The Lincoln Times

1936 Drought Will Cost Less Than That Of 1934

Favorable Conditions Following in Drought Areas Lessen Damage to Crops

With favorable fall weather greening vast stretches of recently seeded farm land, Federal officials report this year's drought will be less costly to Uncle Sam than the disastrous one of 1934.

Tabulation of Federal drought relief expenditures in 1934 showed they were well above the half billion dollar mark.

Federal expenditures so far this year were estimated at less than $100,000,000 with indications the maximum final total might be about twice that.

More than one-third of all the counties in the United States are listed officially as emergency drought territories but the special Agricultural department committee which designates such territory has made no addition to the list in more than two weeks.

Nearly one-half of the 3,071 counties in the country were designated as drought areas two years ago.

Farmers in designated counties are eligible for Federal grants and loans and emergency relief jobs.

Reduced railroad rates and seed conservation programs also are offered in such territory.

One of the biggest differences between the 1936 and 1934 drought costs has been in government live stock purchases.

Two years ago about $120,000,000 of Federal funds was spent to buy more than 8,000,000 head of live stock in drought areas.

This year a special fund of $5,000,000 was allocated and machine-marketing from drought areas forced prices to low levels.

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