, 1861-03-13
the Famine and the Supply In Kan-
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the Famine and the Supply In Kan-
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Correspondence Of the Chicago Trbuuc.1,
ATculsoE, March g. 1861.
Having promised friends at different points
In Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois, where I have
been spending the winter, to communicate in
reference to the needs and relief supplies Of
hansas, have a7ailed myself Of the opportu-
nifty to spend fen. days at Atchison, where I.
am kindly welcomed to every department con-
nectedw this subject.
Economy Of time and labor suggests your
columns as furnishing the widest and speediest
means Of communication. Some fifteen clerks
are employed from dawn to late hours ut night
in receiving and distributing, posting and re-
porting, beEides the labors of Mrs. Pomcroy
and others in tbs Generals family. There is
no time for waste words; everything works by
rule, from the little post-boy to 1he "General'
head Of the whole concern.
Mrs. Pomeroy gives her entire energies to
the work. Three times day the mail matter
Is brought to her from the Post Office Sue
opens and reads each letter, while q LADY as
sistant, with pen in hand, makes memoranda
or acknowledged. These letters are then as
sorted with reference to contents, and passed
to clerks Of the several departments, and such
IS require the Generals own attention are re-
tained and placed in his bands, or read to him
by Mrs. P, who again takes orders as to their
disposition, replies, &c. ALI express packages
OF money are received and opened by Gen. ?.
rar19if4ar,nac hryr1 -
knowledged by Mira. T. in herhome department.
I have just returned from visiting the ware
honaes, piled up with stores, coming and 60
ing like the mama that fed the Israelitcs.
Gram for seed and for consumption, flour,
beans and dried fruit, with groceries, medi-
eines, garden seeds and clothing, are seen IN
apparent abundance, and yet the demand is
greater in some departments than the supply.
Many teams go empty away for want Of seed
grain, which has been slow in getting here.
But 4 large qusutity is being freighted. II
only freight facilities were equal to the press
ing necessity Of the Season! Many haYe put
in their wheat, and more would have been in
had the seed been on hand. Supplies have
each their own separate department., with
capable and faithful clerks to fill orders, &c.
Gen. P. occupies . central office, prisoner
from " early to late" to the representations
of the starving hosts Of Kansas. From the
railroad and river crossing opposite, we have
full view Of teams, warehouses, and the Gen
erals office, with its crowd Of applicants out
side waiting their turn to be heard.
In company with friend, got q seat inside
the Generals office. The General stood on
his rude counter, calling from paper in his
hand the names Of counties, towns and neigh
| borhoods, where applications had been passed
upon, each in their order. A clerk at lis side
read and delivered the orders Is cal1ed for, to
the applicants Of the several sections, who left
gladly to load their waiting teams with bread
and clothing for loved ones, perhaps ready to
perish.
When these orders Of successful applicants
are disposed Of, fresh applications are ereceiVed
4 person looking and listening in such a
crowd Us was here assembled, has little need
to ask after the needs Of the population repre-
sented. Men with clothing just falling in tat
| ters from their limbs, others with pants made
Of the stout 'seam1ess'' grain sacks !; others
! with garments narti-colored, and Others still
! indicating that feminine clothing has been
! converted into covering for the messengers Of
the naked and the hungry-and all exhibiting
| that pinched and anxious look born Of recent
suffering or stern conflict with priyation. Fa-
miliarity with such scenes soon settles q lead
en- weight upon heart and brain, benumbing
| both, and sending one mechanically on the
! round Of supply duty. Another feature Of
this suffering, :s it appeals powerfully for
! dried fruits, may not pass without the word
tin season." DR.. Robinson, Secretary Of State,
| who-it may not be known to many Of your
reaaers-is an experienced physician, left here
4 few days since, after spending some days in
! familiar intercourse with the applicants for
| relief. He reports that three out Of four are
| affected with the scurvy, some to the extent
that their teeth could be fd1ea out NTH The fingers
| IEhrink from the almost certain sickness which
threatens the exhausted physical energies OF
| this people When the labor and the heat Of the
csming season shall press upon them. But
must close with an expression Of hearty sym
pathy in the spirit and general tone Of your
paper, and hearty thanks for its championship
! Of suffering Kansas.
| Mrs. C. ]. q. NICHOLS,
| Of Quindaro, Kansas.