SANTA ROSA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hon. DENNIS CHAVEZ, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR CHAVEZ: We are very much interested in passage of Senate bill 2663, and want to do our part in giving the bill support. However, for financial reasons, we will not be able to send a representative to Washington to appear before Senator Douglas' committee. Short of doing this, we are including certain facts peculiar to the Guadalupe County labor situation which you may find to be interesting and which you may want to read into the committee records. All of the information given below has been taken from three sources: The reports of the New Mexico Employment Security Commission, the New Mexico University Bureau of Business Research reports, and the United States Census reports, 1950. In 1950, 12.5 percent of the labor force in Guadalupe County was unemployed when only 1,834 of a total force of 2,064 were gainfully occupied in salaryproducing jobs. That the situation is worse today is reflected in the facts that the average weekly salary paid persons working in the county is $37.95 while the State average is $68.08, and that the population of the county has been falling off sharply for the past 15 years. Guadalupe County's population dropped 21.7 percent between 1940 and 1950, and 11.4 percent between 1950 and 1955. The persons who are able to do so move elsewhere when they are not able to find work here, however, many more are forced to remain because they own property here or because of strong family ties. These latter work at parttime jobs principally during the summer months when Santa Rosa's tourist service businesses are the most active, and subsist as best they can. Although our records are not entirely accurate, we estimate that at least 10 percent of the county population is constantly unemployed. We work continually at improving this situation and are making slight headway, nevertheless, the boost that the Depressed Areas Act could give us and other communities and counties like ours is certainly needed. Sincerely, GEORGE A. MCBRIDE, Manager. ALBUQUERQUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. The Honorable DENNIS CHAVEZ, DEAR SIR: The Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at their regular meeting on Monday night, March 12, 1956, went on record as being in favor of the depressed area bill, and also suggested that we notify our congressional delegation about this stand. Respectfully yours, Hon. DENNIS CHAVEZ, LEE E. ROEDER, Assistant Manager. TUCUMCARI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. HONORABLE SIR: The Board of Directors of the Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce after careful consideration, feel that Senate bill No. 2663 providing relief for economically depressed areas, will be of aid and assistance to our area that has suffered from drought and other economic handicaps preventing full employment and industrial or agricultural payrolls. We urge and will greatly appreciate your support of this bill. Thanking you for past consideration and anticipated cooperation, we are Sincerely, BILL GASKINS, President. MOUNTAINAIR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, The Honorable DENNIS CHAVEZ, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR CHAVEZ: It has been brought to our attention by the New Mexico Economic Development Commission that National Congress is considering feasibility of a depressed area bill, or rather two bills known as S. 2892 and S. 2663. We believe features in S. 2663 will suit needs of areas similar to ours better than S. 2892. We urge you support this measure. We feel sure you are somewhat familiar with conditions here. However, no one, not living here, can possibly understand the problems we have faced and will continue to face until farming conditions improve. We also believe that no town or community can be as prosperous as they should be without industry to help support it. In our case, we have to procure industry here to survive. More than 50 percent of our population has been forced to leave their homes and seek employment. Some of the business firms have made arrangements for the wife to look after their place of business and the husband seek employment. As stated above, this condition has lasted for 8 years and looks very much the same again this year. If we are fortunate enough to procure some industry here, it will be almost a certainty that we will need to furnish a location and lease to the concern. If so, we would need to borrow funds from some source at low interest rates in order to supply such location. We believe bill S. 2663 will be a great deal of help not only to us, but to many other communities. In closing, we would like to point out that we have many advantageous features which make our community a desirable place to live in, and we feel these would be a great advantage to industrial firms. For instance, we have a wonderful climate with cool nights, the days are not hot in comparison to some areas. We have beautiful recreation areas nearby good schools, churches, shopping center, railroad, highways, extremely low-cost housing, low taxes, an abundance of labor, all of which would bring about ́ower production costs. If you know of any way to help us contact firms that may plan to locate in New Mexico, we will appreciate your help. Very truly yours, EVERETT L. CRIST, Secretary. ALL PUEBLO COUNCIL, EIGHTEEN PUEBLOS OF 18,000 INDIANS, Senator DENNIS CHAVEZ, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR CHAVEZ: Enclosed herewith is a letter written to the Honorable Senator Paul H. Douglas. I stated in the letter to Senator Douglas that it is hope that you will make every effort in working toward getting the bill passed and enacted into law. Out here in the State of New Mexico, one of the most serious problems among our rural people is that of economic development. This is true not only with the Indians but also with the non-Indians. Accordingly, it is hoped that efforts will be made on your part to hold the committee hearings on this bill, if such hearings are held, in the various parts of New Mexico. From our experience in working with these problems, it is felt that one of the most constructive programs that could be launched in the Indian areas would be a good housing program, a housing program which would come about as a result of a liberal loan program. Many of us are desirous of good homes, but are unable to construct them because we have no financial security. Likewise, there are many undeveloped resources which could be developed under Senator Douglas' bill. At this particular time, when we are so deeply concerned with the problems of juvenile delinquency, one of the ways which we can curtail the growth of this problem is by producing secure homes and economic stability among our families. Sincerely yours, Enclosure. JOHN C. RAINER, Chairman. (Enclosed copy of letter with Senator Chavez' letter dated February 29, 1956, follows:) ALL PUEBLO COUNCIL, EIGHTEEN PUEBLOS OF 18,000 INDIANS, February 29, 1956. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. Senator PAUL H. DOUGLAS, DEAR SENATOR DOUGLAS: This letter results from a study of your bill No. S. 2663, which is intended to relieve economically depressed areas. On behalf of the people I work with, I wish to commend you for this very outstanding piece of legislation designed to rehabilitate not only the economically depressed areas but likewise the very people living in these areas. Recently a committee of Senators and a member of the House, namely the Honorable James E. Murray, Mike Mansfield, and Representative Lee Metcalf, wrote you a letter pointing out some of the recommendations which might be included in your bill. After studying their recommendations to you, it is felt that these recommendations are excellent to cover the Indian situation as we know it. It is true that the most important need on the Indian reservations is to establish some sort of Federal and State work projects. Those of us who are in constant contact with the everyday living conditions of the Indians realize it will be possible to rehabilitate the dire conditions only by the enactment of S. 2663 into law. The Indians no less than the non-Indians are deeply concerned with the problems which are the result of economic conditions. Almost all the Indians I know anything about are desirous of a good education for their children, a good home and some sort of continuous income to maintain a standard of living equal to those of non-Indians. Most unfortunately, we have been handicapped in these respects, and your bill seems to offer a good answer for the relief of these situations. If a hearing will be held in the near future in respect to this bill, it will be deeply appreciated if some of us Indian leaders will be given an opportunity to present the facts needed to support your bill. I, for one, have been following your activities in Congress, and I want to commend you for your liberal work on behalf of all the people in this country. I am firmly of the opinion that unless we build all sections of our population properly and securely, we have no guaranty of a strong nation. If we can be of any help to you in bringing this bill into law, we shall be very glad to cooperate with you. Very sincerely yours, JOHN C. RAINER, Chairman. Senator DENNIS CHAVEZ, Washington, D. C. CEBOLLA RIVER RANCH ENTERPRISES, DEAR SENATOR CHAVEZ: Am in receipt of your letter with the enclosed copies of the Douglas bill and Small Business Administration pamphlet, and wish to thank you for your interest. I am enclosing all of the information, relative to our business which is available at this time, as we deal through jobbers and advertising our product is more or less up to them. Should Senator Douglas see fit to hold hearings on his bill in Las Vegas, I would welcome an opportunity to appear before the committee relative to our business and the condition of the area in which we live and manufacture our product. Again thanking you for your interest in the matter, I remain, Yours truly, Enclosure. FRED "RED" HARRIS, Cebolla Pine Cone Co., Inc., President. (Newspaper article enclosed with letter to Senator Chavez follows:) MAN WITH AN IDEA PUTS PINE CONES TO WORK IN NEW INDUSTRY FOR AREA The State Corporation Commission announced the chartering of a firm at Sapello. In the announcement it was stated that the Cebolla Pine Cone Co., Inc., had been granted a corporate charter with F. R. Harris and J. E. Armijo as the principal stockholders with a capital stock of $50,000 and $30,000 paid in. But the incorporation is only the bare facts of an unusual enterprise. Last spring the Las Vegas area acquired a displaced Texan as a citizen. He was a man with vision and determination. Fred "Red" Harris bought and moved to the Cebolla Ranch, a 2,500-acre spread above Sapello, entering the cattle business with which he was familiar in Texas. One day Harris was making the rounds of the ranch on horseback and he noted the preponderance of pine cones on the ground. To the average person pine cones under pine trees in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is a natural matter, taken for granted as part of the scenery. Harris, however, had an idea that the thousands of cones ought to have some other value than just reposing under pine trees. He gathered a few of the cones and took them to the ranch home where he treated them with paints and sprays. The result was unusual and beautiful Christmas decorations. The rancher got in touch with a Dallas friend who is head of a large chain of stores and the idea of placing the treated cones on the market clicked. Orders came flowing in and the tub used as the first pine-cone treating plant has been expanded to a small factory which turns out 5,000 cones a day. For the current Christmas season Harris' factory is packaging cones for individual orders. Harris points out that it is not a big business, but offers some employment and the income augments his cattle business which he terms as not too good at present. The experience with pine cones led Harris into study of further possibilities in forestry and soon he was spraying spruce bows, fir and pine and turning them into wreaths which he is selling in small lots. Small pine trees, Harris reasoned, should have commercial use. He obtained additional equipment for peeling the trees, then treating them and selling them for fence posts, which he says will last 50 years. Still enterprising Harris turned his attention to the production of log slabs for home building, the latest output of the ranch area. Harris comes to New Mexico with quite a background. He attended Baylor University where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. After college he was signed by the St. Louis Browns and subsequently was farmed to Wichita Falls of the Texas League. Harris entered law practice in Dallas and later was elected to the State senate and was a candidate for lieutenant governor. During the war Harris was commissioned lieutenant (junior grade) in the Navy and served on the U. S. S. Croatan as flight deck officer and later on the U. S. S. Franklin, which was almost demolished by enemy air attack. He was twice wounded in action and awarded two Purple Hearts and decorated with the Navy Cross, Bronze Star, and Commendation Ribbons. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have 3 daughters, 1 studying music in Texas, and the other 2 at the Harris Ranch. The Honorable DENNIS CHAVEZ, United States Senate Building, LEONARD HOSKINS POST No. 24, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR CHAVEZ: We, the members of the American Legion, Leonard Hoskins Post No. 24, in Las Vegas, N. Mex., greatly urge the passage of Senate bill No. 2663, or the Douglas bill. This bill No. 2663, deals with the depressed areas of our Nation, and we know if this bill No. 2663 is passed, our community will be benefited. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation, and hoping that as our Senator, you realize the importance of the bill. DEAR SIR: We are vitally interested in Senator Hill's bill to aid depressed areas. If local opinions will help out to bring about an investigation of San Miguel County in New Mexico, we would like to offer the following information. No doubt, you are familiar with the study, Personal Income in New Mexico, made by the Bureau of Business Research at the University of New Mexico. This study speaks for itself. We also understand that sociological studies have indicated that this area is one of the three neediest in the United States. In our work we see actual living conditions every day in this community and surrounding areas in the county. The conditions are deplorable as a result of years of unemployment, years of drought, and their resulting devastation. The welfare assistance program has helped in many instances. However, there are innumerable families that cannot qualify for assistance because of an employable male; but, the employable male cannot find employment. Limited resources are exhausted in traveling to look for work to no avail. The family, frequently a large one, is left to eke out an existence. The resulting malnutrition and cumulative medical problems are appalling. Living year after year under such conditions can be devastating to the most stalwart character. In this rich country with food surpluses, it is difficult to accept the sight of a long line of people who are dependent upon these commodities for their sustenance. It is good that they have this resource to turn to in desperation. Yet, there are many families in need who cannot qualify for even this type of assistance because they own a plot of worthless ground and a house where they live which might bring $50 on a cash sale. Foreign aid programs are worthy, but we still believe that charity begins at home and is sorely needed. Living for extended periods of time under these conditions has lowered the morale of the people to a point that could be critical. Through a process of attrition, potentially loyal, good citizens could well reach a point where they would accept the lies of any "ism" which was offered in an inviting light. We are sitting on the proverbial powder keg. If an investigation is made in this area, we would like to volunteer our assistance in obtaining facts for you. I have the honor to remain, (Miss) MARY FULGENZI, Visiting teacher, Las Vegas City Schools. (Mrs.) HELEN HARRIS, Las Vegas City School Nurse. (Mrs.) DONNA STILLINGER, San Miguel County School Nurse. NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY, Senator DENNIS CHAVEZ, United States Senator from New Mexico, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR CHAVEZ: I want to tell you of my keen interest in Senate bill 2663 which seeks to establish an effective program to alleviate conditions of excessive unemployment in economically depressed areas. The area of northeastern New Mexico in which I live has been slowly receding into a depressed condition since the end of World War II. Businessmen in Las Vegas tell me that at present their business is the worst they have seen it for a long, long time. |