The people of Carbon Hill regardless of whatever shortcomings they may have are swell. Almost without exception they were extremely friendly, even cordial and very cooperative. They display, in spite of the economic adversity that they faced for years due to technological unemployment as well as the depression, a great deal of courage and fighting spirit without which they probably never would have obtained the improvements that they did. These improvements have made Carbon Hill a healthier and a pleasanter town than it was, although there still is much to be done especially in the matter of paving to relieve the awful redrock dust. Carbon Hill was and is an ugly town as most coal mining towns are and the improvements have not and could not make it beautiful.
There is in fact nothing beautiful in Carbon Hill but the spirit of the people. That, however, seems to be quite enough to have enabled the town to survive through a period of economic disaster and the people we talked to were practically unanimous in feeling that the Administration has saved the town from oblivion and they were, therefore, grateful. Whether the town can ever depend again entirely on the income from the mining industry and get along as it is now is a question, but if the courage and the will of the people mean anything they will make a good try.
Pryor visited Carbon Hill to take photos and get positive feedback on the Works Progress Administration's projects in Carbon Hill (see letter to George L. Davis). You can see his photos in this slide show. (The photo featured from his slide show in this post shows the social spot for Carbon Hill on a Saturday night, the makeshift dance hall.)
