The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-10-06
DR0UTH FELT
SEVERELYOVER
CENTRAL AREA
Except On Pacific Coast and
Gulf Territory, No Rain
in Over Month.
SMALL AMOUNT CROP
DAMAGE is REPORTED
Great Loss Incurred By Forest
Fires in Northeast and
Canadian Border.
(ey The Associated Press, ,

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5-The weather
elements just aren't acting right. That
is the only explanation the weather
bureau can make for the protracted
drought (which grips a great portion of
the country" meteoriogically speaking,
the winds and the barometric pressures
are acting contrary to nature. The air is
sluggish and there is little movement
in high or low strata, consequently the
moisture bearing air cannot journey over
the country.
With the exceptions of California and
the northern Pacific Coast. Florida and
the East Gulf Coast, there have been few
areas where no rain to speak of has
fallen for four or five weeks. There Is
a "low" extending from Washington. D.
c., to South of Knoxville, Tenn, which
is hardly moving and which forms a
barrier to moisture bearing winds. When
that moves away, says the weather bu-
reau, there will be some. chance of
change for the better
Although the present dry spell IS MAX
ing somewhat of a record for territory
covered and length Of time, agriculturist
and meteoriologists declare 1t has been
marked by an exceedingly small amount
of crop damage.
r. While farmers have not bothered
greatly over crop damage, great loss has
been done by forest fires in the driest
sections and grave fears expressed in
this country and Canada for inhabitants
of forested areas.
In northern Ontario. 5000 persons have
been rendered homeless and undeter
mined number are feared to have perish
ed, three towns have been wiped out and
at least four others partially destroyed.
Tentative estimates Of the property loss
amounts into millions. With no prospect
of rain held out by forecasters, it is said
the forest fires will have to burn them
selves out.
In Northern Minnesota. an area OF
about 100 square miles is burning in
many places, over 100 fires having been
reported. Several towns have been re-
ported destroyed and others damaged by
the encroachIng fires.
Because of the danger of fires, Gov
ernor Baxter of Maine has ordered the
hunting season closed and persons are
prohibited from carrying firearms into
the woods. At Penobscot Bay. tests of
a new destroyer Of the United States
navy were abandoned because smoke
from the fires obscured the course.
In many sections of the country has been
reported. Wells have failed and farmers
and small town residents We're forced to
haul water long distances. At Pittsburg
where the drought is in its twenty-fou
day, only emergency supplies of water
are reported to remain in the western
section Of Pennsylvania.
River traffic is reported paralyzed
At Cumberland, Md, 1t is reported that
wells have gone dry which have not been
known to cease running for sixty years.
The Potomac river which supplies Wash
fngton's water. is very low.
Weather bureau officials can see no
relief from drought and also from the
general attending high temperatures in
any section of the country except where
local showers are reported. From nine
cities throughout the middle west come
some reports of temperatures higher
than any ever before recorded for this
time of the year.