-----------------+---------+--------+---------+-------
Comparative Time | No. of |No. of | No. of |
| Robbers |Thieves |Swindlers| Total
-----------------+---------+--------+---------+-------
Sept.-Nov., 1905 | 5 | 833 | 99 | 937
“ “ 1904 | 5 | 123 | 36 | 163
Dec. 1905 | 1 | 363 | 70 | 434
“ 1904 | 1 | 69 | 36 | 106
Jan. 1906 | 1 | 266 | 27 | 294
Jan. 1905 | 0 | 80 | 0 | 80
Feb. 1906 | 1 | 211 | 51 | 263
“ 1905 | 1 | 46 | 22 | 69
-----------------+---------+--------+---------+-------
In Sendai City, at the beginning of the famine, all rice
dealers constituted a trust in order to enhance the market
price of rice. Mayor Hayakawa determinedly imported rice
from Tokyo at his own risk to the amount of about 102,600
bushels to check the trust, which was, in consequence, almost
panic-stricken and had to bring down the price lower than
before. Currency being scarce at the time in this district,
he issued temporary notes to be used for paying wages only on
public works. These notes could be exchanged for foods only,
not for wine or liquor nor for tobacco, and are even to-day in
circulation among wage-earning people there. I enclose herewith
their samples.
Speaking generally, all sufferers have now been rescued from
starvation throughout these three famine stricken districts.
It is not any exaggeration to say that many lives have been
saved through the generosity of American people, and that every
peasant, rich and poor, or wise and ignorant, has more than
highly appreciated the kindness and sympathy you have extended
to him so practically.
In Sendai City, at my request, Hon. Kamei, President of Miyagi
Red Cross Branch, introduced me to foreign missionaries living
there, whose names, it gives me great pleasure to mention here,
were:
Mr. W. E. Lampe, Mr. C. S. Davison, Mr. C. Jacquet, Dr. J. H.
DeForest, Mr. M. B. Madden.
I dined with them and enjoyed the party to a full extent.
Scarcely need be said that these missionaries have played
a great part especially by this critical time in helping
the sufferers. I have no doubt that the former’s effort in
enlightening, in addition, the latter in every respect together
with all classes of people must have been and will be more than
the whole Japan can repay.
At the close of this statement, I take great pleasure in adding
that all foodstuffs purchased with your contributions have
been distributed among the sufferers separately from others
stating at each time to the effect that those articles were the
gifts of American people, to whom the President Roosevelt and
_Christian Herald_ appealed for the alleviation in behalf of
the famine stricken districts. All the head men of counties,
towns and villages whom I met while on my trip requested me to
convey to you their heartfelt gratitude for all the kindness
you have tendered them. Enclosed is one of the letters of
thanks, which has been addressed and forwarded to our Count
Matsukata from the representatives of the sufferers, asking him
to convey to you their highest appreciation.
Thanking you in anticipation for your kindness in reading this
report, which I now have the honor to submit to you.