THE RELIEF PROBLEM CONFRONTING
NORTH DAKOTA IN THE WINTER OF
1939-1940
By the Committee Appointed by the
Work Projects Administration
Farm Security Administration
North Dakota Public Welfare Board
October 5. 1939
n't'ti ui< 11 u 11'"m i ■) ■ 1111 h u m h i n' i * n m i n n i h ' ■ i m h 111111 h ' i"11
the reliep problem confronting north dakota in
the winter op 1939-1940
By
The Committee Appointed by the Work Projects
Administration, the Parn Security Administration
and the North Dakota Public Welfare Board
October 5. 1939
I"1"'1"""" nullum
Bismarck, North Dakota
October 5» 1939
To; The Work Projects Administration of North Dakota
The Farm Security Administration for North Dakota
The Public Welfare Board of North Dakota
Wc have the honor to submit, herewith, a report on the immediate emergency
relief situation facing North Dakota in the winter of 1939-19^0.
This report presents the findings of the 53 county survey committees, rela¬
tive to the prospective number of families, who "ill be without resources to
meet subsistence needs during the coning winter. It includes an occupational
classification of the relief cn.se load on September 1, 1939 according to usual
occupation of the head of the household; and. an occupational classification of
the intermittent relief case load which, in the opinion of the survey committees
of the 53 counties, will require aid during the coming winter. The report also
summarizes and analyzes the statistical data reported by the 53 counties and the
financial ability of the state and county governments of North Dakota to meet
the impending emergency situation.
Very truly yours,
tJL. t
Clara C. Hjerpe, S'
Division of Genera
Public Welfare BoN
Vb Jp-K-—-
visoj
'elief I
L
Mrs. Grace Clendening,
Assistant Director
Division of Employment
Work Projects Administration
!
AJJLl.
-rtA.
Mrs. A. Lillian Chairant
Associate State Director -J
Farm Security Administration
la
L. A. Baker, Supervisor
Division of Accounting,
Finance and Reports
Public Welfare Board
THE RELIEF PBOBLEM CONFRONTING- NORTH DAKOTA IN THE WINTER OF
1939-igUo
By
The Committee Appointed, by the Work Projects Administration,
The Farm Security Administration, and the
North Dakota Public Welfare Board
CONTENTS
Page
No.
Letter of Transmittal . .
Introduction 1
The Purpose of the Survey 3
Summary of the Immediate Problem Confronting North Dakota H
Estimated Relief Needs for Which County Governments are Responsible,
together with Resources Available to Meet Needs 2
Liabilities 2
Resources 10
State Finances 10
County Finances 11
Estimated Additional Families who will, in all probability, be without
Resources for Meeting their Subsistence Needs during the Coming Winter . 12
Current Changes in Federal Relief and Welfare Programs ....... 13
Present Federal Relief and Welfare Programs ...... 13
Occupational Characteristics . 15
Employable Farm Operators 16
Employables other than farm operators 17
Unemployablos lg
Total Prospective Additional Cases ..... 12
EXHIBITS
Page
No.
A, Estimated Resources and Liabilities of County Governments in
Connection with County Poor Relief for the Fiscal Year
ended June 30» 19^0 .
B, Estimated Production of Principal Crops in North Dakota, in
Bushels 1^
C, Classification of Relief Cases Receiving Public Aid on September 1,
1939, According to Usual Occupation of Head of Family 15
D. Classification of Additional Households and Single Persons who had
a non-relief Status on September 1, 1939» but who will be without
sufficient resources to meet Subsistence Needs in the Winter of
1939-19l+0 17
APPENDIX TA3LES
1. North Dakota State Totals -
Schedule A - Number of Cases receiving Assistance September 1,
1939, classified by Relief Program and Occupation . . 19
Schedule 3 - Estimated Additional Number of Households and
^ingle Persons who will bo without Resources
sufficient to meet Subsistence Needs in the Fall
and Winter of 1939-19^0» Classified by Occupation . . 19
2. Public Relief Expenditures of State and County Government, by Source
of Funds and by Programs - Year Ended June 1938, and June 30,
1939 ' 20
3. Unduplicatod Total of Cases receiving Assistance September 1, 1939»
Classified by Usual Occupation of Head of Family in the Past .... 21
Estimated Additional Number of Households and Single Persons who
will be without Resources sufficient to meet Subsistence Needs in
the Winter of 1939-19^0, Classified by Present Occupational Status . 22
5. Estimated Additional Number of Households and Single Persons who
will be without Resources sufficient to meet Subsistence Needs
in the Winter of 1939-19^0» Classified by Usual Occupation in the
Past 23
INTRODUCTION
The administrative heads of the Federal Work Projects Administration and
the Farm Security Administration met with the Public Welfare Board of North
Dakota on July 27, 1939# f°r a conference on the relief situation facing North
Dakota during the winter of 1939-19^0,
Since it was the judgment of the representatives of the three agencies
that the prospective usual aeasonal increase of need would create an emergency,
it was -decided that an immediate survey of prospective relief needs, county by
county, be made.
The duty of making this survey was delegated to a joint committee made up
of representatives of the three agencies. The duties of the committee were to
secure the cooperation of the county welfare boards in conducting a survey in
each of the 53 counties, to provide instructions and materials, to tabulate
the data, and to prepare a summary and an analysis of the findings.
The fiscal problem of county governments is not included in the survey,
but some discussion of the present fiscal ability of the State and of the
counties to meet relief needs was deemed necessary.
The survey data analyzed in this report were secured through the medium
of county welfare boards. These data were reviewed by Work Projects Adminis¬
tration field representatives, Farm Security Administration supervisors, and,
in most counties, by a local review committee of representative citizens in¬
cluding State legislators, county commissioners, and other county officials,
representatives of local welfare organizations, service clubs, taxpayers as¬
sociations, etc. A debt of gratitude for the public-spirited assistance of
all who participated in this survey is here acknowledged because without their
_1_
assistance this survey could not have been made*
The date of September 1st, was choson for making the State-vide survey
because -
1. Information relative to 1939 crop production would not be
available at an earlier date and it was self-btident that
the agricultural production and agricultural prices of
1939 would have an important bearing upon the magnitude
of the relief case load during the coming winter.
2. The cancellation of WPA workers with 18 months employment
was expected to be completed by that date.
3. The regulation limiting subsistence grants to operating
farmers only was effective on September first.
-2-
THE PURPOSE OP THE SURVEY
The purpose of the survey may "be "briefly stated as follows:
(a) To secure an. accurate estimate of the relief situation which
'-ill face the State of North Dakota during the winter of
1939-19^0.
(b) To provide each respective county \?ith an exact picture of
the situation as of September 1, 1939» together with a care¬
fully tabulated list of additional people not now on the re¬
lief rolls who, according to present information, rill be
without resources during the coming winter.
(c) To make local communities aware of the problem.
(d) To provide the state and the Federal government with a total
State picture based on a summary of the findings in each
respective county.
(o) To secure information regarding employability and occupa¬
tional background of the relief case load on September 1,
1939 an(l of the potential winter case load.
-3-
SUMMARY OP TEE IMMEDIATE RELIEF PROBLEM CONFRONTING NORTH DAKOTA
The Relief Survey
The relief survey reports of the 53 counties indicate that on September 1,
1939, a total-of 25,073 households in North Dakota were receiving some form of
public relief; that there will probably be 25,894 additional families without
resources for meeting subsistence needs and that the total maximum case load
during the winter of 1939-1940 will reach a peak of 50,9^7 cases.
The estimated case load during the coming winter is less than the actual
case load in any year of the past six years, with the exception of the winter
of 1934-1935. The following schedule gives the peak winter relief case load
for the past six years and the estimated peak for the coming winter;
Year
Maximum
Relief
Case Load
Peak
Month
1933-193^
193^-1935
1935-1936
1936-1937
1937-193S
193S-1939
1939-1940
69,135
47,402
59,583
76,194
60,267
60,777
50,967
December 1935
November 1936
January 1938
January 1939
January 1934
March 1935
-4-
The number of cases receiving assistance through various Federal, State, and
county agencies on September 1, 1939i as reported by the county relief survey com¬
mittees, was as follows -
RELIEF PROGRAMS OPERATED IN NORTH DAKOTA, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, AND
REP OUT E£> CASE.LOAD, *§EP.T EMBER 1, 1939
(as reported. by relief survey committees)
PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENCY
FINANCED
BY
CASELOAD
SEPTEMBER 1,
1939
FEDERAL WORKS PROGRAM
WORKS PROJECTS ADM. AND: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 1 8 1^
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES j [
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION I FEDERAL GOVERNMENT I 1 860
CORPS 1 :
FARM SECURITY
FARM SECURITY ADMINIS- FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 2 687
TRATION f 1
GENERAL RELIEF
(A) to EMPLOYABLES
(B) TO UNEMPLOYABLES
COUNTY WELFARE BOARD i STATE AND COUNTY 1 239
: GOVERNMENTS ]
COUNTY WELFARE BOARD ' STATE AMD COUNTY 2 077
; GOVERNMENTS £
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
STATE AND COUNTY WEL- i JOINTLY FINANCED BY f 7 913*
FARE BOARDS FEDERAL, STATE AND :
j COUNTY GOVERNMENTS
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
STATE AND COUNTY WEL- | JOINTLY FINANCED BY = 2 085
FARE BOARDS ; FEDERAL, STATE AND
; (COUNTY GOVERNMENTS \
AID TO BLIND
STATE AND COUNTY WEL- £ JOINTLY FINANCED BY £ I3H
FARE BOARDS FEDERAL AND STATE §
5 GOVERNMENTS I
gross TOTAL . ,
duplications
NET TOTAL
* THE ACTUAL TOTAL OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1939 WAS 8,3^6. THE DIF¬
FERENCE IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHERE THERE WERE TWO OR MORE RECIPIENTS IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD
THE COUNT'.' WAS MADE ON A HOUSEHOLD BASIS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES.
The classification of the potential cases who, in the opinion of local re¬
view committees, will require assistance in the coning winter follows -
employable cases — including households containing
one or more persons capable of gainful employment-
(a) farm operators
(b) other employable cases
total employable cases
unemployable cases
GRAND TOTAL
number of
cases
p erc ent
of total
13 bUo
51.90
10 888
112.05
2U 328
93.95
1 566
. 6.05
25 89U
100.00
A comparison of the estimated peak totals in the coming winter with the
actual peak case load last winter, by geographical areas, indicates a very sub¬
stantial improvement of conditions in tho western two-thirds of North Dakota and
the opposite in the Northeast and east central counties where conditions have
"been most favorable for a number of years.
COMPARISON OF i938-39 PEAK CASE LOAD WITH ESTIMATED PEAK CASE LOAD
OF 1939—UO, BY DISTRICTS
PEAK
CASELOAD
i
PERCENT
CHANGE
I
1938—39
ESTIMATED
i 1939—UO i
FROM
1938-39
1.
NORTHWEST DISTRICT, COMPRISING BURKE,
DIVIDE, MOUNTRAIL, RENVILLE, WARD, AND ;
WILLIAMS COUNTIES
10
163
; 8
g 2 u
+13.2
2.
WEST CENTRAL DISTRICT, COMPRISING DUNN,
MCKENZIE, MCLEAN, MERCER AND OLIVER
COUNTIES j
5
991
ll
261
-28.9
3.
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT, COMPRISING ADAMS, -i
BILLINGS, BOWMAN, GOLDEN VALLEY,
HETTINGER, SLOPE AND STARK COUNTIES
n
Hi
3
856
-19.0
NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT, COMPRISING
BENSON, BOTTINEAU, MCHENRY, PIERCE,
AND ROLETTE COUNTIES
5
097
14
235
-16.9
5.
CENTRAL DISTRICT, COMPRISING EDDY,
FOSTER, KIDDER, SHERIDAN, STUTSMAN,
AND WELLS COUNTIES \
6
713
j li
757
-29.1*
SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT, COMPRISING
BURLEIGH, EMMONS, GRANT, MORTON AND
SIOUX COUNTIES i
7
896
5 nc
-25.1
7.
NORTHEAST DISTRICT, COMPRISING CAVALIER, \
GRAND FORKS, NELSON, PEMBINA, RAMSEY, ?
TOWNER AND WALSH COUNTIES
6
517
6
800
4- 4.3
8.
EAST CENTRAL DISTRICT, COMPRISING BARNES, i
CASS, GRIGGS, STEELE AND TRAILL COUNTIES }
5
325
5 5L2 :
4- 4.1
9.
SOUTHEAST DISTRICT, COMPRISING DICKEY,
LAMOURE, LOGAN, MCINTOSH, RANSOM,
RICHLAND AND SARGENT COUNTIES j
8
31H
! e in
-18.3
STATE TOTALS \
60
777
50
HI
-16.1
The expected maximum potential case load in" the winter of 1939-19^0 is
50,967 compared with a maximum of 60,777 in. the winter of 193S-I939, and a
maximum peak of 60,267 two years ago. The estimates for the winter of 1939—
I9U0 reflect rather definite, if not very substantial inprovemt in agricul¬
tural and economic conditions throughout most of North Dakota.
Although these figures indicate that the estimated case load for the winter
of 1939-19^0 will be less than in previous years, the actual problem of meeting
estimated needs with the resources now available to the state and to the county
governments is more serious than at any previous time.
The cumulative effect of ten years of depression, drouth, crow failure,
and inadequate prices for agricultural products, on the finance of state and
county governments, has been such that these units of government have far'less
ability than ever before to meet the impending emergency relief situation.
EXHIBIT A _ ESTIMATED RESOURCES AND LIABILITIES OF COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN
CONNECTION WITH COUNTY POOR RELIEF FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, I9U0
LlaMlitios
1. Subsistence care of 3»000 "unonployable" households at an average
cost of $20.00 per month for a 12 months' period of $ 720,000
for the fiscal year
2. Subsistence care of 10,000 employable families for a fivfi months'
period - November 1 to March 31 at an average cost of $20.00
per month 1,000,000
3. Estimated expenditures required for medical care, hospitalization
and related services for the entire relief population of North
Dakota including a minimum of 25,000 cases, a maximum of 50,000
and an average of 37»500 cases representing an average relief
population of 170,000 people for a 12 months' period 800,000
U. Care of children and institutional care of adults 100,000
5. Burial expense 50,000
6. Exppnse of processing goods for free distribution to the poor;
expense of distributing Federal surplus commodities to the poor;
temporary care of transients and other special programs 100,000
7. Services to Federal agencies including investigation, certification
or referral of eligible persons or families to WPA, FSA, NYA and
CCC programs - also periodic reinvestigation of all cases receiv¬
ing Federal aid 2^0,000
8. Operating expense of county welfare boards in connection with county
poor relief, old ago assistance, aid to dependent children, aid to
blind and child welfare services .... 2pU,000
9. Total estimated requirements for fiscal year $3,27^,000
Resources
1. One-half biennial appropriation of 1939 legislative assembly
(provided State can produce the necessary funds) available
for grants-in-aid to counties $1,200,000
2. Estimated amount which counties can provide for county poor
relief after payment of statutory share of amount required
for Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children (Based
upon an extended survey of county resources and record of
what counties have been able to contribute in the past) .... 900,000
3. Total resources
To balance - or amount of deficiency
5. TOTAL
$2,3.00,000
1,17^,000
$3,27^,000
-7-
ESTIMATED BELIEF NEEDS FOE WHICH COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ABE RESPONSIBLE TOGETHER
WITH RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEET NEEDS
Exhibit A, gives a statement of - (l) the prospective relief needs which
must be met by county governments during the current fiscal year and of (2)
the resources available to meet such needs.
An explanation of each resource and of each liability listed in this bal¬
ance sheet statement is presented herewith.
Liabilities
Item 1 - The reported unemployable case load receiving county poor
relief on September 1, 1939 was 2,077; the estimated in¬
crease in the unemployable relief case load is 1,566 cases;
making an estimated total of 3,6^3 unemployable relief
cases for whom county governments will be totally responsi¬
ble. (For the purpose of making an estimate of liabilities,
in Exhibit A, an average case load of 3,000 for 12 months
was used.)
Item 2 - The number of employable cases receiving county poor aid
on September 1, 1939 was 1,239 with county relief com¬
mittees estimating an increase during the winter months of
10,888 cases making a potential employable relief case load
total of 12,127. However, it is estimated, that 1,UU6
cases can be cared for within the limitations of the pres¬
ent WPA quota of 9,600 cases, thus leaving a balance of
10,681 cases who will require county aid. (For the pur¬
pose of the estimate in Exhibit A, the figure 10,000 was
used.)
Item 3 - The discontinuance, on July 1, 1939, of the Farmers
Mutual Aid Corporation medical program, sponsored by the
Farm Security Administration, may mean a possible increase
of one-half million dollars in expenditures of county gov¬
ernments for emergency medical care, hospitalization and
related services. During the period July 1 to October 31,
193S, emergency medical care only was furnished under the
FMAC program to all FSA clients. Beginning November 1,
193S and continuing through June 1939, the FMAC also pro¬
vided hospitalization, nursing and dental care and drugs.
The discontinuance of this program means a return to
county governments of actual as well as legal responsi¬
bility for emergency medical aid to the needy farm popu¬
lation.
This means that county governments are currently responsi¬
ble for emergency medical care to approximately 25,000
families; during the coming winter the counties will be
responsible for emergency medical care to an estimated
total of 51,000 families.
-8-
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1939, actual expendi¬
tures of county welfare hoards for emergency medical care,,
hospitalization and related services, totaled $536,009; ex¬
penditures of the FMAC for the sane services were $536,630.
Total expenditures of the two agencies for medical care,
hospitalization and related services amounted to $1,072,639.
(For the purpose of the estimate in Exhibit A, the figure
$800,000 was used.)
Item U - Care of children in foster hones and in institutions, and
institutional care of adults are a county responsibility.
Item 5 - The burial of all indigents without resources sufficient
to provide for burial is a county responsibility.
Item 6 - The continuance of work relief projects for the processing
of goods for distribution to the poor and the continuance
of work relief projects for the distribution of surplus
commodities donated to the state by the Federal government,
requires State-wide sponsorship by the Public Welfare Board
and local sponsorship by county governments.
In connection with the sponsorship of such projects, the
counties provide quarters for projects and storage facili¬
ties for surplus commodities. They also furnish heat, light,
water, telephone and telegraph service, office supplies and
equipment, and pay the cost of distributing surplus commodi¬
ties within the county.
The Federal government donates the commodities; the WPA
supplies the relief labor; and all other expenses must be
mot by county governments. Estimated expenditures are
based upon past experience. The cost to the State and
county governments of sponsorship of the Surplus Commodity
Program has, in the past, averaged about 5 percent of the
value of the commodities distributed to relief clients.
Item 7 - Services to Federal agencies include investigation, refer¬
ral of eligible persons or families to WA, FSA, NYA and
CCC programs, and periodic reinvestigations of all cases
receiving Federal aid.
Item 8 - The cooperation of the Federal government in providing
financial assistance for the care of the aged, the blind
and of,dependent children, depends upon the continued
operation of a county welfare agency under State s\iper-
vision.
The county poor lav? also requires the investigation of
the resources and needs of all relief applicants. It nay
be stated, in general, that the continuance of all forms,
of both Federal and State assistance to counties, is based
upon the adequate functioning of the local welfare agency.
Item 9 - ^atal estimated liabilities for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 19^0, for which county governments will be res¬
ponsible, are estimated at $3,27^,000.
-9-
Resources
Item 1 - The resources of the Stite government available for general
poor relief are definitely fixed by statute for the current
biennium. The amount'which nay be'made available,for relief
grants to counties in the fiscal year ending June 30, 19*+0,
is approximately $1,200,000 or $100,000 per month.
It nay be stated here, parenthetically, that State
aid to counties to finance county poor relief ®s
inaugurated in North Dakota in 1935* From January
1936 to June 1939» relief expenditures of county
governments totaled $9, *+*+5,000. Of this amount, the
State government, by grants-in-aid to counties, sup¬
plied 60 percent or $5,67*+, 622. The State grant
program, in recent months, has continuously been
operated on a delayed basis. July grants, for in¬
stance, pere paid on September 27, 1939• The
operating of this program on a delayed basis had
been lack of sufficient State revenues or resources
to meet the general operating expense of the State
government and also to provide a monthly pro rata
distribution of the amount appropriated by the
Legislature for State aid to counties for poor re¬
lief.
Item 2 - The estimated amount which county governments can provide for
county poor relief, after paying the statutory share of am¬
ounts required for old age assistance and aid to dependent
children is $900,000. This estimate is based on the annual
surveys of the financial resources of each county government
made by the Public Welfare Board since 1935- These data indi¬
cate that the figure $900,000 represents a fairly accurate
estimate of the aggregate capacity of county governments to
meet relief needs during the current fiscal year.
Item 3 - The total resources which can be made available by the"State
and counties to meet estimated relief requirements for which
county governments are responsible pill not exceed the sun
of $2,100,000.
Item *+ - Deficiency. The estimated deficiency is $1,17*+,000.
State Finances
The financial condition of the State government may be summarized as fol¬
lows:
(a) The state government has exhausted its borrowing ability under
present constitutional limitations.
(b) Prospective State revenues _ during the current bienninm '."ill be
several million dollars short of the amount required to meet
legislative appropriations.
-10-
(c) All uncollected general property taxes levied for general State
purposes, except taxes levied in 1939 an<^ collectible in 19^0»
are already pledged as security for the repayment of certificates
of indebtedness.
County Finances
(a) A number of counties are bankrupt; others are on the verge of bank¬
ruptcy.
(b) Statutory limitations on the tax levying power make it impossible
for most county governments to finance governmental functions
made mandatory upon them by constitutional mandate or statutory
enactment,
(c) Economic conditions have made it impossible for a large percentage
of taxpayers or tax debtors to meet their obligations to the gov¬
ernment.
(d) Insofar as the financial condition of county governments relates
to the problem before us, the following summarization is believed
to reflect the ability or the inability of county governments to
meet the impending relief situation,
(1) In the fiscal year ending June 30, 193^, county expenditures
for regular governmental functions, exclusive of poor relief,
oxfceeded available county revenues in 20 counties,
(2) In these twenty counties, relief expenditures were financed
by additional borrowing or by the issuance of registered war¬
rants or emergency poor fund warrants,
(3) Eine counties were able to meet only a part of the statutory
requirements as to old age assistance and aid to dependent
children out of current revenues and were able to provide
funds for general relief only by additional borrowing.
(U) Seventeen counties were able to meet, from current revenues,
their statutory share of the cost of old age assistance and
aid to dependent children, and a part of the cost of county
poor relief.
(5) Only seven counties showed sufficient fiscal ability to
finance the entire cost of the general relief program to¬
gether with their statutory share of old age assistance and
aid to dependent children.
-11-
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL FAMILIES WHO WILL, IN ALL PROBABILITY, BE WITHOUT
RESOURCES FOR MEETING THEIR OWN SUBSISTENCE NEEDS DURING THE COMING WINTER
Since 1933, Federal government has assisted the state and the counties
in meeting their relief responsibilities by supplying the major portion of the
funds from which the relief needs of the people of North Dakota have been met.
From June 30, 1933 to June 30, 1939, total relief extended to recipients in
North Dakota was $ll6,123,67S. The Federal government supplied 88.7$ of this
amount.
Because the Congressional appropriations for the various Federal relief and
welfare programs have been drastically cut this year, the financial assistance
coming to North Dakota from Federal sources will be materially reduced. With
Federal assistance greatly reduced and with only a slight decrease in the number
of people who will be without resources, it is obvious that the state and the
counties are faced with a most serious situation.
IF ACUTE SUFFERING IS TO BE AVOIDED DURING THE COMING WINTER, THE ENTIRE
CITIZENRY AND THE ENTIRE OFFICIAL BODY ON STATE, COUNTY, AND LOCAL LEVELS MUST
BE MADE AWARE OF THE REALITY OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION.
With reference to the estimated potential additional case load who will be
without resources for meeting their own subsistence needs this winter, the fol¬
lowing comments are offered -
1. Some of the 1,566 potential unemployable cases may be eligible
for assistance through one or the other of the Social Security
Programs. The remainder will be dependent upon direct relief.
2. The 13,^0 farm dperators may be eligible for subsistence grants
through the Farm Security Administration within the limitation
of their regulations.
3. The 10,888 potential employable cases may be eligible for em¬
ployment under the Work Projects Administration if quota limi¬
tation- permits.
Note: The State WPA quota for September is already filled
precluding any immediate aid to this group from that
source.
-12-
Current Changes in Federal Relief and Welfare Programs
Some recent changes in the Federal relief and welfare programs:
(a) The Congressional curtailment of the Work Projects Adminis¬
tration program.
(b) The 30.days compulsory furlough affecting all persons
continuously employed on WPA for an eighteen months
period.
(c) Limitation of the Farm Security Administration subsis¬
tence grant program to operating farmers only.
(d) Termination on July 1, 1939 of the Farmers Mutual Aid
Corporation sponsored and financed by the Farm Security
Administration.
(e) The CCC program and the NYA program no longer conducted
primarily as relief programs.
Present Federal Relief and Welfare Programs
It appears that the Federal government will continue the following relief
and welfare activities for the current fiscal year:
1. Provide subsistence relief to needy farm operators
2. Provide WPA work relief to a varying number of needy unemployed
urban workers.
The present WPA quota (for the month of September) is
9,600. Since Federal relief policies are nation-wide
in scope, the Work Projeats Administration must take
cognizance not only of relief needs in North Dakota
but of relief needs in each of the Hg states of the
Union. The WPA quota is limited by the amount ap¬
propriated by the Congress for that purpose.
3. Provide opportunity for employment in CCC and NYA for unemployed
youth.
The new Federal policies do not limit employment
under these programs to youth from relief families.
Provide continued cqoperation with the State in the care of the
aged, the blind and dependent children as provided in the Federal
Social Security Act.
-13-
The estimates of the U, S, Department - of Agric\ilture, as to crop prpduction
for 1939» shows "but little change from 1938 or from the ten year average. A
summary of estimates contained, in a recent release of the U. S. Department of
Agriculture is given in Exhibit B.
EXHIBIT B - ESTIMATED PRODUCTION OF PRINCIPAL CROPS IN NORTH DAKOTA, IN BUSHELS
11 **r
10 year
averages *
bu.
1939
1938
bu.
1939
bu.
fo increase
or decrease
from 10 yr.
average
fo increase
or decrease
from
1938
All wheat
73 738 ooo
79 839 000
80 obo 000
1 8.5
1 0r3
Corn
16 305 000
16 186 000
lb 865 000
- 8.8
- 8.2
Oat b
30 595 000
31 298 000
29 920 000
- 2.2
-
Barley
28 9U7 000
21 318 000
2b 939 000
-13.8
4-17 - 0
Rye
8 076 000
12 97U 000
7 035 000
-12.9
-^5.8
Flax
U 008 000
1 U90 000
1 6b 7 000
-58.9
I 0.5
Potatoes
9 137 000
12 070 000
10 710 000
4-17.2
-11.3
* 10 year average - 1928-37.
1939 From crop estimates as of September 1, 1939.
From U. S. Department of Agriculture,_Agricultural Marketing Service,
Office of Agricultural Statistician, Fargo, North Dakota
Release dated September 12, 1939*
-lH-
OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
One of the objectives of the relief survey of September 1, 1939» was to
ascertain the occupational characteristics of persons on relief together with
the occupational characteristics of the estimated additional case load.
For administrative purposes, the relief load, at any given time, may be
divided into two major groups: employable and unemployable. Households arc
classified as employable if there is an employable person between the ages
of l6 and 6U years working or deemed able to do gainful work. Persons handi¬
capped by physical or mental disabilities were classified as unemployable.
The usual occupation of the head of a family, when self-supporting was
used in determining occupational backgrounds.
Exhibit C, shows the classification of employable and of unemployable re¬
lief households as of September 1, 1939» classified according to the usual oc¬
cupation of the head of the family or the breadwinner of the family.
EXHIBIT C - CLASSIFICATION OF RELIEF CASES RECEIVING PUBLIC AID
ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1939, ACCORDING TO USUAL OCCUPATION OF HEAD OF FAMILY
USUAL OCCUPATION OF
HEAD OF FAMILY
EMPLOYABLE CASES ONLY
UNEMPLOYABLE CASES ONLY
NUMBER
PERCENT OF
GROUP
TOTAL
NUMBER
PERCENT OF
GROUP
TOTAL
FARM OPERATOR
FARM LABORER
WHITE COLLAR WORKER
SKILLED MANUAL WORKER
SEMI-SKILLED MANUAL WORKER
UNSKILLED MANUAL WORKER
DOMESTIC AND PERSONAL SERVICE
NO USUAL OCCUPATION
NOT ASCERTAINABLE
TOTAL
3 60U
1 UU9
570
m
1 51U .
5 032
501
337
15U
25.3$
10. U
U.i
5.6
10.9
36.1
3-6
2.1+
1.1
950
• 271
3 185
j 12 U
] 229
U U 3
j 1 177
8 UU7
j 3«3
7.8$
2.2
1-5
1.0
1.9
3-6
9-7
69.2
3.1
13 9Ue i 100.0$
j 12 209
100.0$
-15-
The total number of dependent employable cases on September 1st, was
13,9^0. The table shows that 25.8 percent were farm operators; 10.4 percent
farm laborers, making a total of 36.2 percent of the employable relief case
load with a farm background. The largest single group consisted of 5.032
unskilled manual workers. The number of_farm laborers ulus the number of
unskilled manual_ workers was 6,Hgl or U6,5 percent of the total employable
relief case lead. Of the total employable group, white collar workers con¬
stituted only U.l percent and skilled manual workers 5.6 percent.
A total of 69.2 percent of the unemployable case load was classified as
having no usual occupation. A majority of old age assistance recipients and
of aid to dependent children recipients was classified in this group.
The group also includes heads of households who had never worked,
chiefly older women who have become heads of families.
Exhibit D gives a classification of additional households and single per¬
sons who had a non-relief status on September 1, 1939 "but who, in the opinion
of the county survey committees, will be without sufficient resources to meet
subsistence needs in the winter of 1939-19^0. This prospective additional re¬
lief load, is divided into three groups -
1. Farm Operators
2. Employables other than farm operators
3. Unemployables.
In the first group, the present and the usual occupation of the head of
the family are the same for 92.3 percent of the total prospective cases.
-16-
EXHIBIT D - CLASSIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLDS AND SINGLE PERSONS
WHO HAD A NON-RELIEF STATUS ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1939, BUT WHO WILL BE WITHOUT
SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO MEET SUBSISTENCE NEEDS IN THE WINTER OF 1939—19^0
PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL STATUS
USUAL OCCUPATION OF
HEAD OF FAMILY IN
"ARM OPERATOR
EMPLOYABL
THA
FARM OPE
ES OTHER
N
RATORS
UNEMPLOYABLES
TOTAL
CASES
THE PAST
DUMBER
PERCENT
OF
GROUP
TOTAL
NUMBER
PERCENT
OF
GROUP
TOTAL
NUMBER
PERCENT
OF
GROUP
TOTAL
NUMBER
PERCENT
FARM OPERATOR
212
98.3
509
1.7
l6l
10.3
13 882
53-6
FARM LABORER
125
0.9
2 898
26.6
168
10.7
3 191
12. 3
WHITE COLLAR WORKER
2
-
376
3-5
6
0.1+
38*
1.5
SKILLED MANUAL WORKER
1
-
6. it
9
0.6
706
2.7
SEMI-SKILLED MANUAL WORKER
ll
0.1
1 358
12.5
18
1.1
1 380
5.3
UNSKILLED MANUAL WORKER
31
0.3
l» Ml
*1,0
36
2.3
* 531
17.5
DOMESTIC AND PERSONAL SERVICE
3
-
299
2.7
6-9
It.It
371
1,5
NO USUAL OCCUPATION
15
0.1
177
1.6
1 050
67.1
1 2*2
*.8
NOT ASCERTAINABLE |
UU
0.3
111!
1.0
*9
3.1
207
0.8
TOTAL t
13 UUO
100.0
£ 10 m
100.0
;i 566
100.0
"£ 25 89*
100.0
Employables Other than Farm Operators
In this group are 10,888 prospective cases of which 26.6 percent are farm
laborers and Ul.O percent unskilled manual workers. These two groups constitute
67.3 percent of the prospective relief group (other than farm operators) who will
probably require assistance in the coming winter. The third largest group is the
semi-skilled manual worker who constitutes 12.5 percent of the total. Farm oper¬
ators constitute U.J percent of the total, skilled manual workers 6.U percent,
white collar workers 3*5 percent, domestic and personal service workers 2.7 per¬
cent, no usual occupation 1,6 percent and no ascertainableoccupation 1 percent.
-17-
Un employables
The prospective additional unemployable case load totals 1,566 cases.
Of this number, 1,2*12 or 67.1 percent are classed as persons with no usual
occupation. This percentage is almost identical with the percentage of un-
employablos with no usual occupation who were actually on the relief rolls
on September 1, 1-939• The other 3^.9 percent were scattered among the other
nine groups; the largest single group - 10.7 percent of the total - being
classed as farm laborers.
Total Prospective Additional Case Load
The total prospective additional case load of 25,89*+ cases is made up of
13,*+*+0 farm operators, 10,888 "employables other than farm operators" and
1,566 unemployable cases. The usual occupation of 53»6 percent of this total
was farm operator, and 12.3.percent farm laborer, making a total of 65.9 per¬
cent with a farm background. Unskilled manual workers constituted 17.5 per¬
cent, Farm operators, farm laborers and unskilled manual workers constitute
83.*+ percent of the total prospective case load.
-18-
appendix table no. 1
north dakota state totals
schedule a - number of cases receiving assistance september 1, 1935
classified by relief program and occupation
classification by usual occupation of head of family |n past
classification by
employabIlity
and
relief program
agricultural
non-agricultural
no
usual
occupa¬
tion
not
ascer¬
tain¬
able
totals
farm
opera¬
tors
Farm
labor¬
ers
white
collar
skilled
manual
worker
semi¬
skilled
manual
Worker
un¬
skil¬
led
manual
work er
h- 0) >
co cr. x
Li L) U
S£LCO
(ll
(2)
(ll
(HI
751
761
771
781
°(9)
7101
fill
(n
Li
i. wpa
8 15U
126
956
U67
658
1 278
!| 085
271
102
9
.j
CD
<£
2. fsa
2 687
2 UgU
87
1
H
1
29
62
7
O
•J
1. ccc
1 360
605
282
51
61
96
511
18
81
111
i
1|. G. r, emp.
1 2J9
179
12 U
50
5?
136
. *13
l6l
92
25
5. oaa
7 913
7116
lUH
107
77
12U
220
199
6 030
266
>
O CO
_! u
6. ab
131
It
3
11
1
3
6
1
97
8
Qu-1
s; m
□ <
l'. adc
2 085
9H
26
U 8
ill
U 6
7U
777
975
31
2
3
8. g. r. unemp.
2 077
106
98
19
32
56
il»3
200
1 3115
78
9. Totals
26 1U9
h 55I1
1 720
755
903
l 7H5
5 175
1 678
8 7 8 u
537
10. less duplications
1 076
172
78
18
23
5«
231
71
I105
20
li.
UNOUPLICATed TOTAL
25 073
382
1 6 U 2
737
880
1 685
5 2 U U
1 607
8 379
517
schedule b - estimated additional number of households and single persons who
will be without resources sufficient to meet subsistence needs in the fall and
winter of 1939 - 19*»0, classified by occupation
USUAL OCCUPATION OF HEAD OF FAMILY IN PAST
AGRICULTURAL
NON-AGRICULTURAL
NO
USUAL
OCCUPA-
Tl ON
(I0l
NOT
ASCER¬
TAIN¬
ABLE
(111
PRESENT
EMPLOYABILITY
(ll
TOTALS
(2)
FARM
OPERA¬
TORS
(3)
FARM
LABOR¬
ERS
CO
WHITE
COLLAR
(5)
SKILLED
MANUAL
WORK ER
(61
SEMI¬
SKILLED
MANUAL
WORKER
(71
UN¬
SKIL¬
LED
MANUAL
WORKER
(0
DOMESTIC &
^ PERSONAL
— SERVICE
EM-
ITY
1. FARM OPERATORS
13 llllO:
13-212
125
2
1
H
31
3
15
hu
-J
1- —
2 CD
Li <
cn>
2. ALL OTHER
EMPLOYABLES
10 888
509
2 898
376
696
1 358
h Hi
299
177
n't
u 0
cr -J
Q- Q_
3. UNEMPLOYABLES
1 566
l6l
168
6
9
18
36
69
1 050
119
ll. TOTAL POTENTIAL CASES
25 891!
13 882
3 191
3SU
706
1 380
H 551
371
1 2U2
207
-19-
APPEND IX TABLE NO. 2
PUBLIC RELIEF EXPENDITURES OF STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS,
BY SOURCE OF FUNDS AND BY PROGRAMS
YEAR ENDED JUNE
|TEM
federal
state
county
TOTAL
Amount
Per¬
cent
Amount
per¬
cent
Amount
per¬
cent
Amount
per¬
cent,
old Age Assistance
aid to blind
AID to DEPENDENT CHILDREN
sub-total
v.. '
county poor relief
sponsorship of*rel|ef projects an
other special programs -
state Agency
county agencies
$757 691
9 570
5U 232
50.0
50.0
33.3
$ .368 8H5
9
5H 233
25.0
50.0
35.3
$ .368 8H5
5H 235
25.0
33.^
$1.H75 381
19 138
162 638
100,0
100k0
100.8
801 U93
y
ug.U| H32 6H6
1 19U
-I HH 193
118 053
26.1
68.1
100.0
68.1
H23 078
68H 92H
55 223
25.51 1 657 217 1QO.O
31.9? 2 1H9 118 leo.o
-j HH 198100.0
31.91 173 276 100.0
total
Administration and service costs
state
county
total
1 32 550
f 29 ^56
-[ 162 251
23.2^ 107 897
m 325 736
7H.6
76.8
6H.2
55 223
152 377
25.Hi 217 H7H:ioo,o
—: 1H0 HH7 100,0
30.0' 507 569 100.0
! 62 006
9.6: ^33 633
66.9; 152 377
23.5; 6H8 016:100.0
grand total ^$863 h99
l8.5i$2 H92 72^
53. M*1 315 602
28.1;$h 671 825:100,0
Year ended June 30, 1939 1
old age assistance 5
aid to blind ;
a|d to dependent children
sub-total
county poor relief i
Sponsorship of relief projects an
other special programs -
state agency ;
county agencies
S22 766
13 269
206 737
50.oi H11 383
50.0; 13 269
33.3; 2oe 737
25.0; hll 383
50.0";
33.3; 206 737
25.0; 1 6H5 532 jlOO.O
26 538 100,0
33,h: 620 211 100.0
1 0U2 772
D~t
H5.5; 631 3S9
-i 722 528
- 31 6h3
-i 10h 950
27.5: ^13 120
55.3; 631 H83
100.0 1
55.3: 3h 689
27.0-
hh.7-
hh.7
2 292 281:100.0
1 HiH 011:100.0
31 6H3 100.0
189 639 100.0
total
Administration and service costsi-
state
county i
total
37 65H
3u h87
-S 136 593
28.8:; 92 9U7
6.h; 277 688
61.7
71.2
51.8
8H 689
22H 088
3^,3
hi.8
221 282 ; 100.0
130 601 100,0
536 263:ioo,o
72 1u1
10.8 i 370 635
55.6
22H 088
33.6
666 86h;ioo.o
grand total ;$1 lit* 913
2H,3;$1 921 1H5
hi,8
$1 558 38O
33.9
$h 59H H3S
100.0
-20-
APPENDIX TABLE NO. 3
UNDUPLICAT ED TOTAL OF CASES RECEIVING ASSISTANCE SEPTEMBER 1. 1939
CLASSIFIED BV USUAL OCCUPATION OF HEAD OF FAMILY IN THE PAST
CCUNTY
(1)
TOTALS
(0
AGRIC
CULTURAL
NON-AGRICULl
rURAL
NO
USUAL
OCCUPA-
Tl ON
(10)
NOT
ASCER-
TAI N-
ABLE
(11)
FARM
OPERA
TORS
(3)
FARM
LABORERS
m
WHITE
COLLAR
(5)
SKILLED
MANUAL
WORK ER
(O
SEMI¬
SKILLED
MANUAL
WORKER
(7) ,
UNSKILLED
MANUAL
WORKER
(«)
DOMESTIC
AND
PERSONAL
SERVICE
(?)
ADAMS
BARNES
BENSON
BILLINGS
BOTTINEAU
BOWMAN
BURKE
BURLEIGH
CASS
CAVAL!ER
DICKEY
DIVIDE
DUNN
EDDY
EMMONS
FOSTER
GOLDEN VALLEY
GRAND FORKS
GRANT
GRIGGS
HETTINGER
KIDDER
UMOURE
LOGAN
MCHENRY
MCINTOSH
MCKENZl E
MCLEAN
MERCER
MORTON
MOUNTRAIL
NELSON
OLIVER
PEMBINA
PIERCE
RAMSEY
&ANSOM
RENVILLE
RICHLAND
ROLETTE
SARGENT
S)HER| DAN
SI cux
SLOPE
Stark
STEELE
STUTSMAN
TOWNER
TRAILL
WALSH
WARD
WELLS
WILLIAMS
3
i!?
P?
502
199
559
SIS
938
293
292
29>J
570
337
137
012
528
209
250
386
39*
296
700
>478
60'
60
350
gus
314s
m
uo6
232
Hf
2U0
57 f
15
2UU
552
127
570
1 k
S25
161
m
1 551
k
207
15
202
V
83
261
I3l»
107
A
227
10
153
20
16
It
397
10
11
10
23
60
58
92
117
119
29
22
116
J
ul
16
203
11
20
30
183
6
195
21
18
8
81
d
75
J!
29
1
25
11
ii
21
28
1
17
h
$
101
10
6
52
2
65
20
98
2 U
lU
2
>4
10
H
0
20
77
Jo6
7
15
5
6*
139
1
28
15
16
10
10
'5
70
15
11
10
10
19
12
18
6
2U
1
15
1
18
3
J
2
11
H
8
7
15
1
20
28
75
13
ii
197
ll
28
282
99
n
25
*1
118
18
130
59
42
III'
30
180
2§
12
11
122
71
2
58
III
S3
13l4
43
101
?5
2
11
44
206
A
U
2
7
14
2
H
llU
_3
17
1l4
2
2
37
13
10
~7
TOTAL
25 073 332 1 6142
737
880
1 685 5 2I4U 1 607 s 379
517
-21-
appendix table no. k
estimated additional number of households and single persons who will
be without resources sufficient to meet subsistence needs in the
winter of 1535 ~ 19w0, classified by present occupational status
county
adams
barnes
benson
billings
bottineau
bowman
burke
burleigh
cass
pavali£r
dickey
divide
dunn
eddy
emmons
foster
golden valley
gran® forks
grant
griggs
hettinger
kidder
lamoure
Logan
mchenry
mcintosh
mckenzie
mclean
Mercer
morton
mountrail
nelson
oliver
p'embi na
pierce
ramsey
ransom
renville
richland
rolette
?argent
sherjdan
sioux
slope
sf ark
steele
stutsman
*
towner
traill
walsh
ward
wells
williams
total potential
additional cases
operators
group classification of potential cases
'other
employables
250
! 23
unemployables
10
l6
35
16
12
2
22
17
H
o
j
53
15
2
lg
11
10
22
J1
21
11
u5
6
30
19
$■22
21
11
23
12
157
26
2
Ho
20
i£7
62
21
5°
log
total
25 g^H
13 HHo
10 ggg
1 566
-22-
-
" I
- V ' • . 3*
■ . ^ -;3
! iS
;
-• si-
!. ' *
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M
•a
Sir
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Iw
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ir?i
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s
1 • •• 'b,
V ., ■ ~
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b-:
'•"x
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■
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■
m
wm
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S:< '
m
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Ml:'
m
fti
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' I n I 1 M
^ >3 ->gr
Ml -
■ ->
■■
-:7
Si&J
b-.Q --
©M
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ggi^H
■* ■.
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am
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