Washington, Feb, 12 Development of an economic programme to protect the Middle West against droughts was urged by President Roosevelt in a, special message to Congress to-day. The programme, hho said, should be accompanied long-range rehabilitation programme in ten states constituting the drought The President advanced a formula for the operation of a Great Plains Drought Committe, proposing the establishment of middle western Federal agency to foster rehabilita ion efforts, the resettlement of refugees in other parts of the country, and a ten-year survey to determine the Dost use of the land, com A study of climate and soil eros idition, the President proposed Goverrment purchase lands possibly' 24,000,000 acres within the Grought territory, distributing range rights with a view to rehabilitation, Further provisions of the plan me banks but the crest of the flood has not yet been reached at Memphis, 'Tennessee, which has been visited bs' unexpected misery in an epidemic of dysentery which broke out in the camp of flood relict workers there, Altogether 415 persons are now Known to be dead in the Mid-West flood area.
The Red Cross is caring for 170,000 families, and has raised $10,755,000 from the public for flood relief.—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.