The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-07-27
KENNETH 4. COLLINS DESCRIBES
FAMINE CONDITIONS IN CHINA

Showing the vicissitudes and hard
ships incidental to the work OF the
Chinese Relief fund; it's proper dis
tribution thru regular inspection of
the needs of each family; how his
previous letters might have gone
astray thru posting at a Jap station;
how he was sent to Hanchung on the
border of Shantung for two weeks to
attend to the grain shipments; how
his review of the conditions existing
in the Chinese districts were hard
to describe but in his opinion had
been somewhat exaggerated, Ken
meth H. Collins, former University
student, and now attached to the Pc
kin Union Medical college, China, in
a letter to his father, j. R. Collins,
hardware merchant of Moscow, gives
a graphic review of the work of ad-
ministrating the international fund.
He states that he saw no dead
Chinese in the streets although 1t was
winter, a severe time with the ma
tives. They however were eating
grass and leaves. Farmers and cool
lies, he adds, are accustomed to get
hru the winters this way. They keep
barely enough of grain to keep alive.
The fact is the farmers have not de-
vised system of markets or road
connections so that grain could be
transported effectively. They had no
rains in this district so grain was
scarce. This meant that if help were
not Forthcoming thousands would
perish. The relief committee did ex-
cellent work and got at the exact
needs of each family. They fed
every day from 1000 to 5000 people.
The Chinese came to the station with
and received 20 cutties
of grain, or thirty and a half pounds
per month.
Mr.. Collins describes many pathetic
sights. One man came 40 miles and
was exhausted with the journey of
pushing the wheelbarrow before him
the same being more cumbersome
vehicle than an American made
Most of them pushed
the wheelbarrow 65 miles to the sta
ton and 65 miles back. Great soup
kitchens in addition were instituted.
But these were only temporary
means, he says, to help the Chinese
maintain themselves for they were
taught not to depend on foreign as
Therefore they were put to
work on road building and taught to
nainain themselves The roads were
needed for the purpose as stated be-
'ore of enabling the Chinese to trans
port their grain and obtain markets.
They have no system and when dis
riots get no rains grain cannot be
transported where it would do good in
he famine areas. Here is the solu-
ion. No rains cause famines in dis
rict. Therefore a better system of
is requisite.
Mr.Collins gave a humanizing pic
ure of the way the old superstition
eigned in China respecting girls.
)ne of the first objects of his inspec-
ion trip was to find out if the girls
ad been sold because of the famine.
hey were successful in instituting a
chool where the girls learned to
1ake goodarticles for sale, and be
elf supporting. The famine, he said
I conclusion, was the biggest in this
articular district, and as said before
hese. famines occur in spots. They
lay have to continue this work as
onsequence
Mr. Collins is a medical student at
he Pekin Medical Union college and
ill receive his doctorship in due
curse His letter was the first re-
eived since September IL last and
ave joy to his friends and relatives.
[e is live wire and is esteemed in
University circles.