Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1904-12-08
Ruin In THE UROUTH
WCEFUL LACK OF RAIN IN MIS-.
SISSIPpI VALLEY.
Approach of Cold Weather Without
Moisture Means Vast Loss-Coai Mines
Are Crippled, Railroads Harnpercd.
and Cities in Danger from Fire.


one Of the worst drouths in the history
Of the Mississippi Valley if cold wealth
er sets III without a rain. Illinois, In
diana, Ohio, Kentucky. Wisconsin and
other States in the valley are now feel
ing the effects of the lack of water.
Already several disastrous prairie
fires have occurred, railroads and coal
mines are having hard work to get
water. stock raiSers are complaining
and farmers are counting their losses
by the hundreds of thousands of dol
lars. In some of the cities in the Mis-
sisSinpi Valley States the water sup
ply has been completely exhausted
and the first fire that occurs will sweep
unchecked through the towns. Farm
ers, railroad men, mine owners and
stock raiSers all predict serious conse-
quences if the drouth continues. Moth
ing but Il rain before the beginning of
real cold weather can save the valley
States, they say.
One of the most serious results Of
the drOuth is the inability of many
coal mines located il the Mississippi
Valley States to get water The mines
need large amount to run their en-
gines with and have been unable to
get it. The closing down of some of
the mines, among them those in the
district around Terre Haute, Ind, and
Danville, ILL.,. will follow within
few days if there is no rain or the
mine owDers do not haul water to the
mines in oil tank cars.
The railroads also are suffering as
the result of the drouth. In Ohio it
has been found impossible to keep the
water tanks filled. All engineers have
received instructions to use water very
sparingly. At Bloomington, ILL.,, the
Chicago and Alton Railroad has been
forced to ask assistance from the city
officials and the city is furnishing the
railroad with 100000 gallons of water
a day for its trains, as the Atoms res
ervoirs have run dry. The conditions
in Ohio and Illinois are the same as
those elsewhere.
The exhaustion Of the water supply
in many Of the cities in the valley has
already resulted in an agitation for
the establishment of waterworks in
many Of them. Jacksonville. Bloom
ington, Danville and other cities have
Joined in this agitation and the cues
ton Of obtaining better protection
from fire has been taken up. This
question is being agitated as the re-
suit of several Of the cities finding
themselves without the means of stop
ping fire as the result of the drouth
In the country around Mount Yer
non, ILL.,, sparks from passing engines
have set fire to grass and to the dry
corn which is standing in the fields be-
cause it is too dry to be shocked. These
fires have done considerable damage
to the crops and at times have threat
ened to destroy farmhouses and to
sweep up to the boundaries OF the cit
les and villages:
All through Illinois and the other
Valley States the greatest
IIuIlN ii.IS DNSll XII llEtL-
ing water for cattle Those sections
which are on rivers or lakes. OF course,
have no difficulty at the present time.
although some of the streams have
run nearly dry, but the cattle raisers
who are dependent upon wells and
reservoirs for water are badly off.
In the Wabash River Valley the
are particularly bad. Waite
is being hauled for miles and the scar
city is so great that Clarke County
farmer was able to sell the privilege
Of allowing cattle to drink from Il
pond upon his farm for 500 Dairy |
products have been advanced in price
rs The result Of the GrOuth and in |
Tcrre Haute the price Of milk has gone
III 50 per cent.
Crops Of fail wheat have been al |
most entirely destroyed by the drOuth. |
The wheat that is still growing is |
making but little progress and small |
hopes are entertained for the crop by |
the farmer. Rye crops also have been |
spoiled The only benefit to the farm |
arS from the drOuth has been that it |
has enabled them to 2 her their corn |
crop with little difficulty and to get |
into their barns corn which was laid |
Hat by heavy storms early in Septem-
Der. The roads. covered with dust as |
they are. have been good
The amount of rain which has fallen |
n the Mississippi Valley differs some !
what according to localities. 1t may |
De said, however, that little Or no rain |
has fallen for seven weeks anywhere |
n the valley. Columbus, Ohio. re- |
ports that there has not been a rain |
storm in that vicinity for tifty-tlfree |
lays. In Illinois little more rain |
las fallen than in Ohio The rainfall |
n Indiana also has been greater Ken |
lucky vies with Ohio as dry State |
Wisconsin is in the same class as Ohio !
md Kentucky. while Missouri is as
we'll off as Illinois. Kansas and Ne |
)rasha.
The loss Occasioned by the drouth |
cannot we'll estimated until it is
Known whether there will be rain |
all before extreme cold weather sets |
n. Already. however. losses amount
NC to millions of dollars have been |