Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-07-25
THE DR0UTH OF 1904.
The Present Conditions No Compare
son to What Prevailed Then
How Rents Were Re-
mitted, Etc.

! a-' vi tbuiN' Jut eSDeTl'OceS OF
that year have taught our people that
a drouth l. not an imp1s-ibilitv in
Iowa, but were it not for that year
there wonld be nothing like the alarm
felt among the farmers that PREVAILS
at the present time. This time Of year
in 1894, pastures were as bare as the
cement sidewalks of the town, all the
small grain had been withered by the
burning blasts, and there was hut
little in sight to feed the stock. AL
ready farmers had offered their cattle
and hogs for sale, not having feed for
them, and buyers were not plenty.
The drouth had begun really the fall
before and the ground was as dry as
powder when seed was put in the
ground. The rainfall during the four
months of April, May, June and July
was less than an inch month, that
year. But this year We started in
with an excess of rain, and it has been
less than two months ago since two
days rain interfered with the tourna-
ment at this place Pastures are we'll
dried up at this time. Small grain has
been retarded and crops shortened,
but there is nothing like failure.
Hay is light, but not failure; the
quality is prime. Corn can stand the
dry weather for the rest of this month
and still make fair crop, ii the dry
winds of seven years ago are not re-
peated.
We have looked over the file Of this
paper for that summer, and it is inter-
esting to note the frequent mention of
the lack of rain. Repeatedly it is stat
ed that rain in few days would save
the crop, but all ended in disappoint-
ment. On the llth of July the state
ment is made that the pastures had
dried up so bad that the cows had
failed in their milk. G. w. Adams
who had been running the creameries
at Maple River and Breda was obliged
to close and retire from the business.
In fact it had ruined him iinanci-
ally, and in the decline of years he
was obliged to begin life again at
something, he knew not what. The
question of holding fair for the year
was discussed. Vegetation was dried
to crisp, there was no fruit or garden
truck, stock was run down because of
lack of feed and poor pasture, and it
was thought that no creditable exhibit
could be made. However, it was
thought best to try. On July 18th
mention is made Of the finding of an
excellent quality Of water by the town
authorities in abundant quantity, at
comparatively slight depth. Corgrat-
ulations were INDUCED in over Crrrolls
good fortune in having water galore
for all time to come. 1t will be re
membered that the town had been on
the anxious seat for several years and
grave doubts of getting water were en-
entertained without expense and vex-
atious trials. Until the new wells
were sunk there was no water that
could with safety be used for house
purposes. On the Goth of July came
the memorable hot winds that put the
finishing touches to the ruination that
had Threatened the crops for the last
six Weeks. 1t was Thursday and the
day opened hot and dry. Along in
the forenoon winds began from the
southwest and before noon stiffened to
gale. The thermometer in the shade
marked lO7, and the mercury touched
that notch for several hours. Vege-
tation was not hopeless till that day.
But those horrid blasts struck the
weakened plants with destructive effect.
They licked everything green as with
tongues of flame and drove out all vi
tally and strength. The next day was
but little better, and when natrue set
tied over the work of destruction Car
roll county looked like waste in the
midst of Sahara. The following Mon
day, on the 30th of July, the rigor CT
nature relaxed and gentle rain fell,
continuing for several hours. The
temperature was lowered and suffering
humanity found existence less burden.
some to bear, but crops had been de.
stroyed and no comfort came to the PEG
pie who had worked in vain againis
the elements to get crop. And this
reminds us of the demand then made
for the remittance of rents by owner
of farm land. Thislpaper did its earn
est duty of appeal to those who coult
afford it to remit the rents. Many die
this and shared the losses of the season
with their tenants. But many funny
stories have since been told of renter,
, who profited by the lower rents. One
man told the writer that his landlord
had RENTED his rents, but never il
his life had he made so much at farm
ing. Had not raised half q crop, but
then he had gotten three prices fol
what he did raise. 1t is wonderful
; how soon the people of this section re-
vived from the effects of the drouth,