HOOVER'S GREAT TASK

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 143, 21 June 1927, Page 9

HOOVER'S GREAT TASK

IN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY

REHABILITATION WORK

(United Prsss Association.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON. 19th Juno.

With the Hood waters having reached a low stage of recession, Mr. Hoover (Secretary of Commerce) will leave tomorrow to superintend the commence* ment of rehabilitation work in the inundated Mississippi Valley areas. The stupendous nature of the task can be guessed by the fact that 11,500,000 acres are included in the zones that went under water at Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and a total of more than 600,000 persons are homeless refugees under Red Cross care.

Mr. Hoover has at his disposal, fifteen million dollars for the preliminary work of rehabilitation, and it is expected that the coming session of Congress will appropriate the bulk of the vast sum of money required for such a colossal undertaking. >

MALARIA MOST SERIOUS PHASE,

Mr. Hoover has announced that the first thirty days will be devoted to a programme of sanitation. Medical experts from the Public Health service, the State Health and Sanitary organisation, Army and Navy doctors, and Civil technicians • will participate. The disposal of the carcasses of thousands of dead animals, as well as the incineration of great quantities of dead vegetable matter, all of which is a menace" of the first magnitude to the great army of destitute farmers now returning to the stricken areas, will be the first step. Mosquitoes are another big problem, and the infestation, according to the latest reports, has assumed large proportions. Every precaution will be taken to minimise malaria, the danger of which is, perhaps, the most serious phase of the sanitation problem. Roads will then be rebuilt, and arrangements have already been made to finance the reconstruction of thousands of homes on long-time credits at a low interest, and also to supply furnishings for farms. Industrial plants will then be rehabilitated, and food control instituted. It is contemplated to put every one of the 120,000 families back on to their holdings on a productive footing.

PLAN FOR FLOOD CONTEOL,

A conference of Staj;c Govornors will be held in July, the chief subject foxconsideration being flood control. Army engineers, co-operating with civilian engineers, all under the direction of General Jadwin, are already formulating a plan, for future flood control for submission to Congress in December. It is understood that tho plan involves new levees, with spillways, and probably reservoirs in the upper Mississippi reaches and tributaries.

Mr. Hoover said: "There should be no minimising the size of the job facing those who are giving their time without remuneration, or hope of reward, except that_ of gratitude and a consciousness of duty well done, to this task, involving, as it does, the greatest peace-time calamity'in the history of our country. Personally, I have no doubt we are going to master tho situation."