The Butler weekly times., 1897-10-14
JOY OF FARMERS TURNS TO
Sorrow--Long Drought Upsets
Their Visions Of Prosperity.
NO RAIN FOR EIGHT WEEKS.

dig Cui VluS LAVCttVu vi" DUi'
lar Wheat Wiped Out Scare.
ity of Water General Over
the West Hard on Cattle
Two months of almost uubroken
drought have changed the rejoicing
of Western farmers to mourning.
Scarcity of water will in few days
have wiped out the big surplus an.
ticipated from dollar wheat and
the corn crop. The drought is gen
eral not only in Kansae, Missouri,
Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Ar.
kansas, but in all of the Central and
Northern States, including Illinois,
Indiana. kentucky, Tennessee, Min
nesota and the Dakotas. Wells,
ponds, creeks and other sources of
water supply have failed entirely,
the first time in many years. Farm
ers generally are forced to drive
their stock from three to ten miles
for water. In most of the sections
named the total rainfall during the
past eight weeks will average less
than half al inch.
WATER FAMINE IN KANSAS.
Fort Scott, Kau., October Sin
Southeastern Kansas the drought
that has continued unbroken for
over two months is the worst that is
remembered by the oldest inhabi-
tants. In Cherokee, Crawford and
Montgomery COUNTIES not half an
inch of rain has fallen in three
months At Galena, Baxter Springs
and Columbus the dust is so deep
that, on q windy day, business Is
perceptibly affected by it.
For e month or more the stock
ponds have been dry and the stock
feeders and farmers generally have
been compelled to drive their stock
to the rivers for water. With large
per cent of them this means a dive
each day OF from three to ten miles
The pastures are burned up and
most OF the stock is being fed
Vegetation of all kinds is bllghted
aud the trees have been prematurely
stripped of their leaves Fortunately
in this county the drought did not
set il until after the corn and other
grain crops had largely matured, but
Cherokee and Crawford counties
were less favored In the former
county the corn was burned early in
the tassle
Owing to the scarcity of water on
the farms it is almost impossible for
an overland traveller to get water for
himself and his stock Nearly every
farm gate bears sign reading. NO
Water Here"
The condition Of the soil is such
that nc plowing has been done and
the acreage of winter wheat, which
would have otherwise been larger
than for many years, wi Il be greatly
reduced.
DROUGHT DAMAGE IN MISSOURI.
Clinton, Mo. Oct S-The last
general rain Of any consequence 10
this section was during tbs first
week in July. Pastures are dry and
crisp. Early in September trees pre-
sented the appearance OF having
been visited by killing frost, leaves
drying and shrivel ng up and fallir 6
of.
The scarcity Of stock water is
causing formers severe inconveni
ence. 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 crowded with teams haul
ing wagons of barrels and awaitipg e
their turn. Dust in the country is
sitting
The drought has seriously affected
the apple crop and ruined the late
peaches. Tie potato and turaip
crop is considered nearly al entire
failure
kENrUcKYs TOBACCO cRcp INJURED.
Frankfort, Ky, Get, s S-Commis-
sioner of Agriculture Moore, in his
monthly report, says tha. the tobac-
CO crop has teen cut short 16 per
cent as a result of the drought in
KenfueEy The crrp cr,p 20 ofso