New-York tribune., 1874-07-30
THE GRASSHOPPER RAIDS.
RELIEF FOR THE SUFFERERS.


BOILING GRASS FOR RFooD-sYsrEMATIc MEASURES
OF RELIEF. .rr.r-
trpox rpr SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT oP rHR rRIBUNE.l
Sr PArr1. Mimi July 24.-1his State. by private
subscription and public appropriation, assisted
during the Winter and Spring about thousand
families whose crops were partially or totally de-
stroyed by last years raid of grasshoppers Thsyear
at least twice that number will be dependent
entirely upon charity for the means of living until
the next crop is assured while thousand families
moro will have to receive some aid. or at least Dc
supplied with seed for next Springs sowing Inc
number Of families in northwestern Iowa VINO are
similarly situated is probably 1000.
Writing a few days ago from the region OF TINS
State which has been devastated, attempted to
show that the proportonate loss would be far less
than the exaggerated reports sent East had led peo-
pe TO suppose and that the crop OF tins State despite
the destruction wond be nearly If not quite as large
As it was last year At the same time 1t must not De
forgotten that the general prosperity OF the state
will the poor people, whose crops nave Deeh
entirely cut Off from starvation unless some organ
ized effort is made to relieve them Aside from the
little money which some of them may earn IN the
harvest-felds of the more favored portions OF the
State the majority of the farmers who have lost
their crops are entirely without means to help them
selves The majority of them are homesteaders OF
preGmptOrs who have settled upon the pralrles en-
tirely without capital, except perhaps team ana
few farming implements. Ii they showed pluck and
determination which under ordinary circumstances
insure a paying crop even the first year from tins
wonderfully fertile prairie land. they found local
merchants ready to give them credit and walt until
the harvest Tor their pay.
DESTRUCTION By LAST YEARS INVASION.
Whon the crop failed last year the most of the far
uleIs sill had something left which they could sell
Oh mortgage or bypOthecate in order to carry them
over another year but that thisyears prospects
are blasted they have nothing upon which they can
fallbacA. Credit which III many instances held
out while there any hope for this years harvest
was exhausted when the grasshoppers abghted on
the fields and this explains the degree OF want that
now prevails even in midsummer.
The actual condition of affairs in the counties
devastated last year not understood IN st. Paul
until about December. Then the Chamber of Com
merce appointed a committee of relief. and placed
at its head a man better fitted probably than any
other in the State for the work-Gen. ii. III.
Sbey lie at once organized a system for
obtaining very full and accurate reports of the
wants OF the people in each township throughout
the devastated counties. and for raising money for
their relief. The people of ST. Paul aud OF other
cities of the State subscribed generously and con-
trbuted great quantities of clothing, bedding. &c,
and the Winter being unusually mild many who
grass of the prairie and weeds which, though not as
good as coal or wood kept them comfortable if they
used them in sufficient quantities. The Legislature
also appropriated 5000 for supplies and $4,000 for
seed-wheat 1t is believed that no person in the
entire region perished from want, and there was
no known case of suffering that was not relieved,
AID FOR THIS YEARS SUFFERERS.
When it was known that this years crop in
jured the Governor took prompt measures TO provide
for the wantsof those who could not help Themselves
lie appointed a committee of primatiye citizens of
the State. including Gen. Sibley, State Treasurer
Dixie and others to take charge of the measures of
relief. and TO disburse whatever money might be
raised. AT a consultation participated in by the
Governor, the Committee and others. it was decided
to ask those counties that have been prosperous to
appropriate such sums they felt able 30, in order
that it might not be to call an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature TO provide for Immediate re-
lief. Ramsey County, the one IN which ST. Paul IS
situated at once through its County Commissioners
voted $1,000. Hennepn County, including the City
of Minneapolis thought it had no right TO appropr-
ate money for such purpose, but p gentlemen of
that city have agreed to raise S500O aud to be
responsible for it in case the State county does
not reimburse them. Small amounts have also
been received from several other counties beside
some small private subscriptions, so that there IS
now no doubt that ample provision for the wants OF
the people will be made until the meeting of the
Legislature
Another fortunate circumstance is that the har-
vest is 30 abundant in other parts of the State TINS
wear that the most of those in the devastated region
who can leave their families can find abundant en-
nlovment for month i'll adjoining counties The
Governor has already received assurances that
Thousand men can find work in the harvest fields OF
O. sinole county while in another there is employ
ment for several hundred women as well as men.
Al the nresent rates of wages harvesters can earn
from S6O TO $50 beside their board, during the
season. The Wells Railroad Company have also
bepun 10 Law the iron on their road from Mankat0
In Wells and advertise for an unlimited number OF
,nen. During the Winter efforts will be made to
find employment for many of these men in the
pineries of this State and Wisconsin.
BOILING WILD GRASS FOR FOOD.
Rut after all as have already said, there will be
Thousands of families who will require AID, ana the
aggregate amount necessary to meet the needs OF
these people will be very great. Some are already
without bread or food of any kind, and the County
Commissioners acting as the agents of the Relief
Committee. have fonnd families living on greens
and boiling the wild grass of the prairie for food
For their immediate relief the Committee sent last
week into the devastated region 600 barrels OF Hour
and 90 barrels of pork TO be distributed to those
most in want.
IL ia generally thought here that the Governor, In
his procamatons and in his request of the Secretary
Of War 10 be furnished with ratiOns has caused
soue unnecessary alarm. He acted from the best OF
motives and on the basis of exaggerated reports and
did not at the time understand as well as ne does
now the situation of affairs in the devastated DIS
trct At the same time aid from any source Will be