The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-11
RAINS ARE DOING
 FEARFUL DAMAGE Farm Work is Much Delayed
 in Central West ALL CROPS DROWNED OUT Much of the Rich Soil Has Been Wash ed Away and Bridges Are Miss
 ing-South Interests Dali
 rymen and Gamers.
BY FULTON s. WHITE.

St. Louis, April 10.-(Special.) )-Since made fast time and have covered great deal of territory, crossing Missouri Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin; crossing the state of Illinois four times, Indiana twice, Ohio twice, and I travelled part of Pennsyl- vania, spending one day in Pittsburg Also l have had time to visit three state capitols in Iowa. Ohio and Indiana and to visit old friends.
 This is merely to show what wonderful changes have been made in the last few years in the way of travelling When was a boy ten years of age I had the pleasure of making a trip to our county town, twelve miles distant. We got up early that morning, had breakfast be- fore day and started out with an OK team. We were gone all day and got home at 9 o'clock at night. I thought this, my first trip from home a great one and that had seen the world But compare this OK team trip with a trip of today, when in a little less than a week I have been able to cover six of our great states, and part of two others. wired all the parties I wanted to see and so met them prompt ly transacted all my business and be- sides had time for pleasure.
 Object of the Trips.
 I was north looking after daries, cream- cries, canning factroies and any indus tries that might be secured for our terri tory, and was able to arouse an interest, and I hope for much good to result. I succeeded in securing the services of the factory in Wisconsin to assist me in hold ing a two weeks series of farmers meet ings on our line, when the advantages of the dairy industry will be fully dis cussed It is the intention of this Wis consin firm to put in some branch plants in suitable sections for the purpose of manufacturing cheese.
 I find the weather bad all over the country The soil Is water-soaked either from great rains or from melting snow and lee The season is late and will be so for all crops. as farmers cannot get on their lands to work. No farming or seeding has been done yet in any of the states above mentioned and as 1t Is still raining a cold rain, it Is hard to predict when the farmers can get on their lands. There are no spring oats being sowed. and this crop no doubt will be very short.
 Great Floods Fearful.
 The great floods over a great part of Illinois. Indiana. Ohio and Pennsylvania have been something fearful and great amount of damage has been done by washouts.
 Winter wheat has suffered most as lots of if has heep washed Out and thOusa ndS of acres have been under water so long that it is drowned out.
 Then the roads in the country are in a terrible condition, impassable; bridges washed out, and the roads so deep in mud that team cannot pull through. But the greatest damage of all is the great dam age to the soil by washes and it will take years of hard work to replace the plant food that these floods have washed away. Still 1t rains and no prospect for let up.
 I left Pittsburg Wednesday night in a downpour; it rained all day yesterday and this morning here at St. Louis 1t is rain ing, a slow, cold rain. In Wisconsin the snow was not near all gone and there the melting of the snow and the thaw out delayed all farm operations.
 During this trip I visited number of creameries, cheese factories, canning fac tories and factories of various kinds. The greatest plant of all was that of Heinz, the pickle man, of Pittsburg.
 Of this I may have more to say later, but one thing is that great many Of these fellows arc looking south and west for new fields in which they want to es- tablish branch plants, for they begin to realize the fact that the fruits and vege- tables that they must have can be grown cheaper in the south and west than else. where