The Detroit times., 1911-02-13
BY CAPT. WALTER kIRToN.
Editor Of the China National Re-

Is
SHANGHAI, China. Feb. 1910
the Editor of The Times:
May l address q plea TO the read.
ers or your newspaper for the starv-
ing people OF the province of Kiang'
pei, China?
have just returned from this IA.
mine-cursed country and as result
Of careful inquiry with officials and
missionaries, I estimate the number
OF people who are dependent on out
side relief at 100000. There are five
months before they can begin to OBJ
ain self-support from corps, and un-
less the good people of the civilized
world give literally many thousands
must die OF munger and cold.
There have already been many
deaths. I saw whole families. scores
OF them. on the very threshold of the
grave from lack OF food, emaciated,
weak. mere skin and bone people.
The poorest, who have children,
have tried TO sell them. not altogether
for the pittance they brought. but 10
save the lives OF their little ones.
The famine In Kiangpei has been
caused by floods. The low-lying
plains. standing bat few feet above
sea level. are peculiarly liable to
devastation, owing TO the inroads or
(. the Yellow river ("China' Sorrow.
the annual rise of the Yangtze which.
coupled with the periodically abnor
NAL rainy seasons, banks back the
water In its tributaries and their sub
salaries traversing the flooded, area;
the sitting. up Of such Waterways as
the Grand canal (which forms, or
should form. the main drain OF the
plateau); and the absence Of outfalls, !
bikes, and modern facilities for drain |
age and conservation generally.
The Inhabitants are almost solely |
agriculturists. They are INDUSTRIOUS
Iaw-abiding and peace-lovfng folks
and, taking into consideration these
periodical Affections, their homes and
standard Of living viii compare favor
ably with those OF the peasantry or
similar countries. The land is very
fertile, but these foundations and IA
mines keep the people IN such abject
poverty that they cannot purchase
proper agricultural Implements.
Dining the famine OF 1907 this part
or the country was stripped OF ami |
mails. which went to, feed their own
ers and those dependent upon them. !
Even the dogs were devoured IN one
large district, the writer, then. acting
IS commissioner of the central China
famine relief committee. was COM
PEELED for the purpose OF his journey |
OF investigation to obtain Official help
IN securing the use OF the only pony |
to be found therein, and for days did
not set eyes on any other animal.
either. hirsnte, feathered or fnrred.
With no animals TO draw their
necessarily archaic farming imple-1
ments the humans must pull the plow |
themselves and thus only the sur. /
face OF the soil In scratched. and deep
tfllage--the secret of agricultural
weaith In such q region-is unknown.
Even 30 the crops. during normally
favorable season, are abundant, but
the population Is so poverty
that no accumulation OF reserves OF
food Is possible and when an inunda.
ton covers practically 80 per cent OF
the land for the major portion OF the
farming season. as appears TO have
happened IN this instance, starvation
confronts similar percentage Of the
population.
/ am writing this letter in hope
that the good people OF your city will
add their mite to the relief OF these
suffering humans. II there is no com
mittee IN Detroit, I'm sure the editor
Of The Times Will tell those who wish
to give how their charity may be for
warded. .a.. rf. ."