Evening star., 1936-07-04

yuHu.
BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, July T. Crop-wilting
heat spread new havoc across the
Western plains today.
Fears-temporarily allayed by actual
or predicted rain for several days
mounted with the mercury in the
drought belt.
A blazing sun beat down on parched
prairies as the corn crop entered a
critical three-week period. Extremely
high temperatures were registered yes
terday in the Missouri Valley and the
Central plains. Norfolk, Nebr., record
ed Ill. Omaha had 1l0-the highest
ever noted at the weather station
there in July. Pierre and Mobridge in
South Dakota reported 104 and Bis
marck. N. Oak. So.
Unseasonably warm weather. meteor
ologists warned, would blanket the
Midwest.
There were scattered showers in
Southern States and portions of New
York and New England yesterday.
More precipitation was indicated for
parts of Wisconsin and North Dakota
one of the most adversely affected
States.
Loss Put at S250, 100000.
But there was no immediate hope
of general, saturating downpour to
halt crop losses that have already been
estimated at more than s250,000, 900
for the Nations major agricultural
sections.
City dwellerS shared some of
farmers concern after Agriculture
Department economists in Washing
ton said the weather's effect on corn
would determine the future price of
meat they must buy for their tables.
Corn, they pointed out, was used to
feed meat animals and was a major
factor in the prices they bring at the
markets.
Reports to the grain trade told of
a deficiency in June moisture in
almost all of 200 reporting points in
IL Central States.
Market men also heard crop de-
terioration had broadened in the
Western Canadian Provinces, with
reports from Southern Manitoba and
Saskatchewan of large areas where
not more than 25 per cent of normal
harvest was in prospect.
But prof1t-taking held grain prices
in check after sensational advances
Thursday.
Only one North American market
pit was open for trading today, that
at Winnipeg. Opening prices there
dipped, the July future yielding 7s-5s
at 865s-7s in profit taking. At Liver
pool futures were firm, closing / to 2
pence higher.
Heavy rains cheered sections of the
drought-dried South last night and
fresh showers followed today. Damage
in the South and Southeast has been
estimated at $150,000,000.
Catholics to Pray for Rain.
Catholics in Nebraska prepared to
pray for rain at the behest of the
bishop Of the Lincoln Diocese. He
urged the faithful to offer their sup
plications for an end of the crisis
during the first two Sundays of July.
Planters in the alliance district of
the same State armed themselves with
clubs and combed the fields in a war
against another crop menace-jack
rabbits seeking water.
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace
disclosed at Des Moines the volume of
distressed cattle to be purchased by
the Government would be determined
by the future seriousness of the sit
uation. While ready to buy up to
1,000, 900 head, he said such an ex-
tensive program for removing the an
imals from barren ranges might not
prove necessary.
He said in an interview the A. A. A.
was proceeding with 1887 soil con-
servation program without waiting for
the outcome of the November election.
Lists Factors in Situation.
Among the considerations, he said,
were:
How severe will the drought be and
what changes will be necessary to
meet conditions created by it?
How much Of the new seedlings of
clover and other grass will survive
the drought and the grasshoppers?
viii it be possible or practical to
insure any control over corn produc-
ton through payment of higher bene-
fits for land shifted from corn to
grass then for land shifted from oats
to grass?
VIII 1t be possible to work out any
plans for future corn lands, either in
connection with the ever-normal
granary idea or as type of crop in
surance?