The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-22
GRASSHOPPERS.
The Invasion Of Nebraska Letter from MI
-ta -lH E Francis Cotton,


From the Omaha Herald:
The damage done this State by tn,
grasshopper pestilence will be best repair
ed by first ascertaining and then admittip!
Its actual extent. The Herald has not at
tempted the vain role of concealment. Fol
nearly twenty years our soils and climate
unsurpassed by any in this latitude, have
produced an unbroken succession of good
crops. This year the Rrasshopper nesti
lence has inflicted!great injury upon certa,,
districts Of the state by destroying the
corn and vegetable crops, except fine grains
which in the main is large and bountiful
Inquiries pour in upon us as to the actua
facts of the case, and, whilst it is impossi
BILE to ascertain the whole truth about it,
we feel bound to give such information to
our people, and to those seeking it abroad,
as shall place the matter in its true light.
1t is in accordance with this line of policy
that we print the following letter from Mr..
Samuel A. Echols, of Georgia, and a letter
in reply from Mr.. Francis Cotton, who.
having visited several parts of tho stricken
districts of the State is better able to give
the facts than we are. Mr.. Coltop's arti.
Gle was written at our request, and may be
u
full statement of the situation.
As to-the telegram to which Mr.. Echols
calls attention, it is an exaggerated state
ment. The river tier of counties where
settlements are most dense will raise a
large corn as we'll as wheat crop. A few
settlers, homesteaders. are leaving Repub-
lican Valley from necessity, but we believe
they will return again.
MIR. Lchols writes
Dr. George L. Miller, Editor of the Herald:
DEAR SIR:-l beg your attention to the
following Associated Press dispatch, rub-
lished in the papers throughout the coun-
try to-day -
ST. JOSEPH Mo-, Aug 6,-The grasshoppers have
entirely destroyed the corn crop In Western Kansas
and Nebraska. 1t is doubtful II thousand bushels
be raised in those states. Hundreds of settlers
Fears are expressed that all the corn west of the
Missouri river may be destroyed by the grasshop-
pers.
am aware that there has been great
damage done the corn crop of Nebraska,
but is the destruction as complete as is
represented above, and are there "hun-
dreds of settlers selling out and remov-
ing" as stated in this telegram? Know
ing that you are in a position acquaintiDg
you fully with the facts of the case, / would
like to know If there was really such
prospect of starvation as to cause settlers
to leave the state, and justly to deter 9TH
ers from moving in. | will thank you for
} statement of the situation and feel as
'ured that you will state only facts, Very
respectfully yours,
SAMUEL A. EcHoLs.
MR. FRANCIS CoLToNs STATEMENT AND
VIEWS
DR.. MILLER AT the request Of YOUR
'elf and other friends, will make a brief, |
lasty statements regarding the present
condition of Nebraska, as have seen itl
Turing trip through the State along the !
abroad, and more particularly from OBJ |
ervations made in the interior where | |
lave driven $50 miles 10 wagon.
1t would be useless to disguise the fact !
hat the country has suffered severely by
he visitations of the grasshoppers
through large sections of the State. But
We are apt to forget that the crop of Ne
,raska Is largely small grain, which, for
he most part, was secured before the grass
Ioppers came. -.
The breadth Of land sown to wheat and
ats is immense. / was continually sur
'rised by the extent covered by small |
rains What is still more encouraging, is
he fact that the wheat is of such superior
uality and so well secured. The harvest
as been uninterrupted by rains; the
armers have worked ~nights as well as
ays in harvesting the crop. The head
sg machines have saved the time and la
or of binding and hauling so that the
reat scope of country seeded has been
arvested in excellent condition The berry
( the wheat is bright and plump.as rule;
q fact there is scarcely an exception in all
ny observations and | have been careful
o shell out the heads and sample great
lumber of fields in different counties. The
ats are not so immensely abundant in
ield, but are Of good quality. | can
Iot 90 into detail of sections aud counties,
'ut the foregoing statement is the general
act
Now, as to the corn crop,I am compelled
o acknowledge that it is tailure-that. is,
Ehen compared with what it promised, for.
o spite of the dry season, the corn which
ras untouched by the grasshoppers is mar
eloHs il size of stocks, unbroken rows,
nd piumpuess of ears Such a drought