Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-05-28
CLEARFIELD, PA, MAY %, 1856.
KANSAS.
.7aother Letter from "Joaa."
Cor-scrr Crrv kn-,I 1tyb 1875

REV. j. j. HAMILTON My dear brother =
am just going TO write you short letter, and
a rough one, for am coming out of an asuc
shake, and my hand is unsteady. / have not
had the shakes much this spring, but the dis
ease fingers in the system and is ready to
break out at almost any time. 1t is the re-
mains of the sickness of last August and Sep
tember. Do not think that it is now unheal-
thy. The air seems pure that it is con-
tinual pleasure .sto drink it in" as one of the
settlers says. don't look as if l had the
ague, for am quite feshy, and proper care
and diet will doubtless cure it altogether.
There are good many cmigrants coming
i'll this spring. We hope for emigration
sufficiently large 10 determine by their mere
pressure the political character of the State.
But We have another trouble, which probably
effects four-ffths of us and that is inability
to pay for our claims in July next. We have,
many Of US, used up enough money in squat
ting, to have paid for our claims, could We
have done so at first. Many of the expenses
"hichwe encountered, We could not well avoid.
We were obliged to live on our claims to hold
them. The law requires the settler to erect a
make other improvements. We expected,
however, to get our money back By way Of the
crops which we hoped to raise. But the corn
crop, which is the principal one on the spring
breaking, was almost a failure last season, on
account of the ravagcs of 4 worm. But We
still expected at least another season in which
to raise money to pay for our land. Many,
who had been in other of the western States in
their inception, expected two more years
yet. But we have another element to doal
with, which is ehattel slavery blight upon
humanity and a mockery against God-and
those who seek to profit by this element well
know that the great body of us are unable to
meet the demand for payment this season
and therefore they employed serenfy-tuo sur
veying parties, last fall and winter, to rush
through the survey, which We are told is very
imperfeetly done in consequence of such haste.
Next we hear that the survey will be ready in
June and next, before even the land office is
established, We hear that the Presidents proc
lamation is on the way, and will be published
between the Goth of April and Is. of May, Civ
ing only three months from that time in which
to pay for the land. And even this three
months may be cut short for aught. / know.
Now this haste hardly gives time for those
who have money east, to procure it, and much
less to negotiate for it. Besides, our letters
are Systematically delayed-at least cannot
otherwise explain it-and many of them de-
stroyed. In accordance with these things,
through the territory, are selling their claims
for whatever they can get, in anticipation of
their inability to pay in time. The land sales,
l also understand, are to be guarded by mil
itary force. In short, since bullying has not
overcome us, other means, every means is to
be employed TO crush us. In the language of
! Douglass, we, together with the whole North,
are tc be sssubdued."
| Now, we want that Northern men should be
awake to these .hings. We want that capital
lists should come here with money, and help us
through. We Will give them a shave, if tt
must be so-S300, or even s400, for $500, at
! 10 per cent, rather than to lose our claims.
We want northern spectators to come and
| buy the land which is not prc-empted, if it
| must be bought by spectators. We want nor
thern men to hold it. 1t is worth the buying
rich and beautiful. We do shake q little,
but they shake worse in the other western
States. And then our living is often enough
| to make any body shake. l should have said
our want OF living, for we have--but never
mind We want northern people to wake up.
1t is getting dark that / can't write, and l
must take this two and half miles before
breakfast. 1 wrote to George, April 1st, and
sent the letter by Doctor Hall clear through
Missouri. hope he'll get that one. urged
him to come here at once and take claim
| which is still untakcn, next to the town. There
is still some uncertainty about the town.
There will be a town in the settlement, not far
from here. 1t may not be on the site of ;hc
A.S.C. But the capital will probably be here.
At all events claim in the settlement cannot
he otherwise than valuabie-worth several
times the 81 ,25.
People need not be afraid of prairie farms
even without fre-wood. Coal is abundant.
Three claims joining We have it. Ny claim Is
all prairie, and yet 1 have stuck TO it, when
could have had timber claim, on account o
its location. | have written thus to give You
an idea of our condition here, generally: but
in my own case, particularly. / am in hope:
that some OF those who were friendly to me il
Clearfield, will help me to raise the money in
time. would come back and work il out, il
thero was no other way. / could send my note
and bond to George for him to raise the mon
ey on. cannot give mortgage until ge
the deed. Perhaps shall be able to horro"
the money here, but it is uncertain. ihsr'