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Foreign News
July 1, 1888
Wichita Eagle
Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas
What is this article about?
Carter Harrison reports on dire living conditions of Indian farmers and laborers: mud huts without comforts, minimal clothing and heating, and cart drivers earning 4-6 rupees monthly (34 cents per rupee) for basic needs.
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Full Text
Miserable Homes in India
It is painful to look into the huts of the farmers and laborers. They are merely mud walled pens and lack everything for comfort. Here, to-night, I am shivering in the house before a wood fire, yet I am well clad. These people have little more than a light cotton cloth, and fireplaces and chimneys are unknown in the native house. They wrap up their head and vital parts of the body, leaving the legs nearly bare, and rarely cover the feet at all. They squat before their little huts around a mere skilletful of fire, and a few put a small pot of coals under their cotton covering and drawing this about them husband the scanty heat. The pay of a cao or cart driver is from four to six rupees a month. A rupee is worth at present rate of exchange thirty-four cents of our money. Out of this he has to clothe and feed himself.-Carter Harrison in Chicago Mail.
It is painful to look into the huts of the farmers and laborers. They are merely mud walled pens and lack everything for comfort. Here, to-night, I am shivering in the house before a wood fire, yet I am well clad. These people have little more than a light cotton cloth, and fireplaces and chimneys are unknown in the native house. They wrap up their head and vital parts of the body, leaving the legs nearly bare, and rarely cover the feet at all. They squat before their little huts around a mere skilletful of fire, and a few put a small pot of coals under their cotton covering and drawing this about them husband the scanty heat. The pay of a cao or cart driver is from four to six rupees a month. A rupee is worth at present rate of exchange thirty-four cents of our money. Out of this he has to clothe and feed himself.-Carter Harrison in Chicago Mail.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic
Colonial Affairs
What keywords are associated?
India Poverty
Farmers Huts
Laborers Conditions
Low Wages
Rupee Value
What entities or persons were involved?
Carter Harrison
Where did it happen?
India
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
India
Key Persons
Carter Harrison
Outcome
cart drivers earn 4-6 rupees per month (about 1.36-2.04 usd), used for clothing and food.
Event Details
Description of miserable huts of farmers and laborers in India: mud-walled pens lacking comfort; natives wear light cotton cloth, wrap head and vital parts, leave legs bare, rarely cover feet; squat around small fires or coals under coverings for heat; no fireplaces or chimneys.