The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-29
GREAT DROUGRTS

-
THAT HAVE VISITED THE WORLD
IN YEARS GONE By.
Some of the More Notable Ones
Mentioned and the Harm Solae Of
Them Did.
Frederick J. Haskins tells OF the
great droughts that have visited the
world and the harm they did. He
says the causes of droughts,, like vari-
GUS other phenomena Of nature have
never been explained. They have
happened from time to time since
the beginning of the world, and in
former years have brought q far
greater suffering to mankind than
they are ever likely to cause again.
When the crops Of a nation fail a
famine ensues, unless some provis-
ion has been made to prevent 1t.
The first great drought on record
in the United States took place in
New England III 1749. Histories re-
cord especially the suffering OF the
cattle which could not find food in
the dried UP pastures.
In some places the ground dried
up and cracked open in deep fissures.
The fish died in the dried up streams
and ponds.
This drought also extended as far
south as Pennsylvania, for co:onists
in that state imported hay froni Eng
land to feed their cattle at a cost of
three shilltngs per huudred-welght.
Owing to- the difficulty of ootain-
ing food many farmers that year
slaughtered their cattle and snbsist-
ed during the winter upon the meat
thus secured, often having to sat it
without bread of any kind, since the
grain crop was almost total fail
ure.
A second drought in New England
took place in 1852 which caused
even greater suffering hhan the first.
It Is claimed that at this time there
was absolutely no rainfall from May
to July 80. Public fasts were pro-
claimed and in most of the churches
in Boston.
At Falmouth and other towns al
most continuous services were held
for a week in the different churches
to pray for rain. 1t is said that in
this drought thousands of catele per-
ished and that the. loss to the. colon
lists felt even up to the time OF the
Revolutionary war.
Previous TO the drought Of this
year, the full extent of which cannot
yet be estimated the greatest brought
in he United. States in the century
eliminated in the Mississippi al
Missouri valleys in 1894 and in the
Great Lake regions and along the At
lantic coast in 1895. This drought
Of 1894 was elimination Of diff
cient rainfalls for 1898.
The average difficiency of the rain
fall during the drought throughout
the country amounted to 5 i:-ches of
the annual precipitation. Eotwith-
standing this dry weather, there was
a normal yield in the wheat crop
throughout the country, and almost
normal in corn in 1894, although
both crops fell a little short IN 1895.
The average yield for eorn in the
latter year stood at 1914 bushels per
acre instead of 23.5 which was nor
NAL and the shortage in wheat that
year amounted to about 10 yer cent.
In 1881 there was great drought
in the Missouri valley from July to
September which extended to various
other parts of tine country. In In
dianapolis, that year, the rainfall
from June % to August 80, period
of 70 days, was less than 1"2 inches
while from May Is to Juna 4, pre-
ceeding, a period of 21 days. it was
less than 1-2 inch. Durfas this
drought vegetables and the staple
crops suffered severely.
There was also a great loss of life
among cattle, which were often turn
ed loose to find food anG water.
Springs and wells, which had always
run freely ran dry that year and in
many parts of the country the water
famine took a very serious aspect.
Services to pray for rain we're held
in different churches in a large num-
Der of cities. In many towns the
water supply was only available for
a few hours each day and its use was
greatly restricted.
Aside from its effects upon the
crops a great drought throughout
a country with as large nanufac-
turing interests as the United States
has a very appreciable effect upon
many branchs Of trade. During the
droughts of 1895, 1894 and 1891,
many factories were shut down for
months because of the failure Of the
water supply.
In some of the Southern States
the manufacturing interests are be-
ing materially affected by the
drought. At Charlotte, N. G., scores
of footor;ac ,Uera chut dour, for cav-