Celebrating History: Drought and crop problems in the news

By Emily Mayer

The prolonged drought and subsequent crop issues continued to make headlines in The Havre Plaindealer. While wheat yields exceeded hopes in some cases, the state issued a statement that it estimated losses for the 1919 season at $60 million and counting. As a result of crop failures and the potential of farmers going bankrupt, the State of Montana was allowing counties to put on the ballot measures that would create a bond that would be used to help farmers purchase seed grain for next season.

Hill County commissioners acted upon petitions, and they received two, one for...