Any sort of structure would still break down.
I don’t think it would make a bit of difference what kind of structure. It’s the difference in the types of jobs, as you get higher up and particularly into the region, when you get to be an associate regional director. You have all these same people in your division; Why, that maintenance man that’s cleaning that restroom down there twice a day had better be just as darn good at the gal that’s taking care of the entrance fees out there at the north entrance, because it’s pretty dog gone important to do both of them. In fact, I’m not at all sure that taking care of the restroom isn’t more important, and that’s the kind of an attitude that you get into after a while, is that it all meshes together. But when you’re sitting here as a maintenance person, as a ranger, why little things…the maintenance people don’t get something done in time that you were supposed to be able to get into, or the house doesn’t get painted in time so that you can move, or something of this sort. So, you get mad at them. But maybe it was because some other ranger’s house or assistant superintendent’s house had to be taken care of before this house. So, the maintenance people get blamed because of that when it wasn’t their fault at all. And so, it just goes back and forth like this. And it’s a lack of communication, that’s all it is. But that’s been the basic problem of the Park Service for as many years as I know anything about it, is the problem of communications. And that’s my speech!
Now, what’s the question, Steve?
That might bring us to the last one, which is how the NPS has changed and we sort of addressed that, although you’re welcome to expand on that.
I think one of the biggest changes, and I suppose this might be considered a real minor thing, but a big thing is housing changes which had done a lot, I think. At least it did a lot of them time. Again, where morale is down because of poor housing, but at least in the Mission 66 and a few years right after that time, if sure helped morale a lot. So that was a big change. And it sounds like, from what I read, that it needs to be done again. And I’m sure this is the case, because there were a lot of old houses and stuff left over, such as you have up there on the hill. And there’s a lot of things that are wrong with those little house.
Jean: There are a lot more permanent employees now that need better housing, too.
Look at the way we increased in numbers, that’s one of the biggest changes since 1946. I don’t recall at all how many areas the National Park system had in 1946. I knew at one time, but I suspect that it was less than, oh probably around 200 or so. Now, my figures somebody may dispute immediately, “He doesn’t know what he talking about,” and I may not! But, the point is, now it has increased to what? Almost 400?
