The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-03-12
Dakota S DeStitutiOn.
The Red Cross Issues an APP
peal for Aid.
OVER FIVE THOUSAND IN WANT.

BE Expended Under the Supervision OF
the State Commissioner of Agriculture
for Dakota
WASHINGTON, March iO.-The follow
ing statement to the American people
has been received by the United Press
from Clara Barton, president of the
National association of the Red Cross
For many weeks past the Red Cross
has been in receipt of letters of appeal
and statements in regard to suffering
and restitution existing among the
pioneer settlers of North and South
Dakota. These appeals have come tc
us from trusted cO-workers, and those
who speak by rnle Ps authority on such
matters. At last, they became so urgent
as to be no longer ignored.
Living 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 interviews then had, Sen.
atOr L. R. Casey, Of North Dakota. wrote
to Governor John Miller informing him
of the inquiries of the Red Cross. under
date of Bismarck, Feb. Is. Governor
Miller wrote, thanking the Red Gross
for the kindly interest evinced, and
stating that he had referred the matter
to Hon. II. T. Helgesen, state commits
sioner of agriculture and labor, with in.
struciOns to give all particulars rs to
the wants Of their people.
Under date of Grand Forks, Feb 81,
Commissioner II. T. Helgesen wrote in
part as follows: There are probably s..
900 to 5000 people depend ant, and a
good many more who have provision:
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 Helgesen accompanies
his letter with paper which contains
an appeal to the public signed by the
commissioner, as follows: The suffer
ing for the want of provisions, clothing
feed, and feed for stock, in several
counties of North Dakota is unpre.
cedented. The deStitution is almost ex.
clUsivcly confined to the newer portions
OF the state. where the settlements date
back two, three and four years. except
Nelson and Ramsey counties. which
have been settled about six years
These new settlements were. like earlier
settlements of most countries, composed
largely Of people whose resources would
have been heavily taxed to succeed and
keep themselves above want with favor.
able seasons.
1.-The story as told by the commits
rTCr,or - Tl,oA 81 oil
Good seasons at first rewarded them
every acre was turned over for harvest
in 1888. All appeared well until August
of that year when a severe frost, a thing
unknown before, killed the riDenine
grain. 1t did much damage in the old
and better portions of the state but it en-.
tirely destroyed the newer sections. The
hardy men did not lose their courage bat
hired out to neighbors, thereby earning
the money necessary for the seed and
living OF 1889. The unprecedented
drouth of last year was doubtless fell
most severely of any where in the west
in the fields and families of the newly
settled portions of both North and South
Dakota.
CAS- Commissioner Helgesen saws, Z
second entire failure in some sections
left many people destitute. He adds
While nearly the entire state suffered
from drOuth, only seven or eight counties
need niuch assistance. In this area are
the counties where the greatest amount
of assistance Is needed, viz: Nelson
Ramsey, Benson, Pierce, BOttineau
ROlette and Turner. Cavelier county
will also need some help, as will Eddy
and Mcintosh, the latter in the southern
portion of the state. In the countie:
named there are not less than 5000 PEG
pie dependent, wholly or in part. OF
outside help, and until they can raist
another crop, and a still larger number
will need some assistance for stock
Most of them have hay, but horses anC
oxen will not be able to work sufficiently
to get IN the spring crops, unless theI
have grain. The supplies heretofore
received are far from meeting the de
mands, and provisions are urgently
needed. The counties are well organ
lied and supplies are distributed through
the county commissioner. The creates
care Is taken TO prevent the improper
use of these donations. All cOntribu-
tons, whether money or provisions fol
clothing, should be forwarded to sale
commissioner at Grand Forks, where the
proper division viii be made
commissioner HelCesen explains tho
condition of the state by showing thai
under its constitution in taking over
property and debts from the former ter
ritOry it has nearly reached the lega
maximum of debt that may be incurred
1t Is, therefore, unable as a state to rilist
all the money and means necessary t
supply the destitute. There is no doubt
from ali the evidence. that the people o.
North Dakota are doing the very hes
for their suffering fellow-citizens. Tner,
Is no doubt that appeals already made
and publicly given, have met will
warm responses from the northwest
But there is no room to doubt that very
much more is needed. The Red Gross
association has satisfied itself as to that
Inquiries by its general field agent con
firm this appeal and information as wei
as other statements received. There i
no need with the excellent methOd
adopted by the state authorities for the
presence Of the Red Cross ON this field
but there Is a duty before it, and before
the people of the sister states as well
The Red Cross believes that its duty vii
be done if by this authoritative state
ment it shall be the means of inducing
subscriptions for the suffering people o
Dakota large enough in amount to NEE
all the emergencies that Will arise.
'Therc are SIX months of short rations
of unclothed human beings, of seedles
fields, with all their attendant privation
! yet before these people. Judging from pas
! experiences and observations it wonl,
appear to us wiser to send money tina
can be used on the ground under di
rectiOn of the state officials assigned t,
the duty than to spend it for railroa,
freight in purchasing goods or other ar
ticles of supplies, that may be bette
and more properly obtained with casl
in the hands of those who know wher
it Is most needed. In that way Their
viii be a double help secured, as th
people viii thereby be aided to hell
/ themselves.
THE Red Cross, therefore, advise
/ that subscriptions be sent to H. 7. Hedge
sen, state commissioner Of agricult'lr
/ and labor, Grand Forks, n. Oak. /
urges this because of the necessity snt
J from 4 sense of the obligation which al
! America owes to these pioneer brethren
who built new commonwealth in sh
west.
by order of the executive committee
CLARA BARTON,
president of the American Nationa
Association Of the Red Cross"
The Only One in the World.
BUFFALO, n. Y, March 10Th
world looks new to me now" said Janle