El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-01
Famine Lasts For 20 Years
UnbrOIken Chain of Crop Failures
Makes Lean Err in England in
the 18th Century.
rcderic ]. HasKin--
from Page One.l

as there was any to sell, and in the
end 20,000-people starved to death IN
London alone.
One of the longest famines in the
history of the race was during the
last part of the 18th century, when, Tor
20 years together there was an I'M
broken chain of crop failures, OF prices
that were all but prohibitlve to the
poor. and of hunger throughout the
length and breadth of England Par
lament, at the end of this lean era,
passed a law regulating prices, and a
royal proclamation was made FORBID
ding the manufacture of beer.
In 1921 England had what is regarded
by most authorities as the last of its
serious famines- But this was the be-
ginning of a series of great crop short
$40 a bushel there. A half century
later there was a famine of three
years in England, which was attributed
to the boarding of corn The mayor
and citizens of London took out OF
the orphans chest in their guild hall
money to buy corn and other foods be
yond its seas, and provision was made
whereby the government sold FOOD TO
they were able 10 pay for it. and took
notes payable several years hence,
where they were not able to pay cash.
Elizabeth Made poor Law"
The English Poor Law dates from
1856 when queen Elizabeth observing
the general dearth of corn and other
foods. resulting partially from drouth
but principally from the greed1nesS OF
the corn masters, issued proelama-
ton requiring government relief to be
extended by the justices of the peace
to the poor of their communities"
There were numerous famines In the
18th century, beginning with one IN
Russia, in which 100000 people died
Wars caused famines in Ireland and
in India during this century. In
.1796. occurred the first of the great
famines OF India of which we have
record. 1t is estimated that 100000
people died during this famine.
Ireland Suffered Much.
With the rapid growth of population
during the 18th century and the slow
development of transportation factlf-
ties there were demands for food that
could not be met India and Ireland
were the worst sufferers. Ireland's
first great potato famine occurred in
1922. and was repeated at intervals up
to 1916 During the latter year it
was supposed that 100000 people died
Parliament advanced nearly S50,00O,000
for protecting the masses from starva-
ton More than 1000, 900 Irish left for
America to escape starvation and the
pestilence which followed. That was
the last Of the great famines OF Ire
land.
A million and a half people persisted
in India in 1853 and 100000 in 1876
! to 1873. In China nearly 100000
| people persisted during this latter
period. and in the last year of the
century the last of the great Indian
famines occurred. entailing a loss Of
100000 lives and $3.50. 0OO 600. The
government spent S5O,0OO,00O on relief
and at one time nearly 5,000.0O0 people
were dependent upon outside aid.
While there are no statistics avail
able to show the number OF people who
died from starvation in the nearly 400
famines of history, it is conservatively
estimated that no less than 200, 600, 900
. hor~ cd F-nr1 esf1 -r~e mr.
of these three-fourths may be attribut-
ed to crop failures which were the re-
suit of drOuths.
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