Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-10-14
THE GREAT DROUGHT
Wells, Ponds and Water Supplies
Failing In Many Places.
DESTRUCTIVE PRAIRIE FIRES RAGE.
Apple and Peach Crops Affected Moisturs
Badly Needed Tennessee Crops Burned
Up-Marsh Fires-Water Famine
Imminent-Tobscc Injured.

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months Of almost unbroken drought
have changed the rejoicing Of western
farmers to mourning Scarcity Of
water will in few days have wiped
out the big surplus anticipated from
dollar wheat and the corn crop. The
drought is general not only in Kansas,
Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma
and Arkansas but in all Of the central
and northern states, including Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mime
sofa and the Dakotas. Wells, ponds,
creeks and other sources Of water sup
ply have failed entirely, the first time
in many years. Farmers generally are
forced to drive their stock from three
to ten miles for water. In most Of the
sections named the total rainfall dur
ing the past eight weeks will average
less than half an inch.
DESTRUCTIVE PRAIRIE FIRES RAGE.
SLOAN SPRINGS, Ark, Oct. 9.-The
drought throughout this section OF
Arkansas and all the eastern portion
of the Indian territory still continues
and the situation is daily growing
more alarming. In many neighbor-
hoods throughout the Cherokee county
destructive prairie fires have been rag
ing ever since Monday. The damage
has been very great Thousands upon
thousands of tons of prairie hay
owned by stockmen that had been
stacked out in the open prairie without
being plowed around have been de-
stroyed and as a consequence some OF
the big feeders have to sell their cattle
or be forced to buy feed. Wells and
creeks and other sources of water
supply that were never known to fail
have dried up and cattle are being
driven many miles to water.
APPLE AND PEACH CROPS AFFECTED.
CLINTON, Mo-, Oct. 9.-The last gen.
eral rain OF any consequence in this
section was during the first week in
July. The scarcity Of stock water Is
causing farmers severe inconvenience.
Within radius Of six or seven miles
from this place farmers daily haul
water from Clinton's flowing artesian
wells. At every hour these are crowd.
ed with teams hauling wagons of bar
rels and awaiting their turn. Dust in
the country is sitting. The drought
has seriously affected the apple crop
and ruined the late peaches. The po-
tato and turnip crop is considered near.
ly an entire failure.
MOISTURE BADLY NEEDED.
GREAT BEND, Kan, Oct. "a heavy
wind from the south blew over this
section of Kansas yesterday, drying all |
vegetation and whirling the dust in
clouds. This has been an extremely
hard day on wheat, and some fields |
will have to be resown. Wheat which |
has lain in the ground for the past ten |
days is still in good shape, and with
proper weather from this on will come
out all right. However, that which
was sown Immediately before and after
the last rain has sprouted and is need
ing moisture badly.
TENNESSEE CROPS BURNED UP.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Oct. o. The
drought in this section is unprece-
dented. Late crops have been literally
burned up, ordinarily large streams Of
water have gone dry, and complaints
numerous and mournful come in from
all points in the territory adjacent to
Chattanooga, Since August 80 the
rainfall has amounted to only O.07 of
an inch.
MARSH FIRES BURNING.
LA GRANGE, Ind, Oct. Q. THE
drought, which is without precedent
in northern Indiana, has been partially
broken by a light rain The fire in
the Tamarack swamp has increased, but
the farmers are now so organized that
they anticipate no great damage, I'M
less the wind suddenly changes Great
fires are burning in the marshes near
Ind.
WATER FAMINE IMMINENT.
WELLINGTON, Kan, Oct. 0.-The
drought here is assuming serious pro-
PORTIONS and water famine is immi-
nent. On account Of the low condi-
lion Of Slate creek the water company
has cut off private consumers, and the
people now have no other source of
supply except the wers which are
fast giving out.
TOBACCO CROP INJURED.
FRANKFORT, KY, Oct 9.-Commis-
,ioner Of Agriculture Moore, in his
report, says that the tobacco
crop has been cut short IS per cent. as
a result Of the drought in Kentucky.
The corn crop is also badly damaged.
Hogs are reported dying in many coun.
Ties for want Of water.
DROUGHT UNPARALLELED IN ILLINOIS.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Oct. 0. - The
brought is without parallel for this
part Of the country. 1t began August
", the date of the last heavy rainfall,
md has continued with little abate- ,
nent until the present time, period !
II 46 DAYS Il