European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 25, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes saturday june 25, 1977 drought in South ruins crops cuts Supply of water along Melody Lane Richard Scott got a Load off his min when he decided to change Bis career. Feeling he was geared for better things he quit truck driving and shifted to the study of opera. He is the first graduate of the University of Florida s opera pro Gram and will be trucking on up to Newyork for auditions. A photo Atlanta a a two month drought through much of the South has parched land shrivelled crops and dried up water supplies threatening to Cost Farmers Mil Lions of  Farmers stand to take a double blow when their feed crops fail. They willbe unable to feed their livestock and will have to sell animals at a  Southern drought comes while the West s worst dry period in the Century continues almost unabated with Forest fire danger High and water rationing imposed in Many areas. Damage to Georgia s Corn crop is Esti mated at $94 million because of firework and Bud worm infestation As Well As Lack of moisture. We Are dry said Wayne county  agent Bobby Deal. We expect to Low 65 per cent of our Corn  most of Georgia s crops Haven t been planted and agriculture commissioner Tommy Irvin said the loss is impossible to estimate. The value of last year s soy bean crop was put at nearly $144 million. Several Georgia counties have begun is suing weekend warnings to residents to curtail washing their cars watering  Dens and filling swimming pools. In Houston county ala., agriculture officials said about two thirds of the 60.000 acres of Corn has been  crops in Alabama. Georgia and Virginia were All below Normal. Congressmen citizens lobby urge stabilizing of the . Population Washington api ten members of Congress say it s time the . Stopped the hypocrisy of urging other nations to control population expansion while this coun try in t doing it. A bipartisan group of congressmen surging adoption of a National population policy to stabilize american growth within20 or 30 years. What do we gain by growing asked sen. Bob Packwood a orc. At a briefing thursday sponsored by Zero population growth inc. A National citizens lobby advocating an end to world population growth. It s kind of hypocritical to talk to other countries about having a population policy when we Don t have  Packwood  senator said nothing would be gained by increasing this nation s Popula Tion except More pollution congestion strained natural resources and a decrease in the Quality of life. Rep. James h. Scheuer . Said the Adverse effects of More people can already be seen in this country in destruction of the environment depletion of resources and rising social problems. Zero population growth said the .population increased by 2.4 million in 1976. Reaching 216 million. The group said half of this growth came from births outnumber ing deaths and half from Legal and illegal immigration. Packwood and Scheuer stressed the importance of checking the problem of illegal aliens if the . Is going to stabilize its numbers. For the first time in years therein Hope of getting legislation passed in con Gress they said. I think the illegal alien Bill will Pas this Congress and the biggest Factor has been a change of attitudes of american unions Packwood said. Unions now re Alize illegals Are not just picking lettuce but taking other jobs at High pay Packwood said jobs Are the magnets Wolf okd As Austria envoy Washington up the Senate confirmed the nomination of Milton a. Wolf As ambassador to Austria. Drawing illegal aliens and that legislation making it unlawful to hire illegals should Cut off this  said the number of illegal aliens entering the . Each year primarily through Mexico is estimated at More than one  Are blameless people coming to our country for the same reason most four ancestors came to get a better life Scheuer said. But we can no longer be the escape valve of the developing  the congressmen said the . Should greatly increase both advice and Money to developing countries to Aid in controlling their populations and eliminating the Pov erty that drives people to escape to the other members of Congress joining i support of Zero population growth s goal of stabilizing the . Population by 2008are reps. Frederick Richmondd a y Anthony Beilenson. A Calif. Frank Horton . Clarence Long did. Pete Mccloskey a calf. Helen . Patricia Schroeder. A Colo and Stephen Solarz . Tobacco markets Are expected to Ope next month but this year s loss in Georgia alone is expected to be More than $8,5 Mil lion. In Virginia and Tennessee tobacco is in Good condition but both areas Needmore rain to maintain a healthy crop. Cotton losses in Georgia were estimate Dat $8 million but other states reported Good crop conditions despite a shortage of moisture. Pastures in Alabama Mississippi an Tennessee Are parched and dry and cattle men Are being forced to Send cattle to Market Early. In Alabama a spokesman for the cattle men s association said they stand to lose $100 million because calves Are Selling for about $35 per head less because they Are going to Market 75 to 100 pounds thinner than Normal. Experts in Mississippi said it would take full month of Normal rainfall to restore the Hay  North Florida where 17 counties have been severely affected some rain fell this week ending peach producers fears that most of the immature fruit would drop from the Trees. But a National weather service spokes Man in Florida said the drought is far from  South Carolina North Carolina and Louisiana have received enough rain recently to prevent crop damage. Mid May Rains in North Carolina held crop losses to a minimum and rain was so heavy in some areas that Farmers Are concerned about flood damage to tobacco  South Carolina crop damage was spotty. You can go one place and Fin Good crops then drive five Miles and find the crops completely gone said commissioner of agriculture g. Bryan Patrick. Most of Mississippi received some rain fall last week staving off potential crises in Cotton and soybean crops. In the West officials said some late Spring showers and Snow in Northern Cali fornia helped delay the Onset of a potentially dangerous fire season but scarcely dented the area s critical water shortage the drought contributed to recent wide spread fires at National Parks and forests in Arizona. New Mexico and  much of the Northern part of the Cali fornia residents have hunkered Down forthe duration. Water department officials in san Francisco Oakland Marin county and surrounding areas report that Manda tory water rationing programs Are meet ing their goals. Heavy rain fell in much of Georgia on wednesday but it was not expected to be enough to help. A far this year Savannah ga., has hadiz.27 inches of rain compared with a Normal rainfall of 21.21 inches. Precipitation for Alabama averaged .60 for the month of june when the Normal rainfall is2.81. In Virginia most areas received about one third the Normal rainfall of 3 5 to4 inches in june. Houston has Concrete reason to endanger Toad Houston Al he s Ahnelt two he Lar e�u0n Ariaa arvumj4 untie a a. Ivi s about two inches Long and chocolate Brown. He has Large warts on his Back. The sound he makes is a High pitched Birdlike Cheep that some Call a song. It sometimes stretches on for up to 15 seconds. He is the Houston Toad and he is in the limelight because the Federal government Lias hopped onto its bandwagon. The Interior department is proposing to declare seven areas around Houston about 35 Square Miles As a critical habitat for the Toad. The Agency says the Toad is an endangered species since there Are Only about 5,000 to 10,000  action could result in a freeze on Federal housing administration insure housing developments that might endanger the  the endangered species act passed by Congress in 1973. No Federal Agency May undertake any project that the . Fish and wildlife service believe would destroy critical habitat some Houston developers Nave reacted with a mixture Derisi i out and recklessly building Homes and kill ing off an endangered species. Leyendecker said. On the other hand we but Charles Leyendicker president of the greater Houston builders associating said the Ohba will take  a lion at Board meetings next week i know we would t be in favor of going or Robert Thomas a Texas am University specialist on the rare Toad says builders can develop new subdivision without destroying the Toad. He said this could be done by leaving Small critical areas of a new subdivision undisturbed