Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1897-05-13
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DANIEL LOGAN. Editor
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1897.
THE INDIAN FAMINE.

G.. Ii. Trevor, who was dis
trict relief commissioner in a
former season of similar distress,
gives great deal OF information
upon the famine in India, through
an article occupying ten pages OF
McMillan's Magazine for April.
He quotes the Secretary OF State
as saying last November shat the
area affected comprised popula-
ton of about thirty-six million
inhabitants, very large proper
ton of which would be able TO
help themselves; and in addition
there we're threatened districts
containing about eighteen million
inhabitants, and further area,
partly affected and partly threat
ened in the Native States
comprising another eighteen mil
lions" From the same authority
q quotation is made, showing the
extraordinary advantages the pres
ent administration has over all
preceding ones for coping with
the emergency. These consist In
the availability Of importations OF
grain from other countries, the
comparative perfection of the re-
lief system attained from expert
ence, and one Of the greatest factors
of all, the magnitude of protective
works accomplished within Il re-
cent period. Specific Information
on the last point mentioned il
cited from lecture by Sir
Charles Elliott, as follows:
1t was estimated. he said, that
altogether ont Of a total cultivated
area of lS0,000,0O0 acres 800, o,
600 acres were now irrigated, and
80 placed beyond the risks arising
from any ordinary drought. The
food raised in this area was suflici
ent in times of famine to feed 100.
600, 900 people, or half the entire
population of British India. With
regard to railways, be states that
altogether 1867 miles of railway
were open in April, 1896, which
was an increase of IL 400 miles
beyond the figures for 1877. Tie
expenditure of the Finance Relief
Fund since its institution in 1881
he exhibited ~ showing rs. no.
600, 600 spent on protective rail
ways; nearly KS. 20,OU0,O00 on
canals; Rs. 53,333,000 on reduc-
ton of debt; and about Rs. 1885,.
COO on famine relsef.
According to the present value
OF the rupee, the amounts just
named would aggregate about
S57, 100000. Mr.. Trevor in the
course of his article describes the
system OF conducting the relief
works, established in all the pro-
vinces where need arises or Is
threatened. Labor of men and
women is accepted on the works
without questions asked, and the
works are started before the people
have become incapacitated for toll
by actual want of food. To
criticism that has appeared rs If
relief works had been pre-.
maturely started in some cases,
thus involving extravaganza OF
public expenditure, series OF
answers are forthcoming. The
works are valuable for protection
in the future. II is better to err
on the safe side than commit the
blunder of delay which in pre-.
yious famines caused the sacrifice
of millions Of lives. III the people
are allowed to combat the dearth
Of necessaries to the last eXtre.
nifty OF their resources, their
poverty after the crisis will pre-.
vent the paying of usual taxes and
thus the treasury will suffer, And
so forth. The suggestion has been
heard that the government provide
stores in granaries, from which to
sell grain whenever the price adj
yances to three times the ordinary,
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