The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-08-01
TO CHRISTOPHER SUFFERERS

lief for the Grasshopper Sufferers"
which abounds in sensible and practic-
al suggestions. After stating that the
destruction is probably not so general
as at first reported, the Press says:
Even at the best the resulting desti-
tuition and suffering will be very great
unless met with comprehensive meas
ures Of relief. But all that can he done
by municipal or private charity or that
can be reasonably asked of the State
will fall far short of the aid needed to
subsist and clothe the thousands of des-
titute and suffering settlers, counting,
of course, the women and children, for
more that year to come, and to furn-
ish them with seed for next spring, un-
less supplemented by the most strenu-
Gus exertions of the settlers themselves.
The gods help those who help them
selves, and any settler who, having lost
his crops, relies wholly on State or mu-
nicipal aid or private charity to enable
him to feed and clothe his family for a
year to come, will make most lament
able mistake, for the chances are that
each individuals share of all the boun-
ty which can lie raised will be reyu
small indeed, though the aggregate do
nations should far surpass the most
sanguine hopes. For it must new
er be forgotten that the devastation ex-
tends over large area, and includes a
great many sufferers; and that suppos-
ing that one or two hundred thousand
dollars should I've raised instead of the
sixty or seventy thousand which now
seems likely to lie the utmost that can
be done, it would not probably be one
fifth part Of the amount necessary to
supply the destitute with food, cloth
ing, fuel, etc., for the year to come
They must therefore, rely mainly on
their own exertiOns.
1t will be seen that the Press puts the
amount which can be raised for the
whole grasshopper district at probably
not more than $4,000 or $4,000 at the
utmost. To carry all who are now ask
ing for relief in this county alone, un-
til another harvest, would require more
than one-half the amount which the
Press thinks can be raised. But many
of those who have applied will not need
aid after harvest, at least not for some
months, for they will harvest at least
partial crop. With this partial crop,
and with what they can earn by work.
ing wherever work can be had. a major
ity of the settlers ought to get through
with such partial relief as can be sent.
Every one who can possibly get away to
the older portions of the State during
harvest, should go at once. The Press
estimates that several thousand men
can find employment for thirty days at
good wages in counties near the grass
hopper district and that in this way not
less than $50, 600 can be brought back
i'll from four to five weeks. One thou
sand men are wanted in each of the
counties of Goodhue and Blue Earth,
and there is demand for hundreds
more in Stearns and other COUNTESS
\ number have already left this county
for the grain fields, but there are many
more who can go and who ought to 20.
Some say they have not money to pay
railroad fare and therefore cannot get
away, but others have manfully packed
their knapsacks and set out on foot,
saying they could make good wages
walking to the harvest regions. AS
the Press says, the gods help those who
help themselves, and we are assured
that precedence is given to hands
from the grasshopper district. Men
have only to say that they come from
the grasshopper region to secure all the
work they want.
During the past week we have visited
a number of townships and have adj
mired the pluck and manliness of most
of the people with whom we have COLI
versed. Seward township has been al
most completely stripped of crops, yet
with one or two exceptions, the people
are hopeful and determined to fight it
through. Jersey township is also bad
ly cut, yet we found the people cheer
full and many of them scorning to ap-
ply for relief.
Where there is a will there is a way.
Men who adapt themselves to the cir
cumstances will get through without
relief from abroad, or at least with very
little relief. Hay can be put up for
fuel and for stock. In week or two
our prairies will he swarming with
chickens and farmers can supply their
tables with meat fit for a king, and Law
up also a quantity for winter. Those
whose crops have been entirely DESTROY
ed should be supplied with bread, and
will be, but if there are any who sup
pose that they will be supplied with all
they need from now until another har-
vest, they had better at once abandon
the impression, and set to work to help
themselves.
THE RELIEF
We published last week a letter from
Seward township intimating that those
xr-4,0 Il E..