The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-26
NO FAITH IN SIGNS NOW.
THE PRESENT DROUGHT BEATS
THE RECORD so FAR

! The Cooters in the Rice Field bitches
Digging Deeper in the Mud for
Hiding Places-A Small Storm in the
Western Part Of the Cotton Region
Moistens a Little Of the Crop-The
Present May the Dryest That savan-
nah Has Ever Known-The Drought
on the Truck Farms.
| when do you think we will have rain q
is a question that reporters are asked
wherever they go. Not only are the farm
ers anxious to see the heavens open, but
| everybody down to the small boy who
| PLAYS in the streets and squares 1t is even
too dusty for him. The ladies, too, who
usually dislike wet weather, because it pre-
vents their shopping, are longing for a
! little rain.
An old saying is to the effect
that call signs fail in dry
weather. but the gentleman who plants
rice in the Little Ogeechee district told a
MORNING News reporter few days ago,
that it would be some time, probably ten
days, before there would be rain. 1t looked
something like rain on that day, and he
was asked why he thought the dry spell
would continue He said he knew it be-
cause the terrapins in the rice field bitches
were digg ng their holes deeper. II there
was any probability of rain when the water
dried out Of the bitches the "cooters" would
wait for il and not aunt for water or damn
spots under ground.
Yes erday vas another pretty warm day
throughout the south, especially in Ala
bama aud Georgia. The highest tempera-
ture reported was at Fort Gaines, 81
Other nigh temperatures were reported
from Milen 81, Jesup and Live Oak So =,
Eastman 92', the average for the Savannah
district being go. At Savannah the tenn
erly winds prevented the heat being op-
pressive.
RAIN NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
The Galveston, Little Rock and Memphis
cotton region districts yesterday reported
copious rains. The average for thirteen
stations reporting to Memphis was "a inches.
| This not great amount is of undoubted
benefit to the growing cotton in that re-
gion. This rainfall was produced by
storm center of moderate intensity passing
| eastward over Tennessee and North Caro-
lima. The barometer has fallen somewhat
below the normal over Georgia, and it is not
impossible that this section experience some
relief from the excessive dryness Of the last
thirty days by light local showers folio we'd
by fair weather.
The rainfall for May is, however, so far
below tho normal already, the deficiency
being nearly 213 inches, that it will un-
doubtedly & down on the records as the
dryest May since 1871, which is as far back
as the signal service records extend. May,
1881, with a rainfall OF S3 inches, has held
the lowest place so far. The present
May from the LIST to 18th inclusive, has had
only 10 inches, and il Is quite improbable
| that enough rain will fall before the 3lst to
bring the amount up to the record of 1881.
The largest rainfall ever recorded for May
was 5 % inches in May 1872 and 1888: that
amount is not excessive, and the contrast
with the amount for May 1889, namely, 10
inches it noteworthy.
THE DROUGHT AND THE CROPS.
The truck farmers, when asked about
their crops, put on long faces, and say that
truck gardening this year has gone to the
demnition b0wwows.
A good joke for dry season is told on a
German truck farmer, who was standing
l his bean patch yesterday, lugubriously
bewailing the condition of bis truck. dot
ish TOO bad already" he said, and filling
by hitting the pipe, and after lighting
threw away the unextinguished match
which set fire to the growing beans, and the
farmer had to fight the fire to save the
vines There is a very strong thread of
fiction in tho woof and warp of this story,
NGgtLdl cO0DQSllDle
would lead the reader to infer.
Farmers in the market yesterday said
that they are shipping comparatively little,
and that rain now won't save them. Every
thi IS burned up.
win you come out even this year!" one
Of them was asked.
"Well, we may barely come out even, but
it will be a close margin" was the reply.
NOT so BAD AFTER ALL.
There is another side to it, however
MessrS. Hart Bros, who are heavy shippers
of truck gardening do not share, the views
of the complaining gardeners. The Hart
Bros. say that the increased prices the
truck farmers are receiving for the produce
shipped will fully balance the shortage, and
tie farmers will 10 rs well this season as last
| on account of the advance in prices occa-
stoned by the shortage in crops. This view
is also shared by careful observers, who
say that, had 1t not been for the drought,
shipments would have been very heavy
aad prices nominal.
Beans sold yesterday in Philadelphia at
SO per crate. In tho telegram announcing
| ths fact, IL was said lat it is impossible to
foresladow prices tins week, but it is be-
lieved that present prices, which are high,
VIII be main aimed.
Three Geographic reports Of sales in New
York yesterday snow that beans sold at
- 80 er crate and potatoes from So to 81 80
pc bsrrel, and cuils sold at So per barrel
Cucumbers sold al the way from 80 to S.
The Savannah cucumbars will begin TO go
forward rapidly this week.
The shipments Of vegetables, especially of
beans, were very light by the Philadelphia
steamer which sailed yesterday. The New
York steamer to-day will take out very
light shipment of beans but a fair ship
ment of potatoes. There is every Indication
that present prices will be maintained on
beans, but there may be a slight decline in
potatoes, which are commanding as good a
price at this late season as they did at the
beginning of the season a year ago and at
tho beginning OF this season.
THE COTTON SUFFERING.
Advices from the country TO factors in
regard TO the growing cotton continue very
doleful. The complaint from all quarters
is that the plant is suffering from drought,
and that rain is badly needed. From obser-
walton and general appearances rain seems
t. be about ~ far off as ever. The cool
weather has also continued from which the
sOnE plano las also suffered along
with ito lack of moisture.
The drought is getting 10 be q very serious
matter in the sea island districts, and com
plants are coming in OF poor seed, which
has rotted in the ground, and in many
places planters are not replanting, so that
the impression PREVAIL K among some
factors is that tho sea island crop next sea-
son will 30 very short, owing TO tbs pc r
stands, bad seed aud dry, cold weather.
4 4 dc