The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-11-30
Missouri Weather,

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The Journal. These months have bsen
exceptionally full of toll and care. Bust
ness has been good with me, and extra
business involves extra toll and care. In
addition to this, however, one of my best
horses was seriously injured by kick,
and another, fine animal, caught his
hind foot in a rope and nearly broke his
neck. The former is improving, how
ever, and the latter is working every
day. At this busy season of the year we
have needed their services badly.
We have had twelve months of vari-
able weather The fall and winter of
year ago were exceptionally pleasant.
We had but little rain, snow or excessive
cold. When the farmers began work in
the spring period of excessively dry
weather set in. Day after day the sun
rose and set without cloud or refresh
ing shower. The result was the pas
lures became bare, the seed either
remained in the ground unsprouted or
languished for want of moisture. There
was almost total failure of the oat and
hay crops. The wheat, which is to con-
siderable extent winter growth, cover
ed the ground early in the spring and
withstood the test. We were compelled
to pay high prices for hay shipped from
distant points, and some dairymen, dis
couraged by the outlook, filled their
barns with Alfalfa hay at high price,
SIS per ton. The expense was heavy,
but the results are proving satisfactory
for the hay makes lots Of milk and there
is no waste to it. Had this weather con-
tinued two months longer the conditions
confronting US would have been severe
in the extreme. At the point when des-
olation and despair had seemingly settled
down upon US change took place for
the better. The clouds began to gather
and the rains to fall and in two weeks
time the entire surface Of the pastures
and grain fields began to wear new as
pect. The rains came too late to save
the oat crop, but corn began to grow
and most farmers began to sow fall
crops, such as cane, COW peas, millet and
similar crops. The hay crop began to
grow, but with it an abundance of weeds,
in consequence of which the quality is
poor, fact which is also true with re-
gard to the corn crop, which to consid-
cradle extent is rotten and wormy. Many
of the dairymen ard progressive farmers
built silos and have them filled with corn
fodder. The fruit crop, which at one
time appeared likely to prove dismal
failure ripened in better shape, produc-
ing something near an average yield, so
that at the present time we are not in
the bad shape which the early summer
months led US to fear.
The weather this fall has been very
pleasant. The demand for fuel has been
very light. Last week, day after day it
was warm enough to sit with open doors
and windows without any fires. On Sat-
urday afternoon the thermometer climb
ed to 81. We had been forewarned, how.
ever, by official forecast of speedy
change, and drop of forty degrees in
the temperature in the course of few
hours. The change came with a roar
absolutely deafening, and with sudden
ness without parallel in my experience
the wind shifted from the southwest to
the northwest, and for one minute blew
with velocity of "a miles an hour.
Buildings were wrecked, trees torn up by
the roots and telephone and telegraph
wires badly demolished. Three persons
were injured, but none Of them serious
ly One of my teams, facing the storm,
| turned suddenly and broke the tongue of
the wagon. This was all the damage
suffered, with the exception of the
breaking down of an old crab apple tree,
which fortunately fell in the best posi-
BILE direction. 1t is quite change to
pass in few minutes from 81 degrees
to 80 and from summer heat to hail and
snow, from green grass to snow covered
lawns, but such has been our experience.
One thing, however, is more than prob
able; it will soon be warmer again, for
winter seldom settles down upon US until
Christmas and never lasts long.
Very marked improvements have been
made upon the streets of Springfield.
Miles upon miles have been paved with
brick or concrete. The expense is borne
by the abutting property and is quite a
costly item except upon those streets on
which the Traction Co. has tracks.
Drury College is making rapid progress
with its equipment and endowment.
During the twenty years which have
passed since first saw its buildings
wonderful change has taken place in it's
condition, and yet there is call for a
half million more, and the expectation
is that in time the money will be forth
coming.
AS a former resident of Maine, one
who in Belfast participated to some ex-
tent in the discussion of Constitutional
prohibition, was somewhat disappoint-
ed at the recent vote, but glad there were
just enough votes to carry the day. If
another opportunity is offered to the
temperance friends to vote again we
shall hope for different or more deci-
sive test of the strength of the temper
ance sentiment. w, II. w.