The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-24
Our Kansas Corres,,ondence.

Our Kansas Correspondence.
WAKARusA, Kansas Territory, Nov. 30, 1854.
Expose Of the Emigrant Aid Soeieties- Robbery of
Emigyants' Lettsrs-Distyes Among the Emit
grants, &C., &c.
Knowing that the HERALD has . very wide circu-
lation, and having always understood that it,
columns are open TO the publication Of truth on oil
subjects, take the liberty to trouble you with
some matters that ought to be explained, to pre-
vent ignorant and transporting people from being
imposed on any further by certain designing com
panies in the Eastern States-I mean those who
take the phianthropic names Of Emigrant Aid 30
ceties, protesting to be organized for the purpose
Of lending aid to poor persons to como to KANSAS to
better their condition. Intend to expose the real
design Of these professsd philanthropists. Many
ktter, have cause to know, have been written
back by the dupes Of these gentlemen, exposing
their deceitful promises, which induced us TO leave
our comfortable homes, and come out here into the
wilderness to suffer from want Yet a have seen
none Of them published, either I'm your paper or
any others, to which know they were written,
believe they have been suppressed BY the agents
here, who should have delivered them to the Post
ONCE. This town is fifty miles from . post Office,
and we have NO means Of conveyance, and have to
depend on the conpauys agents to carry our letters
to Westport or Kansas, In Missouri; aud when any
Of show that we are dissatisded with things here
We are watched, and we believe our letters home
are suppressed for We cenAos account in any other
way fcr their not coming TO hand. have stood the
hardshps ard abuse Of these petty syranta as long
g / can, and an going down to the State Of
Missouri to see II can get work; and II / can,
~ soon q can maze enough am going back 90
Ire condition Of many Of our emigrants frum
New England, New York, and Pennsylvanis is de-
paorabIe. Many OF them have no means to hse on;
they are objected together in this place, With the
dens made Of hay and polss; some II nothing but
tents, on the open pfaiYie which you can imagine
is small protection sgsinst the Northwest wiods:
and, though the fall has been more favorable than
We expected, yet December Il just about setting in,
and the prospect il gloomy enough.
Almca all are sufieringA nom colds and coughs;
and II pnsumonia and winter fever shall follow,
what the poor people are TO do. I tell you, as .
matter Of fact, hsve not tasted morsel Of meat
since landed on Wakaruss, and hard bread cad
scarce one in Missouri. and prices Of al kinds Of
food are as high in New York city; besides, she
Missouri people seem to look on rs as enemies and
many Of them will not sell TO ~ at any price, and
will hardly speak TO us. This must be the fault Of
the companies that sent us ous here.
/ said would expose these companies They
have deceived M all, for We were led to expect that
provisions were cheap and plenty, and that II We
through the first year, and could pay when We bs.
gan to make crops Instead of this, as soon ~ we
land at Kansas, we are informed that We can shift
for ourselves; and many, finding themselves FAR
from home, and without the actual means to
obtain the necessaries Of life, have already gone
back. and many more would go II they
had the means to 60 On and for want of this they
have to stay and stand this tyranny and abuse Of
the COMPANY agents. The company in New York Is
made up Of rich men, who only desire to make great
land speculation. They send out all e poor PEG.
pie they can to improve farms and cities by their
labor, well knos ing that when the land comes into
market they will not be able to buy IT. and 30 these
rish gentlemen will have to advance the money,
by which they will get the land at low price, and
will require the poor preemptor to mortgage tie
land 10 the m to seen e the payment Of the money
lent; then they will have nothing to do but to cose
up the mortgage and get the land and improvements
for themselves for little or nothing, and tlen
they viii let the poor deluded emiqsnt
60 because they will have no further
nse for him except to hire him IS
hard on the land they have swindled him
ont of. This Ii what all this smigrsting aid will
come n, and It already begins to leak out. We wno
have been duped to come here ore now in debt,
and are TO be used a. tools to hold preemptions
for them to buy. As | have always learned TINT
your paper was willing to expose thu wrongs and
Injuries done by the rich and pc werful, hope, f,r
the sake Of the poor men and women whom shese
mtn are duping, that you will give this place, for
tell you that Kansas is no place for men to come
without means to tive, aud boy their land " zen II
IL sod, for there is little chance here for an emf
grant TO make money over a7d above his living.
JAS. WADE.