Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28
DROUGHT DISASTER
TOTAL IN WINTER
Chief Effect Yet to Be Felt
as Relief Plans Are
Continued.
Continued From First Page.)


The Drought Commission Of Maryland
has arranged for the creation of q spe-
cial fund from which loans will be made
TO farmers unable to post collateral.
Virginia, one of the worst stricken
States, is attending to its own problem
and has made noteworthy progress.
I'Other States are bending every effort to
take care of their own.
Thus far the economic catastrophe
appears to have reached its greatest
proportions in rs counties in Arkansas
and 65 counties in Kentucky, according
to reports to one national agency. De-
partment of Agriculture statistics show
an exceptionally good crop year for the
country as q whole, but the Virginia
farmer whose corn has been burned up
gets little comfort from the information
that the farmer in Iowa had a fine crop
and that the biggest farmer Of all. Uncle
sam. has his grain and apple bins how-
ing over.
Red Cross at Work.
Those closest to the drought situation
are loath to say much about It, First,
they can't predict the weather for the
rest Of the Autumn. Secondly, the dis
tress shades of from the prospect of
absolute suffering In some sections to
merely relative discomfort in others.
The American Fed Cross realizes that
1t has disaster on its hands. II is
Organized and waiting. which is about
all 1t can do. Red Cross officials say
1t Is the sort of disaster with which
the organization has vet had no ex-
perience. If there was a famine in
Kentucky they could rush in trainloads
Of food and distribute 1t to the hungry
people. If there was an epidemic in
Arkansas they could have doctors
nurses. medicines and sanitary equip
ment there in day,
But there is no famine and no cpl
demic. There is nothing relief or
ganization actually can put its hands
on. Yet it realizes that there is a
catastrophe. For the most part, only
individual cases yet fall into its scope
1t has distributed, through its county
units, good deal Of abruzzi rye and
garden seed to help the stricken farm
ers to help themselves.
May Find Health Problem.
The greatest anxiety is felt for the
health OF the drought-stricken areas.
Insanitary conditions, due to dried-up
streams and general lack of water, have
led to insanitary conditions. 1t is a
favorable condition for any germs of
an epidemic disease which may be lurk-
ing in the background--and there is
not much to be done about it. Wheth-
er the mild typhoid increase in Virginia
and Maryland has any connection with
the drought. according to Public Health
Service off1cials, is debatable. But It is
not denied that there may be some
connection.
Then there Is pellagra, a disease of
diet deficiency which has devastating
results. The drought has struck hardest
In the pellagra country. Yeast con-
tanning quantities of a still unisolated
vitamin, comes close to being an abso-
lutte specific against this disease. 1t
also is prevented by plenty of green
vegetables Farm families don't have
green vegetables in Winter and many
OF them will have less than ever this
Winter.
Despite the efforts Of the Public
Health Service and State health de-
partments. the use Of yeast is by no
means as well known as 1t should be.
For the past three years It was learned
at the Public Health Service. both the
sickness rate and the death rate of
pellegra have ben on the increase. de-
spite the scientific advances toward
control of the disease. The real effect
SO far as this malady is concerned. will
not be known until next Spring after
Winter of reduced diet
Ready to Give Aid.
Another frightful malady making
alarming progress just now is poliomye-
litis, or infantile paralysis It is almost
az the 1877 peak. the worst yet. Not
that there is any definite connection
between 1t and the drought. but Il is
just one OF these lurking threats all
ways intensified in times OF poor santa
ton and malnutrition.
The Public Health Service il ready
to help in the drought area as soon as
1t receives requests from State author
tiles. Thus far the only move has been
the visit of few health officers to
Washington In order to secure increased
FEDERAL funds for health work.
Early in August. when the real
seriousness OF the drought began to be
realized. the Federal Farm Board an
nounced that IF existing feed dis
tribution agencies or other business
msn and farmers in any stricken COM
muntty, county district or State will
form under the Jaws of their own State
responsible corporation which viii
guarantee the payment of notes to be
given by individual farmers, plan
probably can be quickly developed
whereby the Grain Sterilization Cor
poration can sell feed grains of any
kind m carload lots at market prices
on easy payments of one or two years.
The Grain Stabilization~aG -
has plenty OF grain and can buy mo-
to replace that sold for feed, thus
keeping its own supplies intact"
Would Obviate Charity.
"The plan" the statement continues.
is believed Ito be practical and work
able 1t would relieve suffering. dispose
OF part OF the grain surplus, and put
no man nor community under the
necessity of asking for charity. If
local communities will do their part no
substantial farmer need lack for feed
for his live stock and no stock need be
sacrificed on present markets.
the primary purpose was to enable
farmers whose hay and corn crops were
failures to carry their pigs, sheep and
cattle through the Winter. Unforeseen
difficulties, however, have prevented the
putting of this plan in operation and
the Farm Board now is working out an
ether plan, which probably will be an
nounced in a few days, by which it
Will act through loan to the Farmers
National Grain Corporation, which In
turn can sell grain to the drought
stricken areas on easy terms. The real
need for grain will not come until late
Fail. The plan now under consideration.
1t was announced, will be in accord with
'AiS nS1 SiCdllIlS tic rAAHl DOdJQ u, WHICH
can loan money to co-operatives but not
to credit associations.
With the coming of Fall there has
been improvement through good deal
OF the drought-stricken area and pas
lures in some places have recovered
sufficiently to afford hope of late Fall
grazing for the cattle Rain, even now,
would alter the situation greatly, espe-
cially in the southern States, where
aVfnndnd
into the early Winter.
Freight Rates Cut.
One snef.ific relief r,neasnre has beer,