The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-09-25
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To aIae Legislature

controlled by what appeared to m
public necessity. 1t was with n
little reluctance that l was force,
TO the conclusion that the "extraor
binary OCCASION" as contemplate
In the constitution, had arisen.
The sole object and purpose TO
which you are called together a
this time, is to devise ways ant
means to relieve citizens In certain
sections of the State from want anC
suffering, who have been suddenl,
made destitute by grasshoppers o.
locusts, which have oyerrun IN,
western portion of the state. I'm
able to meet the necessities of thes.
thousands of our citizens in THU
sudden and unprecedented calamity
Necessities which in some cases
are already becoming OF q distress.
ing character-I have evoked tht
only legally constituted authority
In the state government, to provide
the necessary relief.
Since Issuing my proclamation
converting the Legislature, an ex.
tensive correspondence has been
carried on with the people, especi.
ally In the western counties. and
every effort has been made by the
executive Office, as well as by the
officers of the State Board of AZ.
rlculture, to obtain reliable statis-
tics IN regard to the condition OF
the people. The result of this in
quiry shows that while Kansas as a
state has an abundance of bread
stuffs-much more than Is needed
to feed all her peOple-that that
portion of the State which has been
almost entirely populated during
the past eighteen months, will stuff
er for want of the necessaries OF
life unless provision is made for its
relief.
Our wheat crop was more than
en- average one, as was that of small
grain generally, but by reason of
the great inflow of grasshoppers
Tho corn crop has been very gencr-
ally damaged, and in some IocaIi-
tics, entirely destroyed. The new
settlers in the western counties. who
have not yet got the soil ready for
wheat, were relying upon the usual
crop of corn for their winters SUBJ
sistence, but this has been swept
away, and many of them are left
without the means of support. A
consolidation of the statistics COL
lected has been made, and is here
with transmitted for your informa-
ton.
Since the settlement of Kansas no
State has been blessed with more
bountlful crops, and never before
has State grown with such rapidi-
~. In fact. it is because of this I'M
precedented growth that relief is
now needed. New settlements
have been pushed SO rapidly for
ward that the failure of crops in a
single year leaves many homes des-
titute. 1t is in your power to en-
courage this immigration by seeing
TO 1t that no new conner to our
State shall suffer from destitution.
From information now in nv
possession, 1t appears that the Sec
tons of the State for which relief
should be provided by legislation
are confined to the counties west or
the sixth principal meridian. The
counties most seriously affected,
and for which needed aid cannot be
afforded by the local authorities, are
Norton, Rocks, Ellis, Russell, Os-
borne, Phillips, Smith, MCPHERSON,
Rice, Barton, Reno, Barbour, Ed
wards and Pawnee; while the
counties of Harvey, Jewell, Ellis
worth, Sedgwick, Sumner, and pos
sibly some others, may require
moro or less assistance. OF these
the greatest destitution seems to
prevail in the extreme northwest,
embracing Norton, Phillips, Rocks,
Osborne and Smith counties, and
the unorganiZed counties lying
west, where immediate aid seems
necessary.
The number of persons who will
require more or less aid, as estimat-
ed on tho reports received, will
not, it is thought, exceed 1900,
and many of these will require but
little assistance. The greatest want
seems to be for small grain, where
by these destitute people can be
subsisted until another crop can be
raised. It is believed that there is
sufficient meat in the counties
named to supply the demands of
consumption.
Wheat can be delivered for dis
tribution at the places where it is
needed at about one dollar per bush
ell. Estimating the quantity nee
essary for 1900 persons until next
years crop can be gathered, 1t an
average of eight bushels to the per-
son, it will require 10000 bushels
of wheat; and it is believed that
this supply of grain, furnished to
only needy and deserving persons,
and honestly and intelligentIy dis
tributed, will be sufficient to meet
all pressing wants. The county Of
ficials of many OF the counties have
failed to collect and forward statis-
tics showing the condition of their
people, as requested in my pub
lished card of the 18th ultimO but
feel confident that the foregoing
estimate will cover the amount of
aid actually required. Many of
these people will also require cloth
ing, but this want can probably be
met through tho agency of aid go
cieties in the old and wealthy coun-
ties, without cost to the State.
That aid should be afforded these
unfortunate people all agree. The
common instincts of humanity, and
the interests of the State as well,
dictate to us q course which will
prevent suffering and want among
our citizens. But the means by
which this aid is TO be afforded Is
not SO well settled in the public
mind. In any aspect in which the
question is viewed il Is surrounded
by difficulties, and you have no
easy task before you in the prepare
ton and passage OF law which
shall effect the purpose desired
The law should guard well again,s
improper distributions of the Der. %
fits to be derived under 1t. Aid
should be extended to Chose only
who are ia absolute want, but Il
preserve it for this classs of untOrtu
mates will require the. utmost car
on the part of the law making DOW
er. Let it be borne in mind tina
the money to be expended in thii
charitable work must finally b,
raised by taxation from the people
Guard well, then, by your law
against imposition and fraud, sur
rounding ii with such safeguard
as will fully protect the interests o
the State and the beneficiary alike
This duty performed, the onl,
object for which you are convenel
will have been accomplished.
cannot urge upon you in terms to,
strong my earnest recommendation
that you confine your legislation 4
the single purpose of providing 70
this one great and pressing necessi
ty, occupying only SO much time a
shall be necessary to the considers
ton and enactment of a wise an
just measure of relief, and immedi
ately adjourn. Within a few week
new Legislature will be elected
and that body will havo the powe
to make such general legislation 8
the wants of the people may n
quire.
No public interest demands {
. 1 nil snnnAt L. l..