The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-02-19
from the Detroit Tribune.
THE SUFFERING n THE WEST

THE SUFFERING N THE WEST.
The grasshopper famine IN Western Kansas
and Nebraska has caused widespread privatlon
and suffering, and there has been good cause
for the call for aid to the sufferers. But the
famine in that region is not due entirely to the
ravages of the grasshoppers. Another cause
was the drouth of last year. a drouth which is
natural and usual in that region, and winch
renders it nearly worthless for agricultural
purposes This fact ought to be made known.
both as warning 10 persons who are con-
templating emigration to the West, and as an
explanation OF the real cause OF the suffering
or many recent emgrants, who have been
tempted TO that country by the mlsrepresenta-
tons OF State ana railroad agents. Upon this
subject General ". b. Hazen. OF the United
states Army. who has lived for years in varions
parts OF this region, and who is a thoroughly
competent and trustworthy witness. writes as
follows
- To the Editor OF the New York; Tribune:
'SIR-The suffering on the western borders
or Kansas and Nebraska, now engaging so
much attention, should lead to such INQUIRE as
Will place its real cause where il rightly be-
longs. have previously stated IN your col
umns the utter worthlessness for agriculture OF
the region or country between the Tooth me-
ridian and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. on
account OF insufficient moisture. This is strict
~ true, with slight exceptions along the river
bottoms, where small strips can be artlficialIy
irrigated, or In excessively wet seasons like
1872 and 1873. Also between the 9Sth and
Tooth meridians the drouth Is such a. to render
agriculture impossible ID al least one half the
seasons. 1t is IN this belt where nearly all the
suffering is
The facts herein set forth are WEI. known.
and II not recognized in future, repetltions OF
the spectacle now presented will be frequent.
lhe Land Department OF the Government has
taken no steps so to inform the public as TO
avoid such suffering while the immense mon
eyed interests OF railroad corporations have led
them to misrepresent this interior country
state agents and enthusiasts have departed
quite as broadly from the plain facts. 1t is
true that there were grasshoppers bur there
was also drouth, as there has been in the past
and Will be IN the future more than half the
time This section is so near the great arid
grasshopper breeding ground that il is the first
TO be cropped by them.
The great and productive States of Eastern
Kansas and Nebraska themselves should warn
emigration from settling west OF the 1OOth
meridian, and that by going even west OF the
9oth the enlgrant takes al even chance OF
failure. What is here said OF Western Kansas
and Nebraska Is equally true all the wav from
same parallels or latitude. The suffering now
experienced can. in large degree. be charged
to misrepresentation made regarding the coun-
try by interested persons, while the very ralnv
seasons Of 1872 and 1873 gave color to their
statements.
". B. HAZEN.
FORT BUFoRD, D. T.. December 20. 1874
The statements OF General Hazen are amply
confirmed by similar information which we
have received from private sources. 1t shows
that the suffering in this region has not been
caused solely by grasshoppers, but is the result
OF bringing poor settlers, by representations in
regard to the soil and climate which are not
borne out by the facts to country which is
liable to drouths that destroy all the crops.
The subject is an important one, in Its bear
ings upon the future movements OF population,
and We hope to have full and complete testi-
mony IN regard to 1t.