The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-24
SOME STILLS HAD TO STOP.
SERIOUS RESULTS OF THE LONG
DROUGHT IN THE INTERIOR.

Naval stores Factors Hope the Rain
of Yesterday Was General as They
Want to Get I'm the Crop--Operna-
tors Were Unable to Work the
Stuff They Had ON Hand on Ac-
count of a Short Water Supply.
Rain Was Badly NeededLThe
Factors Believe the Operators
VIII Hold to the Agreement to Cut
Down the New Crop Two-thirds.
The naval stores men and those inter-
ested in farming hope that the rains of
yesterday extended far enough into the
interior to break the long drought that
has existed in Central and Southern
Georgia and the northern part Of Florida
The rains do not appear to have been very
heavy, but such as they were, IL they ex-
tended over the interior will do a great
deal of good.
The situation has really been a serious
one for some time, much more so than
many imagine The cotton, corn and cane
crops have been drying up, wells in some
places have gone dry, and with many of
the farmers and naval stores men things
were really getting desperate.
Unless we have a good rain through
out the entire southern section soon,"
said a prominent naval stores factor and
operator yesterday, II don't know what
will become of the industry. The opera
tors have been unable to work the stuff
they had on hand, on account of the lack
of a supply of water at the stills, and
in some sections many of the stills have
already had to close down for this rea-
son alone.
''They still have a good deal of the old
crop, which is being worked up, but they
can do nothing without water. The sit
uation has been a serious one for a long
time now, and I am in hopes this rain
to-day has extended throughout the sec
ton. 1t means much to the naval stores
people, and it will most seriously cur
tail their business if it has not"
These reports as to the condition of
things in the interior are the same as
those that have come from the farmers,
many of whom have lost a large por-
ton of their crops through the drought.
In some places, especially in the south
ern part of the state, it has been report
ed that the cotton crop would be one
third to one-half off on account of it. A
well-known farmer from TattnaI county
reports the cane all dried up, and the
corn and potato crops in a very poor
condition.
Some of the naval stores factors who
have out large advances, have been un
able to get this crop in as rapidly as
they need it on account of the drought.
The operators, however are going to try
and recoup their losses during the coming
season, and it is believed the plan to cut
down the new crop two thirds will be
pretty generally carried out
Il have no doubt that the great major
ity of the operators will stand to the
agreement" said a prominent factor
''They have not done so generally in other
years, but they realize at last that it is
their only remedy, and they must apply
It, OF take the consequences. The agree
ment will be fixed up in detail within a
few days, and l think all but few scat
tering operators will follow it closely The
low prices with their other losses makes
it absolutely necessary for them to do
something, and they must do it this year
or go on losing. l am satisfied that the
new crop will be cut down the full two
thirds as agreed on"