Year: 1873

A narrowing Story of Poverty and


Suffering.


A citizen of Iowa has written to the
Des Moines Register from Jefferson,
that State, sad story of the hardships
and sufferings of many of the settlers in
the Northwestern portion of that
State. He says: 81 have just had a
long interview with former soldier
comrade, now homesteader in Osceola
County, and from him learn something
concerning the present and future
wants of the hundreds of good people
making themselves homes in that and
other counties. It will be remembered
that in 1872 good crops were raised in
that section, and that all had plenty
and to spare. In the spring of 1873,
every preparation was made for great
crop of small grain, and it prospered
exceedingly until about the first of
June, when the grasshoppers came, and
the fields of waving grain were made
desolate-entirely running the crop. A
great many homesteaders at once left,
realizing the coming of the present
condition of matters. But hundreds of
families had not the means at command
to pay their expenses of travel, and
hence were compelled to stay. A little
corn was saved in some sections, but of
very inferior quality. Plenty of hay
was made, of the best grade, so the
stock will at least have that much for
support. But as to the people? Ny
informant makes this statement
" Nearly every man is poor-very poor,
and great majority are ex-soldiers of
the Union, with young families to sup
port. When the grasshoppers took the
crops, we did the best we could for the
coming winter. We went to the lakes
and caught barrels of fish, but we did
not have the means to properly care for
them so they spoiled. Stock was
sacrificed to the sharks that infest our
section, at the next to nothing of a
price, and many of us have thus eaten
up and worn out the horses and work
cattle that had been our main stay.
We could buy no fuel, and when [ left,
twisted hay and rank reed grass was
the only fuel nine-tenths of the people
were using. Much sickness prevails,
brought on by long abstinence from
wholesome and nutritious food. One
family know of has the father down
with the rheumatism, three out of six
children were down with the measles,
while the mother was about worn down
herself. Corn-meal, grated from FROST
bitten nubbins, was the only food in
the house, if the sod and board shanty
may be called such. The people bear
with each other, and mutually extend
aid as much as possible. One young
man from Jasper County, who happens
to be good shot, has valiantly taken
upon himself the task of keeping all in
valid families supplied with meat, wild
game, and the day left brought some
geese and ducks to the family 1 have
mentioned. But that will soon end,
with cold weather. You want to know
what they need? They need every
thing-fuel, clothing, and provisions.
The women and children are suffering
greatly already for the want of cloth
ing. I know of several women who
died soon after giving birth to children
because they could not have even the
common luxury of cup of tea, or any
thing nutritious to aid them in regain
ing strength, coupled with the want of
proper bed covering. The most of the
counties can extend no aid, for the
reason that thieves have been running
the affairs, and have stolen all, just as
they did some years ago in Clay County.
Many families will leave on foot, having
sold their cattle or horses to keep them
alive. Some general way of relieving
those who must remain must be put in
operation right away, else the first snap
of real cold weather will send many
good man or women or child to death
frozen, because they will be SO weak
and emaciated that they cannot stand
the rigors of winter, even in its weakest
appearance. The person who makes
this statement l know to be reliable.
1t will be seen from this, then, that aid
cannot be sent too soon, and that a
general plan of relief must not be de-
layed longer than necessary.


T. Il l.