The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-09-02
DROUTH STRICKEN WEST.
AN APPEAL FOR HELP.

bAbLAS, Lex, aug usJ 20. lOOO'
Every intelligent reading man in Texas
knows of the results of the terrible
drouth which has stricken some of the
western counties of our beloved state, lay
ing waste the bosom of our broad land
and carrying in its train distress and DESC
lation. The very air is now quivering and
throbbing with the cries of the poor and
needy for bread to eat and food to sus-
tain life. Those who are able are leaving
their homes in search of employment in
more favored localities, while those who
remain,to continue the unequal battle,are
being slowly, but none the less surely,
driven to the wall. All that muscle can
do has been done by these strong armed,
thrifty tillers of the soil lin their endeavor
to wrest from the bosom of mother earth
the wherewithal to support wife and chill
dren, but the tears of nature have not
fallen on their work, and it is useless.
The we'll known generosity of our citi-
zens has so far kept the people from
actual want, but something more mast be
done, and done quickly. Many of the in
dustious but unfortunate settlers have
spent the fruits of years of toll in pur-
chasing and improving the places which
they have now been compelled to desert.
1t would take many more years of self
denying toll to enable them to commence
again. But, on the other hand, it would
require but little from each of those coun-
ties where splendid crops have been. and
are being, harvested, to place these un
fortunate people in position to resume
operations. The question is not, shall the
more favored help their luckless brethren?
but
HOW SHALL WE DO ITE
Steps have already been taken to relieve
the immediate physical wants of the
'outh stricken people. With this assist
ance and the wages earned from cotton
picking, etc, they may pull through until
another season. But where is the seed for
another crop to come from? The people
of the west have always been noted for
their liberality and willingness to assist
the needy and unfortunate, and we be-
lieve it is not in vain that we make this
appeal. 1t is the intention of the pro-
prietors of the Texas Farm d Ranch to
give these deserving, but unfortunate,
citizens, at least
ONE CAR LOAD CT SEEDS, FREE,
consisting of standard varieties of field
and garden seeds. We hope to get add
tions to this from every prosperous county
in Texas, and we respectfully ask our
brethren of the press, county officers, and
all charitably inclined citizens of Texas
to help MS increase this contribution until
the amount of seed distributed free
reaches a total of train load of free seed
for the unfortunate west Any one who
desires to contribute his mite, even if it
be only a bushel of wheat, or corn, or
oats, can send same to Texas Farm and
Ranch, Dallas, Texas, from which point
the train will start on September %, 1886.
The contributions should be sent in at
once in order to have them all sorted pre-
paratory to distribution. If this appeal
is met in liberal spirit, another train
will leave Dallas about the first of Febru
ary, carrying further supply of seeds
and help to the afflicted citizens of the
drouth stricken west.
FREE TRANSPORTATION.
The railroads centering in Dallas have
very generously proffered free transporta-
ton to all articles sent for the "Drouth
Suffers, care Texas Farm and Ranch, Dali
las, Texas" SO there is no charge for
freight, and your generosity will not be
taxed further than your gift.
Every contribution will be credited to
the giver, and receipt taken from the
recipient, and list kept of all contribu-
tions, for publication in Texas Farm and
Ranch. Write name and address on every
package; and remember, "He gives twice
who gives quickly"
Address all packages to
"DRoUTH SUFFERERS"
Care Texas Farm and Ranch, Dallas,