The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-10-15
RAIN FALLS AT LAST.
SHOWERS GIVE ENCOURAGE.
MENT TO FARMERS.
Nine rarched Western States Are
Well Sprink1ed - How the Crops
Will BE Affected Is Uncertain, but
Good Pasturage rs Assured.
Baked Coil Is Soaked.

Nhe first signs Of promise in many
weeks appeared to the farmers Sunday
throughout the Western States. A gen.
eral opening of the clouds moistened the
parched earth just enough to awaken the
belief that Providence still reigns, and
that the end Of the almost Unprecedented
drought is at hand. In nine Of the dozen
or more States afflicted by the blghting
dryness showers fell with a gentle force
sufficient to soften the hard crust that
has been baking for weeks on the fields
and prairies.
hymn Of thanksgiving mingled with
the falling of the rain In hundreds Of
localities. Countless numbers OF farmers
hailed the showers that visited their acres,
as their salvation from heavy misfortune
For days and days they have been wait
ing for favorable time to put in their
winter wheat. Such ground as would
permit blowing at all was SO dry that
clouds Of dust followed the plows across
the fields. The fields that had been plant
ed early in the beginning of the drought
with winter wheat promised nothing for
lack Of water on the tender sprouts. 1t
Is now believed that much of the ground
can be put in cultivation in time, taking
it for granted that the drought is broken.
Reports received from the Government
signal service show that rain has fallen
very generally in Colorado. Nebraska,
Kansas, Missouri, Iowa. Minnesota, Wis
consin, Upper Michigan and Illinois.
The visitation in Nebraska is the first
rain of any consequence that has fallen
for six weeks. Suffering Kansas got her
hrst Wettlng in two months Sunday after
noon. Iowa received her share of rain
at the same time.
In its effect upon the future crops the
damage wrought by the drought cannot be
estimated for many days, in the opinion Of
experienced observers. On regular culti-
waited soil, grain men declare, the con-
| tracted wheat area merely means larger
corn acreage next year, but this does not
| apply to the vast acres of prairie ground
that have never been touched by plow.
| Much of this virgin prairie sod was to
have been turned over this fall in Ne
braska and Kansas, but the drought has
! made it necessary for this work to be left
over. 70 make such land available for
| next years use it must be plowed in the
fall and left to the elements until the next
spring. 1t is too late now for such work
to be carried out to completion.
One consolation has been found in the
drought by the stock growers, while the
farmer has found nothing to compensate
him for the loss of his winter wheat pros
pect The cattlemcn declare the pros
poets for abundant and fine grazing o1
the ranges have not been so good in years
The grass has been extremely we'll curet
by the protracted dry weather. and thi.
fact is encourag ging to the men who coun
their wealth by the head Their only anx
iety' has been to supply their cattle Will
water sufficient to keep them alive. Nov
that the rain has begun failing their c,l]
OF JOY is full, as they see the ponds ant
creeks and wells once more available,