INFORMATION FOR EMIGRANTS. I9 



"One thousand eight hundred and forty-two families, aggregating nine 

 thousand one hundred and fifty-four persons, reduced to destihition. 



1875. In this year the damage done was by the young locusts, which 



hatched in enormous numbers in the eastern part of the State 



(Riley's Eighth Report.) The writer passed over the ravaged region 

 along the Kansas Pacific Railroad just after the locusts had taken flight, 

 and witnessed the bare fields, desolated towns, and general ruin they 

 left behind along this part of the country. They flew out of the State, 

 and there were no invasions from the north or west that year, and no 

 damage done after the middle of July. Still, owing to the fear of disas- 

 ter, there was said to be a heavy emigration of farmers from the State. 



To be replaced by the duped ones from the Eastern States and 

 Europe. 



1876. There were fresh invasions from the North from late in July 

 until early in September. " Early in September the swarms thickened, 

 and the wind blowing almost a gale from the west and northwest for 

 two or three days subsequently, the insects during that time swept 

 down in darkening clouds over the greater portions of the State from 

 the 98th meridian to beyond the 96th." (Riley's Ninth Report.) Mr. 

 Gaumer states that the invading swarms in the autumn deposited their 

 eggs in almost every available place throughout all the counties in South- 

 eastern Kansas. 



1877. Although much trouble was expected from the young locusts 

 this year, yet owing to the exceptionally wet and cold spring and early 



: summer the young died soon after hatching, and did little local injury. 



It is very interesting to read the reports from the various counties of 

 Kansas ravaged by grasshoppers in 1876, at the time that agents of 

 Kansas railroads were so vigorously disseminating immigration docu- 

 ments at the Centennial Exhibition. One county reports: 



There have been more locusts this year than in 1874; millions have 

 died, probably of starvation. 



Think of that, ye who leave comfortable homes in Kentucky and the 

 South for the "delightful plains" of Kansas — a country too barren to 

 keep grasshoppers alive ! 



The official report of the Commissioner of Agriculture of Kansas for 

 1874 reports 12,089 persons requiring food — counties unable to provide 

 for their destitute, and — 



18, 134 requiring assistance for other than rations Destitu- 

 tion is greater than has been supposed. Our people are not beggars; 

 and there have been many cases of suffering where delicacy has hidden 



it from public vievv^ as long as possible An important 



consideration seems to have been overlooked. Farmers are compelled 



to feed wheat to work animals. Bad results are already apparent in 



many localities. It is an unnatural food for work animals, and unless 



■ corn can be provided for spring work, at least in part, there will not only 



