Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-09-24
JAMESTOWN. OAK. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER a. 1885.
DISASTROUS PRAIRIE FIXES.

DISASTROUS PRAIRIE FIXES.
Hundreds Of Wheat Crops Laid Waste
by the Devouring Element.
Never before in the history Of North
Dakota has there been such destruction
of crops and farm buildings by fire as in
the past ten days. The devastation is so
great that it amounts almost to public
calamity A large number of beginners
have had everything swept away and
have nothing left of the magnificent crop
they were so much rejoiced over only q
few days ago. This loss Is the more re-
gretful because it mainly came from delay
IN plOwing fire breaks, one of the cases
IN which delays are extremely dangerous
The devastation is greater this year, not
because the people have been more care
less but because there was more to destroy
and the condition of the weather was
such as to favor the rapid advance of the
BILE fields.
The subject of fire breaks should be
made the study of farmers 80 as to pro-
vide against such calamity next year.
Whether it would be best for number
of farmers in nelghborhood to JOIN to-
gether IN this work or each one take care
Of himself IS question for the people to
decide among themselves, but it ought to
be decided enc way or the other before
next spring and systematic course be
adopted early next year so that the
breaks could be backset, if in the sod,
before the frost comes and transforms the
grass into finder. This is the only means
of protection and by attending, to it in
time and systematically 1t can be made
effective. Those who are isolated and
away out in the prairie to themselves will
have to depend upon themselves, and in
such cases the good plan is suggested of
plowing few furrows two or three reds
apart and burning the grass between as
soon as 1t will burn in the fall. BY con-
ference of farmers together aad exchange
OF ideas on the subject no doubt and ef-
fective plan of protection could be ar
ranged. A few days work each year by
every farmer would save entire crops of
grain.
THE DESTRUCTION.
The Lloyds lost about $50 acres of
wheat southwest OF the city and some 40
acres northeast
}. 3. Fitzgerald lost about 1900 tons of
hay IN stack and horse at his stock
ranch southwest of the city and his herd
of over 500 head Of cattle were scattered
so that it will require several weeks to
recover them.
The Renney brothers, 25 miles south OF
town lost $500 bushels of wheat and
1900 bushels of oats together with all
their buildings and farm machinery.
Mr.. Wall, on Beaver creek, about IA
miles south of the city lost crop, buildings
and everything combustlble on his place.
Waldo Dennis lost large amount Of
wheat on his place south of the city.
North of Spiritwood the fire ragged fu-
riously and destroyed an i'm mense amount
of grain.
Cuyler Adams lost 200 acres Of wheat.
Z. 5. Russell hal 900 acres of wheat
destroyed.
Mr.. Wojcik lost so acres of oats, 4 hogs
and about ], 1000 feet of lumber.
Otto Gasal lost all of his machinery.
Teodore Gospodar lost 40 acres of
wheat.
! 1t ls rumored a large tract of wheat,
threshing machine and camping outfit
north of Splritwood lake was burned
Tuesday.
| G. NJ. Carr fought fire from Saturday
morning till night near Pingree and
saved all but about 25 acres.
! The rumor that the town of Sykeston,
all except the elevator, was destroyed is
untrue. Sykes & GO. lost some barley
and Mr.. Brenton about 200 acres of
wheat near that place.
The fire gave Darlington a close call
but by vigorous work was saved from the
devouring element.
| Of the devastation west the Bismarck
journal says:
| The fire is the most destructive known
for years. 1t ls on line of twenty miles,
north and south. Details of losses are
meagre, but the general reports received
indicate that many farmers have lost all
their grain and hay.
| Two fires have ragged. One started at
or near the railroad track on the south
side and less thar mile from Bismarck.
The other started in the hills northwest
| from this city two or three miles.
DR.. Bentley has lost loo bushels of
oats and 700 bushels of wheat.
Joseph Dietrich has lost several hun
dred bushels of grain.
Bates Brothers have lost everything
which could burn.
Campbell Brothers have lost all their
grain.
In the vicinity of Sterling nearly every
farmer is heavy loser.
Joe Sunderland came IN from the south
and tells Of having to drive hard to escape
fire on the Agard bottom.
Mr.. H. Il. Cowles, who lives about .
mile from Sterling, reports the following
losses south of the track. Mr.. Skinner
Loot b;s GROIN Alex White lost oil bis