Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-05
VIRGINIA DROUGHT
Loss sl0l,O00,0|O
Income of Maryland Farmers
Estimated as Cut in Half,
Due to Dry Weather.


Civil War.
The annual income of Marylans
farmers has been cut in half this year
Such is the picture to date of tn,
effects in nearby states Of the unpre'
cedented dry weather this year which
burned up the corn and hay crops anc
forced the sacrifice of live stock.
A report to Secretary of Agriculturs
Hyde from DR.. Charles F. Marvin, chic!
of the Weather Bureau, which wa
made public today, describes the condi-
ton as "the most severe drought in the
Genealogical history of the United
States Not q single State enst of the
Rocky Mountains, Prof, Mar lin states
had as much as normal precipitation
from June to August, the principal
growing months. and some half Gozer
States had less than half the normal.
Can't Make Predictions.
No comprehensive answer can be
given as to the cause of the abnormal
conditions, DR.. Marvin says. 1T is best
explained" he states, "as q prolonged
stagnation of the air over nearly the
whole continental extent of the United
: states but the. experts are unable to
/ assign q specific cause for. the pro-
= ~. ~ i i
With the drought still hardly broken
y IN the Immediate vicinity Of the Dis
z tr!ct OF Columbia, Weather Bureau ex-
perts say they have little basis for pre-
dtctions as to the effect on Winter tenn
peratures or prospects of more ade-
Quate water supply in communities
served by wells.
"Any prediction" said Dr. william J.
humphreys would have too many IFS
Conditions in Virginia were pictured
by former Gov. Harry F. Byrd. chairman
of the State Drought Relief Committee,
at recent meeting of relief commits
sioners in Washington. Approximately
100 counties, he said, are affected. The
Shenandoah Valley has not had rain
for seven months. Virginia is con-
fronted," he said, with the most seri-
Gus economic condition it has had since
the war between the States"
May Need Charity.
"The 500 600, 900 loss we have suf-
fered," he continued, sis only part of
the actual cash loss we have suffered.
Next year we viii ind that we win be
virtually without hay crop. Unfor-
tunately the loss has fallen on those
who cannot pay it. and as result Vfr-
ginia Is in a most serious condition.
Eighty-three thousand farm people,
providing no employment can be given
them, may need 100000 charity. But
II employment can be given there will
be virtually no need for charity
Only one of Maryland'S counties had
q reasonable amount of rain according
to T. B. Symons, director Of extension
work at the University of Maryland.
A recent survey, he said, showed that
approximately a fourth of the farmers
would need help which could not be
secured from the banks on legal basis
Of security. tt-
DR.. Marvin in his report only fol-
lowed the drought conditions 70 Sep
TENDER /, when the abnormal dry
weather over greater part Of the area
had given way At that time, he re-
ports" the drought had continued for
nine months in the Middle Atlantic
area, six months over the Ohio and
Middle Mississippi valleys and for
Shorter periods IN nearly all other csees
lions east Of the Rocky Mountains. The
Middle Allan req was dry during the
directions as tie season progressed.
Dryest on Record.
'srrotl1 March to May West virginia,
] Kentucky indiana Illinois and Mis-.
souri, had the least precipitation on
record. the average only 81 per cent of
normal. while the Middle Atlantic area
had only slightly more than so per cent.
BY July deficiencies in precipitation ex-
tended to all States east Of the Rocky
Mountains. except New England and
Georgia. In July 10 States had only 20
TO so per cent OF normal rainfall. with
an average of 90 per cent In August
the drought was greatly intensified in
some Northern and Southeastern States
not hitherto affected.
July and August combined brought
the dryest weather of record to Penn
sylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Viz
ginia. Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas,
with an average OF only Al per cent Of
Streams as well as crops, DR.. Marvin
said, were seriously affected by the
drought THE dry weather." he said,
lis plainly reflected in the low water
stages along the Atlantic slope of Penn
sylvania, Maryland, Virginia and North
Carolina. Many of the small streams
In the Missouri basin are dry and In
the remainder Of the. drought area all
streams are very close to the low
record"
Through the entire area, according
TO reports of the drought commissioners.
the unprecedented Summer and Autumn
left a trail of poverty and want, the
full extent of which will not be appar-
ent until the effect on planting eondi-
tons next Spring is known.
$4,000 Families Affected.
Tenant farmers beginning TO talk
red" Is the report of Seth B. Storrs,
Alabama commissioner Of agriculture.
He estimates that more than so 1000
families in 81 counties will be unable
TO carry on unless some way can be
found TO furnish them credit.
One-third of the $4,000 farms In
Arkansas will require aid, according to
Harvey c. Couch, head of the relief
committee of that State. He estimates
that $l2, 0o0, 000 viii see the farm famf-
lies on their feet again, "ori the assump-
ton that the Red Gross or the Lord
win carry them through the Winter"
From $500 to 10000 farmers need
help in Indiana, says J.. H., Skinner.
dean Of the Indiana College Of Agricul-
ture. In Kentucky, It was reported,
dairy cattle have decreased 81 per cent.
beef cattle 80 per cent, hogs 33 per cent
crops burned up the farmers had to sell
them. Between $4,000 and $4,000 rural
families will need help to carry them
through the Winter. About 40 per cent
of the farmers will be unable to pay
their taxes.
ABOUT Su,OUU farmers IN the NIL sec
ton Of Louisiana have not made suffi-
Gent crops TO take care Of themselves"
reports 3. F. Thompson, chairman Of
the Louisiana Drought Relief Commits
sion. The average corn production in
this area was only about two bushels to
the acre. Cotton averaged one bale to
nine acres and. over a considerable
area, only one bale to 20 acres. The
normal crop would be three bales TO an
acre.
S2oO Minimum 10 Family.
"A good portion of the 20o.o 900 tenant