Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1897 — MENACED BY DROUGHT. [ARTICLE]

MENACED BY DROUGHT.

Central and Weatern States in Danger from Lack of Rain. Nearly the entire central and western portions of the United States are suffering from the long-continued drought. Danger and hardship exist in many of the sections where no rain has fallen recently, alrtd the result is great fear among the people. Had not the crops matured before the dry spell they would have been scorched and ruined. And even now fire threatens the fields and pastures on the prairies of Illinois and other WesternStates. In many instances the conditions have become such that there is actually severe suffering among the population. Farmers on both sides of the Missouri river are compelled to haul water many miles. Wells have become dry and men and animals must quench their thirst. The only rain that has fallen has been insufficient to affect the parched ground or to bring water into wells which have become dry or at least low. Instead of the fall rains, which would soften the ground for plowing, there is fair weather and an unusual and dangerous dryness. One of the greatest dangers connected with this condition throughout the country is that of fire. Not only in northern Wisconsin, covered by timber land, is there fear of destructive fires, but in Illinois and adjoining States every farmer whose acres are traversed by a railroad or are near to any railway line is constantly afraid his corn fields may be set afire by sparks from a passing locomotive. The dried-up pastures all over the prairie land are in the same danger, and the least carelessness may result in enormous destruction and even loss of life. As for the lack of water, it is daily becoming greater, and farmers do not know what they will do with their stock when present sources of supply give out, which will not be long if there is no precipitation of moisture soon. There is no State where these conditions do not exist. Kansas, Missouri, lowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana all are included in the belt where there is nothing but dust and the parched remains of harvest fields and pastures where animals grazed a month ago. In Illinois, Indiana and lowa there is the worst suffering, according to the reports received from all the cities, towns and hamlets in the country districts of these three States. ••• In Illinois and lowa, where so large a portion of the crop is corn and corn fields cover every county and line every railway, the most fear of prairie tires exists. It is only the absence of a strong wind which has so far prevented them, for tiny small spark might kindle one which could spread oyer a large area. The farmers have exercised the greatest care during the last two weeks to prevent small blazes spreading. But the fire danger and the suffering from want of water in some districts is not the only result of the drought. Nearly all pasturage has been made absolutely barren. At this time, when horses and cows usually are outside before the approach of the cold weather, they must be fed on hay. They have torn up even the roots in pastures in their endeavor to get grass, aud dust has token the place of verdure. ,