The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-07-02
STARVATION.
A DrouEht in Northern Mexico
Jauses Distress.
Blooming @a-dons Converted Into Arid
Wastes-6ungry, Ciamorous Sufferers
Follow u Construction Gangand Eat
the OiInls OF the Lank Horses.


DURANGO, Mex, June s5. The recent
reports from the City of Mexico stating
that the drought in the northern part
of the republic had been broken by
bountiful rains is incorrect, so far as
the state of Duragno and Coahuila are
concerned. With the exception of one
light shower about two months
ago there has been absolutely no
rain here for the past four and
half years. The farmers have
given up all hopes of raising a
crop this season, and thousands of acres
of rich land upon which splendid crops
of corn and cotton were formerly raised,
are now barren of all vegetation, and
the whole state of Durango and Goa
hula, with the exception of two or
three small oasrs, are a veritable desert.
The general government has begun to
realize the extreme gravity of the situ-
alton, and has removed all duties on corn
and beans, enabling the poor classes
who have any money to purchase food
supplies at comparatively low prices.
There are several thousand destitute
farmers and laborers throughout this
state, however, who are not within the
reach of this proffered aid, and their
suffering is intense Even the hardy
maguey plant, which usually thrives in
time of drought, is beginning to feel
the effect of the intense summer heat
and lack of moisture, and is being liter
ally burned up. In the remote districts
the people have for the past year lived
on the juice of this plant, it being
a cool and strengthening drink. There
are 1000 men and several hun
dred teams employed in the construc-
tion of the Mexican International road to
this city from Torreon. Following the
construction camps are no less than
5000 nalf-starved Mexicans who make
pitiful and constant appeals to the la
borers for something to eat. Every
night the horses and mules of the camp
are corraled, and when the animals are
taken out in the morning their places
are Immediately filed by hungry,
wild and fighting horde of half-clad
men, women and children, who grovel
in the fresh manure and greedily
eat the grains of corn they find in the
filthy offal. Whenever one of the ami
mails dies or is accidentally killed, as is
often the case, they fall upon the body
like vultures and eat the meat raw.
These pictures of suffering are not over
drawn, but, on the contrary, there are
daily sights too distressing to be pub
lished. In the city of Lerdo, which was
few years ago the great industrial and
manufacturing center of the state
of Coahuila, being located in the
midst of what was once the most
productive cotton raising country
in the world, there is untold suffering
among the people. The city govern
! ment has taken the matter in hand, and
| large funds have been subscribed by
the wealthiest citizens, which is to be
| expended in the establishing of free
lunch rooms for the poor. There has been
| about 500. 900 bushels of corn shipped
| to Torreon and this city by the state
governments from the United States
during the past six months. This
corn is sold at cost price to
the needy, and has lessened the
suffering to great extent. 1t is esti-
| mated that 100000 more bushels will
be required to keep the people until
next season, provided crop is then Sc
cured. The governor of Toluco has
contracted for the importation of 160,-
900 bushels of corn from the United
States.