The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-09-11
Rurnous DROUGHT.
Australian Stock Are Dying from II
BY the Thousands.

Sydney letter: Sooner or later nc
fearful drought which Is devas: ting
the Federated Colonies mug rake its
effects felt upon the meat markets of
the West and the beef trust in the Unit.
cd States will find an ally IN the water
famine which is killing OF our stock
like flies.
The drought now prevailing IL un-
precedcnted and forms the climax Of
seven dry years. The losses of stock
since 1892 amount TO c20.000. 900 ster-
ling. OF which G15.00O,O0O have been
incurred aimee 1899.
As n natural consequence agriculture
is suffering correspondlngly and the
financial institutions Of the now FEEDER
alton patronizod by squatters feel tho
crisis badly. Bank shares are falling
mines are shutting down and thousands
OF men out OF work are drifting to the
cities. where tho state governments are
establishing relief works.
At present tho northern districts Of
New South Wales and the Riverina
have partly escaped the all-pcrvadine
drought.
Communication with water inland is
paralyzed. the water ways OF the Oar
ling and other rivers being unnaviga-
bic. Shipping is moored to the banks
and the vessels float llstlessly In the
harbors. The crews have been dis
charged as there Is no prospect Of al
early change.
The Federal governments are trying
to mitigate the suffering caused by the
drought as much as possible. the starv-
ing stock being carried on the railways
at half rates. while crown lessees are
not pressed for rent.
| Australia's sheep king. McCaughcy.
removed a million stock some months
ago from the neighborhood Of Bourkc
to the Riverina. Less wealthy stock
owners have to drive their focks. The
droves leave wide barren tracks whore
they pass along and tho routes are
| strewn with skeletons Of sheep.
The water catchment area OF Sidney.
near the sea. Is imperilled by these
shadowy corpses.
The resources to which persons who
have stock to feed are driven remind
one OF the scenes OF the Indian famine.
Trees arc cut down for wood. which Is
furnishci by ne bark, while others are
left standing. but every leaf and twig
has been gnawn of them.
Above in the pitiless light OF the sun.
against the deep cobalt OF the sky. the
hawks and crows screech loudly and
add an additional hideousness to the
aspect OF things. for the reason OF their
proximity is evident.
A most remarkable thing is that tho
4-year-old cattle In Western Queens
land have never had wet skins. A
common method of reviving exhausted
horses and stock Is to slit the palate
with a knife. when the animals own
blood Ia swallowed and Il IL revived.
Men known as "sundowners" and
"swagmen" are constantly being found
dead by the wayside and hundreds OF
them have doubtless died on the track
less wastes. the horrors Of death from
thirst having been accelerated by tho
mirages OF cool. grassy. evasive sheets
Of water which are frequent In Aus.
tralia and particularly so during q
drought.
The upholdlng Of the duties on fod
der has aggravated the situation intol
ernbly. Formerly In such times as tn,
present large quantities Of fodder wer,
Imported from New Zealand. but th'
heavy tariff now imposed renders thai
means OF relief unavailable. The Fed
eral parliament was recently asked Il
authorize n suspension Of the duties fol
six months. but the request wal
negatived.
One squatter now Is paying over 81,
500 n day for fodder while many arr
paying that sum weekly for straw
soaked I'm molasses with which the!
keep life In some of their hardies
stock.
At the present writing 1000 miles o
road and 40 routes are involved an'