The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-02
THE FAMINE IN INDIA.
The Theme of ellison WiiIets' Lee
turc Before the Geographic Society.

Mr. Gibson Willets delivered an inter
esting illustrated lecture on the great In
die famine before the National Geographic
Society last night at the First Con-
gregational Church. A large audience
filled the church to the doors. MIR. VIII
let's Travelled through a great portion of
the famine raVaged district of India in
company with DR. Louis Klopsch, proprie-
tor of the Christian Herald which
raised 100000 for the India famine re-
lief fund. The lecture was illustrated with
views made from photographs taken dur
ing Mr.. Willets' stay in India.
In opening his address, Mr.. Willets ex-
planned the magnitude of the famine and
said that in a period of twenty-four
months there had been rain for but a sin
gle hour. The Hindoo missed a single crop
and was lost At present Mr.. Willets
stated rain was falling and the natives
were anle To leave the poorhouses, return
to their homes, ana care for themselves.
Already 5000 900 has been allotted for
relief OF the starving. This money Will
bc loaned to the natives to help them to
get on their feet again.
Mr.. NilictS then quoted lgures that
gave a vivid idea of the extent of the
suffering. The area affected by the fam
inc Is Al con square miles in extent. The
population lrUOH0.00O, of which number 10
go Goo AVE been absolutely destitute. Sc =
en- millions ar" cared for by the British
Government, which spends for that pur-
pose about S.iH,u1U uer day. But, even at
this rate, since the famine became seri-
Gus. the British Government has not
spent more than half the amount to re
lieVc her starving subjects in INDIA as
she has in an endeavOr 10 suhJugate TN .
Beers in South Africa. The de4th roll
averaged. during the famine's greatest
ravages, $500 each week
he ltpNeIuTuHut work
ON in four ways. First. by giving the
people work, which is paid for by food
Second, by RENTING the rent which cul-
tiyators usually pay the Government
Third, by the establishment Of poor
houses. Kitchens. and hospitals. FOR al
who are too weak to work, or VINO are Ill
Fourth, by making advances to the ma
tives to buy cattle, when the time comes
to resume field work.
The English authorities have thorough
ly systematiZed the work of relief; A
code, called by the natives, me BlDle OF
the Famine" has been prepared ana as
tributed. This code contains directions
and regulations of the duties OF nearly
every official who is connected win the
relief work. 1t also provides Tor the IS
Enlistment of relief stations, poorhouses'
Kitchens, and gives information as TO the
manner In which the natives may secure
loans in order that they may peglh 10
care for themselves.
The manner in which the English carry
on the work OF relief, Mr.. Nillets said,
was IN direct contrast with the lheiIlcienl
srrVicC under the direction OF native OF
dcials. He said that ne had visited poor
houses maintained under the direction Of
natives and found that there the hungry
for whose relief money was appropriated,
We're sadly neglected. MIR. NlllStS Siiu
that the average native official gives little
attention TO his duties and that the money
given into his charge generally mas lts
way into his own pockets. rather thlh 70
the support of the starving lilhapItduts
for whom he is supposed to care Clean
illness and order were therefore missing
where relief work was conducted under
native supervision.
MIR. WiIiets stated that the great hope
of India was in security from drought
and that the British Government was
now considering plans for the erection OF
huge graneries, building irrigation WORKS
driving arteslan wells extending the rail-
ways. and encouraging new industries
Another proposed remedy which ne ex-
planned was emigration to the STRAITS