The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-25
COY. DAVIS AND THE RELIEF

crop LOSS ana Dest1tutto7a IN this County.
Some one wrote letter to the Min
neapolis Tribune questioning Gov. Da-
Wis efforts to procure relief for those
suffering from the grasshopper plague.
The Governor, thereupon, addressed
letter to Prof. Humiston, asking for a
statement as to this county for publi-
cation. This statement has been made
and is given below. It is generally
conceeded that Gov. Davis has done
all that any Governor could have done
under the circumstances and the wri-
ter of the letter doubtless speaks for
himself alone:
WoRTn1SGToS, July %, 1874.
There seem to he many conflicting
statements as to the amount of damage
supposed to be done by grasshOppers t.
the crops Of Mobiles County during the
present season. The estimates yarv
with the peculiarities of the men who
make them. Those who are very san
guine, and hopeful usually estimate too
high, while those who are inclined to
be respondent take the opposite ex-
IRENE. And then there are others, who
will declare one day, that the whole
country is ruined, and the next, that
we shall have q pretty fair crop aftel all:
and this statement will be repeated on
every new arrival and departure of the
gr:,sslopper. We cannot with any de-
gree OF accuracy estimate our loss, till
our crops are brought to the test Of the
scales, or the lalf-busllel; and even
then we shall lie unable to determine
what would have been our yield but
for this scourge, and how much Door
farming will he charged to the grass
hoppers.
There never was finer prospect for
an abundant harvest than the farmers
Of Mobiles county had till this scourge
came upon them. Our most substan-
tlal and reliable farmers were most con-
iident that they would realize from
twenty to thirty bushels of wheat to
the acre, from fields that we're an I'M
broken prairie but two years ago. Our
crops Of oats, flax, corn, and potatoes
were equally promising; and our gar
dens were unusually good. The latter
which were the main dependence of
many families who had not sufficient
means for extensive farming, are al
most universally destroyed.
In six townships Of our county the
ravages of our enemy have been par
ticularly severe. These are IIersey,
Graham Lakes, Seward, Wilson, De-
valid and Olney; where there are UNI
uoubtedly one hundred and fifty FAM
iii. $ who have lost nearly their entire
crops for the second season, and all are
more OF less i'll debt, and their person.
al property is under mortgage. These
families averaging from three to five
members each, have truly a gloomy
prospect before them until another har-
vest. Undoubtedly there are some
among them who greatly exaggerate
their loss, hoping thereby to awaken
sympathy in their behalf, and thus Sc
cure larger amount from the relief
fund. On the other hand, there are
many families. who are her0ically en-
during their loss, never uttering q muir
muir or complaint, and taking every
pains to conceal their real condition,
they will not consent to receive any as
sStance till they approach the verge of
starvation. They declare that they
'ca', and wIl dry and burn grass for
fuel, nad Toll grass a,e'l 'ceetls for food"
which some are now doing. rather than
''diSgrace themselves, and the COM
munity i'll which they live, by applying
for relief, and appearing before the
world as mendicants." Consequently
our people positively refused to receive
u dollar as Il gift last winter, until it
was found that the Legislature could
not conStitutionally loan lis the re-
quiretl amount. Cnuoubtedly most of
t heSe families who have lost all the pro-
duets Of their labor for two years will
require sufficient aid to help them
through till another harvest. We hope
the necessary means will he furnished
ats loan if possible, and if not as a
gift from our own state. Many OF our
people are leaving temporarily for work.
Few have any idea of permanently de-
| Serting this beautiful and most produce
tive portion of our state. Those who
are thus disposed will generally confer
q greater blessing on the community 10y
departing in peace. than by remaining
| with us, and we bid them God speed
| No one suppcses that this grasshopper
sro'lrgc will continue after the present
season. unless our locality shall prove
an exception to every other part Of the
state where they had similar visitations
! during their early history. but never re-
pcated and it is generally conceded
| that we have not suffered worse from
| this sconrgo than other western states,
during their carly history, OF more than
some even now from drought, chlnch'
bug. and other causes. 1t is generally
conceded that the average for the
county is less than half crop, all OF
which and even more will have been
expended in the cost Of pr0ducing-so
that few if any Of our community will
be able ~ 10 much toward assisting
their more destitute neighbors, but let
us do what we can, with faith in the
assurance that it is more blessed to
give than to receive. Let all save what
they have. Not q pound of food for
man or beast should go to waste. Let
everybody put up an abundant supply
of hay. All can do this, without al,
outlay of money, and it may be found
Il great convenience before next sum-
mer. Now is your time to sow white
turnipS-dOn 'tneglect it. If any are I'M
able to buy the seed. call at the Colony
Office and it will be furnished gratis.-
Let no one decline to work even at low
wages, IL half loaf is better than no
loaf.'' Some are supplying their fam
lilies with fish, why cannot many who
are idle do likewise, and salt down a
years supply. Soon our game laws
will allow us to shoot prairie chickens,
and many, in former years. have found
the shipping of these birds to our east
ern market. IL most lucrative employ
| ment. Others have furnished their
own tables with their only meat for
several months during the fall and ear
ly winter. Save your flax straw-all
who have tried it say it makes /; much