Evening star., 1953-10-28
First Good Rain
In 5ODays Ends
Drought Here
1.28-Inch Downpour
Aids Farms, Abutes
Forest Fire Hazard

Forest FIRE Hazard
The Washington area alb
Sorbed its first soaking rain in
so days with a downpour which
totaled 1.28 inches when the
final drops were measured today.
Not all the drought-stricken
lands Jared so well, but the rain
was general enough from the
Mississippi to the Atlantic to
bring new hope to farmers and
foresters.
The immediate area benefited
even more than the optimistic
Weather Bureau had forecast.
Between 1:30 and 2 am. many
persons were awakened by the
rumble of thunder and pouring
OF rain such as they had not
heard since early September.
Only S Days of Rain.
On September 5 and 6, 1865
inches fell to end the years
worst hot spell. Since then until
yesterday rain was measured at
the National Airport on only five
days, the greatest amount being
.18 of an inch. and the total for
5O-day period reaching only
ST of an inch.
This mornings deluge even
brought few hail stones, about
pea-size," the Weather Bureau
reported.
Little more than sprinkles
were forecast for today, fol-
lowed by clearing and pleasant
weather for the next two days.
There's chance for a little more
moisture toward the end of the
week.
First checks indicated sur
rounding States got spotty re-
suits from the wide rain belt.
The foremost question as to how
the farmers and forests Jared
had to be answered on a local
plane.
Farmers Need More.
Virginia Agriculture Commits
sioner Parke c. Brinkley said it
appeared that farmers generally
would need considerable" more
rain to get them back on solid
footing.
Such amounts as .43 of an
inch, as reported at Gordons-
vile. might do more harm than
good for winter grain already
planted. On the other hand.
1.25 inches, such as the Wash
ington area reported, will bring
up grain in the next two weeks,
he said.
Lynchburg. Va. reported a
soaking 2.41 inches, but Rich
mond had only .01 of an inch
and Norfolk 80 of an inch.
The situation in Maryland also
was spotty. Baltimore recorded
go OF an inch. On the Eastern
Shore, east of Salisbury, .95 of
an inch had fallen since mid
night.
Fire Hazards Reduced.
State Forester George Dean
said any rain, no matter how
slight. would help reduce fire
hazards in Virginia forests, hard
hit by repeated blazes this fall.
Reports from southwest Virginia
focal point of the fires, indicated
spotty rain, he said.
Mr.. Dean was to determine
later today whether enough rain
had fallen generally to lift the
newly imposed Statewide hunt
ing ban. He said he would rec
ommend resumption of shooting
as soon as it was feasible.
A steady but light rain yester-
day helped knock out central
Maryland's worst fire of the year
a 15-acre blaze in the Mt. Lena
section of Washington County.
Hunting Ban Lifted.
Enough rain fell in West Vir-
g1nla to quench sputtering for
est fires and to make it possible
to reopen the hunting season at
sunrise tomorrow. Hunters ay
again go for squirrels, grouse and
turkeys as we'll as waterfowl and
other migratory BIRDS
The rain and promise of Fed
eral assistance cheered hard-hit
Virginia farmers.
President Eisenhower was re-
ported favorably impressed by
a plea from Ted Dalton, Repub-
ican candidate for Governor, to
provide more drought relief for
the State.
Commissioner Brinkley was
setting up a conference, prob
ably today, to get some action
on the promised Federal hay
program.
In Richmond the State Agri-
cultural Mobilization Committee
scheduled a meeting today to
consider requests of six counties
-Fauquier, Clarke, Pulaski,
Smyth, Surry and Loudoun-to
inin 90 others in obtaining Endz