DROUGHT IN U.S.A.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 November 1925, Page 11

DROUGHT IN U.S.A.

NOW IN SECOND YEAR. SERIOUS DAMAGE RESULTING. BROAD BELT AFFECTED. BY CABLE—PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT. Received Nov 7, 1.30 p.m ' NEW YORK, Aov. 6. The United States is now suffering 1 from the second year of a drought which, although touching certain parts of the . country lightly, has done, and ■ is continuing to do, serious - damage. 1 There is a stringent deficiency of 1 moisture over most parts of' the 1 country. It had been expected that 1 last winter’s rains would bring the desired relief; but these failed to ■ eventuate, and the spring, summer, 1 and present autumn have also proved disappointing except in a lew districts, where recent rain afforded much relief. The area which has suffered worst is a belt extending southwards from Mis_ souri to Texas and eastward through southern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia, southward to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The only sections having normal rainfall are New England, California, Idaho, Montana, and Utah. One observer describes the conditions as follows: The situation in many parts of the drought-stricken regions can only be called sensational. Lack of water to supply the power companies made it necessary to restrict cotton milling operations in some parts of the southern States, and the shortage of water for live stock has been extreme. Municipalities have been obliged to put into effect rigid restrictions on the use of water for domestic purposes, and in many places the problem of securing drinking water has reached a point involving genuine hardship. Disastrous consequences to the maize crop are prevented only by a singularly fortunate distribution of the small Ira inf all in the maize-growing area; but, nevertheless, official forecasts show a heavy diminution in the crop.