New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-06
THE RAIN THAT SPOILED THE FOURTH.
ITS EXTENT AND ORIGIN-iMoUNT OF THE RAINFALL
EFFECT or THE RECENT DROUGHT IN IhH
PARKS or NEw-YoRK AND BROOKLYN.


EFFECT or THE RECENT DROUGHT IN THE
PARKS or NEw-YoRK AND BROOKLYN.
A gracious rain began to fall Yesterday afternoon
from clouds that for several hours had o6scured
sun and sky. Al first 1t descended ~ q mSt;llNe
vauor but the storm increased steadily ana ny
O'clock the rain fell IN torrents. Until
nearly o o'clock it continued undated, but
then the rain ceased, AMI Tor q while ,he
But at a later hour the sky became again again
rain began falling heavily again ne t"ta.
taken ut the SIgual Service Station on the Eqult-
able Building. was 10000 inches. The rain began
TO fall in this city at 81 p. m ana continued o'er
five hours. Although the storm appeared ~
many respects to be merely local II was the beilel
of the Signal Service officers that heaVy s.uIln
was impending. Is was reported that STORM
centre had gathered in the afternoon IN southern
Michigan and that at Marquette heavy ram was
falling Storm signals had been ordered at Sandy
Hook Cape Nav, Bamegat, Delaware iireakwa'cr ana
other points on the Atlantic coast. The barometer
was generally lower Throughout the country ana
particularly in the West. AT the prlncpal STATIONS
In New England higher temperature was recordSu,
bat in the West II was generally lower. Inc
weather was cooler. however. at Cnlcago Wlere
the thermometer registered ~, at 81 LOUIS anu
generally throughout Indiana and Michigan.
marked change IN the heat took place III tnls ely
the thermometer recording fall OF IL since lhe
previous day. The wind increased III velocity mere
until II reached twenty miles an hour. Las even
inc light rain was filling at Albany ana ftspnrg'
Inc effects of tins Storm aud the showers OF IasI
week can be re IDLY seen in VISIT III the parks Oh
this city and Brooklyn. he effects of the extreme
heat and the long continued drouth llad been no.
where more severe than upon them. Auap?eaIahce
of freshness had gone from most OF the folIage.
The grass mad dried up, and with scarcely an
exception. these usually green ana inviting
breathing places of the cities bad become
brown and dust covered. Central Park
suffered most severely s nin,. one r cI c
iIf we do not have q good rain before long
this weather will ruin the park. Inc roofs OF pInntI
have already been so dried up that IT. W4 1rd
| Il nj Of nfqpp
healthy again. If rams do not faH' lear very
much for the result
where it was scorchcd and w!thered and stunted IN
growth, and had turned 10 a light brown color inc
ball and croquct grounds had the barren appear
| ance of Winter and were in such bad cGnGitlon
that all playing upon them was, proiilpl'Vu'
Near the rocks and along the sides of the wall Ks the
grass was scOIched almost TO whcness. On thc lawns
and side strips between the drives ana WaiAs thS
paths made by persons walking across were Deacneu
and sandy. The pasture land near the Old Museum
was wholly trodden down and barren IT. Was
with difficulty that grass OF sHmcithl
nounshment could be procured rl 3Sr ,oo ,@g
gun 10 tnIn and to drop of. The naples
showed the effects OF tne ar fnatme, f fsrir
leaves rapidly. one near Elghth-dNe. having AZ
ready been stripped of over tw0-nrds or lts ioii-
age At a spot between the Fltty-nInth-st. walk
and the drive, and at other places where the ueeS
are upon a shallow depth of soil, not only me
naples but other trees were changing color ana cast
ing off their leaves The evergreen trees were lt Oh
dust and much faded. 1t was sad by one Oi the
| gardeners that the damage already done
to these trees will be shown IN their appearance
next wear hv stoppagc of growth, the lack o moist
IRE being felt By all the evcrgrccnS especially All
along Fity-nlnth-st. the trees and Shrubbery were
| n brown color aud upon the towering Trees
| especially all beauty had been destroyed by the
dust. The locust trees were yellow andlhe giound
underneath them covered with fallenlcaVcs Inc
| buternut and walnut trees presented a compare
Gyely healthy appearance, but hOfsc-cncstnut tree
near tho old Museum had its leaves nearly all
| turned. ,,..:.
with the exception OF the wIthoIed grass. Oh the
shrubs tic hlacs had been severely aiiectedard Inc
ground beneath them was thlcN with deau leaves as
! in late Fall The leaves Of the rose bushes along
! the walks were faded and of "a notified color.
| The plants and flowers scattered IN niue
beds throughout the PARK were Wllted ana had 1851
| all their beauty Other flowers whlth ornaments
! the points where the walks meet nave also lost
| Their beauty, and many OF their leaves have dcd
! The howcr-bcdS, however, near the Arsenal ING
| mineral springs. the 9TH Regiment Monument ana
the Fifthave entrance were III good condition. hey
were kept carefully Watcred every Gay ana IGohcu
bright and fresh. Oae Of the gardeners sad that II
took up the entire time Of the four gardeners az the
park 10 keep them alive. The vines were not per-
Ho trees have been as yet severely affected IL the
park and no trace has get been seen Oi the army
worm. CaterplaTS, however, have appeared Euch
earlier than usual, though not III large numbers.
Daring the Summer the lake las been lower That
usual. and its surface Is Tor the most part
which are usually made attractive by covering OF
grass aud moss, now bare or partly streWn win
wIthered leaves and grass.
In Prospect Park. brooklyn. the effect Of the heat
had been much the same as III Central Iarh,
although. perhaps not SO generally severe Much
dependence placed on the crop Of grass ~ Pros
meet Park and III this respect 1t had SUI
cred especially. for the army worm has
aided largely, in the work OF f, DISTINCTION th1
park that the crop Of grass this year viii be less
Than hall its usual One OF the Workmen SAID
" have been mere ten years and | never have seen
the grass so burned" On the Nnth-aYe. side OF
The park the foliage was much turned Ia color ana
generally covered with dust. The white birch and
the silver maple losing their leaves. but other
trees appeared to be in good condition, and In the
rlens ana similar places scarcely found trace
of the effect of the drouth The drives were
sprinkled constantly aud every night nine spTink-
lcrs were set at work watering the meadows. Many
barren spots were seem however, and the large com
mon aud picnic grounds were Drown and dry. The
small evergreen trees at the sides OF the walks were
full of dead leaves and spider webs Bushes were
droopcd ana wlltcd many OF the buds not having
come to full bloom The white flower shrubs were
apparently ruined, and prematurey dead leaves
t,o nd nm dor at