Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-08-06
Governors Urge Use
OF Emergency Funds
For Drought Relief
BY Jones E. Roper


Tennessee and Kentucky have
asked President Truman to use
emergency Government funds to
help drought stricken farmers in
the two States, it was learned
today.
Gov. Gordon Browning of Ten
nessee and Gov. Lawrence W.
Wetherby of Kentucky tele-
graphed the requests to the White
House.
Mr.. Truman Immediately asked
the advice of Raymond Foley, the
Governments Co-ordinator for
Disaster Relief. Mr.. Foley is
ready to recommend use of the
emergency Federal funds to buy
feed for cattle grown thin be-
cause of dried-up pastures.
Federal attorneys. however, ex-
amined the request closely to.
make sure the White House
emergency funds legally can be
spent for drought relief. Con-
gress appropriated money for Mr..
Truman to use in emergencies /
for protection of health and
property"
These funds never have been
spent for drought relief, but the \
Tennessee and Kentucky COVER
nors were able to point out that |
their States are suffering the
worst water shortage in 20 years |
and sorely need help.
Atlanta Meeting Today.
The Agriculture Department Isl
supporting all moves to help farm
ers who have been hit by crop
failures in the Southeast and some
sections of New England. Agri-
culture Department officials from
10 Southeastern States met in
Atlanta today to discuss possible |
help for the farmers.
But in some ways nature acted
more swiftly. Heavy rains
drenched New England drought
areas last night and early today.
The Boston area got 2.14 inches
of rain-f1ve times the amount it
received during all of July. Con-
necticut. where professional rain
makers were at work, also got a
good soaking.
Rain again pelted parts of Vir-
ginia, but light showers just leased
the Southeast, where crop damage
is heaviest.
The Atlanta meeting called to-
gether 10 State directors of the
Agriculture Departments Farm
Home Administration. This
agency can make one-year, 3 per
cent loans to farmers who suffer
crop losses in regions the depart
ment officially designates as dis
aSter areas"
The critical area of the drought
centered on Tennessee and parts
of Mississippi, Alabama and
Georgia.
All have been declared distress
areas. New Hampshire and four
Virginia counties yesterday asked
that they, too, be classed as dis
tressed areas so they would be
eligible for Federal loans.
Virginia Counties Seek Aid.
Virginia counties asking aid
were Henry, Roanoke, Hanover
and Amelia. State agriculture
officials meet in Richmond tomor-
row to plan action.
The Virginia Milk Commission
will meet later this month to con-
slider requests that farmers be al
lowed to charge higher prices for
milk in the LeXington-B uena Vista
and Brunswick-Gr eensville- Meek
lenburg areas. Farmers say milk
is scarce because the drought dried
up pastures and COWS have Suf-
fered.
This could be a warning of pos
sibly higher milk prices for other
Virginia areas, including the
Washington milkshed.
Yesterdays rains in Virginia
were heaviest in the Richmond
area, where is inches fell, and
Harrisonburg. Lighter rain dam
pened Lynchburg, Roanoke, Black
stone, Crewe. Hopewell, Peters,
burg, Halifax, South Boston, Pu-
laski, Danville and Norfolk.