New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-09-21
THE CALAMITY IN KANSAS.

FRl6HTFUL REyELATIoNs-THED ROUTH-WHQLE
FAMILIES WITH NOTHING TO EAT-sTARvA-
TON BEGuN-A WOMAN STARVED TO DEATH
REPORTS OF THE CENSUS TAKERs-GREAT
STAMPEDE AMONG THE sETTLERs-ORGAN-
IzATION OF COUNTY INVESTIGATING AND
RELIEF COMMITTEES !!
Conespondence Of The N. Y. Tribune
HYATT, Anderson Co., X. T., Sept. 4, 1860
Il is now the 4th day of Septsmber-eince the 22d
u have passed through six counties and been south
to Bourbon County meeting with hundreds of settlers,
and from their own Bps learned the real state of the
case; learning It, may add, in way to impress me
with broader view of the calamity than any settler
can possibly have in bis isolation. have met por-
ton, the rear probably Of the fleeing multitude who
have DE- serted the Territory, while desertion was pos
sible for them. From what have seen, and from
Whist have heard, feel justifed in saying, that dur
ing the month of August the exodus from Kansas was
at the rate of at least 200 souls per day think this
q low estimate.
The beds of streams never before known 10 be en-
tirey bare have crossed beside scores of miles of
burnt up praires. have witnessed deserted cabas;
dried springs and failing Wells; examined corn and
cornfeds wide extent Of country, and m every
Other practicable way in which accurate knowledge
could 10 gained have sought it. In addition 10 this,
and with view to future results County Committees
formed OF persons from the townships two from s,ch
have been organized in Anderson, Linn, and Bourbon
Counties, and will probably be in Others which, be-
aide acting as Investigating Committees" II approve
these VIII also act as Committees Of Relief And
from all / have seen, been mixed up with, and
been told have no hesitation in saying to the coun
n.y. that the desolaon of Kansas cannot be told; the
half is not yet known Exaggeration, is imp0ssi-
bic listen
Kansas has no wheat TO eat and no seed wheat to
sow aud no money 10 buy il WITH neither for this year
nor for the year 70 come
Kansas has no seed corn for the coming Spring. and
she has not day in all her borders of both old aud
new corn Sufficient to sustain her population beyond
The month of March next and che has not the money
10 boy it with, the means of procuring the money
Her crops generally this year are " dead failure,
unless perchance late showers shoald trfs Of
buckwheat, of but little moment.
Wheat she has none; potatoes and all other veg
etables none; and her entire stock Of corn Of both
old ano new, would not fatten her hogs alone
They who In Kansas have bread for themselves have
none tor their neghbors And they who have bread
at all are The ones who also have no money!
The shadow of Famine at this hour is over all the
land The HuDger-ferd crouches upon the door-sill
Starvation bath already entered the doorl
Are my conclusioIs too dark | submit you the
premises Judge for yourselves. First however, let
me tbserve that there towns especially those
the Missouri River that are exceptions to what is said
here just as in sarvDg city, there always are some
lucky individuals and wealthy families who scape the
general SORROW The following is the report of the
s,psustaker Of Linn County as furnished by Mr.
hope the other counties are no worse:
Number OF ferns COO improved and % 90 acres; unim
oats 515 bushels potatoes SOL bushels. Bucswhes 2979
bushels beans 32 bushels sweet potatoes 5 bushels wheat
TS SssSn% g a z" has @
s 2s27 other cattle 1900 hogs Inhabitants 49,
OF the above Is, 900 acres of improved land, it is
fair to presume that 20 600 last year devoted 10
corn. 1t is probable that from third 10 half more
corn was planted this year than last let U.S. therefore,
assume that 10000 acres have been devoted to corn,
and ten Thousand 10 other crops, the present year.
Ny opinion is that there viii not be an average Of
one busbe to the of this 80 600. For though it s
thought by that the bottoms will yield from 10 70
20 bushels 10 the there Thousands Of OF
upland that " Ill yield at all. Now, as to these
"bottoms:" / went into one Of the richest of them,
near Mound City, into fine looking externally
which had been confidently thought good for 20 bush
els to the acre. and examination showeda scattering
Of the kernels the cob sufficient 10 reduce its value
some 80 or 40 per cent; and it also showed much
wore thing, most rightful havoc of The The
owner Of the fe remarked that if the worm should
ep at bis worn fortnight longer there would not be
busbel 70 the Of this be termed it, "the finest
field Of corn in Linn County" Until this examination
this field of corn was one of those exceptional ones
that had been regarded certain for half crop. The
ignorance OF the Of the field Of its actua state Is
ample Of the ignorance Of thousands; they no.
yet awake 10 the devastation Of the worm. Hence,
while for the calculation l about TO make, have
assumed as above, bushel 10 the acre for 10000
acre., do not believe there will be the half of il.
Now, then, regarding Linn as representing the ave-
rage Of Kansas entire let us look the casa in the face
bearing In mind that If any crop Of this years growth
be calculated upon for anything at ALI it is the
crop; that all tie others good failures What do
ind Upon the assumption Of 80 600 bush. of corn
in Linn County, and pr Stunning that there remains Of
last year crop 20 600 bushelsssy So 900 bushels In
alive find that 10 give 70 each person of the popua
ton the bare allowance Of slave one peck per week,
and make account Of the et ceteras ao wed him in
ADDITION, this corn would support the population but
Ell Tpoa ~ fhatro mid 10 nrk
this is not supposable. Let therefore call the ct
ceeras equal in value 10 onethrd the peck per week
Of corD there lie then but enough to barely keep
the people alive until the lat Of next March, while the
cattle are left unprovided for. And it would require
than they have got ftten the swine alone.
The picture is dark much fear that the country
will sumber over this matter until people here BY
hundreds are actually dying of hunger, and when no
relief reach them in time TO save. For as an ave-
rage what is true Of Linn County hold to be true of
Kansas as a whole.
Byano-by, too, the rains viii come and if they come
before cold weather sickness will be added TO famine;
aud after that, freezing will be added 70 both. / am
quite willing TO risk being thought an alarmis If can
Ut pre- paration made TO avert calamity that
10 me ems inevitable. IL any man thinks my view
too dark let him go over the statistics. and If he can,
N Ike it tIighter but getting sunbeams out of cucum
btrs" will not save this people.
But have not stated all. have pictured the future
rather than painted the present Let the country hear
me. AT this mortal hour as SIT here penniug these
ally nothing 10 eat Other families are subssting
wholly on mere bread and water, and corn bread
that and death from starvation has actually occurred
The hunger fend sits enthi oned in Kansas. asked
the census-lsker, what of Kansasl And he replied;
No " listen TO what the censnstaker, man who has
visited every calm in the country says; man who
for two whole days travel had for his horse only
parebed grass, and for himself nothing. La Walker
Township, Anderson County, he found family with
nothing 10 eat; their drink the milk OF one 90 W.
this was all their subsistence In Ozark To wnshp,
single section, he found five families living on corn
Annihar farniu az liuir