The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-09-18
Corn Is Not Destroyed by FrOsts,
but Yield Likely Will Be 11O,-
100000 Bushels Short.
COLD WEATHER CONTINUES.
Dispatches Received at Topeka
State Twenty Per Cent of
Crop Is Destroyed in
Northern Part of
State.

Damage by frosts has not been as
large as at first was feared. Reports
received indicate that the corn crop
has escaped the enormous damage
which was predicted, though the loss
will be heavier than will be conven-
lent for the farmer to bear after the
spring floods.
1t is estimated that the crop may be
short of the Agricultural Department
perdiction about one hundred and fifty
million bushels.
Nebraska is the only corn-growing
State which exerienced a really hard
frost and in some parts of that State
cloudy weather took the sting out of
the ali.
Cloudy weather saved Illinois from Il
frost Wednesday night, but the condi-
tions were favorable for a sharp frost
last night, as it was clear.
Frost was predicted also for Minneso-
ia. Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and North
and South Dakota and parts of Mis-
souri,, Indiana, Michigan and Wiscon-
sin.
KILLING FROST IN KANSAS.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Kansas City. Mo-, Sept. T.-Northern
Kansas, from Concordia in Cloud Coun-
ty west, was visited by killing frost las.
night with freezing temperatures. Great
damage was done to corn and other vege-
tation. rising temperature over the
central and eastern parts Of Kansas pre-
vented killing frost.
The weather was clear, but the faintest
touch Of frost there may have been in
the lowlands was not severe enough to
damage late corn or vegetables. The
weather to-day is warmer. It Is probable
that the frost will not be very heavy.
There was no frost in Western Missouri
last night. Light frost is reported from
Lamar and Springfield in Southwest Mis-
souri,.
Northwestern Kansas reports heavy
frost, which destroyed all vegetation in
the lowlands- Central Kansas had light
frost. but no damage to corn. The late
planted corn is making no progress, how
eyer. on account Of the cold weather.
Eastern Kansas had light frost. but no
serious damage was done to crops or vege-
tatfon. In the extreme western part of
Kansas the temperature dropped below
the freezing point and ice nearly an eight
OF an inch thick formed -
Vine crops were killed, and II is thought
fnat the alfalfa seed crop. as well as
forage rag crops will be seriously injured.
Western Missouri are clear weather and
frost. The temperatures rose to-day. and
It is probable that the frost will not be
heavy.
DIFFERENT OPINIONS
AS TO DAMAGE.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Chicago, Sept. 17.-while some traders
argue that the corn crop has been serious
ly damaged. most Of the brokers hone that
the injury has been exaggerated. One
prominent firm sized up the situation
to-day as follows:
At least 40 per cent of the corn crop in
the large producing States is now out of
danger. The damage .othe corn which
10 per cent Qn Kansas to 80 per cent din
Iowa..
Rough calculations indicate that % ooo-
w acres are late enough to show possible
snrlnkage In yield and impairment in
quality from killing frosts. The crop was
inquired as promising 21500O0,0O0 bushels
sn,aah, Aernat loss from frost may reduce this to
reports that the frost damage was not
SO great as feared caused a rush to sell
on the Board of Trade. and corn dropped
rs cent bushei. September corn showed
a los s6f rs cent. selling at SIX to 5lIl
cents. December corn showed loss OF
corn showed loss OF 1h cent. Selling at
oz 10 DIS cents. Later there was q reac-
ton, but the close was from Il to q cent
lower than yesterday.
COLE WAVE IN NORTHWEST.
st. Paul. Sept. r.-Although dispatches
from various points in the Northwest,
particularly the Dakotas. indicate that
last nights frost was not as severe as
that Of Tuesday night. the local weather
bureau in a general summary of the con-
ditions IN the Northwest says this sec
killing frost last night
Ihe weather observer says: 'oThe cold
wave stretched from Canada to the Gulf
tral North Dakota. the Red River Valley
and Central Nebraska 1t was below 10
degrees In a very large area, extending
from Eastern Montana and Minnesota to
Western Kansas In ST. Paul and Minne-
apolis the thermometer dropped to IS de-
grees during the night.
A Fargo. N. D.. dispatch saws that the
late fax crop was killed.
FEAR TWENTY PER CENT LOSS.
Topeka, Kas., Sept. 17.-Dispatches re- |
ceived here from all sections of the corn |
belt show that last nights frost was Sc |
we're through the northern half of Kan |
sas. In the northern section much late |
corn was ruined. The same dispatches |
state that the weather Is growing colder |
and that the sky Is everywhere clear and |
that killing frosts tonight will probably |
complete the destruction of all late corn |
and forage crop. Revised estimates by l
grain men fix the late corn which will |
be seriously damaged tonight at |
20 per cent of the total crop of the State. |
BIG DAMAGE IN NEBRASKA.
Lincoln, Neb.. Sept. H.-Heavy clouds
prevented frost last night In the eastern |
half of Nebraska A rainstorm prevailed |
over this section of the State yesterday |
afternoon, and the blanket of clouds con-
inued to serve as a protection to the /
crops
In the extreme western and northwest
srn parts of the State frost fell last night,
adding to the heavy damage that was |
lone the night before An estimate of the /
iamage done to crops in this State has
T. VIII reach a large figure.
The weather all over the State is still |
old and under prevailing conditions 1t is
1ifhcult for corn to ripen, even though 1t
s not killed.
CLOUDS PROTECT IOWA CROPS.
Des Moines. Sept. H.-Again the clouds
saved the corn crop of Central Iowa. Frost
failed to make its appearance In the CEN
tral valleys of the State. although pre-
dicted by the Government
The sky cleared up early In the evening
and continued remarkably clear until 10
o'clock. when the clouds rolled by In great
profuSion. A thorough examination of the
1elds this morning reveals all that is