The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-11-01
.rs,e sf.nns s.rnwrni.

INC Sht:S. Si1SE+ls-
st Paul Pioneer Press.--Coutinued
cloudy skies lend probability 10 the hope
tina, we are now approaching the end of
one of the severcst and most protraeted
d.ouths known to the Northwest since
i. was thiokly settled. II was in the
spring of 1888 that we saw our last abun-
d,nt rainfall, The mcuth Of May was
phenomenal, thai year, for Minnesota,
where men have a right to feel aggr,eved
If they are compelled 10 carry an UNI
brella more than u dozen days in the
year. But that ended excessive precipi
tation. The summer following was
about the average. Last autumn was
one long succession of clondless Indian
summcr days, stretching 10 the verge or
the holiday period. The mild winter fol
lowing was, ~singularly enough, I'M
marked by the heavy rains and SHOWS
that generally accompany high winter
temperatures. AS early as this spring
there were complaints from various parts
of the Northwest that the soil was too
dry for satisfactory seeding. Since then
we have been almost without rain. We
fell upon one of those curious cycles
when atmospheric conditions remain OBJ
stinately permanent and the high pres
sure area that signifies dry weather has
{ NAMED over some portion of the North
west for the best part uf a twelveiuonth.
All the disturbances that custemarily
attend the changing temperatures of
spring and suinmcr have centered to the
east Of us. All the hurricanes Of the
year, all the storms Of summer all the
fogs and drenchlng rains of the eqainox
spread themselves up and down The At
lantic coast, while with US the seasons
remained unyarying, save fer the gradual
waxing and waning of temperature fol
lowing the movement OF the earth in its
orbit. Had it not been for & providen.
tial intermission at a most critical time,
this year would be set down in history as
that of the great drought which dcvsst-
ated one OF the richest and most lroduc-
tive sections of the country. For ii
was only because such rains that came
were SO distributed as to give the grow
ing crops just the moisture they needed
that we were saved from the calamity
that has fallen upon y few Of TIE coun-
ties of North Dakota.
The marks of the drauth are every
where. City lawns arc az brown rs the
hillsldes of California. On our paved
streets we take little note of the change.
But let one pass beyond the solid per
ton OF the city to the ~outlavlpg prairie
and he will find the roads deep with dust
and even the solid soil ready to pUlycrIZc
beneath the pressure of the foot. Country
streams are drying up or have already
disappeared. The Mississippi is so low
that one does not recognize in its sordiA
volume the proud How Of the Father of
Waters. Rain is prayed for fervently
everywhere 10 keep tee wster courses
alive and provide tor man and beast dur
ing the congelation OF coming winter.
1t is the part OF wisdom to mako every
preparation for the months of cold that
are near at hand. We can hardly ex-
peet a sufficient rainfall to soak the
earth and set the springs to flowing be
fore the reign of lower temperature that
will stop the progress of the waters
underground. Beyond the discomforts
Of such q possible lack OF water supply
there is no occasion for anxiety. The
year OF drought is almost as certain to be
followed by one of abundant or cHees
sive rainfall as the setting OF the sun is
to be succeeded by tsris,ag. There will
be water enough and to spare next year.
And we have to thank the blessed rain
that came within a few days id june and
July that this great drought has been =
matter for curious speculation rather
than 4 biighting curse.