This second call for help, together with word received from other directions, indicated that the snow and ice-cap had extended generally over a number of the northern states of the Middle West. We at once wired to the officials of some of the organizations in several of these states, and also sent telegrams to thirty-five members of the Association, telling them of the situation and asking for contributions to be used in the purchase and distribution of food for the birds. Many of the members immediately responded, and in a remarkably short time we had collected and telegraphed to the Cleveland Bird-Lovers’ Association $200, to the President of the South Dakota State College $200, and to the Minnesota Game Commission $600.
We also telegraphed the Postmaster General in Washington asking that rural mail-carriers in Minnesota, Kansas, and Nebraska be authorized to distribute grain to be supplied them for the purpose. The Third Assistant Postmaster General at once gave the instructions requested.
Mrs. Elizabeth C. T. Miller, President of the Cleveland Bird-Lovers’ Association, sent notices to all on her large membership list, called upon the people generally through the press, and set other movements in operation looking to the good of the birds.
The South Dakota State College is the largest educational institution in the State, enrolling over eleven hundred members. President E. C. Perisho, who is a lover of wild birds and, incidentally, one of the most influential and public-spirited educators of the West, called a mass meeting of his students and laid the situation before them. The following is from one of his letters, and will give some idea of what resulted.
“We are doing everything possible at this end to save the birds of South Dakota. I thought perhaps you would be interested to know that our organization for this purpose is as follows:
“1. The State College has written to four hundred or five hundred boys and girls, members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of the state, asking them to scatter grain and make some protection to save the Field Sparrows, Quails, and Prairie Chickens especially.
“2. The entire extension force of the College, including all the short-course demonstrators, district men, etc., have been written to and are coöperating with us.
“3. All the county agents of the state are interesting the school children of their counties, and a number of farmers and the rural mail carriers.
“4. The commercial clubs in all the large towns of the state, and the smaller ones where grain is most needed, have been written to, asking for their immediate coöperation.
“5. All the state institutions, five besides our own, have been asked to help in this matter.