The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-07
|DAKOTAS HARDEST
HIT SAYS WALLACE
IN BISMARCK talk
Agricultural Secretary Asserts,
However, Mountain States
Also Suffering
IRRIGATION WATER SHORT
Sees Possibility Of Ultimate
Good by Improvement Of
Cattle Herds

AAInOuGn apparent manly IN the
middle west, particularly the Dakotas
and western Minnesota, the drouth
also has seriously affected the irri-
gated states In the far west and It's
full effects there will be felt next
winter, Secretary Of Agriculture wal
lace told an audience Of North Da.
kota stockmen here Wednesday night.
Shows were insufficient to fill the
mountain reservoirs, he said, ana Va.
ter for irrigation already Is scarce.
The result means decreased produc.
ton with possible shortage Of stock
feed, particularly alfalfa hay. Arriv-
ing here, the secretary already had
visited New Mexico, Arizona, Califor-
mia, Nevada, southern Oregon, Utah,
Wyoming and South Dakota. He
flew here In dust storm from Pierre,
8. D.
Wheat benefits to be paid to North
Dakota farmers, he said, will total
more than they will receive for their
drouth-stricken crops and will prove
more than ample justification for the
processing tax and benefit-payment
system.
As to the processing tax, he said
he has reason to believe that q def
mite and concerted attack will be
made on 1t by certain Interests In
the large centers, probably next win
ter" but did not elaborate upon the
idea except to suggest that he thought
the farmers should be warned and
prepared for it.
Sees Possibility Of Good
Addressing himself to the problem
Of the cattlemen. Wallace said def
mite good may come from the present
calamity by improving the quality of
herds which remain after it is over.
The prices offered are attractive only
for culls. Wallace said, and preserva-
ton Of superior breeding stock will
raise the average in the future. He
expressed hope, too, that it will unite
the cattkmen In constructive action
to prevent the accumulation Of sur
pluses such as now are burdening the
beef market. Western ranges are
over-pastured by at least 100000
head, he said, and adjustment now
should enable the livestock raisers
to meet this problem in the future.
Sterilization Of the cattle industry,
presumably through contract agree
ments and benefit payments, also will
eventually benefit the consumer, he
asserted.
Present surpluses Of wheat and cot
ton, he said. may last two years and
the farmers Of America have that
length Of time to debate what policy
they want to follow. II they wish to
return to unrestricted production. he
asserted, 1t will mean q lowering Of
the tariff 50 the nations creditors
can pay not only the war debts but
some 5000. o00. 900 additional each year
with which to balance agricultural
exports.
In conferences with Wallace and
=. w. Sheets, director Of livestock re-
lief, stockmen argued for m increase
In the price to be paid by the govern
ment for cattle. but Sheets indicated
there would be no change. In Wyo-
ming, where the emergency purchase
program has not been launched. he
said, many cattle raisers are asking
to be included In the emergency
drouth area 50 they may sell under
the proposed terms, adding that Wyo-
ming cattle are In better shape than
those here.
Sees Big Volume
He estimated the number OF cattle
to be purchased in the emergency
drouth areas at from Is to Is per
cent Of the total cattle population.
In addition to meeting with stock |
men. Wallace conferred here with
Judge A. N. Christianson, head Of
the state emergency relief set-up; With
Dr.. J. H. Shepherd, president Of the |
state agricultural college and state d. |
rector Of livestock relief, and with
others active in the relief movement.
On the platform with him. 6 he |
addressed approximately 1900 per-
sons gathered Ut the Memorial build
ing, were Dean H. L. Walster Of the |
agricultural college: @. G. Talbot. |
president Of the state Farmers Union;
Former Governor Walter ]. Maddox,
Sheets and Judge Christianson.
Continued On Page Two) Il