W.P.A. Workers Get Pay Raise Starting March 6
(Nisqually Valley News March 12, 1936)
Employees of the W.P.A. in Yelm and Thurston County received an increase in their pay, starting March 6, which places the minimum pay at $55, $65 for intermediate work; skilled workers will receive $85 and the technical and professional workers will receive $94.
Beautification of Homes Urged by Club
(Nisqually Valley News March 19, 1936)
Various plans and suggestions have been offered the residents of the community along the lines of planting, beautification of home site, etc., and this is something that we should all give considerable thought to. The Commercial Club will be pleased to have suggestions from anyone in the community and have them meet with the club and assist in bringing about any constructive plans which they may have in mind.
President Cruikshank made a report at the meeting of the club on Tuesday evening, sowing that the various work projects throughout the community are bringing considerable cash into the locality. Much of this he declared this was due to the present heads of the Works Progress Administration, and declared that the community should make every effort to bring about a showing favorable their own efforts. The community is greatly indebted for the federal assistance, which has been rendered us and which Mr. Cruikshank believes has placed the community at 3 to 5 years ahead on what could be expected to accomplish had it been necessary to rely on our own funds to complete the many projects which have been carried on so successfully with the assistance of the W.P.A. Apparently this assistance is not to stop at this point as Mr. Cruikshank reported that the request had been made to file applications for other suitable projects which would be of benefit to the community.
It is a very noticeable fact that the community has apparently improved at least 30 percent in the last 3 year due to the fact that the Resettlement administration has come to the assistance of many off the land owners. Mortgages have been taken up and in some instances reduced as much a fifty percent. Small land owners have been assisted with new buildings, poultry, tock, and other necessary equipment has been purchased through these funds and the land owners on the project have a much brighter outlook than at any time in the past few years.
A great deal of assistance has been rendered to the community by the men from the McKenna transient camp and their work has been beneficial to the Irrigation District and to the flood control work on Thompson and Yelm creeks.
Many of the men from the various projects are being gradually absorbed by private industries. A number also have received what is believed to be steady employment in the city of Olympia. Several small tie mills have been in operation in this part of the county for several months and with the Johnson and Sons plant now operating and the Gruber-Docherty Lumber Co. expecting to operate in the very near future, considerable employment in being furnished and many dollars are being brought into the community.