The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-31
COMPLAINTS OF DROUTH
A Very Bad State Of Affairs West Of Bee
County.
THE CATTLE ARE fAMISnlNG FOR WATER
Dry Weather Is Greatly Rctnrdins
the Spring Work of Farmers
In North Texns.

From parties who have recently travelled
through the country west of here The Post
correspondent learns that the people of
that section are ia pitlable condition.
No rain has fallen in so long a time that
not sprig OF grass Is visible and many
Of the trees and much OF the prickly pear
are dying. Quite number OF The wells
have gone dry and cattle are not only dying
for want OF food, but are starving for
this year TO do any planting, as the ground
is too dry to sprout anything. Wolves and
other wild animals arc going mad and sew
eral have been killed in the town of Til
den and on the ranches in that section.
Unless 1t rains there this year the country
Will become a barren waste.
Dallas. Texas, March 30-The long drouth
that has prevailed over North and North
west Texas for weeks has greatly discour-
aged farmers, who had builded great hopes
on this seasons harvests. The long siege
of dry weather has greatly retarded all
spring work and caused farmers to be be-
hindhand with all their crops. Every
where there is an abundance of dust, which
the March winds take delight in stirring
and sending flying.
In addition to the discomforts and dis
couragements Of the drouth, the recent cold
snap bit everything green. Corn plant
cd in February and just now peeplng
through the dust has been killed. North
Texas farmers feel blue over the outlook.
Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, March
2}.-After talking to several farmers to-
day The Post correspondent is satisfied
that the corn crop was injured very little
| by the cold wind VI the past two days
and as there Yves little or no frost last
night, tho damage Is small There was
some ice in exposed places this morning
| A few farmers had some cotton up, and it
| Is probably Injured to some extent. The
greater part OF the cotton was planted last
week and this week warm rain in the
| next few days would set everything in the
| best of condition, as the stand of corn is
excellent and has been plowed over once
| stock water is scarcer than was ever
| known before at this season of the year.
! The most of the tanks are dry and where
parties have no lakes or river front, the
matter is getting serious. Rain is all We
need, and that this county must have soon
| There is still enough moisture in the
ground 10 last for several days, but wind
and sun dry 1T out fast
Bolton, Bell County, Texas March 3d.
The recent freezes completely destroyed
the fruit crop. The Post correspondent yes
terday afternoon visited the fruit farm Of
| Mr.. J. A. Allen. one mile north of town.
This farm contains over 5000 trees of vari-
Gus kinds on which there was n full crop
Of fruit before the freeze. Mr. Allen states
there is not a peach left. Japan plums
were practically all killed. Native plums
about so per cent killed, blaccberries not
injured in vineyard of about 1000 vines.
The grapes are all killed but Mr.. Allen
thinks there is vitality enough left to put
out new buds and fruit. Corn was all
killed to the ground but 1t is thought It
will come out The drouth continues and
tho outlook Is alarming
La Grange, Fayette County. Texas
March 29,-The weather has greatly mod
Grated today, the thermometer standing
at TO- strong wind from the south Is
prevailing. The cold spell did no harm
whatever to the corn that is up, and only
q very slight and immaterial damage TO
the vegetables in the gardens. Rain is bad
ly needed again as the strong winds have
thoroughly dried out the ground,
Egin, Bastrop County Texas March %
Rain is badly needed here clsterns and
tanks are rapidly drying up and farmers
are very much discouraged over the out
look. The cold snap did no damage al
though corn and great many vegetables
were up. Some corn was beaten down by
the cold wind, but not entirely killed
Temple, Bell County. Texas, March 3d.
The freeze and frost of Tuesday night has
done much damage and corn is showing
the effects sadly. Every one is looking
anSiously for rain, but still only the wind
nloweth where 1t lsteth. two days from
the south, two days from the north and
the dust clouds are everywhere.
Holland, Texas, March 2s.-We are very