New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-19
FAMINE ~ NcHTHVESTERY KANSAS.

stockton. Kan. Jan. l. tSpcciaD.-A correspondent
recently returned from trip through the counties in
Northwestern Kansas where inve tic,on has been
made into the condition Of the people in that section
Report, Of distress and dcsti,ution have been sent
ont from time TO time, but the tenth of the truth has
not been told.
For four years this part Of the state has been afflicted
with severe drouth and crop, have been raised.
Each succeeding spring the farmer les able 10
prepare his land for the soed and the autumn brought
him relief. one by his horses and cattle were
sold TO provide carry his family through the
winter. When the same drouth came last summer
and the crops were wthcrcd and dried in the fields
there began exodus from the country and all those
who had any means left to pay travelling expenses
started to get away from the sterile land. In most
instances the farms mOrtgaged to their full value
and in leaving the settler simply went from the roof
which covered him. As he had equity In the land
and utcn,il, had been sacrificed TO keep
a food supply on hand Fully 10000 people have left
their homes after puttng there the best Of their
lives in a vain struggle for living. They now 20 to
other places with their energy weakened and their
titutons ruined by the prvations and hardship, of the
past. But all did not 90. There were many who
could not get away Their and cattle had been
sold TO keep hunger from the door Their fuel
scan, their food poor and mcagrc and their clothing
barely sufficient to keep them protected from the Bit
ng wind. Til, was the condition when the long In
dian summer abruptly ended with a blizzard which
carried death in it, train. To-day nearly every house
hes il, = ad.
This i- no fancy Sketch but the bare and appalling
facts. From he Eluc HE b. northern Roohs County
clear around to Atwood In RawnS County. there :, The
same dcsolate country. thny peopcd with men, women
and children who mus, have relief or die. They A."
in such absolute need that The food parcec ont ~ L
. among >hipwrcchcd mariners a raft in mid ocean
Far f0m timber and coal they have been compelled
70 destroy, first their farming implements and then
cr furniture for fuel with which to keep eclnt ire
In their homes. III many houses nothing remain, cA-
cept PEI haps bed. 40 Chair, no tables, nothing
but the bare wall, and nor which serve a. home TO
furnishing family Of pcrliap, four or five persons.
The food la, been reduced to unground co,n. and this
j, all they have TO keep body and soul tectner unlil
relief is furnished from The outside should this an
be long DELAYED. there viii be more need c 'oin, tan
of clothing. Already many death, among children arc
reported and the recent finding e. the clifton family
dead and diving shows what is - BE- expected through
out the whole nOlthwc tern part OF lie stale. 80 far
there ma, been no concerted action iOOhu. { The relief
~ these unfortunate but there la been. on the Other
hand an effort 10 prevent the publication oi inc tiir
t3nG!lOn through icar HAT su'u lubHby Np'" J."
detrimental - the rest Of the >i1,c ana prevent llh
grant, from coming ~. The fact rrnain-' h""c|cr
ana grow, more patent with each succeeding UfN lhdt
hundreds people diving OF want am "Np7ui, lh
the very land where Immigration L. N""4"N. IT,
people are in ab.cct want aud Their d~lIr, ,dl "lb
be releycd bv large GIT or by regulated ridic aH
In ROoke and phl!ip, counties over h"Il w iiIn'
have been a1anl0ncd 10 the mortgages, VINO rave
placcd large sums on wOlthlcs iand. ana nave property
upou which they realize on" h'lt OF thci Ioai
and FOR which they can get no tenants