House Engrossed

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2028

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of the workers who served in the Civilian Conservation Corps program in Arizona.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, on March 9, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the 73rd Congress into emergency session to propose a program to address rampant unemployment and the destruction and erosion of our nation's natural resources by recruiting thousands of unemployed young men for a peacetime conservation and natural resources army, which came to be known as "Roosevelt's Tree Army"; and

Whereas, President Roosevelt's plan was adopted and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was created on the signing of the Emergency Conservation Work Act on March 31, 1933, resulting in the establishment of one of the first of President Roosevelt's New Deal programs; and

Whereas, the CCC was close to the heart of President Roosevelt as it combined his interests in conservation and universal service for youth; and

Whereas, the first CCC camp opened on April 14, 1933 and thousands more followed.  Throughout the course of the CCC's existence, there were nearly three million enrollees.  Among their many accomplishments, the CCC enrollees paved 125,000 miles of roadways, strung 89,000 miles of telephone lines, created 13,100 miles of foot trails, developed 800 state parks, built 97,000 miles of fire roads, planted 3 billion trees, developed 52,000 acres of public campgrounds, erected 3,470 fire towers, improved 3,462 beaches and built 46,854 bridges; and

Whereas, in Arizona alone, there were approximately 50 CCC camps that employed a total of 41,363 men.  Between 1933 and 1942, CCC enrollees in Arizona strung 3,559 miles of telephone lines, built 512,093 erosion control check dams and planted 7.4 million trees; and

Whereas, the CCC was responsible for unprecedented infrastructure improvements throughout the Grand Canyon National Park.  Among other projects, the CCC enrollees constructed campgrounds, trails, fences, fire roads, warehouse buildings, water and sewer lines, ranger residences, stone walls and water reservoirs.  They also fought fires, maintained the trails, assisted with rescues, plowed snow and staffed visitor centers.  According to one estimate, 50 years of work was accomplished at the Grand Canyon in a little over nine years; and

Whereas, between 1933 and 1940, 4,000 men worked out of two camps at South Mountain Park in Phoenix.  During this time, the men constructed over 40 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, 18 buildings, 15 ramadas, 134 fire pits, 30 water faucets, water dams and other features within the park; and

Whereas, during the months of December 1936 through March 1937, there were record snowfalls across northern Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and southern Utah.  The CCC's response to this event clearly displayed the CCC's skill and effectiveness.  During this four-month period, the CCC devoted nearly all of its resources to rescue efforts.  As a result of their labors, many stranded people and wildlife were rescued, and hundreds of thousands of sheep and cattle were saved from starvation; and

Whereas, the product of the proficient labor of the dedicated men of the CCC continues to enrich and fortify the beauty, natural resources and economic development of communities in Arizona and across the United States.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature honor and recognize the remarkable efforts and accomplishments of the thousands of workers who served in the CCC program in Arizona.