The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-03-20
[ From the Sunbss,y Gazette ]
Letter from Kansas.
NEosHo Falls. February 2i, 1861

NEOeHO FALLS, F6OruaIy Il, looi'
I'VE publish the following letter, written
by Oliver P. Haughawout, son OF John
Haughawout, of Upper Augusta, 20 his
friends in that township He gives reli
Ed. Gaz j
Dear Friends ~ seat myself TO answer
your kind letter, which received last week.
You asked me to tell yon all about the ia
mine in Kansas. will Try aud do so, or at
least tell you all know about it. | have
had good opportunities OF knowing the
wants oithe people, for [ have travelled
over the southern portion OF the State, pref
tY, generally, and wha, state, know per-
sonally to be SO. The seasons previous TO
the last have been good, and large crops
were raised, but it is invariably The case, in
newly settled country, especially where
there is emigration. that the demand for
bread -siuffs, is far greater than the supply
hence there is always scarcity, and,
consequently, high prices. This being the
case with Kansas the citizens OF the Stale
care in a deplorable situation. will tell
I You briefly, how the people struggled last
summer, and tried to avert the fate that has
befalen them. In March there were large
quantities of spring wheat sown, which
failed 10 come up, and The ground was re-
2lowed and planted with corn; this also
failed. The ground was then sown with
buckwheat. This grew well, and people
still had hopes of raising their bread, but
they were doomed TO disappointment-a
frost came while it was yet in the milk
state, and thousands of acres that promised
well was cul down, and with it went the
hopes of thousands who had paid out their
last dollar for seed, with the hope that ii
would be the means OF keeping Them from
starving. AS soon as this last hope was
gone large numbers left the country, some
intending 10 return this spring, but many
that had not pre- empted their land, left
their i'm provements and their labor, which
will now be taken by somebody else. But
there are large numbers that were unable
10 get away. While there is a small por-
ton of our people who had means enough
10 keep themselves here, | am certain that
eight lenths of The people here,lp the south
ern tier of counties, are now depending OH
psbIic charity for The bread they eat. The
people in this, as we'll as most of the coun-
ties have sent special agents to The States,
Illinois, " isconsin and Iowa, 10 solicit aid
believing,that the general commiilee would
no: receive enough and the different
! Churches are likewise doing noble work.
/ The States above named are doing nobly in
/ the way of all kinds OF provisions. What
/ we need most in money 10 pay freight. Our
/ agent has sent on 10 Alchison enough for
| this county, but unless we can get money
/ from some source 10 pay freight, Pan of 1t
must 60 for that purpose, and that remain
/ ing is still over one hundred miles to haul,
SO the amount we will get here, fear will
be far TOO small for the actual wants OF the
destitute. We have seed shipped, also,
which must be here in order TO help US
fairly out OF our present difficulties want
you 10 take this matter in hand, and see
what you can do for US. II the people OF
Sunbury and vicinity have not already Civ
en-, think | know of many who would
give freely 10 so charitable an object.
make this Request, not on my own account
fox with the government appointment las'
summer, and my situation in the mills here,
am in a better situation than many around
me- But those in the best circumstance:
cannot keep bread stuffs for more than one
weeks consumption, for humanity viii
compel them 10 divide with their suffering
neighbors. ask something in the name
of the suffering | see around me. A1y
amount you may raise and send to my ad
dress, will be receipied for BY the county
committee We received 500 from Bos
ton this week which was greatly needed
and we need another hundred just as badil
neIt treek.
o. P. HAUGHAWOUT.
Removals and appointments.