Arizona republican., 1900-07-08
THE INDIAN FAMINE
The Greatest Distress is Still
 Prevalent
Reports Received by the New York Committee of One Hundred-It Is Feared That Rains Will Add to the Suffering.

New York, July "A letter just re- ceived from the committee of 100 on Indian famine relief from Dr. Hume Of Ahmednagar, India, having referred to the undiminished need of money for the purchase of food to save the starv- ing. having recorded the favorable fact that the prices of the cheap grains which can be bought for the peoples use had not materially increased, says:
 Clothing, also, is urgently needed just now. In the hot, dry season people can live and sleep with but little cloth ing, but when the rains come and ground and houses and people are drenched, a blanket and a cloth to a man and a woman will make marked difference in both distress and mortal ity.. That is one of the most effective ways of saving life. Aid to famished, impoverished peasant farmers is also urgently needed. I cannat express the pitifulness of the condition of the peo- pie who cultivate the land in a small way. They come to me in throngs and plead: Most of our cattle are dead: We have nothing to feed the few that remain; we ourselves have nothing to eat. Can't you give us a little money, or a loan? Do, at least, help us to SOW our fields It is absolutely essential that these poor agriculturists be helped to recultivate their plots of land If this is not done, the ultimate loss of life will be fearful. All those who know the situation in India agree in the conclu- sion that it is wholly sagacious and nedful that aid should be given to the wasted cultivators of the soil"
 ''The government is doing magnifi- gently. It is now even offering loans, without interest, to all solvent farmers. and it could hardly be expected that the government would loan to those who Were not solvent. But multitudes of these farmers are insolvent, and they must have charitable aid, if they are to keep their few remaining cattle alive and resow their fields. To such farm
 CTS we give only ten rupees. or three and third dollors. Nor have we funds adequate to the supply of even that amount to the thousands in sore need D 7 The rainy -seasontitseif, because of the insufficient protection against the rain, and the season following the rains, be- cause of the absolute need of cultivat- , ing the fields, are times when relief is 1 imperativeIy needed.
 From Lord George Hamilton. secre- ! 1 tary for India, William E. Dodge. | chairman Of the committee of 100 on India famine relief, has received the following message: T would take this i opportunity of thanking you and the 1 committee of 100 for your exertions on
 behalf of India in this terrible year of
 famine"
 ! The Rev. Justin E. Abbott of India,
 now in this city, has received the fol- lowing cablegram from the Rev. Rob-
 ert A. Hume secretary of the American
 boards mission in the famine district
 and executive secretary of the Ameri-
 co-Indian relief committee of Bombay,
 the representative in India of the Am | erican committee of 100
 Ahmednagar June 2S.-Ten thous- and dollars urgently required for build
 ings for the accommodation of famine | orphans at Ahmednagar.
 l Robert A. Hume, Secretary" ] Mir. Abbott explains that while the
 rain now falling in the famine district i is full of promise for the future. it i brings no little immediate distress 1 The 6.OOO,OOO people at relief camps, un-
 protected by suitable clothing and shel-
 ter, are in pitiable condition. Those leaving the camps, so as to be back at their fields, return to ruined homes.
 Most miserable. of all are the thousands | of orphaned and deserted children,
 who have no proper care. The pres
 sure on missionaries to receive large ] numbers of such children has now l become very great, as the rains are
 deadly to unsheltered persons, particu-
 larly in their present enfeebled condi-
 tion. The missionaries of the America,, board, with others, are feeling this 1 pressure, for, aside from the 300 child l ren already received into the missions
 and schools before the setting in of the
 rains three days ago, further numbers
 are suddenly crowding upon their sym
 pathy. The famine funds now going to ] India supply food and clothing, but the
 need of suitable buildings to house both I children and adults is causing intense : anxiety. What is true of Ahmednagar i is true of scores of other mission sta | tions in India.
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