The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-06
SNOWSTORM
RUSHING DOWN
ON MIDWEST
Winter Drought Region Is
Cheered by Promise
of Relief.
COMING FROM ROCKIES
Falling Temperatures Bring
First Winter Touch to
Northwest.
By United Press


CHICAGO, Feb. 6.-SweepinK
eastward on a 2,O0o-mile front, q
Sonwstorm was bearing down on
the middle west today, carrying
with it promise of relief for drought
stricken farmers and jobs for thou
sands of unemployed
The storm gathered its strength
on the western slope of the Rockies
and extended southwark from Ed
monitor, Canada, to Amarillo, Tex.
BY midday it was showing stead
lily in western North Dakota and
western Iowa.
Weather forecasters predicted
that snow would fall throughout the
northwest and middle west. The
government weather bureau refused
to estimate the probable depth of
the snow, but indicated a belief
that the fall would be considerable
in most sections.
Winter in Northwest
Lowering temperatures brought
the first tinge of winter to the
northwest. In st. Paul the mercury
had risen to 19 above at 9 a. m, but
it was considerably colder during
the night. Moorehead, Mimi, had
IA above; Devils Lake, N. D, IA;
Huron, S. D., 10.
Mild weather, which had permit
ted the first February baseball
games in history, came to an end in
the Canadian northwest as the mer-
curry dropped to 2 degrees below
Zero in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The predictions of snow were re-
ceived cheerfully in almost all sec
tons of the country and especially
were encouraging in Indiana, Ken
lucky and Illinois, where condi-
tons have become acute.
So serious have conditions be-
come in some areas it has been
necessary to ship water into many
towns.
The entire village Of Bloomfield,
Ind, was threatened with destruc-
ton Thursday night because there
was no water to check a FIRE that
started in hotel.
Low Rates to Ship Water
The hotel, one residence, the
Masonic hall and two stores were
destroyed before the blaze was sx-
tinguished with water rushed in
tank cars from Solsberry, thirteen
miles away.
Cognizance Of the situation IN
Illinois was taken by the state com
merce commission, which tele-
graphed all railroads that it would
approve low emergency rates for
water transportation.
Water already is being shipped
into several towns, and in dozen
others it was said the water supply
could not last more than from eight
to fifteen days more, even with its
use restricted.
At Jacksonville, ILL.,, plans were
being made today to send home 800
blind boys and girls because the
water supply at the institution they
attend was almost exhausted. z.
Limit Put on Baths
In several districts of Kentucky,
water was sold by the barrel and at
Marion, Ill, all residents were asked
to conserve water by not washing
their automobiles.
In several small towns, residents
were urged not to take baths except
Of the sponge" variety.
A southern Illinois Catholic arch
bishop, J. T. McNichols, ordered
daily prayers for rain in all his
churches.
The water shortage in most areas
was due in part to this winters
drought and, iii part, to the big
drought of 1890.
The only place in the country
where it showed Thursday was
Marquette, Mich, where there was
a furry. Heavy rains fell in some
sections of the west coast.