The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-10-06
LOSS ANO MlStkY

CAUSED BIZ DROUGHT IN SEW
= ERAL STATES.
Smoke From Forest Fires and Dust
Greatly Endauger Health and
Serious Epidennics Feared.
With losses aggregating severa:
million dollars from, forest, fires and
heavy damage to; crops and, live
stock the, reported 1oss of, number
OF. lives duefto lighting the timber
conhagrationsS the enforced idleness
Iof thousands Of Korkmen1 owing to
THE suspension eof.t manufacturing
establishments because Of lack OF
water, the health authorities antici-
|pating q serious J, epidemic OF con.
|itagious diseases and many small
streams dried fnp and practically OBJ
|literated, the drought Of 1908, which
has held western Pennsylvania, cas-.
tern Ohio and West Virginia in its
grasp for more !, than :. two months,
remains. unbroken, each day gradu-.
|ally increasing the seriousness of the
unprecedented situation
Three times during the excessive
dry spell there have been very slight
rains, accompanied by much lightn-
Ing and thunder, but, the rainfall was
so slight that many persons we're un'
aware Of the fact, and were only con-
vinced that it. had rained when shown
evidence of the fall on tin roofs.
Aside from the millions of feet
Of timber destroyed and the daily
loss to manufacturers and farmers,
probably the most serious phase OF
the situation is the threatened dis
ease Epidemic. A majority of the
population Of western Pennsylvania"
eastern Ohio and West Virginia are
even now suffering from throat af-
lection caused by the great accu'
mutation Of dust and the heavy
clouds Of smoke :. In Pittsburg, Pa.
used to smoke, the sun is almost
obscured by smoke from forest fires
miles away, and those in the vicin-
| ity OF these fires are experiencing
great suffering. 1t is feared when
rain does come 1t will wash great
amounts of filth into the already
stagnant streams. The nealth au-
thorities have sounded warnings tn
the public to boil all water used fo,
internal purposes and say that only
by doing this can many deaths and
much sickness be prevented.
Next IN Importance comes the en-
forced suspension Of numerous indus
tries and the throwing out of en-
lployment Of thousands of workmen.
| many Of whom had just returned t.
work following the recent depre;'
sion. While in the Pittsburg dis
trict the water supply is sufficient
to carry on all business, the low
stage of the rivers has caused con-
gestion of much coal in this vacinity
Eevery available barge and foa1
has been loaded with coal and al
present, with almost 201,000,O00
bushels in the Pittsburg harbor the
river coal mines have been com
PEELED to shut down for the want o;
shipping facilities. Trere are about
1b, 900 miners employed In river
mines along the Monongahera valley
This great feet of coal vessels IL
for the supply OF points in the West
and South and the probabilities are
there will be a coal Famine expe-
rienced, especially In the Northwest
should conditions prevent the ship
ment OF the coal before cold weather
sets In. g.. ".7't ~, Z .
In. West Virginia lumber plants
glass factories and iron mills, To-
Gated along the river, are closed on
account of the insufficient water
In eastern Ohio the same conditions
preyail.,,and, It Is feared the great
Iron and steel, millsat Youngstown
Ohio, employing over, 10000. mei';
Twin. have to suspend operations uu!
Hess the drought Is speedily broken
: In: all sections tos the dry zone
prayers are offered up daily and
these prayers wAl5continue until thes
are answered with rain.