Northwest History. Relief, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Resorts. Relief.

Kootenai Relief Funds Run Low: Governor Informed-Priest Lake Camp Development Assured. KOOTENAI RELIEF FUNDS RUN LOW Governor Informed-Priest Lake Camp Development Assured. COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, June 24.-Unless the state provides additional funds, social security checks for beneficiaries in Koo...

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Bibliographic Details
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1937
Subjects:
WPA
CCC
Online Access:http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/162650
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Summary:Kootenai Relief Funds Run Low: Governor Informed-Priest Lake Camp Development Assured. KOOTENAI RELIEF FUNDS RUN LOW Governor Informed-Priest Lake Camp Development Assured. COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, June 24.-Unless the state provides additional funds, social security checks for beneficiaries in Kootenai county will be drastically cut, C. C. Robinson, chairman of the Kootenai county board of commissioners, said today. There are in the county about 750 old-age cases, 26 blind, and 120 dependent children. there are 200 on direct relief. Robinson said that state funds for direct relief are running low and that it will be necessary to either cut the pension checks in order to care for direct relief clients, or raise more funds. The commissioner said state officials promised him last spring that when Kootenai county's relief funds become depleted the state would step in and take over the burden. Members of the welfare board, he said, have expressed the need of calling an extra session of the state legislature for the purpose of providing relief funds. he said that he is opposed to the reduction of the pension checks. Governor "Not Surprised." Governor Barzilla W. Clark, Mrs. Clark and two daughters, with state and national government officials, arrived here tonight from Priest Lake, where the party inspected state lands. The governor's party will attend the North Idaho Chamber of Commerce at St. Maries tomorrow. "I am not surprised to hear a 'squeak' from this county, which has a larger appropriation for direct relief than any other county," said Governor Clark. "Kootenai spends $242,000 a year for direct relief. it puts up only $34,000 of that. Nez Perce county, about the same size, spends only $96,000." He inferred that every old person in the county must be drawing a pension. Kootenai county has also had three times more WPA appropriations than any other northern county, a total of $606,000 since its inception. the governor said that state funds are in good shape, with $150,000 monthly appropriated for direct relief. Priest lake Camps Assured. Development of camp sites and recreational facilities on Priest lake seemed assured following an inspection of the area today by Governor Clark and his party. "Camp sites on the east side of Priest lake, in the 200,000-acre area belonging to the state, afford an ideal place for a summer playground and when developed should bring thousands of tourists to Idaho," Governor Clark said at Coolin. He estimated it will require two years to complete the development now under way. Leaving Coolin, at the extreme southeastern point of the lake, this morning, the gubernatorial party spent the day cruising along the shoreline. the party lunched at the Beaver creek ranger station, returning to Coolin late in the day. Official Party Large. Officials in the party included Robert Marshall, federal recreational director; mayor Wolff, assistant United States forester, Washington, D. C.; Harry Parsons, state auditor; Leo hood, WPA director for Idaho; Walter Lockwood, coordinator of federal agencies; Will Simonds, chairman, Idaho state planning board. Joe Wood, director, state planning board; Major Bessey, in charge of recreational activities; James Ryan, CCC supervisor; Walter Clark, Kellogg, president, North Idaho chamber of commerce, and Ira H. Masters, secretary of state. SEVERAL VISIT SPOKANE. While Governor Clark, Mr. Masters and several others spent last night in Coeur d'Alene, Will Simmons, chairman of the Idaho planning board; R. E. Shepard, president of the idaho Chamber of Commerce, and others were at the Davenport hotel and will join the party this morning at St. Maries. Mr. Simmons said that while all department officials in Idaho agreed with officials that Priest lake offered an opportunity for an outdoor playground unsurpassed in the northwest, it might take a year or more to complete all details of the program. "Work can begin next month and will, no doubt," Mr. Simmons said, "but before the whole area proposed can be coordinated, there will have to be some interchanges worked out with private property owners in the region." Mr. Shepard expressed enthusiasm for the plan. He said the president tour would end about Tuesday, when the party will be in the Salmon City, Idaho, region.