The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1894-12-21
STARVING TO DEATH.
safferinEs of tho Farmers In the Drought
Stricken Portions of Ncbrasks-Noed
Food, Fuel and Clothlnks

Omaha, Neb., Dec. ia stan cor
respondent for local newspaper sends
to-day a dispatch from North Platte
relating the story OF the destitNti6n ex-
listing there Speaking Uf most OF the
farmers In that county, he says:
"How they live Is n mystery to me.
calf or pig to live OF cf, And these also
have a little flour laid by, but how
many provident ones can there be In
country where two successive AeAsons
have come and gone With absolute
failure OF cropss some expect to live
on provisions sent by tho old folks
back EAST a few have something put
away, but more yet are facing actual
starvation. Even II they are saved from
that this winter, their hands will have
to be held up next spring, for they will
not only BIO unable to purchase seed
with which to do the years planting,
but their horses, picking a bare exist.
ence on the hills at present, Will be In
capable of field work when that labor
becomes necessary. These animals
should have substantial feed during
tho winter months, OF there will be
teams as well as seed to buy in the
spring, At present these animals have
been turned out to pick up their win.
ter's food from the scant grasses Of the
hills
Miss Mary Hosford, the county sup.
erlntendent OF schools, has Just return
ed from trip covering good share
OF tho school districts within her
charge. She said: "A great many
people have left the county. Probably
one-half OF the renters or the holders of
Improved claims have moved away.
None OF tho holders IL property have
left. They manage to hold on some
how, supported by means which nre
certainly not visible, In some cases
the husbands or Sons have left to seek
work elsewhere. The stock Ii scattered
all over the country picking up n liv-
Ing wherever II can find one. Tho
horses may live till spring, but they
will certainly not be In A position to
work then. The farmers need food.
clothing and fuel Immediately and
they should also have proper food for
their stock. In the spring seed will
have to be furnished or no. crop will
he put In. 1t is a mystery how somo
OF them who have not applied for aid
manage to exist. Those who have COWS
get little milk and once In while
sacrifice pig or calf
They tell ME that in good weather
like the present they can get along
well enough, but after January they
fear for the worst. OF course nearly
every farmer, especially the Americans
or those who have come from other
states, has been aided With clothing
and sometimes with food from friends
or relatives left behind. The county
board, too, has offered such aid as its
resources permitted. and the people of
North Platte have been more than Kind.
Substantial relief In the form OF food,
fodder, fuel and seed will have to be
generally distributed between this and
next spring, however, to prevent gen.
eral destitution."
Tho Rev. u. u. Foulk. Lutheran pas.
tor at North Platte. has been appointed
by Governor Crounse, relief agent Tor
that county, but has received no sup.
plies as vet. The correspondent has
been In the best part Of the county.
Only In the irrigation districts Is there
any degree Of comfort.