New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-07
midas NEED OF AID.
TIE COUNTRY FAMINE STRICKEN AND RtQUlH-
ING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. Sooner or later the sympathetic heart Oh
America will respond to the Famine cry vi i"u''
That unhappy country faces prospect OF uiS"e9'
equal TO II not greater than that or 1884, ana "e'
that SD condition is reached this country VIII ma
T.. Ioeoth,e N turn a deaf ear to the wall OF woe
that will be heard across the seas. Help at such d
time will have its fun value and save many d ne
from the agonies Of death by starvation but there
IA n better time for rendering help ana as one WIN
has PASSED through the experiences or an lhdla"
famine I wish 10 appeal to that Intelligent sym
pathy Of this country that helps when heip - mos
valuable. and does not wait unul se"s""o
stories OF horrors compel response
The time TO help is now, when by minimum OF
outlay thousands can be kept on theF iee' ""o
will otherwise fall into utter restitution o''ei
glance At the conditions OF Indian life and the
methods OF relief when famine IS threatening VIII
best explain this necessity for immediate assist
ance The area Of the present famine Is SoVVo
souere miles and affects population or SOVOVN'
1t includes the greater part or the BOMBAY rie'
dency the Central Provinces. Ra)putaha anu I"
part Of the Punjab. With ordinary ralhiai' me ie'
tile soil supplies the population with 1904 su'c''n
for IFS wants yet not In that excess which woulu
enable them 10 meet a failure OF years crops
without terrible restitution When this Is consd-
cred with the fact that the famine OF 1891 mas
weakened the resources OF thousands who had oeeh
fairly prosperous and that the crops SINCE 1874
have not been ABOVE tne dNtidbS' IL WIN -" ''~''
that the people OF the famine area are little able 10
meet the calamity facing them.
These conditions have been clearly recognized oy
Lord Curzon Viceroy Of India, and the authorita-
tive statement Issued by the Government reveals
the preparations made TO go into immediate erect
in every locality where distress manifests Itself
The wise principle for relief, whether Tor the roN
eminent or private benehcence, IL immediate nelp,
for thereby at u minimum cost thouSAnus arr
kept on their feet and those who are destitute
the work provided for them prevents that emacla-
ton OF body which IL terrible "a feature OF Il
famine Private benefcence supplements Govern
ment aid. and because less restricted can ndlN
uaIize more and relieve In ways not possible Tot
! the Government. The Government supplies WORK
in the form Of ROAD making, Irrigation, cutting
grass on the mountains for the preservation OF ca
/ tie ana the like. Private benehcence helps hdl-
| yiduals o these relief works, Buys gram
and sells II at cost price thus competing successful
Nv with the heartless grain dealer. VINO grows ldt
! from eXorbitant gains. Private benencehce can
keen thousands at their regular work ny purchas-
! ing the products of the handooms or ouyihg the
! wood cut i'm the mountains by the wild tribes and
others and by reselling this have partial return
of their capital for further help. Then there are
! the children. the weaker women. the ola men tmat
| are unable 10 endure the severe work or rtlleii
| camp for whom gratuitous distribution VI i"'"
| may have to be made. 49,. . :,
| Rut whatever its form. II must be evident TO all
who have intelligent grasp OF tne conu'ioiis "a "a
Indian life that the most valuable tne LOT HelP =
| during the ga rlior stages OF the famlne. :,
There are arious local relief committees In ndia
for administering funds. but for American LUNGS Is
! the simplest avenues for their distribution IN
! through the missionary bodies represe ntlng ms
| terrain Methodist and other boards work In the
famine area, and their missions FORM readS mle
| organizations for famine relief. J. Il. AbBOII.
! New-York, Dec. g. 1899