The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-05-26
CONSERVATION
OF WATER said.
MIDWEST need.
Geological Report Urges
Step to Block Desert
Advance
BY HITLER KREIGHBAUM
United Press Staff Correspondent

Ny HllsIlEH hNf.l1ftDAO"
United Press Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 2G. CUP,
IL large sections in the Semi-arir
areas between the Rocky noun
tains and the Mississippi river arr
to escape the blight that convert
cd once prosperous communities
into sections of desert, Americans
must give more consideration tC
water supply. John c. Hoyt of the
U. s, Geological Surrey, said re-
Gently. In a pamphlet entitled
"Droughts of 1930-34," the n.y.
draulic engineer believes that with
adequate information it is posi-
bic TO curtail the economic losses
of future droughts of even great
or severity to even less than those
of 1880 and 1884, listed as the
worst yet recorded. .,
an all countries and at all
times water has been the limiting
factor in social and other deyel-
opment," the pamphlet said. we
have now reached a time IN the
development of this country when
much more careful consideration
must be given to water supply
than has been given in the past,
or serious consequences will re-
suit. The disastrous effects of re-
cent droughts in the arid and
sem-arid states in a large meas
ure have been due to failure to
give adequate study to the rela-
ton of water supply to develop
mant.
with the growth of the coun-
try detrimental effects of droughtS
increase. and they will continue to
increase unless proper relation
between water supplies and re-
quirements is established and
maintained.
WARNS OF GREATER
DANGERS
at is not safe to assume that
droughts of greater severity than
those which have been recorded
will not occur, and even if they
are not more severe as measured
in deficiency in water and length,
their economic effects will be
greater as utilization of and de-
mands for water are increased.
The maximum development and
use of all natural re-
sources can be accomplished only
on the basis of full and reliable
information as TO water supplies,
with special emphasis on drought
periods. and, in order that this
may be available, it
is essential that adequate provi-
sion be made for the collection of
systematic records of the nations
water resources"
Hoyt explained that since the
droughts are natural phenomena
there is nothing that men can do
TO modify their occurrence. How
ever, he added that the economic
losses resulting from water short
ages relate to activities that man
can control.
at is possible for man to do
much toward the alienation of
such losses by the conservation of
available water supplies by stor-
age. by efficiency in all uses of
water. and by the adjustment of
activities that depend upon water
to available supplies and to varia-
tions in supplies" the report said.
ONE GOOD YEAR IN FIVE
Surveying the serious droughts
for the five-year period, Hoyt said
that the humid states were seri-
ously affected in 1880 and the
semi-arid areas underwent a ma
ior drought in 1884. The humid
regions had minor droughts in
1881 and 1884 while the semi
arid sections had minor ones in
1881 and 1882. Thus 1882 was
the only year in the half decade
in which some region did not suf-
fer drought.
The hydraulic engineer quoted
the following constructive pro-
gram worked out by Arkansas
officials to save farmers from the
greater ravages of drought, which
Hoyt said was applicable gener-
ally:
"To raise enough grain and hay
to feed all livestock.
"To produce enough meat to
supply the family's needs.
"To keep enough milk cows to
supply the family with an abun-
dance of milk and butter.
YEAR-ROUND GARDEN
URGED
ITO provide health insurance in
the form of a year-round garden,
and to preserve any surplus of
home-raised vegetables.
"To maintain a flock of at least
so laying hens.
'To give increased care to home
orchards, and in areas where nc
fruit is grown at present to plant
enough fruit trees to supply tbs
family's needs.
"To rebuild soil fertility b.
planting at least half the presen
corn and cotton acreage to lie
gumes and pasture crops.
"To reduce titled acreage an,
apply the surplus labor to terrac
ing and drainage"