The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-07-25
OLD STORY IS TOLD.
Weather Bureau Chronicles An
other Day of Extreme Heat.


at least as reports to the weather bu-
reau show, was that at North Platte,
Neb., where eight-one-hundredth of
an inch of rain fell, the droughtand i'm
tense heat continued Tuesday through
out the states of the corn belt, Tenn
peratures again averaged over 100 de-
grees in that area, making the thirty
sixth consecutive day In which the
thermometer has risen to 80 degrees
and higher. Aside from North Platte,
a trace of rain was officially reported
at Des Moines, two-one-hundredths of
an inch at Kansas City, some rainfall
in north central Texas, some in Arkan-
sas, some in south Texas and also
some in northern Minnesota. Official
Forecaster Frankenfeld says these
storms brought only temporary relief
and afford little sustenance to the over
parched ground, which after the great
ly protracted period of drought needs
general rain. According to present
indications there seems to be no pros
pect of such a downpour for the next
two days at least. Beyond that time
the officials will not make any predic-
tiens.
Generally speaking, the tempera-
lures in the superheated area were
not so high as on Monday, but such
falls as may have occurred have been
due entirely to local changes and not
to any general differences in atmos-
pheric conditions. The hot weather
also continued in the northwest, Bis
marck, N. D., reporting record-break-
ing temperature of LOG degrees. There
is no prospect of any relief from pre-
vailing conditions in the central val
legs and the middle west, and Forecast
er Frankenfield repeats his forecasts
of continued warm weather, with light
and scattered thunderstorms, for that
section. The only rains indicated are
local thundershowers in the southern
states and Rocky mountain section.
Some of the maximum temperatures
reported to the weather bureau at
various places Tuesday were: Atlanta.
sc; Buffalo, 81; Cincinnati, "a; Daven-
port, Ia, 1914; Denver, 90; Des Moines,
100; indianapolis, 90; Jacksonville, 90;
Kansas City, 1902; Little Rock, 1902;
Memphis, 1O4; New York, 90; North
Platte, 90; Omaha, 1902; Pittsburgh, So;
St. Louis, 1O6; St. Paul, 100; Springfield,
H., 100; Washington, D. c., 90; Spring
field, Mo-, LOG.
Secretary Wilson Hopeful.
New York, July PA dispatch to
the Tribune from Washington says:
Mr.. Wilson, secretary of agriculture,
has favored the Tribune with talk on
the effects of the long-continued
drought on the growing crops of the
west. He does not take so gloomy a
view of the agricultural prospects be-
tween the Allegheny and the Rocky
as do some of the so-called
experts who are not connected with
the government service. Nor yet does
Mr.. Wilson attempt to minimize the in
jury already done and that will in
crease unless there is great precipita-
ton of moisture during the next few
weeks in the vast stretch of country be-
tween the continental mountain
ranges. While he acknowledges that
the hard wheat belt of the northwest
has been damaged, he vet does not de-
spair of an average yield of corn in the
corn belt, which he defines as extend
ing east from the Missouri river to the
Alleghenies, embracing the states of
Iowa, Wisconsin, the northern part of
Missouri and all of Illinois, Indiana
and Ohio.
Estimates Crop Losses.
New York, July 24-The Journal
of Commerce, which telegraphed to
a large number of bank presidents
in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kan
sas, prints special report which
says:
There Is every reason for believing that
the early reports of damage to the corn
crop by the drought have not been eXag-
geratod On the contrary, 1t Is quite evil
dent that the situation is very much Worse
than at first reported, and that now much
of the injury Is beyond repair. The region
of worst damage lies within an irregular
circle of about 600 miles in diameter, with
St. Joseph, Mo-, as an approximate center
THE following question was sent to the
bank presidents: Kindly wire your opin-
lon of percentage OF damage to corn and
live stock by drought in your vicinity
THE answers indicate very serious losses
in the region specified. In Kansas many
report 70 per cent. damage to corn; in Mis-
souri, the majority of reports are between
so and - per cent. damage in Nebraska, the
reports are generally between SO and 80
per cent. damage, while In Iowa the injury
Is generally between Is and 90 per cent.
1T would seem from the returns given
that a loss OF so per cent in this district
would be an exceedingly moderate esti-
mate. This would Indicate a loss of at
least 3l2OOO,OO0 bushels in the region of
greatest drought, and probably consider
ably more. 1t should be borne in mind
that these figures refer only to the small
district Of greatest damage. No attempt
has been made to ascertain the injury else
where. The damage to live stock is con-
siderable in Missouri and Kansas, but very
slight in Iowa and Nebraska"
Kansas StiII Suffering.
Topeka, Kan, July 24.-Tempera-
lures in Kansas Tuesday were as high
as ITO and in no case are figures less
than 100 reported. 1t was fully as op.
pressive as on Monday, which was the
hottest day of the year. A death from
heat occurred in Abilene and prostra-
tons in Leavenworth, Emporia, Atchi-
son, Usage City, Topeka and some of
the smaller towns. The state is over
EAST with clouds and the air is humid.
Thunderstorms of various degrees Of
intensity came during the afternoon.
Leavenworth had two showers of &c
minutes each and all the others we're
smaller. No relief other than slight
cooling of the atmosphere resulted.
The indications seem favorable for
more showers, but no one attempts
to say when general rains may be ex-
pected. The situation throughout the
state has become very uncomfortable.