Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-04
FLOODS IN THE WEST;
FAMINE IN THE SOU

HERE have been unprecedented
floods in the great west and Tex
as has been nearly drowned OUT
while the section in which hVe
has not had rain enough since the 9.n %
April 70 wet the guano under the cOee l.s
We had an our rain In the winter AM
as A. an run OF while our farmers eoulu
not piow a furrow in preparation OF siie
sol Tor a coming crop. the seed natu .
moor start for termination, poor SilaIlSe
Tor growth and the outlook Is very siOOiis
indeed. -...oo. ~
have supplied a small hotel ana nas a.
had a mess Corn that was planteu ~
Tune IS not two feet high and Is tasselllls
ont without a shoot Thousands uPOn
st-o4sards OF corn stalks viii pot nave
rnbbin on them. The most OF our farm
g. are cutting down the half dead STALKS
and hauling them in for forage at TINS
time. =. -. mind
.,-sr sfnce spring opened. The clouds
would loon, up and look promising ouI
- i v--fr5 would rise and drive them away.
when We had a sprinkle the hot vino
would dfssipate all traces OF IL IN httle
while II has been a singular season ana
has produced general failure IN crops
throuahout this section OF Georgia
II has been a hard struggle TO keep cat
lie alive on the pastures The hot sun
and close nibbling have almost maoe the
rnstr1res worthless. Live stock has a
moor showing 10 begin the winter, ana
rations VIII be scarce 10 those that can
live through 10 spring People must sen
OF or give away what they viii be una
he 20 iced. and the close hard lines I'M
der which farmers have made the present
cron must be drawn closer and harder
until another crop is made
In barlow county we are taxed most
numerically 10 build an expensive court
house. The rate for the courthouse alone
is over SO on the thousand this year.
II no reduction can be obtained the
farmers OF Barlow county will be made
70 pay a fraction under 80 on the thou-
sand state and county tax We nave
large commodious brick courthouse, quite
for a trife 70 some shrewd trader. ana II
as fine or finer than any church IN Car
tersville. that VIII be abandoned or Solo
IS enough 10 make the heart sick 10 look
out on the perishing crops and then look
At the heartless taxation which has been
forced on an unwilling people by their
political bosses.
A gentleman told me yesterday Of a
splendid farmer who cultivated s. acres
IN cotton this year and does not expect
20 get more than three bales. where he
made a last year. There are no turnips;
the pea vines are dying out in places,
and there has been failure in crops all
the way round. And yet. the burdens Of
taxation were never so heavy beforen in
NE.
These barren crops have cost great
deal OF money. Corn to feed stock was
bought from % cents 80 81 a bushel on
time. Labor has been anywhere from 90
cents TO 81 per day and the outlook is
gloomy. gloomy
Some partial rains fell in spots: there
the conditions are much improved. but
the most OF the land has been scorched
BY high temperature. and the plants
parched by hot winds with no rain.
The west has been flooded. much grain
lost BY continuous rains, nevertheless the
people can live with some produce 20
sell May God help the poor drought
stricken people in this part OF Georgia,
and al the same time rebuke the heart
less officials who decrease not a dollar
Of their own salaries while they pile on
taxation until IL is well-nigh insupport-
able May the Father deliver US.