The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-11
UNUSUAL
WEATHER
CONDITIONS
Entire Country Suffering
From iii Effects Of Long
Drought


Washington, Oct-4 (By the As
soeiated Press).-The weather ele-
ments just arn't acting right. That
is the only explanation the Cn:ted
States weather bureau csn make
fop the protraeted drought. which
grips a great ---ortion of the coan-
Try" Meteorologically speaking TIE
winds and the baron1etr:c nressures
are acting contrary to nature. The
air is sluggish and there ,s Et:;e
movement. in high OF. low strata.
consequently, the mois.are bearing
air can NOT journey over Inc ooun-
try.
With the exceptions of Califor-
MIA and the northern Pacific coast
Florida and the East Gulf coast,
there have been few areas where
any rain to speak of has fallen for
four or five weeks. There is a COW
extending from Washington, q. 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 bureau. there Will be
some chance Of a change. for the
better.
Although the present dry spell
is making somewhat a record for
territory covered and length eee
time, agricuituralists declare it
has been marked by an exceedingly
small amount. Of crop damage. The,
preceding warm weeks. RAPIDLY ma
.tured corn and other crops, cotton
and truck stuff and the harvest.
generally is, practically over. Some;
little damage may result to late;
corn. it is said, by agriculture de-.
partment officials but this probab-
iy will not be extensive. The main,
trouble from the farmers point of
view is that sowing Of winter wheat
is being retarded by inability to
get the ground in condition.
Cotton in Texas and Oklahoma
was slightly damaged several
weeks ago in the early stages, ofzthe
dry. spell. Truckers in the south
have been saved from loss by recent
showers from the Gulf of Mexico
hut most Late truckers crops in
the northern section have reached
the stage where dry weather does;
little damage.
While farmers have not bothered
greatly over crop damages, great,
loss has been done by forest fires in
driest sections and grave fears have:
heen expressed in this country and
Canada for inhabitants of forested
areas.
In northern Ontario 5000 per-
sons have been rendered homeless,
an undetermined number are fear
ed to have perished, three towns
have been wiped out and at least
four others partially destroyed.
Tentative estimates Of the property
loss mounts into millions. With
no prospect Of rain held out by
.forecasters it is said the forest fires
will have to burn themselves. out.
En- northern AIinpesota an area
of about 100 square miles is burn
ing in many places. over 100 fires:
having been reported. Several
towns have been reported destroy
ed and others damaged by the en-
croaching fires:
Because of the danger of fires,
Governor Baxter OF Maine has or
dered the hunting season closed,
and persons are prohibited from
carrying firearms into the woods.
AT Penobscet bay tests Of a new
destroyer of the United States navy.
were abandoned because smoke
from the fires obscured the course.
The drying Of streams and res
erveirs in many sections of coun-
try has been reported. Wells have
failed and farmers, and small town
residents were forced to haul water
long distances. At Pittsburgh, ),
where the drought is in its 25th
day. only emergency supplies of
water are reported to remain in
the western sections Of the state.
AT Cumberland, Md, it is reported
that wells have gone dry. which
have not been known TO cease run
ming for 60 years. The Potomac