RESOLUTION

We, the following eligible voters in Alexander and Pulaski Counties and southern Illinois, hereby resolve that bill for this distressed area be passed by our Congress in the coming session. Such an appropriation will do much to alleviate unemployment in the area, to spark new industries, and to strengthen the economic fiber of our communities in this region.

We heartily support a program for the redevelopment of this temporarily distressed area and attach our signatures as witness to our personal and area wide support.

(Signed by the following:)
C. F. Bode, Mound City, Ill.
G. A. Tapley, Mound City, Ill.
Leonard Hale, Mound City, Ill.
Gilbert Vines, Mound City, Ill.
Jarvilene Edwards, Mound City, Ill.
Sonny Johnson, Mound City, Ill.
Wm. M. Jones, Mound City, Ill.
Dan O'Sullivan, Jr., Mound City, Ill.
Vamey Ed. Schwary, Mound City, Ill.
F. X. Heiligevatern, Mound City, Ill.
Alvin Edward, Mound City, Ill.
Forest Rushing, Mound City, Ill.
F. B. Hood, Mound City Ill.
Charles Clayton Mound City Ill.
Robert Hudson, Mound City, Ill.
Jas. A. Rushing, Mound City, Ill.
Frank Brooks, Mound City, Ill.
Lucille Hudson, Mound City, Ill.
Jackie Bell, Mound City, Ill.
Rev. Edgar B. Purdy, Mounds, Ill.
Charles Austin, Jr., Mounds, Ill.
Mrs. Wm. Saffa, Mounds, Ill.
C. Robt. Crain, Mounds, Ill.
A. I. Connell, Mounds, Ill.
Henry Gunn, Mounds, Ill.
John F. Stewart, Mounds, Ill.
Sara Goodigian, Mounds, Ill.
Wm. H. Goodgian, Mounds, Ill.
Rita Graddy, Mounds, Ill.

La Verna Corneloius Thomas, Mounds,
Ill.

Warren S. Hastings, Mounds, Ill.
Mrs. John H. DuRall, Mounds, Ill.
Harvey O. Ward, Mounds, Ill.
William M. Elyn, Cairo, Ill.
C. V. Hardy, Mounds, Ill.
Rebecca Beadles, Mounds, Ill.
James R. Weaver, Mounds, Ill.
Verna Prim, Mounds, Ill.
Dora W. Chapman, Mounds, Ill.
Von Pnim, Mounds, Ill.
Robert Jones, Mounds, Ill.
Ruby B. Ridgeway, Mounds, Ill.
John McDavid, Mounds, Ill.
Given Chambein, Mounds, Ill.
Georgia Girgsby, Mounds, Ill.
Ivory Pitts, Mounds, Ill.
Margaerite Crain, Mounds, Ill.
Vivian R. Gunn, Mounds, Ill.
Leslie B. Broom, Mounds, Ill.
Katherine Meshew, Mounds, Ill.
Mary Genelle Mohoney, Mounds, Ill.
Daniel Mattson, Mounds, Ill.
H. T. Wisefall, Mounds, Ill.
Cassie Saffa, Mounds, Ill.
Kaych D. Cringsby, Mounds, Ill.
Hazel F. Robinson, Mounds, Ill.
John W. Taylor, Mounds, Ill.
L. Washington, Mounds, Ill.

Mrs. Elizabeth Graddy, Mounds, Ill. Ralph Flemming, Mounds, Ill.

Allen Johnson, Mounds, Ill.
Harve Calvin, Jr., Mounds, Ill.
Vivian Caster, Olmsted, Ill.
J. E. Catilla, Mounds, Ill.

Robert A. Aldrich, Mound City, Ill.
John B. Barnes, Carbondale, Ill.
Rosemary Varner, Mounds, Ill.
Burgess Varner, Mounds, Ill.
Clara Bonner, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Jane Robertson, Ullin, Ill.
Robert Haskell, Mounds, Ill.
Byron L. Connell, Mounds, Ill.
Mrs. Henry Moreland, Mounds, Ill.
Mrs. John C. Fisher, Cairo, Ill.
Victor Honey, Cairo, Ill.
Connie Meadows, Mounds, Ill.
Dora Meadows, Mounds, Ill.

Maxine Crippen, Mounds, Ill.

B. M. Talley, Mounds, Ill.
E. H. Prindle, Mounds, Ill.
A. W. Casper, Mounds, III.
Robert G. Cruse, Mounds, Ill.
Gerold W. Greenwalt, Mounds, Ill.
Kalph Gurley, Mounds, Ill.
John E. Britton, Mounds, Ill.
Aruel Newell, Mounds, Ill.
Paul C. Yandell, Mounds, Ill.
Mrs. Josie M. Boyd, Mounds, Ill.
Hazel Marie Allen, Mounds, Ill.
Margaret B. Ward, Mounds, Ill.
Margie Lindsey, Mounds, Ill.
Alpha Connell, Mounds, Ill.
Earlean Hastings, Mounds, Ill.
Cecilia Lowet, Mounds, Ill.
Kizie Rayd, Mounds, Ill.
Robert Boyd, Mounds, Ill.

Margaret Throgmorton, Mounds, Ill. E. P. Woolard, Mounds, Ill.

Blauclie Britt, Mounds, Ill.

Earl Sitton, Mounds, Ill.

Virgil Edwards, Mounds, Ill.

Henry Alexander, Mounds, Ill.
Joe E. Roberts, Mounds, Ill.

Mrs. Maggie G. Branch, Mounds, Ill.

Eunice T. Jenkins, Mounds, Ill.
Charlotte Grable, Mounds, Ill.
R. E. Hagler, Mounds, Ill.

Laura Maude Connell, Mounds, Ill.
Ruth Atherton, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Robert Vauills, Cairo, Ill.

Audrey Lane, Villa Ridge, Ill.
E. L. Crain, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Virgil Bankson, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Mary Bankson, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Earl E. Hayes, Villa Ridge, Ill.
F. V. Gray, Vienna, Ill.
J. C. Price, Mounds, Ill.
R. B. Eudicott, Villa Ridge, Ill
Edward O. Pawlisit, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Mildrid Grace, Villa Ridge, Ill.
F. M. Dille, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Rudy Swanson, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Freda Swanson, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Fames R. Glover, Carbondale, Ill.
J. F. Wilkinson, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Daisy M. Wilkinson, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Virginia Wilkinson, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Kenneth Wilkinson, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Minnie Behinett, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Mr. and Mrs. F. K. Wheeler, Villa Ridge,
Ill.

James Hogendobler, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Dorothea Hogendobler, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Delta K. Hartmen, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Wm. W. Page, Olmsted, Ill.
J. H. Wieting, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Virginia Wieting, Villa Ridge, Ill.
James B. Aiken, Mounds, Ill.
Catherine H. Vick, Mounds, Ill.
Alberta Nelson, Mounds, Ill.
Frances Modglin, Mounds, Ill.
Nettie L. Stone, Mounds, Ill.
James T. Malley, Mounds, Ill.
Leanard Koch, Cairo, Ill.

John H. Edwards, Mound City, Ill.
James G. Elder, Mounds, Ill.

Mrs. Fred Allen, Mounds, Ill.
Mary E. Scruggs, Mounds, Ill.
Dorothy W. Rose, Mounds, Ill.
Mrs. Albert Toler, Mounds, Ill.
Jack E. Lettell, Mounds, Ill.
Dewey Mohoney, Mounds, Ill.
J. F. Connell, Mounds, Ill.
H. B. Williams, Mounds, Ill.
Hugo Chiamblis, Mounds, Ill.
Wm. Bride, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Chas. Hartman, Villa Ridge, Ill.
G. R. Grace, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Wm. Farrist, Anna, Ill.
Kennith Dauns, West Frankfort, Ill.
Jessie Williams, Pulaski, Ill.
Clarence Bagby, Cairo, Ill.
H. L. Atherton, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Frank Dynis, Cairo, Ill.

Ethel Barnett, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Mildred Calvin, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Howard Forrester, Cairo. Ill.
Lillian Bonner, Villa Ridge, Ill.
J. R. Bonner, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Flora Conant, Villa Ridge, Ill.
W. B. Kinnedy, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Doris E. Black, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Clara Spualding, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Geneince M. Lavert, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Floyd Smoot, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Ella Smoot, Villa Ridge, Ill.
L. E. Green, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Russell Dille, Villa Ridge, Ill.
George A. Cross, Villa Ridge, Ill.
G. W. Aldrich, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Virginia Lane, Villa Ridge, Ill.
Evelyn Yandell, Mounds, Ill.

Lawrence Schneider, Mounds, Ill.
Vesteene Rives, Mounds, Ill.

I, Marguerite B. Ward, notary public in and for said county and State do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true, correct, and complete copy of an original resolution, including signatures thereon, now in the Mounds area community development headquarters files, and that the signatures on such original resolution are genuine in all respects.

Witness my hand and notarial seal this 17th day of January A. D. 1956.
[SEAL]
MARGUERITE B. WARD,
Notary Public, Pulaski County, Ill.

RESOLUTION

Whereas a bill, S. 2663, has been introduced in Congress to alleviate excessive unemployment in certain economically depressed areas; and

Whereas this community has an excessive amount of unemployment and citizens on relief rolls in proportion to its population; and

Whereas there is no electric power available in southern Illinois to attract or sustain any major industry; and

Whereas this community is sadly in need of a sanitary district in order to attract any kind of industry; and

Whereas the Electric Energy, Inc., is under a 25-year contract to supply the Atomic Energy Commission all their power: Therefore be it

Resolved, That the village president and board of trustees of the village of Joppa (Massac County), Ill., in regular meeting assembled this 27th day of January 1956 earnestly urge an early investigation of this community and a definite assurance of remedial action to alleviate our distress; and be it further Resolved, That State or Federal aid be made available to secure a sanitary district for this village and furnish this district with adequate electric power to attract industries; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to United States Senators Paul H. Douglas and Everett M. Dirksen; United States Congressman Kenneth J. Gray and Illinois State Representative Paul Powell.

A report on the opportunities for youth in southern Illinois, submitted originally as testimony for the proponents at the public hearing held in Murphysboro, Ill., February 21, 1956, by the Corps of Engineers, United States Army, St. Louis district, Col. George E. White, Jr., presiding, on the proposal to canalize the Big Muddy River and Beaucoup Creek.

Submitted on April 27, 1956, to the Honorable Paul H. Douglas, Senator from Illinois, in support of S. 2663, the depressed areas bill.

Prepared by the student council of the Pinckneyville (Ill.) Community High School.

Preparation committee: Norman Millikin, chairman; Don Margenthaler; Mary Ruth Millikin; Linda Hubler; Richard Todd; Tod Masters; Susan Matthews: Allan Brown.

Faculty advisers: Dean O. Smith; Samuel B. Edwards.

Hon. PAUL H. DOUGLAS,

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

United States Senator, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SENATOR DOUGLAS: A few weeks ago, our community became interested in a proposal to canalize Beaucoup Creek and Big Muddy River in southern Illinois. Our student council, here at the Pinckneyville Community High School, became interested in the project and obtained permission to study it. We appointed student representatives in the community planning committee who are still serving as members of that organization.

We also set up a committee to make a report on local conditions. This committee, with the assistance of our faculty sponsors, finally submitted a report which was offered as testimony for the proponents at a public hearing on the canal proposal held by the United States Army Corps of Engineers at Murphysboro, Ill., February 21, 1956.

Since then we have felt that our study might be of some value in securing a favorable decision on S. 2663, the Douglas depressed areas bill. Therefore, upon the suggestion of Mr. Harold D. Brown and Dr. William Tudor, we are herewith submitting our study in revised form, for consideration as evidence in support of S. 2663.

After the introduction, our report is divided into two main parts.

In part 1, we present data that is essential to an understanding of what youth sees when he looks at the future in southern Illinois. Among other things, we have studied unemployment, relief, and some of the sociological characteristics of Pinckneyville.

The picture is not bright.

We have found the average cost to the Government for a person on relief is $39.32 per month.1

The size of the average American family, based on an announcement of the Bureau of the Census in April 1954, is 3.3 persons.

The life expectancy of white, American males is 681⁄2 years. The average age at graduation from our school is 18 years.

1 See table III, p. 17, this report. Cost for 28,669 persons for October 1955 was $1,127,193.

2 United States Population, The World Almanac and Book of Facts for 1955. (New York: New York World Telegram), p. 255.

3 Ibid., p. 261.

If a graduate of the class of 1956 marries and accumulates a family in the next 10 years, simple arithmetic indicates that it would cost the Government $69,950.28 to support them for the next 50 years.*

It seems to us that this is a much more significant problem than supporting someone on relief who is already 65.

It also assumes added significance if, instead of being on relief, this graduate could support his family and perhaps pay a little income tax.

In studying the sociological characteristics of Pinckneyville, we have found that it has all the earmarks of a dying community: Loss of population; age tending to classify in the "very old" and "very young" groupings; empty houses and empty business places.

In spite of these things, we have seen our parents struggle to attract new industry to the town. We have seen them pay high taxes to maintain and improve our schools. No, the American spirit of courage is not dead in our town. Α highly significant fact we discovered is that 75.2 percent of the homes in Pinckneyville are owned by the persons living in them.

We conducted an interesting survey of the graduates of the high school and found that a girl has only 1 chance in 10 of remaining in our community and getting married. That may be a bit humorous, but this certainly is not: Only 12 percent of our graduates are gainfully employed in our community. It looks as if we have only two choices. Leave, or go on relief.

We don't want to wander about the country following the chance winds of seasonal employment. The young people of southern Illinois don't want any

part of relief.

In part 2 of our report you will find the results of our study of 14 basic requirements of industry and how southern Illinois meets some, and fails to meet others, of these requirements.

It is our sincere belief that Senate bill 2663 is justified, necessary, and compatible with the principles of American democracy.

It is with a respectful request for favorable consideration of S. 2663 that we submit this report.

Sincerely yours,

DON MARGENTHALER,

(For the Student Council, Pinckneyville Community High School.)

YOUTH LOOKS AT THE FUTURE

INTRODUCTION

Young people of high-school age have an intense interest in the future. We are quite aware of the problems our parents face from day to day.

Most of us are interested in the question: "What shall I do to make a living?" Some of us are making plans for college. Marriage is in the future for us. Most of the boys are concerned with military service of some kind. All of us will soon assume the responsibilities of voting citizens.

When we first heard of the proposal to canalize the Big Muddy River and Beaucoup Creek, we became very interested in it. Many of us speculated on the recreational possibilities of the lakes that might be created as lock basins.

Our community very quickly became aware that the proposal was full of possibilities. A community canal committee was formed for the purposes of seeing what was to be done, and our student council obtained our principal's permission to send representatives.

We studied Mr. Geoffrey Hughes' plan for the economic recovery of southern Illinois and decided we should do something constructive. The community committee suggested that we could submit testimony at the hearing in Murphysboro, Ill., on February 21, 1956, if we so desired.

Our student council immediately set up a committee to gather facts and submit a report for testimony. This is that report.

We contacted 10 other high schools. All of them read Mr. Hughes' report, mentioned above, and approved the proposal to canalize Big Muddy River and Beaucoup Creek. By virtue of direct endorsement from these 10 high schools (see table V, p. 19), we represent 3,209 high school students as we offer this report as testimony for the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

One person for 50% years at $39.32 per month, and 2.3 persons for 421⁄2 years at $39.32 per month.

6 Hughes, Geoffrey. Southern Illinois. Inc., Carterville, Ill. A Report on the Economic Problems of Southern Illinois Communities to Senate Subcommittee on Labor. (Submitted to the Subcommittee on Labor in Washington, D. C., on January 6, 1956.) P. 2.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Lack of time, experience, and certain facilities limited the scope of our investigation. We decided to investigate the social and economic conditions in our community which would affect our future as citizens living in this area and to determine, if possible, whether the building of canals would materially modify these conditions.

With the assistance of our teachers, our committee immediately set to work on this problem.

ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT

This report is divided into two parts.

Part 1 is entitled "The Perspective." In this section of the report, we have listed the social and economic conditions in our community which we believe are necessary to an understanding of how youth looks at the future.

Part 2 is called "An Economic Solution." In this section of the report we evaluate our findings in terms of the future. We attempt to show the place of our community in the economy of our Nation. We point out some of the advantages and some of the shortcomings of this area and the importance of attention to these matters as youth looks at the future.

PART 1.-THE PERSPECTIVE

UNEMPLOYMENT

The population of the city of Pinckneyville, Ill., is 2,898 people. If we assume that the labor force is comprised of all people above 14 years of age who are available for full-time employment, there are 113 people unemployed. This is 10.5 percent of the labor force of Pinckneyville-considerably above the national average but is below the average unemployment in southern Illinois.

In October 1955, there were nearly 20,000 persons unemployed in southern Illinois. Seven hundred fifty of these were in Perry County (See table II). According to opinions gathered from our parents, it appears that this condition of serious unemployment is a chronic ailment of southern Illinois. During times of war, employment in this area is fairly good. But as soon as the war ends, the mines begin to lay off workers and unemployment sets in as a general condition. While the rest of the country seems to be quite prosperous, southern Illinois is the "forgotten land."

Unemployment is a condition that must be considered as youth looks at the

future.

PUBLIC RELIEF IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

The most recent data available on public relief was contained in Mr. Goffrey Hughes' report already cited. (See table III, p. 17.)

1,170 persons in Perry County received public assistance in the month of October 1955. This cost the Government $40,888. The cost of public assistance for the 16 counties of southern Illinois for that month was $1,127,193.

We know this is a great burden on our Government.

We also know that, as the young people of this area, we don't want to be on public relief. We want to accomplish things. We want to "carry our own weight" and be useful citizens.

PINCKNEYVILLE-A DYING CITY?

4

Southern Illinois University reports several alarming sociological facts about Pinckneyville. These are summarized in the lettered paragraph below.

(a) Pinckneyville lost 401 people, or 12 percent of its population, between the national census of 1950 and September 22, 1955. The number of people living in Pinckneyville in 1950 was 3,299. The present population is 2,898.

(b) The greatest loss of population was in the age group of 15 to 39 which showed a loss of 376 people.

(c) The percentage of people in the age group 15 to 39 is smaller than the national and State averages.

2 Pinckneyville Community Development Census-A Partial Summary, from A Discussion of Needs, Problems, and Assets of Pinckneyville, compiled by the Department of Community Development, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., September 1955, p. 5. 3 Ibid., p. 7.

Ibid., p. 5.