The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1891-02-13
7EhYER'S MESSAGE,

~ SHb VI
the governor to present Mt each bien-
.nial session a statement OF the condi-
ton OF affairs in the state, and to make
such recommendations as may to him
-eeem advisable.
II DRoUTH SUFFERERS.
The condition of a portion of the puu-
pie in some of the counties of the west
-ern half of the state is such that a sense
of public duty compels me to invite
your immediate attention to it. The
drouth and hot winds have left a por-
ton of the people without the means of
subsistence; others, with only partial
means OF subsistence. In some coun-
ties the crops were almost entirely o
failure; in others less than u quarter of
"a crop was raised. Occasional reports
reached me in September of the failure,
md partial failure of the products of
the earth. They grew more numerous
through Octobe. 1t seemed then that
each county would be able to take care
of its own people, and | so advised
them and urged that they call upon the
county commissioners to organize
mean of relief.
This action was taken in q number
of counties and carried on till their
means were exhausted. In the early
part Of November the appeals for help
began to increase by every mail, and
were of a most touching and impressive
character; so much SO that ! determined
to appeal to tho public for aid to re-
lieve the most pressing needs of our
fellow citizens.
In order to secure more definite in
formation as to the condition of the
people in the drouth-stricken counties,
and to obtain if possible, an approx
innate idea of the number of settlers who
must be aided with the means of living
through the coming winter, | selected
two gontlemen-Rev. DR.. Geo. w.
Martin, chaplain of the Industrial
school at Kearney, and Mr.. j. A.
Hartley of Lincoln, and gave them
instructions to visit some nine counties
from which the most urgent appeals
had come, and learn the condition of
the inhabitants. They were directed
to go through the counties from n
end to the other, and see the situation
for themselves. They performed the
message faithfully and they found mat
ters in a worse condition than had
been represented in the appeals which
had been made to me. ,
Their reports showed that in the
counties named, about eight hundred
families must be aided through this
winter. Averaging five to a family,
there are four thousand persons to be
supported in part Or in whole. -.
Their reports also convinced me
that prompt and decisive action must
be taken to prevent suffering; they
confirmed all that had been written as
to the failure of crops and the conse-
quent need for aid.
My plan has been to rely upon vol
untary contributions to meet the emer-
gency till this Legislative body should
assemble. Appeals have been made
to the public and as a result contribu-
tions have been forwarded as fol-
lows:
Coal, 81 cars; clothing, 1877 barrels,
$40 boxes, 20 sacks; boots and shoes,7
boxes; bedding, 5 boxes; hats, 2 boxes;
hominy, 315 pounds; -four, 247, 1874
pounds; meal, 155, $50 pounds; rice,
1883 pounds; beans, %, 901 pounds;
meat, 20, 1877 pounds; coffee, 39S pounds;
sugar, 1850 pounds; crackers, 1,494
pounds; salt, 1900 pounds; corn, 2, o23
bushels; oats, 215 bushels; wheat, 119
bushels; apples, 4 barrels; groceries, Is
boxes; oat meal, 324 pounds; graham
flour, $50 pounds; potatoes, q barrels.
January 5, 1891.
As there was no organized body to
take hold of the business Of affording
relief, it seemed to be the duty OF the
governor to move in this matter. Con-
sequently L organized q committee OF
relief, and appointed George w. Mar
tin superintendent of relief, and Luther
p. Ludden of Lincoln as superintend-
ent of distribution; Z. w. Mosher,
president of the Capital National bank
Of Lincoln, treasurer Of the state re-
lie. fund.
W. n. Mason, secretary of the Board
@of Trade of Omaha; r. r. Greer of
Kearney, president of the State Board
of Agriculture; John Fitzgerald, c. w.
Mosher. Louis Meyer and A. j. Sawyer
of Lincoln were appointed an executive
board. The work has been carried on
Systematically and with thorough ac-
countability for everything disbursed.
All these gentlemen have labored with
untiring zeal in furthering tbs good
work.
The public generally have responded
generously to the appeals, and they
have the satisfaction of knowing that
they have saved thousands of people
from suffering.
The B. & NJ, the U. P, the Elkhorn
Valley and Mo. Pac. roads have trans
ported free of charge all contributions
for the destitute people. The other
roads in the state were ready TO render
the same service without charge but
owing to the location we were not
Obliged to call upon them.
The course of these roads in giving
free transportation for everything con-
tributed entities them to all the credit
due for humane and valuable assist
ance. Without their aid we should
have been well nigh powerless. They
are deserving strong commendation.