The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-09
Stunted Corn and Whiting Wheat
Creates Black Outlook for
Nations Farmers
GOVERNMENT WILL HELP

A drought that scared the land
from Tennessee to the Dakotas pro-
jected itself into the national picture
this week in the lull that settled
over a people wearied with two
weeks of political pill-rolling.
Stunted corn, within G wheat,
parched grass over hundreds of
square miles of the nations bread
basket sent administration officials
into tight huddles and put Secretary
Wallace aboard train to make
study of the area.
The next 10 or IL days will tell
the story. If they bring heavy rains
the salvage will be large. Already,
the same sort of relief machinery
that was employed in 1884 has been
set into action.
In Washington, officials said $780,
100000 to $50, 900, 900 might be need
ed to buy cattle in the drought re-
gion, but they said conditions were
already as bad as they were in 1884
and were getting worse.
In 1884, it cost the government a
little less than $12O,OOO,OOO to buy
cattle, sheep and goats in the "a
states that were affected. It brought
better than 100000 cattle, 100000
sheep and $4,000 goats. Of these, it
found that a million and a half cat
tie, two million sheep and quarter
million. goats were so nearly starved
as to be unfit for human consump-
ton.
In the end, the government wound
up with 800,000,000 pounds of beef,
veal and mutton which it turned
over to the federal surplus relief adj
ministration to be passed out to state
relief agencies. It gave the Indians
100000 animals that had been bought
in the foodless areas. Another 81 900
work animals were used in rural re-
Mobilization work.
In one manner, however, officials
said any plan that is adopted for re-
lief in the sun burnt middle west
this time must fall short of that en-
ployed in 1884 Then the farmers
not only were paid for their cattle
and stock but at the same time re-
ceived farm program benefit check.
They will be paid for their ami
mails this time, but the benefit check
will be missing. That check went to
them with the understanding that
they would participate in crop adj
justment program. Since Hoosac
mills and AAA met in mortal COM
bat before the Supreme court, there
can be no such understanding now.
There are other methods of af
fording the same relief, however,
and when the final plans are planed
down, officials expect them to notch
with those that have gone before.
Already soil conservation require
mentS have been eased railroad rates
have been cut to enable cattle and
stock shipment to fresh pasturage
and special information services
have been set up to let farmers
know where feed is available, how
much, what kind and how much it
will cost.
The heat and sweat and worry of
the drought caused plenty of brows
to wrinkle but did not completely
put away thoughts of general relief.
Plans announced by Harry Hopkins,
the relief administrator, called for
three million persons to be employ
ed on relief and public works, their
wages to average $50 a month, two
dollars more than they received at
the start of the program last fall
Of the relief funds, 100000, 0OC
will go to Secretary Ickes for his
public works program, marking the
wind-up of a long and heated row
between himself and Hopkins over
the merits of such work.
In the midst of these plans was
left a statement by Secretary Nor
genthau that although government
expenditures for the last IL months
were double receipts, the fiscal pic
ture was improving. He said income
and revenue were rising, business
was improving and federal spending
was going down.