Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-09-04
MINERS SUFFERING.


We have received from Hon. R. NJ.
Haseltine, Chief Inspector of Mines of
Ohio, the following letter which tells
a story that needs no comment
Columbus, August 30th, '97.
You are doubtless aware of the fact
that on the 18th inst Governor Bush
nell issued an appeal for aid for the
people then in want throughout the
mining regions of the state. In this
appeal His Excellency requested that
the Mayors of cities, Commissioners of
counties, Boards of Trades and charit-
able organizations take the work in
hand and secure such donations of
food or money as the generous people
of Ohio were inclined to give. AS
distributing agency of this relief, the
Governor designated the States De-
partment of Mines and Mining. who
Immediately took up the work, and on
August 10th, the writer made a perso-
nal appeal TO the Commissioners of the
several counties of the state, in which
he suggested that they personally
request one or more philantropic per-
sons in each township of their county
to devote day to soliciting from farm
to farmhouse such donations as our
people felt inclined to make, in order
to lift our fellow-citizens from hunger
in this year of plenty. The first official
returns indicated that 344 families,
aggregating 1850 persons, OF which 9l7
were children under fourteen years OF
age, were in actual want for foo1.
This number has increased at rate
that is alarming, until at the close Of
the past week there were 49, 557 persons
in absolute want OF these, one-half
are children under the tender age of
fourteen, and from the most rela bic
sources of information it is learned
that destitution and hunger now exist
in a degree OF severity never before
known within the Commonwealth.
The writer has positive information
that from the mining settlements
which adjoin the larger towns in the
mining regions, children, driven by
the pangs of hunger, are seen search
ing for food in the back yards of the
most fortunate, and from slop barrels
and from buckets of refuse, to fish
scraps of bread and meat and cast-off
remnants which they ravenously de-
your. Humanity reYolts at such desti-
tuition and hunger. The kinder in
- CT IL,
by and permitting such suffering to lon
ger continue. The situation has now
become so desperate that state pride
demands that we rise to the plane OF
philanthropy which is characteristic o!
the people of the Buckeye state, and
that each one, from the abundance
whic the Creator of the Universe has
this year provided, give such an amour,
as his generous nature dictates, to the
end that it cannot be said that respect
able men, innocent women and helpless
children are permitted to suffer foi
bread in the state of Ohio. Please
notify the writer of all contributions
who will give directions as to the ship
ment of relief. Committees who beal
credentials with the seal of theirLocals
or letters from the writer are worthy
of your attention. Contributions given
to them will not be misappropriated.
1t is hoped that the kind and sympa,
thetic people of Ohio, who in the past
have been equal to any emergency,
will come to the aid of those in distress
and not permit the appeal to be made
in vain. Very respectfully yours,
r. NJ. HAsELTINE,
Chief Inspector of Mines.