The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-12

sour county early purchased twenty-five
car loads of coal for needy families,
which the railroads hauled free. That
is now being distributed. The county
also put in an irrigation plant at the
poor farm, which gives employment to
great many at rs cents d day, and helps
them get along. The greatest need in
our county will be seed grain. Unless
the farmers get that, many will simply
have to leave. Hundreds have gone
already. Those that remain are the
grittiest class"
MIR. Barnett of Ness county, said there
would be some suffering in his county,
but the county could not take care of it
Mr.. Wright of Edwards county said:
"Edwards county is all right and can
take care of the few cases of destitution
which exist. but it Is my opinion that be-
tween it and the Colorado line there are
lots of people who are actually starving.
Before | came up here l went over into
Hodgeman county to get man TO take
care of my place while was away.
Il found q middle aged bachelor liv-
ing alone who hadn't crust Of bread in
his house as big as your two fingers. He
was crippled in his knees and could
hardly get about If l hadn't found
him when 1 did, be would
soon have frozen or starved.
He was too proud TO 90 to
the county farm, and the small requisi-
ton he had made on the trustees for cof-
fee and -four was not hOnOred. l put
him in charge of my place, taking along
his two ponies which were running on
the prairie, and would have starved ou
account of the snow"
Representative Wightman of Greeley
county, said there would be much suffer
ing in his county, because the people
were too proud to let their necessities be
known. "Someone said to one of our
people the other day: They are talking
about suffering in Nebraska this year,
and letting Kansas alone OH said the
farmer, 'ihis is their first time, we've got
used to it Hundreds of people have
left our county, and only those
with the most determined will, re-
main These will have to leave in
the spring, if they can't get seed There
will be great suffering from cold if this
weather continues. If the coal asked for
by the house resolution arrives any time
before February it will be in time for the
worst weather is during February and
March"
Representative Pancake of Scott coun-
ty said there would be severe suffering
for feed and fuel but the county would
see that none starved if it could over
come their pride and find out who were
in distress, This cold weather will un-
doubtedly cause much suffering. The
people haven't raised anything for three
years and they haven't any money. lr-
rigation will remedy the whole matter,
but the trouble is. the people spent all
their money before they found it out.
If they can raise $259 apiece to put in
plant they will be all right.
.'Down at Garden City where they
have irrigation there is plenty of feed
but although it is only 40 miles away the
people have no money to get it with.
have some sheep, and to show how scarce
the feed is, have to piow the snow off
the grass with snow plow which makes
a path six feet wide, in order that the
| animals may get something to eats"
Mr Pancake also said the farmers
would have to have seed wheat or many
would have to leave as only the most
courageous were left there now.