Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08

for centuries on end, There may be
trends, he comedies, of hotter or colder
or drier weather for a number of years,
but, on the whole, weather balances to
Q nearly constant factor. Conceding
that almost every day brings a new
weather record somewhere and that lots
of new records have been added re-
Gently, Mr.. Marvin contends localltles
and peak records might prove any
thing. Low rainfall records, likewise,
have been added for periods extend
ing, in some sections, from two TO seven
months. os
For example, washington had 70
inches of snow in "a hours In January
of 1922, he said. That was more snow
by several inches than has fallen In
day in st. Paul, Boston. Chicago or
New York since the Weather Bureau
began keeping records IN 1870; Sut
that did not prove, 1t was nelo, Ina.
washington gets more snow than the
other cities cited or that its Winters
were becoming more severe.
Although the thermometer is only 1UU
wears old. the oldest national meteoroio-
rical service in Europe, that in France,
Mr.. Marvin said, antedates the Amerl-
can service by only Is years. To judge
what the weather was before, he ex-
planned, meteorologistS have studied
river stages, floods, heavy freezes, crop
failures. fanines and ether unusual
weather conditions recorded In histories
or diaries.
Disease Warning Issued:
From the Public Health Service today
came Al ominous warning t. II TYPHOID
fever, pelleEfs &ad other diseases may
follow In the wake of the record-break-
ing drought unless sanitation measures
are vigorously enforced.
Surg. Gen Cummings said; 1T is
possible the1s results OF the heat ana
drought, particularly of the latter. may
be serious, though at present ] see no
reason for alarm"
REPORTS on typhoid fever show this
disease is already more prevalent than
it was at the G. responding week last
year. Cumming urged extreme care In
rural sections, suggesting that drinking
water from sources whose purity was
not certain should be boiled.
.or the week ending August 2, total
of $50 cases Of typhoid fever were re-
ported, compared with $40 during the
corresponding week of 1929. Cumming
said there had been increases in cases
reported for several weeks preceding
this.
"a situation of this kind emphasizes
once more" he added, that local public
health agencies should be more adequate.
About rs per cent of our ru4 popula-
ton Is without Sufieient facilities
there are competent agencies in about
sos of 2.500 districts or counties"
Milk Supply May Be Cut.
In addition to the danger Of typhoid.
Cumming saw the probability that
al IsT iranr "
In the Mississippi Valley States, might
make inroads in other parched, water
less areas. He said If farmers were
forced to get rid of cattle, or If cattle
suffered from lack of water, the milk
supply would be cut down, and this
would work Ill on the health OF the
Nations infants and children.
THE first effect Of the heat with re-
spect to public health is the direct re-
.tinued. Besides prostrations, it causes
lowered vitality and greater suscepti-
bility to diseases. Next, and perhaps
most important, Is its reduction OF
water supplies, particularly among the
country population.
"Shouid fruit and vegetables become
scarce, CT prices rise SO as to remove
them from the tables of poorer people,
pellagra and other diseases resulting
from improper nourishment would fol-
low
'sThe place for guarding against these
things is in the locality in which the
situation is severe. Except for the gen.
eral warning, we can do little in add
ton TO advising local health authorities.
would urge State and local authorities
to keep q vigilant watch over general
health conditions, with emphasis on the
sources of water and milk"
Importance Of Sanitation Stressed.
( The health oficial stressed the i'm
portance of sanitation measures by as
serting that drought conditions equal to
the present in severity, had they &C.
Cured IS years ago, would have caused
y series Of epidemics.
2 I'VE can cope with 1t now" he said,
eff we only do. A score Of years ago,
1t would have had terrific results"
Meanwhile Government officials are
still greatly disturbed over effects of the
drought in the great farm belts OF the
country. They do not altogether share
the less pessimistic view taken by Sec
rotary of Agriculture Hyde.
j. b. Kincher, chief of the Division Of
Agricultural Meteorology, said not only
the end Of the drought was not in sight,
but 1t was most unlikely 1t would be
broken simultaneously In many places.
( IT don't like calling this . catas-
trophe, but ! don't like to think what
may happen If the drought isn't broken
within the next two weeks" he said.
williams Proposes Stock Credit.
While the general relief plans of the
administration awaited returns from the
national survey promised for Monday.
o clear-cut policy of furnishing credit to
cattle growers for the purchase of feed
TO tide them over the emergency was
put forward by Carl Williams of the
Farm Board. His plan has not yet been
officially approved and cannot be put
into effect until other members of the
board return here for q conference. 1t
Is understood, however, TO be supported
by STERILIZATION officials.
Z Williams proposes, 1t was said, that
feed distribution agencies or other cor
poratiens formed for the purpose I'M
derwrite grain to be delivered to farm
erS IN exchange for the latter's note,
properly Endorsed and accompanied by
suficient collateral.
The grain would be furnished m car
lots at market prices by the Grain
Sterilization Corporation, arranging
easy payments over one or two years.
This grain, he said. would be replaced
out Of the 1880 crop in uniformity with
the policy Of not placing the corpora
tons stocks on the market in COMPETE
ton with current grain. The whole
project could be put in effect in four
days, he said.
The Department of Agriculture,
meanwhile, was sending questionnaires
to all county farm agents asking for
the number of families needing aid to
carry live stock through the Winter and
the quantity of feed available nearby.
The agents also were asked to suggest
measures of relief
McKeIvie Joins In Hyde Report.
To Secretary Hyde,s report that his
tour of the Middle West had shown the
ummught suffering TO have occurred in
spots and not over great unbroken