DROUGHT AREAS DESOLATED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21827, 6 July 1936, Page 9

DROUGHT AREAS DESOLATED

PUGHT OF AMF.Bir.AW FARMERS FAMILIES PAUPERISED BT CROP FAILURES LARGE TRACTS »F LAND PCT OCT OF CULTIVATION * tmtD PUSS AMOOATtOM—corsmtoax.) (Received July 5, 9.15 pan.) WASHINGTON. July 5. A graphic picture of desolation and suffering in the drought-stricken area is painted in a report issued by the Works Progress Administrator (Mr H. L. Hopkins) to-night. Most of the great plains area faces its third major drought in six years, which in nearly all areas is more severe than the drought of 1934. It is intensified by the die* tressing rural economic which have now been accumulating for several years.

In the North Texas plains, wind erosion has damaged as much as 15 per cent of crop land. A large proportion is so badly damaged that it is of questionable value for future crops. Pasture lands in some localities are less than a fourth of the normal area, and the shortage of feed crops has compelled a reduction of SO per cent in herds. Ninety per cent of the farmers la counties have been on relief ■hw> IMS, successive crop faihircs «fa»«w 1027 having pauperised the population.

Some drought areas, notably the Dakotas, have been in a distreaed condition for six years, because of droughts, grasshopper ptigmu. dost storms, sou erosion and low crop prices. Whole PnmrmmHwy g| people have been compelled to accept emergency assistance. Fkutv to 50 per cent of the lands int2 drought area are mortgaged —4 gg per cent of the fannera are tax defaulters.

The report suggests the conversion of crop lands to muitiii use an Inemw In tte and the removal of farm £ lands. It is estimated * 50,000 families will Mujstanee of one kind or atwrfw The states chiefly alßwifj T®*•*» w™ 80 ? 8. North and South Dakota, Wyoming and Minnesota, alone has 5000 sottu* miles of drought area. RESERVES AGAINST DROUGHT STATE TO SPEND HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS little hope of rain in STRICKEN ZONE WASHINGTON. July 3. The Government to-day announced a scheme, the cost of which will probably exceed 100.000,000 dollars, creating future reserves in the present drought areas. Destitute farmers are to be paid to tecraee their lands, to build ponds, and dam streams. The creation is also announced of a Federal livestock feed agency to facilitate the movement of cattle in the affected areas through the western railway* which are authorised to reduce rates for the transportation of forage to the dry areas m Montana and Wyoming. The agricultural conservation programme has been modified lor the east central region to fanners to qualify for compensation and urn to produce more crops for consumption on the farm.

Rains have fallen in the southeast, but the Weather Bureau held out little hope of rain in the stricken north-western zone, where parching heat *is recorded. The only optimistic note Is the report of the Bureau of Sntomology that the drought has bean destructive. to many insect peat% though it favours some.