- State:
- MS
- Site Type:
- Infrastructure and Utilities, Sanitation and Water Disposal
- New Deal Agencies:
- Work Relief Programs, Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- Started:
- 1935
- Completed:
- 1936
- Quality of Information:
- Very Good
- Marked:
- Unknown
Description
The Works Progress Administration approved a statewide sanitation program for Mississippi in 1935, totaling $390,115.40. The program focused on eliminating typhoid, hookworm and dysentery in 65 of Mississippi’s 82 counties by construction of sanitary toilets (privies) for homes and buildings without access to sewerage disposal. The project was projected to employ 14 workers in each county. The privies were constructed from concrete and wood, costing about $16 in materials for each privy. Property owners were to contribute the materials.
Tallahatchie county was allocated $5,956.50. Federal work projects (CWA, FERA, and WPA) for community sanitation and drainage resulted in reductions of both typhoid fever cases and deaths, and reduction of deaths from malaria.
Source notes
Sanitation Program for Entire State Approved by Works Progress Officials. (Oct 23, 1935). Clarion-Ledger, p. 3.
$5,956 Allotted to this County for Sanitation Work. (Oct 31, 1935). The (Charleston) Sun Sentinel, p. 1.
Typhoid, Malaria Ravages Decline. (Apr 3, 1936). Clarion-Ledger, p. 2.
Site originally submitted by Susan Allen on October 23, 2021.
Contribute to this Site
We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal site.
Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site
Join the Conversation