Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-12-08
TERRIBLE FAMINE IN MEXICO.
The Drought in the State OF Durango
Causing Loss Of Life.

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. News Of the Sc
rious results of the great drought that has
for several months been affecting the peo
pie and stock of the state Of Durango,
Me xico, was brought hare by Lawrence G.
Msuchel, who is the owner of several hun
dfed thousand scres of ranch laud in the
northern part of the drought, stricken die
;rict. He lie one of the most promiuen Mt
ste ckmeu in Mexico and 10 we'll known in
the United States. When asked concern
ipg the effects of the drought he said;
THE famine Is simply terrible. About
three weeks sgo I made trip from m,
ranch scrsss the country to Durango, and
sill slong tn, route were indications Of 10
tense suffering among the poor natives. AT
enc little village found nearly every fam
lily to be in q state of utter destitution, and
I wss told thst number Of children had
died from &C usi starvation The govern
ment had failed to take any decisive steps
TO receive this pitifui condition of the peo-
pie, and it is being rouadly censured in
const lence. President Disz coming 10 for
q large share of the censure.
The price OF food products such - corn
aud beans have risen to such an exorbisant
figure that those in need of them are IN
able to afford the luxury. The speculstors
have corner on the corn market and
have put prices no to the highest notch
There are large impoftstions of the pro-
duct being made from the United States.
There 10 prospect that the duty on nstive
food produces which exists between the
several States vi be temporarily removed
by the Mexican Congress now in session
and IL such action is taken il Is hoped that
prices will be materially lowered.
"Tbe .rheling 10 not contoed 10 the
sg icultursl element, but Is very severe In
some of the mining camps OF the state. A
number Of the smaller properties have
been shut down on kceount of the inability
of the miners to supt OFT themselves on the
wages pad them and owing 10 the great
rise 10 the pr.ca Of food The osners Of the
mlnes refused TO meet the d. maDds for an
increase in wsgss, and IN many instances
have lemp orariIy ceased operations until
the distress of the people is relieved. What
these people need is food and money, snd
unless the government comes to their aid
soon there will be miny lost by starvation.
THE people in the towns are leaving
their homes. ard have taken to the noun
tsins, where many of them are living on
the eacti and Wild berIiss, which give them,
however. bat little nourisbment. There
are number Of wealthy fsmils 10 Daran-
90. bat it sould be folly for them to under
take to relieve the distress Of the starving
II seem, Q shame that no more notice Of
this suffering is taken By the people of the
City Of Mexico, where SO macy thoussr
dollars were raised few weeks ago for
the food sufferers in Spain.
81 have met with heavy losses In the
cattle business mys' II. slth ush I am 10
caisp in a comrs-stivtIy well favored dis
trict- The cattle where they can obtain
saersre uot fsrIns as badly as one would
imagine ~ thsy have SC far found pretty
good or z5ng in the cry grasses ard shrub.
berry on stese rsuehes. Where there IL no
water, or IS in the case o: myself where
the laod is overstocked. the cattle have
died in large numhs-s q"