The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-04-26
HEAWSTORMLOSs
Western Grain and Fruit
Crops Ruined.
SNON COVERS EIGHT STATES
April Blizzard in Central. North.
western and Mississippi Valley
States Caused Damage Esti-
mated at $50, 0Oo. 600.

Chicago. April 25.-The most disas.
trous April blizzard In a decade in the
central. northwestern and Mississippi
valley states has caused a monetary
loss TO fruit. vegetable and grain
crops estimated at $50 200. O00. has
wrought havoc 10 shipping on the
Great Lakes. has caused death and un-
told suffering among the unprepared
and has impeded railroad trafic.
The snow and windstorm. which
started Thursday night still continues
and snow varying in depth from two
10 eight inches. covers the states OF
Nebraska. Iowa. Minnesota and the
Dakotas. Wisconsin. Illinois and Mis-
souri,, while temperatures are below
freezing.
Must Re-Seed Grain.
Coming rs Il did with millions OF
acres OF fruit trees in blossom and
with spring wheat and vegetables all
sprouiing. the storm is nothing less
than a calamity. In Minnesota. north
Through Dakota and Wisconsin. much
ot the grain will have to be reseeded.
The entire fruit crop OF the central
lakes region. excepting westward TO
the foothills Of the Rocky mountains
and southwark into Kentucky and
I Tennessee. is almost certainly wiped
ont for the season.
Professor Henry J. Cox. weather
forccaster for the United states in
Chicago. sees no relief from the freez-
ing weather II any fruit has been left
w''h the germ OF life in It by the
'rosts that already have occurred
coming frosts show every prospect OF
wiping out the last chances OF crop.
The losses in the principal fruit
growing states are ;old I'm the fol
lowing dispatches received I'm Chicago.
uiinois-Greatest damage was caus-
- ny the blizzard that covered tho
entire state. Early vegetables on the
truck gardens IN the northern dis
trirts and berry PATCHES. where binds
. had reached an advanced stage are
reported as total losses. Damage. So
GOO 01o
lowa-Storms in Iowa have contiu-
ned with greater or less vieor for
nearly a week. bur tho fricii atmos-
phcre and SHOWS Of the last two DAYS
have done the greatest damage Not
only fruits and vegetables. but even
tho oats crop IS threatened Entire
damage slo.oo0Coo.
indisna-Apple orchards and truck
Gardens wc-e The greatest sufferers
The damage which was coz rre1 10
the northern AMI central districts.
amounts 20 100000
Michigan-F Fruit bolt almost entirely
zone Tor the season. All thar remains.
according 90 expert growers Is the
grape crop. which has been damaged
to o great extent. s4oo0ce
Wisconsin-u Is estimated that -
Der cent Of the fruit crop AMI an %
the early vegetable and green stuns
have been killed Damage. S2o00. 600
whes; Crop In Doubt.
/ Ransas-Snov and low temperatures
have Alled the buds. and in many IN
stances even the leaves ca the trees.
The corn crop. however. Is safe Dam
age. $lO0o. 600.
Kentucky-All the fruits and vegc-
tables as well as budding plants and
covers. have been damaged By the
cold weather and nurries OF snow
largely because OF the fact that they
had reached an abnormally early de.
velopment Loss. S2.u10.DG
Clouds and favorable CON
ditions saved much OF the fruit Friday
night but the clear weather and con-
tinued cold completed the damage rs
timated loss. S2000.O0O.
( Ohio-Early fruit particularly wa.
termelon and other vines. have been
killed by the SHOWS and freezing
weather. Grain has not been hurt.
Loss. 100000
; Nebraska-Small gardeners and the
truck farmers were the heaviest losers
in the storm that. it Is believed now.
has not damaged the early wheat.
Loss. $4,000 900.
In the Minnesota. the
Dakotas and eastern Montana-farm
crops and garden truck have shriveled
up and died. The total damage SO far
reached Is over Sl5.O00.o00 with the
wheat crop still In doubt
Barley, oats and rye In northern
Minnesota and the Dakotas have sui
fered permanent injury. Corn has been
stricken throughout the entire north
west and preparations are being made
10 feseed all these crops.
--N ACaN4NNl loss ltl4 upon IrlCk
gardeners and small husbanders. The
strawberries. blackberries. radishes
and set vegetables are almost a total
loss In the Duluth vicinity. and on
the entire iron range. and in western
South Dakota and eastern Montana
where fortunes are newly invested in
large gardening enterprises. the loss
from the storm Is estimated al S.
600 900.
Two serious cases OF exposure and
one OF death to settlers have been re
ported as a result Of the sudden on
{ slaught of the winter.
Shipping on the Great Lakes. wher,
! waves are running mountain high
forcing steamers from their courses
and in some instances throwing then
upon unfrlendly beaches. has sufferet
immense damage.
LOCAL MARKETS.