A NEW DEAL FOR CARBON HILL, ALABAMA

A New Deal for Carbon Hill, Alabama

Introduction

In 1938, William Pryor set out in search of the small village success story that could illustrate the success of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal respite program. Pryor, Chief of the Photographic Section of the Works Progress Administration's Division of Information Service, initiated the task to article the coal excavation community of Carbon Hill, AL. This site includes the 1,100 phrase introduction, the slide show of 43 "story telling photographs" and six documents related to Pryor's visit to Carbon Hill.

Many of the photographs are portraits of Carbon Hill citizens, encompassing an African American preacher, the mother and progeny, and the gasoline station attendant, each complemented by short quotes from the individuals about the impact of the WPA program on their lives. The six documents encompass the 400-word press release describing the duties of the Photographic Section of the WFA, the 1,600 phrase short prepared by the City of Carbon Hill describing WFA respite projects, and the 1,500 phrase descriptive essay by Pryor explaining the financial difficulties of the Alabama community. This site documents the impact of the Roosevelt Administration's national program on the small southern community.

The City of Carbon Hill, Alabama, through its City Commission, desires to present its claims for acknowledgement on the question of solving civic and financial needs and problems in conjunction with the program of cooperation afforded by the Federal and State governments. The next short is presented:

Carbon Hill, Alabama, has literally "lifted itself by its boot straps" through the handling, and matching of Federal funds and grants.For every dollar spent by the Federal government the City has participated 57.97 cents, which is considerably more than the government or State requirements. In other words, Carbon Hill has spent $1.00 of her own cash for every $1.4203 spent by the Federal Government.

The expenditures of City Funds presents one of the reasons that the $287,752.16 has gone into permanent improvements, and assets that have enhanced the value of house in Carbon Hill to such the great extent.

In addition to the material benefits drawn from, it has greatly bolstered the morale, and the viewpoint of the citizens of Carbon Hill to the span, that Carbon Hill's future as the municipality looks brighter to its citizenship than ever before in its history, both from the business and social angle.

Substantial and new industrial developments have already started since these improvements were constructed, which calls for an outlay of cash substantially as much as consumed for permanent public improvements, by the City and Federal Governments.

Carbon Hill probably had the for demonstration on most communities from an enhancement standpoint, due to the fact that it was on absolute financial base, as far as paid work and resources were concerned. In 1931 both banks were closed and the excavation industry upon which the City was 75% reliant reached the standstill. Property values decreased 60%, and income to the City from taxes was decreased in ...