The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-19
THE FAMINE In INDIA.
What the Scarcity of Food Will
Really Mean.
Great Britaln's Preparations Cannot
Avert Great Loss of Life.

realized by those who have actually seen
the disastrous consequences OF wide
spread scarcity of food in the more thickly
populated countries of Asia. The govern
mont has had TO face no such danger since
1877, when, En spite of all its efforts and
the expenditure of eli 900, 900, five and
quarter million people perished-somo
from actual want of food, others from the
diseases that are certain 20 afllict famine
stricken population. The authorities
rightly deprecate panic, but it would be
worse than useless 10 conceal the true fncts
of the situation. Agricultural prospects
in northern India could hardly be more
hopeless. Nothing but n general rainfall
of three or four inches within the next
week or SO would suffice 20 make unirri.
gated lands nt for tho "rabi" sowings
The early break of the rains has had dis
astrous effects. Bundelcund, the central
provinces, and all the black cotton land
down Co tho i3erars got a fair amount OF
rain during the earlier part of the mon
soon, and are consequently better off for
the moment, but when IL comes TO the
spring crop the people In these tracts will
be as sore pressed as the population of the
Puniab and northwest provinces
distance, roughly measured, of 500 miles
and from Patna, In Behar, westward To
Peshawur, on the Afghan frontier-double
that distance--acute distress is inevitable.
Even should next spring give bumper
harvest, there would be much suffering be-
tween then and now. The most sanguine
officials are afraid to expect more than half
the normal yield, and that, coming after
a succession OF lean seasons, implies food
at famine prices over the whole region.
From the present moment till the middle
OF next June, therefore, the people will
groan under what Ia perhaps the most aw-
full tribulation that can be inflicted on
great masses of the human race Every
means of alienation and of preventing ac-
tual death from want OF food will, we may
rest assured be adopted by Lord ElPins
government but suffering there must be,
so grieyous that one shrinks from estimat-
ing its degree.
The most we can hope Is that measures
of relief will be so directed and applied
that every rupee spent shall have its full
effect In saving life and avorting intoler-
able misery. 1t has been otherwise In the
past. During the Orissa famine of 1865
one-fourth of the population Of the affected
districts perished. In the Behar famine,
10 years later, loss of life, indeed, was pre-
vented. The government imported grain,
which, In limited area intersected with
rivers and railroads could easily be dis
tributed, but the expense was far heavier
than 1t need have been. Millions of money
were wasted. Then came the Madras
famine Of 1897. There was a difference
of opinion between the local and supreme
governments. The latter endeavored to en-
Whether Lord Lytton and Sir John
Strachey were right and the Duke OF Buck
ingham and his advisers were wrong, or
whether the Madras government would
have done better without interference from
Simla, are questions to which even a royal
commission failed TO give n flual and con-
elusive answer, but the fact remains that |
the mortality was enormous and the ex- |
penditure great at the same time. In |
many respects, Ii may be said, the Indian |
administration Is better prepared to under |
take famine now than Ii was in 1877. |
Since then there has been an immense de- |
velopment of railway communication, and |
throughout the threatened area the au- |
thorities are only waiting for orders to be- |
gin public works which will provide many
thousands with employment.
In the northwest provinces, indeed, re- |
lief works have been open all through tho |
hot weather, and as Lord Elgin stated in |
council tho other day, mt one time as many |
as 800, 900 people were employed. On the
other hand, the extent of territory which |
has to be safeguarded may we'll excite un-
easiness, and there are other circum-
stances, too, which must be taken, we |
fear, into account. Is the European civil |
service as efficient as IL was dozen years |
ago? We do not doubt its energy and de-
votion, but the senior ranks have been
sadly depleted by premature retirements.
In these days of deprecated rupee a
civilian usually takes his pension the mo-
ment he has earned IL, and the men who
could best lead famine campaign are out
OF the service.
In regard to the cost OF famine relief, 10
~ ~ tisfaeteFy 10 kAew that u repetition of |
the reckless expenditure that took place in
Lord NorthbrooS's s time Is altogether un-
likely. Even hefore the fear Of scarcity
had overshadowed the land Lord Elgins
government, with the approval of the Sec
retary of state in council, had decided on
carrying out an elaborate scheme of rail
way extension, which can easily be adapt
ed 20 the necessities OF the situation. A
very large portion of the money spent on
measures of relief will thus be devoted TO
remunerative projects, which would have
been carried out In any case, the only diff
ference being that some of these will bo
at an earlier date than was
contemplated This i'm no in
considerable degree will diminish the bur-
den of the disaster. We may hope, more
over, that timely precautions will suffice TO
prevent loss of life from actual depriva-
ton and that none will starve because
food is unprocurabe The state will pro-
vide every ono with the means Of earning
at the least "A bare subsistence and it looks
as II the operations Of private enterprise
might be trusted To place provisions with