Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-05-31
State Capitol News
BY A. /. HARRIS

Moving to reduce future eXpendl-
lures for drouth relief feed, the state
ERA is distributing forage crop seed
to farmers i'm the acute drouth area
whose crops and pastures have been
most severely hit by dry weather ana
dust storms. Given small amount
of rain. millet, sudan grass, soy beans,
and fodder corn will provide late sum
mer paSturage and help to conserve
available hay, of which there Is a
definite shortage in the Northwest
states.
The benefits of the state ERA's can
ming program will be extended not
only to relief clients but to all in
terested housewives in counties organ
lied for federal relief. The canning
school, conducted by an expert sent
out by the ERA's social service divi-
sion, will be attended by selected lead
ers from each section of the county
where held. Those leaders will go
back to thir own communities and
put on demonstrations of canning meth
DDS as presented at the school. These
demonstrations will be open to all
housewives.
Conservative estimates by nutri-
administration place the potential
value of its garden and canning pro-
gram in excess of S2,0OO,OOO. The
value of canned produce raised in
relief gardens last year averaged S6t
per garden, not including the vege
tables used during the summer. Will
about three times as many gardens
this year, garden produce if properly
cared for, will contribute to indi
vidual relief budgets by as much a:
five dollars a month through the fall
winter, and early spring.
Lumber barons of the past SKINNED
the cream of Minnesota's forests, fire:
have exacted a terrible toll and nov
an imported disease threatens the
pitiful remainder of the states stanC
of white pine. To protect what white
pine is left in Minnesota, vigorous
campaign is being waged and will be
continued through the summer agains
the devastating disease known as bills
ter rust. Recruits in Civilian Con
servation Corps camps will add pro
lection to $4,000 acres of white pin'
this season, cooperating with The
State Conservation Department.
There has been considerable dis
cussiOn in Minnesota recently of thu
policy of the state highway depart
ment in using bituminous surfacins
more extensively than in the past
Some persons have asserted that th'
department should use nothing bu
concrete for surfacing. Highway de
partment engineers have no quarre
with concrete. They built many mile:
of fine roads with concrete when tn,
department was spending around S35,
100000 year. But with the depart
ment's expenditures cut in half las
year, and with 65 per cent increase
in trunk mileage to maintain and i'm
prove, Commissioner N. w. ElSber:
did exactly what highway engineer
are doing in other states-he turne'
to less expensive surfacing. Re
CARELESS of the lesser cost, however
Commissioner Elsberg asserts tina
bituminOus surfaces of the prOpe
kind should have a definite place il
any economical highway program. B.
making use of them thousands O
citizens will receive the benefits O
satisfactory, all-weather roads year
earlier than would be possible if onl
the most expensive paving were useG
Scientific studies of the variOu
kinds of surfacing showed that tn
improved bituminous types used b
the highway department can hol
their own on the bases of long-tim
economy with any variety of surfac
ing, highway engineers assert. Thei
maintenance and upkeep costs ar
exceedingly low, it is stated, and tn
initial cost ranges from around $500
a mile to $4,000 in most cases wit