Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-08-23
Kansas..Prospective Famine.

Kansas was once overrun by Border Ruffians,
who devastated the settlements, in many instan-
ces, and demolished what the industrious hand
of the emigrant had built up, destroying crops
as well as human lives. The day of peace came,
and with it prosperity. Towns and villages
have since sprung up, and agriculture has gone
forward with rapid strides. until thousands OF
rich acres have been brought under successful
cultivation.
But now the demon of destruction has visited
that unfortunate land in another shape. The
drouth has swept over its fair fields and the as
pect of drear desolation is presented. An al
most entire absence OF rain for months, with
| blichting simoons, have literally cooked what
| little vegetation put forth In the Spring, and
the hard-wording farmers who have looked for
ward expecting TO realize the reward Of their
past lab0rs in the crops of the present year ind
| their hopes blasted, and threatening famine M
pending over them.
In the hope that the present year would find
| Kansas a State, and that with full crops there
would be self-sus,aining population, every
farmer put in from five to fifty acres of wheat,
making all kinds of shifts TO obtain seed. There
was but little Snow during the winter, and con-
seauently the wheat suffered from want of mois-
| tire, but confidently anticipating relief in the
spring rains, a large area was sown in spring
wheat But no rain of consequence fell until
about the first of May, when all prospects Of :.
wheat crop had faded. and then the farmers
thought to save themselves by heavy planting
of corn. Fully three times the area ever plant
ed before in the territory was put in corn. and
now this the last hope of the Kansas agricultur-
| lists is gone. No wonder they look forward TO
| the future with gloomy forebodings.
The consequence of this last scourge must be
to drive many worthy families hack to the
States; for to remain will be TO battle through Il
year of want. Those who cannot leave and
have not the means. independent of their farms,
Of subs;stence-and this is the condition of the
greater part of the farmers Of kansas-must
receive assistance from the States or suffer. if
not s,arye, in many instances The whole pre-
sent hope of Kansas seems TO have hung upon
this wears crops; and with the destruction of
one the other has been cut down.
1t isstated that hundreds irresponsible farm
ers would willingly and cheerfully purchase
winter supplies of groceries, DC, in bills from
800 to $500 each, and pay legal interest from
date, Q0@20 Fer cent? provided they could
have 4 year to ray it in, by satisfactorily seeu-
ring the amounts by mortgage on their farms
worth four or ten times the amount wanted
OF the certainty and abundance of the security
offered, not 4 doubt can be entertained. An
other season can scarcely fail 10 bring rain,
abundant crops, a returning and new emigra-
ton, admission IS State, and a restoration Of
confidence. Will not some philanthropic capi
tallst enter the field thus opened TO them, and
supply to their fellow citizens in Kansas, on the
fair terms the propose, the wherewlth TO relieve
their urgent necessities?