Marshall County independent., 1895-01-04

while the bonds have not been sold prob
ably from distrust of Eastern capital in
| Western investments. The consequence
is that the farmers who did this work
upon the ditch are Il great deal worse eff
than if they had not gone out there at all
The crops of the last two years have been
total failures, and in nine years we have
! had but three crops. The limit of our
bond issue having been reached we are
left helpless for funds Of any kind. Men
and women sometimes drive in here for
twenty-five miles for relief which we are
unable to give. Farmers who have lived
in the county for years ard have sunk
their capital here trying to raise crops
come 10 me with tears in their eyes and
ask for food. There is not Il stream of
water in Perkins County nor living
spring. Wells run from 60 to 200 feet.
| the majority being from about 80 to 200
feet deep. The soil, il watcred raises
good crops; if not, it bakes into solid
mass. The roads and much of the prai-
ries resemble asphalt, SO hard packed and
smooth are they"
AS q result of these conditions many
of the settlers have left the country. and
Traveller through the county describes
the situation Sraphlcaiiy:
On every hand the bare country spread
itself Not n shrub, not tree met the
sight; no creeks, no rivers, no sign of
anything which would give moisture or
produce hay. The rolling swells of the
| table land are covered with the shot,
crisp brown Sass. but nothing above ankle
! high shows itself, except dead and de-
serted tree claim on the right side. But
/ &ttie stock could be seen. though what
ysSs there was in good condition. a few
| deserted sod huts and frame houses were
! seen, and there were signs, here and
! there, that some habitations had been
! taken down and removed with the other
| goods of the owners when they left.
| In some cases farm implements were
seen in the fields, and at distance sub
| stantial granaries stood just rs their OWN
ers had left them. One farmer ! talked
with, who had come to this town for re-
| lief. said, with tears in his eyes: IL never
| applied for help before and l never
! thought to, but when a fellow has lost
! all his crops for two years. and has had
his team and COWS taken away on account
of board while working on the ditch. he
| can't see his family starve. I'm not above
| saving that there isn't q thing in the
! house but Il little flour and about peck
| of potatoes that was left of the last lot
they gave me credit for at the store.
I'm 10 worse off than my neighbors
he continued; but the honest truth is
that we're all mighty near starvation.
They're all good, Industrious men, and
have worked night and day. some Of
them. to try and get crop. Since June
| IL last not n drop of rain fell on my place
except light shower too late in the fall.
1t stood 106 and los in the shade. I'm
told, several days in succession in June,
and then the hot winds did the rest.
tell you there is going to be starvation all
over the county in few weeks. The
farmers are on their last row, and unless
help comes in few days l don't know
whatll happen" 1t is not too much TO
/ say that his case is well nigh typical of
the farmers throughout the county.
On Sunday n visit to the house of one
of the settlers revealed the farmer dress
| ing n jack rabbit he had killed.
'i'll hang this fellow out to freeze to-
night" he said, "and I'll live high for a
day or two"
"Well, you manage to keep the wolf
from the door?" l asked.
mo wolf ever comes to my door," said
! the sand hills philosopher; I'D eat him
if he did,
| 1t is said on good authority that In a