SEGMENT: FARMING DURING GREAT DEPRESSION
George Cline>UIS Collection C-G>UIS Collection C-G, Segment 3
| <-Previous Segment | Next Segment-> |
- FARMING DURING GREAT DEPRESSION
- Became a supervisor in 1936. Served in poor relief and roads in township, and then served on four committees one year. Got $2.50 per day for work and 5c per mile one way. Board of Supervisors met 3 times per year, every 3 months. Committees got together independently. Served on Road & Bridge, Courthouse & Jail, Legislative, and Finance Committees and was chairman of Finance Committee. No one sold their property to pay taxes, although the best property sold for $100. Eggs cost 6c a dozen. There were community gardens in Beardstown for people on relief, but when the families got surplus commodities they did not use the garden. Surplus commodities were farmers' surplus crops that were not being bought on the market, so the government bought surplus foods, such as beef, cheese, pork, eggs, milk, potatoes, oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, and distributed it through a warehouse. Tells story about showing a well-off family what their tax dollars were giving to the families on relief. Grocers were selling poor quality produce but relief warehouses were getting good food. 25% of families in Panther Creek township were on relief, but when economy improved none stayed on relief. Did not pay much rent or any taxes for families on relief, but paid for food, fuel, medicine, and electricity. Never had electricity himself when he lived in the country but made sure others could have it. Describes process of giving orders to grocery stores.
