Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
Agriculture Department Asks
Executives of Six States
to Help Relief.
CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST
AREAS SUFFERING MOST
Survey Begun at Presidents Re-
quest to Determine Needs From
Federal Funds.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Governors Of Northwestern and Cen.
tral States, stricken by drought ant
grasshoppers, were called upon today
to aid in marshalling State and Fedora
forces to relieve present and future dis
tress.
George L. Hoffman, director Of the
Agriculture Departments Seed Loar
once. dispatched kilograms to the CHIEF
executives Of Montana, North and South
Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota
enlisting their assistance in determining
their needs for Government funds tt
meet the situation.
At the request of President Hoover
the department already has begun 6
survey, through county agents, which
Is expected to show what relief !:
necessary for the rest Of the Summer
and next Winter.
Drought In North Dakota and Mon.
tana brought about reopening Of Gov
eminent emergency drought loans ir
those States on July J.: More thar
$4,000 has been loaned, chiefly in North
Dakota.
VIII Use Farm Fund.
The sum Of $40, oo0, 600 was set aside
by Congress last session for farm
rehabilitation" and 1t Is from this funt
that aid will now be extended into the
Northwestern and Central States. About
SIS, 900 900 remains. However, previou.
requests for funds to combat the grass.
hoppers have been met with the reply
that none Is available.
President Hoover yesterday directed
Agriculture Department officials to un-
dertake, in cooperation with local ano
State authorities, the formation Of ar
organization to meet the situation
caused by the drought and graSshOppers
He took this action before departing
for his Rapidan Camp to spend the
week end. 1t was made public through
q White House statement after his de-
parture.
The Agriculture Department, thu
Chief Executive said, was engaged in 9
in the last two weeks, during which the
drought situation and the grasshoppel
plague have become more serious. The
area affected embraces sections In Mon.
tana, North and South Dakota anc
portions Of Iowa, Nebraska and Mime.
sofa.
Hoover Takes Hand.
An apparently optimistic view Of thu
situation was taken by Mr.. Hoover. HC
said that the problem was minor com
pared with that Of last year and addec
It would be taken care Of.
] The President said:
"I have directed officials of the De.
partment Of Agriculture to undertake
In cooperation with local and State au.
thorities, such cooperation as may bt
necessary to meet the situation createc
by local drought and grasshopper de-
struction In the Northwest and Contra
States.
while suffering within the areas af.
fected Is acute, the extent of the
drought and damage Is comparatively
minor to that which we confronted anc
surmounted last year. The Federal Gov.
eminent has already extended assist.
ance in some portions of the afnicted
localities and the Red Cross Is actively
engaged in relief work.
Secretary Hyde is in touch with thu
situation.
National and local resources arr
available and the problem viii be taker
care Of"
The surveys being made by extension
directors In the various affected State.
probably will be completed within q
week. Further action will follow wher
a comprehensive report is made.