South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-13
RELIEF GIVEN To
FARMER RS IN DRY
WESTERN STATES
Many Cattle Shipped Out to
Good Grazing Ground
by Government.

stockmen and farmers I'm the
seriously drought-stricken area OF
Montana and adjoining states. where
feed crops and pastures have failed
for lack Of rainfall. are being given
some relief through well-organized
and cooperative efforts OF the United
States department OF agriculture
and state officials. The department
representatives designated TO inves-
tigate conditions state that OF the
100, 900 farmers in Montana. 20 per
cent have failed TO make n crop this
year. and thousands OF stOckmen are
taking advantage Of the reduced
freight rates offered by railroads ina
that territory 20 ship their cattle to
parts or the United States where
feed and pasture are available. One
OF the most recent developments in
the relief work IS the esta blishment
~ the departments emergency Of
fcs at Billings. Mont. with Prof c.
>. Arnett as the department western
field agent in charge
10 IS estimated that 500. 900 TO
100000 cattle will be shipped out Of
the state. Approximately so per
cent OF these represent the normal
shipment Stockmen are being 81
Used TO dispose OF their steers. old
fat cows, yearlings and 2-year-old
steers and heffers where necessary,
keeping at home COWS with calves
No figures are available regarding
the aggregate number Of sheep to be
moved out. but II Is believed that
sheep will suffer less than cattle
Area OF Draught.
The draught area includes all Of
the state OF Montana. portions Of
Idaho. the northern two-thirds Of
Wyoming. the northwestern counties
or South Dakota. and the western
half OF North Dakota Not only has
there been an unusually light preci-
pitation in most Of this area during
the growing season for three years
but the snowfall in the mountains
last winter was below normal, the
temperatures since the first OF April,
1919. have been much above normal.
and, therefore. what snow there was
In the mountains melted rapidly and
ran off sooner than usual making a
shortage Of water for irrigation pur-
poses and for stock.
Records OF precipitation at the
Iavre experiment station, kept since
1850, show that until 1918 there
have never been two years in sue
cession where there was not suf-
hcient rainfall during the growing
season 10 make a crop. 1t was ex-
pected that this was a fairly safe
indication that there would be suf-
ncient rain this year. but this proved
not 10 be true. as rainfall was very
short However, in spite OF the dry
weather. an S0-acre field OF wheat
at this station will yield between 10
and IL bushels TO the acre. Corn al
so at this place. while short and
without grain, with furnish 200 to
500 pounds OF dry feed TO the acre
Use Relief Measures.
Promptly on the designation Of
the representative previously men
toned. the department called a con-
ference at st. Paul which was at
tended by agricultural officials from
Washin gton. y. c.. and from the
states concerned by representatives.
OF landowners associations and by
every general freight agent Of the
railroads serving the drought area
AT this conference the railroad Of
ficials made recommendation which