The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-29
FOR LIFE
Dreary Outlook in Famine Stricken
Districts of Sweden and
Finland.
All the Relief That Can Be Con-
tributed Will Be None
Too Much.

Chicago is taking the lead in collecting
funds for the relief of the famine
stricken people Of northern Finland and
Norrland, in Sweden. Robert Lindbloom
is the chairman of a Swedish relief COM
mittee which has already collected, over
$4,000. The Chicago Daily News has
started a subscription, heading the list
with $1,000. "Skandinaven'' has also
started a subscription intended primarily
for Finland. In addition to these meas
ures, Alderman Frank L. Race has pre-
sented resolution appropriating $25,oo0
for the famine fund. This Is done IN
recognition of the contributions from
Sweden and the services of Swedish
Americans to Chicago after the big fire of
1871. Mayor Harrison has also been au-
thorized by the council to appoint a COM
mission to cooperate with the Swedish
and Finnish committees.
~ = Conditions In Norrland.
The special correspondent of the Daily
News sends the following cable from
Stockholm on the conditions in Norrland:
Stockholm, Jan. 27-North Sweden's
viii be only if succor continues to be
given unabatingly at least until June l.
Many Of the stricken districts are from
100 to $50 miles distant from the railway.
The relief supplies are already exhausted.
owing to slow transportation facilities and
these supplies are beginning to become the
only alternative to starvation
. Fodder for the cattle is the urgent
need Of the hour. Cattle are the main
stay of the Norrlands economic life. If
the animals are decently fed they are
capable of producing enough to sustain
the peasants, but In numerous instances
these beasts have already been slaught-
cred and eaten. The place of this pecu-
liar species Of hornless arctic cattle can
not be filed by any substitute. Animals
fitted for southern regions cannot be ac-
climated to the biting temperature Of the
polar circle. If the breed should be per-
mitted to die out the peasants will sooner
or later have to vacate the Norrland-
Wage Workers Crippled.
I'm conjunction with the ravages caused
by floods and arctic frosts the north coun-
try has been stricken by complete indus
trial paralysis. Timber cutting, which
normally affords livelihood for thousands
Of persons not employed in farming, is
now either at a standstill or done for
starvation. wages, averaging in many
| cases less than what is actually required
for the daily support Of the men and
horses engaged. The timber companies
excuse the payment of such pittances on
the plea that the market price of lumber
does not warrant anything better, but
unprecedented authorities insist that the
blooded motives.
"All Of the 10000 men, women and chill
| dren who are thus dependent on charity
are showing fine pluck in the face Of dis
tress. They receive no relief unless it is
worked for either by improving the public
| roadways or by lettering conditions on
their own property in anticipation of the
return Of the fairweather day."
| 100000 Fins Destitute.
| According to c.. j. Sorsen, chief surgeon
for the Northern Michigan general hos
pital at Houghton, no less than 400, OOC
Firms are actually starving to-day. Not
since 1857, when the last great famine
swept through Finland, and carried away
100000 men, women and children, have
| the conditions been so desperate DR.. SOr-
sen says: ,..
| From early June last year, the time
when the farmers begin planting crops tt
August, cold rains fell continuously, max.
| ing growth Of the grain impossible. ant
| even rendering the grass unfit for hay
| In August the streams began to freeze
! ana oy the latter part of the month AM
early September the whole northern pc
ninsula became frost-locked. The conse
quence is that the farmers to-day hav,
food for neither themselves nor for the
cattle. Indeed, the cattle themselve
have even been slaughtered when the,
ulu pcIlSu. lO-udy One-S1XLn TN
entire population is dependant upon char,
ity for it's existence. These 400 900 per
sons must be fed until next August a
least, when the new crops may be hal'
vested. We have figured the lowest cos
at which these individuals can be carrie
to that period and find that it is SIS O
approximately 81 a month per indivadua
This means that we must raise $4,000,
600 at the least. At the present time eac
individual capable of giving in Finland i
contributing a certain percentage Of hi
income. Government officials are givin
. from 10 to rs per cent and others in pro
portion"