, who was greatly
worried over the contradictory stories that were constantly printed, and
was anxious to learn the truth about the matter. When I said that I
should go to Texas and see for myself, he was greatly pleased, and
requested me to report to him the exact situation just as soon as I had
satisfied myself by personal investigation.

Dr. Hubbell and I proceeded directly to Albany, Texas, where we arrived
near the end of January. We were met by the leading citizens and most
heartily welcomed and accorded every privilege and attention. We began
our investigations at once in a systematic way, carefully noting
everything we heard and saw; and in the course of a two weeks' trip over
the afflicted region, we learned the extent of the need and formulated
plans for its relief.

Making Albany our object point, we traveled by private conveyance over
such territory as we thought sufficient to give a correct knowledge of
the condition of the country and the people. We met large numbers of the
residents, both collectively and at their homes, and learned from them
personally and by actual observation their condition and what they had
to depend upon during the next few months. It will be borne in mind that
when we entered upon this investigation little or no relief had come
from the State, and none was positively assured.

Almost no rain had fallen during a period of eighteen months; two
planted crops had perished in the ground, and the seed wheat sown the
previous fall gave no signs of life. The dust was rolling over the
great wind-swept fields, where the people had hidden their last little
forlorn hope of borrowed seed, and literally a heaven of brass looked
down upon an earth of iron.

Here were twenty to forty counties of a size commensurate with Texan
dimensions occupied by new settlers, making their first efforts in the
pioneer work of developing home life in an untried country, soil and
climate. They had put their all into the new home and the little stock
they could afford for its use. They had toiled faithfully,