The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1934-06-07
FEAR CHANGES in
DEPARTMENT WILL
DELAY DRY RELIEF
Shift Responsibility to Already
Overworked Emergency
Relief Office

A complete turnover in st. Paul In
the handling of drouth relief, throws
the responsibility from the drouth re-
lief committee of the county into the
hands of the Federal Emergency Re-
lief Administration office.
Announcement to that effect was
made late Wednesday to George A.
Barnes, county attorney, who relay
ed the information to the county
board members who were in session.
Resolutions addressed to state and
federal officials protesting the move
because the office here is not equip
ped at present to handle the work,
were discussed but not voted on.
Mr.. Barnes received confirmation
of the report from three sources in
St. Paul.
A. T. Forsberg, head of the drouth
committee in the state, is removed
from his position by the move and F.
M. Rarig, present head of the ERA
office, takes over his duties.
The move means that seed and feed
will no longer be distributed from
present sources but will be handled
through the office of Robert Hoeft,
county social service worker, assisted
by Mrs. Katherine Praxel and Miss
Elsie Howe. :.
A bulletin giving complete instruc-
tions is expected to arrive today.
The office at present is working over
tive to handle its work in administer
ing poor relief and commissioners
consider it unwise to expect it to
handle drouth relief also.
M. L. Johnson, member Of the Fors-
berg relief setup who also was re-
moved in the mixup, was in Redwood
Falls Wednesday. He said that he
ordered seven more carloads of feed.
It is not known whether this feed
will be sent.
In an effort to prevent starving OF
stock Mr.. Barnes sent the following
telegram to Henry L. Hopkins, FEEDER
al Emergency Relief administrator in
Washington:
"This county desires to buy three
CARLOADS Oh IulIlcI SCCu~AoA uASsASS
farmers. This action is taken to cut
red tape and get seed planted before
it is too late. Can you arrange to re-
imburse us for cost Of seed from fed
eral funds ?"
w. S. Southmayd, drouth manager
in Redwood county who has had an
office at Vesta where applications
have been received and feed has been
distributed, will also be out under the
new setup. The Vesta office I'M
doubtedly will be discontinued.
Six carloads of feed have been pro-
missed. The whereabouts Of a carload
of seed officials promised is unknown,
they said when Mr.. Barnes talked
with them Wednesday.
Mr.. Barnes showed a number OF
letters he has received from farmers
throughout the county, pleading for
help because they have no feed or
water and their stock is dying.
Following is the resolution passed
by the board:
"BE 1T RESOLVED, That Red
wood County purchase three carloads
of millet seed for forage crops for
distressed farmers of this County,
provided however the Federal Gov
eminent assures US that we can be
reimbursed for the purchase price OF
such seed, and that the County At
torney be and hereby is instructed to
wire Harry L. Hopkins, Drouth Ad-
ministrator, informing him of our
wishes to purchase said seed, and as
certain whether or not the Federal
Government will reimburse this
County if such seed is purchased.
This action is taken for the purpose
of cutting down red tape and getting
the seed in the ground while there IS
still time"