Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-26
EMIGRANT AID SOCIETY.

W Ncu hNiEN - iho iuNlN w ~
those who are anxious to excuse the interference
of the Missouri Rufians in the affairs of Kan
sas. Many well-meaning persons have doubt
ed the propriety of the operations of this So
ciety ; not as eycuSing, but as having a ten
dency to arouse the prejudices and passions of
the Shareholders. Such, are not well informed
as to the objects and operations of the Society,
and we avail ourselves of an article in the
Ercning Post, which explains its purposes and
plans very fully. It's offices are -
When a sufficient number of persons, bound
for the new territories, are ready to start, its
agents make the best bargain they can for
their transportation by railway or other means
of conveyance. With each company the So
ciety sends out a conductor, whose business it
is to see that these bargains are properly full
filled, who makes every possible arrangement
for their comfort, protects them against impo-
s%itions, and looks to the safety Of their effects.
The emigrants meantime have nothing to do
but to attend to their families, so that many
who have gone out to the West under the aus
pieces of the Emigrant Aid Society have de-
clared that the passage was like n party of
pleasure. The society charges itself only with
paying the conductor all the other expenses
of the passage are paid by the emigrants.
When the settlers have arrived in the terri
tory, the agents of the society give them infor-
NATION of the most dacirab lo ,neo++loI l;-.:..
the richest vacant lands, the healthiest and
beSt-watered sections. In some of these they
see them settled, and then build for them steam
mills to give them grain, and hotels for the ac-
commodation of those who arrive among them,
where they are lodged and fed at moderate
cost till they have time to build their own
houses. For these undertakings few of the
emigrants have means if in any case they
have, the society gladly relinquisheS the work
to them, aud employs its funds elsewhere. The
fuel for the mills is dug from the immense coal
fields which everywhere underlie Eastern Kan
sas. These mills and hotels remain the pro-
perty Of the society, and are sometimes after
wards adyantageously sold but wherever this
is the case, an obligation is taken from the new
proprietors, to the effect that they will continue
to entertain the emigrants coming out under
the auspices of the society at the former mode
rate charges.
When the society has seen a company Of
emigrants settled, it takes its leave of them
with the injunction that, if they find them
selves needing anything which it is within the
scope Of the society's plan to supply, they shall
let them know Of it. 1t frequently happens
that this is the case that a hotel, for exam
pie, is wanted to accommodate the numerous
emigrantS, or an additional steam mill. To in
duce the society to build a large hotel, the in
of a new town frequently offer to as
sign to it q certain number Of town lots, which
at the time have no marketable value, but which
are sure to become valuable in a short time,
and to constitute an important part of the funds
of the society.
1t will be seen that, by this judicious man
agement, a great many of the evils and hard
ships of a new settlement are obviated. The
is n capitalist, which furnishes the new
communities with the accommodations which
mere industry at that stage of their existence
cannot procure, and which capital alone can
The Emigrant Aid Society employs three
agents. One of them is DR.. Robinson, lately
,
General Robinson, who commanded the
assembled for the defence of Law
and who has been nominated for Cover
nor of the state under the new constitution
Another is Mr.. Pomeroy, formerly of North
.mption-a man of great activity and resolu-
ton. The other is Mr.. Branscomb, of Massa-
whose sphere of duty, though he has
visited Kansas, is principally in the Atlantic
The agents are extremely popular in
where they are known, either through
the sterling qualities of their personal charac-
ter, or through the benefactions which they
iudiciously dispense.
, There is nothing in all this to which the most
saptious can object. The society extends its
protection to none except those who design to
settle in the territories. The political opinions
Of the emigrant are unquestioned. The most
iltra pro-slayery man, may, with equal facility
himself of all the advantage conferred ON
he tree-state man. Yet how often have we
heard the emigrant aid society denounced as
the cause of the troubles in Kansas
low often has it been alluded to, to excuse
t~TclusoN and his confederates. The objects
the society arc not only iaudablc and LEGAL