New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-17
WHAT ONE DOLLAR WILL DO.

THE EQUIVALENT OF NEARLY HALF a BARRrL OF
FLOUR FOR ONE DOLLAR-A CHARITY wuLRE
LITTLE MONEY WILL DO GREAT GOOD.
TO me Edttor or Tine Irttune.
SIR: send inclOsed $2j to your "dOllar sub
scrpons for The Nebraska sufferers TAls Is III add-
ton to q larger subscription made elsewhere. Having
in October last, willie business III the west visited
OF the region III Nebraska devastated by
boppers let me tell your readers something about it.
Nearly all Of Nebraska, except few eastern COUNTIES
was swept moving herds OF grassboppefs winch
came in clouds from the North iyng as thick as faxes
OF snow most Of the wheat crop had been secured
but the corn being 10 full blossom, lust when 1t puts
forth and begins form the was swept by this In
yadng army Of rasshoppers from the face OF the EARTH
with nearly every other green thing for hundreds OF
niIes Fields containing CO acres and upward OF grow
irg corn pointed out to me where every thns was
consumed, except q few bare stalks, III Your or I've
hours time Of these clouds OF grasshoppeIS
settled upon IT, 1t may not be generally known that
these frontier settlers only plant for the first year.
and often but little else beside corn aud vegetables the
second year After that wheat Is largely cultivated
vii b great success.
tits these new settlers, who planted only corn who
are the great sufferers and must nave hip or starvo to
DEATH and endure great suffering before Spring
with all that will be done for them. Who are
tbese sufferng people They very many OF them
the soldiers of late who have gone with their
vives md little ones to country to take
homes under the soldiers homestead act They also
from that class OF who with their wives and
have the courage and determination to endure
ALL the hardsbips OF pioneer life these bleak but
fertile plans for the cake Of home. visited many OF
them and can tell you they the last people In the
world who would accept anything In charity except to
save themselves from starvation and protect their
families from the cold. piless wind OF those bleak and
almost treeess plains during the present Winter
Will explain how very many OF them are now shell
tered After the settler selected and moved to
his claim having Travelled TO It with his family in a
covered wagon, IN which they slept and lived they
procecd 10 dig o sort OF cellar IN the ground,
two or three feet Deep and build up the
walls above ground with the tough prairie sods with
dried clay and cover the roof with thafch OF prairie
erass or straw III mud hut they expect to live the
first wear or two Everything else they have Is In cat tic
or horses and tools work their land. Nothing be
spared for a better house other comforts tho first
year but everything must DO done to secure crop
from the land upon which their existence depends
Very many people whom saw living In these
mud hnts had year large fields Of IN several
instances much TO 100 acres each field OF 100
acres OF Western In full bloom Is very beautiful
sight TO behold. but to these people. living IN mud Lus
under straw roofs for shelter 1t peculiarly beau
fu They saw in II the to provide better house
neat wear and some few comforts besides but this
ribe and most devastation leaves them not
only compelled TO remain IN these cheeress c0mf0ress
mud huts for another year longer but without food
with starvation staring them In the face, and cold.
Indictment Winter before them Fortunately there
abundance OF wheat IN the older settled portions OF Ne
braska to supply all wants food and 1t be had
this for 30 " g. cents bushe 80 that each