The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1902-04-03
HE SAW THE DROUGHT COME
Timer Waiter Writes TntcrtainingIy from
his hoosicr Home TO the Kan.
sas cit, Star.

Se' IVY otuts
Peru, Inc. March 3i.-To Tho Star:
| note with considerable interest nn ar.
liclc in the Weekly Star Of March 10.
about the drought sufferers iuthchill rc.
gions OF tho O1arks. This Is especially
interesting TO me, not only because am
personally acquainted with some Of the
people named by the correspondent, but
also because | was located IN Tancy
county during most Of the year 1901 and
had opportunities TO observe the prog
rcss Of the drought and note how il was
received by the people who were to en-.
dure It's effects. At that time was en-.
ploycd on the local newspaper published
al Forsyth and was thu enabled Ia meet
and become acquainted with people
from different parts Of the county. a
retrospective Wow Of thosc,cXpcrienccs
only serves 10 strengthen my admiration
for the true American spirit Of these
I"iA. iulli'lN'i INV Hll'H' IVY r''lHiu
10 be struggling against the elements,
almost from the beginning Of the season.
a mild winter was followed 10y cold
and somewhat backward spring, and
during the corn-planting time In April
there seemed Ia he too many cold rains.
and the result was that the corn rottcd
In the ground and had TO be rcplnntcd
number of times. There were, how.
ever, compcn,a,ing features in the fact
that the cool, wet weather was favorable
TO the growing wheat.
In the month OF May there was insult
Gcicnt rain, and II might he said that
the drought had already set in, and this
was early enough TO interfere with cot
ton planting but the persevering farm.
crs made the most Of it cultlvating the
corn and planting the cotton as best they
could. Some correspondents reported
10 us that not only the field crops, but
the vegetable seed as we'll, failed 10
terminate and grow. During June the
local show crs became less frequent and
tho situation began 10 look somewhat
serious; vet the people were ever hope
ful, thinking that the drought would
certainly net last much longer, The
wheat became ripcncd ready FOR har-
ycs,ing aud 1t was consolation to learn
that tho yield wac even larger than was
expected.
Our correspondents in different parts
Of the county from week 10 week report
ed the situation more gloomy. Some Of
them half iokingly said that there was
one consolation, viz, the people codld
now prospect for mineral, for they could
do uo,hiGg else, Atthnt time new dis.
covcries Of mineral were being made,
considerable activity WIS manifest In
developing the prospects, and the valu-
able deposits Of marble were being
bIough, to public notice.
As the season advanced IL became ev-
| idcnt that the corn crop was consider
ably parchcd up, aud many emergency
plans were devised. Some talked Of
planting corn even ~ late ~ in July, In
the hope that rain, would come aud ,ha,
possibly late autumn would permit Of
| its maturing. One farmer said that he
would r, sort 10 ,urnips and rye, He had
had somewhat smilnr experience on n
former occasion had raised 800 or GOO
bushels Of tmnips and used them as feed
for his stock. He would SOW rye for
winter pasturage.
The experiment station at Columbia
also came to the rescue If the farmers
with valuable suggestions aud iniorma.
tion as to various valuable forage CROPS
thatmight be raised provided rains came
in the latter part Of the season. Bullc.
tins issued by the station were reprint
ed in tho various local newspapers in
tho drought-stricken regions and W,
reprinted some valuable suggestion
from the Star on the subject OF soil cll
ture, forage crops for drought, etc, IL
order TO disseminate Us much as poss /
bic among the farmers that which woult
prove helpful to them.
During the last week In July several
refreshing local showers visited portion,
OF the county and the people Of Forsyth
expressed their gratitude BY assembling
at the church and holding Thanksgiving
service, These rains were only TEN
porary relief rs The fierce heat Of sum
mcr was at hand and soon dispclled th,
moisture. BY the first Of August som,
people began leaving the county-som,
merely going away temporarily TO hu,