, 1874-10-31

Tho Topoka {kanaag) Commonwealth Of tho
16tll inst. containn tho announcement Of ono Of
tito largest doua:j1de lanl-salea ever mado In
this country,-t1'nt Of 100000 aoroH Of land in
that State to branoh Of tho Russian Mennon-
itos, who arrived III tho United Statos Inst Bcp-
tenbor,--a previous colony having sottlod In Dr.
kota Territory. Tho traot which tlay havo now
purchased extends distance Of 30 milos be-
tween tho Cottonwood and Littlo Arkausas Riy-
ers, with tho Town Of Halatoad for Its trading
contro. Besides the original colony Of sixty-flye
villages from Southern nuaHIa, tho Mennonite
emlgrants aro pouring In from other parts Of tho
country with great rapidity, aud already long
trains Of household goods and agricultural i1n-
plemonta are Oh tho way, and temporary hollsea
arc dottiug tho wild prairlo in ovory direction
throughout tho Mennonite district.
Tho history Of tho Mennonites Is one Of pecu-
liar interest. bfonno smoniH, from whom tho
sect takoB it's name, was contemporary of
nuc!ouB Of tho sect whoHo prevailing character
iatic ti,on al now was snon-combativeneBs. Per-
seoution drovs tlonl from placo to place, md lit
1880 thoy first settled in Russia, whoro very lib
oral concessions were mado to thom. During
tho yoar 1904 special reservation OF laHd WAS
given them, upon which thor second colony, tho
Molotsohno, was founded, and whence
thoir followers spread over tho whole aa-
tacont country to the Dlaok Sen, forcing
out tho nomadlo tribes. Improved farms
Il In ,,tI ,ttt,,
and their rapdly~iuorcasing business gave u
trcsh impulse to Odessa and tho oshor grain-ex-
porting towns Of TINT region. Many Of them
acquired groat wealth md wont into tho wool
business to an extent which may 10 inferred
from an instance. that Of colonial WHO is CON-
ing to Kansas next year who owns $4,000 acres
Of land, md BAoars $1,000 sheep Of Inn
proved broed annually. They are not only
excellent farmory, but akillod mechanics.
Their schools arc of q high standard,
and their ministers, who are choaen
from ont their churches for life, arc usually mon
Of fino education mud culture. Tic policy OF tho
Rusaian Government in violatiug the special pr1v-
iege which was granted them Of immunity from
military service, md compelling all its subjects
to do military duty, haB caused this remarkable
exodus. Rather than violate the tenotH Of their
faith. they have abandoned their homes and COM
menced opce more to mako tho wilderness bloa-
eom like the roso In new country.
Tho Importance Of this valuable accession to
tho wealth aud industry OF Kansas can hardly
bo ovorcstimatod. THO emigration will probably
be completed next year, and will add to tho pop
ulation OF kanHas 1000 of tho most sAitl[ul in
tolligont, and thrifty farmors upon tho face Of
tho globe, who will bring into speedy cultivation
100, 900 acres of wild and rich prairie land, which
will DO broken for the first timo this fall. It is
not too much TO anticipate that the surprising
rosu1ts which they achieved in Russia will bc
surpassed in this country that Kansas will bo
rewarded for Its onterprieo In securing them {;
aud that they themselves will be rewarded for
THUR faith in their new home.