HAVOC OF DROUGHT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 41, 16 August 1930, Page 9

HAVOC OF DROUGHT

IN AMERICAN STATES

RAIN TOO LATE TO SAVE

CROPS

HOOVER TO THE RESCUE

| United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ' WASHINGTON, 14th August. In conference with President Hoover, the Governors of the several States affected by the drought stressed the difficulties of the position.

Governor Pollard described the conditions in Virginia as tho worst in the history of the State. "Virginia has had her ups and downs and her loan years, but never anything like this. It will take five years to recover from the loss." He added that at least five million dollars would be necessary for farmers' credits.

A representative of the Governor of Arkansas estimated that at least a hundred thousand families in his State would need assistance to live through the winter. Many of these would have to be furnished with something to eat or go hungry within the next sixty days. He asked for two million-dollar credits. i KENTUCKY HIT. Senator Bobinson, who represented, the Governor of Kentucky, painted probably the darkest picture of the situation. His State was the hardest hit of all. "The maize crop is but 10 per cent, of the normal, the tobacco crop but 20 per cent., and the hay crop 5 per cent. The pastures throughout the State have been killed beyond repair. Even blue grass, wMeh has withstood all drought hitherto, has been killed. There are practically no vegetables, berries, and bush and, fruit trees, and the water has dried up everywhere." It Was reported that other States showed much better conditions, but even in the least affected States certain counties were heavily damaged. OFFICIAL STATEMENT., Immediately following the conclusion of the conference, President Hoover issued the statement: "While tho extent of the damage cannot be determined yet, it is certain that there are at least 250 counties most acutely affected, . where some degree of relief must be provided. "It was the view of the conference that tho burden of effective organisation to meet the situation over the winter in the actutely affected counties rests primarily upon the States themselves, supplemented by such co-opera-tion and assistance as may be found necessary on th© part of the Federal Government.

"The objective of such relief is to assist over the winter families who are deprived of means of srfpport through the failure of their crops, prevent unnecessary sacrifices of live stock, and the protection of public health. ' This is to be accomplished by replacing loacs privately, or, where necessary) with the assistance of the State or national agencies, Bed Cross assistance, the employment of assistance, and reduced railway rates." After conferring with the President for five hours, the Governors and their representatives dined With Mr. Hoover at 8 o 'clock, and continued their informal discussions until a late hour. CHEERED BY KAINS. Thirteen States were .represented at tho conference, and the Governors were much cheered by the Weather Bureau report placed before them immediately upon tho opening of the conference, showing that good rains had fallen generally over the territory from tho lower lake regions in Northern Ohio, south to middle Tennessee, and west to Eastern Missouri, the area that was heaviest hit by the drought. While the Governors have co-operated in the formation of various county, State, and national organisations for the administration of President Hoover's plan of relief, there was considerable informal comment afterwards on the dissatisfaction felt that the credits will be extended only to those sufferers who can offer security. . Rome of those who attended the conference openly stato that the problem was one of extending unsecured credits, particularly where the damage was so great that farmers were left without much in the way of resources. DKOTTGHT BROKEN. The weather reports continue to indicate that rains were drenching in many areas, and that inch precipitations were occurring at many points, definitely breaking tho drought. Mr. A. M. Hyde, Secretary of Agriculture, advised the renewing of summer gardens for the food supply of farmers themselves, but it is generally agreed that the damage already done is irreparable and required relief as planned. A 50 per cent, reduction iv railway rates was cortified to-day for 123 counties in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Tennessee.