Evening star., 1934-06-05
HEAWRA|NSb
RELIEF TO WEST
Crops in Burned Grain Fields
Damaged Beyond
Hope.
BY the Associa ted Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, June 5.-Rain has come
to parched farms of the West, but in
many places too late to pour life back
into burned grain fields.
Water was still precious in spite OF
heavy rains in seven States last night.
Additional rains we're forecast gen.
orally for the ravaged area. lending
hope that the peak of six weeks
drought damage has been reached.
Although rain fell in Iowa, illinois,
Wisconsin. Minnesota. North Dakota,
Nebraska and Indiana, survey show
ed today that much of the early small
grain was beyond redemption and the
need for immediate relief acute.
Hope to Save Forage Crops.
South Dakota farmers. their small
grains heavily damaged, watched Tor
rains to save forage crops.
Idaho estimated its water supply
only Sc per cent of normal Double
the S25O.000 drought relief fund
granted the State was declared neces-
sarv to save imperiled districts.
In Utah the water supply was from
10 to 40 per cent normal, Its S6OO,0OO
drought relief program was estimated
to make up only from Is to 20 per
cent Of the deficiency A plan was
considered of moving farmers out OF
the worst drought areas.
Feedstuff Exchanged.
The Wisconsin State Department OF
Agriculture reported live STOCK Ieeo
virtually exhausted. other States be-
ing looked to for the purchase OF
s,1nnlies. The grasshopper menace In
Northern counties was as great as the
lack of moisture.
The Iowa Department OF Agriculture
cited chinch bugs as the most serious
threat to their crops. Heavy rains
within 10 days would save the corn
crop.
In Nebraska the feed situation was
the most serious. assuring some 1orceo
reduction of cattle supplies.
Wheat was virtually a total failure
in western Kansas, but the crisis was
not reached in the corn crop. Stock
men hauled water.
Abnormal rains in Wyoming were
held bv Arnold King, Department OF
Agriculture statistician. as the only
hope for cattle and crops. A foot
stuFs carryover removed the danger
of famine.
Receives Surplus Food.
Farmers in New Mexico were re-
reiving surplus commodity feed ana
food for cattle and inhabitants. The
water situation generally was not
acute.
Government purchases of cattle re-
heved the condition on badly burnt
ranges in Eastern Montana and reg
ular relief generally was underway.
In Ohio the condition was described
as the worst in 20 years, with corn,
wheat and oats more than so per cent
retarded.
Heavy rains we're the hope OF the
Illinois corn crop. as a State survey
vas underway to place Illinois farmers
under the Federal work relief program.
Damage to crops and pastures was
general in Indiana.
The situation was described as near
the danger line in Michigan, Oregon,
California, Arizona. with feed danger
the most serious. Texas was described
as in pretty good shape"
Iowa Federal emergency relief Of
ficials were planning to take Mid
western farmers out of the fields and
put them to work on public conStruc-
ton projects to earn money TO buy
seed and feed.
AS explained by F E R. A. officials
the plan would include employment
of farmers on such jobs as road build
ing water conservation measures. food
canning and what has been described
as "other socially and economically
desirable activities"
The plan calls for employment Of
farmers for not more than 30 hours
week with wage scales in no in
stance less than 30 cents an hour.
Forced Sales Seen.
A. E. Anderson, State and Federal
agricultural StatiStician in Nebraska,
said he anticipated forced sale of
cattle because Of a feed shortage
and resulting high prices of feed.
More than an inch of rain in West
ern Montana has broken the drought
there. and Jay G. Diamond Gov
ernment statiStician. said the moisture
afforded untold benefit
E j. Fleming chief of the division
of markets of the Ohio State High
way Department. after a tour of the
State, pronounced drought conditions
the worst in 20 years.
Water supplies in Iowa towns con-
stitute one of the most serious hazards
at present. A. H WieterS, chief
sanitary engineer Of the State, said.
In Western and Northwestern Iowa
most communities depended on shall
low wells. some of them already facing
shortages.
Unfortunately" Wieters said, "for
the next several months even in the
event of normal rainfall, little rain
water will reach the underground due
to tremendous losses through soil
evaporation. There is little likelihood
therefore of complete replenishment
of the shallow underground water
UHan