The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-03-07
The Snap Has Done Some Dam
age on the Uplands'
MANY POINTS ARE AFFECTED
Ground Squirrels Will Greatly DIMINISH
In Number. to the Delight
OF Farmers.

/ Lewiston. Idaho, March 2.-The colo
wave now general over the northwest
| has extended to the valleys OF the
Snake and Clearwater, and some fears
are expressed as to it's effect upon the
orchards. The temperature this morn
ing was II above zero, and there was q
stiff cold wind that made the weather
seem much colder than it really was. Al
o'clock tonight the wind has gone
down, and the weather is more agree
| able.
Robert Fleischner says he has re-
ceived a number Of discouraging reports
from orchardists today, but he does
not believe the damage to the fruit in
terests will be severe. He has expert
enced such weather before, and al
though the people have always been
greatly alarmed, he has observed that
the outcome was all right. He thinks
this will be the case this year. He says
it is still too early to form a conclu-
sion, and that it will be best to wait
three or four days before passing an
opinion. None of the fruit trees were
yet in bloom. The sap had begun to
run, and the buds were swelling, but
Mr.. Fleischner thinks the orchards
were not sufficiently advanced to suffer
severely
l.. A. Porter made tour of the orch
ards today, and was expected to re-
port from his home by telephone to-
night, but the wire is down. and moth
ing can be heard from him.
Ice dealers are taking advantage of
the cold wave. It had been thought that
no ice could be cut there this year and II
carloads were shipped in today Nearly
two inches of ice formed last night,
and it is expected that four inches
more will form tonight, and dealers are
making preparations to begin cutting
tomorrow.
FREEZE AL sIAKBUCK.
Starbuck, Wash, March 1.-The
weather here for the past "a hours has
been the coolest eve: experienced for
this time of the year. There has been
blizzard, and fears are entertained thar
the fruit is all killed, as the trees were
almost bursting with blossoms. The
only redeeming feature is the effect that
the cold may have in wiping out the
squirrel pest, as the cereal crops will he
immense II the SQUIRRELS vanish.
SNOWSTORM AT POMEROy
Pomeroy, Wash, March "A heavy
snoWstorm set in here yesterday morn
ing at l o'clock and snow fell to the
depth OF six inches. In the afternoon .
freeze set in and this morning tho tom
perature was down 20 degrees above
zero, with heavy east wind blowinp
Great fears are entertained that tbs
peaches and early cherries and nlnn,s
are Killed. Squirrels were already c,t-
tlng down the wheat when tho stor,,,
came on, and the freeze is expectad ~
do away with that pest.
OAKESDALE.
Oakesdale, WASH, March o-rh;,
country is experiencing the coolest
weather OF the winter, and fears Owe
entertained for the fruit cron IT.
wind has been strong from the nont.,
east Tor two days, and the ground 10
frozen harder than at any time durinsr
the winter. Last night was the coldast
ol the season by many degrees. and +bo
prospects are good for a cron IF ;aa
AS no ice has been put up. an ica ia ~,
Inc was expected, but if the waathar
contlnues cold for few days plenty
OF good ice can be secured The cola
weather may also have the effaot 20
Killing Off large percentage of ~ ~
squirrels. VI the