The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-09-03
GERMAN RIVERS are DRYING UP
And the Whole Country is Suffering
From Drouth.

BERLIN, August 2S.-Immense losses are
being caused in many directions by the long
continued drouth, which has now lasted for
eight weeks throughout Germany. The great
navigable rivers of the country are steadily
drying up, and, except for Il few miles uear
their mouths. have already been closed to
shipping traffic. Alarming forest fires are
daily occurring in the country districts, whole
estates being devastated and villages destroyed.
For two weeks past the Rhine, Elbe, Oder
and VStula have been unnavigable for the
many steamers, tugs and barges which ply up
and down. During the two preceding weeks
navigation was only carried on with extreme
difficulty Passengers on the Elbe steamers
plying between Dresden and Leitmeritz during
the first week in August, for instance, found
themselves constantly aground, the ships bot
toms scraping the bed of the river nearly
throughout the journey. AT the end of the
week traffic was entirely suspended. All
down these four great national highways loaded
barges are aground, and are fast in the mud
covered shoals until the rains release them.
At many parts of the Rhine it its possible to
wade across, while in the upper reaches of
the Elbe the river has dwiuded to an insight
tcant rIvulet.
THOUSANDS UNEMPLOYED,
Thousands of men usually employed on the
while thousands more dependent on the river
industries find their occupations gone. In
every case the employers, who have suffered
severely themselves, have refused to make
their workmen the least grant to tide them
over the period of enforced idleness. Conse
guently the distress among the wOrkpeople
and their families is very great. Such ex
traordinary lack of water Is unprecedented,
the nearest approach to the present condition
of things occurring in the early part OF last
century.
The great landowners of the country have
been very heavy losers by the drouth. Thogs
ands of acres of forest land have been de
stroyed by fire caused by the extreme dryness
of the timber, owing to the lack OF rain. At
LeitersdOrf the estate of the Prince HOhen
zollern Sigmariugen was reduced to ashes.
Vast quanuries OF wheat and rye aud more
than 81, 900 worth OF agricultural machinery
were destroyed. At RosenIhal, near Breslau.
nine estates, comprising extensive forest lands
and oat fields. were entirely burnt out while
at Triesky. in the same district, the whole es-
tate of Baron Won EckhardStein was deci-
mated.
HUNGARY ALSO SUFFERS.
Nearly 200 dwelling houses aud many hun
dreds of acres of corn lands were destroyed st
Raubor. in Southern Siesia- The FIRE ragged
throughout the town and over many square
miles Of surrounding country.
kilograms from Hungary tell the same
story Considerable loss OF life j reported "a
addition to great destruction OF property.
Macy Sallo. a town Of 400 inhabitants. ~
the Bars district. WAS completely destroyed,
over 4OO houses. with grauaries and store
houses. being laid in ruins. Several persons
persisted in the flames. Nine persons we're
Il. oh oh q fIfa
stroyed the village of Wojzasuiac. Hungary.
where much distress had already been cuussa
by the failure of the wheat crups owing 20
irouth.
The entire population OF lremeiu, Hungary,
we're rendered homeless By FIRE which burnt
out 800 houses. Six i.yrS were lost
The grand manpuvrrs Of the Seventeenth
and Eighteenth French Army Corps. which
we're 10 have taken place shortly ia the region
OF The Cote q Or. have been abandoned owing
10 the scarcity Of water.