Brown to be in Susanville Today to Launch Project
October 1, 1960
California Governor Edmund G Brown will be here today to initiate the construction of a multimillion-dollar state conservation camp attend a reception and join the Lassen County Central Democratic Committee in a public rally in the Memorial Building.
The governor’s visit will begin at 2 p.m. at the conservation campsite seven miles northeast of here where he will be introduced by Senator Stanley Arnold (D) of Susanville. Brown will operate a large earth moving machine to signalize the start of the center to be erected by Johnson Drake and Piper Inc., of Oakland California for $8,140,000.
Also attending the three functions will be Rep Harold T Johnson (D) and Assemblywomen Pauline L Davis (D) of Portola California.
Slated to be on hand for the groundbreaking ceremonies will be Richard McGee, state director of corrections, Dewitt Nelson state director of natural resources, Robert Bradford, state director of public works, Herman Stark state director of youth authority, Fred Finsley state chairman of adult authority, Walter Shawn state director of fish and game.
The minimum security facility expected to be ready for occupancy by mid 1962 will handle 1200 inmates with a staff of 300 employees. Construction will involve 20 buildings, the majority of which will form the perimeter of the case. The buildings will cover 411,000 square feet and be made of steel, concrete and masonry.
The Susanville center and two other proposed branches all sponsored in the last Legislature by Senator Arnold will furnish 4000 trained prison inmates annually to be assigned to 42 forestry and highway camps. There the men will work on all types of state conservation projects. California now has 19 such forestry camps in operation with the balance to be ready for service in 1965.
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