The sun., 1898-10-17
BISHOP GRAVEs ADDRESS.
The Eminent Missionary Explains
the Condition Of His People
Of the Platte.
RUIN WORKED BY DROUGHT
Once Fertile Fields That Are Now
Almost Useless to the Tillers of
the Soil, and Inhabitants
Have Suffered in
Consequence.
RUIN WORKED BY DROUGHT

Bishop GraVeS, missionary plsnoP VI
the Platte, Omaha, delivered an address
last evening at Trinity Church to large
congregation.
Bishop Graves took for his subject
"The Conditions of Affairs in the West
ern Part OF Our Country"
In opening his remarks he stated I'M
til few years ago the Platte was fertile
in soil and in excellent condition for
raising crops. =,
In the year 1894 the territory, he said,
suffered a long and severe drought
which had the ef feet OF drying
up the soil causing the loss OF
crops, and in order to keep body and
soul together the inhabitants were COM
PEELED to sell their live stock and agricul-
tural implements in order to purchase
food.
As the year passed, he stated, the con-
dition of affairs became no better, and
finally the people were forced to appeal
to the Episcopal institutions in the east
for assistance. They promptly answered
their appeal in the shape of 100000
worth OF seed and great quantity of
food.
The famine, he continued, lasted three
years, and in that time one-third OF the
population had departed for more pro-
ductive and healthful climate.
Among those who left were six of the
clergymen, and as each minister was in
charge Of at least fifteen different sta
tions, it left the greater part OF the terri
tory without any representatives OF the
Episcopal church, and this was great
blow to that denomination.
During this great trial, he said, the
other denominations who had settled
there withdrew, leaving their chapels
and places OF worship standing.
The bishop in charge then secured the
services Of several ministers and at once
set them to work, travelling oyer that
vast expanse of ground and they also oc-
cupied the buildings, used as churches,
which were abandoned by the other de-
nominations.
After enduring these hardships for
three years, the people learned to solve
the problem set before them, that of
using the dry soil to good advantage.
They would plough the ground at
least foot deep and when they had
little rain it would sink deep into the
earth and render it tillabe.
Together with this and several other
schemes the country became more fertile
and profitable. Very few have become
rich, but the people, he said, are grad
ually prospering.
Bishop Graves also spoke of the work
of the ministers in charge of the numer-
GUS stations. Although there are but
100 to 200 people at each station there a
great number applied for confirmation.
The number in fact, he said, has ex-
ceeded that of many of the large cities in
that vicinity.
The work of building churches, he
said, is still progressing, and of late they
have added several houses OF worship to
their list.
1t cost on an average of 5000 and 500
to build a chapel, although some have
been erected that cost but $4OO and one
was built that cost but 500.
The western part of the Platte, he said,
is in no shape for farming as it is still ex-
ceedngly dry, and as the grass is com
paratively y luxuriant the people use the
pastures to raise large herds of cattle.
As the condition Of the country is SO
poor there is a great need of funds.
Rev. H. Ashton Henry addressed the
congregation, explaining the meaning of
funds and appealed to them to help the
bishop and his people. The congrega-
ton responded in a liberal manner.