The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-25

Letter from s.CoHman. formerly Of this
County.

Jewell, Kan. Feb. 10. 1876.
To the Editors of the Rock Island Qll Argus.
have often thought of writing you in
reference to the condition Of the people In
the devastated region. I am glad that
Won have not refused to publish from time
70 time auy information which would bring
the actual facts before the public. The
St. Joseph Gazette aud Chicago Tribune
and others could mention have done US
great injustice; and it some little ones are
Starved to death, as is reported to be the
case in Smith county, Kan, the. 1T,oune
can claim share in the fearful work.
am oyerseer of the poor in washington
township, Jewell county, and in popuia
ton of 2l5 there are now 80 on the INST OF
destitute, the basis of restitution being out
4 of breadstufs or meat, either one. In
4 Browns Greek township there are Zoo des-
titute in a population OF 800, and these are
about an average, and the NUMBER Is IN
creased every week.
4 In our county of near 800 people there
are not Is, 600 bushels OF wheat, no corn'
but little of other grains, and few potatoes.
many of the last being frozen IN the last
month. One man told me that when the
. last mouthful of bread was gone he told his
; son to uncover the half bushel of potatoes,
, (which we're covered two feet deep) and To-,
. thew were frozen. But Of course they ate
them and they relished we'll Men Of fam
lilies OF seven and ten haye came to me cry
! ing for bread-children at home bare
!. footed and thinly clad. Could the
! Tfibune's Gath spend few
= DAYS in Kansas he could recite tale Of
q suffering that would put to shame the
author of the ''Grasshopper imposition.
You may discredit the Bible statement Of
= future punishment, but this will say
q if there is no such place as ''hades," there
ought to be, if for no other purpose thar
]. warming the skins of such despicabl'
J. wretches. They ought to be forever cate!
le by the Aying insect called the hopper.
aud frozen to death and warmed to lit
to every other day, at least till brought to
H. true sense of their moral status, (immora
E. rather). But excuse this DEPRESSION.
or said not $4,000 bushels OF wheat an
as no corn, and but few oats, and 3d. 90
g, acres broke, for which is needed at leas
of seed wheat 10000, of seed corn .OU
Id bushels, of other grains thousands {
it bushels, and only $4,000 for bread, see
Ia. and feedl
he A great deal is being done. bat yet thel
ct, are so many that the relief does not actl
of ally amount to what it ought. propo'
10 to disburse to those actually destitute az
? take autograph receipts and to return Il
90. same to the donors, so that those givir
' y, can see where every dime goes. kno
,on that some are receiving aid who are pot
,on need, but then the poor must be ted, al
:" the means must come from abroad. N,
oot let each one of my friends who reads the
nd lines go to work and SECURE all the be
he in money, or corn, or meat, they can al
A0 then c,nvert all into money orders
Jewell, Kansas, and we will buy the 10
lI at- here as low as you can there and sa
the freighting from the railroads, and the
ISL tie steals (hig ones too) will be In gre
w. measure stopped.
TO l propose to furnish THE ARGUS a
Vno the Union statement Of all receipts fr
'ald Rock Island county and disbursements
pre- the same, 8. COLEMAN