DROUGHT BROKEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 57, 9 March 1931, Page 7

DROUGHT BROKEN

WELCOME STORMS.

Rain and Snow in Many Parts

of America.

MUCH MORE NEEDED.

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 9.30 a.m.) CHICAGO, March S.

The mid-winter drought in the United States broke yesterday, rain and snow falling heavily in all parts of the country. The drought had caused serious damage to crops and had diminished the water supplies of many communities, including those of such large cities as New York.

Chicago was the centre of a blizzard, and a foot of snow fell in all parts of Illinois. lowa, Wisconsin and Michigan were similarly affected.

The grain belt of the middle west has especially benefited from the snow, and the lower valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers have benefited from heavy rains.

The storms extended as far south as Texas and Louisiana, where also they caused considerable damage to property.

The Federal Weather Bureau officials stated, however, that the drought had progressed to such an extent that the grain area must have at least lft more rain in the next two months to restore the moisture to the sub-soil and to start the spring growing season properly. The Red Cross Society announces that in February it fed almost 500,000 more people than in January in the droughtstricken areas which embrace 21 States. Two million people are now receiving aid. The drought in many of these sections has lasted more thai, a year.