The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-03

inspection of the breadless area. The
second day on the field Lady Curzon shud-
dered. shed tears. and retreated, hasten
ing back to Calcutta. The young Ameri-
can sovereign had seen more human mis-
cry in single day than she had expected
TO see in life time. Besides. the famine
authorities were not able TO burn or bury
the deaG fast enough just then, and the
Vicereine's nostrils were offended She
heard the awful groan for bread, the
grosn of millions that was heard around
the world The tragedy of the century
was and is here 10 be seen, spectacle OF
human misery on the mightiest scale.
Never before have 10000 COO people at one
time been absolutely without crumb
to cat. More people have starved to death
in India this year than we're killed On the
battleGelds of this century.
The great hope OF India OF course, is
in security from famine, which means Sc
curity from drought The Government is
now considering most elaborate protective
measures. such as the building OF huge
grauaries. building irrigation works, driv-
ing artesIan wells extending the railway
system. and encouraging new industries.
And DR. Klopsch has in view the estab-
lishment of numerous laundries In connec-
ton with the missions of various denom-
ina ions The most important protective
u14AEl Te Is OF EUlfst. IIIlEaA4oiA ne faSN
bulk of the people are agriculturists. To
make them feel secure of their land, to
ensure their prosperity, their escape from
poyerty and famine, is to ensure big pay
ing returns on any amount of capital in
vested in the construction Of irrigation
works. With plenty of water, the fertility
of India's soil would become a proverb.
wherever there are driven wells today
there is no famine The Government aims,
besides. TO connect all the great reservoirs
built by the famine workers with proper
waterways There is saying In the INDIA
Office in London. To kill famine, drown
her In other words. starvation IN lndla
can be averted in future by literally food
ing the land.
Extension of Railways.
THE next most effective protective
measure is the extension Of the railway
system. SO that food can be carried quickly
to any distressed area. There are only
% 000 miles OF railway In a land fully half
the size of the United States. The rolling
stock even of the existing railways is to-
tally inadequate to the demands made upon
it. Stocks of fodder purchased by char
table organizations lay for weeks await
ing transport. while the cattle for which
the fodder was intended died in multi
tudes. Thousands OF people in villages re-
mote from railways have died, not because
there was no food, but because, owing to
the death of cattle there was no means OF
Transporting the food Another remedy for
famine is emigration from India to the
Straits Settlements and the Malay States.
There is a great demand in the countries
mentioned for labor, and emigration would
certainly relieve the stress on the country
imposed by population and scarcity of
crops.
THE next protective measure in popular
favor is encouraging Industries among the
people other than agriculture. As fact
If famine is to be fought successfully in
future India must be rendered much less
dep. adsnt upon fits resources as an agri-
cultural country and by this means ac-
quire reserves OF wealth to fall back upon
in years Of deficient rainfall. Carpet weav-
ing is suggested as the first and most i'm
portant Of such industries.
Let the British Parliament vote twenty
OF .i.!rty millions sterling, to be admins
tered by trustworthy officials in agrical-
turaI improvements, in developing manu-
factu, es, nIitiplying railways and irriga-
ton gor2s, to utilizing the material re-
sourc eg OF the country, and not only will
there be no more famine. but India Will be
able in time TO repay the outlay with COM
pound interest"