The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-02
HEAT WAVE UNDATED:
CATTLE DIE IN BARREN
FIELDS, CROPS BURNED
Records Tumble as Blazing
Sun Beats Down Of.
SWeItering U. S.
FARM LOSSES SOARING
No Rain in Sight, Is Report
as States Begin Re-
lief Work.
By United Press

By United Press
CHICAGO, June "A heat
wave beyond anything that
the United States has expert
enced before, blazed unabated
today over two-thirds of the
nation.
Cattle died on barren and water
less ranges, crop losses grew by
the thousands of dollars hourly,
water supplies of great cities were
threatened and human suffering
was intense as temperatures scared
for the sixth successive day.
No ain was in sight.
Surveying crop reports from the
entire northwestern agricultural re-
gion, Dean w. C. Coffey of the
agricultural school of the Univer-
sity Of Minnesota, federal farm re-
lief director for a dozen states, pre-
dicted that prolongation of the
drought for two weeks will bring a
national food shortage.
"The situation is acute" Coffey
said. Conditions are becoming
more alarming hourly. The truth is,
the United States is threatened with
a food shortage"
Wheat Prices Jump
Agriculture Secretary Henry A.
Wallace denied recently that a.
was possible. poi~~ out
that a $50, 0OO, OO0-bushel wheat
carryover would meet any probable
deficit in this years crop.
Wheat prices jumped 4 cents
again yesterday on the Chicago
Board of Trade, passing SLOT a
buShel, but closed with a slight loss
for the day in a wave of profit
taking and stop loss orders.
Temperatures reported through
out the central west were almost
unbelievable. Weather bureau re-
ports placed Milwaukee, Wis;
Peoria and Springfield, ILL.,, and
Concordia, Kan, at the peak with
104 degrees. From cities and towns
not reporting to the bureau came
reports of readings up to ITO degrees.
Federal officialdom and execu-
tiveS of many states acted as the
mercury mounted to relieve thou
sands of farm families threatened
with ruin and ven starvation.
Relief Funds Increased
Relief Administrator Harry L.
Hopkins yesterday allotted $5,476,-
900 for farm relief in the ten most
affected states, Supplementing funds
already available for purchase and
slaughter of 10000 0 cattle starving
or dying of thirst in parched fields.
Governor Floyd B. Olson of Min
nesota proclaimed an embargo on
shipment of livestock into the state
except for slaughter and processing.
He said he acted in IAN unpre-
cedented emergency"
E. w. Sheets, federal drought re-
lief director, pleaded with repre-
sentatives of western railroads in
st. Paul for an emergency reduction
of freight rates on feed for live
stock.
County farm agents in northern
Minnesota made arrangements to
pasture thousands of head of cattle
being driven and trucked from the
southern part of the state to the
head of the lakes.
Water Shortage Feared
Evaporation of hitherto unfailing
sources of water supply brought
genuine alarm to many cities and
industries. The Mississippi river
was at the lowest point in history.
The Great Lakes, falling perceptibly
every day, presented a unique prob
lem to ship lines. .
Government agencies estimated
that Swallowed channels in harbors,
necessitating reduction of loads,
will cost coal and iron ore shippers
more than $4,000, 900 this season.
Four boats now are required to ar
ry what three handled before.
Heat p~rostrations were reported
by the scores as the center of the
torrid wave moved slowly eastward.
T1--- 49, AY-- 49,