Forest Fires Raging

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1049, 13 August 1930, Page 11

Forest Fires Raging

FAMILIES STARVE IN U.S.A. Disease Follows Drought CITY FOOD PRICES RISE SHARPLY United P.A. —By Telegraph—Copyright Received 10.40 a.m. NEW YORK. Tuesday. MINNESOTA. Wisconsin and Michigan were today added to the States in which serious forest fires are raging as the result of the drought. The Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, also reported fires that were out of control. President Hoover states he is cancelling his holiday plans and will remain in the centre of relief activities, giving special attention to the problem created by the diminution by 600.000,000 bushels of the maize crop, which is the staple of stock feeding, and by the immediate shortage of food in Kentucky and Tennessee, where conditions are believed to be most serious.

The President, lias been informed that unemployment, disease and some cases of actual starvation are com plicating the drought situation, which already is critical and becoming progressively worse in spite of a few scattered storms yesterday. On Thursday and Friday he will confer with the State Governors and farm organisation representatives on these and kindred problems. Another agricultural product is seriously affected by the drought is butter, the production of which has been gradually decreasing since June 1, and the price of which has risen five cents since July 1. Stock feed bran has risen six dollars a ton. Cleveland has reported an increase of a cent a quart in milk. Vegetable prices in New York increased 20 per cent, over the week-end, with diminished supplies from Eastern sources and the necessity for Western and Southern importations. An interesting twist is given to the drought situation by reports from Utah and Florida indicating considerable damage from floods, particularly in the latter State, where the overflow from the Okeecheebee Lake destroyed many crops. SEVERE HAILSTORM The New York: and New Jersey areas experienced a storm, but instead of rain destructive hailstones fell. In other areas serious damage was caused by unusual thunderstorms, which were not accompanied by rain, but by much destructive lightning by which buildings were set on fire and livestock were killed. Emergency water restrictions havo been ordered in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The livestock in those States are being fed on winter rations of hay and bran. Spring lambs, usually worth £2, art being sacrficed for about 2s each Canneries have been closed owing to the shortage of corn. In several towns the citizens have been asked to send their laundry elsewhere in order to conserve the water supplies. Herds of cattle are congesting the highways in Virgina as farmers move them about in search of water. FOOD SUPPLY SHORT The ruin of crops has affected farming families, not only from the standpoint of their incomes, but by cutting down their own food supplies and many are facing actual starvation because even the usual table vegetables have been burned up and their cattle have been lost or become unmarketable. In Kentucky the corn crops are a' total loss and the tobacco crop is badly damaged. Gardening farms have been almost entirely destroyed. The situation in Louisiana is severe, two-thirds of the cotton crop has been ruined and all hay and corn have been completely lost. The sugarcane has been delayed six weeks. In Alabama the cotton crop has been damaged. Typhoid is bad and infantile paralysis is spreading. Representatives of the afflicted people in the drought-sticken areas called upon Mr. Hoover, who promised to render all possible aid. One report sent to the President stated: "The suffering among tenant farmers is beginning and will increase rapidly.” FROSTS, TOO A message from Philadelphia say 3 the farmers in that neighbourhood, iti addition to being stricken by heat and drought, today suffered heavy losses from frost, which struck other sections also. A large part of the country is relieved of suffering from heat with autumn-like weather, but the weather bureau expects no rainfall and further frosts are feared. Mr. Alfred Thom, counsel of the Association of Railroad Executives, after a call at White House, announced that a 50 per cent, reduction will be made on the eastern railways on hoy, feed, and water for livestock for the duration of the drought emergency. He expressed confidence that the western railways would act similarly.

MARKET REACTS CROP YIELD FALLS AWAY MAIZE PRICES RISE Heed. 10.50 a.m. NEW YORK, Tuesday. The New York Stock Market quickly reflected the unfavourable reports today from the drought areas, and many stocks were seriously affected. Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward, the great retail trading houses, reached new low levels. The Department of Agriculture at Washington announces that the drought and heat in July decreased the crop prospects in the United States 7 per cent. The 1930 wheat crop, all varieties, was estimated at 820,613,000 bushels. All the wheat grown in 1929 totalled 806,000,000. The winter wheat crop for this season is estimated at 597,392,000 bushels and its condition at August

1 was 93.4 per cent, normal. The average yield an acre is estimated at 15.5 bushels. Durum wheat is expected to aggregate 45,290,000 bushels. Its condition at August 1 was 67.5 per cent, normal. Other spring wheat is estimated at 174,931,000 bushels and its condition 60.7 per cent, normal. President Hoover announces that he fears a greater loss in crops than 7 per cent., as predicted by the Agricultural Department, and a three cent increase in the price of maize. FOOD PRICES UP CHECK ON PROFITEERING CONSUMER SUFFERS Reed- 1.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Tuesday. Mr. W. F. Callender, chairman of the Agriculture Department, reporting to the bureau, stated the loss from the drought placed in bushels and tons yesterday in the department's report could not fairly be estimated in money. He explained the loss of corn, flax and potatoes would be 735,720,000 dollars at current market price, but pointed out that these prices were forced up by the drought. • The Government is attempting to guard against profiteering, but it is predicted that advanced food prices will continue for months. The destruction of fruit and vegetables has already resulted in an advance in the price of tinned products. Fresh fruits and green vegetables are coming to the markets in poor condition, and at increased prices. Poultry prices are higher. It is expected the full effects will not be felt for some time. GOOD FOR AUSTRALIA BENEFITS FROM HARVEST LONDON, Tuesday. A feature of investment securities on the London market is the recovery in Australian Government stocks. This is attributed to the good harvest in Australia and the effect of the drought in the United States. Rises of a-quarter to one and a-half are recorded. The "Financial Times” says the general advance in Australian stocks is due to the growing impression that the financial problems of the Commonwealth are being disentangled. “AH along we have contended,” says the paper, "that Sir Otto Neimeyer would not have proceeded on such a mission unless the Bank of England and himself had felt reasonably confident that the difficulties were superable and could be overcome by a combination of experience and economy.”