Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-20
A SUFFERING PEOPLE.

Sometimes there Ii orumbling among
the people of this Territory at the sort
of climate dispensed by that much
abused parsonage the clerk OF the
weather. In some places IL Is too hot,
In others too cool. In some localities
too much sunshine, in others too little.
In some years too much rain falls, in
others IL is too dry. Yet, after all, crops
do not fail. and the average of sunshiue
and shadow, cold and heat, wet and dry
weather does not vary materially from
year to year in the same locality. Farm
srs calculate in advance Hpon the pro-
duct of their acres, and are rarely dis
appointed. II is favored region, and
when compared with other lands YER
table Eden.
At the Antipodes are also farmers,
largely, however, engaged in stock rails
ing. The province Of New South Wales
has been settled for great many years.
II is subject to long spells of dry wea-
Their, but Just now is experiencing sea
son of unparalleled drouth. For twelve
months no rain has fallen, "the heavens
like a canopy OF brass have SPAWNED
the suffering land" and the scorching
rays of an unclouded sun have dried up
the streams and pools aud transformed
the once fertile plains into desert. An
exchange, describing the situation. says
Sheep and cattle are dying by thou
sands and ranchmen are in great dis
tress. One ranchman has lost 10000
sheep and 1900 cattle. Hundreds OF
men are already ruined, and continue
tion OF the drought will plunge the en-
tire province into bankruptcy. Never
since the great drought of 1896 has the
country been called to pass through
period OF such dire distress. The broad
plains which year ago were covered
with rich carpet of grass ten or twelve
inches high, aud capable of sustaining
millions Of cattle, are now covered with
light dry sand 10 the depth of tive or six
inches, blown there by the winds. The
smaller streams are all dried up, and
she larger ones are no longer streams,
hut series Of muddy pools following
the course Of the stream. SO scarce has
water become that cattle are often driv-
en- 30 or 40 miles to pool Of muddy
water, which 10 drained dry before they
leave IL. At these few watering places
cattle, wild animals and such birds IA
the emu struggle together for chance
TO slake their thirst. Nor is this terri
bile drought the only difficulty with
which the South Australian farmer has
now TO contend. kanearoos and rsb-
bits have greatly increased in numbers
until they overrun the entire land. IL Is
said that often rabbits are 30 numerous
that the plains for miles are alive with
them, completely hiding the groun
from sight. Since the drought has de-
stroyed all heritage the myriads of kan
garocs are driven FROM the wood and
thickets, and forced 20 forage more
openly for subsistence. So bold have
they become that they frequently enter
houses In search Of food. The condi-
ton of South Australia Is indeed de-
plorable, and the worst Is not yet. uu.
less the winds change and the rains
fall. The actual suffering thus far has
been confined 10 stock, but the death of
30 many cattle and the after destruc-
ton OF crops viii entail n scarcitv Of
provisions which will yes bring suffer
ing to many.