The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-20
PERSONS
IN DROUGHT AREA
GET RED CROSS AID
Report of Work Done Last VIM
ter Praises Cooperation of
North Dakotans

Assistance was extended to 200 900
| individuals in the Northwest drouth
relief operations Of 1922, according
to an official report distributed by
the American Red Cross to it's local
chapters.
A total of $2,266,000 was expended
by the American Red Cross in the
states of Montana. North Dakota
South Dakota, Nebraska, Washington
and Iowa. In addition to the national
organizations expenditures, donated
supplies valued at $4,000 were dis
tributed by the Red Cross to the dis
aster victims. Among the beneficiar-
les of Red Cross relief was 5,136 In
dian families. most of whom were
farmers residing on or adjacent to
government reservations in the North
west.
In North Dakota. the Red Cross ex-
tended aid to 52.934 individuals, at a
cost to the national organization of
S707 $500. The relief work was con-
Quoted in Is counties in the state. the
report shows. The principal types of
assistance and the number of North
Dakota families benefited by each
follow:
Food. 1860 families; cothing, 4,27O
families: garden seed. 1882 families.
Most of the garden seed was distrib-
uted last spring near the close of the
relief work. as a rehabilitation meas
ure. In the entire drouth area Of
North Dakota. 1882 individual collec-
tons of garden seed, and 45,325 BUSH
els Of seed potatoes were furnished to
drouth-stricken families by the relief
agency.
The report praised the citizenship
of North Dakota for the spirit of help
fulness displayed by various state
groups and individuals throughout the
relief program.
"As in all Red Cross disaster &C
tivities." the report states, chapter
volunteers performed the actual task
of relief. In all the drouth states, a
total of 1925 volunteers served under
the Red Cross flag. each contributing
at least so hours to the cause. During
the peak of the disaster, thousands of
them devoted nearly their full time
to the work"
Railroads Give Help
According to the report, one of the
outstanding contributions to the re-
lief work was the service given by the
railroads. In addition to free trans
portation of donated supplies the var
ious lines reduced the freight rates by
so per cent on the national organiza-
tons bulk purchases, such as seed po-
tatoes and garden seed. It was esti-
mated that the total contribution
made by the railroads in reduced
freight rates and free hauling priv
leges, reached approximately one mil
lion dollars.
With the exception of donated sup
plies and limited number Of bulk
purchases of flour and beans, which
were distributed in the remote Sec
tons early in the winter as pre-
cautionary measure, all foodstuffs
were purchased locally. the report
points out. Food orders were issued
semi or monthly by most
chapters and the organizations usual
disaster policy of requiring beneficiar-
les to select their own merchants was
followed throughout the emergency.
BY this method the morale of the
communities was strengthened be-
cause local storekeepers were able to
turn over their stocks and meet their
obligations from the Red Cross bust
ness they received.
ITO meet the needs of drouth VIC
tins until they were able TO provide
for themselves" says the official re-
port. in conclusion. "the national or
ganization furnished beneficiaries with
60-day supply at the final issue of
food orders These supplies were not
exhausted until the early vegetables,
springing from Red Cross garden seed,
had matured. BY that time credit ia
cilities had been reopened and the
stricken sections We're looking ahead
to better days"
In combined drouth fund appeal
and Red Cross membership campaign
last fall. Montana and North Dakota
enrolled the largest Red Cross men,
bership since war days, with the re-
suit that Montana now stands first
and North Dakota second among all
the states in Red Cross membership,
on a population basis.
This year the Red Cross roll call
will hoUin in North nakota on Oct IN