AMERICAN DROUGHT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 263, 20 August 1930, Page 5

AMERICAN DROUGHT.

300 COUNTIES AFFECTED. CROPS ALMOST WHOLLY RUINED (United Press Association— Copyright.) ' (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 19. The President (Mr Hoover) announced that acute conditions brought aboidTby the drought have been reported from approximately 300 counties, with crops almost completely ruined in most of them. "In those areas the destruction ot crops proceeded to a point bevond any eaeat degree of recovery, although pasturage should improve," says the 1 re"lt must be borne in mind that the point of view of relief to the burden of the problem in the acute area will show v»?ry much more vividly over the winter than at the present moment 1 have received from all sections ot the drought area high appreciation tor their prompt constructive action. It is a notable act of courageous co-oper-ation undertaken in the face ot seriouslv reduced income duo to the depression," concluded Mr Hoover. APPEALS FOR RELIEF. HEAVY LOSSES IN VIRGINIA. WASHINGTON,' August 18. President 'Hoover, and the Secretary for Agriculture (Mr A. M. Hyde) are confronted with further demands for Federal aid, as the stricken farmers have continued to organise a relief programme. Ex-Governor Byrd has appealed lor relief in Virginia, stating that the damages to his State amount to 10U,000,000 dollars, partly due to the loss of 800,000 tons of hay and; 35,000,0UU bushels of maize. Mr Hyde has published a list of 173 additional counties in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Virginia, and Ohio where there is a-state of emergency. Mr Byrd stated that one of the most serious aspects or the situation consisted in the fact that relief for farmers without credit facilities would have to await legislation, and Congress would not be in session until December.