Warren sheaf., 1920-03-17
FLOOD $ ERS
Will GET SEED
State Beard Of Relief Finally Decides 10
Grant and Make Available 500, eco
For Seed Grain Loans.
: Telegram
Crokston, Mimi. March 16, 1920
Warren, MINI.
Delegation successful in convincing
Relief Board need of extending food
relief to provision seed grain loans.
One hundred thousand dollars avail
able
Minnesota Red River Valley
DeyeloDment Assoeiatio

At~fhe SpeCHA session OF the Minnie
sofa legislature held last fall, n State
Board Of Relief was created, to consist
Of the Governor, the State Auditor and
the State Treasurer. Said Board was
by the act creating it authorized to
take any measure necessary to prevent
or avert any impending disaster which
threatens to destroy life or property
In this state, to grant relief or tenn
porary assistance to communities in
this state stricken by disease, food,
storm, fire or the action Of the elements,
or prevent the occurrence or spread Of
any such calamity or disaster which
might entail loss of life or property or
result in great suffering and hardship
among the people Of this state"
For the purpose Of carrying out the
provisions Of the act, the commission
was authorized to borrow such a sum
Of money, not exceeding $780, 600, by
issuing interest-b bearing certificates Of
Indebtedness Of the state. The legis-
lature Intended by creating this fund
to extend relief to the tornado sufferers
at Fergus Falls, the flood sufferers in
Marshall, Pennington and Beltrami
counties, and to other localities that
may be stricken in one way or another
and need assistance. It was distinctly
understood when the bill was passed
by the legislature that 100000 was to
be used, if needed. for the relief of the
food sufferers in eastern Marshall and
adjoining counties.
In order that the money for relief Of
the flood sufferers should go to deserv-
ing people and not wasted, the State
Commission appointed Scott Laird. of
Thief River Falls, as it's agent, he be-
ing located near the flooded district
and familiar with the conditions exist
ing there At his request and under
his. direction the Marshall County Farm
Bureau through John Husby. the eoun-
ty agent, made a careful survey OF the:
flooded area ia Marshall county in or
der to ascertain the needs Of the set
tiers as to seed grain and other
measures to tide them over another
year and enable them to- raise another
crop. Practically all the farmers in the
flooded area need assistance to procure
seed grain. They have been led to be-
1ieve that the State Commission would
loan them the money they needed for
the purchase OF seed grain on seed
grain notes. payable in the fall They
have relied on this promise. When last
week the report came that the attorney
general had promulgated decision to
the effect that the State Relief Com
mission was not empowered to- assist
farmers in the flood affected district in
procuring seed grain, there was con-
sternation among the farmers in tie
eastern part of the county. With seed
time only few weeks distant and no
seed in sight they had good reason to
feel alarmed Had they not relied on
getting assistance from the state, many
of them would have sought other means
to get seed grain, The aim and scope
of the law creating the State Relief
Commission is so broad that it would
seem most any relief measure might
be included Hereunder, therefore the
attorney generals decision came as a
surprise
But the Minnesota Red River Valley
Development Association got busy as
soon as this fact became known. A
meeting called by the Development As
sociation was held at Crookston last
Friday, County Agent John HUSKY be-
ing present At this meeting it was de
cided to send delegation to st. Paul
to go before the Relief Commission in
the matter This delegation was head
ed By r. G. Mathwig, Of Warren, vice
presfdent OF the Red River Valley De
YelOpment Association, the other mem
bers of the delegation being Senator
n. s. Hegnes OF Argyle, Senator Nord
OF Koochiching county, Ben Docken OF
Holt. and John HUSKY, county agent
The State Relief Commission listened
TO the representations OF these men as
to the needs OF the settlers in the east
ern part OF the county and the favor
able outcome ct their eorts is told il
the telegram printed above.