The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-06
CORN FOR STARVING INDIA.
WE HATE 1T TO BURN, IN THE EAST
THEY X FOR 1T.

The Only Lack IL Tra.sportntior, and n
New Hsven Man Sends The srn; 500
to start - Fund for Emptyirg Our Super
salty Into the faminc-Strieke Land.
The following letter was received by TnE SuN
yesterday. and enclosed in IL was n check for
500:
ITO THE EDITOR or The suS-Sir: II 1t is
true that tho people of India are starving and
that they can use Indian corn. and that the
grain can be transported to tho interior points
At which 1t is needed. 1t seems to me u pleco of
national negligence that some strong and promi-
nent person or newspaper does not take hold NJ
this matter and push II. This country Is 80
overburdened and overloaded with q stipend
Gus stock OF corn, the result of two succeeding
enormous crops. that the removal OF ten or
fifteen million bushels would be n slight relief.
1T seems 10 me monstrous that this country
should sit suplne. with q gift of food 20 great as
TO be a burden. when other OF Gods creatures
arc starving for u crumb OF our Overwhelming
plenty.
~ ask you to transmit enclosed check TO par.
ties who are now trying 10 send q cargo OF corn
to India. and will send you n subscription OF
$500 moro II you will undertake the gathering
OF a fund sufficient to relieve the distress.
Yours respectfully, III.
"NEw HAVEN, Conn, Jan. q"
The writer OF this letter is a well-knuwn man
Of New Haven. The movement to scnd a ship
load OF corn 10 India to help the starving pco-
pie Is as yet only in its infancy, and this contrl.
button may help IL on considerably. About tho
middle OF last month the Rev. X. q. Hobbs OF
Jacksonville. ILL.,. wrote to the Board Of Foreign
Missions OF the Methodist Episcopal Church TO
say that II the famine In interior India were ns
bad a. represented. II was the duty W America
to lend some aid. Central Illinois. lie .a!d. Ind
. ,N.,nunInpa rrn,. 81 ,y,r,, t1ta v..r aud I'M
told the board that IL il could secure tran'por-
tation for the corn from lllinni, to India, 10
would guarantee that enough corn would TO
given by Illinois farmers to I'LL IA ship.
The letter was laid before the board In tho
last week In September. and the board formal
ly decided to accept Mr.. Hobbs offer, and on
Doc. az wrote to him to that effect. On the
same day q circular was sent out TO all tho
Methodist churches OF the country, and also to
the press, secular and religious. This circular
said that tho famine was as bad as II had
been painted. and that. although tho
Its power to- relieve tho sufferers. Il
The circular further stated that the Methodist
Church had 100000 member In India. aud H.
was It's duty to do something toward relieving
the distress. The corn had been offered, hut n
considerable sum would he needed for trans.
this end.
A. Is. Leonard, corresponding secretary OF tho
Board OF Foreign, Missions. Or. Leonard has
been making inquiries as to rail and sea trans
portation. lie hovrs to get the railroads TO
transport the corn from Illinois to this port free
OF charge or nj least ut greatly reduced rates. The
British Government will undoubtedly trans
port the corn from the Indian port 10 tho inte-
rlor. The amount OF corn sent will depend upon
the size OF the ship. and the size OF the ship viii
depend upon the amount Of money received.
MIR; rs cheek Will be turned oyer, to the Rev.
Mr.. Leonard with the understanding that II
will be returned IL the project falls through.