THE DROUGHT IN AMERICA

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 57, 5 September 1934, Page 18

THE DROUGHT IN AMERICA

MEASURES FOR RELIEF

WASHINGTON, August 24.

The''drought remains the most serious problem facing the United States Government. President Roosevelt is holding numerous conferences in a twofold .task, tho relief of afflicted farm-, ers, and the preservation of the nation's food supplies at prices comparable with the.people's incomes. In an interview Mr. Roosevelt emphatically stated that the Government had ample authority to prevent speculation in grains and other foodstuffs, and was prepared to use it to the full extent. He revealed that about 750,000 drought victims were being supported by the Government, and he expressed the hope that the 525,000,000 dollars, which Congress appropriated for relief, would last until Congress met again. He intimated, however, that there would be none to spare. "The Department of Agriculture issued a special report, confirming that the drought is the worst in the nation's history. The report denied the likelihood of a general food shortage, but stated that there would probably be "local shortages" until plans to distribute the prevailing supplies were perfected. Limited imports of some types of wheat, it stated, were likely to be necessary. It estimated that the forage supplies would only maintain between 50 and 75 per cent, of the average number of farm animals, and intimated that some method of reducing the number during the winter months must be devised.