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4-2 288 FEDERAL WOP.XS AGENCY YiOHK PROJEC'1'S ADI.UNISTn.ATION For release on delivery 2 : 00 P.M. (EST), Saturday, November 1, 1941 The construction from native materi als by native ~-PA workmen of a publicly owned, 2_5- bed hospital in a small community in western North Carolina was seen today by Francis H. Dryden , Deputy Conmissioner of the Work Projects Administration , as symbolizing one of the most vital contributions WPA has made to the Nation ' s welfare . · Speaking on the sa.11e program with Representative R. L . Do .1ghton, of North Carolina , at the dedication of the Ashe County Memorial Hospital , at Jefferson , Mr. Dryden declared that the new hospital 11 i s a part of a vast health program for the people of the United States . 11 1 "Today we are realizing, more than ever , how much the health of its citizens means to a nation , 11 he continued . 11 Vle havG always sensed the importance of guns , planes , and battleships to defense . We are only beginning fully to realize how i m:)ortant is the heal th of the civilian population t hat makes these armarnents , and how important is the health of the pr>.ople we call up for service in our armed forces . "Our ·workers would bG producing more today if the health of our people were at a higher l evel . The high percentage of r ejections among draftees would not be necessary if we had done a bctt<)r job years ago in promotin[; health activities . Vie of the WPA don ' t believe in crying ove r spilt r1ilk , howover . We are doing now vrhat we can to improve health conditions , both for the prGsent and future generations , For example , public health projects arc now in operation in 40 Statas . State - Yridc projects in .30 States are now employing about 12,000 pe rs ons to enlarge the services of public clinics , hospitals , and other institutions . Free school lunches to needy children , 70 , 000 , 000 of which we r e served during a typical 3- month period, will do n~uch to build the he9l th of generations to come . 11 "This hospital furnishes just one more example of what can be done ·when intelligent local officials join vrith the WPA in giving useful work to the needy unemployed . To all who have had a part in this undertaking, congratulations ! "When I see a project of this sort it gives me a renerred confidence in the futuro of our splendid country . A nation that can think of necessary community improvemt:mts at tho same timci that it is putting evory effort in arming for defense is a gr oat nation . The same spirit , planning , and cooperation that made this hospital possiblo will carry us forv-.rard to new triumphs in the days of crisis to come . 11 Digitized by NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - - - - 0 - - Original from NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
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