The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-28
Highly ColOred Reports Sent
Out From Denver
Concerning the Destruction OF
the Corn Crop
By THE HOT WINDS
In Kansas and Nebraska the
Past Week.
Facts Bad Enough Without So
Much "WOrd Painting"

DENVER, Colo, July Passengers
arriving on the trains from the east re-
port a wide spread destruction Of all
kind Of crops in Kansas and Nebraska
on account or the hot winds.
Superintendent Campbell Of the Bur
lington road says that figures will hardly
express the damage that has been
wrought within the past week. Two
weeks ago it was estimated by experts
that Nebraska would contribute 100000,
600 bushels of corn to the worlds pro-
duct Of '94
Dir. Campbell prophesies that it will
be necessary to ship corn into many
counties of Nebraska in order for the
farmers to live until another season.
Hundreds Of square miles Of the fine
looking corn hangs dry and lifeless over
the state as large as Pennsylvania or
New York.
The report from the lines Of the Union
Pacific, Burlington, Rock Island, Mis-
souri, Pacific and santa Fe are al Of the
same tenor Passengers from the Car
window look out upon vast fields of corn
and thousands of acres Of hay rendered
absolutely worthless by the poisonous
breath of the simeon from the sandy
deserts of Texas.
In many places the farmers anticipated
the certain destruction that was borne
upon the air, aud several days ago they
began To cut the corn az il stood green in
the field. Their object was to save the
corn for fodder. Thousands of farmers
stood helpless alongside their fields,
watching with gloomy forebOdings while
the dreaded blast from the southwest got
in its work. Their only hope Is tnat
bounteous rains may start another grass
crop before it IS too late in the season
Travellers also report that the high
ways leading eastward through Nebras-
ka and Kansas are already thronged
with disheartened settlers who have
abandoned their homes and are hurry
ing toward Iowa and Missouri for relief
from the most unbeArable heat A SINH
lar scene has not been Witnessed since
1878. when the hot winds almost depOpu-
lated western Kansas.
Deserted towns and lonely houses
standing out on the naked plains are si-
lent witnesses of the memorable exodus
of 1878. The year following came the
grasshOpper plague, from which it re-
quired Kansas ten years to recover.
Railroad Izen look on the advent of
the hot winds IN Kansas and Nebraska
this year vastly more damaging to the
railroad interests than the recent strike.
The strike was Of short continuance, but
the great falling off in the crops of the
regions east Of the mountains will be
keenly felt by the railroad companies
for many months to come.
The disaster viii DO felt in Colorado in
many ways, one of which will be the in
ability of a large region to buy coal
mined in the Rocky mountains. Colo
rado cattle men have been accustomed
to ship their cattle to Kansas and Ne
braska to be fattened for the market
With the corn crop more than 81 per
cent short, il will be a serious matter
with the cattlemen to find a fattening
ground for their stock. Denver has
drawn large Quantities Of produce Of all
kinds from the region which has been
afflicted with the hot winds. A new
source Of supply must be found
Reports at the railway office also show
there is great danger of fires along the
railroad track and the road will be re-
quired to take extra precaution to pre-
vent extensive prairie fires The dry grass
will be constant source of danger for
mouths to come
The above. sent out from Denver, is
undoubtedly very highly colored by a cor
respondent who ought to be called down.
While the hot winds have undoubtedly
injured the corn and totally destroyed il
in many western counties, the stories
about settlers fleeing to Missouri (where
they have been praying for rain for two
weeks) are pure fabrications. There are
no deserted towns standing out on the
naked plains since the exodus of 1873"
The whole dispatch expresses more
gush than gumption. The JOURNAL. pub
fishes it because the matter has been
sent to every newspaper in the country,
and il is now impossible to suppress il.
The people Of Kansas may as well read
it in their own papers in the papers
outside the state, in every one Of which
1T will aDDaar-En1