Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1899 — CHOPS LAID WASTE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHOPS LAID WASTE.

DEVASTATING STORMS SWEEP FIELDS OF GRAIN. Loa* Throughout the Northwest Will Reach the Mrtliona-Growing Grain Beaten Into the Earth by Torrents of Hail and Heavy Winds. Reports received from nearly all of the grain-growing States in the western Mississippi valley indicate that immeasurable and widespread damage to crops has been done by hail and wind. The States that have suffered the most are Minnesota, South Dakota, lowa and Nebraska. In lowa Monday night a terrific storm of drenching rain, accompanied by a furious and devastating wind, mowed down the grain, and where the damage did not amount to a total loss it left the fields in such condition that the farmers in many sections have practically given up hope of saving half of the crop they planned on. The stornqiook on frigidity and the accompanying element of disaster as it spread over Minnesota and South Dakota. The rain was turned to sharpedged hail in many places and to sleet thut cut the grain with almost as evil results in others. No accurate figures on the total damage can be made, but it is conservative enough to say that fully half a million acres of richly fruited crops have been leveled by the storm. Not only one cereal, but all of the various kinds that are particularly easy prey to wind and hail met injury. Corn was crushed or torn up altogether; unharvested wheat was flattened, and wide strips of country cut down as if by a mighty, all-powerful clipper of an angry god. Dispatches indicate thut the storm was central in lowa, where it seemed to gather and to leap along on its northerly and westerly course. Not only damage to crops is reported, but many farmers have the added loss of barns and sheds that were overturned or unroofed by the furious gusts of wind. Northwestern lowa was among the first sections visited by the gale. Plymouth and O'Brien counties tell. of. the most serious loss there. Hail fell in pelting showers and the only comfort the farmers got from the storm was the subsequent rain, which fell in torrents, over one and one-half inches of water being precipitated in Sioux City. From Marshalltown, lowa, is wired in a story of exceptional damage. Thousands of dollars’ damage was done to crops by the wind. Corn was injured here as much as grain, and many farm buildings were also blown down and windmills

wrecked, the whole ibss being beyond estimate. Corn and uncut grain in Nebraska were knocked flat- by the wind an* then drenched ,and. thrown into so<ld.v heaps by a heavy rain. A number of buildings were also demolished. These reports are duplicated in a thousand others from all paits of the States which fell under the aim of the storm. Farmers generally were anxious for a little rain, but most of all they dreaded wind and hail. Coming at this season of the year, which is higli tide in harvesting, the damage is necessarily much greater than it would have been had the storm been timed differently and of a different nature. The storm was very severe over the northern part of Nebraska.

UNCLE SAM MAY FEEL LIKE TRADING ELSEWHERE IF DOG ISN’T CALLED OFF. —-St. Paul Pioneer Press.