Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-12-13
RUIN IN THE DROUTH
wOEFUL LACK OF RAIN IN MIS-
SiSSlPPl VALLEY.
Approach of Cold Weather without
Moisture Means Vast Loss Coal Mines
Are Crippled, Railroads Hampered,
and Cities in Danger from Fire.

The closing down of coal mines, the
running Of crops, the tying up Of rail-
roads and disastrous fires may follow
one of the worst drouths in the history
OF the Mississippi Valley If cold wealth
er sets in without 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-
sissippi 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 a rain before the beginning Of
real cold weather can save the valley
States, they say
As compared with the rainfall for
the month of November in previous
years the precipitation is very small.
The average rainfall has been from
two to three inches and it has run
over five inches. No explanation is
given by the weather bureau for the
remarkable conditions that exist
Ono Of fhn 80
the drouth is the inability of many
coal mines located in 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 a
few days if there is no rain or the
mine owners 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
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 ques-
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 q 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 sta lding 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
Mississippi Valley States the greatest
didioY1l+v hoe hoor oynariaooad in 6nd
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
conditions are particularly bad. Water
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 a
pond upon his farm for 500. Dairy
products have been advanced in price
as the result of the drouth and in
Terre Haute the price Of milk has gone
up 30 per cent.
Crops of fall wheat have been al
most entirely destroyed by the droutb,
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
ers from the drouth has bech that it
has enabled them to gather their corn
crop with little difficulty and to get
into their barns corn which was laid
fat 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
in the Mississippi Valley differs some
what according to localities. 1t may
be said, however, that little or no rain
has fallen for seven weeks anywhere
in the valley. Columbus, Ohio, re-
ports that there has not been a rain
storm in that vicinity for fifty-three
DAYS. In Illinois a little more rain
has fallen than in Ohio The rainfall
in Indiana also has been greater. Ken.
lucky vies with Ohio as a dry State.
Wisconsin is in the same class as Ohio
and Kentucky. while Missouri is as
well off as Illinois, Kansas and Ne
braska.
The loss occasioned by the drouth
cannot well be estimated until it is
known whether there VIII be a rain
fall before extreme cold weather sets
in. Already, however. losses amount
ing to millions OF dollars have been
reported. The Ohio State Board OF
Agriculture has attempted to keep
some estimate of the effects Of the
drouth. but the figures are only ap-
proximately correct. They show loss
OF over 100000.
Walked from Moving Train.
At Perkiomen. Pa, Harvey Long
walked from a rapidly moving train and