DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974 | 1970-08-28 William H. Bailey to Miss Virginia Harper Page 1

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Highway 61 correspondence and documents, 1968-1974

1970-08-28 William H. Bailey to Miss Virginia Harper Page 1

Department of Transportation
United States of America
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Washington, D.C.  20590

Aug 28 1970

REGISTERED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Miss Virginia Harper
Administrative Secretary
Fort Madison Branch, NAACP
Fort Madison, Iowa  52627
Dear Miss Harper:
I have been assigned to investigate your complaint of discrimination on the basis of race in connection with the Iowa Highway Commission's plan to re-route Highway 61 through the City of Fort Maison.
Before initiating the formal investigation of your complaint, I am requesting the following information with respect to the allegation:
a. What is the present status of the proposed relocation program?
b. You stated in your letter that only one public hearing was held with regard to the proposed location of the highway. It is a stated policy of the Federal Highway Administration that two public hearings are to be held, one a "corridor public hearing" and the other a "highway design public hearing". Either both hearings must be held, or an opportunity afforded for those hearings. Which public hearing was held?
c. Were any alternate plans for other road locations presented at the public hearing?
d. Of the 146 families involved in the proposed relocation, how many families are black and how many families are Mexican-American?

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Department of Transportation United States of America Office of the Secretary of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20590 Aug 28 1970 REGISTERED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Miss Virginia Harper Administrative Secretary Fort Madison Branch, NAACP Fort Madison, Iowa 52627 Dear Miss Harper: I have been assigned to investigate your complaint of discrimination on the basis of race in connection with the Iowa Highway Commission's plan to re-route Highway 61 through the City of Fort Maison. Before initiating the formal investigation of your complaint, I am requesting the following information with respect to the allegation: a. What is the present status of the proposed relocation program? b. You stated in your letter that only one public hearing was held with regard to the proposed location of the highway. It is a stated policy of the Federal Highway Administration that two public hearings are to be held, one a "corridor public hearing" and the other a "highway design public hearing". Either both hearings must be held, or an opportunity afforded for those hearings. Which public hearing was held? c. Were any alternate plans for other road locations presented at the public hearing? d. Of the 146 families involved in the proposed relocation, how many families are black and how many families are Mexican-American?