Indiana. The more northern counties of the drouth-stricken area in Indiana are fairly important in the production of hogs, beef, and dairy cattle. There are no important sheep-producing areas in this section. Just as in the case of Ohio a considerable number of farmers are engaged in other pursuits and depend upon home gardens and other food crops for some of their living. Illinois. The portion of Illinois covered by the drouth is not an important livestock-producing region. A considerable number of persons listed as farmers secure part of their livelihood from coal-mining and other similar occupations but are also dependent to some extent for food supplies upon home gardens and similar crops. West Virginia. Practically the whole of West Virginia is involved in the drouthstricken area. This is a State of small farms; there are a few scattered sections important in livestock production, but the State as a whole is not important in the production of livestock. An important commercial apple-producing section is included in the drouth area. Industrial pursuits form a source of cash income to many farmers in this territory but all of them are dependent to some extent upon their home gardens and their home-grown products for their food supplies. Comments received by the Department indicate that actual want will develop in some portions. Virginia. The drouth area in Virginia includes many of the counties of the State which are important in beef and sheep production, and also the important commercial apple section. Maryland. The important counties engaged in dairying are included in the drouth area, as are also several important tomato-producing counties. Kentucky. Much of the State of Kentucky is included in the drouth-stricken area. A very important sheep-producing area is included and also important dairy and beef cattle sections. A very large acreage of tobacco is included. While the crop has been severely retarded by the drouth, it still offers some promise of cash income to farmers. At the present time the harvesting of tobacco is under way in some sections, where normally harvesting does not begin until the third week of the month. Tennessee. The drouth area in Tennessee includes part of the Tennessee early lamb section, from which the lamb crop of 1930 has already been moved. It includes also much of the important tobacco-producing section of the State, from which farmers will undoubtedly secure a considerable cash income this year. Practically all of the Tennessee cotton acreage is included in this area. Cotton is known to be an extremely drouth-resistant plant and a fair yield of cotton may be made in the cotton area of Tennessee. Missouri. The drouth area in Missouri covers a larger area of diversified farming than in any other State. It embraces areas important in the production of wheat and corn, the production of dairy cattle, beef cattle, and hogs, and in the finishing of feeder cattle for the market. In the southeastern part of the State where cotton is an important crop, there is still opportunity for farmers to realize some income from that crop. Arkansas. Practically all of the State of Arkansas is embraced in the drouthstricken area, but no considerable area of this State is important in the production of livestock. The main source of income over much of the territory is the cotton crop, from which farmers may still realize a considerable income in 1930. The peach crop was practically a failure and the important cash crop, strawberries, was very short. There is a tomato-growing section in the Ozarks which has been adversely affected. This is a section where considerable reliance is placed upon farm gardens and other crops for home food supplies. Oklahoma. The area in Oklahoma affected by the drouth is relatively unimportant from an agricultural standpoint. Mississippi. Mississippi is relatively unimportant in the production of livestock. The drouth has been most severe in the area where much of the land is devoted to the cultivation of cotton. While the drouth has affected this crop, there is still opportunity for the farmers to secure fair yields. Louisiana. Livestock production is not an important industry in the drouthstricken area of Louisiana. The rice-producing section is included in the area but the rice crop is grown under irrigation. In some cases irrigation water has been running short and there are also reports of seepage of salt water which may reduce yields. Cotton is the predominant crop in portions of the drouth-stricken areas and there is still opportunity for fair yields. Alabama. The drouth affected section of this State is not important in livestock production. Cotton is the predominating crop. Winter vegetables are also important but the crop for 1930 has long since moved from this territory. Peanuts are an important crop and there is still opportunity for a fair yield. A large number of telegrams have been sent to Extension Directors, field representatives of the Bureau of Animal Industry, and representatives of livestock shipping associations to secure additional information concerning the situation in various areas, particularly with reference to the supply of feed for livestock and the probabilities of forced liquidation of livestock because of shortage of feed. ARTHUR M. HYDE Secretary of Agriculture. 260 Message on the Ratification of the Dear Mr. Secretary: Will you convey my personal congratulations to the representatives of the operators and miners assembled at Scranton this evening for the formal signing of the new five and one-half year joint agreement in the anthracite field. The final ratification and signing of this agreement comprehends that spirit of joint relationship and cooperation between management and men so essential in productive endeavor, and, especially, in the anthracite industry. That you may look forward to a period of uninterrupted peace for more than five years will be very gratifying not only to those directly engaged in the mining and selling of anthracite coal, but, as well, to the public at large, the government, and all who are genuinely interested in the well-being and advancement of the anthracite industry. This pact of peace will have beneficial effects upon transportation, manufacturing, and other business activities which are indirectly affected by conditions in this particular industry. The example set by you is commendatory and will go a long way toward stimulating that spirit of good will and cooperation so necessary in the conduct of our great industrial enterprises. Yours faithfully, HERBERT HOOVER [The Honorable James J. Davis, Secretary of Labor, Washington] 261 The President's News Conference of August 12, 1930 SAN FRANCISCO BAY BRIDGE COMMISSION THE PRESIDENT. The San Francisco Bridge Commission has completed its labors on the determination of the fact and the study of the entire situation. It has found a basis of agreement by which the 10-year-old conflict between the Army and the Navy and municipal and State authorities in that locality has been settled by unanimous agreement, and that dispute brought to an end. It allows a very important development to proceed and involves no participation by the Federal Government other than certain rights-of-way. VACATION PLANS I have a number of questions about my trip to the West, and, in view of the drought situation and the feeling that I can perhaps be of greater service here, I do not propose to go west-at least during the next month or two. I thought that if I can escape 3 nights a week from Washington, up in the hills where I can get a cool night's sleep, I am perhaps better off than the rest of you here. Now, there are some matters here of purely background which may be of assistance to you. THE DROUGHT I haven't any public statement to make about the drought situation. We are obviously engaged in formulating such plans as we can for the Federal agencies-national agencies of all kinds-to assist, and we won't be able to develop the definite form of organization until after I have had a chance to discuss the matter with the Governors and get their views, et cetera. The publication of the national figures, such as the crop report, tends to obscure the real situation to some extent because a great shortage in corn, for instance, at 700 million bushels falls acutely on certain areas. Of course, there is some diminishing in the corn crop over a very large |