Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-09-12
HALLS RUIN OF FARMERS
Heavy Rainfall beginning Labor Day
Breaks Long and BliEhtinH Drought
throughout the Country.

Washington, Sept. 5.-With the break
ing of the drought by the rains this week
the most serious condition that has CON
fronted the farmers of the eastern and
southern parts of the United States in
years has passed away. The lack of rain
at one time promised to be very SER
ious calamity. As 1t is it has entailed
loss to farmers, fruit growers and
others Of many millions of dollars. But
for the rain which began to sweep east
ward Sunday night and fell in copious
showers through the entire country from
the Mississippi valley to the Atlantic
coast and from Florida to the gulf
hundreds of thousands of men would
have been practically ruined The drought
was one of the most extensive and severe
in recent years. II was particularly dis
astrous throughout New England New
York. Pennsylvania. New Jersey, Della
ware, Maryland. West Virginia Virginia
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Alabama, Florida, Tennessee. Kentucky
Mississippi Louisiana, Arkansas Okaho-
ma and Texas
In many of these sections week had
succeeded week with brilliant sunshine
but 'ithout any moisture whatever. In
New York State there were sections
whore no rainfall had been recorded for
about seven weeks Forest fires started in
many sections and were subdued only
with the greatest difficulty. In one sec
ton or the Adirondack a IRE got under
such Roadway that Governor Hughes was
appealed to one Sunday, and practically
the entire fire fighting force of the
Adlrondacks was assembled by the
governors orders delivered by telephone
Sunday afternoon and Sunday night
SUFFERING IN NEW ENGLAND.
Greeks and ponds went dry In the dairy
sections Of New York New England and
pennsylvania which furnished the milk
supply TO six or eight millions persons in
cities, and water had 10 be hauled long
distances for the stock. 1t was only by
hauling water for great distances in
many localities in New York and New
England that vegetable growers kent
their plants alive and the yield was very
small
The fruit crop of all the eastern and
southern States suffered very heavily, and
in numerous sections conpleie failure
was threatened. The loss in the berry and
at millions Of dollars, attributed entirely
to the drought. Pastures were dried IN
and forage for live stock was almost i'm
possible to obtain. in many quarters even
the trees began to die from lack Of mois-
ture
The condition reported in the weekly
weather bulletin of IN" department Of
agriculture for the week ending Septen,-
! hr- aa1n
throughout the country There had been
some general showers in New England.
but the precipitation for the week was
small and the drought continued. very
| heavy rain was needed throughout the
entire section.
| Throughout New York the weather had
been cool, there had been practically no
| rain and tho severe drought continued
generally. The rainfall in New Jersey
had been very light, much of the State
receiving none
The weather in Maryland and DSa wa re
had been clear and dry, the percenta ge OF
sunshine high and there had been no rain
RUIN IN SOUTHERN STATES.
| DRY and clear weather was reported
from Virginia, and the rainfall was fall
below the normal. with abundant sun.
shine, making the State as dry as finder
| North Carolina had abundant ranfalis lr
| the southern counties. with practically
none In the remainder Of the State Will,
the drought was reported TO be serious
The same condition prevailed In Sout.
| Carolina and Georgia. Serious drough
was reported In Alabama. Mississippi
Louisiana. Texas and Arkansas. Unfav
orable crop conditions were reported Il
both Arkansas and Texas.
The situation showed that there wa
plenty of sunshine. but no moisture an,
the whole region east Of the Mississippi
reaching from the Gulf of Mexico to Can
ada, was rapidly being parched.
The first signs of the breaking of tn
drought came with rains on August 3
and 81 in eastern Nebraska. the noptherI
part of Illinois. Indiana and western Ont
and portions OF Texas. There were scat
tered storms throughout the East o.
September / and the drought was broSe
September 2. Labor day.
The rain on that day Fell in points o
northern Texas and extended to portion
, of Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missis
, sippi. Indiana. Kentucky, Tennessee, Ala
2 bama, Ohio, North Carolina, South Car,
lima, West Virginia, Virginia. Maryla nd
Della ware, Penns ylvania, New Jersey an
all OF New England
This broke the drought. but more wa
! coming. Conditions are said to indicat
further rains throughout the East