Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-22
MEN EAT BREAD MADE OF UNRIPE RYt
Fsod is 80 Bitter That Horses Refuse to
Swallow 1t.
SCHOOL CHILDREN GO HUNGRY ALL OVER
lief, but Many VIII Miss Din
ner This Coming Christ
mas Day.

ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 21.-The average
grain crop gathered in Finland is valued
al $50, 900 900. The estimated value Of the
1892 crop is $40 600 900. While this loss Is
generally distributed throughout the coun-
try. the provinces Of Uleaborg, Kupio,
Vasa st. Michael and portions Of Vibourg,
are practically without grain.
Peas have entirely failed and the potato
crop has not been gathered, the hay has
rotted or been swept away by floods. The
disaster is due to the late spring, the nearly
continuous chilly rains and the early frost
which was recorded on August 10. In the
north there have been only half dozen
days when II did not rain. The rains also
spoiled the fishing.
So complete was the failure of vegeta-
tion that hundreds Of dead birds have been
found In the forests. The present crop
failure is the worst that has been ex-
perienced for the last fifty years, but 1t is
hoped that better methods of communica-
tion will facilitate the work OF relief and
avoid wholesale deaths by hunger and
typhus.
Grind Unripe Grain.
There are, all told about 500 parishes
in Finland 1874 Of wAich are now nearly
destitute The agricultural board has re-
that log have food supplies which will
sufice them until Christmas only. The
unripe rye and barley which the people
are forced to use make a bitter bread,
which even the hungry horses refuse to
eat. In some parts Of the country bread
Is baked from barley husks and straw,
mixed with little -four, and is purchased
by the needy people with their boarded
savings. Such bread contains little nutri-
tion and is extremely uhwholesome. The
peasants have expended all their money for
-four and are consequently unable to buy
clothing
Count Bobrikoff governor general Of Fin
land, has issued an appeal for help in Rus
sia, and a voluntary relief committee has
been organized by Firms, with branches
throughout the country. The Anglo-Amer-
ican church here Is afiliated with this
committee.
Vote Mint of Money.
The senate has decided to expend $685.
600 on public works and has allotted $780,
900 for the purchase of grain, which will
be sold to the people at cost. Seventy-five
thousand dollars will be used to encourage
cottage industries. The provinces and GER
tain cities Of Finland have also voted
various sums for relief work, amounting in
all to $500, 900. The voluntary relief COM
mittee has received $4,000. but It is un-
derstood that all this sum has been al
ready expended
Pastor Gilburn OF St. Petersburg has just
returned from a sledge journey through
Kupio province. He found 1900 school
children who were in need OF food. or
this number 1,115 were totally destitute. It
Is estimated that 100000 will be without
Sood on Christmas day.
Business in Finland is suffering in SYM
pathy with the extreme conditions, but no
failures have yet been recorded and the
banks have not raised the rate OF discount.
Emigration is increasing constantly. Up
TO November II, 20.l55 persons had left the
country this year via Hanga, while un-
known numbers crossed the gulf OF Both
mia TO Sweden and took passage from
there. The effects of the crop failure on
emigration, however. will be felt more
strongly In 190S
The Russian government has drawn up
comprehensive plan for relieving the
distress which is widespread throughout
ten governments Of European Russia and
some distrcs of Siberia.