The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-10

mlgnb DC leased tO cooperaCtVe grazing associations.
 5. Undersized farms should be expanded through two possible Hneans; easing of credit, and lease or sale of federal land. The gov- ernment should operate denon- Stration farms.
 6. All water from the sections Scant rainfall should be held on the land and utilized through soil conservation, by growing grass and farm crops to resist drouth.
 2. Since federal purchase of land would deprive local subdivi- sionS of tax revenue, they should be compensated for their losses.
 g. Destructive pests guch as grasshoppers and crickets must be eradicated. Preventive efforts should be pushed through 'in- tenSive research and extensive complementary experiments"
 9. The areas other resources should be developed.
 States Must Aid
 President Roosevelt supported his committee in declaring that the task is not one for the gov ernment alone. Complimentary action, he sail, must be taken by states along these lines:
 1 Each Of the 10 states should push legislation relating to farm tenancy, leasing, taxing and tax delinquency to correct these eco- homie liabilities.
 2. States should zone land for .ts proper use as cities do now "to prevent permanent impair ment of the land by unwise ex- tension of cultivation during per- iods of Supernormal rainfall or of exceptionally high prices"
 3. Cooperative grazing asso- citations could be established as they are now in Montana, making possible operation of large tracts of land as single unitS.
 4. Voters should be permitted to soll conservation districts. The committee suggested adoption of & model law prepared by the depart ment of agriculture.
 s. States should avoid resale of tax-delinqucnt range lands to private individuals, making them available instead for lBe with other public land1 for grazing dis tricts.
 6 Local communities could aid by recognizing to reduce costs of roads, schools and other services without losing efficiency.
 T Taxation should be made equitable, taking into considera- ton current or average income from land.
 g. States should aid farmers in developing local water supplies for stock through ta. reductions.
 9. Ownership and permanent occupancy of land should be pro- noted.
 Suggestions
 The great plains drought re- port went beyond federal and state in the rehabilitation program. For communities and in- divduals 1t suggested:
 1. Shift planting to eliminate single "cash" crops such as wheat or cotton in favor of balanced" farming.
 2. Great feed and sede reserves against dry years, made econom- ical by using pit silos.
 3. Conserve all soil moisture by contour blowing. terracing, leav- ing crop Stubble in ground and planting clover and winter rye.
 {. Plant trees and shrubs as around fields and farm houses to stop dust storms.
 The committee stressed the necessity for immediate govern ment action by declaring "thc steady progress which we have come to look for in American comm unities was beginning to re- verse itself" in thi drought area.
 The group presented & recapit- ulation of all relief money spent In the section between April. 1883. and April, 1886. It showed that drought counties in the 10 states received $132. 2.G63. .715 to aid persons and $96,255.e74 for drought and cattle relief.
 '"The agricultural economy of he great plains" the committee yaid. had a perilously narrow re- serve. During recent years the economic drift in the great plains has been steadily downward. If the deplorable consequences, re- gently heightened as q result of thc depression and drought, are to be arrested, 1t will only be because the entire nation takes the sit- uation in hand promptly, em- and compctently."