Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-11-28
Condition of Western Nebraska
Farmers.

to the Omaha World-Herald. The
fact that great portion of western
Nebraska is suffering from absolute
restitution on account of the failure of
the crops has been known for a long
time, but state pride and other inter-
ests have kept this knowledge out of
the newspapers and from the general
public. 1t will be remembered that in
much OF this western territory the
crops were ruined last spring after the
seed had been planted by high winds
that carried away the soil and the seed
and left the fields bare. Governor
Thayer, President Greer of the state
board OF agriculture and others made
tours of that country and reported on
the gloomy prospects before the set
tiers. A generous public then re-
sponded and seed, provisions and
other contributions were sent in and
the pioneers placed on their feet again
and in a condition to do fairly well if
the season had been favorable. But
it was not, the hot dry winds contin-
ued and in many sections practically
no rain fell from June l to September
l, and every green thing was burned
up. The farmers aided themselves as
best they could by executing chattel
mortgages on their personal effects in
the early spring, in the hopes of being
able to realize something on their
crops and redeem their property. This
they were not able to do, and in many
counties agents of the loan companies
went about among the farmers taking
this incumbered property and ship
ping it by the carload east, where it
was sold. Thus these people are left
destitute and without the horses and
cattle and the tools necessary to pros
ecute their business. Many of those
who had net mortgaged their teams
have left the state and will winter in
more favored communities, but those
who are left must be relieved.
The feeling over the state so near as
can be learned, is that Nebraska is
able to care for her own unfortunates,
and that it will not be well to send out
begging committees to eastern COM
munities. Individual subscription can
do much. The churches will do much,
the governor has called upon the may
ors of cities to help, by bringing the
atte2tion of their people to this very
widT- pread restitution, but all the help
thus received will doubtless be con-
sumed by the middle of January or the
first of February, and the feeling is
quite general that the legislature can
afford to appropriate 500, 900 for the
relief OF our own distressed people.
The coming Legislature will be COM
posed largely offarmers, many of whom
know of their own knowledge how
widespread is this restitution. 1t is
understood that Governor Thayer will
be importuned to make such recon-
mendation to the legislature in his next
biennial message.
The meeting held here this after
noon was largely attended. showing
the deep interest taken in the subject
by the people of this city. The senti-
ment of this meeting was largely in
accord with the above. This city prom
ises to do her share of this relief work,
and with the other cities of Nebraska
and our more favored communities
hope to be able to carry our unfottun-
ate brothers and sisters Of the west I'M
til relief can be secured from the leg
| islature.