Percent gain in population 1950-60 due to natural increase (births over deaths): 16.1. Labor force Participation, 1960 census Male: number 14 years and over, 3,601; number in labor force, 2,052; percent in labor force, 57. Female: number 14 years and over, 3,485; number in labor force, 314; percent in labor force, 9. Percent working outside county : 10.7. Total employed, 1960, 2,210; 1950, 3,486; percent change 1950-60, -36.6. Unemployment and labor supplies Census unemployment: 6.6 percent of civilian labor force in county, 1960. Estimated current labor surplus, November 1962, 2,024— Males (18) next 10 years, 1,372. Females (18): next 10 years, 1,275. Percent of all employed 1960 who were unskilled workers (county rank, 13), 31.4. 12. Number unemployed per 1,000 insured workers: 274.6. Percent of civilian labor force insured for unemployment (county rank, 100), Total number of housing units (all types) in 1960, 3,219. Number of owner occupied, 2,004. Median value of owner-occupied units, $5,000 (minus). When built 1950 to 1960, 676 units, 21 percent of total. 1940 to 1950, 608 units, 18.9 percent of total. 1939 or before, 1,935 units, 60.1 percent of total. Percent of dwelling units in good condition (defined as those dwelling units having hot running water, private toilet and bath, and not dilapidated), 103 percent. In this regard, Jackson County ranks 118 of Kentucky's 120 counties (at the low end). (Sources for statistics: Willis A. Sutton, Jr., and Jerry Russell, "The Social Dimensions of Kentucky Counties," Kentucky Community Series, No. 29, September 1964, University of Kentucky, Bureau of Community Services, College of Arts and Sciences, Lexington, Ky., and "Economic Program Facts," prepared by the department of commerce, Frankfort, Ky.) NOTE.-Persons 65 years and over, 1,053; children under 18, 4,627; total per capita expenditure on aid to dependent children, 1960, 19.11 (county rank, 7); per capita public assistance payments, 1960, 50.15 (county rank 5). (Based on 1958-59 Percent dropouts, 42.1; percent graduate to college, 18.2. ninth-grade enrollment and 1961-62 high school graduates.) Percent of all males 25 years of age or older who had completed 8 years and no more schooling, 25.5 (county rank 57). Percent of all persons 25 years of age and older who completed fewer than five grades of school, 28.5 (county rank 10). Percent of all persons, etc., who completed high school or more years of schooling, 8.5 (county rank 120). Total education expenditure, Federal, State, and local per pupil in grades 1 to 12, 1960. (county rank 90) $247.10; (county rank 10) 224.64. 3. HIGHWAYS Transportation has been and is today one of the great pressing needs of Appalachia. The system of highways that have been selected by the Appalachian Regional Commission especially as they pertain to Kentucky merit our approval and endorsement. It is the hope of the people of Jackson County that such U.S. highways as 421 will be considered for upgrading and development. U.S. 421 serves as the main artery of traffic for the entire central section of southeastern Kentucky. At McKee, during the year 1963, the average daily traffic on U.S. 321 was 1,630 vehicles, while at Manchester, 28 miles south of McKee, the traffic rose to a peak of 4,450 a day. The highway at the present time is narrow and contains many blind turns and dangerous curves. An exceedingly high percentage of accidents occurs on this highway at the present time. A better road would serve as a major factor in acquiring industry as well as a greater volume of tourist trade. These two items would substantially aid the economy of the county. 4. WATER RESOURCES To all who are familiar with Appalachia, water is one of the great blessings as well as liabilities of the area. While abundant rainfall is present, there is no way to control its runoff. Flooding in the winter and spring coupled with drought and lack of water in the remainder of the year have constantly plagued the area. The people of Jackson County are deeply interested and highly recommend the emphasis given by the Appalachian bill to an expanded water control program. Parkers Creek-Rockcastle River Dam Of particular concern to the county is the development of the Corps of Engineers project on the Rockcastle River above Livingston, Ky. This would create a lake that would substantially affect Jackson County and bring the backwaters of the lake to within a few miles of the county seat at McKee. Considerable planning and hearings have been conducted on the Rockcastle River Reservoir and an expenditure of $56,000 has already been allocated for this purpose. It is hoped that the passage of the Appalachian bill will materially increase the possibility of this reservoir being completed in the near future. Conservation Lake-McCammon Fork A conservation lake of between 100 and 200 acres has been surveyed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as the Department of Natural Resources for Jackson County on McCammon Fork. Such a lake would be an ideal addition to the natural resources of the county. While the cost factor is high the overall benefits, especially viewed over a length of time, would make such a lake a vital asset to the county and the surrounding area. 5. PASTURE AND FOREST MANAGEMENT Jackson County is a comparatively large county. It has 330 square miles or 216,000 acres. Two aspects of the Appalachian bill would be of particular value to the county and they are the pastureland improvement section and the forest management section. Forest management There are 156,000 acres of Jackson County forested. This represents 72 percent of the entire area of the county. At the present time, about 5 million board feet of lumber are cut annually. Yet a survey taken in 1962 indicated that 118,604 acres of woodland needed some type of reforestation and timber management. This work should be undertaken as soon as possible. Pasturelands There already exists many pasturelands that support both dairy and beef cattle operations. Milk plants and stockyards in neighboring counties depend heavily on Jackson County for their supplies. According to the survey quoted above, an additional 25,328 acres of land should be put into grassland production if it is to reach its highest potential. The county heartily endorses these features of the Appalachian bill and actively strives to take its rightful place in the implementation of these programs. RECREATION One of the great assets of Appalachia in general and Jackson County in particular is the natural beauty of the area. It could become quite a tourist attraction because of the recreational value of its geography. The Forest Service has already developed two areas into picnic and tourist attractions. These are the S Tree Recreation Area and the Turkey Foot Recreation Area. Other areas, such as Wind Cave and similar scenic sections of the county, could be developed. Fishing could truly take its rightful place in the economy of the area, especially if the Rockcastle River Reservoir and the conservation dam go into operation. Deer hunting as well as all manner of small game make Jackson County a real choice for the hunter. The people of Jackson County feel that this Appalachian bill would give great impetus to the tourist industry which could become the biggest factor in the economy of Appalachia. It is the hope of the people of Jackson County that this bill passes and that it ushers in a new spirit of cooperation between the Federal, State, and local agencies. It is also hoped that this bill will be expanded as time goes on to implement the work which it endeavors to bring about. This is the beginning. A good beginning, true, but one which must grow if it is to make a significant contribution to the people of our land. STATEMENT OF HON. E. L. Bartlett, a U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF ALASKA It is my hope, since I will be unable to testify before the committee, that this letter in support of S. 3, to provide assistance to the Appalachian region, may be made part of the hearing records. The reasons for my support of the bill before the last Congress have not been diminished, and I was thus happy to cosponsor Senator Randolph's bill when it was offered on January 6 of this year. We are dealing here with the principle that what aids one section of these United States aids the whole country. If the human and natural resources of one region are not utilized to the full, harm is done not only to one section of the Nation but to the whole. Congress has recognized this repeatedly. Every time appropriations are made for the construction, for example, of a power project or a dam or a reclamation facility, and especially with the successful Tennessee Valley Authority, the economic and social well-being of this country is enhanced. There are few today who would deny this. S. 3 embraces the same principle. The area which this measure seeks to help contains something like 15 million people and covers an area of 165,000 square miles. The region has come upon hard times, and for three basic reasonsinsufficient highway and rail structure; underutilization of water resources; and inadequate use of potential coal, forest, and agricultural riches. The bill before the committee carries a design for a substantial Federal-State effort to meet these three challenges, through authorization for construction of new highways, an extensive flood control and water facilities development program, development of marginal farmlands, plus timber development and marketing, and many other worthy features. This program will succeed and the costs will be repaid many times over in increased tax revenues, in the use of salvaged manpower talent and skills, and in the overall increase of market demand which the revitalized economy of the region will engender. What can be said about the Appalachian region can be said with equal force about the State of Alaska. We in Alaska have a special reason, therefore, to support S. 3, and also support the contention that what assists one section is good for the whole Nation. We are a single nation, a nation of the whole. Certainly, the administration's Appalachian program, so far as a regional concept is concerned, is not new. After the earthquake struck Alaska last March 27, the President created a temporary Federal reconstruction and development planning commission for Alaska. After the major reconstruction program had been blocked out, the temporary commission was abolished. On last October 2 President Johnson by Executive order established Federal development planning committees for Alaska in recognition of the fact that the Federal Government and the State "continue to have a common interest in assuring the most effective use of Federal and State programs and funds in advancing the long-range progress of the State" and since "such effective use is dependent upon coordination of Federal and State programs which affect the general economic development of the State and the long-range conservation and use of its natural resources and upon cooperative Federal and State effort with respect to the planning of such programs." Thus it is that President Johnson has recognized in Alaska-as in the Appalachian region-the importance of a Federal-State partnership for the benefit of all America. STATEMENT OF HON. EUGENE J. MCCARTHY, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA I appreciate the opportunity to present a statement to the Committee on Public Works at your hearings on S. 3, the proposed Appalachian Development Act of 1965. I am a sponsor of the bill, and I believe it is a reasonable and responsible program for meeting the needs of the people in this economically depressed area of our Nation. I also urge that the committee give consideration to approving the amendment offered by Senator Hart, which I and other Senators have joined in sponsoring, to provide for the establishment of an Upper Great Lakes Regional Development Authority. It is may view that the regional approach is best adapted for meeting the problems of certain geographic and economic areas which require special attention. Appalachia is one such region. A comparable one is that of the some 80 counties in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This area once had a prosperous economy but for many years it has experienced severe economic distress resulting from the decline of industries related to its two major resources: timber and high grade ores. The skills of many citizens of the area are now outmoded or no longer in demand. It no longer can offer sufficient employment opportunities for its youth, and its rate of unemployment during some periods has been higher than that in Appalachia. In many respects the upper Great Lakes area is different in background and resources from Appalachia. Its need is not for a massive program such as that proposed under the Appalachian Development Act. It has traditions of work; it has established communities and schools. The need is for a specific regional authority to provide planning for development and coordination of local, State, and Federal efforts to stimulate business and industry. The amendment offered by Senator Hart would make this possible. The appropriations for an Upper Great Lakes Regional Development Authority are very limited compared to that required for the Appalachia program. The estimate is that $10 million would be sufficient for the first fiscal year. Many studies of the common economic problems and potentialities of the upper Great Lakes counties have already been made. Plans to introduce legislation providing for a regional authority have been under discussion for many months. I believe it is consistent with the Appalachia proposal, and I again urge consideration by the committee of approving the Upper Great Lakes Regional Authority as a provision of the Appalachian Development Act. STATEMENT OF HON. WALTER F. MONDALE, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA I was honored to cosponsor Senator Randolph's bill to provide public works and economic development programs for the Appalachia region. In my judgment, we can no longer ignore the pressing needs of the people of that region, but must proceed with dispatch to give them an opportunity to join the floodtide of economic and cultural richness sweeping our Nation. |