The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-04-13
WITH FOOD SCARCE
FAMINE IS NEAR
FACING STARVATION MEXICO
-,rT, REAP AS SHE HAS
SOWN IN THE PAST.
Is A PICTURE OF DESOLATION

,ryTCO CITY A report predict
that Mexico faces a serious sit
a3ion respecting her food supplies
bean made by a committee of
,moricans and foreigners here after
~ investigation of the situation. The
report in part says;
"Four wears of almost continuous
fighting has produced a condition in
+bo food supply situation so serious
&c 70 threaten a famine necessitating
rorld-wide aid. Farm hands every
who're have been thrown into social
Cd armies, farm animals have been
utilized for like purposes and leaders
If rowing bands marching under ban
rors containing fantastic legends
about liberty and the rights of man,
which they used as a blind to facili-
tate robbery, pillage and murder,
have so reduced the crop acreage that
nv November, 1915, there will be a
shortage of 39,370,0O0 bushels of
corn alone, not to mention the other
absolutely necessary cereals.
To Reap Tares.
That the effects of this wantOn
destruction are only just beginning
to be felt is due to the great pro-
ductive rights of Mexicos agricult-
cultural regions, but self-seeking
and self-appointed military leaders
have for so long harrassed the farm
er that Mexico is about to reap the
whirlwind she has sown.
Corn is the staff of life in Mexico.
Its harvest for the present crop
should begin about Nov. 1. Upon in
yesttgation we find that but five of
Mexico's twenty-seven states proba-
bly, have enough corn to carry them
over this period of strictest economy.
This will take care of 1 100000 peo-
pie. This leaves the rest of Mexico
with approximately 10 100000 peo-
pie with visible supply of aproxi-
mately $4,000 tons, enough to last
but three months.
Thousands May Die.
What then will be necessary to re-
lieye the constant distress and pre-
vent perhaps the death of thousands
from starvation? In normal times it
requires 100000 tons of corn TO
feed these 13,500,00O people eight
months. With the visible supply of
but 615, 900 tons this leaves a short
age OF LIPS, 900 tons or 39,375, 600
bushels, which must be purchased.
The perSent market price on the
northern frontier is 80 cents, gold,
buShel If We allow 3 cents, gold,
Dushel for distribution cost we have
charge of S1.05, gold, per bushel,
which will necessitate $41,343,75O,
gold, to prevent a devastating fam
Inc. BY that time the purchasing
power of the Mexican peso will have
dropped to 10 cents gold, so Mexico
Will find herself called to eXpend
4l5,637, 200 pesos to prevent the
larger part of her population from
starving to death.
On Worlds Charity.
Where is this money to come
from? With a bottom scraped treas
ury and white blood country Mex
leo must throw herself upon charity
of the world.
-, Not only have they taken away
the man and the farm animal from
tne land, but many instances have
Deen reported where the different
military commanders have actually
permitted the horses and mules to
Ieea on the young and growing corn
,"hlIe drOuths in the north and east
nave completed the ruin.
Oregon to Blame.
That these conditions are the di-
rect result Of the wanton and selfish
dtCtude of the military leaders of diff
Ierent factions has been made most
pam OF late by the conduct of Gen.
Alyaro Oregon acting under the di-
Iection of en-. CarranZa. Gen. OBJ
RECON entered Mexico City Jan. 18th
IaSt' On the following day the water
supply OF the city was cut. The price
u Ioodstuffs, already very high, rose
W eAorbltant figures, but Gen. ODre-
sun endeavored in every way to pre-
vent foOdstuffs coming into Mexico
SIl|' There is an abundance of EVIL
uuGuce pointing to the fact that TINS
mn uman conduct was part of dellb-
eIale campaign to starve the populace
INTO enlisting in his army.
Encouraged LOoting.
w hen the inevitable consequences
vi this plan began to evidence them
serves and the people cried for food
On Obregon informed them that the
IQod shortage was due to spectators.
ne Immediately decreed special tax
IeVy of 2O,O0O,O00 pesos to relieve
what he had the effrontery to charac-
ERIE the desperate situation OF the
Slly poor. When the merchants re-
used to pay this tax he invited the
ii"ooIe to take what they could by
t.pIotlng and sacking, informing them
Snat II this general looting continued
bs would march out of the city with
us troops. not firing a single shot to