribution, to make Buffalo's
airport equal to any in the country. This program even¬
tually will provide new hangars and a new administration
building, adequate for the city's increasing air traffic.
The abandoned Erie Canal has been an eyesore and
a public health menace, stretching through the heart of
the city. With WPA assistance, the City of Buffalo is
filling in the old canal bed, thus eliminating not only a
hazard to public health, but also to automobilists. Traffic
accidents due to it have caused death and injury to many
persons.
I.noklng to its housing problem, the City of Buffalo,
with WPA labor, has demolished sixty condemned tene¬
ment houses. Municipal buildings have been renovated,
shelter houses have been erected, and numberless other
projects either have been completed or are under way.
For many years animals in the Buffalo Zoological
Gardens have been a delight to residents of the city and
tourists. The quarters in which they were hon-cd became
inadequate. WPA, at the city's requrst, has undertaken
a project for the beautificatinn of the grounds, including
construction of new roads and the building of nrw quar¬
ters for the animals. The project is considered in the
sense that it not only will provide educational oppor¬
tunities for school children, but also an attraction for
the many visitors who annually visit Buffalo. This project
is virtually completed.
WPA workers in Buffalo also have been used in emer¬
gencies. They assisted the city in March. 1936, in clear¬
ing the streets of snow which had blanketed the city to
a depth of thirty inches. Within a few days they had
nurmal traffic restored on the main arteries.
This was the work that gave 35,000 heads of families
the means of making a living during the dark ages of
the depression. No other means was available except the
local relief roll.
☆
I TSTAND1NG, not only in Syracuse and Onon-
daga County, but also in the State, is Ley Creek
sewer.
For more than a quarter of a century the health of
more than 10,000 persons has been endangered by an
unsanitary sewage disposal system of the cesspool type.
With the assistance of WPA this health menace is being
supplanted by a modern system of sanitary sewers. To
dale this project has cost $2,731,157, and it it estimated
a million more dollars will be necessary for its com¬
pletion.
However, it will relegate to the past the antiquated
cesspool and provide health protection for a large section
of the county. The result in prevention of disease and in
enhanced property values will be abundant return for
the expenditure, both the local and WPA officials feel.
10
The old Ley Creek sewer line running a course of five
and one-half miles along the northern border of Syra¬
cuse, already has been eliminated by WPA and in its
place lies a system that has attracted the attention of the
Chilean government, the engineering departments of sev¬
eral States, and executives of nearly all municipalities
throughout the State of New York.
The cost of the disposal plant alone for this gigantic
sewer system is three-quarters of a million dollars; the
total cost of the improvement $2,250,000. The Federal
Government contributed $1,733,000 of this amount, On¬
ondaga County the balance.
The government paid $694,000 to redevelop the
grounds of approximately 100 parks in Onondaga County.
It enhanced their beauty and made repairs of walks and
drives for the convenience of visitors. Syracuse's park
system, since its rehabilitation by the WPA, is regarded
as one of the most beautiful in the upstate area of New
York.
New pavements were laid and roads and streets re¬
paired in another of WPA's major undertakings in the
Onondaga County district. Several of Syracuse's heaviest
traveled streets were widened and resurfaced to make
travel for incoming and outgoing motorists more speedy
and more rninfortable. The government spent a total
of $725,000 for Improvements of this nature up to April
15th of this year and ia prepared to allocate additional
funds that the city may further profit by the program.
Rebeautification of the New York State fair grounds
and improvement of the Syracuse municipal airport have
been set up as models of WPA accomplishment within
the district. The airport is today regarded as one of
the most adequate in the country.
☆
ID LAYGROUND for the teeming millions of New York
City and the metropolitan area is Bear Mountain
Park. Thousands of visitors from all sections of the
country annually visit this great natural beauty spot sit¬
uated on the west bank of the Hudson River.
Rich in scenic and historic interest, this great area
was in some respects a neglected gift of nature. Through
the heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter WPA
men labored to construct new roads, repair old ones, dig
drainage ditches, and clear camping grounds. Many shel¬
ters were constructed and, in a word, the natural beauty
of this great region made more accessible and more en¬
joyable to the thousands of persons who visit it.
BUFFALO RIVER RECONSTRUCTION WORK
IF PA workers dressing and rip-rapping eroded river banks and re-bulwarking against high water
Ill the southern section of New York State, WPA
operations ha\e covered n wide scale. Throughout the
entire section many streets and roads were repaired,
reel rational facilities provided, and schools and public
buildings renovated and enlarged. Yonkers High School
was completely reconditionedj School No. 1 in Yonkers
was provided with a kindergarten, much needed, and the
structure of the school was strengthened.
Among its many contributions to the welfare of the
community, especially public health, WPA assisted in
constructing an operating room at the Hospital for Com¬
municable Diseases in Yonkers. The Yonkers Public
Library, long a source of instruction and entertainment
for residents of the city, was made more comfortable by
the installation of a modern heating system. A cafeteria
for the accommodation of the 1,000 pupils of Croton High
School was constructed.
For ten years Mount Vernon has been seeking to im¬
prove a mile long stretch of East Third Street, one of
the principal traffic arteries of the city. WPA assisted in
doing the job and did it three months under the engi¬
neers' estimates. In the same city the stadium of Davis
High School, used for scholastic and community athletic
and recreational events, was doubled.
New Rochelle has a thoroughly modernized inciner¬
ator. due to assistance of WPA in making much-needed
repairs. A new pump house and heating plant was in¬
stalled at the Westchester Park Commission's quarters.
The use of Main Street, White Plains, by increasing
numbers of buses, developed into a serious traffic problem
for the city. With the assistance of WPA a bus terminal
was constructed near the railroad station, diverting this
flow of traffic and providing warm and comfortable quar¬
ters for bus patrons.
The Beacon jail and court house was altered into vir¬
tually a new structure. Fifth Avenue Field in Nyack,
center of School District No. 4 activities, is a modern
concrete stadium with a seating capacity of 1,700 per¬
sons. Improvements aUo were made to the tennis ruurts
and athletic field at Haver»iraw High School.
Fowler Street, leading to the business district of Port
Jervis, was much in need of repairs. Now it it a concrete
highway, through cooperation of the community and
WPA.
Ten miles of pipe were laid to provide modern sani¬
tary facilities for one of the choicest residential sections
of the city of Poughkeepsie. Lincoln Center, in the same
city, includes a community auditorium and gymnasium
and stands as a monument to the work of relief laborers
employed on it.
Innumerable improvements dot the map of this section
by reason of WPA's assistance. Some of them are: Town
of Amrnia, new piddle library; New llarkensark, inter¬
mediate landing field for airplanes; Beacon, improve¬
ments In buildings and ground* of historic Matteawan
Stale lluspital; New City, landscaping und other im¬
provements In Kockland County Court llousr; Piermont,
construction of a village hall; Town of Warwick, con¬
struction of emergency landing field for airplanes; Mid-
dletnwn. elimination of the annual flood menace from
Monltagrn Creek.
Work is under way on such important projects as
extensive improvements to Yonkers playgrounds; improve¬
ments to the water supply system of the same city, includ¬
ing installation of 7,000 feel of 24-inch main.
☆
SINCE the construction of the great Slate parks on
Long Island, this picturesque section has become the
playground of hundreds of thousands of persons. Jones
Bearh and Sunken Meadow Stale Parka have been pro¬
vided additional facilities for accommodation of these
visitors through the cooperation of the W PA. Picnic
grounds have been cleared, picnic tables and shelters
erected; boardwalk cafeterias built, and many other
needed improvements made.
Machine shops were erected at Jones Beach and Mea-
dowbrook Parks. Parking fields also have been provided
as have facilities for golf, trnnit, shuffh-board and numer¬
ous other healthful recreations. This program of improve¬
ment has covered all of the sixteen State parks on the
island.
I nder construction at Wainscott. Easthampton Town,
is what will be the only municipally-owned airport in
Suffolk County. Improvements, including waterproofing
of the officers' quarters at Mitchell Field, also were car¬
ried out with WPA assistance. Included in this improve¬
ment program is the construction of a swimming pool,
landscaping and repairs to other buildings.
Recreational opportunities have been greatly increased
by the construction and improvement of numerous ath¬
letic fields. Notable among these are the transformation
of the Rockville Center disposal plant into a stadium.
Previous to this the village was obliged to hire grounds
on its outskirts for athletic events. The public dump at
Cedarhurst was developed into a modern athletic field.
To mention only a few of the others, similar projects were
carried out at Huntington Farm School, Farmingdale and
Port Jefferson and Manhasset High Schools.
Eliminating the nuisance and damage of spring floods
and those occasioned by heavy rains, bulkheads were
erected at Sea Cliff and Lindenhurst; a rip-rap wall at
Port Washington, a sea wall at Glen Head, and jetties at
Orient Point State Park.
12
JONES BEACH FROM THE AIR
One of several Long Island recreational and beauty spots wrought by IF PA labor
Throughout Long Island there 19 the ever-constant
danger of pedestrians on State highways being struck by
automobiles. The communities recognized in this a real
danger and were quick to avail themselves of the oppor¬
tunity offered by WPA in eliminating the menace by the
construction of sidewalks paralleling the highways.
Approximately twenty such projects were approved
and are being carried through. To date WPA has assisted
in constructing 100 miles of such sidewalks in Nassau
County and 20 in Suffolk County. Another project in
Nassau County calls for construction of some 135 addi¬
tional miles of sidewalks. It should be noted that WPA
workers are making the amazing average of four miles
of completed sidewalk a week.
Water systems of Creenport, Central Park and Free-
port Villages and the City of Long Beach have been
extended for the convenience of fast growing populations,
and an underground concrete reservoir has been built in
Bethpage State Park.
Seventy projects were undertaken for the drainage
and beautification of public highways. The work included
laying thirty miles of storm drains, planting of trees, re¬
moval of unsightly roadside weeds, and the reduction of
view-obscuring banks. Catch-basins and culverts also
were constructed to prevent flooding highways and adja¬
cent lands in times of excessive water flow.
Contributing to the comfort and health of vast num¬
bers of persons, WPA ha9 aided in extending sewer sys¬
tems and constructing or improving sewage disposal
plants. Among these projects are the construction of a
new force main and enlargement of the sewer system of
the village of Freeport; extending the sewer systems of
Greenport, Hempstead, Northport, Garden City, Hunting¬
ton and Glen Cove. Grounds were improved at the Bel-
grave disposal plant and the Syosset incinerator plant.
County-wide forces are at work in both Nassau and Suf¬
folk County, draining swamps and other breeding places
with a view to finally eliminating the mosquito pest.
School grounds have been generally improved and
landscaping work done at schools erected by the Public
Works Administration. Nassau County sponsored a pro¬
ject for the painting and erection of thousands of street
and directional 9ign9 by WPA workers.
13
UNDOUBTEDLY one of the most heuuliful and
healthful vacation sections of thr world ia thr Adir¬
ondack region. Roughly thr Adirondacka and their foot¬
hills atretch over thr central and northeastern sections of
New York State.
The State of New York acted many years ago to pre¬
serve the natural beauties of this great mountainous re¬
gion by creating the Adirondack preserve. This forbids
deforestation or otherwise defacing the natural beauty of
the mountains and valleys which are an endless chain of
pleasure to the visitor. This policy is ably earned out
under direction of the New York State Conservation
Commission, which is also charged with the responsibility
of preserving the wild life of the territory.
Aside from its scenic beauty the Adirondack region
is rich in the lore so interesting to students of history.
Whoever has read the Leatherstocking series of James
Fenimore Cooper, or any of the many intensely interesting
historical novels which have found their location in this
region, finds endless delights in seeing and re-living the
exciting chapters of the history which was enacted within
its boundaries.
Lake George and Lake Champlain, both of which
are placed among the beauty spots of the world, are
rich in historic interest dating from the earliest French
and Indian wars through the Revolution and the War
of 1812.
WPA has fully cooperated with the Slate of New
York and localities in developing the natural recreational
resources of the Adirondack section. Probably most
known to the public is the Mt. Van Hovenberg bobrun,
the only major bobrun on the North American continent,
and ranked as thr most sporting in the world. WPA
workers rebanked the turns, reinforced embankments and
did extensive grading.
The world's most famous experts in this thrilling and
hazardous sport annually pass their winters at Lake
Placid and constitute an attraction which draws thou¬
sands of visitors. Naturally this has developed a greater
winter center with consequent dividends to hotels, board¬
ing houses, clubs, railroads and bus line-,.
Incidental, but most important to thr expanding sec¬
tion, was WPA's construction of a temporary coffer dam
to supply water to the Lake Placid power plant which
had suffered from a lack of water supply due to flood
damage. A permanent concrete dam is near completion
to prevent any such shortage occurring in the future.
Many such projects have been undertaken throughout
the Adirondack region. With the increase in popularity
of winter sports, WPA has contributed its efforts in many
directions and in many placet to provide facilities for
the full enjoyment of these healthful sports.
Saranac Lake, one of the world's greatest heslth re¬
sorts, has received many benefits through thr WPA pro¬
gram, outstanding of which is the construction of con¬
crete pavrmrnt in Broadway, the main thoroughfare of
the village. This project has provided a wide, smooth-
surfaced street, affording abundant parking space.
The Town of Altamnnt, Tupper Lake, has been pro¬
vided with a completely equipped athletic field and the
local golf course has been built up from a nine-hole to
an eighteen-hole links. Being the only complete course
in the vicinity, it is bound to attract an increasing number
of visitors. On the shores of Big Simmond Pond, in the
same town, a winter playground and community house,
designed as a rustic structure, will add additional recrea¬
tional opportunities both to residrnls and an increasing
number of winter visitors.
While many other recreational features throughout
Essex County are being constructed or improved, one that
is now being built at Wilmington at the foot of White
Face Mountain is attracting much favorable attention.
Here the WPA allocated $63,000 for the wages of
workers while the Town of Wilmington is paying the
remainder of the cost. The project includes the construc¬
tion of a dam to back up the waters of the Auaabie
River, thus creating an artificial lake and providing facil¬
ities for campers, tourists and pleasure seekers. The added
attraction to the locality will mean greatly increased
revenue for inhabitants.
Few persons who have traveled in the northeastern
section of the United States have not passed through
Plattsburgh. Site of a United States Army base, hung
with many an actual and romantic historic legend, the
city is thr gateway to the wildly beautiful North Coun¬
try. WPA was quick to cooperate with the local Park and
Beach Commission in construction of a Concession House
to replace an unsightly structure. Additional bath hoaxes
also have been constructed. This project has been com¬
mended by municipal and civic organization officials.
Grounds surrounding the monument to Commodore
Thomas Macdonagh, "Father of the American Navy,"
have been improved so they may be used as a public park.
It should be kept in mind in considering many of the
WPA projects in these mountain villages that their de¬
pendence for income is mostly on summer visitors, hunt¬
ers in the fall, winter sports enthusiasts, and fishermen
in the spring. Their appeal is in the natural beauties
they may offer the visitor, the abundance of fish and game,
and the natural resources the mountains themselves offer
for recreation.
14
Indian Lake, Hamilton County, in the very heart of
the Adirondacks, is being provided with a sewage collect¬
ing system including two small treatment plants; the
village water supply dam was repaired; the lake cleared
of floating logs and other debris, and the shoreline cleared
of unsightly shrubs for a bathing beach. Cedar River
road, which gives access to this beauty spot, was im¬
proved to eliminate many existing traffic hazards and
make possible year-round traffic.
Raquette Lake, another famous Adirondack resort,
has been relieved of an unsightly and unsanitary swamp
which was cleared and drained by WPA workers. Four
new ski trails were constructed and the famous toboggan
slide rebuilt at Speculator, making this one of the out¬
standing winter resorts. The water system of the resort
is being extended to provide direct supply for numerous
cottages and hotels, further enhancing the popularity of
the place.
☆
D
OWN through history and familiar to all sports
lovers is the name Saratoga.
Noted as the site of one of America's most picturesque
and historic race tracks, as well as one of the world's
leading health resorts, the City of Saratoga Springs
nestles among a wide cluster of stately trees.
WPA assisted in opening two of the best known build¬
ings in this tradition-rich city — the Convention Hall and
the Casino. Both are instrumental in bringing conven¬
tions to the city. Both structures, the former the scene
of the nomination of Governors by both Republican and
Democratic parties for many years, were closed for need
of repairs. The Casino, reminiscent of Richard Canfield,
greatest of all gamblers, was falling into ruin.
Both, with WPA assistance, have been restored to use¬
fulness and now are paying Saratoga Springs dividends
in their usefulness.
The State of New York is spending, and plans to
spend many more, millions of dollars to make the medi¬
cinal value of the mineral waters of Saratoga Springs
available to everyone. WPA has contributed its share in
beautifying the grounds and landscaping the entire sec¬
tion surrounding the baths and other buildings erected
by the State.
SOUTHSIDE HOUSE, ITHACA
This splendid center erected by WPA serves a big section as community headquarters
Four Phases of the Annual
Flood Menace:
Section of Cohoes (upper
left) Inundated by Freshet —
Swollen Waters of the Hudson
and Mohawk Rivers.
IF PA Rushing Supplies (up¬
per right) to Flood Stricken
Areas from Surplus Commo¬
dities Storehouse at U. S.
Army Reserve Depot, South
Schenectady.
Sanitary Measures Such as
Sprinkling Lime (lower left)
by IF PA Workers in Filth Lit¬
tered Track of Receding Flood
Waters.
View of Binghamton Flood
Area Showing Protective Work
by WPA to Prevent Recur¬
rence of Disaster.
mini 01 mislM ss
Public-spirited citizens of Glens Falls long realized
that this progressive city would eventually have to pro¬
vide better airport facilities for its growing air traffic.
A monument, both to the city and to the man for whom
it is named, the intrepid Floyd Bennett, the field will
place Glens Falls definitely on the aviation map of the
United States. Work is being completed on runways and
a steel hangar. Later a modern field lighting system
will be installed.
The Bay Street sewer, which required excavation from
nine to twenty-three feet, will provide this thriving city
with a much-needed addition to its sanitary system. It
should be noted that WPA workmen on this project
worked in temperatures ranging from 40 degrees below
zero to 96 degrees above.
The mention of Lake George recalls not only endless
vistas of scenic delights, but also the grim tales of school
history book days. Always the objective of the opposing
forces of French, English, American and Indian war
parties, it has a dour background a« well as one of
beauty. Passage and tarrying point of thousands of sum¬
mer and winter visitors. Lake George Village is an im¬
portant link in the North Country's pleasure resort chain.
With the assistance of WPA the village has con¬
structed a diversion sewer line which will prevent pollu¬
tion of beautiful Lake George with drainage from the
village. A system of sewer lines has been laid by WPA
and a sewage disposal plant erected. This has been
accomplished with a saving to the village of 1100.000.
The system has been adopted by the New York State
Department of Health as a model for other communities
to follow.
Construction of the South Bay road, from South Bay
to the Town of Fort Ann. five miles, will provide the first
opportunity for motorists to see the beauties of South
Bay. Lake Champlain. It also will afford a direct farm-
lo-market road for farmers to reach Whitehall, a long-
sougbt outlet for their produce.
Dikes constructed along the barge canal and Met-
towee River at Whitehall have saved the community from
recurring flood damage and preserved the largest indus¬
try in the village, which had suffered yearly losses from
the overflows. The plant, Champlain Spinners, Inc., is
one of the principal sources of income for residents of
the village.
In the City of Cloversille, the South Main Street sani¬
tary sewer, one of the outstanding WPA projects in that
section, provides adequate drainage facilities, made ne¬
cessary by an increasing population. Another hazard was
removed in the same city when retaining walls were con¬
structed along the banks of Cayadutta Creek, piercing
the central section of the city. The section adjacent to
the creek suffered frequent floods when it overflowed its
hanks. The sewage disposal plant waa completely reno¬
vated. modernizing it in every respect. Meyers Park, the
principal recreational point of the community, was im¬
proved by the construction of gravel roadways, construc¬
tion of drainage runways and ground beautification. Simi¬
lar work Is under wsy in Melchior Park.
Abandoned trolley tracks wrre removed from the
streets, eliminating a traffic danger. Adding to the recrea¬
tional opportunities of the seetion, at nearby Caroga Lake,
Nirk St oner golf course was beautified and much-nredrd
drainage facilities provided.
In the neighboring community of Johnstown the Cold
Brook mud-pipe installation has provided a means of pro¬
tecting the purity of the water supply. Removal of
brush and undergrowth from the watershed of the reser¬
voir has given additional assurance against pollution of
the drinking water.
From the great central northern section of the State,
Mayor Victor C. Lewis of Fulton wrote:
"I take this opportunity to express some of my
thoughts and to express to you some of the benefits
which our city has derived through the program
of the Works Progress Administration.
"WPA has given to Fulton, other than humani¬
tarian relief, a great moral and self-respecting at¬
titude and understanding on the part of the em¬
ployed client.
"It has given a health-building program, not
only in the establishment of a Health Center, but
the construction of the water and sewer extensions
in many parts of the city, where building is now
in progress on account of this improvement."
Mayor Lewis goes on to enumerate many of the WPA
projecta carried out in his city. This letter is typical of
many such received from mayors and other city officiate
in this section.
Among the projects in Fulton mentioned by Mayor
Lewis is the refilling of the old Oswego canal bed, which
open* an opportunity for construction of a broad, smooth
boulevard to lessen traffic pressure in the city's thriving
business district. An unsightly building was demolished
to make room for a new and modern school. Grounds at
the City Hospital have been graded and landscaped, add¬
ing greatly to the comfort of convalescent patients.
☆
FOR MANY YEARS inmates of the Cayuga County
Home at Sennett suffered from the lack of a pure
water supply. WPA workers constructed a line bringing
pure water from the City of Auburn's modern system
18
to the Home, supplanting the doubtful and scanty supply
derived from wells and springs. In addition to making
it possible for an abundant water supply on every floor
of the structure, a fire line with four hydrants was sup¬
plied.
Wallace Monroe, Chairman of the Cayuga County
Board of Supervisors, wrote:
"To use the words of Dred Depew. Superin¬
tendent of the Cayuga County Home, the water
line to this worthy institution, just completed,
should have been constructed fifty years ago."
Mr. Monroe offered his hearty congratulations on the
assistance WPA extended to the county in this worthy
project.
The West Auburn sewer, extending at one point
through a tunnel 2.000 feet long, is regarded as one of
the many efficient and economical jobs done by WPA.
Four shafts from 15 to 40 feet were sunk to carry out
this project, which offers sanitary facilities to a large
section.
A saving to the City of Auburn of approximately $9,000
was made in constructing the Lake Avenue sanitary sewer.
Thl« project provides modern sanitary opportunities for
residents of the section who formerly depended on septic
tanks.
In llion WPA undertook construction of a sewage
treatment plant and refuse incinerator, costing approxi¬
mately $100,000. This includes sewer line extension and
construction of sludge and settling tanks and a plant
house. The two units are so constructed that one crew of
workmen will be able to operate both.
Owen D. Young donated an area of swamp land south
of his native Village of Van Hornesville, which lent itself
to development of a fish hatchery. With WPA assistance,
the State of New York sponsored a project to develop the
land. Ten ponds have been constructed in a picturesque,
natural setting. Fed by two springs, these ponds provide
excellent hatcheries for speckled trout which are dis¬
tributed through other waters of the State when they
reach the fingerling stage.
The project included construction of ice houses, stor¬
age tanks, a garage and storehouse and all other necessary
facilities to make this one of the State's model conserva¬
tion projects. The project is under administration of the
State Conservation Commission.
STATE FAIR GROUNDS IMPROVEMENTS
This Syracuse setting for the Empire State's annual big show has been greatly bettered in both looks
and efficiency by WPA aid. This shows how it was done
Salvaging stone from the nearby abandoned Erie eanal
loek, the VI PA workmen constructed retaining wall* along
Steele Creek. Ilion. saving that community from flood
damage when others near hv were beset by spring fresh¬
ets. A swimming pool and shower house, built at Lehman
Park, Frankfort, supplied much needed recreational fa¬
cilities for the community and surrounding country. Work
is under way in constructing a baseball field, tennis courts
and outdoor fireplaces to make this natural rerreational
field more enjoyable. Roads are being constructed to
permit easier access to its natural beauties.
Lynn R. Tuttle. Supervisor, wrote:
"This is one of the outstanding improvements
in this section of the valley and it is a splendid
example of the practicability of Vi PA."
A football oval, baseball diamond, running track and
steel bleachers were provided with WPA assistance at
Harmon Field, Herkimer.
Of a project to remove a silt bar of 10.000 cubic feet
from Sandy Creek, Jefferson County, thus preventing
floods. Mayor W. O. Welton wrote:
"This project is a very important one and the
way your department supervised it and the way the
men worked, they completed the job in much short¬
er time than was expected."
A 100.000-gallon reservoir was constructed and water
drained from a number of springs to afford fire protec¬
tion in the Village of Natural Springs, Herkimer County.
From the reservoir a pipe line 1,830 feet long, with fire
hydrants and valves, pa—e- through thr principal streets
of the village.
The State Conservation Commission also sponsored a
project for a wild duck breeding farm at Brownsville,
Jeflrr-on County. Here the Slate already had an exten¬
sive pheasant breeding farm, producing approximately
11.000 birds a year. The new project, to construct three
small dams, impounding sufficient water for duck breed¬
ing purpose*. an-wers the need.
More than three miles of sewer lines have been laid
in the Village of Lowville. This project, which had the
recommendation of the State Department of Health, sup¬
plants a system which consisted largely of privately built
sewer lines or cesspools.
The historic Town Hall at Martinsburg, probably the
oldest building in Lewis County, has been renovated and
will provide a community house for many years to come.
The building was bolstered and the interior repaired and
repainted and two stairways to reach the upper part of
the structure constructed. This will last for many years
as a tribute to WPA labor and the foresight of the com¬
munity.
A gravel pit at l.yontdalr, Ij-wis County, was used
for the reconstruction of a one way road to make it avail-
aide for two-way traffic and to permit the operation of
snowplows. Many snrh seemingly unimportant projects,
hut all of which contribute greatly to the benefit of locali¬
ties, have been carried on throughout the St sir.
☆
npHE ABANDONED CANAL FEEDER in the heart
■8- of Main Street, Oneida, was an eyesore and nuisance
for many years. With the hearty approval of the Cham¬
ber of Commerce and Board of Health, the Common
Council sponsored a project for its elimination. As a re¬
sult, a ten-inch storm sewer was laid in the bed of the
excavation, it was filled in and leveled and lawns and
granite block paving now replace the former unsighllinrss.
WPA painters redecorated the intrrmr of the Cana-
stota Memorial Hospital. Madison County, under both
time and cost estimates.
The Blandins Street sewer, in the heart of Ltiea's
business district, presented a problem to the city for
many years because of the fact its level was above that
of the basements of abutting buildings. The sewer, con¬
structed in 1869, was only six feet below the street sur¬
face, preventing drainage from cellars.
Obstacles, including rock formations and a steady
water flow which necessitated the operation of putnpa
twenty-four hours a day, were overcome. Three shift*
working around the clock were used and a new sewer
line laid at an adequate depth. Work was started at 7
a.m. May 24th and completed, with the street opened
for traffic, the following Saturday at 7 a. tn„ a remark¬
able accomplishment in view of the difficult conditions
under which the work was carried on.
Thirty acres of land have been developed at the
Rome fish hatcheries of the State Conservation Commis¬
sion. This included construction of twenty-nine new
ponds, ten of which were built in the abandoned bed of
the Black River canal. Nineteen ponds were built be¬
tween the abandoned waterway and the Stale highway,
providing better facilities for the breeding of trout and
other game fish to be stocked in the Slate's streams for
the enjoyment of the sportsmen. The development in¬
cludes construction of necessary buildings and installa¬
tion of equipment.
The abandoned Lansing Street School, Utjca, is being
remodeled as a home for the Boys' Club of that city. The
work includes installation of a gymnasium, locker and
shower rooms; a library and other facilities, reclaiming
the structure for the recreation of the city's younger boys.
Completion of a 50.000,000-gallon reservoir as a part
of the Rome water supply system, is nearing. The struc¬
ture, built of reinforced concrete, will assure the city
an adequate supply, which was not certain from the
14,000,000-gallon reservoir, constructed 25 years ago. It
also gives added protection against fire.
Utica's park system is a perfect example of the many
needs that WPA met. Five wading poojs, a swimming
pool and bath house, construction of storm sewers, bridle
paths and improvements to the Valley View Golf Course
are included in the million dollar program. Parks in¬
cluded in the program are the Roscoe Conkling, Frederick
T. Proctor, Valley View Golf Course, Solomon R. Goldbas
Playground, and Wankel (Seventeenth Ward) Park.
As a result of this work Utica will have a thoroughly
up-to-date park and playground system, with comfort sta¬
tions, modern drainage facilities, shelter houses, picnic
grounds, and many other features.
Seven buildings of the old Oswego Starch Company,
taken over by the city, were torn down, offering space for
parking adjoining one of the most traveled approaches to
the city.
In the same city, grounds surrounding the city water
pumping station were graded ai.d lawns laid, eliminating
a disagreeable sight of which citizens had complained.
A hard-surfaced road was constructed from the plant to
the nearest street, giving easy entry to the grounds, which
are located on the shores of Lake Ontario. From an eye¬
sore the plant has been made one of the show-place^ of
the city.
☆
TIMBERS taken from the old starch works were used
to construct a dock for the unit of the New York
State Naval Militia, stationed at Oswego. This had the
heartiest support of the citizens of Oswego and local
officials.
Numerous other projects, including grading and land¬
scaping the Slate Normal School, reinforcing the banks
and straightening the course of Waterhouse Creek and
removal of abandoned street car tracks in three streets
were carried out.
21
FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH
Ley Creek, Syracuse (upper) as it originally endangered the lives of thousands, and (lower) how WPA is making it into a modern sanitary sewer system
Modern athletic lirliU were built by WPA ami tlie
City of Potsdam at lite Normal Seliool and High School.
Fences were constructed, land leveled and seeded, and
other necessary work done to make both fields up to dale
in every respect.
R. T. Congdon, principal of the Normal School, wrote:
"Without the help of Federal funds it would
have been absolutely impossible to carry out this
project. As far as the Potsdam Normal School i»
concerned, we accept the work as completed and
express our satisfaction and sincere gratitude."
W. Harold Cole, principal of the High School, wrote:
"The High School athletic field is avai lable to
all young men and women of the village. Potsdam
never had facilities of the type before, although
they were sorely needed. • • • Through the
assistance of the WPA organization it was pos¬
sible to plan a large enough field to meet the com¬
munity needs."
Modern airports have been provided at Ogdensbur^
and the Tillage of Massena, including grading, construc¬
tion of runways, administration buildings and hangars.
Both fields also were equipped with beacons and flood¬
light systems for the landing fields.
☆
IN THE COUNTIES extending roughly along the New
York-Pennsylvania border and comprising one of the
richest dairy and agricultural sections of the State, floods
are an ever-constant menace.
A hilly and deforested section, the runoff of heavy
rains, and in springtime melting snows, throw a volume
of water into the numerous creeks and gulleys much be¬
yond their capacity safely to carry off. As a result val¬
uable soil is carried away, roads and bridges swept off,
habitations flooded, and life all too often endangered.
WPA in these counties has cooperated with the com¬
munities in too many projects to mention individually,
directed at control of these turbulent "flash floods." The
work has consisted of straightening creek beds, erecting
retaining walls variously constructed of wood, stone, con¬
crete or steel sheeting. Roads and bridges were rebuilt
to withstand the onrush of new floods. A sturdier struc¬
ture of transportation has been provided generally through
this flood-susceptible area.
Eventually the scars of these floods will be removed.
The grassy banks of streams that trickle down the slopes
of the low rolling hills in normal times will return to
replace the ugly silt and soil deposits of the floods.
EI.MIKA i> known the world over as one of the prin¬
cipal centers for the development of aircraft. This
Is particularly true of the Harris Hill soaring site. World's
record" fm continuous glider flight have been established
here more frequently than at any other field in the world.
Because of it» topography and the air condition*, it is
ideal for sporting and scientific flights.
The Works Progress Administration allocated 180,000
for much-needed improvements to the field, Including an
administration building, hangars and cabins for pilots.
In addition provisions were made for a runway 100
feel wide and 2,000 feet long. A hard-surfaced road en¬
circling the field also was constructed.
In the City of Ringhamton, to illustrate the elasticity
of the WPA program, a swamp was drained and a play¬
ground provided in the First Ward section, where it is
estimated the child population is 7,000. Many children
had been injured in traffic accidents until residents peti¬
tioned the City Council. WPA worked hand in hand with
the city in removing thr menace.
It also assisted in construction of the Lalhrop Avenue
sewer, which provides modern sanitary and drainage
facilities for one of the most desirable residential sections
of the city.
The City of Ithaca, with WPA assistance, was pro¬
vided with a modern community house with quarters for
social and educational gatherings. This replaces a ram¬
shackle building which had been u-ed a> a makeshift
gathering place for many years. This city, one of the
greatest educational centers of the Male, as seat of Cor¬
nell University, has a considerable Negro population,
mostly employees of the university. The community
house, known as Soutliside House, provides a gathering
place for this large part of the population.
The building will provide quarter* for Cirl and Boy
Scout Troop*, the Cultural Congress I minors!, two
women's clubs, a Home Bureau unit, Parent-Teachen'
Association, the Christmas Club, which annually distrib¬
utes baskets of food at Yulelide; a Men's Forum, and
other organizations.
WPA has wurked rapidly and widely. Tompkins
County is bring provided with a permanent tuberculosis
preventorium designed to accommodate sixty-seven pa¬
tients and the necessary staff. Located on a bluff high
above Cayuga Lake and surrounded by a large tract of
land, this institution will give weakling children a chance
to regain health and grow up to be able men and women.
A modern airport at which the largest transport ships
may land was constructed for the tri-cities metropolitan
area comprising Binghamton, Endicott and Johnson City.
A plot of 221 acres outside the Village of Endicott was
purchased and WPA men went to work to grade the land
and construct runways, both 500 feet wide, one 3^00
feet long and the other 3,000 feet long.
24
By constructing dikes along McDonald Avenue and
Wall Street in the City of Binghamton with WPA labor,
the First Ward section of the city has been protected
from the threat of flood which annually had wreaked
losses.
☆
RINGING THE BUFFALO and Erie County metro¬
politan center are the Counties of Orleans, Genesee
and Wyoming, devoted almost entirely to farming; Cat¬
taraugus and Chautauqua, where farming predominates,
but where there are flourishing industrial plants, and
Niagara, 90 per cent of whose income is from industry.
Of course a full narration would require much more
space than is available, for there have been many hun¬
dreds of projects successfully completed. But a general
picture of what has been done for both urban and rural
sections can be painted in broad strokes. People who
will take the trouble to inspect the merits of the WPA
projects in their own communities can themselves fill in
more of the detail of the design.
The urban centers have been relieved of expenditures
for relief that would have swamped them on the admis¬
sion oI their own records. The bonded indebtedness of
eight out of the nine larger communities was so near its
limit that local support of the needy would have called
for impossible loans endangering their municipal credit.
Had not the government agencies gone to their aid, the
increased taxes necessary to pay interest and amortization
on the further indebtedness would have been ruinous to
industry and trade.
Turning to the physical benefits in the way of parks,
sewers, roads, dams, water systems and other lasting im¬
provements made available to the well-being of the vari¬
ous communities through the Works Progress Adminis¬
tration many projects stand out.
In Chautauqua County there is the great Minton Dam,
the biggest completed project for impounding flowing
water in this section of New York State.
Built like an inverted V with its sides sloping down
from the concrete-and-clay core, it is 47 feet high and
261 feet through at the base. The top of the dam is 590
feet long from bank to bank, while water reaches a maxi¬
mum depth of 45 feet and extends over 15 acres. The
dam retains a 52,000,000-gallon water supply for the
village.
HELPING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS
View of portion of Sewing Project at Watertown, one of many similar ones conducted by WPA
BRINGING THE FARMER TO TOWN
A farm-to-market road at Hindsbwrg, Orleans County, before and after WPA took it in hand
The total cost, both Federal and sponsor, amoiiiilril to
W7.564.-t0, nearly all of which went directly to wattes for
West field men.
The village will have a water supply sufficient to meet
all of its needs for years to come.
With work undrr way at Fredonia for the building
of a second and 335,000,000-gallon reservoir, Chautauqua
County sees the second such WPA project within its
confines.
The project at Fredonia is the biggest water-impound¬
ing project in the entire western half of the Slate.
At Jamestown a new 77-acre airport is coming into
being through the good offices of the Works Progress
Administration. I.ong without a municipal airport, the
city is now to have one of the finest of its class in the
country.
To start it sev enty-seven acres were cleared completely
of timber and stumped, and so heavy was growth on the
tract that 1,800 cords of wood were rut up on the lot
and turned over to welfare authorities.
On that spot three runways have been built. Each
one is 2,500 feet long and 300 feet wide.
A hangar is being erected at the north side of the
port, near the main runways, as part of the project.
Further benefit has come to Jamestown through the
beaulification of Allen Park, with its picturesque water¬
way and landscaping, its new swimming pool and play¬
ground facilities.
Aside from the various farm-to-market roads being
built for the benefit of the rural population, nearly every
community of any sire has its particular improvement.
Dunkirk has had two health and sanitation projects
that add materially to the welfare and prosperity of the
city. One was the Goose Creek diversion and the other
the Crooked Brook culvert enclosure.
The latter has encased in a concrete bo* five by ten
feet and 1,055 feet long a stream that created a swamp
inside the city limits and effectively cut off five streets
from through traffic, dead-ending them with a deep, wet
gully.
This WPA improvement will increase property valua¬
tion in that district many times and afford relief for
which people have been waiting for years.
Goose Creek was a filthy little stream running through
Dunkirk. An industrial plant emptied into it, and the
stream was further polluted to such an extent that resi¬
dences bordering it were scarcely habitable.
WPA cleaned it tip and diverted the creek from its
old nilc to a srwrr running along Railroad Avenue.
Niagara Falls was aided in completing a general fire
alarm systrm. Though the city had been wired for fire
alarm boxes previous In this installation, polier boxes had
been confined chiefly to the downtown districts and were
strung overhrad where occasional breakage drfeated their
usefulness. The system of which this underground con¬
duit line is a part, leads to a crntral fire alarm station,
thus giving more adequate fire protertion to the entire
city. The police lines definitely improve facilities for
keeping in touch with radio cars.
☆
r I "HE mere mention of Niagara Falls brings thoughts
-*■ of moonlit nights in spring, orange blossoms in June
and a honeymoon at this famous gift of nature to beauty.
WPA is aiding the community in rrtaining the ro¬
mantic appeal of the "Falls" and its beautiful park
system.
There are five parks completed and in progress of
improvement. The State Park, including Coat Island and
the territory around the Falls, and a park that stretches
up along the gorge to the Devil's Hole.
The biggest is Hyde Park. Its expanse of 323 seres
extends 25 city blocks.
There are seven baseball diamonds, eight horseshoe
layouts, two bowling greens, twenty tennis courts, putting
green, 45-hole golf course, an arrhery range, approxi¬
mately five miles of bridle paths, shelter houses, fire¬
places, a great outdoor swimming pool for the adults and
a separate wading pool for children, a large stadium, a
rose garden, rock garden, water-encircled bandstand and
dancing pavilion, as well as miles of running creek for
canoes, and dozens of other items.
The WPA also finished the large wall enclosing the
stadium and its field, thus making possible an income fee
the city through renting the enclosure for athletic events
or other gatherings. This unit was commended by Presi¬
dent Roosevelt personally.
At La Salle another park is taking shape. Though some
work was done there under the TERA, the area recently
acquired by the city needed much development.
On Cayuga Island a low, marshy strip of twenty-one
acres at the upper end is being converted into a property
suitable for outdoor recreation.
Roads have been improved for many miles and sewers
have been laid by the thousands of feet. In the City of
Niagara Falls alone there have been built or improved
over 7.9 miles of streets and 96,923 feet of sewers, water
28
BEST OF ITS KIND
World-famous Ml. Van Hovenberg bobrun with WPA workers building one of its hazardous curves
mains and conduits, a total of 18.35 miles, at the cost of
hundreds of thousands of dollars. This tremendous
amount of work, admittedly, would have been impossible
to attain in the city budget.
The "Honeymoon City'- has had its project for the
tourist trade, too. The Works Progress Administration
has directly contributed to the happiness of the thousands
of newly married couples that will visit the Falls in years
to come by constructing a new path of scenic beauty
winding along the bank of the rapids just above the Falls
on Goat Island. There is no telling how many thousands
of couples who, arm in arm, will stroll this path.
And last, but not least in importance to Niagara Falls,
is the airport, which is being provided in the main by
WPA funds so that there may be an airport suitable to
the size and importance of the city.
☆
MANY of the improvements in Lockport might be
counted absolutely free to the city if the money
it expended on them as sponsor's contributions were
written off on its books against the savings effected by
one project alone — the pitometer survey. For that sur¬
vey reduced the daily water pumpage over the lines from
7.321,000 gallons to 4,673,000 gallons, saving 2,648,000
gallons each day from loss.
Of this the survey found and repaired leaks covering
1.600,000 gallons per day, and uncovered and corrected
industrial meters using an excess of 1.048.000 gallons
per day.
Savings per year on the tinder-registered meters are
placed at $13,000, while the saving on underground leaks
is placed at $7,000 per year; a total saving of $20,000
per year.
North Tonawanda is getting a storm and sanitary
sewer system in that portion of the city that lies near
the Wurlitzer Organ Plant.
In Salamanca trunk line sewers are in process of in¬
stallation to tie all random lines into one coordinated
system and eliminate pollution of the Allegany River
when the Disposal Plant is constructed. The city is now
getting its necessary system. WPA has completed two of
the three lines in the program.
For years the City of Gowanda has been faced with a
constantly diminishing water supply. Three out of four
wells run dry.
29
The Works Progress Administration is installing a
complete supply system, with water to be impounded
behind a 24-foot dam 239 feet in length in a nearby gorge
and piped from there for over a mile while heing lifted
by the siphon system 98 feet up into the old reservoir.
When completed this system will add 15,000.000 gal¬
lons to the Cowanda supply.
Olcan has been benefited by its many sewers and
improved streets.
Wyoming County, almost entirely an agricultural area
with few settlements of site, has devoted its most im¬
portant WPA projects to the building of sewer lines,
water lines and reservoirs.
At Attica Prison in Wyoming County, under the
watchful eyes of the guards, who looked out at them from
within the prison lowers, has worked a large crew of
WPA men filling in ground around the outside of the
walls.
Warden Hunt of Attico Prison praises the work that
the WPA has done to help complete these outside facili¬
ties of New York State's most modern prison.
"The WPA has been of immense assistance," he staled.
"We appreciate the work done here at the prison."
☆
THE WPA story so far has had to do with the con¬
struction end of its rehabilitation program. This, of
course, constitutes its major accomplishment, but there
is also another and highly important phase which has to
do with work relief provided for the sorely stricken so-
called "While Collar" workers — men and women aide
and anxious to earn their living and bitterly averse to
acceptance of a dole but for whom no work was available
in their regular channels of employment. For these folk
the Women'6 and Professional Division of the New York
State Worlu Progress Administration was set up, and
here, briefly, are some of its accomplishments:
A pioneer adventure in municipal accounting has
been made possible because of a WPA Street Record
Indexing Project in Rochester. The new index files con¬
tain all information relative to public and private services
and improvements for every street in the city. The City
Comptroller'- Office has decided to use the new system
as a basis for establishing a depreciation fund, as in
industrial accounting. The costs of every pavement,
sewer, water main and so forth will he determined. The
cost will then be amortized according to the use period.
When a new pavement is needed, funds will be available
under the proposed amortization system and borrowed
money on bonds for improvements would be eliminated.
Interest charges paid by the municipality would also
be cut.
In Schenerlady a WPA project is operating in connec¬
tion with the Police Laboratory. The Director of the
Bureau of Criminal Investigation supervises the project.
The research work being carried on by WPA skilled work¬
ers includes laboratory tests and analysrs in connection
with automobile accidents, murders, and other crimrs.
Among other things an exhaustive study of finger prints
Is carried on. Quirk identification is often necessary in
criminal cases.
In Monroe County four projects are sponsored by
the Monroe County Regional Planning Board:
(1) Assessment Map Making; 12) Land l'*e Studies;
(3) Bonded Debt Analysis; (4) Social and Economic
Studies.
Under the sponsorship of the Stale Department of
Conservation, Bureau of Came, two while collar projects
have been set up for a twelve month period on a seasonal
basis. The work includes field studies of food habits,
cyclic and other tendencies of certain species of game and
predators, including a special ruffed grouse investigation.
In Niagara County, under a WPA white collar pro¬
ject, a survey has been made of the luck tax situation,
with the result that an installment payment plan has
been set up in the County Treasurer's office whereby bark
taxes are being collected without any great hardship
to the payor.
The Block and Lot Project has made it poaaible. for
example, for residents of Nassau County who hove the
description and location of a piece of property to find, in
one file, the records of all transactions concerning that
property. The matter of searching titles i«, under the
new s> stem, a matter of minutes rather than days or
weeks.
The WPA School Lunch Project at Percy Hughes
School for Crippled Children in Syracuse boa attracted
public interest. Nourishing hot lunches are served rach
school day to physically handicapped children from fam¬
ilies who are in need of help. The menus are planned in
accordance with instructions received from the children's
mediral supervisors.
Library projects include, among other types, book re¬
pair projects, which are scattered throughout the State;
an extension mrssenger service in Syracuse to shut-ins
to whom regular library facilities are inaccessible even
through relatives and friends, and a bedside book service
at Grasslands Hospital in Westchester County to patients
whose recovery depends on long hospitalization. Doctors
and nurse- agree that this service has hastened the re¬
covery of many patients who had been discouraged, diffi¬
cult and unresponsive, before the WPA bedside book
service was installed, and their new or renewed interest
in books and new and old hobbies of reading.
30
WORLD-FAMOUS GLIDER FIELD
Harris Hill site at Elmira, where many world?s records had birth, is made over by WPA
On November 25. 1935, \Y1\\ took over from the State
Temporary Relief Administration 537 work relief nurses
employed on Statewide Bedside and Public Health Nurs¬
ing Projects in 53 cities and 50 rural districts. The pro¬
ject has been one of double relief both for nurses and
for the needy sick. The State Department of Health nets
as the sponsor ami supervising agency. Local appreciation
of the services rendered has increased to such an extent
that it is reasonable to believe that active future, support
may be obtained to promote a permanent community
nursing service, including bedside care, equal to the *cr-
vice now being provided by this WPA project.
On sewing room projects employing several thousand
under county-wide and local projects, garments are made
for needy
upon the
the quantity
the rent.
WPA ha* provided under its Housekeepers' Aides
Projects temporary assistance to families who local public
welfare and health agencies consider are in need of house¬
keepers' aides. Homes where a mother is ill or tempo-
arily incapacitated, and homes where children have
open left motherless. The women workers on these pro¬
jects have all hod experience in homemaking. and are
aide to organize disorganized homes, and to do the neces¬
sary conking, cleaning, washing and ironing as well
a* to core for the children.
AND SO COFS the tale of WPA accomplishment in
the F.mpire State. Within the necessarily limited •
At »•
«t\l be %W®®®*' "t >
i-Sjpss r4'r,^«
»ut be wu»e»*""
s«-s£r.25s
.11 nw
- «/.f
,rM brt«« >» "* ^ In Sunt, iT^On
p Cd/iV^^ " approve
'ilnt en fftin/ ' ^'or'' Coiling $32,000 .,
r5 Started Next Month
eSecton !' at Chenango Valley
*£"'* • p^n mfn to r.ft in
, th. K«vy » lIV, "" ^Ocher, rn,0»t ! r.
ir.\ b*«» lo.' *' (• 'n suin, ^e'on •• »• Chi
r«*iso MEN
•n to get jobs Here tridavk^"^
J Itj« todi«y >ri '
I Landicaping Grad Work lor ISO M,„ Wii r, It!
,nd Tree Planting pJ/J £*■ Boh a ^
on Program Announce. ' f I
omenta at the Chenan# CPLfPrta to •* ■ by I be'**"1
Into ram ...atlna IKn.^HtDUL£ S£T A lif a rJ!,UmJ TPfW'Vfff
on an, p., a. a WP _ ' ^EAU't *< d*n. Yon^d
in* work trill »* "(art OnmIno n . J ®®*'. ".L,™.-, *..
t.«r t«> --
1»t * fu- ^ .• _p r
?-oK 't'+Zi" ">• «*otGeneral Landicapini
7-n^^ro i"« «nd Tree Plai
T-hg. ©a**"*4 on Program
AT to •
the fhenana
matin* 112,0'
«t an a WP
- ~>e Started i ;
Here Friday!-
/ |>j« t
rL f— irn ae » 1
aw • _ - « n nf •
j \ rottc** .
_
,0\* ^"'V80 Th'' c'u"'4 on Progra
• ■
A®' M C°. _\00 ©* v 0t of I* Btlpv. nllov Htato Park matin* 112.0' ^^HtrUULE SET AHFAr nlns \*\A ®^ »A dgd^ttfi beta approved *• « wr t,A[
*uP tfoi«®S •n'1 work w,n 1,0 '"""'Opening nf p •
Mtrib *JLu. ib® K. ib® 10?® n"m"' •»«»««•■ coniey. Alain °rojectt Jd
t*« . AeaO* lb rttPA" " fc - ,$ v |»A glea.'li.i annnllhrail |m,ay. K|j||]f (j Jq ^ • a J
Relief N,,J j
I' umil BP"' '
l» ih'y """""J,,
not P"''"c y
,oLy >" <"•%'
tV, '»",o •»; ;t O
. an. e^S>
«Sr;>' ^ ^ ^ w vo:rupe7»L •/ p
• ®'w,iart 1' CPA dltortor nnnniinr«*1 torlay, Plllhfd fo A
01 »* ' *wut 4 . 10 *■*.««•' "Il |t'»l n,,Brr „ro)« Th. wirh «lll l.r.,vw. J..I.. I - 10 >»VC
... an* "" "> » \«tW.«w ®* v '» ° Ji O" 'ik"1 ' men for all montha Rfllci N*rrt
1 FfID milnu »• ;nt.
I Un mHY ,ood 10d "
^«B§^^cnj(
announce!
"SCHEDULE SET AHEAD, , -< -7
" Openin, P..:. . 7^, <
1 jtcrx^c j„,
'• p®»o1 ;fidunw'"
were eo ...1,
fl»*d
m Apr'1- P>
projacefo
The
U. T1 projac
r ru? airrpl' The
I la in bu 111 tboae a
ilfare bui Biv» «j
a. nurse, ctun ,ft
u and (« o*'r"
rfodtto
project lh I*
F
wrote m II
MTyPRiOJECTitr*
,;™i^rw»»'1JATAVIA 11
SEES WPA
SAVING
■t; Plan Held
' Than Stn
D«a
York State
v <*w, . n
,?&r ■
r'AV *•"
°<y ' ^ ^-*01
^ I?
^Jr Of* /v
:T AfJ"
V//../I .
^ Oe*^ fo " Cf £ J Cort B ber includt
•Otong °W'" h*'l for r. Urp C,M 101
-» »a r pr°>ef, Brighton lhe ^ These m<
fe.on,n»>". 2 "*< h"kz « ,o r"*d
'v^.. '"<"■• ,00., '»• 8„.m ;f,f» Baker end
"etnu,, , *e._uLi Y.^UMH
re caw tona. anc t>aia.
These men have been aw
, road construction work c
akcr and Hondlcy roads I
-