462 



and Boston, via San Francisco. These wools will come strongly in com- 

 petition with the finer grades of wool grown in the United States, and 

 will be a great detriment to tbe producers of that class of wool. 



DEOUGHT AND FIRE. 



Gratiot County, Mich. — The late fires swept over our country, destroy- 

 ing fodder, crops, and fences, and, in some instances, houses and barns, 

 but I think no lives were lost. Hay has been destroyed to such an ex- 

 tent that the price has gone up at least one-third, and before next spring- 

 hay will bring B^o per ton, at least 100 per cent, higher than it was 

 before the fire. 



Mecosta County, Mich. — With the exception of one or two light show- 

 ers about the 1st of September, we have had no rain since the 20th of 

 July, till the middle of October. We are now having an abundance. 

 The fires, which have devastated so much territory north and west, 

 swept through the forests here generally, but did not kill uluch timber, 

 and did but little damage in the county. 



Wayne County, Mich. — The drought continued until last evening, when 

 we had a fine rain. Much of the wheat sown in September has not yet 

 come up. Pastures are nearly all dried up, and stock has to be foddered 

 as in the winter. There has been much suifering among the stock from 

 want of water, many farmers being obliged to drive their stock from 

 three to five miles to water. 



Livingston County, Mich. — The drought is unprecedented. No rain to 

 amount to anything since the last of June. Pastures, even on low 

 lands, are completely dried up, and much of the corn-fodder is already 

 fed out. Scarcely siny wheat sown on summer fallows, and much of the 

 seed sown is lost. 3Iany fires yet burning in swamps and marshes. 



Ingham County, Mich. — This county, more favored than some others 

 in the State, has suffered considerably from drought and fire. Pas- 

 tures are short, and wells and watering places dry. Fences have been 

 consumed and timber burned, notwithstanding the zealous efforts of the 

 citizens to save them. But a plentiful rain on the last day of August 

 has for the present put a quietus upon the ravages of fire. 



Juneau County, Wis. — The hay crop was large, but the late fires de- 

 stroyed hundreds of tons, which will cause considerable scarcity of fod- 

 der in this vicinity. 



Outagamie County, Wis. — One hundred stacks of hay reported burned 

 by the late fire on Eat River Marsh. Stacks would average, perhaps, 

 three tons each. In many localities the soil has been burned to the 

 depth of two feet. A great quantity of valuable timber and fences 

 have been destroyed. It has been a terrible mouth for Northern Wis- 

 consin on account of fire. Eain has finally put a stop to onr troubles. 

 For nearly a month work of all kinds has been neglected 0!i account of 

 fighting fire. 



Defiance Comity, Ohio. — The woods are all on fire, the swales are 

 entirely dry, and much good timber is ruined hy fire. 



Morgan County, Ohio. — October the driest for ten years; water very 

 scarce ; several heavy frosts ; no snow, and but one small shower of 

 rain. Ice the 29th. 



Gibson County, Inch — In some i)arts of our couut3' water is very scarce. 

 Some hauling for stock two to four miles. 



Vanderburgh County, Inch — The dryest fall, up to the 20th of Octo- 

 ber, known in this county for twenty years. But little rain since the 

 middle of August, to within about the 20th instant. 



