The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-09-08
Don't 90 w est,

The country never looked prettier at
this season of the year than now In
stead of the "meadows brown and sere'
which usually meet the gaze in Septem-
Der, the meadow and hillsides are alike
clothed in the verdure of Spring, and the
foliage of the trees and shrubbery is fresh
donning their autumnal tints this year,
no doubt, while the fields are yet green.
The continuous rains of the past summer
have not been an unmiXed evil. Though
they damaged a good deal of hay, they
produced an abundant aftermath and
excellent fall pasturage. Indeed, when
our farmers contrast their condition with
that of the farmers of the West, they will
find much to be thankful for The per
sonal observations and enquiries of State
Senator Tanner, of Illinois, published in
an exchange reveal an alarming state OF
affairs rs the result Of drouth i'll South
ern Illinois. Last year the farmers either
sold oft their surplus corn or fed it to the
hogs, and as rule were depending Oh
this years crop for subsistence. There
are many fine farms of 200 acres and over
in the State from which not a dollar will
be realized this year. The effect OF the
drouth on the growing crops has been
simply terrible. In the territory descrb-
| ed and in portions of some Of the coun-
ties north Of the Nandalia Road there
had not been Il drop of rain since June
Both During this time the heat has been
very oppressive, the thermometer being
from 80 up us high as 100, with only or
casional exceptions.
Judging from his personal observation
and the reports he has received from
| others, Senator Tanner estimates that
| the yield OF wheat will not exceed three
of an average yield, and of poor quality.
| The oat crop is about half an average
y
corn is complete failure. In the entire
| belt the acreage planted will not yield an
average Of one bushel to the acre. All
! kinds of vegetation are an entire failure.
| The pastures had been dried up for more
| than three weeks, all species of Vegeta-
| ton being as dry as if it were in Decem-
Der. In addition to this the parched con
| dition of the grass and stubble resulted in
numerous fires, and large sections Of the
country adjoining the main line and
branches Of the Ohio < Mississippi Road
! have been burned over Being asked
what the effect upon the people of these
unexpected calamities would be, the Sen
ator stated that farmers would have to
sci! oil all their surplus stock for what it
would bring and ship it ont of the country.
| They were driving cattle mu!es, hogs
and sheep to the railroad stations, and
selling them for what they could get.
| There is nothing for stock t. feed on,
and water is scarce, all the small streams
being dry. In the Senator's opinion one
fifth Of the population viii have to be
supported by the counties until next har-
vest
This drouth has been quite general in
the west and south, and also in Canada,
where destructive forest fires have pre-
vailed, entaiIng severe losses in addition
tothe crop failures. These facts strength
eli the position taken by our correspon
dent, 5. g., with regard to Eastern men
emigratng to the west, and incline us to
supplement his advice OF 800 slow with
Don't go.