, 1904-03-25
midas GREATEST FOE.

William E. Curtis, writing from Del
hi to the Record-Herald. gives a very
interesting account of the famines of
India and their causes.
Famine is chronic in India. 1t has
occurred at intervals for centuries
past as long as man remembers, as
long as records have been kept, and
undoubtedly will recur for centuries to
cCome, although the authorities who
are responsible for the well-being of
the empire are gradually organizing
to counterfeit the forces of nature
which they cannot control; by increas-
ing the food supply and providing for
its distribution. But there must be
hunger and starvation in India so long
as the population remains as dense as
it is. The reason is rot because the
earth refuses to support so many peo-
pie. There is yet a vast area of fer
tile land untitled, and the fields al
ready cultivated would furnish food
enough for a larger population when
normal conditions prevail. There is
always enough somewhere in India for
everybody. even in times of sorest dis
tress, but it is not distributed equally,
and those who are short have no mon
ey to buy and bring from those wno
have a surplus. Inc export of grain
and other produts from India continues
regularly in the lean as well as the
fat years, but the country is SO large,
the distances are so great, the facili-
ties for transportation are so made
quate that Il province may be export
ing food to Europe because it has to
spare, while another province may be
receiving ships loaded with charity
from America because its crops have
failed and its people are hungry.
For moisture the farmers are de
pendent upon the seasons. which bring
rains from the ocean. They occur twice
in each year. permitting the raising of
W crops. When they fail a terrible
famine spreads over the land, for the
people live from hand to mouth and
lay up nothing for the ear years.
The worst famine eve known in In
dia occurred in 1910, when Governor
General Warren Hastings reported
that one-third of the inhabitants of
Bengal persisted from hunger-ten
millions out OF thirty millions. The
streets of Calcutta and other towns
were actually blocked up with the bod
les of the dead, which were thrown out
of doors and windows because there
was no means or opportunity to bury
them. The empire a been stricken
almost as hard during the last ten
years. The development of civiliza-
ton seems to make a little difference,
for the famine of 1900-1901 was per-
haps second in severity to that of ITO.
This. however, was largely due to the
fact that the population had not had
time to recover from the famine OF
1S96-97, which was almost as severe.
And although everything possible was
done to relieve distress and prevent
the spread of plaques and pestilence
that are the natural and unavoidable
consequences Of insufficient nourish-
ment, even now people are dying by
every week.
The census of 1901 tells a terrible
tale of human suffering and death dur
ing the previous decade. which was
by two famines and several
spidemics of cholera, smallpox n
contagious diseases.
Taking the whole of India together.
he returns show that during the ten
1ears from 1892 to 1901, inclusive,
here was an increase Of less than
900. 900 instead Of the normal In
.rease of 10, 1000. 900, which was to be
expected. Judging by the records OF
he previous decades Of the country.
fore than 10. 0o0. 900 people disappear
ID in the native statss alone without
a trace behind them
Daily Republics 50 . nnafA- ]