The Topeka state journal., 1918-08-06
Damage to Corn Crop Already
Is Extensive.
Early Rains Necessary To Save
the Crop.
ZEAL RELIEF MAY COME SOON
Gulf Hurricane Is Promised in
Twenty-Four Hours.
szch Storms Usually Upset the
Weather Here.

5 Houston, Tex. Aug. 6.-The barom-
eter was falling rapidly here this after
noon, and wind velocity had greatly
Increased at 2 o'clock, indicating the
rapid approach toward the Gulf coast
of a tropical hurricane of unusual Sc
verify, reported by the weather bu-
reau to be expected within twenty
four hours.
At that hour. it was believed the
storm was not more than 500 miles
eff the Gulf coast.
Chicago, Aug 6.-The corn belt
smothered today in a heat wave. Hot
winds stole the moisture from growing
crops and left cities painting. Relief
was promised for Wednesday,
In Chicago four deaths were laid to
the heat with a score of prostrations.
ST. Louis reported four deaths, and
more prostratio Other cities suf-
fered heat casualties in smaller num-
hers.
With mercury leaping degrees per
hour. Chicago hot day record was
expected to go today with a tempera-
ture above 102, the previous high
mark. Extra policemen were employ
ed to handle the huge bathing beach
crowds. Milwaukee found 81 degree
temperature bard to bear.
Nebraska corn was suffering under
temperatures ranging down from 109.
ioWaS corn crop was reported by
authorities to have been lowered sixty
million bushels in the past week.
A viole tropical hurricane to strike
somewhere between Galveston and
New Orleans was predicted by weather
bureau officials to top off the heat
wave there,
Relief May Come.
| Houston, Tex, Aug Ga violent
/ tropical hurricane is headed for the
Gulf coast. and probably will strike
somewhere between Galveston and
| New Orleans, within the next twenty
snr hours, according to weather bu-
Fs.au Officials here today ~ =
g Storm arnings have been issued to
shipping. The storm is reported 20
be of unsual violence.
A hurricane on the Gulf is usually
followed within few days by gen.
eral disturbance of weather conditions
| thruout the Mississippi valley. There
is some hope. therefore, of lower tenn
peratures in few days.
Kansas City SweIters.
Kansas City, Mo-. Aug. 6.-Althe
considerably cooled today by a south
wind, the temperature is scheduled
retain its 100 mark for another thirty
six hours here. Declining since Sun
day. when a maximum of 10s wa.
reached, the mercury had dropped
into the nineties at noon. No croI
rain followed by much cooler weather
i -Four Deaths in st. Louis.
st. Louis, Aug. 6.-Four deaths ant
twenty one prostrations were totals to
day of a record breaking heat wave
which scorched St Louis yesterda!
!, and last night.
Rather than swelter in their homes
hundreds of families flocked to park
and house tops last night, seeking
rest from the heat.
The thermometer registered 104.'
yesterday and indications early toda.
, ! were that it would soar even higher
) Corn Everywhere Suffers.
: Des Moines. Ia. Aug. 6.-Unles
there is a heavy rainfall thruout tn
seven corn belt states shortly, tn
damage to the corn crop will be ire
mendous. This is the opinion o
Harry C. Wallace. of Wallace's Farm
} er, recognized corn authority.
: The rainfall during June and Jul
was but So inches which is nearl
two inches short of the necessar
moisture.
. Summing up reports from all sec
: tions of the corn belt. Wallace esti
mates the corn crop yesterday at 2,
S50,000,000 bushels The drought dur
, ing the past week has caused an esti
mated loss of 100000 during tina
g period.
, With continued and hot dry weather
crop in all corn states and Iowa par
ticularly. will be tremendously dam
aged, according to Wallace's report
, Considerable moisture is needed i'm
= mediately to make up for the shortag
, in the past two months.
1 Serious Damage in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City, Aug. 6.-With n
] immediate relief in sight and an aver
j age temperature of 1O2 prevailing 70
= the past week, the coeh and cottol
: crops in Oklahoma have been serious
j fly DANA ged. Many fields of corn hav
e been wholly destroyed. it is sal
y while practically all fields have bee
n more or less affected by the hea
:. wave.