The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-11
acknowledgement;
The State orThings ON the Kan
SnS Frontier.

NAAN NVAtAGAs
We had an interesting conversation
Yesterday with the Rev, Mr.. Martin, agent
for the Kansas relief iund, who is solicit
ing contributions in our midst. Mr..
Martin formerly lived in Harrison
county, Ohio, and is well acquainted with
many persons in this vicinity. He en-
igratcd to Kansas in 1862, and settled in
Conley county, county on the southern
border Of that State, and that borders on
the Indian Territory, 1t contains near
about $500 inhabitants, aud, until visited
by the drouth and the grasshoppcrs last
year, was in llourishing condition,
0wing to the drouth early in the season;
the corn crop was much later coming
forward than usual, and hence not in n
condition to resist the great attack OF tho
grasshoppcrs that occurred in August last.
The ravenOus insects came suddenly and
unexpectedly in vast legions, covering
the whole face Of the country and dark
cning the very air in broad daylight,
and in ten hours after their appearance
everything green in the county had been
eaten up. They desolated the country
like an invading army, and left the
people in state Of dcstitution. The
people of the frontier counties Of
Kansas, rs Oi all other newly
settled localities, were not pre-
pared for such Il calamity, and had very
little laid by for rainy day, On the
contrary, very many Of them were in debt
for their land anl were depending on
their growing crops for the means both Of
payment and current support Of their
families. The private debt oi Cunley
county, Mr.. Martin says, is something
like S35O,00O mostly owing for land by
small farmers, and not little OF it Is
mortgage Indebtedness, and bears interest
at as high rate rs 80 per cent, People
in this country know nothing Of the price
that is paid for money in the far West.
Twelve per cent is lawful interest in
Kansas, and from twenty to thirty.Six per
cent Is by no means rare.
a large amount Of money haS been
raised and is still being raised throughout
the country for the afflicted people Of
the West. The difficulty is that not only
have their current wants to bc pro.
vidcd for, but also supply Of cereals
for the spring planting. The people
have not only to be fed, but m
also have the stock. There is mt
only u scarcity Of food for man, but
likewise also for beast. The total
population Of Kansas is estimated nj
about Sj3O,0OO Of this number over
10000 are reported more or less destitute
Of food, over 5000 are reported in need
Uf mems clothing, and nearly 10000 in
need OF wOmen's clothing, and about
1O,jOO In need Of Clildrcn's clothing
The work OF supplying the needs Of the
destitute has been very Systematically
undertaken under the auspices Of the
State authorities. The actual statistics
OF want aud dcItitution in every county
in the State have been published IN
pamphlet form, accompanied by n mes
sage from the Governor. These statistics
show that the cost Of furnishing the re-
quircd number Of ratiOns to those in
want will bc, from the first Of February
up to the first OF june (inclnding in the
rations only -four, meat and beans,
$30l,3GS. II coffee sugar, salt, pepper
and syrup are added, the cost will be
Sl5G647.20 additional. In addition TO
these expenses, it il estimated that spring
wheat, corn, harley, oats, potatoes,
lax, broom corn, SORGHUM, &c,
will he needed for the spring
planting to the extent Of $8,70j.O5.
secd corn Ia now worth ono dollar per
bushcl, and one bushel will plant seven
acres. Oats are worth 60 cents and y
bushels will plant one acre. IN the me case
the cost Of seed Is II cents per acre and
in the other 81 80. These estimates Of
expenses do not include garden vegetable
seeds We notice that the Department Uf
Agriculture at Washington la' been re-
1uested in the event Of furnishing seeds,
to include only such a' are the earliest
and will produce the greatest amount Of
nutritious diet. What the people need
is something that will supply their ncccs.
sitics promptly. This sort Of assistance
they are now receiving from the generous
people Of the country. Now that the
Spring has come We hope that the most
Of their trials are over Set they still
lack for food and this lack must be sup.
piled until they can grow early vcgc-
tables. It is for the purpose Of supply
Ing this lack that contributions arc now
being made in this city and elsewhere.