Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-08-21

season, Keeping up courage ny tHcH
ambition and the hope that q fruitful
soil under the skill of the laborers'
hand, would soon again laugh with
plenty. Again in this instance, as it
often transpires, the "best laid plans
Of mice and men" are but reeds in
the grasp of destroying destiny.
The eggs deposited last year in the
soil by the locust coromants, h.tched
with the spring sun and brought forth
the young insects almost an hundred
fold. The young shoppers" grew
and fattened with the growing grain.
They swarmed in the field in the
prairie grass and even in the trees of
the forest, numberless as the sands
upon the lake shores, and steadily and
remorselessly pursued the destruct-
ion of the crops until their wings
were fully developed, and, until in
this county, with its twelve Con
gressional townships containing the
well-tilled farms of formerly well-to-
do settlers, not exceed so acres of
poor wheat, 100 acres of poorer oats,
and corn and vegetables in the same
proportion, remain to be harvested
for the support Of several thousand
souls.
This is no fancy sketch. Unfor-
tunately it is the direful, lamentable,
and calamitous fact, and hundreds
who have visited the county attest it
as strongly as it is attcsted by your
committee and every resident citizen.
This is beautiful and fertile land
and the most healthful Of climates.
This county is situated in the famous
Des Moincs Valley, and is capable
Of supporting, in comfort and even
affluence, family of dozen persons
apon every quarter section of its do
main. The locusts until last year,
never before visited this county to
its damage. They have not this
year deposited their eggs, and within
the coming century, they may not
visit us again The great majority
of the settlers at present on then
lands, if they do not receive aid, will
be compelled soon, certainly before
another crop can be raised, to desert
their homesteads, go where they can
get employment or remain here and
starve. Many have already gone,
some to remain temporarily Others
permanently.
Those who leave, with reason realize
that to abandon their homes for a
short time even, in FALL probability
is to SURF ender their houses, fen
ces, etc, to destruction by the newt.
able prairie fires. On one hand
without help, and that promptly, is
presented the Scylla ofabject power.
ty, loss of everything Of property
kind. On the other hand the Charyb
dis Of actual starvation.
This people are as worthy as any
in the Great west, as worthy rs the
sufferers by the great Chicago fire
or the Louisiana flood. Out Of the
abundance, from the opulence and
plenty of this and neighboring States,
is it reasonable under this state OF
affairs to ask relief? Shonld not this
appeal be responded to by full
handed brotherhood? AS Congress
has adjourned, as our State Legisla
ture does not meet until 1875, and as
the county, officially. is powerless to
afford relief, the only reliance is upon
the generosity and humanity of oul
fellow-mcn to extend to us the help
ing hand.
The committee finds that supplies
of provisions, clothing of all kinds
grain, vegetables, and money will be
required in considerable amounts
This fact will be readily seen and the
nature of the supplies will be sug
gested to those disposed to donate
Donors may safely send in care OF
of the committee at Baskerville, or to
any of the County officers or Other
reliable persons in the county whom
they may select, and be assured thai
the same will be distributed faithful
ly in accordance with the spirit of the
gifts.
Your committee on behalf of the
people of this county respectfully
submit the above for the considera
ton of their fellow athens through
out the country, and to people dis
tinguished for generous sympathies
and ready impulses towards the un
fortunate.
Dated August 9th, 1874.
A. JENKINS,
w. BARRIER, Com.
- RICHMoND,
Ii G. Day Spc'y of Cnmmitfee