Annual Report of the Secretary of War

The enrollment was distributed among the corps areas and depart

ments as follows:

During the fiscal year there were 151 main libraries in operation, serving posts in continental United States and in the overseas departments. These libraries, which are located in special library buildings, company or regimental reading rooms, post exchanges, and other suitable buildings, each comprise from 500 to 40,000 volumes, more than 600,000 books altogether, covering practically all subjects of general interest. In addition to these main libraries 159 traveling libraries were purchased, each containing 52 volumes, or a total of 8,268 books relating to biography, travel, and fiction. The total recorded circulation for the year amounted to approximately 1,450,500. Expenditures for the library service for the fiscal year consisted of $9,400 for books, $5,100 for salaries of librarians, and $96 for transportation of books.

MOTION-PICTURE SERVICE

The operation of the motion-picture service continued to show highly gratifying results, there having been presented during the year 23,112 programs with a total attendance of 9,818,380, an increase of 1,185,980 over the previous maximum record. In line with constant efforts to improve the service generally, three new air-conditioned theaters and two open-air theaters were constructed at different posts; a building was converted into a theater at another post; and airconditioning systems were installed at three other posts. More than 5.000 new chairs were purchased and 19 theaters were equipped with the latest sound-reproducing equipment. Four posts were added to the Army theater circuit, and on four different occasions motionpicture entertainment was supplied to troops in the field.

CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS

In carrying out the functions charged to the War Department with respect to the activities of the Civilian Conservation Corps, this office continued to transact a heavy volume of business during the year. Brietly stated, this business concerns the operation and maintenance of the camps; the transportation and assignment of men to the camps; and general supervision of members of the corps while in camp, including their physical conditioning, welfare, and social activities. The office also conducts extensive correspondence in connection with such affairs; maintains statistical records relative to the numbers of enrollees, the personnel on duty with the corps, and the locations of companies, camps, and projects; and controls, through the corps area commanders, the funds allotted for welfare and educational activities. The educational program is conducted with the cooper

ation of the Commissioner of Education, Department of the Interior, who selects the educational advisers, recommends outlines of instruction, teaching procedures, and types of material, and acts in an advisory capacity in connection with the set-up of funds for that

purpose.

From the time of the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps in April 1933 to the close of the fiscal year 1937 a total of 1,997,783 men had been enrolled therein, with 1,736,515 separations for all causes during the period, leaving 261,268 members enrolled on June 30, 1937. On the latter date there were 169 Regular Army officers, 6,621 members of the Officers' Reserve Corps, 179 Naval Reserve officers, 37 Marine Corps Reserve officers, and 2 enlisted men of the Regular Army on duty in the various companies and camps.

During the year the sum of $599,576 was available to this office for welfare purposes, of which approximately $539,655 was expended, leaving a balance of $59,921. The sum of $4,950,608 was also available for educational activities, of which approximately $4,749,225 has been reported as obligated, leaving a balance of $201,383. The unexpended balances were turned over to the general fund of the Civilian Conservation Corps.