Allegany County and Mineral County, West Virginia, the unemploy-
ment rate has decreased since August, 1958, from 12. 9 per cent to
8. 3 per cent — a truly remarkable reduction in the unemployment
rate of more than 35 per cent.

The Oakland area of Garrett County has reduced its rate of un-
employment from 14. 5 per cent in April, 1958, to 11. 8 per cent in
June of this year, although in the intervening years the rate has
fluctuated upward as high as 17. 8 per cent. The figures on employ-
ment in the area, we all acknowledge, are far from satisfactory. They
are gratifying only in the sense that they indicate a steady, continu-
ing improvement. But it was Oliver Wendell Holmes who said that
"the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in
what direction we are moving. "

How has this improvement come about? Well, for one tiling, we
ate bringing new industry into the area. You in Hagerstown know
something about this, and let me pause to offer applause and com-
mendation to the Washington County Economic Development Com-
mission, the Chamber of Commerce, and the other organizations and
individuals who have worked so diligently and tirelessly to attract
new business to the area. Our State Department of Economic De-
velopment has reported to me that new and expanded industries in
Maryland since the first of the year will create an estimated 2, 700
new job opportunities for Marylanders. Of these, more than 200 will
be in the three westernmost Maryland Counties. This represents a
total capital investment by companies in Maryland since the first of
the year of more than $28 million, of which a good part — something
in excess of $18 million — comes into your immediate area. Now,
looking at it from the narrowest point of view, the 200 jobs which
have been created here since the first of the year would not seem to
warrant unrestrained rejoicing. As a matter of fact, I heard a public
official the other day sneer at the prospect of a plant employing 100
people locating in his community. But a factory employing 100 per-
sons brings a great deal more to town than just a job for 100 persons.

The United States Chamber of Commerce recently made a study
of the effects of a 100-employee plant in a community. The 100 new
factory workers, it learned, bring to a town 359 more people, 91 more
school children, 100 more households, $710, 000 more personal income
per year, $229, 000 more bank accounts, three more retail establish-
ments, 97 more registered passenger cars, 65 more persons employed
in non-manufacturing, and $331, 000 more retail sales per year.

Let us apply the same measurement to the 1, 700 new jobs you have