Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-11-06
APPEAL FOR AID.
II ElgE HAS BEEN MUCH FICTION PuB.
LDHED ABOUT DAKOTA SUFFERERS.

Thefe Is LEGAL Destltutisn In the Two
Antss. bnt No General DisaSter- Specific
l4formation be to Causes and Results
Epp statlstics-O Other Matters Of Wcstern
IMferest.
is with some difficulty that correct
mate 10 to be arrived at concerning
des3itution in the Dskotas, occasioned by
crdp failure. The season Of 1889 was un-
usyllly dry over the entire northwes', but
wiz n few local exceptions timely rains
avSsed disaster In nearly all parts of
IoN, Nebraska, Minnesota, the two Da-
koe and farther west. In greater por-
tic pf this region, in fact. what threat.
sna etc BE- Z very bad crop year proved an
ex4 tionally good ono; but In some in
pel Aich have BEEN made Tor assist ancs
has - Legitimate occasion, especially in
Me- Dakota.
~ y N0rtA Dak0ta. M
g, amn r. lot&k DskUka ~ lttus
n I'D ~ ~ 4
haIf Ssiens ~ iiSs shroush
tne tisl1e theSs people viii require help.
hA1aSey, Wells, Kidder, In Monre, Oliver.
many men in these counties who are we'll
hx0d and require no aid. There are others
whe have depended upon tue crops for two
yeats back, which we're cut OF last year by
froet. aud which are now suffering from
drought. two years drought ia not un-
usual. They have had it clswhere; but it
has affected people who are worth from
$5, 900 to $500 Tie frost and drought
found people in North Dakota who have
only their crops to depend upon. The
county commissioners of Ramsey
couny have organized a relief
committee, Of which they are the
head. All donations should be shipped
direetly to them. In Towner aud Rolette
counties there is great destitution, and the
county commissioners are exerting them
selves to and their people. The railroads
have rendered efficient aid by free trans
portation of fuel, and GOALS cheap enough
TO make its supply within the reach Of the
chasitably disposed.
In the South.
In South Dakota actual want seems to
be confined to three counties, Of which
Miner appears to be most sorely in need
OF assistance. In the organized efforts to
relieve the needy ST. Paul and Minneap-
oils have devoted their attention exclu-
sively to North Dakota. because, as they
claim, the necessities in the South are
local, and the localities are surrounded by
communities abundantly able TO take care
OF the needy. The exaggerated reports OF
destitution which have been 80 widely
published have a seeming basis in two
| facts: First, self-constituted begging
committees, representing certain very lm-
tied communities. have VISITED or sent to
81 tr<N,~r SE \ - u =.
few politicians In quest of noto riety think
they see in the scheme for irrigation by
| means of artesian wells achance to bring
themselves into prominence, and in fur
therAnce of their plan for SELF f-advance-
ment, they have omitted no opportunity to
insist that Dakota could only be preserved
from drought through artesian irrigation.
II Has Recon Dry.
In the spring Of 1883 the rainfall
throughout the entire northwest was SIM
ply phenUmcnal. Week succeeded week
In which the down-pouring was frequent
and long continued. The precipitation
during the summer following was about up
| to the average. In the autumn the rain
foil deserted the northwest to o great ex-
tent, and seemingly Joined the carnival OF
hurricanes aud storms which have spread
| along the Atlantic coast states. The sue.
| ceeding months have been unusually dry
all through the northwest, but only in a
few counties of Minnesota and North and
south Dakota has this resulted in any dis.
| nstrous shortage Of crops.
Annual Rainfall.
As Indicative of the normal condition
OF South Dakota it is noted that the Off ial
report of precipitation shows the follow
ing annual average: Alexandra, Hanson
county, from March, 1882, to November,
1889, 3,.54 inches: Huron, Teadle county.
from January, 1879, to November 1889.
1866 inches; Webster, Day county. from
June. 1872, to November. 1889, 44.6 inches.
This gives fair basis for averaging the
annual precipitation in South Dakota, and
certainly it will compare favorably with
most OF the western states.
Another very fair criterion by which to
judge the extent Of the great drought is
the crop yields. In the Sioux valley, in
southeastern Dakota, all descriptions Of
crops have returned fairly average yield,
aud the yield Of some descriptions Of
grain--corn and FAX particuIarly--has
been above the average. The same state.
ment holds good regarding most sections
ct South Dakota, the exceptions being
Miner county and portions Of three ada
cent counties, and here the crops have
been more nearly failure than in any
other portion Of the state.
Crop Statistics.
It may be interesting aud instructive in
this connection to compare the crop reports
Of the two Dakotas for the two years inst
past Onicially they are given as fellows:
1883.
Crop. Acres. Busbs,.
Wneat .3,6i7, ,HS 37, e47
Oats I III q afsa se