Evening star., 1951-10-04
Drought Brings
Big Cash Loss
ToNearbyArea
Maryland, Virginia
Dairy and Farm
Operations Hard Hit

An unusual fall drought-de-
Scribed by some officials as the
worst since 1941 lis beginning to
hit Washington area farmers in
the pocketbook.
County agents in Fairfax
County. Va, and Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties. Md, re-
ported today the effect of the long
dry spell, particularly on pasture
lands, is costing farmers millions
of dollars.
Dairy farmers appear to be
hardest hit. Virtually all of them
are using winter feeds for their
COWS. Winter feeds ordinarily are
not used before November /.
The rich dairy belt of upper
Montgomery County hasn't seen
a good rain since the latter part
of June, according to County
Agent o, w. Anderson. a.,
Pasture Grains Weakened.
Even if good rainfall comes
now. Mr.. Anderson is doubtful
that it will do any good because
the pastures probably would be
killed by the cold before they got
a good fall growth. And without
proper start now, he added,
pasture grains will be weak in the
spring.
P. E. Clark, Prince Georges
County agent, said the situation
sis getting kind of serious The
tobacco crop suffered from lack
of rainfall throughout the sum-
mer. except in the central part
iof the county around Upper
Marlboro. he said.
In Virginia, Fairfax County
Agent Joseph E. Beard said some
farmers are importing hay from
Wisconsin at $32 to $40 a ton.
He said the drought has been
particularly bad in the area be-
tween U. S. Route so and the
Potomac River. from Annandale
to the western portion of the
county.
Maryland Drought Serious.
The drought is reported to be
even more serious in Western
Maryland and some other parts
of Virginia. State officials are
becoming concerned about forest
fires.
The forest fire threat in Vir-
ginia looms greatest in the CEN
trail forest belt, running from the
peninsula to the Blue Ridge
Mountains.
At Charlottesville, District For
ester Dallas Willfong said, IF we
don't get rain within the next Is
days to three weeks, we will be in
serious trouble"
Thomas Elliott, district forester
at. Staunton. said his district has
not, had much trouble yet. But
he predicted continued dry spell
could change things for the worse.
Forest fires in the Richmond
area, in Chesterfield, Henrico and
Hanover Counties, are increasing
at an alarming rate. said District
Forester j. L. jolly.
The drought also has caused
water shortages for many COM
munities and smaller cities
through the State, burned UP
pastures. and aggravated stream
pollution.
| Water Supply Critical.
Two water-short cities. Staun-
ton and Charlottesville. said
yesterday they soon would have
to draw water from auxiliary sup
plies, unless rain falls soon.
| The long siege of dry weather
also has brought about critically
low water supplies in parts of
Maryland, particularly in Western
areas.
'Deplorable" is the way Mayor
Virgil Alexander Of Homecoming
described the situation in his area.
He said that in event Of a fire,
the towns entire water supply
would be used up within a half
hour.
The dilemma even has a per-
sonal touch. The mayor said that
many residents have been driving
to Cumberland, Is miles away, to
take baths.
The Potomac River has dropped
to its lowest flow since 1916 at
Cumberland. and at Harpers
Ferry. w. Va. where the stream
has a normal reading of 212 feet
it is now down to 3 of a foot.