, 1889-10-31
A FAMINE in DAKOTA.
Many People Will Starve I'm
less Help Is Sent,
ST. PAUL IS RAISING RELIEF.
A Terrible Condition of Affairs
Due to Repeated Failures
of Crops.

ST.. PAUL, Mimi, Oct. 21.-Suiiering
among the settlers of Northwestern
Minnesota and Western Dakota has be-
come so widespread that 1t has been de-
cided to appeal to the principal cities of
the union for aid to get them through
the winter. The chamber of commerce
of st. Paul this morning opened sub
scription list and appointed u committee
to visit all business houses and citizens
generally and ask for liberal subscrip-
tions in cash and supplies for these peo-
pie. Tho relief committee of the cham
Der has been directed to invite all church
organizations to take Il special contribu
tiOn Sunday, November 3, to be devoted
to alleviating this distress. The destitu-
tion and suffering are SO great and exten-
sivo that the local authorities and relief
societies are unable to grant the assist
ancc required. Ramsey county, Dakota,
has population of 7O0O people, and of
these about 6OOO are engaged in farming.
The irOsts of last year cut oil tine crops
generally, and the farmers were obliged
to mortgage their iurms for food, pro-
visions, clothing etc. to carry them
through last winter This spring per-
sonal property, such as stock, maChin-
cry, etc, was mortgaged for seed and
funds TO put in the crop.
There has been con ntinual drought
throughout the entire season, and the
crops have been almost n total failure.
The borrowed funds are entirely OK
haustcd as well as the credit of large
number of these people, and in Ramsey
county alone there ARE from 200 to 800
families, farmers generally that are en-
tirely destitute.
THOUSANDS ARE DESTITUTE.
In Nelson and Walsh counties there
are also great dcstitution and suffering
and there are probably in this district of
North Dakota not less than 1000 fam
lilies who are nearly or entirely desti-
tute. There Is district in South Da-
kota that is in like conditions this dis
trict is embraced within Miner Lake,
Sanborn and Beadlo counties. This
district is surrounded by populous towns
aud cities like Sioux Falls, Hankton,
is thought that If application is made to
these cities by the proper authorities in
these several counties sufficient rcliet
can be realized to take care of this dis
trict for the present at least. But the
devastated district in North Dakota is
directly dependent upon the Twin Cities
and Duluth and the larger towns on the
lillt VI Nlt I uflllt IullTOhu III
Dakota for assistance. Grand Forks has
already appointed committees and is
actively engaged in supplying clothing
and some provisions to this district.
trhc committee of the st. Paul
chamber of commerce has decided to
correspond with the mayors of Fargo,
jamestown, bismarck and other Dakota
cities and ascertain whether any organ
lied movement has been made towards
rnlipNlnu tla-a nannla II hug hnut1
thought best TO cominunic icatc with the
state authorities of North Dakota to as
certain II there are any funds available
which may be used for this purpose, and
to inquire what action will he taken by
the state officers in this matter Ii is
imperative that the devastated district
of North Dakota should receive some
assistance Immediately. The supplies
most urgently required are boots shoes,
hosiery, mittens, undergnrmonts, flour,
corn meal, necessary groceries and grain
for their stock. IL is estimated that
there are nearly enough potatoes and
hay raised in this section to supply the
demand.
FAILURE OF HARVESTS.
Arrangements have been made for the
free transportation Of products intended
for distribution among the people. Two
years ago the farmers of Marshall
county, Mimi, were unfortunate
enough to lose their entire crop
owing to a poor harvest through
the entire state. Since that
time they have been struggling to re-
licve themselves from the burden Of
financial embarrassment which they
then incurred, but fate has been against
them. During last year the prospects
for good crop in the country were en-
couraging, but devastating hailstorms
OF unusual violence visited the eastern
part OF tho country and practically laid
everything waste and ruined the harvest.
This disaster came after the previous
visitation had reduced many of the
farmers to the verge of starvation, and
unless something is done to relieve the
distress there will be much suffering this
winter. A delegation has waited on
Governor Merriam and asked aid from
the state. The case was urgent and 1t
was pointed ont to the governor that inn
mediate relief was absolutely required.
The Importance of prompt measures was
recognized by the governor. and he i'm
mediately appointed the Rev. NJ. Falk
GJirtsen, RI. l.. Melgaard, banker, and
Nj. Glavin q special commission to in
vestigate and report upon the amount
ana nature OF the existing distress. This
committee will report to the governor
the condition of things from personal
investigation, when he will cause TO be
distributed all necessary aid to tide the
stricken ones over the winter from one
of the contingent funds ut his dis
posal,