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Description
The typed letter is from Arthur Smith to President Herbert Hoover. Smith was vice president of engineering for Great Northern Utilities Incorporated, and he was asking Hoover for advice on how to secure funding to build facilities in 1930. He was looking for suggestions from the president to increase financing so he can build gas plants to provide employment.
Transcript of Arthur Smith's Letter to Herbert Hoover
Source-Dependent Questions
- Given the estimates of workers who could have been employed in each factory and the six-month time period to secure funding, whose interests is Arthur Smith asking Hoover to consider? Do you think it would be responsible for Hoover to act on his request? Use evidence from the document to support your response.
- In closely reading the third paragraph, how could a company benefit from the economic crisis? How could workers benefit from the action proposed by Smith? Would the benefit be felt equally by both parties?
Citation Information
Smith, Arthur, 17 August 1930. Courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration