The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-10-07
LOSS AND MISERY
CAUSED BY DROUGHT IN sEV.
ERAL STATES.
Smoke From Forest Fires and Dust
Greatly Endanger Health and
Serious Epidenics Feared.

With losses aggregating seyera
million dollars from forest fires anc
heavy damage to crops and live
stock the reported loss of number
Of lives due to fighting the timber
conhagrations, the enforced idlenesS
Of thousands Of workmen owing to
the suspension Of manufacturing
establishments because OF lack OF
water, the health authorities antici-
pating serious epidemic Of con-
tagious diseases and many small
streams dried up and practically OBJ
liberated, 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 excessiv.
dry spell there have been very slight
rains, accompanied by much jghtn-
ing and thunder, but the rainfall wa:
so slight that many persons were IN.
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 feel
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
Of western Pennsylyani:
eastern Ohio and West Virginia art
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 dres are experiencias
great suffering. 1t is feared when
rain does come 1t will wash grea1
amounts Of filth into the already
stagnant streams. The health au
thorities have sounded warnings tc
the public to boil all water used foi
internal purposes and say that on)!
by doing this can many deaths ant
much sickness be prevented.
Next in Importance comes the en-
forced suspension Of numerous indus
tries and the throwing ont Of en-
oloyment Of thousands OF worknoen
many OF whom had just returned Il
work following the recent depre:
SIGN. While in the Pittsburg dis
,rict the water supply is sufficient
10 carry on all business, the 10"
;ts re of the rivers has caused con
yestion of much coal in this Tacinity
Eevery available barge and hoai
has been loaded with coal and
present, with almost 201,00e,0V'
bushels IN the Pittsburg harbor tho
river coal mines have been com
,eiled to shut down for the want Q
shipping facilities. Trere are apou'
- 900 miners employed in river
mines along the Monongahera valley
This great feet Of coal vessels l.
:or the supply of points IN the Yves
,nd South and the probabilities are
here will be a coal famine expe
fenced, especially in the Northwest
ii ,uld conditions prevent the ship
nent Of the coal before cold weather
sets in.
In West Virginia lumber plants
glass factories and iron mills, 10
,ated along the river, are closed OF
of the insufficient water
IN eastern Ohio the same cono'tlop:
nreyail and it is feared the srea'
ron and steel mills at Youngstown
Ohio, employing over 10000 men
will have to suspend operations un
less the drought is speedily broken.
In all sections OF the dry zon'
nrayers are offered up daily ane
these prayers will continue untls sne:
are answered with rain.