The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-10-31
TOPEKA, KANSAS, Oct. 10, 1873

TOPEKA, KANSAS, Oct. 10, 1873.
s. T. CONWAY. ESQ.,:
Your valuable paper Of 18th came this
morning, being the first received direct from
the Office since / have been in the State
Since We left the beautiful village Of Paw Paw
my wanderings have extended over large
territory in search Of employment, or some
thing to engage in. ! have travelled over a
large portion OF Kansas. with my family, with
view Of homesteading lands. But found on
investigation that was not able to even do
that, having exhausted nearly all the scanty
means,-the result Of the sale OF what furni-
ture l had Hundreds and thousands who
come here to better their condition are sadly
disappointed, having to endure far greater
hardshlps than did the first settlers Of Michi-
gan. The drouth and panic will cause many a
poor family to suffer greatly in the remote sec
tions Of this State, unless relieved by friends.
We have gone through all the various changes
while travelling through the State; sleeping in
the open air, in dug-outs, cheap taverns, far
hotels, and as comfortable quarters as we ha
while up the valley was hay-stack bottom,
with our wraps for covering. There we were
free from bed-bugs and flies, which seem to
have been here before the earliest white set
tiers.
The face of the country, especially along the
streams, ls beautiful and productive. Where
they have had rains all kinds OF crops have
done well, and this year bear a good price,
Corn, in Topeka, is 35c; oats, 20a25: barley,
SOa9Oc; spring wheat, 80aS1 fall wheat, SOa
81. l never saw finer exhibition OF wheat,
corn oats, potatoes, pumpkins, melons, fruits,
etc, than at the State far, held here four
weeks ago.
l am now clerlnng for G. +. Kendall, brother
of Kendall, OF Kendallvie He is doing a
large busness-employs eight clerks. VIII
probably reduce his force in few days, and
may be thrown out OF situation. It's almost
impossible to get employ .nent, times are 30
hard and money so close. Living and REM is
very high in Topeka, but the prospects are
good fer its being good sized city in time
They claim II, 900, but have only 5000 inhab-
tants.
WEIGH. formerly from Decatur, IL doing well
here. Has been mayor of the city. Moore,
who lived three miles south OF Paw Paw, is
here on fruit farm, two and half or three
miles from the city. have hardly met per-
son from Michigan who was satisfied and
would return If they could. Those from Iowa,
Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and other
Southern and Southwestern States, are con-
| tented, for they never have lived as we did IN
Michigan.
BY the way, We had the pleasure of your
nece's company from Chicago to Kansas City:
Friend Hawkins don't tell it half as bad as we
found it further up the valley. Where he was
people are more comfortable than further up
the valley. That's Michigan settlement, and
where you find them there is more thrift and
enterprise | could write you considerable
more, but don't like to write Sunday, and have
not time during the week. Remember me to
my friends, and especially to your family and
self. Send the paper and 1 viii try and pay
some time. Truly yours,
THOMAS T.. Ross.
p. ST. find hundrC is here just in my situa
ton. In fact, the business men of Kansas are
made up OF just such men. But the time il
Frank is in Chicago, and has good situation
We have most beautiful weather-just lik,
spring grass and foliage as green and brgh
as in June. We have only had three or fou
days that we needed 6-e. They say it cor
tinues pleasant until about the LIST of Decor.
Der. But look out for windy days-hsye lad
few since we came here.
Again frulv vOurs Ross