Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-19

The news brought from Iceland by the first
mails via Copenhagen is quite distressing, and
1t appears that the small amount of money col
lected in Great Britain last winter was not sufi-
eent to even cover the actual loss OF cattle
during the previous winter, when the destruc-
ton was greater than at any time during the
history of Iceland except during the great erup-
ton of Hecla in the seventeenth century when
thousands of sheep and cattle were deprived of
the grass by the long continued fall of black sand
that covered ali the grass land in the eastern
section OF the island several inches deep. The
total amount of the loss has been estimated
10 be about S5OO,OOO, while the subscription
raised in Great Britain was only ego, 900, or
about 100000. Those familiar with Iceland
know that farming there isnOw an impossibility,
and at no time within the memory of living men
has the production of the farm lands been suf-
neient TO support the people. Iceland is en-
firely dependent upon the outside world for
food. The whole wealth of the people is in live
stock, particularly sheep and horses and these
they give In return for breadStufls and fabrics.
Tbe fisheries do not enrich the island much, for
the salmon production is in the hands of a DAN
ish monopoly, and the Dutch and French have
secured rights on the cod and herring banks the
natives being without the necessary capital
to work them profitably- The effect of dinIin-
ishing the earning capital OF nation Of 10000
eOuis thus circumstanced By 500 900 can easily
long series Of years. until the decimated hOcks
can be increased by natural process. If the
winter of 1884 should prove of great severity,
the capital OF the Icelandic people would be
further diminished and they would be brought
face to face with starvation. They have not
even kept all that remained to them after the
dreadful winter of1SS2 but have been compelled
to part with some OF the stock In order
to obtain money with which to purchase
stores There is much indignation at the
conduct OF q ScOtchman who wrote to the
papers TO say that the Icelandic people had
plenty o, cattle left but would NOT sell them,
prefeTrng to wait Tor aid from the charitable out
siiie world. This story had the effect of stopping
the subscription, and as it was copied tar and
wide in The Untted Kingdom its effect was great
The reason they did not sell what stock they had
to the gentleman who wrote the letter has been
explained. They could not afford to give at any
price the stock from which they were to secure
living In years to come. Ii they gave what
sheep they had, they would next year be In
state of abject beggary and dependence.
Like the Inhabitants of all mountainous and
sterile countries, the Icelandc people cling
with fond attachment to their homes and
emigrating. Letters now at hand from several
gentlemen in Reykjavik In the south, and Ark
ayriye in the north, say that the people are
anxious to leave Iceland and 60 to America
but are too poor to pay their way. Money in
the island is SO tigh: that they cannot even
realize on theI household effects or land. and
SO they are chained to the land. Mr. Sigmund
GudmuudssOn asks that land agents In the
northwest particularly in Dakota-send their
circulars to him at Reykjavk soon as posi-
BILE. movement is now on foot in New York,
having for its object the perfection Of some
plan by which about 200 families can be brought
to america direct.