THE GRASSHOPPER QUESTION.
By C. W. S.
The work of destruction that has been done in some of our Western States by the locust and the fearful possibilities and probabilities of its future career are but faintly understood by people who have not been eye-witnesses of its work, or who have not been made to suffer thereby. This evil has been gradually increasing in proportions for twelve years until the official voice of the afflicted States has pronounced it a national calamity. A “Petition for Relief from the Ravages of the Grasshopper,” signed by a large number of the people of Minnesota was presented to the Congress of the United States last fall. It called attention to these three facts:— “1st. That four years ago, a vast swarm of grasshoppers from beyond the Missouri River settled down on the south-western portion of this State to the very great distress of its inhabitants; whose crops were almost wholly destroyed. “2d. That since this time they have multiplied in countless numbers year by year, until they have at length spread themselves over a section of the State averaging 150 miles in width by 350 miles in length, or nearly two-thirds of its whole area. “3d. That during this period, the settlers in this infested district have suffered untold privations. Thousands of families have been reduced to utter poverty, and would have perished had they not received assistance. Millions of dollars’ worth of property has been destroyed, and portions of the entire region blighted as if by fire.” The petition then prays Congress to take measures to exterminate the locust by offering bounties for the destruction of the eggs and insects, or by other means. A conference of governors for consultation upon the grasshopper problem was held at Omaha, Nebraska, the 25th and 26th of last October, a full report of which was given in the St. Paul and Minneapolis Pioneer Press. From this we gather the following facts: The States that were formally represented were Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, Minnesota. Gov. Pillsbury, of Minn., in giving a reason for invoking the aid of the national Government used these words:— “Considering the sudden and fitful movements of the locusts, the limitless field of their operations, and the mysterious and predatory nature of their inroads, they constitute a formidable enemy with which no single State or community can expect to cope successfully; and it is my profound conviction that an evil which, by threatening our agriculture, threatens the source of productive industry, deserves the prompt and thorough consideration of the general government.” Prof. Thomas, speaking for Illinois, favored action both by the national and state governments, declaring that the destructive insects were a national evil, and required a national remedy. Gov. Kirkwood, of Ia., said that the pests had deposited their eggs in much new territory this year, and he greatly desired a practical plan for saving next year’s crops. Gov. Pennington said that no grasshoppers were hatched in Dakota, but that they lighted down upon them from elsewhere in countless millions. Gov. Hardin said that thirteen counties in Missouri were totally ravaged in 1875, and the people were saved from starvation only by the contributions of more fortunate counties. He was decidedly favorable to congressional and state action, and thought that every able-bodied man should be called out in an emergency, as for defense against a common enemy. Gov. Garber, of Neb., spoke similarly. Gov. Osborne, of Kan., said that the entire State, with few exceptions, was literally perforated with grasshopper130holes which were filled with eggs, and that great anxiety was felt for next year’s crops. The conference adopted a report which provides for an appeal to the president of the United States for a national commission to investigate the subject, and recommends the several state legislatures to adopt, among other means, a bounty law to encourage the destruction of eggs and insects. Gov. Pillsbury, in his message to the legislature of Minn., given Jan. 4, 1877, says, “The extended and increasing destruction of the locusts, or grasshoppers, is a matter of portentous and vital concern for the interests of agriculture. With a constantly encroaching area, these insects now occupy more or less of the vast region lying between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains—between Hudson’s Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. They invaded no less than sixteen States and Territories during the past year, including, indeed, seven States lying east of the Mississippi. Their mysterious habits, the celerity and evasive nature of their flights, their inconceivable numbers, the illimitable theatre for their incursions, and their insatiable rapacity, combine to render them a national scourge which demands a national remedy. Against such an enemy, while it may be doubtful whether any human agency may avail, it is certain that, unless speedily checked, nothing less than the combined power, ingenuity, and resources of State and Nation can be successful.” The governor thinks that so far as concerns the hatching of the insects in home soil, it is practicable, by assailing them at every stage of existence from embryo to maturity, to so far exterminate them and guard against their attacks as to secure substantial exemption from their ravages; but says that against the full-fledged swarms that, unheralded, swoop down upon them from abroad in such myriads as to defy human reckoning, “man, with all his resources, can but stand helpless and aghast.” With commendable philanthropy, Gov. P. has taken steps to acquaint himself with the destitution of the people. In his message, he says, “To obtain possession of the proper information respecting the actual condition of such sufferers, I recently visited a portion of the ravaged territory, and by mingling with the people around their hay fires, witnessing their scanty clothing and partaking of their scanty fare, became thoroughly satisfied of their destitute condition as well as of their noble patience under severe afflictions. . . . In this connection, I cannot refrain from an expression of my severe reprobation of the practices of a class of money loaners who, by their extortions and the merciless sacrifice of securities upon default of borrowers, add to the suffering of these people. In some of the towns of the ravaged districts, not only is the farm of nearly every resident encumbered, but scarcely a cow, horse, team, or farming implement, remains uncovered by a chattel mortgage; and loaners often strip a helpless family of its last defense against impending starvation.” We are forcibly reminded of the language of James to the rich men of the last days. Please turn to James 5, and read it. An appropriation of $7,500 has been made by the State of Minnesota for the aid of those whose crops were destroyed last year. Applications for relief coming from thirty-one counties have been received from 3,455 persons. A Minnesota paper of January 13 says that a large portion of Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri, and nearly all of Kansas, is “seeded down with grasshopper’s eggs.” The Chicago Times of April 16, says the “flying scourges of the West” are making their appearance in Kansas, and that the grasshopper question is beginning to engage the attention of business men and farmers alike in Missouri. A dispatch from Omaha, April 15, says that they are hatching out in that vicinity by the million. The people expect these will emigrate, but they fear a visit from ’hoppers hatched elsewhere. The same paper of the 19th inst. says that the soil in fifteen counties in north-western Iowa is “literally honeycombed” with the nesting places where the “winged plague” have deposited their eggs. A shovelful of dirt taken up and placed in a warm room soon develops scores of the pests. Many people are leaving the thrice devastated region, while many are too poor to get away. Prof. C. V. Riley, in an interesting article upon the habits of the grasshopper, in the Scientific American of April 28, writes as follows:— “In a few weeks the ravages of the Rocky Mountain locust will, in all probability, be creating more attention than ever, as the area threatened by the young insects is larger than ever before, beginning in south-eastern Dakota, including the south-western half of Minnesota, the western half of Iowa, four counties in north-west and twelve in south-west Missouri, Benton Co. in Arkansas, Texas from that point to the mouth of the Sabine River, thence along the Gulf to Austin, and more or less all the country west of these points to the mountains.” Gov. Pillsbury says that their grounds extend north to Hudson’s Bay. Now we ask the question, Is this the “Northern army” foreseen by Joel the prophet? And is this army being recruited for its work of great destruction? Do the events in the East indicate that the nations are preparing to act the final scenes of Dan. 11? and of Joel 3? If so, “Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.”—Joel. Read the book of Joel, and parallel prophecies.