The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-20


cutting of alfalfa, except in a few ia
vored localities.
Effect on the Corn Crop.
The damage to the corn crop was
considerably greater than the dam
age done by the drouths of any pre-
vious year. The present prospect is
for about 10 per cent of a full crop,
which would indicate about Is, 100000
bushels, In 1911 the state harvested,
in round numbers. 60,0O0,000 bushels;
in 1901, 100000 bushels, and even
in 1873, when the crop was the least
of any year since 1868, there were
10000 900 bushels, as shown by the
reports of the Kansas state board of
agriculture. In about half the coun-
ties of the state the crop is reported
a complete failure. Practically the
only fields that will produce enough
corn to be worth husking are those in
the low lands. An unusual amount
of corn is being cut and stored in silos,
which will help materially towards re
lieving the shortage in stock feed TINS
winter.
The Hay Crop.
The damage to wild or prairie hay
varies from about SO per cent in the
eastern counties to a total failure in
the southwestern, though few favor
ed counties report the usual crop
Alfalfa seems to have stood the
drouths better. In the eastern half
of the state from two to three cuttings
were generally obtained.
The usual number varies from four
to five cuttings. In the western half
there were generally one or two cut
tings, though some northwestern
counties report four cuttings The
usual number here is generally two
or three cuttings. Generally the first
cutting was extra heavy and of good
quality and a fine seed crop later in
the summer has compensated in
large measure for the deficiency in
hay.
Damage to Vegetables
The vegetable crop, with the excep-
ton of early potatoes and few other
early vegetables, was practically
failure, except in the few places where
it was irrigated. Early potatoes made
about half crop.
The Wheat Crop.
Over the eastern half of the state
the drouth began too late to dam
age wheat In the western and espec-
ialIy the southwestern portion, wheat
was badly damaged. In some coun-
ties there was less than SO per cent or
a crop, and a few counties along the
Colorado line raised no wheat at all.
Stock Feed Next Winter.
In nearly every county it is reported
scarce as this time of the year. In
the northwestern part of the state,
however, feed is more plentiful than
in either 1901 or 1911. There has
been an unprecedented movement OF
cattle to the eastern markets, Whlch
will result in a marked scarcity OF
beef cattle for the next year or two.
About three-fourths of the counties
report that with the number of cattle
already shipped out and the increased
use of corn for ensilage. they will
have enough feed to carry their
stock through the winter. though in
many instances it will be necessary to
use forage that is not desirable
Effect on Water Supply.
1t is generally reported that the
than it ever was before, except in the
western counties and those along the
Arkansas river east to Sedgwick coun-
ty, where there is an inexhaustible
supply of underground water-the
.'underfiow," as 1t is commonly called |
Creeks and small lakes are dried up
that were never before known to be
dry. Only a few reports state that the
water supply was lower in 1860 or 19O1 |
In some of the larger cities, notable
among which is Topeka, ample prov1-
sion had been made for a supply of |
water that was sufficient for all pur- |
poses, but individual farmers and |
smaller towns in the eastern half of |
the state experienced much difficulty |
in obtaining sufficient water. In sew
eral instances it was necessary to ship |
water for whole towns in tank cars, |
and to make this possible the state |
utilities commission put into effect |
rates on water, as such !
conditions had never before arisen and |
the railroads had no rates on water. |
The Rock Island railroad was COM /
PEELED to haul IS tank cars 100000 gal |
lons) of water daily from the Kansas |
river at Topeka to supply its shops at i
Horton, a distance of As miles. 1t also |
found it necessary to haul water in |
tank cars for steam purposes at Paw
nee, Sabetha, Prairie View, Herington |
and Caldwell, though these hauls were
shorter than the one from Topeka to |
Horton.
Effect on People Generally.
The health of the people Of the state |
was so much better than would have |
been expected from such extreme |
weather conditions as to cause consid
cradle comment. Only II deaths from
the direct effects of the heat were re-
ported to the state board of health
during June and July, against in the
corresponding months last year. and
the report for August, while incom
plete as yet, will not show much more
of an excess over the corresponding
number of August last year. The pro-
longed period of hot days and uncom
warm nights was facilitating,
but not in the degree that might have
been expected from the temperatures
that prevailed. There was consider
ably more than the usual summer trav-
Ell to cooler climates, and the railroads
report the heaviest summer passenger
business they ever had The work that ,
was to be performed during the sum-
mer went on with almost the usual en-
ergy, though there was a general feel
ing of depression, due mostly to the
knowledge that the continued drouth
was running the crops upon which the
of the state depends almost |
Many conflicting reports have been
received as to the conditions of people |