AMERICAN DROUGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20639, 11 August 1930, Page 11

AMERICAN DROUGHT

WORST IN HISTORY. TWELVE states involved. / STILL NO SIGN 01? RAIN. i SHORTAGE OF MILK. FEAR OF EPIDEMICS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received August 10, 5.15.p.m.) _ I NEW YORK, August 9. Reports to hand this evening from 48 States show that nowhere is thero any appreciable rainfall, and tho nation is battling with the worst drought in its history—one which economically will compare with Inst winter's industrial and financial deflation in the seriousness of fts after effects. The President, Mr. Iloovor, is at bis furamer camp the Virginia mountains, only a few miles from where volunteers Bra combating a large forest fire. Twelve middle-western States—lllinois, Jfiswuri, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio. Kansas, Tennessee, lowa, Indiana, Ohio and Arkansas—have reached the point where nothing short of national aid will carry through a largo proportion cf marginal producers who ofherwiso will be rained. President Organising Relief. Mr. Hoover yesterday ordered the governors of theso twelve States to confer and decide upon methods for tho relief ef the sufferers. The weather reports are >tiU poor,/and no rain is indicated at jprasent. One-twelfth of the livestock and p[,000,000 families have been found to be kadly affected. Epidemics of typhoid Knd other diseases are feared. In several areas the temperatures continue to be high. Washington yesterday eufiered its 10th day of heat over 100 degrees, with /the high point at 108 sjegTees.

It was announced this evening that the Railways under federal control will reduce freight rates on supplies for the afflicted faraers.

Mr. Hoover's week-end holiday has been lurned into an emergency relief-planning campaign. He has summoned other Federal officials .for advice on immediate measures such as those adopted on the (occasion of the Mississippi floods for the Jelief of those and permanent measures for their rehabilitation. f Record Devastation Caused. The Red Cross Society announces the mobilisation of all its national branches for the administration of immediate aid. The Department of Agriculture has issued a warning against jubilation over the price of grain. It says:— Only three States—Washington, Oregon find California, which normally depend upon irrigation 'in tho summer—are not affected by protracted heat and lack of rain. This gives a fairly accurate conception of the extent of the damage. from northern New-York to the Mississippi delta and to the northern tip of Id:,ho there are stagnant air, hot winds and blistering temperatures. ■ Rivers, creeks and lakes are at record low levels. Large forest fires are raging in New England, Pennsylvania and Virginia and sporadically throughout the nation.

There nre "baked" fruit orchards, + lie milk supply is dangerously diminished and maize fields are burning up at a rate of 3,(00,000 bushels a clay.

The pasturage in one-fourth of the country has been virtually destroyed. Kentucky's famous blue grass has turned white, arid small garden produce areas have been wiped;,out. Record devastation has been produced in six weeks of dry weather and no relief is in sight throughout the greater part of ths country. Cities the Greatest Sufferers.

Paradoxically/ the cities aro probably the greatest sufferers. The water supply in all the larger cities is seriously depleted Bud many communities are employing sources believed to be contaminated. The health authorities are asking; that this .water shall bo foiled before h is used. In many citiei in Virginia the authorities are using police patrols to see that witer is used for household purposes only. Luck of milk h/is resulted in an increase in the price, notably in New York, where an added cent a quart mean? a burden of millions of dollars.

Fruit and vegetables are no longer freely available even in New York, which has 'tl"e best distributing system in the country. Trices have mounted and inferior foods are being freely dispensed. Although 30 per cent, of the nation's population dwells in the 12 States which produce one-third of the country's food, and which are t.be mnst seriously affected, the burden probably will fall heavily upon the 50 per cent, of the population that dwells in the cities. Whether the situation will reach a state el national cala/nity will be decided within the coming week. Much depends upon the rainfall necessary to save the remnants ©i many crops.