The herald., 1895-10-21
It IS A DREADFUL DR0UTA
According to Reports to the
Weather Bureau
PROLONGED AND EXTENSIVE
The Greatest Complaint Is From the
At1autic Coast
But the Rainfall Is Deficient From Maine to
the Rocky Mountains-The Change
Begins In Michigan
Associated Press Special Wire

| Associated Press Special Wire
| WASHINGTON, Oct. 2o.-Reports re-
ceived AT the weather bureau indicate
that the present drought is one OF the Sc
veIest, most prolonged and general known
| in the United States since the bureau S
| organization. There are few places
! which show an exception to the general
| condition, but in no large section of the
country, unless perhaps in the northwest
and far west, does there appear to have
been heavy rain tor the past Gwo
months or more. Where there has been
EXCEPTIONAL precipitation it has been
confined to small areas. In some parts
of the country the drought began in the
latter part of July. but in most of the sec
tions it did not become markedly pro-
nounced until in August.
The entire Atlantic coast, with few
exceptions, such as Charleston, S. c.,
and Augusta, Ca, shows a deficiency
below the normal rainfall since the lst
of August amounting in some instances
to almost half of the average preoipita
tion. The Ohio and Mississippi valleys
report similar conditions, as does part of
the Pacific coast. The great lake region,
upon the whole. has Jared better than
other sections of the country east of the
Mississippi. In some parts of the Rocky
mountain region. as in Colorado, Nevada,
Wyom ing and Utah, there have been ex-
cessive rainfalls during this period. and
along the Pacific coast from Olympia to
N.n Francisco there were good rains IN
Septem ber, as there have been in places
since in that section.
The greatest complaints come from
,pio
Pennsylvania. Fortunately, in most
parts of the country the drought did no
set in until after the principal crops
were matured. consequently the effect
has not been so disastrous as it would
have been If it had begun earlier. In
some places it has had slight effect on
the planting of winter wheat, and COM
plants come from many quarters OF the
inconvenience of securing water for do
mestic and stock purposes many small
streams. stock ponds, springs and wells
having become dry. Pastures have been
able that there has been All increase of
typhoid fever over the normal in many
of the sections where the drought is
severe.
The official figures for the entire country
covering the period from March to Oc-
tober IA show deficiency. At Eastport,
Me-. more than one-third of the normal;
at New Haven, almost third at AL
bany, N. Y, more than fourth Harris
burg, Pa, more than half; Philadel-
phia, about fourth; Washington, about
q fifth; Norfolk, Va, almost rixth;
Wilm gton, N. c., between fifth and
fourth; Jacksonville, Fla: almost a
fourth; Vicksburg. Miss. about two-sev-
enths Galveston, about two-tfths;
Knoxville, Tenn, almost a fourth;
Louisville, more than fourth; Indianap-
oils, more than a third; Cincinnati,
more than two-fftns, with about the same
rate at Colum bus, o., Parkersburg, Pitts
burg, Cleveland. Toledo and Detroit and
in much of the lake region.
The falling off in the Upper Mississippi
valley and Rocky Mountain states was
less marked. The cities which show an
excessive rainfall tor the entire season
are: Columbia, s. G., Atlanta. Augusta
and Savannah. Ga, Pensacola, Fla, Fort
Smith and Little Rock, ARK, Arkansas
City. Mo-, Pierre. 6: D., St. Vincsnt.
Mimi. Cheyenne. Wyo., Denver and
Pueblo. Col. Abilene Kap., Astoria,
Ore., Eureka and Red Bluff, Cal.