SEVERE DROUGHT FEARED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 236, 2 July 1936, Page 9

SEVERE DROUGHT FEARED

United States Conditions

GREAT EXPENDITURE ON RELIEF POSSIBLE

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

(Received July 1. 5.5 p.m.)

Washington, June 30.

A warning that- drought conditions may equal if not exceed those of 1934 was voiced by Mr. H. A. Wallaee, Secretary of Agrlcultiye, to-day as he started an extensive inspection tour of the West after a conference with President Roosevelt and officials of various relief administrations.

/While menacing conditions have beeu evident in the central North-west for some time, Mr. Wallace revealed that 24 of the most important agricultural States had suffered a sub-normal rainfall during the past month and that a serious moisture shortage was being felt through the Mid-west, also in Texas and as far to the south-eastward as Tennessee.

President Roosevelt, according to Mr. Wallace, has organised a special drought committeexto co-ordinate with Government relief efforts. Immediate problems considered were the succouring of from 30,000 to 40.000 destitute farm families in Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas and inaugurating a 40,000,000-dollar cattle purchasing campaign. Mr. Wallace recalled that 500,000,000 dollars had been expended during the 1934 drought and intimated that a similar programme might be necessary this year unless heavy rains were general before July 20.