Tag Archives: screw-worm

June 3, 1936

Wednesday – En Route
Train to Savannah.

My dear Sweetheart & Big Sons

Daddy flew over your house Monday night and your lights were out. I hope you slept well. I could not see any tricycles or wagons on the lawn, so I guess they were in the garage where they should be at night.

June 3, 1936

June 3, 1936

Had several letters to write for the signature of the Chief including a recent one from the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association. The last was a result of my sending Dr. Bishopp a copy of my last report on the trip to Texas. It looks as though Dr. Bishopp tried to put me on the spot on several recommendations for control, but in a conference with Mr. Strong I fared pretty well. Strong told Dr. B. what it looked like so he asked Dr. B. to write his recommendations and submit them to me for my comments. Strong is giving me good support. He stopped the flight tests too. The bill passed both houses and should be signed in a few days. We are trying to move to S.A. this week. The conference at Gainesville was very good.

With love to all of you.

Your,
Walter.

May 19, 1936

Tuesday PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

I am sending a list of furniture as given for the bids. The bids are being sent to Mr. Hall with the request that he send them to transfer companies. They are to be returned to Atlanta for opening. An award will be made to the successful bidder when bids are received at Washington. It seems not too early to start these.

May 19, 1936

May 19, 1936

We are getting office space in the Travis building #1010. It should be ready for occupancy on Saturday of this week. I am going out there, but I do not know how soon, to get things started and will come back to accompany you to Tex. If it is at all possible I’ll come home again before going out there. Things are happening so fast that I cannot tell.

Roberts had a satisfactory conference with Mr. Strong at Sacramento yesterday. We are getting started out there. R.A. will return by Phoenix Arizona (tomorrow) and Tucson Thursday. The bill is supposed to be signed about June 1 as Congress is expected to adjourn about that time.

Bruce is returning from a trip over the S.E. except S.C. He will go up there later. We have the Florida set up to work out in detail but I think we know it pretty well.

Claudelle received the large pictures of some negroes who had screw worm in the nose and she is trying to make them pretty.

With all my love,

Your
Walter

May 17, 1936 (Walter)

Sunday PM. 5/17.

My dear Sweetheart,

Regret very much that I could not come to Savannah this Sunday, so many things are crowding that I simply must get some of them decided upon while I can have a little quiet to do them. Mr. Townsend and I have been spending every day and evening on them and we can see some daylight but there are a lot of clouds yet. Mr. Rainwater left yesterday for Oklahoma (Dr. Bishopp had sent Laake up there on a report that 25 cases had been brought in from Mexico).

May 17, 1936 (Walter)

May 17, 1936 (Walter)

We did not get space in the Milam building, but are forced to the Travis building. It is not so good. R.A. will have to take bids for himself and he may get in some other building. For the time being he will quarter with us. Latest news is that the bill will be signed about June 1st. We hope to get the Texas men appointed by then. I’ll go out there ahead of Townsend & Mitchell. They will bring truck load of furniture from Atlanta. Some has been shipped from Savannah and is there now.

If I can possibly arrange it I’ll come home the latter part of this week. I need to go to Valdosta on business & perhaps I can get Dr. White to ride to Savannah with me.

With lots of love to the three of you.

Your
Walter.

P.S. I expect Walter White to be a real good boy and to take my place when I am not at home. The enclosed check is more significant than the last one.

W.E.D.

May 13, 1936

Postmarked Atlanta.

Wednesday PM.

We are making some progress in the new set up, but we are over our heads in work yet. Gradually we are seeing some daylight. Cannot say whether I can come home & bring Dr. White. Will try to find out tomorrow. Dr. & Mrs. Brennan were here this AM en route to Penn. The fly trap catches are completed and Dr. Brennan will move to S A when they return about the 26th. Worked until midnight on forms. Cannot delegate this to anyone else because they differ with individuals & the others are not familiar with these men.

With love,
Walter.

May 13, 1936

May 13, 1936

May 7, 1936

Railroad stationery from the Sunset Limited, San Francisco – Los Angeles – New Orleans.

En Route San Antonio to Beaumont. Thursday.

My dear Ina,

The meeting with the Committee turned out quite satisfactory and I feel confident that we will not have more resolutions from them. We worked on individuals ahead of time and Tuesday an open meeting seemed to get things in line. We are stressing the demonstrations and screened hospital pens and the other portion of the program centers about this approach.*

May 7, 1936

May 7, 1936

Found the Lewis family feeling OK and Claudelle seems thrilled over the new job.

Am spending today at Beaumont and by the time this letter reaches you, I should be in Atlanta again. Brundrett is so slow and inactive it is necessary to move him to California. That is my job today at Beaumont. Will use Doward as state Superintendent.

Office space on 12th floor of Milam building will probably be obtained. Bids went out yesterday and are to be opened Saturday.

R.A., Frank, Brundrett, Duck & Underwood will go to California this week end. Yeoman at San Antonio will work with Doward selecting district men.

With love,
Walter.

* Apparently there was some kind of local resistance to the USDA’s screw-worm control program.

May 2, 1936

Plain postcard postmarked San Antonio, TX.

Sat. Night.
San Antonio

Mr. Spicer and I are driving from College Station to Uvalde. It is now 10:30 PM. Meetings at College Station were very good and the difficult one is at Del Rio 10 AM Tuesday. Things are gradually getting in line for the program. Drove from Beaumont to College with Brundrett & Doward. More later.

With love
Walter.

May 2, 1936

May 2, 1936

April 2, 1936

Atlanta Thursday AM.
April 2, 1936

My dear Ina and Boys,

I am at the office early this morning. Mr. Strong was here for a call yesterday PM and he spent only about 20 minutes on the conference. He seemed pleased with the progress on the new set up. We have the District and Assistant District men lined up for the Southeastern states, and their districts outlined on maps. All of these are going to Washington by mail today so that they will be there when Mr. Strong gets back. He is not coming to Savannah on this trip.

April 2, 1936

April 2, 1936

Day before yesterday I spent a couple of hours with Mr. Yeomans & Mr. Gaddis. Yeomans was not worried over a job but thought that Mr. Strong might have something as he had sent word that he wanted to see him here. Mr. Strong told me that Yeomans was too good a man to let go of, and that if I did not want him on the Screw Worm set-up, that he had several places where he could use him. Told him that I thought Yeomans did not want to leave the state. Strong did not think he should be state supervisor or regional supervisor of the Southeastern states on account of lack of experience with screw worms. He thought Yeomans would make a good right hand man for me at San Antonio, Assistant Director. I asked what salary and he saw at least as much as the regional supervisors. These are considered at $3800. Strong thinks that R.A. should be regional director of the Southwest, just as I originally planned it. Strong said it was up to me and that he was not telling me to use Yeomans. I shall see Yeomans today & find out what other places the chief had in mind for him.

It is likely that I’ll get a call to Washington shortly after Mr. Strong gets there on Saturday. The coop statements should be returned by that time and ready for a conference or for sending out to the states. If I can come home, I’ll do so, but I cannot promise it. I have a return ticket. I have the salary check and I think it best for me to get it into Express Money orders. I’ll be on the go so much, and there will be inconveniences in getting checks cashed. In this way it will not be necessary for me to write checks on an account at Savannah.

Tell Walter White I appreciate the surprise that he and Mother had for me. Also, study hard and try to get into the next grade so he can keep up with the cow puncher kids in Texas.

With lots of love,

Your,
Walter.

April 1, 1936

Postcard from Washington, DC, postmarked Atlanta, GA.

At Griffin last night & here this AM. Saw Mr. Yeo tonight also Mr. Gaddis. Mr. S. at Valdosta tonight and due here tomorrow P.M. No further news from Wash. on status of coop-agreements.

Walter.

April 1, 1936

April 1, 1936

March 25, 1936

Postcard from Washington, DC, postmarked in Atlanta, GA.

Wed. AM.

Arrived Atlanta Thurs. Noon, expect RA, Bruce, Brundrett and McGehee for conference. Plan come home just after conference. Will have to go to Wash. again shortly account final cooperative arrangements. Our project has been recommended as a division. Mr. Strong is driving & will be Savannah about April 1.

Walter.

March 25, 1936

March 25, 1936

March 24, 1936

Postcard sent from Washington, DC.

Still in DC & anxious to come home. May get away today (Tues.) but one can never tell. Saw the Corts at Baltimore, & Dr. Roark yesterday. New film on Screw Worms needs a lot of work and Mr. Hall is helping out.

Walter.

March 24, 1936

March 24, 1936