Evening star., 1934-07-22

There has been net gain Of 80 pel
cent. 5 rural phones discontinued
but % added Out Of 2so rural phone.
IN the county mentioned. above where
500 families ARE trying 70 exc out a
living only have been discon-
tinued this year. In the 10 drought
counties Of this state which we're first
designated as drought areas. total
number Of telephones has increased
this year from SOC 10 GIL
The homtateaders we're skating on
thin ice above a firebox. Nov the
inevitable has happened But they
want 20 stick It ont until nature and
agricultural progress bring them an
other period of comparative prosper
ity. Desirable as II might be to shift
them 30 better -Watered lands, the Re-
lief Administration cannot ignore the
stubborn spirit that makes these folk
hold fast to the scorched acres they
have won so hardly II they will not
return 10 the water. the water can
be brought to them, in many in
stances, at least
The drought area OF Oklahoma Of
fers Infinite possibility for construc-
ton of small capacity reservoirs at
low cost, according 70 l. K. Blake,
former chairman of the State Con-
servation Commission. Small reser-
voirs could be built. says Mr.. Blake,
at cost Of sl2 per acre foot A
pond covering 10 acres TO an average
depth of 10 feet would cost 81 200
Studies on which this estimate was
made show that 200 larger reservoirs
could be constructed in Northwestern
Oklahoma with an aggregate capacity
of 1000 900 acre-feet at An approx
mate cost Of 81 per acre foot.
Shortened periods of food flow,
and constantly rising food levels.
prove that our cultivated lands are
losing more water than the original
prairies," says Mr.. Blake Unframed
farmers have apparently done all they
can TO speed such run-of, rather than
to conserve the limited rainfall. As
cultivation is extended. the lands
productivity is diminished
Terracing Part Answer.
Part of the answer lies in terracing.
Crooked rows go with terraces, for the
row must follow the terrace and the
terrace must follow the contour line.
The farmer SHES away from crooked
rows. Farm specialists agree with the
farmer that 1t costs more to cultivate
terraced land. by from Z per cent to
% per cent. But the increased crop
yield more than makes up the differ
ence, for the terrace holds the moiS-
ture. Besides this immediate advan-
tage the lands fertility is increased
each year, rather than diminished.
Soil conservation, through terracing,
naturally goes along with the pre-
viously mentioned water-impounding
program.
But forget, for a moment, the
plowing and the sweating, and look
down the more pleasant vista which
is opened by Mr., Blake's suggestion
that a five-acre pond will provide
enough fish to equal the food value of
q five-acre wheat field.
There are scarcely any fish to be
found in the northwestern section of
Oklahoma at present. Construction
of the proposed reservoirs would not
only remedy the economic and recre-
Rtional deficiency of fish, but would
also form a halfway station for mi
gratory wild fowl and refuge for wild
life generally. State and Federal Or
ganizationS have spent much more
money. with much less effect, to ac-
complish such results, where they
were not so vital to the areas very
existence.
Since the Emergency Relief Admin
istration is undertaking to maintain
the drought-stricken farmer until he
makes another crop, can it do better
than let the farmer earn his necessary
cash by working on these projects for
conserving soil and water? Projects
which might well stand on their own
legs, even were it not for the need to
provide the destitute with work Prof.
ects which can be undertaken in the
immediate local community where the
relief family is living, where the re-
lief worker can get to the job with the
least expense or inconvenience and
the least neglect of his regular farm
job, and where the completed work
will be benefit TO him personally.
In Kansas a report that is unani-
mously approved by the Governor,
legislative leaders, farm organizations.
the State college and the Conserva-
tion Department, says "a comprehen-
Sive program for conservation of
water resources is by long odds the
most feasible and possible plan for
permanent improvement" Its goal is
garden pond on every farm, also 200
lakes 10 cover an average of 200 acres
each, 20 large storage reservoirs. 100
overflow dams and the terracing Of
100000 600 acres Of farm land, Local
financing is scheduled for the indi-
vidual farm ponds and for two-thirds
OF the cost of the smaller lakes.
Bright Side TO Cloud.
The bright side of today'S dust
cloud is that relief funds may be
used for such water projects as these
and for other community enterprises
which otherwise might not have been
inaugurated for 20 years, and for a
general reyamplng Of farm life which
will prevent a recurrence of extreme
deStitut.on, when and if, in the fu-
ture, another drought cycle rolls
upon US.
Rural work centerS now being set
up in many States will provide a sup
Elementary cash income. wheat
crop takes less than half a farmers
time. Six months in the year the
farmer. or some member of his fam
lily, can spare time every day for in
dustrial work or craftsmanship. With
limitation Of cash crop acres, profitable
application Of these spare hours be-
comes a necessity. The administra-
tlon believes that there Will be a
growth Of native culture. as well as
cash profit, through the arts and
crafts which work centers Will foster.
Great ages OF the worlo have been
ages when workers were not merely
workers, but craftsmen. The drought
may be one of the fires under a crucible
from which will pour metal for more
creative days.
Al the start, work centerS are being
directed chiefly 10 production Of
goods for the Relief Administrator
canned goods cotton mattresses. work
clothing Later, with training and
experience, local craftsmanship Will
ind a more varied outlet for its ere