AMERICAN DROUGHT

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 9

AMERICAN DROUGHT

MANY STATES STRICKEN KMUTIW AND SHFFEMNfi Prass Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, July 5. A graphic picture of the desolation . and suffering in the draught-stricken area it painted in a report issued by the works progress administrator (Mr Hopkins) to-night. Most of the great plains area faces its third major drought in six years. In practically all areas it is more severe than the drought of 1934, and is intensified by the distressing rural economic conditions which have now-been accumulating over a period of years. In the North Tqsas plains wind erosion has ' damaged as much as 95 per cent, of crop land, and a large proportion so badly that it is "of questionable value for future crops.; Pasture lands in some localities are lean than a fourth of normal, and the shortage of feed crops has compelled a .reduction of 50 per cent, in herds. Ninety per cent, of the farmers in some counties have been on relief since 1935, successive crop failures having pauperised the population. Some drought areas have been in a distressed condition for six years as % result of droughts, grasshopper plagues, dust storms, soil erosion, and low crop prices. Whole communities of people have been compelled to accept emergency assistance, and 40 to 50 per cent, of lands in the drought area is mortgaged up to 62 per cent. Farmers are tax delinquents. The report suggests the conversion of Crop lands to pasturage to increase the grazing industry and the removal of farm families to better lands. It is estimated that 50,000 families will heed assistance of one kind or another. The States chiefly affected are Texas, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. Minnesota alone has 6,000 square miles of drought area. ~* •IVEINMENT AW CREATION OF FUTURE RESERVES WASHINGTON, July 3. ' The Government to-day announced a scheme, the cost of which will probably exceed 100,000,000 dollars, creating futon reabrvee in the present drought areas. Destitute farmers will be paid to terrace their lands, build ponds, and dam streams. , lbs creation is also announced of a Federal live stock feed agency to facilitate the movement of cattle in affected artat through the western railways, which ate authorised to reduce their rites for the transportation of forage to dry areas in Montana and Wyoming. The agricultural conservation prbgrimme has been modified for the East Central region to enable farmers to qualify for compensation and still to produce more crops for consumption on the farm. Rains have fallen in the south-east, but the weather bureau holds out little hope of rain in the stricken north-western zone, where parching heat has been recorded. The only optimistic note is the Bureau of Entomology’s report that the drought has been destructive to many insect pests, though it favours soqw. ....