The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-07
U. S. TO MOVE.
100000 FROM
DROUGHT AREA
Relief Program Will Launch
Huge Migration Trek
Soon, Is Belief.
Copyright. 1884. by United Press
ASHTNGTON .TI1ne 7-Presi

0OOIi1 10 GSlIOls
Copyright. 1884. by United Press
WASHINGTON, June 7.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt has flung open a
new frontier and within month
Americans will be on the march tc
new settlements.
In flivvers and covered wagons
on trains, horses and by foot, So
600 to 100000 of them will leave
the soil from which they have long
strived vainly to grub an existence
and set out for brighter horizons
It will be voluntary migration.
The government will help them
with some $50000,000 provided in
the $525 100000 emergency drought
relief program approved by the
President.
U. S. To Buy Land
Release of this fund will touch
off the first major attempt by this
government to move portions of the
population. The entire drought re-
lief program is shaping up rapidly
Congress expected to receive the
formal request for funds tomorrow
In areas where chronic drought
sprevails, where the persistence of
man has been defeated by the stub
bornness of nature and charity has
beer the rule, the government will
buy land and convert it to forests,
game preserves and meadows.
No farmers need sell, officials en-
phasized. Refusal by a substantial
majority in any region will be re-
Spected
If the offer is accepted govern
ment agencies will help farmers
move away and will recommend de-
sirable settlements. To many will
: be given jobs.
Drought SArea Aided First
Officials refused to reveal speci-
f1c areas in which the program will
be instituted but it probably will be
confined at first to the most acute
drought zone-the Dakotas. Mime
sofa and possibly Idaho, Wyoming
and Nebraska.
Specific areas to which the mi
grating farmers will go are largely
undetermined as yet. Some will
move only a short distance. Some
will remain in the vicinity of the
land bought from them by the gov
eminent to serve as wardens and
conservation workmen. Others will
go to the subsistence homesteads
being established by the interior de-
partment.
In most cases, they will move to
richer regions near rivers and new
irrigation projects. Officials said
the government would not buy any
land before it has found new settle
ments to suggest to the inhabitants.
Fair Values to Be Paid
No formal estimates have been
made of the number of families
which will be asked to move. One
official placed it very roughly" at
between 10000 and Is 900.
Prices paid for the land will vary.
None thought that the afflicted
would be reluctant to part with
their poor acres.
I'VE don't want to scare them off
by offering low prices, but at the
same time we. don't want to put this
operation on a Santa Claus basis
when some of that land wouldn't
bring any price," one official said
In addition to the purchase price,
farmers who have signed AAA acre
age reduction contracts will con-
tinue to receive benefit payments
The government may require farm
ers on new land to comply with
crop control contracts covering the
new acreage.
Illustration Is Given
A farmer, his wife and three chill
dren live on farm in western
North Dakota. For years they have
been waging futile fight against
nature. They can count on their
fingers the heavy rain falls of the
past three seasons. Grain that sur
vived drought, heat and frost was
devoured by locusts. Livestock
starved and water dried up.
Each spring the farmer needed
new loans for seed. His property is
stepped in debt. He has been forced
to rely on the Red Cross for relief.
Possibly within a month, an agent
of the federal surplus relief cor
poration will visit this farmer. He
will offer to buy his land and those
of unfortunate neighbors.
How Plan Will Work
If the farmer will consider SELL
ing, the agent makes an offer. The
farmer can take it or leave it. If
he refuses and all his neighbors &C
cept, condemnttio proceeding
might be started.
When a substantial area has been
acquired the moving starts. Per-
haps the farmer will be offered en-
ployment as a forest ranger or a
game warden. Or he may leave for
richer land many miles away.
The government will not under
take to dictate where he must set
tie. It will recommend attractive
Ravens. If the money the farmer
derives from sale of his land is in
sufficient, it will supply him with
funds.
No matter where the farmer goes,
means of livelihood will be provided
him if he wishes.