Evening star., 1949-01-25
Congress Clears Way
To Speed $500,000
Relief for CattIemen

Congress cleared the way today
for quick action on bills to rush
at least $500,000 in additional
emergency funds to storm
stricken cattle lands in five
Western States.
The Air Force, meanwhile, stepped
up its "haylift" of huge Flying Box.
cars which yesterday began drop
ping tons of alfalfa to 10000 sheer
snowbound In 200-mile radius.
About 100000 sheep and tens oil
thousand of cattle are stranded In
other deSolate areas because OF bliz.
yards and extreme cold described as
"the worst in the memory of any
living man."
Presidents Step Commended.
Western members of Congress
commended President Truman foi
providing 100000 in immediate aid
yesterday from his executive emer-
gency fund. But they say much
more is needed to get fodder tt
starving livestock.
The Senate Interior Affairs Com
mittee today will hold hearings or
a resolution authorizing a $500,00t
emergency ALLEGATION to relieve
stormbound livestock.
Chairman O'Mahoney of Wyoming
described this as deficiency appro-
priation that would be earmarked
for opening roads, moving feed and
taking other steps to save the herds
Says $500.O0o Is Too Little.
A similar resolution which, how
ever, places no limit on the appro-
priation, was introduced in the
House by Representative Granger,
Democrat. of Utah. Mr.. Granger
said the $500.000 asked in the Senate
measure is far too little"
A report on his bill is expected
to be made tomorrow by the House
Appropriations Committee.
The disaster areas to be helped by
the Presidents emergency fund and
resolutions awaiting congressional
action are in North and South
Dakota, Nebraska. Utah and Nevada.
The Air Force haylift operation
thus far has been in "hopelessly in
accessible areas" in Nevada. Trucks,
for the mos0 part, are being used
to haul teed to ranches wherever
roads can be opened.
10000 Square Miles Affected.
The afflicted areas cover more
than 10000 square miles. Besides
vast range lands and many ranches,
about Is small towns and 38 mining
communities have been cut off by
snow storms and subzero weather
of recent days. Within the area
are 1928 livestock operators, run
ming 77,000 cattle and GOT 900 sheep.
There was no heavy snow in the
general area today, but cold weather
continued, especially with below
zero temperatures in many sections.
These conditios were general over
the Dakotas, Colorado, Utah, Ne
braska, Montana and Wyoming.
The haylift exceeded expectations
on its first runs yesterday. With
pinpoint precision II Flying Box
cars" dropped their cargoes within
300-foot circles of isolated sheep
camps. First flights were from Fall
Ion, in Western Nevada, to Ely.
260 miles to the east.
Air Force officials said they hoped
to speed the loading of planes today
to keep them in full operation.
George Swallow, president of the
United Stockmen's Association, de-
scribed the lift as "a 100 per cent
success so far" But he warned of
two major threats facing stockmen.
One was the danger that winds
would again close roads with drifts.
The other was the need of getting
water to the stock. The snow is
powdery dry and unsuitable as wa
ter, he explained.
Besides the haylift and the Presi-
dents emergency appropriation, re-
lief also is coming from the Red
Cross. That agency reported it is
providing food and fuel for Indians
on the Pine Ridge Reservation in
South Dakota, along with other,
families elsewhere.