Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1889-10-23
IN ABSOLUTE WANT.
AID Greatly Needed "a the Dako.
tas and Minnesota
HUNDREDS OF FlxILIES DESTITUTE
E.raasrs ia Great Distress ThroaSh . Goa
klaxtlo8 ~ Dry Wssthsr ana Poox
Sxsss-rhs Cities ARs.4--<
- for hziP.
A cnAscE ZOE THE CHARIIABLE.

ST PAUL, Minp., Oct 22.-> lfferlng
among the settlers q Northwestern
Minnesota and Western Dakota has be
come so widespread that IL as been 9e
cided - appeal 10 the princip pa cities OF
the Cni0n for al 70 get them Through
the winter The Chamber OF Commercs
OF 81. Paul Monday morning opened .
subscription list and appointed e
committee % visit al business
houses and citizens generally and
ask FOR liberal subscriptions in
cash and supplies for these PEG
pie. Ths relief committee Of the
chamber has been directed 70 invite al
church organizations - take a special
contribution sunday, November 3, % bs
devoted % aneviating This distress. The
restitution and suffering are so great
and extensive that the local authorities
and relief societies are unable -
grant the assistance req ulred. Ramsey
County, Dak., has a population OF
: 900 people, and of these about 5000
are engaged in farming. The frosts of
last year cut OF the crops generally. and
the farmers were Obliged 20 mortgage
their farms for food. provisions, clothing
etc, 20 carry them through last winter
This spring personal property, such "a
stock, machinery, etc, was mOrtgaged
FOR seed and funds 20 put in the crop.
There has been u continual drought
throughout the entire season, and the
crops have been almost a total failure
The borrowed funds are entirely ex-
hausted as we'll as the credit of large
number Of these people. and in Ramsey
County alone there are from 200 70 soc
families, farmers generally, that are en-.
tirely destitute.
In Nelson and Walsh counties there
are also great restitution and suffering.
and there are probably in this district
OF North Dakota not less than 1.00C
families who are nearly or entirely
destitute. There is district in South
Dakota that is in like condi.
ton; this district is embraced with
in Miner, Lake, SanbOrn and Beadle
counties. This district is surrounded
by populous towns and cities like Sioux
Falls, Yankton, Huron, WATERFOWL.
Pierre, etc, and il is thought that if ap.
plication is made 10 these cities by the
proper authorities in these several coun.
ties sufficient relief can be realized &C
take care OF this district for the present
al least. 1t is imperative that
this devastated district of North Dakota
should receive some assistance imme-
diately. The supplies most urgently re.
quired are boots, shoes, hosiery, NIT
Hr- - =
necessary groceries and grain for their
stock. 1t is estimated that there are
nearly enough potatoes and hay raised
in this section to supply the demand.
Arrangements have been made for the
free transportation of products intended
for distribution among the people. Two
years ago the farmers of Marshall Coun-
", Mimi, were unfortunate enough to
lose almost their entire crop owing to a
poor harvest through the entire State.
Since that time they have been
struggling 10 relieve themselves from
the burden of financial embarrass-
ment which they then incurred.
but fate has been against them. Dur
ing last year the prospects for a good
crop in the county were encouraging,
but devastating hsil-storms Of unusual
violence visited the eastern part of the
county and practically laid every thing
waste and ruined the harvest. This
disaster came after the previous vista
ton had reduced many of the farmers
TO the verge Of starvation, and unless
something is done TO relieve the dis
tress there viii be much suffering this
winter. A delegation has waited on
Governor Merriam and asked aid from
the State