Mr. Wurts to Mr. Foster.
St. Petersburg, June 21, 1892. (Received July 7.)
Sir: Although the sending of the steamer Tynehead, under the auspices of the American Red Cross Society and Mr. B. F. Tillinghast, of the Davenport Democrat, Iowa, with provisions for the famine-stricken of Russia, has not formed the subject of any official communication with this legation, it is proper, as the arrival of the other vessels from our country on the same mission of mercy has been duly reported, to make statement of the delivery of this, the fourth, offering in aid of the afflicted in certain provinces of this Empire.
The Tynehead reached Riga on the 28th of May. It was met there by Dr. J. B. Hubbell, general field agent of the American Red Cross Society, and Count Andrew Bobrinsky, delegate of the special committee under the presidency of the Czarowitz. These gentlemen had previously, at St. Petersburg, arranged, in conjunction with this legation and the committee of the British-American church, for the distribution of the cargo of the Tynehead, and with the same dispatch as had attended the discharge of the other vessels with grain for the famine sufferers, its freight was, in a few days, on its way to the distressed regions, on ten trains consisting of 307 cars, apportioned over sixteen provinces and consigned to eighty-two centers or persons for distribution. The reception of the Tynehead at Riga was, at the request of Dr. Hubbell and this legation, less ostentatious, but none the less cordial, than that extended to the other vessels.
Dr. Hubbell having gone directly thence to Moscow, I know little of the details; but I am informed that the captain of the Tynehead was the recipient, as was the case with the captains of the other steamers, of a very handsome testimonial from the Emperor, which was delivered to him by Count Bobrinsky. While on the subject of the famine sufferers and the relief sent to them from our country, it may be appropriate to add the substance of a report just published of the operations of the special committee under the presidency of the Czarowitz. It is stated that since December 1–13, 1891, some 16,000,000 poods (38 English pounds to the pood) of cereals have been employed in provisioning the populations afflicted by the famine in seventeen provinces of the Empire, without counting 23,000,000 poods reserved for planting. The committee has still at the present time about 13,000,000 poods of provisions for distribution during the month and a half which has to be provided for until the new crops are gathered.
Some surprise is expressed that there should be still 5,000,000 poods of grain for planting, which should have been over by the 25th of May; but it is explained that on account of the bad condition of the roads the transportation of grain was delayed, and that the peasants were obliged to borrow grain necessary for planting, which will be returned by the committee to the persons who advanced it. According to the data published by the committee, the regions afflicted by the famine had nevertheless a considerable stock of grain; thus, of the 46,000,000 poods given for food to the population, 11,000,000 were furnished by the local markets, which, of the 22,000,000 of poods for planting, furnished 10,000,000; that is, 25 per cent of the first category of these cereals and nearly 50 per cent of the second.
I have, etc.,
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.