St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-10
Clara Barton Makes Inquiries
Regarding Suffering in
the DakotaS.
Five Thousand People Who
Need Assistance in North
Dakota.
An Appeal to the Country for
Money for the Des-
titute.
The Wisdom Of Sending Mon
ey Instead Of Provisions
Pointed Out.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-The follow
ing statement to the American people
has been received from Clara Barton,
president of the National Association of
the Red Cross: For many weeks past
the he'd Cross has been in receipt of let
ters of appeal and statements IN regard
to suffering and destitutiOn existing
among the pioneer settlers of North and
South Dakota. These appeals have
come to US from trusted cOwOrkerS, and
those who speak by rule as authority on
such matters. At last they became so
urgent as to be no longer ignored. Liy-
ing here at the national capital, it was
decided to call upon the senators and
representatives in congress from these
newborn states of ours. AS one result
Of the interview then had, Senator l..
r. Casey, of North Dakota, wrote
to Gov. John Miller, informing him
of the inquiries of the Red Cross.
Under date of Bismarck, Feb. Is, Gov.
Miller wrote, thanking the Red Cross
for the kindly interest evinced and stat
ing that he had referred the matter TO
Hon. Ii. t. Helgensen, state commits
siOner of agriculture and labor, with in
structions to give all particulars as to
the wants of their people. Under date
of Grand Forks, Feb. 81, Commissioner
II. L. Helgensen wrote in part as fol-
lows: There are probably 5000 or
5000 people dependent and
a good many more who have provisions
for themselves, but need
FEED FOR STOCK.
"COnsiderable help has been received
from st. Paul and Minneapolis, also
from Chicago, and from several states
east and south, but thus far only enough
to temporarily relieve the needs of the
destitute, and much more will have
to be solicited from time to
time" Commissioner Helgensen con-
cludes his letter with a paper
which contains an appeal to the public,
signed by the commissioner, as follows:
"The suffering for want of provisions,
clothing, fuel and teed for stock in sew
eral counties of North Dakota, is unpre-
Cedented in the state and needs some
explanation. The destitutiOn is almost
exclusively confined to the newer por-
tions of the state, where the settlements
date back only two, three and four years,
except Nelson and Ramsey counties,
which have been settled about six years.
These new settlements we're, like earlier
settlements of most new countries, COM
posed largely of people whose resources
would have been heavily taxed to sue
Ceed and keep themselves above want
with favorable seasons" The story as
told by the commissioner, is that of all
our new states. Good seasons at first
rewarded them. Every acre was turned
in 1888. All appeared we'll until August
of that year, when severe frost, thing
unknown before, killed the ripening
grain. 1t did much damage in the older
and better portions of the state, but it
entirely destroyed the newer sections.
The hardy men did not lose their eour-
age, but
HIRED OUT TO NEIGHBORS,
thereby earning the money necessary
for the seed and living of 1889. The un-
pr cedented drOuth of last year was
doubtless felt most severely of any,
where in the West in the fields and fam
lilies of the newly settled portions of
both North and South Dakota. AS
Commissioner Helgensen says. second
entire failure in some sections left many
people completely destitute. He adds:
awhile nearly the entire state suffered
from drouth, only seven or eight coun-
ties need much assistance. In this area
are the counties where the greatest
amount of assistance is needed. viz:
Nelson. Ramsey, Benson, Pierce, Botti-
neau, Rolette and Towner. Cavalier
county will also need some
help, as will Eddy and Mcintosh,
the latter in the southern part of the
state. In the counties named there are
not less than 5000 people dependent
wholly, or in part, on outside help. A
larger number will need some assist
ance for stock. Most of them have hay,
but horses and oxen will not be able to
work sufficiently to get in the spring
crops, unless they have grain. The
supplies heretofore received are far
from meeting the demands, and pro-
visions are urgently needed. The cOun-
ties are well organized and supplies are
distributed through the state cOm-
missioner. The greatest care is taken
to prevent the improper use of these
donations. All contributions, whether
money or provisions or clothing, should
be forwarded to said commissioner at
Grand Forks, where the proper division
will be made" Commissioner Helgen-
sen explains the condition of the state
by showing that, under it's constitution,
in taking over property and debts from
the former territory, it has nearly
reached the legal maximum of debt that
may be incurred. 1t is, therefore, un-
able as a state to raise all the money and
means necessary to
SUPPLY THE DESTITUTE.
There is no doubt from all the evil
dence that the people of North Dakota
are doing the very best for their suffer
ing fellow citizens. There is no doubt
that the appeals already made, and pub
Hcly given, have met with warm re-
spOnses from the Northwest. But there
is no room to doubt that very much
more is needed. The Red Cross associ-
alton has satisfied itself as to that, In
Quiries by its general field agent con-
firm this appeal and information as
well as other statements received.
There is no need, with the excellent
methods adopted by the state auUhori-
ties. for the presence of the Red Gross
on this field; but there is a duty before
ii, and before the people of the sister
states as well. Tue Red Cross believes
that its duty will be done if by this au-
thOritative statement 1t shall be the
means of inducing subscriptions for the
suffering people of Dakota large enough
in amount to meet all the emergencies
that will arise. There are six months
of short rations, of unclothed human
beings, of seedless fields, with all their
attendant privations, yet before these
people. Judging from past experiences
and observations, it would appear to us
wiser to send money, that can be used
on the ground under direction of the
state officials assigned to that duty,
than to spend it for railroad freight in
purchasing goods or other articles OF