Chronological History. 45 



As the month advanced, the prospects brightened, and by 

 the Fourth of July the whole country again presented a 

 green and thrifty appearance. 



The immediate damage was the loss of labor expended 

 in planting, and the seeding for about two-thirds of the 

 crop acreage of the country, to which may be added the 

 destruction of the fruit and the tame grasses. Detailed 

 returns of the damage done in Missouri, showed a loss of 

 over fifteen millions of dollars. The amount of loss re- 

 deemed by crops that succeeded after the insects left, it 

 was impossible to determine ; but the amount was offset by 

 the injury both temporary and permanent, to fruit, fruit 

 trees, vineyards, gardens, meadows and pastures ; by the 

 fact that such crops as flax, castor-beans, etc., were not 

 estimated in the calculation ; and lastly, by the injury to 

 stock, as the animals were necessarily driven out of the 

 country, and by the general depreciation of property. 



Missouri had never before been visited by a calamity so 

 appalling, and so disastrous in its results, as the locust 

 ravages of 1875. Other years have brought drought, 

 chinch bugs, and partial or total failure of particular 

 crops, but no event ever before so completely prostrated 

 the country within which the ravages occurred. The sud- 

 denness and desolating power with which the attack came, 

 where often the possessor of promising crops deemed them 

 safe, acted as a paralysis upon those very faculties that are 

 engaged in the forethought and deliberation necessary to 

 self-preservation or concerted action. The farmer saw his 

 green acres smiling with glorious hope to-day, and to- 

 morrow, perhaps, all barren and bleak as in winter. It is 

 no wonder that many communities were panic-stricken. 

 Previous disaster had already brought many sections to a 

 critical and suffering point, so that even during the winter 

 the Legislature was appealed to for aid. Stock had been 



