Evening star., 1939-03-12
Agents Speed
To Scenes of
Catastrophe
Hope of Destitute
Lifted by Uncle
Sans Loans
By IcSt0 Gun ,nineS.

It's an old story that the Red
Cross, the Coast Guard and other
agencies dedicated to relieving the
sufferings of mankind descend
promptly as angels of mercy when
flood, fire or hurricane strike.
But it's comparatively new
story that Uncle Sam moves in
just as promptly with a checkbook
in his hand.
Representatives of his Disaster
Loan Corp, which was born in
1893. child of a Southern Cali
fornia earthquake. arrive on the
scenes before waters and winds
have subsidized, ready to lend money
for purposes of rehabilitation to
people whose principal assets have
been destroyed. At this point bees,
frogs. a ferris wheel, a merry-go-
round and radio station are
among the properties that have
been accepted as security for these
loans.
With the work of this body as
sured by the recent passing of an
act by Congress, authorizing the
corporation to lend money to catas-
trophe victims during 1889 and
1910, which now awaits President
Roosevelt's signature, the Disaster
Loan Corp. seems to be taking on
the aspects of permanent body.
1t grew out of a series of special
emergency governmental activities
on natural disasters, beginning with
the Southern California earthquake,
but was established in its present
form in 1887 on behalf of persons
Impoverished by floods in the Ohio
and Mississippi River Valleys.
Record Is Dramatic.
At the end of nearly six years of
existence under various guises the
Disaster Loan has piled up a dra-
matte record. Loans totaling more
than l2r million dollars have been
disbursed to more than 5000 indi-
viduals whose property loss in time
of disaster was not covered by in
surance ana who had no security
that made bank loans possible.
With money so borrowed these
individuals have done everything
from repapering their homes after
floods to replacing lost fishing craft
after hurricanes. Public schools
we're rebuilt by disaster loans after
the earthquake in Southern Cali
fornia when provisions of the act
we're extended to include munich
palities.
The small" man is the one bene-
flied by this corporation, whose
mean average on all loans is about
$500.
One blacksmith in Arkansas bor-
roWed S27 to buy a new anvil-all
he neeted TO get back on his feet.
A dairyman in the Ohio Valley
borrowed money to buy new COWS
when his went dry on account of
the flood.
Loans have been made to fisher
men on the north shore OF Lake
Superior for the repair of nets,
boats and equipment following a
severe winter gale
Irrigations bitches and water con-
duits in Montana, New Mexico and
Texas have been repaired in the
irrigation districts of those States
after heavy waters.
A burst dam in the State of
Washington brought huge property
losses which resulted in many dis
aster loans.
Farmers along the Sacramento
River in California appealed to
the corporation when high waters
washed out their dikes and covered
the land with unfertile mud.
Tornado sufferers in Illinois and
South Carolina and victims of fires
in several places on the Pacific
Coast have been rehabllltated
through Disaster Loans.
Feted by Islanders.
After the New England hurricane
last fall, representative OF Disaster
Loan was feted like hero when he
visited Block Island, located off the
Rhode Island and Connecticut
coasts. It's own communication with
the mainland is a daily boat in sum-
mer and an airmail plane once a
week in winter.
When loans to restore the wrecked
island had been approved the sum-
mer boat had been discontinued, but
an attorney from the Washington
Office of the corporation made the
three-hour journey to the island in
a small power boat over rough seas
to examine titles.
Bees, frogs, ferris wheel and a
merry -go-round were security for
loans made to applicants who were
respectively the owner of an apiary,
the owner of frog farm and man
who makes his living supplying en-
tertainment for county fairs.