The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-23
INDIA FAMINE RELIEF.
DIR. Hume Describes the Methods os
Alternating Distress.

Alternating Distress.
NEW YORK. July 22.-wlliiam f.
Dodge, Chairman of the Committee of One
Hundred on India Famine Relief. has re-
ceived from Dr. Robert A. Hume Execu-
tive Secretary OF the Americo-Indian Re
lief Committee, letter describing some
OF the methods by which relief is dis
tributed in parts of the famine district.
It is dated Ahmednagar. India, June -,
and is as follows:
Dear Mr.. Dodge: We are all satisfied
that, in addition to the providing Of food
for the starving, the best way to save
life, in the long run, is to follow the lines
herein indicated.
Village relief is most effective now,
at the beginning of the rainy season, when
people leave the Government relief works
for their villages, in helping very many
Of those who have no resources Village
relief means giving small amounts of
money and grain, and the providing Of
employment on needful local works, ete.
aid to children and deserted women
: reaches those who cannot otherwise take
care OF themselves. You would be sur
prised to see how, under the awful stress
1 Of famine, people desert their children and
I feeble relatives.
aid in clothing saves many lives in
: this inclement season. when rain comes
| to drench the people and the open ground
, on which they sleep.
aid to farmers at this season, viii
prevent having many more orphans and
other famine sufferers by and by.
Last Friday morning at $3.50 a. m, |
rose and left for the famine districts, ana
was gone till 10 p. m. on Wednesday night,
/ /. e.. six days-save a part of Sunday and
Sunday night, when / returned home Tor
/ supplies and to answer kilograms. etc. In
/ this time l arranged for aid to farmers in
| III towns. Other members Of our yolun-
! teer relief corps. have done the same in
! about 400 other towns, in the last ten days.
Subordinate Government officers had
| previously made out lists Of needy farm
( ers. These lists were kindly placed in our
| hands, as the basis on which to proceed.
! We questioned every applicant, judged OF
| his situation, told him to get Govern
ment loan If this was possible, excluded
| some names, added many others, and gave
| each an order for a definite amount, in
sno case exceeding SO, according to his land
| and condition-which money will be paid,
! when all is ready for the actual sowing.
! Widows children, and poor people, re-
| ceived special consideration.
| THE subordinate officers who prepared
the lists had, for the most part, omitted
| the names of farmers on relief works,
! vet those farmers really most needed help
| Accordingly. we have put such names on
the list to considerable extent, although
we cannot DO all that is necessary
! This statement IS made to show. IN
! some detail, how the gifts from your COM
| rnittee are being used. In few days as
| signments of all the sums which you have
RENTED will be made.
Just now we are distributing a large
amount Of clothing in the following way
| Trusty agents 90 to the Government rellei
| works and make lists of the 2ersons who
are mostly nearly naked. A white paper.
stamped by one of our relief corps, is filled
out by the agent with name, town, etc,
of the person. and is an order for cloth
for a woman A blue paoeg, of similar
/ character is an order for blanket TIE
cloths and blankets are left with the faith
| full officer in charge OF the relief work.
| When the person presents the order. he
| or she gets the garments. This method en-
sures wisdom and accuracy and order in
the distribution of the clothing.
Rain has begun to fall and, in this re-
gion the prospect for the sowing OF field:
| is good
In some towns have placed e pair o.
oxen with the mission agent, Who allow:
the poorest farmers to use them In turn
cultural instruments TO be pulled by hand
1t is premature to say how largely thes'
will be used. but we are doing all WI
can.
I'VE are under immense obligation II
the Committee Of One Hundred, and to al
who send relief funds.
Receipts for moneys are taken from
those to whom money is RENTED by ou
treasurer. and We mean to have everything
done in a business-like way.
Il am sincerely yours, s--
"R A. HUME
Mr.. Dodge has also received a cablegrau
from Consul Fee at Bombay, as follows:
Bombay, July 20.
I'm large regions north of Bombay, in
GLIDING Gujarat and Rajputana. but yer!
! little rain has fallen. Agriculture great.
| hindered by the famished condition Of thu
people Farmers in Deccan, eastward o
Bombay, have begun sowing. Suffering in
| creasing. Cholera still spreading.
FEE Chairman