Page
MAJOR DROUGHT YEARS
Drought exists when annual reinfall is fese that 95 per cent of normale Block areas an inzet maga ut foft khow droughts under this definition,
Wyoming
Montana
+
North Dakota
South Dakota
· Great Plains States
Colorado
Twin Dust Bowls
New Mexico
Nebraska
Kansas
Oklahorna)
Texas
Area Subjaci
To Wind Erosion
AP Newsfeatures
America's Mid-West Threatened By
THE CHINA MAIL, TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1954.
A Double Dust Bowl
By Clarke Beach, AP Newsfeatures Writer
U.S. Soil Conservation Service officials now say the dust bowl is back again, as big and bad as in the worst year refused to call the of the 1930's. Until now they have present western drought area a dust bowl. They had hoped that rains in late February, and in March would save it.
But they estimate now that on March 1 the bowl of dry, blowing land had spread over 9,300,000 acres. That is about the extent of the dust bowl area in 1938, previous peak year. During March the situation
grew worse.
t
"We've got twin dust bowls today," said Mr J. C. Dykes, assistant Soil Conservation Service Administrator. "If they ever join, we're going to have the biggest dust bowl ever."
On the map is an irregular, and in other areas too, for ajout of eight acres in the northem oval line, surrounding the two large portion of the nation bowl are unsuited for culliva- bowls and including about 10 suffered in 1853 from a major tion," Mr Dykes said. "In the mulion additional acres. It is drought which is still con- southern bowl, the soil is even
worse,"
as thetinuing.
the same general aren dust bowl of the 1930's. Within
lending
TRADE Fand
COMMERCE
SECTION
·Pago D.
ENCOURAGING EASTER SALES
IN USA Recession May Be Levelling Out
Observers Believe
New York, Apr. 18.
Business enthusiasm and confidence firmed this week as early estimates indicated that Easter buying might equal and ́in some instances surpass the buoyant levels of 1953. -
This year-possibly to a greater extent than ever before economists are watching con- sumer buying during the Easter season as I barometer indicating the behaviour of the business pattern in the United States.
What the seers saw-on the basis of preliminary predictions—was certainly encouraging.
Newsweek magazine In Its round-up of Easter business activities said the decline may be an Illtle as two per cent. If the drop holds at approximate- that level, ther it will be a "happy sign" that the eagerly ewalted Spring upswing jni businers has begun. Many fool that
Eve per cent drop would be disturbing.
The Head of International Statistical Bureau, Mr A. W. Zelumek. reported that Easter sales are "excellent" and that volume should be very close to the 1053 level.
potent influence for qoma Ume;
3. Labour negotiations In the next two months, with the obvious possibility of a strike, Bro expected to
Atom Bombs
And Swords
London, Apr. 19. Aiellor in The Times tostay
everyone
that the British Army re- mained unruffled · despite public anxjely over atomic warfare.
The writer kild ̈that at Territorial Army training Last weekend, he hund lectured in the morning on the use and effect of the atomic bomb.
"In the afternoon WO practized word drill." Is ödded — China Mxil Special.
HONGKONG STOCK EXCHANGE
Build
Britain M
Six Big Tankers
To
Carry Iranian Oil
London.
In readiness for the day when Persian oll flows again, talks have begun between tanker operators and British shipbuilders for the construction of six super tankers totalling 250,000 tons.
Some of the vessels will be of more than' 40,000 tous. Further contracts are likely to follow.
Already Britain's tanker fleet is boing redeployed to handle additional supplies. Because vii output from Kuwalt has been Increased while Perslim oilßølds have been idle, many mure tankers will now be needed.
THREE-PHASE WAR Britain Is
preparing for the
(From Our Correspondent) coming oil war in three phases:
(1) The construction of thew Ex-tankers; (2) More pipelines; (3)
Bigger dry docks. American oft
Busines on the Stock change this morning mounted to convert
lot of A
steel $201,410,50, Noon quotations end users to a buying mood. The morning's dealings ~
There was further encour-sNARES BUYERS SELLERS SALES agement this week from the report of the Pittsburgh Stool Co., a major producer, Noting that fts March quarter Rales were 27 per cent below a year ago, the Company sald that its
** | BIDFTING April orders are running at Apa Nav
pace than In March.
DOCKS, FTC.
Bu Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. | better gfording
to Its preliminary Meanwhile the US Steel Corp., "flash" report, estimated that glant of the industry. gave
the Easter
of
ПАНКА
HK Dank East Asia
INSURANCES
Unton
1C30
170
BCD
1.34
71
Dock
NEW YORK
STOCK
MARKET
New York, Apr. 19. A burst of selling today drove prices down more than a point on the New already considering building York stock exchange. Lankers between 00,000 And
Interests
are
The sharp sell-off came in the 80,000 tons, almost the size of Jast hour of dealings. The the Queen Elizabeth.
liquidation movement was BO The Suez Conal is bond sharp in that period that re- dredged SU that 45,000-ton
tankers can pass through fully Porting tickers ran late for six
inden.
To accommodate Britain's new tanker fleet a series of large dry docks costing millions will shortly be
Others
minutes.
At was the most severe selling wave since April 8 when the
dustrials fell more than their Nigba Points from completed. 16.10 600 11.0 will be enlarged and improved. ruils about two points.
Wall Street quarters were not alarmed over the sell-off. They described it
mostly
200 12.10
7.70 1.00 1000 or 74%
Shad Dock .. 110 Wheelock
LAND. prc. HK Hotel HK Land
6.60 000
5035 81 100 e
Provident (0) 12.00-12.00 buying volume indications that its first quarter generally two-three weeks prior profits might be near the 1953 to Easter-will probably not mark, with diversification attain the all-time peak reached | lines und the end of the excess In 1953. The decline from last proflis tax given as the major year's volume would probably factors contributing to this line be small. The Agency sald provement. public buying had been spirited, with interest whelted whenever merchants offered
substantial price reductions. Many mer-
"JUST ABOUT OVER"
Meanwhile, the Wall Strcol Journal surveyed 40 business economists. Convenstts: Tho business
OVCT. cip is about
of this
of
chants were not au disappointed as they had anticipated carlier In the season. While the
figures About 70 per cont complete have not been compiled as yet, } SUBY
canvassed felt the down-trend ninjor
department
was levelling off. Nearly stores w throughout America, have been per cent said they saw no signs while the other Ave enjoying a sales boom
yet,
was for over six weeks. Last week, per cent felt the economy for instance, some cities, notably already moving higher.
York
Even and Philadelphia,
though there 1s по And crudit were selling at a rate calculated shortage of money to equal and possibly top last
for business loans, there were year's Eastern business."
prospects this week of con- Unued easier lending policies
New
"BUMP ALONG"
unseen
S'hai Land .. Healt
UTILITIES
Tram
Star Ferry
28
27.00 300 of 271 128 12
C. Light 10) 16.30 10.20 000
Light (N) 13.10 13.30 Electris
3041
those
25
Telephone
INDUSTRIALS
Cemont
STORES, ETC.
Dalry XD
Watson
29.30
....
17.50
15,00
17.90
Ri
Crawford 29.79
Textlin Corp. MISCELLANEOUS
Yangtze
7.40
... 0.40
142 143
Inver ...3.82
400 143
14
But meanwhile
The Government and lower interest rates.
the Federal Reserve Bank in Chi- economists reported that overall business outlook is en-cago took the initiative this COTTONS couraging.
its redis- They did not say week by lowering that the economic decli
decline has count rate from ita recently
ended. They generally established 1% per cent to 1
business
to
Allied
*** 282
-(London Express Service)
New York Cotton "technical",
Market
no
it was pointed out that the market had risent in the past seven sessions and was proût- way overdue for some laking.
totalled
Transactions today 2,430,000 shares. Of the 1,244
New York, Apr. 19. Cotion trading today returned from the three-day Easter re-sues traded today, 240 Anished higher and 237 held unchanged. cess sult in a holiday mood.
Stee! shares finished lower Apart from routine trade sd- justments in the old crop May-after earlier strength. US Steel dominated the market in deal- and
transferring to Inter
trading revealings, It finished in the No. 1 spot in the most active list with ed no fresh features.
37,400 shares changing hands. It At the
the close llst ruled 10
closed at $44%, off points lower to 8 points higher. Opening prices were off 3 to up 1 point.
New Orleans closed oft 0 to up 3 points.
July delivers
Heavy redemptions out of the loan stock, and news of the 6.40 sale of cotton from the Govern- 6.40ment's 1851 pogled stock, kept gradual weight on the nearby months.
0.40
Oll equities had losses ranging to more than a point.
The New York Stock Exchange |bond_volume was $3,232,000.
The American Stock Exchange volume was 000,000, shares United Press.
DOW JONER AVERAGES
New York, Apr. 19, Dow-Jones closing averages
New crop months held rela- tively steady, keeping slightly
follows:-
above the previous close most on Wall Street today were as of the time. But business in that sector was slim and only a traile
30 Industrials orders were needed to in- 15 utilities
55 stocks fluence prices.
40 bonds The
Credit
Lew
there New York Sugar Corporation announced the sale contm. future price index.
Market
New York, Apr. 10.
4
per cent. Other banks through- "bump around present levels with cut the US were expected to some minor ups and downs in follow. various Пelds--for D tow The rediscount rate Is the months and then turn upward, rate at which member banks
President Eisenhower's can borrow from economic experts are encour Reserve System. Any reduction Farmers Home Higher And Higher aged that economie. signs ard in the rate is desired in order
mixed--some Kavourable and to
to spur business. some unfavourable. They this as an indication that the viewed as an attempt to bring World sugar futures No. business decline is levelling off the rediscount rate more in today closed 3 points lower to 1 the President's Council line with the rate on 91-day point higher with sales of Economic Advisers is speed- | Tr
speed-Treasury bille which have contracts. ing up plans for a a multi-million- there does works programme, i cently been around one
not appear to be any funds, indication they will have to use
it is dry, crumbling soll, with Through the little or no grass or plant cover. Administration,
who cannot Soll conservationists say it is money to farmers "in condition to blow."
borrow elsewhere to buy feed.
But many present owners de- sced, livestock and equipment.termined to risk working the Through the disaster area pro-land when year after year ol gramine is sciling surplus abundant rains came in the cattle feed at low cost to farmers 1940's and wheat and cotton in the drought belts.
were bringing prices that rose higher and higher.
America's
created.
dust
of wind, April 14, 1934. was when the
ח!
The
That high
по
a
or
19
conservation
While
dollar
taka
The
cent.
this week move
ono
inventory cutting was continu-intention of tightening Most farmers who lived in the covered, properly tiled fleids,
during
drought. started
off the cover and lop
was
of 250
100.93
US COMMODITY INDICES
last week of 85,454 bales for its pooled stock of the 1951 crop. The Agency has around 238,000 bales available for the market: Dow Jones, apot
price index: On Friday, the Agency will
Index:
New York, Apr. 19.
Apr. 15 Apr. 19
open new bids for additional Moody's 15 commodities sales.
Trading volumes and open Interests in the Exchange today
Month
168.000
33.80
190.04, 191.32
410.3
United Press.
CHICAGO: GRAIN MARKET
Chicago, Apr. 19.
Prices per bushel in cents:
Volume 60.800
Open Intereat
425,700
34,800
October
17,800
227,900
31,400
World
WERD MAY futures sugaz
the July lower with liquidation in
dominant October May contract the
Total feature. Domestie futures, ruled steady in a slow market.
Futuro closings were:
6,600 11,000
161,000
6,000
90,500
[ Wheal, No. 2, red.
$300
8303
Ciping
108,100
1,972,900 hales -United Prew.
Brot
Prices 213n
NEW YORK PRICES
New York, Apr. 10.
May midikit) amisto
July
some
more
Contract No.. 4 (World)
Cloon
Pricor
Bept.
Дес
34.00-00 L
Corn, No. 2, yellow.
May
3415
Boot
Jily
31.00
May
Sept.
July
no
Oct.
$3.00
Jan.
33.00
DBC.
March
May
Spot-icents
Cuba)
23.006
Ryo
39.66b
May
-United Press,
per lb. foo
Contract No. 6
July
Onl
New Orleans, Apr. 19.
May
Closing Pribes, July
·May
5.70 5.10
33,83
Soybeans, No. 2,
'Spot
B.TED
強品
8.801
July
6.60
Bert.
Spot-icenta
Nee
5.70
33.00
United Press.
ກ
Jan,
22,605
Barley, spot
New York flour, 200 ibm.
New York Rubber
July Oct
NEW ORLEANS PRICES,
All it needs to start the dust and sand swirling skywards is move drought and { strong
per wind. The winds this year have
want to relea When banks.
Domestie No. 4 sugar futures were: been the worst in a long time
to 2 points day are charging railroads
they can either borrow closed unchanged up to 05 miles an hour. K
· 185 con- July- sales of elso higher with or reserve, bank from a high winds
ca half-rate for hay shipments to Only one farmer in four rise in the Texas
if no ko anti-recesalon messure
their
securities
December Mr Dykee says,
holdings, tracts. Ing some drought areas. Red Cross Ave, panhandle
neighbouring and
March in the foreseeable future,
with the result that banks as a President Eisenhower himself matter of arithmetic, were in areas of New Mexico, Oklahoma emergency relief is going to member of a soil and Kansas, in the near future, many unemployed farm workers, co-operative, a group of farmers called attention to the fact that clined to sell securities
which dust bowl who conduct What the biggest
caused the bowl
programme of
Easter-two weeks later thank yielded
rather per cent history will be this tine?
good soil conservation practices
Last would probably reflect for their mutual benef1.
than borrow at 1% per cent. The same old reasons: Im-
favourable business trend.
The drop in the rediscount Meanwhile, two bulwark of But good tillage lias to bo
Was viewed by People living in the dust bowl proper tillage and over-use al
the US economy-steel and the rele period of widely practised to prevent wind
25 restoring area still recall one fearful day the land after
abnormally good rainfall and trosion.
car industries showed signs of circles If your neighbour's
stirring from their first quarter flexibility to its operations and prosperity --- then
cultivated long farm is improperly "black
confirmation alzo as a further first birth drought and strong winds.
lethargy. high wind will lift his soll and roller" roared down from
There
were indications that that the Government has blast it against your own well Western
Kansas
moticy across the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles.
supply and restricting possible ing but at a reduced pace. Then business
July expansion. United big dust dust bowl learned their lesson ripping It wasn't
their last
correct tillage soll,
thero were signs that the son Press, storm, by any means, but it is and followed
sonal rise in car sales
and remembered because it was the practices-keeping stubble, and
What about the shelter bell output was beginning to hold. first that literally blacked out other cover on the ground and
Steel In the 1930's to slow plowing
Industries aro heavily the sun in mid-afternoon.
But not many veteran "Dust down the winds on the great dependent on orders from car Tho distress
The most encouraging makers. In the present Bowlers are left. Much of the plains?
development in cars has been dust bowl aren does not com-landt now is managed by absented
"Hundreds of millions of trees the ELS
over-time resumption of ruin and owners-"tcase farniers," yot with the
termed by were planted in this dust bowl
and six-day week schedules in mistry of farmers there in the they are scornfully
off men who live on their land. the Dakotas said Mr Dykes.
New York, Apr. 19. area and all the way north to General Motors.. 1930's
STEEL MARKET BETTER
. Rubber futures today closed financially now-although many
a speculative typo "It's R are using the last of their surplus
done a lot of good. of "They've
points .higher with 12/18 to 40 Last week's increase of Mr. Dykef, But there just aren't enough to country," Baid cash. As yet there has been "particularly the wheat lands in make a big dic
Thoy
per cent in car production by soles of 235 contracts.
Concentrated, buying In epidemic of mortgage fort-
General Motors, was taken us
delivery After adre planted around farmyards
through in December closures.
factor presaging a plekip
commission house You But the last dust bowl con- long drought, when abnormally and small fields, mostly:
Hanles and competition as warmer Wall Street
brokers dominated the trade. outsiders couldn't cover the whole dren." heavy rainfall comes, It began in buy up much
weather sets in and poople of the land and the early 1990's and didn't end make the crops pay for it in two did years ago. A recent ro
open rond until 1030..
quet pending the reope
London, and or three Белиота. They don't The present drought began in on the weare of the soil as port from Texas sounds like the southern great plains area much at heart.
as the farmer the odes of 20 years ago: in 1951. Land began blowing at who liver there.” an abbormal rate in 1052-some
"Oh February 19 we had the worst duit conditione: over ell 4,912,000
In 1853 it
nob There are acres in the absentee owners in the southern of the state East of the Focus River Vilbility at Fort Worth Bron, which is chiefly cotton at 4:30 pm had been reduced to one blick. All motorists To God.
A large proportion of the land ware driving with lashtag and The windy season lasts from in the dust bowl country treet light had been turned to
6. p.m. it was completely mid-February,totnid-May structuralous type of
dark, though it was an hour
pare
They are better
tinued for years.
BCTOS.
reached 5,300,000
windy reason,
One
which
the northam bowl.
crumples
80 many
on the
Market
#the
Exchange Rates New York Cocoa
Burines was done in the Inval unofficial exchange marices morning, at the following rates
– .81) Ing of inveresian rupiat (per 100)
mariem Ricals Pert
begin to think and talk of The outside markets ruled US dole (pr So the story sounds much as travelling
BIBE DONE **Iron Ago" magazine, whille
lekels tomorrow: Spot No. 1 Hst (B) noting, no, significant, improve- quoted nominally, at 331 Indo-China plastree
this cents a a pound, mant in steel operations wook, nevertheless folt th
there is sull more candy and is donen clody as initarios umal
Oled the day had been, clearantirne - Government. His diding": Agriculture, Department ex-tuation is very man lukaNE thin viettos in the dust bowl perts have concluded that seven timesvieta
WOTO
Some
steel briarket was improving. It So Neno salas dovelona B METABFUTURESE
shoots for May-June cente Later, No listed the following factors as delivery at 22 indicating an upward trend; traded at: 241⁄2 cents a
shoots for April, delivery
1. Overall economie nouvity No.: 4 sheets for Aurmurt, Ber
is levelling off, although, ware done at 20% cents prutt on a lower planp then the closings wewe? ANG N
"New York" Apr:19),
of metal rutiaros today.
* Hollow (in US cents
Prices
Sept.
Coffee Futures
New York, Apr. 197,
Cottonseed Oil
New York," Apr. 19. Cofidnseed oil, but plowed up 18 to 48 bolnie with.
katu.
London Apr) 10. Kutoboan, fringketa were clowed today for the Laster, Monda bank holiday United Press. S
...