Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-02-12
Seed Convention.

thaC Guy, req. "a, to consider the
needs Of the settlers whose crops
were destroyed by grasshoppers.
Gov. Carpenter presided over the
| deliberations of the convention, and
Gen. N. b. Baker and other well
known gentlemen took part in the
proceedings.
The general question of the means
and manner Of relief were thoroughly
discussed. Committees to set forth
the needs of the destitute settlers in
Iowa and Dakota, to report plan
for collection of seed, and on rcsolu-
tons were appointed. The following
is the report of the committee to sug-
gest plans for raising seed, submitted
by its chairman, Gen. Baker.
That they recommend that the
present committees from the counties
in Iowa continue in the field and col
lect from any point in the State by
donation all kinds of seeds for those
who are needy. and that they be dis
tributed equally by said committees
in their respective counties.
They recommend that regularly
authorized agents of Kansas, Nebras-
ka and Dakota Territory collect aid
by donation in the territory of the
State as hereafter named.
They recommend that Dakota Ter
ritory committees confine their solici-
tations for seeds in Iowa counties
north of the Northwestern Railroad
and through which said railroad runs;
that Nebraska solicitors for seed con-
fine themselves to the territory in this
State south of the south line of the
counties through which the North
western Railroad runs, to the south
line of the counties through which
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
Railroad runs, and that the Kansas
solicitors contine themselves to the
territory from that line to the south
line of the State.
This committee find many opinions
on the question Of loaning seed, even
where solicited by farmers who will
probably be able to refund in the
fall. We recommend that all such
applications be sent to n. i. Baker,
the Secretary of the Executive Com
mittec Of the Iowa State Relief So
ciety, and that he be directed to OBJ
tain the loan if possible. But on
making such application the applicant
should state fully the condition of
his crops last year, amount of stock
on hand and condition of property,
amount and kinds of seeds needed,
and the per centage of crops raised
to be allowed; and this application
must be Endorsed by the regular COM
mittee of the county, and if outside
of Emmett, Kossuth, Palo Alto, and
Dickinson counties, said application
must be Endorsed by the Auditor of
the county in which the applicant
resides as in his opinion true state
ment and that the applicants worthy.
We recommend to all the farmers
greater variety of crops. Corn has
been our mainstay; wheat has been
overproduced. We should raise more
rye, beans, etc, and less wheat.
The committee to report upon the
condition of settlers in Dakata, sub
mitted through Gen. w. II. II. Bead
die, of Yankton, the following facts:
There are 1900 families who need
immediate help, food and clothing,
much of it to be continued until late
spring, and half the number will re-
qnire seed, or the land must lie idle
and further suffering follow.
We need 1900 bushels of seed
wheat, 5000 bushels of seed oats,
1000 bushels Of seed corn, 500 bush
els of beans, and 1000 bushels of
barlev, and if this is supplied the
wheat to be so much reduced. The
total cost of this seed will be about
$4,000.
Our people are brave and deter
mined, but suffering was general in
the localities afflicted before they
asked at all. Our necessities have
eliminated so that we pray our relief
may be swift, and all good people
everywhere are asked to remember
our cold and hungry who are under a
northern sky in a very cold section
and whose only light Of hope is their
expectation from this immediate re-
lief.
We recommend that Gen. w. III.
II. Beadle, Rev. G. w. Freeman, and
Rev. J. j. McIntirc, be assigned fields
for solicitation with our fullest en-
dorsement, and that their credentials
shall show they act for all Dakota,
but will faithfully apply special do
nations when required.
That NJ. d. Thompson be desig-
mated to receive at Vermillion, Da-
kota the general supplies, and that
Ex-Governor Newton Edmunds be
designated to receive, at Yankton, all
money contributions.
DR.. Mccoy, of Kossuth, for the
committee to report upon Iowa coun.
ties needing relief, reported as fol
lows.
Kossuth county's population is
about $500; agricultural population,
5000; area under cultivation, $4,000
acres; amount of grain raised, 1874,
$500 bushels of wheat, about the
same of oats, and OF Corn about 25
bushels to the family, if evenly dis
tributed among the agricultural pop.
ulation. There are about 400 fami
lies in this county that must have
seed grain; 800 of these families
must have food also until the crops
are sown in the spring; Is of these
families would prefer seed grain as a
loan and could furnish adeq; ate Sc
curity. Kossuth suffered partial
destruction in 1873 by the grasshop
pers and in 1874 almost Il total de-
struction.
Emmett county's population, 1900;
area under cultivation, 10000 acres:
amount of grain raised in 1874, about
200 bushels Of wheat, 800 bushels OF
oats, about 1000 bushels of corn, po
tatoes light crop. About 2oC
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