Greenwood County History-
1930s (Part 5 of 10), submitted by Mike Pitko The following history of 1930 is the continuation of the column created by Mike Pitko in a chronological order.
Chaos reigns at the courthouse in Eureka, most of the business being conducted in the halls, while carpenters, painters, and paper hangers are redecorating the interior of the courthouse. Materials and labor for the project are being furnished by the State Civil Works Administration. (C.W.A.) $4,262 is to be spent on labor and $1,250 for materials in redecorating the interior of the court house and for landscaping the lawn. All offices are being papered and painted and, in some cases, new oak floors are being laid. The roof will be repaired and screens put on all lower floor windows. The walls and ceiling of the courtroom are being covered with acoustic board which will be a great improvement to the sound effect. All materials used in this project are being purchased from Eureka business houses.
Basketball at Random grade school which was located at Seventh and Pine in Eureka and was torn down a few years ago. The small gym was used some for-town team basketball. Eureka Bakery defeated S&H Bakery (located where NAPA auto parts store is now on east Fourth Street) 30 to 27.
In 1934, so many people were in debt that it shouldn’t embarrass a farmer to realize that some debt adjustment will have to be made if his creditors are to have a fair deal or if he is to retain title to his farm. Governor Landon has appointed a committee of fair-minded friendly men in each county to work out with farmers and their creditors the most reasonable debt adjustment for all concerned. Where those debts are hopeless it might as well be recognized and the farmer relieved of a further struggle against overwhelming odds.
Farmers whose financial affairs are worrying him can ask the county committee for a hearing. There is no charge for this service. While each case is different, many suggestions will be made that are of real value in working out some reasonable plan of settlement with creditors. A farmer gets discouraged facing creditors whom he wants to pay but knows he can’t.
In April 1934, H.F. Rockhill was appointed poor commissioner for Greenwood County. The change in county setup was due to the fact that it was necessary to have one person act as poor commissioner and another as case supervisor, the relief load and work being too great for one person.
Mr. Rockhill will be responsible for all the county poor funds and emergency relief funds. The county engineer will be appointed county supervisor of work program, in addition to his other duties. He will be responsible for planning proper work relief projects and their completion.
All persons and families applying for aid in one form or another, should make every effort possible on their part to find gainful employment; also, to undertake to provide through garden and other activities as much help for themselves as possible. The allotment of Federal Relief Funds for Greenwood County is $5,000 for April, 1934.
Under the present plan, considering the large number of registrations, it will be impossible for applicants to expect more than part time work. Since the allotment for the county is so small it is imperative that only a limited number of men be allowed to work.
In April 1934, President Roosevelt signed a farm moratorium bill which allowed debt-burdened farmers a five-year moratorium if they are not able to reach a satisfactory arrangement with their creditors. After the farmer begins bankruptcy proceedings, the court is to appoint appraisers to arrive at the “fair value” of his lands and chattels (items of property other than real estate), if liens are held against them.
If that appraisal is satisfactory to the lien holders, the farmer may pay off the indebtedness over a 6-year period at rates of interest which begin at 1 per cent and gradually rise to 5 per cent. Any creditor may block the settlement and the court is authorized to give the farmer a fiveyear moratorium. In that five-year time, the farmer would keep his place and pay a “ fair rental value” to be determined by the court.
In August 1934, the Kansas Emergency Relief Administrator announced a program for water conservation in Kansas. Ponds and wells are to be constructed all over the state to conserve water for just emergencies as the present drouth.
One of the most important phases of the work is the construction of wells on private or municipally owned property. Some towns in the county faced with water shortage are expected to avail themselves of the service. The government has furnished a geologist to locate suitable sites for wells and work relief labor to put down tests. If the individual is able, he will then drill the well himself. If not, the well will be put down, proper application being made with the poor commissioner. The government will have pumping equipment which will be loaned for the wells.
The ponds will be built across dry runs, slough or hollows that will have drainage capable of flowing water into the pond. Area of the pond is limited from one to fifteen acres. It will be a dirt dam and a sluice ( a device for controlling the flow of water) will be built. Below the dam will be a tank, fed from a pipe running thru the dam. The pond must be fenced. There are hundreds of pond sites in this county.
The construction of the ponds for farmers not on relief is a co-operative enterprise. Several farmers will sign and each farmer will get a pond on his place. KERC will furnish all equipment and materials not available on the farm except horses and tractors and if available a limited amount of relief labor. Ponds must pass the specifications of the chief engineers, which makes the farmer eligible for reduction in assessed valuation of $40 per acre.
Farmers will help each other build ponds. They will all use their own ponds for livestock, but should a farmer’s pond go dry he is entitled to water from one of the ponds he helped build. All stock drinks from the tank below the dam, no stock drinking direct from the pond.
Another type of pond to be built here is the pond fed by a well for garden irrigation. Here again the government furnishes all equipment and materials not available at the farm except horses and tractors.
In August of 1934, this article appeared in The Eureka Herald: “Greenwood County is facing the worst water and feed shortage in its history. Some forty days of extremely hot weather without any rain of any consequence have almost exhausted the supply of water, cut the feed crop to nearly nothing on most farms, and stopped the growth of pasture grasses. Farmers are hauling water in every community and have a very limited supply in sight.”
The county was designated as a primary drouth area in August. All emergency regulations are now available to help the agricultural interests in the county. The Agricultural Adjustment Administration will buy cattle in the drouth areas and deliver the cattle to the federal or state relief agencies to distribute to needy families. The county agent is busy getting the necessary county and township organization ready to appraise and handle cattle. Farmers who have cattle that are short of feed and water, and which the farmers now want to sell to the government should notify the farm bureau office.
Prices paid are as follow: If accepted for use: cattle over 2 years, from $6 to$14, cattle from 1 to 2 years old, from $5 to $10, cattle under 1 year old, from $1 to $5.
If condemned as unfit for food: cattle over 2 years, $6; cattle from 1 to 2 years old, $5: cattle under 1 year old, $1.
An additional benefit payment will be made if farmers agree to cooperate with the Agricultural Adjustment Administration if a cattle reduction program is considered necessary later.
Cattle over 2 years old, $4; cattle from 1 to 2 years old, $5: cattle under I year old,$3.
Due to water shortage, new wells were dug and in August of 1934 five wells had been drilled, all of which furnished water for livestock. One was 2 1/2 miles northwest of Hamilton, one near Quincy, one nine miles northwest of Eureka, one 5 miles east and one mile north of Utopia and the fifth one is 4 miles west of Quincy. In some of these wells water is found at a depth of 50 to 60 feet. The deepest well is on the Fankhauser where it was necessary to drill 250 feet.
Surveys have been made for a number of permanent ponds. The largest project is on the Philip Slough farm 2 ½ miles southwest of Quincy. The project calls for a dam 400 feet long and 17 ½ feet high, the pond area is to be 10 acres. There is a pond to be built 2 miles north of Eureka, and one seven miles west of Eureka.
A well is being drilled southeast of Neal, and a rig is being moved to the M.E. Braden land 3 miles south of Eureka. A pump and engine have been installed on the bank of Spring Creek and many farmers are hauling water from that source. Should the Braden well prove productive it will stop the long hard haul over canyon hill.
The government has distributed 3,072 cans of milk, 123 cases, of roast beef in Greenwood County during the last three weeks to persons entitled to federal relief. 58 cases of lard have also been distributed.
The Home National bank of Eureka has received from the FDIC at Washington the official signs which will hang at all receiving windows as visible evidence that the depositors of this institution are insured. The Home National is one of more than 14,000 licensed banks in the country which are receiving these signs. Insured banks are able to offer protection to their depositors up to $5,000.
You have been reading articles about the drought and now you will get one that appeared in the September paper stating: Torrential Rain-Eureka Flooded. Five inches of rain fell in two hours. Gutters are full, the small stream that runs through the east part of town is a raging torrent and streams all over the county are reported rising rapidly.
