Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-16
THE FAMINE IN KANSAS.
BURLINGAME, Usage COUNTY, KANSAS, I

December 18th, 1860 \
EDITOR RArTsMAN's JOURNAL Dear Sir !: L
wish to occupy small space in your paper,
while attempt to give your readers sket tch
cf the condition, and want Of provisions in
Kansas. shall base this upon my own expe-
rience; the truth of which will apply to hum
dreds and thousands of the citizens of this I'M
fortunate territory. In April | commenced
preparing my corn ground, applying myseH
with great care and vigor. The ground was
very dry, having had no rain and very little
snow all winter, but expected the usual rains
in May and June. About the 10th of May L
planted my corn. 1t was in the ground three
weeks, when light rain fell-Just enough TO
make the corn germinate and come up about
the Ist of June. cultivated it when it was
large enough Every two or three weeks we
had a little rain, wetting the ground at most
two and half inches. The corn tasseled,
when about two and a half feet in hight. Po-
tatoes also were planted, and came up after
long time. Buckwheat was sowed, but nearly
all was burnt up by the sun few late rains,
however, revived it, and it grew to the hight
of from 8 to II inches, but when in full bloom
the frosts killed it. SO you see.that corn, po-
tatoes, beans, buckwheat, and everything of
the vegetable kind is an entire failure. Eight
bushels of wheat that l sowed in the fall of
1859, grew fine, bat was entirely killed before
spring. had hogs enough for my own use.
l fed them while my old corn lasted, and about
from Illinois, and | sold seven large hogs for
Sl9, which was only one third their usual val
ne. / kept few pigs, thinking to keep them
over winter, but they are now lying on pile,
having starved to death. The weather has
been remarkably pleasant until within the last
week. 1t is now very cold and we nave tie
first snow, which is four inches deep. Cattle
have done very we'll. The prairie grass is ve-
~ short, was dried on the stalk before it was
froZe, and the cattle eat it with considerable
relish but now they cannot find it, and if the
snow should remain for month or two they
will get very poor, and likely starye. | have
commenced on my last little store of fodder,
and when that is done | know not what to do.
There has been no rain for eighteen months
now. to start the streams, and they have all
gone dry in. consequence. Stock water is
hard to find, and in many cases cattle have
to be watered out of wells
l am a Pennsylvania, have served time in
the numbering business, have went down the
Susquehanna with merry crew of raftsmen,
and / remember well the luxuries l used to
enjoy. Not being content, made my way to
the far west. Nearly six years have passed
away since first set my foot on the virgin
soil of Kansas. / came here to procure my
self a home. l have worked hard and suffered
much, and my hopes and expectations have
been in degree blighted, but l am happy to
say am rich man. have good health and
common sense, a little to eat and little to
wear, but when l count and find that there are
yet seven months before we can raise anything
to subsist on, it makes me feel a little queer
in the absence of money and labor, and a wife
and three children. to support.
Kansas has suffered severely from drouth
her people are reduced to starvation, and it
depends in great measure on our benevolent
friends in the States, whether we shall be aid
ed or whether shall be left to perish. l
have always felt too dignitied to beg. have
waited till the last moment, hoping that some
thing in the train of Providence would pass
by, so that we might procure enough to live
on until We could raise another crop. / have
laid off all reluctance, having confidence that
this will be published and read by many good
and benevolent men, who are able and willing
to send little money direct to me. Bills of
any kind can be sent by letter. Your money
comes direct into the hands of man who has
a higher motive than to apply it to his own
| use while his neighbor is in want. Provisions
and clothing can be bought within one hum
dred miles. Atchson City, 80 or 90 miles
| from here, is where the railroad terminates.
| Thus, have tried to tell you little about
Kansas and her suffering people, yet there
may be some that will not be satisfied with
this statement. 1t is nevertheless true, and
hope you will do something for us ; and what
ever that may be. pray it will be done soon.
Direct all communications to the undersign-
ed at Burlingame P. o., Usage Co., Kansas.
Respectfully yours, DAVID HOOVER.
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