The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-21
WEATHER FOR June.
Number of Clear Days During
Month Has Never Been
Exceeded.
RAINFALL WAS BELOW NORMAL
Average for Entire State Only 2.2o
inehes-Drouth Acute in West
ern Part of State.

Western Kansas experienced almost
a record-breaking drouth~ during the
month of June, 1917, although the
month brought favorable weather in
northeastern counties, according to a
report issued by the weather bureau
at Topeka for June. The summary
of weather conditions is based on sta
lions in the state that cover condi-
lions in every county
June was an unusually windy month
the report declares, with widespread
and destructive tornadoes and hail
storms on the 1st and 5th. The num-
Der of clear days has not been exceed
ed by any previous June on the state
record
"The first three weeks were cool
and pleasant" continues the summary,
with the lowest June temperature on
record in the state on the I'd, when
the temperature fell to 80 degrees.
Unseasonab1y cool weather occurred
again in the eastern counties on the
18th. The last days of the month
were exceptionally hot, with tempera-
lures of 100 to 40 degrees in almost
all parts on the 18th and an extreme
temperature of 112 degrees at Phil
Hpsburg, which is the highest that
has been recorded in Kansas since
the drouth of 1911.
1.-The average rainfall over the east
ern third of the state was 2.99 inches;
the middle third, 2.07 inches; the
western third, 1.27 inches, and for the
whole state, 2.20 inches, which is 2.13
inches below normal and makes the
month the fourth driest June on rec
ord. The amounts were deficient in
all except a few northeastern coun-
ties.
Most of the rain fell the first week,
except in the northeast portion,
where there was a fine rain June 81
and %. By the time hot weather ar
rived the drouth became acute in the
western portion, where this has been
the tenth consecutive month with the
precipitation below normal. At sew
eral stations in the western half of
the state where there is a long wealth
er record the last twelve months have
been the driest on record.
Crops made good growth in all
parts the first ten days, but in the
western portion oats, barley and even
wheat. were greatly damaged the lat
ter part of the month"
Killed by Freight Train.-Norman
Elliott, 10, and Francis Berkheimer,
IA years old, were killed at Morehead
when they stepped on a switch track
in front of a backing freight train to
avoid being run down by passenger
train.
Motor Spill Killed Woman.-Mrs
Rachel Elder, 20 years old, of Wichita.
was killed at Valley Center when
motor car turned over. She and rela-
tives were starting on a motor trip to
Ottawa, Ill.
No Wheat to Adorn Show.-Wheat
will take no part in the decorations
of the international wheat show the
coming fall in Wichita, Secretary Nc
Intyre announced recently. Usually
wheat is the prominent decoration in
the wheat shows there, but because
of the need of the grain and its stalk
it will be abolished. Electricity will
be utilized instead.
Dies of Sunstroke.-George CARR
son, Al years old, died here from sun
stroke the other morning, the first
heat victim this summer in Butler
county.
New Church for Mccracken.-The
corner stone of the United Brethren
Church at McCracken was laid under
the auspices of the Masons, assisted
by delegations from Ness City, Hays
City and Lacrosse. Judge Joseph E.
McMullen of Great Bend acted as
master of ceremonies, DR.. William A.
Lewis, president of the Hays Normal,
delivered the Grafton.
Lightning Killed Observation-Disclosures
Williams of Fowler, a harvest hand
employed by Ray Audrey, near Stat
ford. was killed by lightning recently
"A widow and two children survive.
x
$4,000 Wheat Crop.-Charles E.
Bright, a former newspaper man and
real estate agent in Wellington, who
traded for a section of land northwest
of Wellington, harvested twelve thou
sand bushels of wheat off his land and
has sold it for 81 bushel.
Osawatomie Boy in France-Osa-
watomie is represented in the first
contingent OF American soldie.s to
land on French soil recently. Beryl
Bevis, son OF Mr.. and Mrs. W. A.
Bevis Of that city, is with an infantry
regiment
X \
Skyrocket Fires DweIling.-The
home of c. A Mcneil, attorney and
father of Maurice McNeill, Kansas
City attorney, burned TO the ground
at Columbus recently No one was
at home at the time and it is thought
that the fire started from a skyrocket.
Child Caught in Engine Beit.-The
S-year-old son of Edgar Garner was
caught in belt attached to a gasoline
engine at Smith Center and before the
engine could be stopped had received
injuries that later caused his death.