Morning journal and courier., 1881-09-03
THE SUMMER DROUGHT.

Expected Rains Still Holding AIoof- | Great Damage to the Crops From the Drought-Forest Fires Raging-Hopes of Local Rains.
 NEW YORK, Sept. 2.-The local promises
 of rain to-day have been disappointing, and
 no rain has fallen except in drops Reports from all sections indicate continued fair an d warm weather, with the thermometer from four degrees to twelve degrees lower. Re- ports from the State and the lakes show only local rains, most of them very slight. To- morrow s indications give no promise of rains of consequence, although there will probably be local rains along the north Atlantic and New England coasts. All promise to be light. The lowest barometer tonight is in New Jersey, but is regarded as indicating a storm of wind, which will probably not be accompanied by rain of any value to the crops.
 ROCHESTER, N. Y., Sept. "A short sharp thunder shower last night gave eight-tenths of an inch of rain. The grass and pastures are burned up. Most of the potatoes have been ploughed in and winter wheat will be put in Fruit is suffering greatly, and corn is failure. The rain will now be too late to be useful.
 DETROIT, Sept. 2.-The drought continues and corn is only half a crop. Potatoes are almost baked in the ground. Forest fires are doing much damage, but the losses, though heavy enough, have been exaggerated The local rains of Tuesday night happened fortu- nately at exactly the right time and the heaviest fires are out.
 LOUISVILLE, Ky, Sept. 2.-Rain has not fallen here for six weeks. The heat has been more intense than ever known in August. Great suffering is reported from farms in many parts of the State. Rain has fallen in some counties within two days, but is not of much benefit to the crops now. The price of food is greatly increased in this city
 ERIE, Pa, Sept 2.-The damage by drought in northwestern Pennsylvania can not be estimated, since this is principally dairy country and the hot dry spell has ex- hausted both pastures and water. In some localities the corn crop is only about half yield the grape crop about one-third and other small fruits are whitening upon the trees The barley crop escaped the drought and was exceptionally fine. Rain fell yesterday just back of the ridge, but was vicinity of the oil wells at Clarendon, and but for the vigilance of the people the oil country would be laid waste. The railroad companies have workmen on duty all the time fighting the fire. A forest fire broke out to day at Franklin Erie county, and razed strip of country five miles in length and mile in width. Michael Flynn's house and outbuildings, the Mohawk mills and hun dreds of hay and wheat stacks were licked up in the course of the fiery tornado Drums were beaten, horns were blown and the coun- try was generally aroused, and more than a thousand persons joined in the fight against the fiery element. The loss on buildings is about &30, 900, while that of timber lands cannot be estimated. Daniel and William Marsh are the heaviest sufferers
 CINCINNATI, O., Sept 2.-Light local rains have visited many parts of the West and South the last two days It is too late for most of the crops, but has done great deal of good in furnishing water for stock and re- plenishing dried up streams.
 PITTsBURe, Pa, Sept. 2.-The long drought which threatened to dry up the water courses completely and wholly destroy the crops has apparently been ended to-day. Last night large part of eastern Ohio and western Penn- sylvania were visited by refreshing showers, and to day the telegraph reports steady rains in some districts which have suffered most severely It is thought the rain will end the forest fires which have threatened much loss in the timber regions of this section of the State
 MANCHESTER, N. H., Sept 2.-There are no forest fires in central or northern New Hampshire so far as heard from. The at- naosphere was very smoky yesterday, but heavy thunder storm this morning has been followed by northeast storm since.
 INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 2.-The prolonged drouth in this region seriously affects the crops. There will be fair yield of corn in northern Indiana, but the central and south ern portion of the State will not realize half crops. Pasturage is fairly burned up. There has only been about one and three quarters of an inch of rain fall since June. The drouth is unprecedent- ed and the average temperature higher than for twelve years. There has been large amount of farm property destroyed by fires kindled by sparks from locomotives.