Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-07-20
Famous Drouths.

The severest drouth this country
ever experienced was in the summer
of 1862, when there were 123 days
without rain. 1t was necessary to
send to England for both hay and
grain to save the stock.
A little more than ten years before
this, in 1749, there were 1O8 days with
out rain, so it is not strange the
colonial forefathers feared they had
settled in very drouthy lano.
The most severe drouth of recent
years was in 1860. when the corn crop
was almost total failure. The next
days without rain. Then it was very
dry in 1874, 1875 and 1876. "Drouthy
Kansas" became a by-wOrd all over the
land, and, to make matters worse,
everybody became convinced that the
grasshoDpers were a necessary evil
accompanying season of drouth.
.'The golden belt," formed by the
great wheat fields of Kansas. disap-
peared, and it would have been i'm
possible during several years to con-
vince the farmers of this state that
Kansas would ever become the great
est wheat producing state of the
Union.
In the late years of prosperity and
bounteous harvests it was equally diff
ticult to realize that such a calamity
as drouth that would cut off the
corn crop of this state was liable to
recur. Now, however, the dryest May
and June on record and the hot winds
of the first half of July, have caused
a great many people to say: ''It is
about time for Kansas to have another
dry SPELL"
Over in Missouri there is a great
deal of discussion just now as to day
of general fasting and PRAYER for rain.
Some religious people think that it
would be blasphemous to ask the Lord
for rain, since he must know all
human needs best, and is supposed to
send the rains impartially upon the
just and unjust. Others think that
the suffering people are neglectful of
both duty and piety in not demanding
that a day be set apart for prayer for
rain. This latter class recall the
of Governor Hardin of
that state in the year 1875, and are
flooding Governor Dockery with re-
quests that he designate a day of
prayer by official proclamation.
The Sedalia Sentinel contains this
interesting account of the issuing of
Governor Hardin's proclamation:
"Not since 1874 and rs when drouth
and grasshoppers devastated Missouri, |
the western and central |
part, has there been such distress |
from want of rain as is now being ex-
perienced. Up to the 1st of June, 1875,
the grasshopper plague and conse-
1uent famine, stared the people of |
this section in the face. Not only in |
Missouri, but in Colorado, Kansas and
like conditions prevailed,
and gaunt hunger stalked abroad. The
situation became alarming and the
governors of Colorado, Kansas, Ne
Draska and Missouri met at Omaha for
the purpose of consulting regarding
what were best to do to alleviate the
suffering of the people of the four
states. Governor Hardin was COVER
nor of Missouri at the time 1t was
decided that each executive should is
Tue a proclamation declaring a certain
lay a time for general fasting and
prayer
ssThe rainfall during Is months
lad been scarcely more thans16 inches,
md the grasshoppers had eaten every
living green thing in sight.
Governor Hardin proclaimed that
June 3, 1875, should be observed as a
lay of Tasting, thanksgiving and
prayer" for deliverance from the vexa-
.ious plague. The proclamation was
observed, especially in that