Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-17
General Rains Bring Relief
From Worst Drought OF
States History.
WATER FALL is RECORDED
AS BEING INCH OR MORE
First in Seventy-One Days at Con.
cordia-Hail and Tornado Visit
Joplin, Mo.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-. August 16.-The
end of the longest. hottest and most
costly drought In the history of Kan
sas Is in sight according to reports
received here tonight. Rain OF some
consequence fell over a considerable
portion of the state today and In
many places continued tonight. Gov
eminent forecasters said the rainfall
probably indicated that the drought
was broken. Good showers were gen.
eral over Missouri and northern Okla
homa.
Inch Of Rainfall.
The precipitation in Kansas ranged
from light showers to one and one-half
inches, the heaviest rains being In the
southern part OF the state. An inch OF
rain fell In the district between EN-
poria and Kansas City. and between
Lawrence and Topeka the downpour
measured three-QuarterS OF an inch. A
heavy rain visited the territory around
Holton. and good showers were report
ed east from there to Leavenworth.
Rain was general over the eastern part
Of the state tonight.
Long Drought Broken.
The first rain In seventy-one days fell
In Concordia tonight During the
drought the mercury climbed above the
100 mark on twenty-five days. In
many places where rain fell today the
drought has been. continuous for nine
weeks. A drop in temperature was ex-
perienced at all points where rain fell
Wind and Hail.
The high temperature continued in
portions of central Kansas where no
rain fell. Abilene reported 105 de-
grees, Emporia 1O4 and Salina lob.
A heavy rain visited southwest Mis-
souri, late today. At Joplin the rain
was accompanied by a high wind and
hail, which shattered plate. glass win
vows and tore down awnings In the
business district.
Fifteen-Minute Shower.
At Kansas City today there were two
deaths from. the heat. A shower of fif-
teen minutes duration sent the tempera-
ture down for short time In the north
end Of the city, where poor people live.
an ice famine prevails. Many deaths of
infants In this quarter during the last
few weeks have been attributed to lack
Of ice. A fund was started today to re-
ueve conditions.
At Topeka all social functions have
been postponed and the clubwomen and
society leaders have deserted regular
meetings and gatherings. Pastors of
churches have announced they intend to
cut short their sermons and the hours Of
Sabbath services have been reduced.
Scores Of smaller cities near Topeka who
depend upon Topeka ice dealers for their
supply have been advised that unless rain
came their ice will be cut of.
"Pond Day" Planned.
Gov. Hodges of Kansas today announc-
ed that he was planning a pond day"
for the last OF this month.
THE worst situation that has con-
fronted Kansas II. many years is with us
now" said the governor. 1--WE must
take care Of the future by saving the
water that falls in winter and spring
months This situation should never
confront us again. / believe we could
have a week Of pond building in Kansas
that would bring results. There ought
to be a hundred thousand ponds in Kan
sas full OF water now. l know OF some
good ponds that have four or five feet
Of water in them, and there is no short
age Of water on these farms. l am go
ing to try to get a pond dug on each
farm this fall to store the winter water. "
Hot at Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE,, Wis. August 16.-Four
prostrations from heat were reported by
the police department up to 2 o'clock
today. Included in the list was Ted"
Murphy, well known boxing promoter.
None Of the cases Is expected to termi-
nate fatally. The temperature hovers
around 80 degrees.