Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-23
FAyIINEINNDIA.
Visit to the Relief Works by q
Correspondent.
no SIGNS OF GREAT SUFFERING.

fGeasy-eigh 1hs1saad People wsskisg
On . Canal. An Happy and 8essssy-
rhsse Usabls 60 Work Takes Care %
and Everything In the Camp scrsps-
leasly Cleaa-O6serv.ssoss Of Nss ss.s
Out - OBTAIN the Truth.
Jhylum. Punjab. Jan. es.-tCopyrieh.-
ed. 1897. by the Associated Pressl-A
special correspondent OF the Associated
Press. who Is visiting the famine
stricken district of India. accompanying
the Official mission engaged In the same
work. has arrived here. An exhaustive
inspection was made Of the vas: relief
work known as the Jhylum canal. about
which no less than 10000 coolies are
congregated- OF this number l. 600 per-
sons. either infirm. aged or blind. are
classed as non-workers. As the CORE
spondent arrived here the coolies were
just quitting work and the scene re-
called the spectacle of the great orien-
tai Mela- The preponderance Of wom-
en- and children was noticeable. After
visiting the tents the officials Of the
mission traversed the bazaar market. n
long, double line of mat huts matched
with grass. The market was filed with
grain dealers. and heaps of wheat, bar
ley, maize and millet were piled on the
ground in front of the huts.
Prices for Grain Terribly High.
Prices. IL was remarked. had fallen
since the recent rains. which have
caused a slight change for the better
in the stricken districts. but in spite
of this. the prices asked for grain were
terribly high. the cheapest kind being
double the normal price. The regular
traders are furnished with huts free Of
charge. and from one hut tea. stewed
goats flesh. and other such iuxuries
were dispensed TO the customers. such
as minor officials of the government.
etc. who were rich enough to indulge
in them. Hospital tents have been
erected for the care of the sick. but up
to the present there has been no neces-
sity to use them.
The Workers Are Healthy aud Cheerful.
The officials OF the mission next made
an inspection of the quarters. consist
ing OF long rows OF mat huts thirty feet
apart. They are ranged ON both sides
of n broad. sandy street. and are kept
scrupulously clean. Each hut IL built
to accommodate fifty persons. who arr
constantly under the supervision Of
different officials. The canaiworis were
then visited and n marvellous scene was
witnessed. About 5000 menand women
were busily ut work. Some were dig
ging and others were carrying away
the excavated earth IN baskets upon
their heads. The workers were n
healthy. vigorous. cheerful lot 90 rno-
pie. many ~ them singing as they pro-
gressed with the tasks allotted TO them.
and now and then CHANGING at their
children who were playing about In the
vicinity. apparently quite as healthy
and strong - their parents
How the People Are Set 90 Work.
At the registering department the Wis
iting officials had another interesting
experience. Four clerks. seated on a
high bamboo platform. were giving the
new arrivals In search Of relief work
the slips Of paper qualifying them for
employment on the works. on these
slips We're inscribed the names. cnrte
description and amount of wages Go he
paid to the workers. who were in turn
tcld OF 60 the different sections % the
canal The greatest order and disci-
plinc prevailed on all sides. and there
was checrfulncss ard regularity
about the whole proceedings which re-
fected credit upon all concerned.
Quarters Of Those whe Can't woxk.
Finally the mission officials visited
the huts set apart for the heiples.
non-workers. There again was evil
dencc OF good work upon the part Of
the government officials. The same
extreme cleanliness prevailed IN and
about the huts. and every medical care
possible was bestowed upon those need
ing attention. Many babies have bccn
born at the canal works. and the moth
ers OF these infants are maintained free
or charge. receiving extra pay while
they are incapacitatcd from doing hard
work. and are given an additional sum
OF money for the maintenance Of their
babies. Deserted babies. or babies
whose mothers are unable 60 suckie
them. are fed on condensed milk BY the
medical stan.