The American guide., 1896-08-22
Killed In n Runaway.
Killed " Corn Thieves
THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA
what commis.loner Zee Says.

Mai. j. q. Lee, commissioner of agri-
culture and immigration for l.ouisi-
una, in an interview with u reporter,
said:
The condition OF the farmers Of north
Louisiana is more serious than mos, people
think An that section Of the state lying be-
tween tho Red and Mississippi rivers, extend
Ing from the Arkansas line Us far south rs the
center Of the state, In drought-strioken' The
corn crop will range from complete failure to
~ per cent. Of an average crop, propoitloned'
Of course, as the condition. OF good farming
were observed.
The cotton crop 10 correspondlnsly short
have had farmers In the aluvial lands tell
me that II would require from D to sucres to
make bale, while 10 the hills they
say II will require from to Is acres
to make baie. Throughout the MI
section the pce crop is practical
failure. The iacItpf moisture prevented an
extensive sweet pGts,o planting, and the SUD
scquont drought hla nlso cut short that 'nluA-
bic crop on the fam black eye has br-h
pyou TO lobaeco- growing in north Louisiana
for that is failure. too. supor cane has made
no growth In this section, either Forage aud
hay crops and graalng pastures have likewise
suffered, and eattlc are In poor condition
brought in North Louisiana.
The drought that has prevailed over
north Louisiana for four mouths has
been relieved in spots by showers, but
the rains came too late to do much
good to corn uud cotton. In Union
and Franklin parishes there has been
no precipitation since April 49,
Streams and ponds have gone
dry that were never known TO
fail before, Squirrels md birds have
been found dead In the woods, Deer,
'possums and 'coons hnve wandered
into the yards OF outlying residences
in search OF water. A deer came into
the village OF Marthavillc, on tho
Texas 4 Pacific road, and all the resi-
dents turned out and gave It chase
through the towns principal streets
At Mindcn, Webster parish, the differ
ent Protestant congregations held
union prayer services for rain. They
were answered after three or -four
days. The D'Arbonne went dry in
ouachita, something II never did be-
fore.
Sharks In Red River
Heavy showers Of rain have fallen
throughout Avoyeilcs pruiric OF late
While too late for cotton. the rain was
n great blessing, as cisterns and ponds
were dry and vegetation generally
parched. The waters Of Red river were
so salty that they could not be ased by
man or beast. People seemed to be nj
a loss to account for the salt water
and also for the prsaeucc OF sharks,
regular mau.caters. Quite Q number
have been caught, some measuring
eight and nine feet The catching Of
these sharks affords rare sport fol
sport-loving young men.
shot from Ambush.
DIR. N. q. Merrill was returning tt
his home, NJ Castor Creek, 10 mile'
west OF Alexandria, and when nca'
his house he was shot by some one
behind tree, from the effects o
which he soon died. An inquest wa
held, and from tho evidence II was con
rluded that hc wss shot by Hcnr,
Killing, who made his cscap'
soon after. shsr,n Luckstt overlook
the accused near Boyoo, and was forcct
10 shoot him in order 70 capture him
and the prisonet II now In critica