The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-05-07
WESTERN PART
OF STATE GETS
HEAVIEST FALL
Bismarck Has Had Approx
imately Half an Inch Of
Rain Since Yesterday
CROPS ARE BENEFITED
Yesterdays Shower Broke
States Unprecedented
Period of Drought

Millions of dollars were added ia
the crop prospects of western North
Dakota farmers by rain which visited
this section ycste rlay afternoon and
the steady driZzle which has cOntin-
ued through the greater part Of to-
day.
One-third of an inch Of prccipita-
tion was registered by the weather
bureau here up TO Z a. m. today and
o. W.. Roberts, veteran forecaster
said the downfall was substantial
enough to do n "world of good" to
crops already in the ground. Addi-
tional rainfall up to press time today
tOtaled ~ inch. giving Bismarck ap-
proximately half an inch Of rainfall
since yesterday noon.
Yesterdays rainfall was heaviest in
the western part of the state, official
reports to the weather bureau here
this morning indicate. Dunn Center
reported so of an inch up to a. m
today and Dickinson reported 40.
Bismarck was third with .33 of an
inch, while Willston and Minot re-
ported 20 Of an inch. No rainfall was
reported from jamestown. Valley City
Devils Lake, Grand Forks and other
points to the east
Rain Where Most Needed
"The much needed rain Of yester-
day, last night and today broke the
most protracted period Of drought in
the climatological history of North
Dakota said Mr.. Roberts today
"While the rain did not extend east
of the James river to any great ex
tent, rain occurred at points where
most needed, the central and western
portions of the state. More rain is
expected late this afternoon and to.
night, to be followed by partly cloud.
! weather Saturday, with not much
| change in temperature
! The total precipitation from Sep
tember l, 1925, to May 7. 1926, wa.
3.2l inches. as compared with 4.6s
inches for the period from September
/. 1914, to May Z, 1915. Mr.. Roberts
| said, bringing up to date compare
tive statement which recently wa:
published in the Tribune, showing tht
amounts of precipitation during thu
fall, winter and spring of 19l4-l9l:
and those of the fall, winter ant
spring of 1925-1926.
"The greatest benefit derived from
the rain of yesterday will be to pas
lures and ranges, especially those
burned over sections of which there
are a great many in central and west
crn North Dakota" Mr.. Roberts said
"Late sown grain will also be great.
helped. In some part Of the Slope
the soil was becoming mostly too or!
for blowing for corn and this worl
will be greatly lightcned.
Penetrates Two Inches
As a rule the ratio between precip
itation and soil penetration is ont
| to 10; in other words, under ordinar!
circumstances one inch of rail viii
penetrate to depth of 10 inches
However, owing to the extreme dry
ness of the soil in central and west
ern North Daokta, the penetration
was much less, the .33 Of an inch o.
precipitation at Bismarck during yes
terday afternoon and last night pene
trating to a depth Of only two inches
0n cultivated fields.
"More rain is needed in the imme
diate future for best results, but tn
cloudiness at present tepds to con
serve the soil moisture to the great
est extent. It is also q well establish
ed fact that once a drought is broker
rain is far more frequent thereafter
The rainfall, in addition to being
direct benefit to the crops and pas
lures, has done much toward restor
Continued on page five.)