The Sauk Centre herald., 1940-11-21

Ellen L. Moline, home demonstra-
ton agent, and e. s. Lenzmeier,
county agricultural agent.
The United States Department of
Agriculture is backing the plan
whereby Minnesota farmers, who
have themselves wrestled with sur
plus problems, will have an op-
portunity to turn Southern cotton
surpluses into mattresses for their
own use. The Extension Service,
the AAA, and the Surplus Market
ing Administration are providing
leadership, while local civic groups
will help with the plan. The county
AAA office will certify families for
eligibility.
Baled cotton and good grade
ticking will be shipped here direct
to be made into mattresses at
work centers established in this
county. Rural people to receive the
mattresses will do the work Of
manufacturing themselves, under
trained instructors at these cent
ers.
In order to insure the placing Of
the mattresses in homes where
there is an actual need for them,
the program is limited to 'low-
income" rural families. Such a
family is defined as one whose
total net income in the preceding
year has not exceeded $500 plus
$50 for each member Of the family
in excess of four persons. Rural
families are those living in the op-
en- country or in towns of less than
$500 population. Families are limi-
ter to one mattress for each two
members, with a maximum Of
three. Each family must send two
adults to the center to work on the
mattresses they will receive.
There may also be a small charge
to cover needles, thread and minor
local expenses.
Since some time is required in
compiling local requests and get
ting orders filled, the local commit
tee urges prompt action on the
part of persons interested in apply
ing. Applications may be made at
the county agents office.
Application blanks fou use in
connection with the Cotton Matt
ress Program have been secured by
the county agents office at st.
Cloud. Applications are now being
completed and all farm families
that feel that they qualify to par
ticipate in this program are in
vited to make application.
In the Cotton Mattress Program
the Surplus Marketing Admins
tration, the Agricultural Adjust
ment Administration, and the Ex-
tension Service are cooperating to
assist in the removal Of a burden
some surplus of cotton in this
country. In doing this they are
helping to maintain a satisfactory
price level and improve the health
and comfort of a large group of
people. Cotton and ticking will be
furnished thru the Surplus Mark
citing organization and the various
families will be asked to make their
own mattresses under the guidance
of trained workers. This material
will be furnished to low income
rural families. Fifty pounds Of cot
ton and ten yards of ticking will
be furnished for each mattress.
For the purpose of this program
a low income family is any family
that derives at least half Of its in
come from agricultural occupa-
tions or any family living in an
area classified as rural and which
had for the last preceding calen-
dar year a total net income of not
more than $500 plus $50 for each
member Of the family in excess of
four presons. Net income shall be
farm income minus expenditures
for labor hired outside the family;
feed, fertilizer, and seed bought;
taxes and interest paid; and
threshing expenses. Each eligible
family will be permitted one mat
tress for each two members OF the
family with a maximum Of three
mattresses per family. The cooper
taing agencies here In st. Cloud
are anxious to get applications
completed as early as possible in
order to know the quantity of cot
ton to order for this purpose.
Plans for opening book stations
as part Of the Stearns County Lib
rary demonstration continue as
residents Of many sections hear
about county library service and
the operation Of the demonstration.
Miss Lucille Gottry, demonstration
supervisor, has been speaking be-
fore various organizations through
out the county prior to opening
book stations.