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Show Basic Reasons for Resettlement Work Given by Packard Berkeley. California, October 2 Basis reasons for the establishment establish-ment of the Federal Resettlement Administration were sketched to- ' day by Walter E. Packard, Regional Reg-ional Director, in a general statement state-ment of the program in which he touched on results thus far achieved. ach-ieved. The region for which Berkeley is headquarters consists of five states. New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California. The Resettlement Re-settlement Administration program pro-gram in these states is administered administer-ed by Mr. Packard and a regional staff, with the assistance of five state directors. The state directors are: T. W. Conway, New Mexico; R. J. Bank-oflier, Bank-oflier, Nevada; J. A. Waldron, Arizona; Ari-zona; C. O. Stott, Utah; and H. E. Drobish, California. Washington and Kane counties, for which St. George is the headquarters, head-quarters, are supervised by Willis R. Dunkley. county supervisor and Mrs. Hannah H. Wells, home economics supervisor. It is indicated in-dicated that from fifty-five to sixty six-ty loans have been made during the past few months to needy farmers far-mers in these two counties. Cooperating agencies through whom families are referred to the New Resettlement Administration are: 1. Social Service Case Workers of county. 2. Agricultural Extension service ser-vice by county or home demonstration demon-stration agents. 3. Federal Credit administration administra-tion by presenting to county tu---'vis---. wi-itt--" evidence of having hav-ing applied for and having been i unable to obtain necessary credit i from the Farm Credit administration. administra-tion. Farm families now on relief rolls or families which have exhausted ex-hausted credit resources in their efforts to keep off relief rolls or those who are in default in payments pay-ments to Federal Land Bank and are in danger of foreclosure and eviction, or who are in default to or have been denied credit by the Farm Credit administration, or any agency thereof are eligible applicants for rehabilitation loans. Loans may be made for the following fol-lowing purposes: 1. Purchase of building materials mater-ials for the repair of buildings and fences. ',2. Purchase of farm machinery ' Y.Continued on last page! RESETTLEMENT (Continued from first page) and equipment, farm tools, and household equipment. 3. Purchase of livestock. 4. Refinancing of mortgages or other leins on personal property when it is found impossible to make other equitable adjustments. 5. Participation in community cooperative associations or agencies, agen-cies, whether existing or to be established, es-tablished, and whether incorporated, incorpor-ated, partnerships, or otherwise. 6. Purchase of feed, seed, fertilizer, fer-tilizer, other seasonable farm supplies sup-plies and repair items. 7. Payment of land rent. 8. Payment' of services, including includ-ing labor and professional services. ser-vices. 9. Payment of breeding service ser-vice fees. 10. Payment of food, fuel, clothing, cloth-ing, medical services and other subsistence goods and services. 11. Payment of taxes on real or personal property. The maximum period for which loans will be made on capital or unconsumable goods will be five years'while loans for consumable goods will have a maximum period per-iod of two years. "Our Rural Rehabilitation program pro-gram is perhaps the best known activity of the Resettlement administration," ad-ministration," said Mr. Packard. In this region between 5000 and 6000 families are now receiving rehabilitation loans. From data on hand it appears that there are from 10,000 to 15.000 families that can be helped materially in this region. "These clients receive small loans, needed for purchase of farm :stock, feed, seed and other materials, and in some instances between crop plantings and harvests. har-vests. The leans are all secured, and are amortized in accordance with individual requirements These are carefully worked out by the County Supervisors in cooperation co-operation with the client. "The State Agricultural college extension workers help carrv out the plans, with practical "assistance "assis-tance and advice to clients on home and farm management "Some of the loans are now in Process of repayment, and in a few instances have been repaid in "Clients are carefully chosen on the basis of farm experience and character. Broadly speaking they are families who have through adverse economic circumstances, circum-stances, drought, or other causes beyond their control, been forced to accept relief, or are close to the border line." Another important phase of the Resettlement administration pro- gram is resettlement proper, which contemplates work of a more permanent per-manent sort in stabilizing agriculture agricul-ture and Taising rural living standards. stand-ards. This work is just starting. "It should reach many farmers who have lost their properties through foreclosure and should benefit young couples with a farm background and agricultural college col-lege training, who need financial aid to start homes and gain a foothold. "This is program of broader scope and longer range than rehabilitation re-habilitation which is designed to meet an emergency condition of distress as rapidly as possible. "It is concerned with farm families fam-ilies now living in unproductive areas who may need aid in relocation. reloca-tion. Many families, in order' to better their conditions, will have to move. This means that "better locations must be found, where such readjustment is necessary. "Through a thirtl activity, a land planning section, we expect to develop a specific land use adjustment ad-justment program for future use A detailed study is now being made of areas in the five states of this region as a guide for development de-velopment on land readjustment in the future. "Retirement o f submarginal lands is another activity. There are no. funds available for its, extension ex-tension this year, but last year several tracts in New Mexico and a large tract in Utah were purchased pur-chased from a $44,000,000 Federal Fed-eral fund allotted for the buying of land being improperly used, and its transfer to grazing forest, Indian reservation areas, and for such purposes as .seem better fitted to their use. "A division called Community and Cooperative service has been organized to help farm groups in the establishment of work centers and other community activities that will affect family budget economies ec-onomies and add to family revenues. reven-ues. "This division has been particularly partic-ularly active in the Spanish-American centers in New Mexico, where rural areas were hard hit by drought and other causes. "Weaving, home canning, wood carving, leather craft and saddlery are among the work center crafts and arts which help group members mem-bers to maintain their independence indepen-dence and lighten the public relief re-lief burden. "Another activity which has just been transferred to the Resettlement Reset-tlement administration is farm debt adjustment, which was carried car-ried on last year by state and local committees. This work, outgrowth of one of President Roosevelt's "fireside talks" in which he urged farmers in danger of foreclosure to call on their government for help, has saved 150,000 Am- " farmers from forecfe '' bankruptcy during the brief ."'.' " iod of Its operation. ' " "It proposes to help um , ' adjustment between a hmt t or, where the debtor ,ce,, !, possible situation, and creditor - -i der which the debtor, giv(1 ,", onable opportunity, will be V u to discharge his debt and v, his land. It involves loan k i als and extensions, planning w grams for repayment, and ill', financial details designed to Ei id dividual cases. It "It is a highly important ;; a of our general effort to pre; j farm security and stabilize i,- ,j, culture to the end that this ct:- ;J lying foundation of sound i-: racy be maintained in a p: :, i f ble and vigorous manner. e "Such an extensive progri-, jj ours cannot be discussed ir : i i entirety in a brief space )l : j but these activities touch be- a; the high points of the progri: t; which we are working, an( :: u lines on which we have mat; J lit vances." sa |