In our century
The December 1930 edition of The American City included the first of many articles about the high unemployment problem the country was experiencing following the Stock Market Crash of 1929. For the next decade, the magazine included reports each month of how cities were employing residents to complete civic improvements. Before federal public works programs were introduced during Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency that expanded on those efforts, cities found creative ways to help some of their unemployed residents.
Because the need for jobs was so great, cities had to be selective when assigning workers to limited positions. The April 1931 edition included a description of Sandusky, Ohio’s waterfront improvement project that put unemployed men to work constructing a recreation pier and adding park features. Applicants were asked to demonstrate their need for a job by providing the names, ages and occupations of their dependents; length of time out of a job; whether they owned property and whether it was mortgaged; whether they had received assistance from local charities, which ones, when and how much; whether they were married, single or divorced; and how long they had lived in the city.
Some cities created a “scrip system” to pay unemployed residents for temporary jobs to ensure they were using their wages for necessities. The September 1931 issue included a description of Grand Rapids, Mich.’s scrip system, in which more than 2,000 men participated and were paid in scrip at the rate of 40 cents an hour to perform public works projects, including park construction, street widening, and sewer and water pipe installation. The scrips were redeemable only at the city store, which was supervised by the city’s Welfare Department, for groceries, fuel and other essentials. The program was financed by emergency bond issues, and workers were scrutinized by the social service department to determine the amount of relief they needed.
Other cities purchased necessities in bulk and paid temporary workers with those items. The December 1931 edition includes a description of Hawarden, Iowa’s system of paying workers half of their wages in flour, potatoes, pork and wood for their labor in resurfacing streets and beautifying public spaces.
As new federal funding programs were introduced in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first few months in office, cities found welcome assistance in employing greater numbers of unemployed workers to complete public works projects. The presidential support was highlighted on the front cover of the October 1934 edition in an excerpt from Roosevelt’s Sept. 30, 1934, radio address: “I stand or fall by my refusal to accept as a necessary condition of our future a permanent army of unemployed. On the contrary, we must make it a national principle that we will not tolerate a large army of unemployed, and that we will arrange our our national economy to end our present unemployment as soon as we can and then to take wise measures against its return.”
Previous “In our century” Stories
- In our century — October 1915
Winter weather regularly demands that cities improve practices for clearing snow and ice from streets - In our century — January 1911
As aviation takes off, cities make use of the quick mode of transportation and secure their spots on the aerial highways - In our century — May 1928
Police departments adopt radio technology to dispatch patrol officers more quickly and catch, deter criminals - In our century — December 1913
Cities adopt the city manager form of government to improve administration and bring efficiency to operations - In our century — October 1913
Cities take action in the earliest days of motion pictures to regulate content and ensure theater safety - In our century — July 1935
Cities install parking meters in business districts to improve traffic flow, reduce car damage and generate revenue - In our century — April 1910
Cities organize July Fourth events, regulate fireworks to reduce Independence Day injuries and deaths - In our century — May 1915
Cities seize revenue-generating opportunities to provide ice and refrigeration to residents and businesses - In our century — May 1914
Officials invest in maps to guide public projects, improve city administration and communicate plans to the public - In our century — September 1915
Technology develops to ensure the safe movement of trains, cars and emergency vehicles through city streets - In our century — July 1914
Among the early efforts to improve public health, cities invent and seek weapons of mass fly destruction - In our century — August 1913
When bond issues fail, cities seek alternative funding for infrastructure improvements and other public projects - In our century — August 1914
Cities improve cleanliness and public health by strategically placing public restrooms and encouraging their use - In our century — December 1914
Cities begin the tradition of decorating enormous public Christmas trees to celebrate the holidays - In our century — June 1910
Government accounting methods and reports mature from vague and incomplete records to standard formats. - In our century — October 1909
Investigations into corruption and mismanagement lead to (some) reforms in government policies and operations. - In our century — January 1913
Cities experiment with road surfaces and set out methods for funding road construction and maintenance. - In our century — September 1909
Limits on outdoor advertising are set through cities’ hard-fought battles over billboard sizes, messages and locations. - In our century — August 1911
Fire departments gain authority, modern equipment to prevent and improve response times to structure fires. - In our century — June 1910
Street lights become symbols of communities’ economic success, and lighting technology efficiency evolves. - In our century — September 1909
With urban growth comes city leaders’ desire to control and direct it for the community’s greatest benefit. - In our century — September 1909
Cities embrace playgrounds as valuable public assets for children’s safety, health and social development. - In our century — September 1909
Women embrace public causes, work to improve their communities and expand their societal roles. - In our century — March 1910
Cities develop methods, mechanisms and regulations for residential solid waste collection and disposal. - In our century — November 1909
Occupancy laws and social workers emerge in the early 1900s to clean up inner-city neighborhoods. - The way we were
Publisher’s son remembers American City & County‘s roots.
